Ratings: CBS Sweeps Tuesday; Mindy Project, Ben and Kate Open OK
Pauley Perrette
NCIS is still TV's most-watched show — and it's now the top-rated too.
The CBS drama's Season 10 premiere dominated Tuesday with 20.1 million viewers and a 4.1 rating in the adults 18-to-49 demographic. That's slightly higher than the Season 9 premiere's audience and two-tenths lower than last season's premiere rating.
CBS won every hour of the evening, with NCIS: Los Angeles nabbing 16.7 million viewers and 3.4, down a tad from last year, and the series premiere of Vegas reeling in 14.7 million and a 2.5.
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Fox's Ben and Kate (4.2 million, 2.0) and The Mindy Project (4.7 million, 2.4) had soft debuts. Each followed a new episode of New Girl — both of which averaged about 5.3 million and a 2.7 — but The Mindy Project had higher retention.
Facing NCIS, The Voice (11.2 million, 4.0) fell 20 percent, but was the night's second top-rated show in the demo. Go On (7.3 million, 2.7) also dropped 20 percent, but tied New Girl in the demo, while The New Normal (5.2 million, 2.0) shed just two-tenths versus Mindy. Parenthood closed out NBC's night, holding steady from last week with 4.8 million and a 1.8.
On ABC, Dancing with the Stars' two-hour results show averaged 11.6 million viewers and a 2.0, down 30 percent from last fall's Tuesday premiere. Private Practice (6.5 million, 1.9) returned down from last season's premiere.
8 p.m.
CBS: NCIS 20.1 million viewers (4.1 demo rating)
ABC: Dancing with the Stars 11.6 million (2.0) [8-10 p.m.]
Fox: New Girl 5.3 million (2.7); Ben and Kate 4.2 million (2.0)
NBC: The Voice 11.2 million (4.0)
9 p.m.
CBS: NCIS: Los Angeles 16.7 million (3.4)
NBC: Go On 7.3 million (2.7); The New Normal 5.2 million (2.0)
Fox: New Girl 5.2 million (2.7); The Mindy Project 4.7 million (2.4)
10 p.m.
CBS: Vegas 14.7 million (2.5)
ABC: Private Practice 6.5 million (1.9)
NBC: Parenthood 4.8 million (1.8)