Another competitive Thursday in ratings. Take note:

" Talk about your superlatives: Smallville introduced the Justice League to an audience of 5.25 million total viewers, representing a season high.

" Perhaps goosed by America's Globes win, Ugly Betty (14.1 million) surged 700,000 heads to have its best outing since Oct. 5.

" NBC's entire comedy lineup learned a lesson about, "What goes up... ": Earl was down 1.2 mil week-to-week, The Office plunged 1.7 mil, the musical Scrubs saw 1.35 mil "tune" out, and 30 Rock lost a mil.

" Drawing 21.89 million, Grey's Anatomy (medical show, ABC, check it out sometime) edged out CSI (21.28 mil) in the rivals' first legitimate head-to-head in ages. Supernatural (3.38 mil) did its best numbers since Oct. 26.

" Opposite an ER rerun, Shark (15 mil) bested Men in Trees (10.7 million, up 450K).