"NCIS," "THE MENTALIST" AND "WITHOUT A TRACE" LEAD CBS TO HUGE YEAR-TO-YEAR INCREASES

"NCIS" Delivers 16.3 Million Viewers

"The Mentalist" Places First in Viewers with 16.9 Million

"Without a Trace" Wins Time Period in Viewers

NCIS, THE MENTALIST and WITHOUT A TRACE all posted across-the-board year-to-year time period improvements leading CBS to a solid second place finish in viewers, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Tuesday, April 28.

NCIS, featuring guest stars LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell, was second in households (10.0/16), viewers (16.32m), adults 25-54 (4.6/12) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10). Compared to the same night last year, NCIS was up +13% in adults 18-49, +7% in adults 25-54 and added +1.52m viewers.

THE MENTALIST was first in households (10.5/16), viewers (16.91m), adults 25-54 (5.2/12) and averaged 3.7/09 in adults 18-49. Compared to the last first-run episode (on April 7, 2009), THE MENTALIST was up +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/09). Compared to the time period last year, THE MENTALIST was up +68% in both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and added +6.73 million viewers.

WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (8.0/13), viewers (12.35m), second in adults 25-54 (3.6/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07). WITHOUT A TRACE improved the year ago time period by +33% in adults 25-54, +25% in adults 18-49 and added +4.73m viewers.

For the night, CBS was second in households (9.7/15, -0.2 behind FOX), viewers (15.19m), adults 25-54 (4.5/11) and averaged a 3.2/08 in adults 18-49.

Compared to the same night last year, CBS was up +40% in viewers, +33% in adults 18-49 and +32% in adults 25-54.

Updated Wednesday ratings will be available this afternoon.