American Idol top of Thursday night ratings

American Idol was the most watched show of Thursday evening.

The Fox series very nearly topped 18 million viewers with an average of 17.9 million viewers at 8pm and a 5.7 18-49 rating. However, not far behind was CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory with 16 million viewers and a 5.5 18-49 rating followed by Rob with 11 million viewers and 3.4 18-49 rating. 30 Rock on NBC had 3.8 million viewers with a 1.6 rating while Wipeout on ABC was 5.2 million viewers and a 1.5 rating. The 8pm hour was rounded off with a shocking and twisting episode of The Vampire Diaries on The CW with 2.9 million viewers and a 1.2 rating.

At 8pm medical drama Grey’s Anatomy on ABC had 10.1 million viewers with a 3.9 18-49 rating while Person of Interest on CBS pulled in 15 million viewers with a 3.3 18-49 rating. On NBC The Office had 5.1 million viewers with a 2.5 18-49 rating followed by Up All Night with 3.7 million viewers and a 1.8 rating. Supernatural drama The Secret Circle mustered 1.7 million viewers and a 0.8 rating while The Finder on Fox had 6.2 million viewers and a 2.3 rating. At 10pm crime drama The Mentalist pulled in 14.3 million viewers with a 2.9 rating while Private Practice had 6.6 million viewers and a 2.3 rating.