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'Grey's Anatomy' Beats 'CSI' in Ratings


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NEW YORK (AP) - The new TV season's biggest faceoff so far went to the randy doctors. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" beat CBS'"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," for years TV's most popular drama and leader of its own franchise, in their first competition.

"Grey's Anatomy" had 25.4 million viewers for its season premiere, compared to 22.6 million for "CSI" in the same 9 p.m. time slot, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's a sharp drop from last year, when more than 29 million people tuned in to the "CSI" season premiere.

ABC, owned by the Walt Disney Co., has heavily promoted the move of "Grey's Anatomy" from Sundays. It's always risky to move a show, but the potential payoff is big: Thursday is considered the most lucrative night in the television business, primarily because movie companies are looking to advertise right before the weekend.

It was ABC's best Thursday night with entertainment programming since May 2000, the network said.

There were mixed results for all the networks throughout the night. NBC's venerable "ER" came back to win its 10 p.m. time slot with 15.6 million viewers, no small feat considering both CBS (owned by CBS Corp. (CBS)) and ABC premiered new dramas with powerful lead-ins then.

CBS' lawyer drama "Shark" was second with 14.7 million while the ABC drama "Six Degrees" had 12.6 million. In both cases, particularly "Six Degrees," there was a large drop in viewers during the second half-hour, an indication of people who didn't like what they saw. CBS, meanwhile, was pleasantly surprised that "Survivor: Cook Island," with 17.4 million, held up against strong competition. ABC ran a clip show of "Grey's Anatomy" in that time slot that drew 13.7 million viewers.

Things are looking good. I was cared that the #1 show on TV would beat the crap out of Grey's. Whoohooo!

Damn. Although the CSI premiere wasn't all that exciting except for the last 5 minutes, which was waayyy freaky! But 22 mil really isn't that bad compared to 25 mil. Close competition.

I was stunned. It trounced CSI in everything. 18-49: 11.0 vs 7.7 rating; total viewers: 25.41 to 22.57; HH: 15.8 to 13.7 rating; 25-54: 11.8 to 9.5 rating.

Only thing I expected GA to win was 18-49. Historic night in television. Tides are changing again on Thursdays.

And the episode was GREAT, too!

:banana: :thumbsup:

ALRIGHT!!!!! GO GREY'S!!!!

total viewers: 25.41 to 22.57

I wouldn't exactly call that set "trounced." Trounced would be if like, Grey's had 29 and CSI had 15. Because that would be a HUGE fall for CSI. But CSI is also coming off a terrible season finale, so some erosion may have come from fed up CSI fans.

Seems like good, close competition.

Total viewers was probably the closest thing. Everything else Grey domimated. Grey was not expected to win total viewers, but did by 3 million.

I wouldn't exactly call that set "trounced." Trounced would be if like, Grey's had 29 and CSI had 15. Because that would be a HUGE fall for CSI. But CSI is also coming off a terrible season finale, so some erosion may have come from fed up CSI fans.

Seems like good, close competition.

It didn't occur to me Grey's was going to win in total viewers until Last Thursday when I was watching CSI Finale Encore... and seeing the great promotion job ABC put into Grey's Anatomy.. and not to mention, one awesome 2 hour finale.. then it occured to me.. ABC made the right move and was going to win the hour.

I was very surprised this happened(I follow the ratings very closely every day, even when there's nothing big to report). I expected, like Pav, for Grey's to be a close 2nd but win in 18-49. I NEVER thought they'd beat CSI. It's amazing and unreal.

I guess I'm one of the few who WASN'T surprised? Grey's is HUGE now. I had no doubt they'd beat CSI.

It is like an upset. CSI rules that 9 p.m. slot. It has for years and nothing came close to it really. CSI usually gets 27-30 million easily. For GA to come in like that and win on the first try is amazing.

SOMEONE had to knock CSI off its high horse!!

SOMEONE had to knock CSI off its high horse!!

American Idol did last year, now Grey's is. Things are looking good!

This is great news that Grey's Anatomy beat CSI in the ratings