Ratings Glory For The Big Bang Theory

CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory kicked off its seventh season on Thursday evening with big ratings.

The comedy, starring Emmy winner Jim Parsons, launched its new season with a double-bill at 8pm with the first instalment pulling in 18.3 million viewers and a 5.3 18-49 rating. However, at 8.30pm the second edition saw ratings rise even further with 19.5 million viewers and a huge 5.8 18-49 rating.

Elsewhere in the 8pm slot Fox‘s struggling talent contest The X Factor had 6.4 million viewers with a 2.1 18-49 rating. ABC‘s repeat of the series premier of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D had 4.6 million viewers and a 1.2 18-49 rating.

At 9pm the huge lead-in from The Big Bang Theory helped CBS’ new comedy The Crazy Ones, starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, pull in a hefty 15.6 million viewers with a 4.0 18-49 rating. The Crazy Ones had the better of NBC‘s new comedy The Michael J Fox show which pulled in 7.2 million viewers and a 2.1 18-49 rating.

At 9.30 Two and a Half Men returned to CBS, with new cast member Amber Tamblyn making her debut, which had 11.5 million viewers and a 2.9 18-49 rating.