"The Big Bang Theory" is the Night's #1 Program in Adults 18-49

"Person of Interest" Wins in Viewers

"The Mentalist" Sweeps Time Period in Viewers and Key Demos

CBS Places First on Thursday in Viewers and Adults 25-54

            CBS's entire Thursday lineup posted week-to-week growth in viewers and key demographics led by the season's penultimate episode of THE BIG BANG THEORY, which was the night's #1 program in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for May 3.

THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in households (8.3/14), viewers (13.63m), adults 25-54 (5.8/17), adults 18-49 (4.6/15) and adults 18-34 (3.2/12).  Compared to last week, THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +6% in households (from 7.8/13), +5% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/15), +12% in adults 18-49 (from 4.1/13), +19% in adults 18-34 (from 2.7/09) and added +980,000 viewers (from 12.65m, +8%).  THE BIG BANG THEORY posted its best deliveries in these measures since March 29, 2012.   THE BIG BANG THEORY was the night's top program in adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was second in households (5.6/09), viewers (9.01m), adults 25-54 (3.7/10) and adults 18-49 (2.7/08).  Compared to last week, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was up +14% in households (from 4.9/08), +6% in adults 25-54 (from 3.5/09), +8% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/07) and added +840,000 viewers (from 8.17m, +10%). 

PERSON OF INTEREST was first in households (8.2/13) and viewers (12.96m) while second in adults 25-54 (3.7/09, -0.1 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07).  Compared to last week, PERSON OF INTEREST was up +5% in households (from 7.8/12), +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.4/06), even in adults 25-54 and added +230,000 viewers (from 12.73m, +2%). 

THE MENTALIST was first in households (8.1/13), viewers (12.67m), adults 25-54 (3.5/09) and adults 18-49 (2.4/07).  Compared to last week, THE MENTALIST was up +8% in households (from 7.5/13), +9% in both adults 25-54 (from 3.2/08) and adults 18-49 (from 2.2/06) and added +640,000 viewers (from 12.03m, +5%). 

For the night, CBS was first in households (7.7/13), viewers (12.32m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.0/10, with FOX) and second in adults 18-49 (2.8/08).  

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Press Contacts:             Ed Harrison            818-655-1584       ed.harrison@cbs.com

                                    David Pepose          212-975-1929      david.pepose@cbs.com