'CSI' best on a ho-hum night

Fast National ratings for Thursday, April 6, 2006

Thursday's ratings followed their usual pattern, with "CSI" leading CBS to a big win over its competition.

CBS averaged an 11.5 rating/19 share in primetime, practically double that of second-place NBC, 5.8/9. ABC finished third with a 5.4/9. FOX's 3.0/5 was good for fourth, holding off The WB's 2.4/4. UPN trailed with a 1.5/2.

Form held in the adults 18-49 demographic as well, with CBS' 5.8 rating leading the way. NBC took second with a 3.6, followed by ABC, 2.9, and FOX, 2.1. The WB averaged 1.6 and UPN 0.9.

"Survivor: Exile Island" opened the night for CBS with a 9.6/16 at 8 p.m. NBC grabbed second with "Will & Grace," 5.9/10, and a repeat of "My Name Is Earl," 5.4/9. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition -- After the Storm" was third for ABC. The WB's "Smallville," 2.6/4, tied FOX's "That '70s Show" and "The Loop" for fourth in households and had a slight edge in total viewers. UPN went with repeats of "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Love, Inc."

At 9 p.m., "CSI" grabbed the night's biggest audience with a 14.5/22. "American Inventor," 5.8/9, moved ABC into second, edging a new "Earl," 6.5/10, and a rerun of "Teachers," 4.9/7, on NBC. "The O.C." posted a 3.4/5 for FOX. The WB came in fifth with "Supernatural," topping "Eve" and "Cuts" on UPN.

A "Without a Trace" rerun, 10.5/17, completed the CBS sweep at 10 p.m. NBC got a 6.1/10 from an "ER" repeat, and ABC's "Primetime" averaged 5.5/9.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.