CBS's THURSDAY DRAMAS ARE TIME PERIOD WINNERS

"The Mentalist" Sweeps Its Time Period and Posts Week-to-Week Gains

CBS's dramas, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION and THE MENTALIST, were time period winners while the Network's comedies finished a strong second against Fox's "American Idol," according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for April 7.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (8.0/12), viewers (12.61m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.0/10, with FOX) and second in adults 18-49 (2.8/08).

THE MENTALIST was first in households (9.3/15), viewers (14.68m), adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and adults 18-49 (2.9/08). Compared to last week, THE MENTALIST was up +3% in households (from 9.0/15), +8% in adults 25-54 (from 3.8/09), +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/07) and added +410,000 viewers (from 14.27m, +3%).

From 8:00-9:00 PM, CBS's comedies, THE BIG BANG THEORY and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT were a solid second in their time periods against "American Idol." THE BIG BANG THEORY was second in households (6.9/12), viewers (11.24m), adults 25-54 (4.6/13) and adults 18-49 (3.6/12). RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was second in households (5.3/09), viewers (8.61m), adults 25-54 (3.5/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/08). Compared to last week, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was up +4% in both households (from 5.1/09) and adults 18-49 (from 2.4/07), +9% in adults 25-54 (from 3.2/08) and added +360,000 viewers (from 8.25m, +4%).

For the night, CBS was second in households (7.8/13), viewers (12.41m), adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and adults 18-49 (2.9/08).

Updated Thursday ratings will be available this afternoon.