"CSI" BECOMES THE FIRST SERIES THIS SEASON TO DRAW MORE VIEWERS THAN "AMERICAN IDOL" ON A GIVEN NIGHT

"Trace" Trumps Noah Wylie's Return to the "ER"

"Survivor: Panama" Posts Week to-Week Increases

CBS First in Viewers on Thursday

Back in first-run mode following its Olympic hiatus, CSI became the first series this season to draw more viewers than "American Idol" on a given night, according to Nielsen preliminary ratings for Thursday, March 2.

From 9:00-10:00 PM, CSI finished first in households (16.9/25), viewers (27.57m), adults 25-54 (11.3/24), adults 18-49 (8.9/21) and adults 18-34 (6.0/16). If the ratings hold, CSI becomes the first series to deliver more viewers and a better household rating than any edition of "American Idol" (15.2/23, 26.18m viewers last night) this season.

WITHOUT A TRACE won its time period in households (13.0/21), viewers (19.50m), adults 25-54 (7.4/18) and tied for first in adults 18-49 (5.8/15, with NBC). WITHOUT A TRACE beat "ER" by +51% in households (vs. 8.6/14), +9% in adults 25-54 (6.8/16) and +6.50m viewers (vs. 13.00m, +50%).

SURVIVOR: PANAMA - EXILE ISLAND was second in its time period, behind "American Idol Thursday" (S) in households (9.2/14), viewers (16.24m), adults 25-54 (7.0/16), adults 18-49 (5.5/14) and adults 18-34 (3.5/10). Compared to last week, SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND is up +10% in households (from 8.4/12), +9% in viewers (from 14.85m), +6% in adults 25-54 (from 6.6/15) and even in adults 18-49.

For the night, CBS was first in households (13.0/20), viewers (21.10m), second in adults 25-54 (8.5/19), adults 18-49 (6.7/17) and adults 18-34 (4.4/13).

Final ratings will be available this afternoon.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

"CSI" BECOMES THE FIRST SERIES IN ALMOST TWO YEARS TO DRAW MORE VIEWERS THAN "AMERICAN IDOL" ON A GIVEN NIGHT

"Trace" Trumps Noah Wyle's Return to the "ER"

"Survivor: Panama" Posts Week to-Week Increases

CBS First in Viewers on Thursday

Back in first-run mode following its Olympic hiatus, CSI became the first series since April 2004 to draw more viewers than "American Idol" on a given night, according to Live Plus Same Day National Nielsen ratings for Thursday, March 2.

At 9:00 PM, CSI finished first in households (16.9/25), viewers (27.81m), adults 25-54 (11.4/24), adults 18-49 (9.0/21) and adults 18-34 (6.0/16). CSI becomes the first series to deliver more viewers and a better household rating than any edition of "American Idol" (15.2/23, 26.32m viewers last night) since April 15, 2004.

WITHOUT A TRACE won its time period in households (13.1/21), viewers (19.78m), adults 25-54 (7.5/18) and adults 18-49 (5.9/16). WITHOUT A TRACE beat "ER" by +54% in households (vs. 8.5/14), +2% in adults 18-49 (vs. 5.8/15), +10% in adults 25-54 (vs. 6.8/16) and +6.85m viewers (vs. 12.93m, +53%).

SURVIVOR: PANAMA - EXILE ISLAND was second in its time period, behind "American Idol Thursday" (S) in households (9.2/14), viewers (16.08m), adults 25-54 (6.9/16), adults 18-49 (5.5/14) and adults 18-34 (3.4/10). Compared to last week, SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND is up +10% in households (from 8.4/12), +8% in viewers (from 14.85m), +5% in adults 25-54 (from 6.6/15) and even in adults 18-49.

For the night, CBS was first in households (13.1/20), viewers (21.27m), second in adults 25-54 (8.6/20, -0.1 behind FOX), adults 18-49 (6.8/17) and adults 18-34 (4.4/13).