CBS easily wins Thursday race

Fast National ratings for Thursday, April 13, 2006

Absence apparently didn't make hearts grow fonder for "Commander In Chief," which returned with little fanfare to ABC Thursday. CBS scored a resounding ratings win, more than doubling the numbers its closest competitor.

For the night, CBS averaged a 12.1 rating/21 share, lapping second-place ABC, 4.7/8. A rerun-filled NBC lineup was third at 4.1/7. FOX took fourth with a 2.7/5, beating out The WB, 2.3/4, and UPN, 1.5/3.

The tale was pretty much the same in the adults 18-49 demographic, where CBS led with a 6.1 rating. NBC's 2.6 was good for second, inching past ABC's 2.5. FOX averaged 1.8 to take fourth. The WB, 1.7, was right behind in fifth, and UPN trailed with a 0.8.

CBS started the night with "Survivor: Exile Island," which drew a 9.1/17 at 8 p.m. The first of two hours of "American Inventor" posted a 4.1/7 for ABC, topping repeats of "Will & Grace" and "My Name Is Earl" on NBC. "Smallville," 2.4/5, put The WB in fourth, ahead of "That '70s Show," 2.4/5, and "The Loop," 2.2/4, on FOX. UPN brought up the rear with "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Love, Inc."

"CSI," 15.0/25, delivered the night's biggest audience for CBS at 9 p.m. "American Inventor" ticked up to 4.6/8 in its second hour. NBC stayed in third with a second "Earl," 4.5/8, and a rerun of "The Office," 3.6/6. "The O.C." delivered a 3.1/5 for FOX, putting it ahead of The WB's "Supernatural" and UPN's "Eve" and "Cuts."

The CBS dominance continued at 10 p.m. as "Without a Trace" scored a 12.3/21. "Commander In Chief" scored a 5.3/9 in its return, well below its average on Tuesdays earlier in the season. An "ER" rerun on NBC came in at 4.3/7.

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