"THE MENTALIST" -- LARGEST AUDIENCE EVER AND CBS'S BEST VIEWER PERFORMANCE IN THE TIME PERIOD IN 13 YEARS

"Without a Trace" Hits Season High Deliveries in Viewers and Key Demos

CBS's Most Competitive Position Ever in Viewers on an "American Idol" Tuesday

THE MENTALIST delivered its largest audience ever, 19.7 million viewers, leading CBS to its most competitive finish in viewers ever on an "American Idol" Tuesday, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Feb. 10.

THE MENTALIST was first in households (12.1/18), viewers (19.66m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and averaged a 4.2/10 in adults 18-49 (-0.1 behind FOX's "Fringe" average which includes 1 minute of "American Idol").

Compared to the last first run episode (on Jan. 13, 2008), THE MENTALIST was up +10% in households (from 11.0/16), +9% in adults 25-54 (from 5.6/12), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 4.0/10) and added +1.59m viewers (from 18.07m, +9%). This is THE MENTALIST's best delivery ever in viewers, matches the show�s best adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 performances.

This is CBS's best viewer performance in this time slot with a regularly scheduled program at 9:00 PM since Feb. 28, 1995 (CBS TUESDAY MOVIE "Children of the Dust").

NCIS was second in households (11.3/17), viewers (17.97m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10).

WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (9.2/15), viewers (14.55m), adults 25-54 (4.7/11) and second in adults 18-49 (3.5/09). Compared to last week, WITHOUT A TRACE was up +18% in households (from 7.8/13), +27% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09), +30% in adults 18-49 (from 2.7/07) and added +2.39m viewers (from 12.16m, +20%). This is WITHOUT A TRACE's season high deliveries in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

For the night, CBS was first in households (10.9/17), second in viewers (17.39m, -0.10m behind FOX), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (3.8/10, with NBC).

This is the first time CBS beat FOX in households ratings on an "American Idol" Tuesday since Feb. 25, 2003 and the smallest difference in viewers ever.

Updated Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.