"THE BIG BANG THEORY" DELIVERS LARGEST AUDIENCE EVER

"BBT" Tops "American Idol" in Common Half-Hour

"Person of Interest" Hits Series Highs in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

"The Mentalist" Wins at 10 PM in Viewers and Key Demos

CBS Places First on Thursday in Viewers and Adults 25-54

THE BIG BANG THEORY delivered its largest audience ever, topping "American Idol" in the common half-hour, and PERSON OF INTEREST also delivered series-high ratings in viewers and key demographics, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday, Feb. 2.

THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in households (9.7/16), viewers (16.38m), adults 25-54 (7.0/18), adults 18-49 (5.4/16) and adults 18-34 (4.0/14). THE BIG BANG THEORY posted its largest audience ever and topped "American Idol" in the common half-hour in viewers (16.38m vs. 15.82m), adults 18-49 (5.4/16 vs. 5.0/15), adults 18-34 (4.0/14 vs. 3.5/15) and adults 25-54 (7.0/18 vs. 6.2/16) for the second consecutive week.

ROB was second in households (6.7/10), viewers (11.28m), adults 25-54 (4.6/11) and adults 18-49 (3.4/09).

PERSON OF INTEREST was first in households (9.1/14), viewers (14.92m), adults 25-54 (4.7/11) and second in adults 18-49 (3.3/09). PERSON OF INTEREST was up +5% in households (from 8.7/13), +4% in adults 25-54 (from 4.5/10), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/08) and added +520,000 viewers (from 14.40m, +4%) compared to the last first-run episode (on Jan. 19, 2011). PERSON OF INTEREST posted its best-ever deliveries in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

THE MENTALIST was first in households (8.5/14), viewers (13.54m), adults 25-54 (4.0/10) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08).

For the night, CBS was first in households (8.6/14), viewers (14.10m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.8/12, with FOX) and second in adults 18-49 (3.5/09).

Updated Thursday ratings will be available this afternoon.