CBS's BIG BANG THEORY Is Thursday's #1 Program in Key Demo

THE BIG BANG THEORY was Thursday's #1 program in adults 18-49, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT posted week-to-week growth, PERSON OF INTEREST placed first in viewers and THE MENTALIST was first in viewers and key demographics, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for April 26.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (7.7/13, 12.52m) was first in adults 25-54 (5.4/15), adults 18-49 (4.0/13) and adults 18-34 (2.6/09). THE BIG BANG THEORY was the night's top program in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was second in households (5.0/08), viewers (8.35m), adults 25-54 (3.6/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07). Compared to last week, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was up +6% in households (from 4.7/08), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 3.1/09), +14% in adults 18-49 (from 2.2/07) and added +780,000 viewers (from 7.57m, +10%).

PERSON OF INTEREST was first in households (7.7/12), viewers (12.50m), second in adults 25-54 (3.6/08) and adults 18-49 (2.4/06).

THE MENTALIST was first in households (7.4/12), viewers (11.85m), adults 25-54 (3.2/08) and tied for first in adults 18-49 (2.1/06, with ABC).

For the night, CBS was first in households (7.2/12), viewers (11.60m), second in adults 25-54 (3.8/09, -0.1 behind FOX) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07). CBS won the first Thursday in the May sweep in viewers for the first time since 2010.