Since Thursdays are turning into a quite interesting fight, I'm offering you some different spins on the numbers from that night. First, ABC's release:

For the second straight week, ABC qualified as the #1 network on Thursday night
among Adults 18-49, beating out CBS (6.2/16 vs. 6.0/16).  ABC was also the No. 1
network on the evening with Adults 18-34 (5.7/17) and in all key women
demographics: W18-34 (8.1/22), /W18-49 (8.7/21) & W25-54 (9.8/21). 

* ABC's new Thursday lineup is already delivering impressive returns, as the
Network is up by 9.5 million viewers (17.1 million vs. 7.6 million) and by 205%
in Adults 18-49 (6.7/18 vs. 2.2/6) over the first two Thursdays of last season. 

“Ugly Betty” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
From 8:00-9:00 p.m. ABC's debut telecast of “Ugly Betty” opened as the most-
watched new show of the season (any network), with 16.1 million viewers and a
4.9 rating, 14 share in Adults 18-49, taking a very strong second to CBS' time
period veteran “Survivor” on both counts.  From start to finish, “Ugly Betty”
saw its audience soar by 3.2 million viewers (14.5 million to 17.7 million) and
by 33% in Adults 18-49 (4.2/12 to 5.6/15)…edging out “Survivor” at 8:30pm in
viewers (17.7 million vs. 17.5 million) and Adults 18-34 (4.6/13 vs. 4.5/13). 
Incidentally, against “Betty” “Survivor” was down from last week in both viewers
and young adults.  “Ugly Betty” won its time period, beating “Survivor,” across
the women demographics: W18-34 (5.9/17 vs. 4.9/14), W18-49 (7.0/18 vs. 6.7/17) &
W25-54 (8.3/19 vs. 8.1/19). 

* The debut of “Ugly Betty” attracted ABC's largest audience with a scripted
program in the time period in nearly 11-1/2 years - since 4/27/95, with an
episode of “Matlock.”  No other regular scripted program has delivered a higher
Adult 18-49 rating for ABC in the Thursday 8 o'clock hour in more than 12 years
- since 8/25/94, with the series debut of “My So-Called Life.”

“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
For the second straight week, ABC's “Grey's Anatomy” beat CBS' “C.S.I.” to rank
No. 1 in the time period across the key adult demographics: AD18-34 (8.7/23),
AD18-49 (9.4/22) & AD25-54 (10.3/22).  In the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic,
“Grey's” beat “C.S.I.” by 19% (9.4/22 vs. 7.9/19). 

* For the second week in a row, ABC’s “Grey's Anatomy” stood as Thursday night's
No. 1 TV program in all key adult and women demographics.
 
* In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, “Grey's” is producing ABC's strongest
scripted series numbers in the time period in at least 15 years - since at least
September of 1991, the start of the Nielsen electronic database.

“Six Degrees” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's “Six Degrees” outpaced its CBS' drama
competition (“Shark”) among young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and across the key
women demographics.  In Adults 18-34, “Six Degrees” beat out “Shark” by 57%
(4.4/13 vs. 2.8/8). 

* On average in its first two telecasts, “Six Degrees” has improved ABC's
performance in the hour by 5.1 million viewers (11.7 million vs. 6.6 million)
and by 133% in Adults 18-49 (4.9/13 vs. 2.1/6) over the same nights last season.

Now here's CBS's treatment of the same night.

In the second match up of the season, CSI beat "Grey's Anatomy" in viewers and was the night's most watched program, SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS topped the highly promoted premiere of "Ugly Betty," and SHARK took a bite out of its competition, placing ahead of "ER" and "Six Degrees," leading CBS to a first place finish in viewers and adults 25-54, according to preliminary Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sept. 28.

CSI was first in viewers (23.49m), second in households (14.1/21), adults 25-54 (9.7/21) and adults 18-49 (7.9/19).   Compared to last week, CSI was up +3% in both households (from 13.7/21) and adults 18-49 (from 7.7/18), +2% in adults 25-54 (from 9.5/21) and added +910,000 viewers (from 22.58m, +4%). 

CSI moved ahead of "Grey's Anatomy" by +180,000 viewers (after trailing by -2.83m last week) and is now trailing the ABC drama by –0.8 rating points in households (from -2.1), -0.6 rating points in adults 25-54 (from -2.3) and -1.5 rating points adults 18-49 (from -3.3).   

        The third episode of SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS won its time slot in viewers (16.60m), adults 25-54 (7.1/18), adults 18-49 (5.8/16) and adults 18-34 (4.2/13).  Compared to last week and against the heavily promoted premiere of ABC's "Ugly Betty", SURVIVOR retained 98% of its household delivery (from 9.8/16), 93% of adults 25-54 (from 7.6/19), 89% in adults 18-49 (from 6.5/18), 93% in adults 18-34 (from 4.5/14) and 95% of viewers (from 17.43m).   

SURVIVOR: COOK ISLAND increased its delivery in the second half-hour:  +9% in households (10.0/16 from 9.2/15), +17% in both adults 25-54 (7.7/18 from 6.6/18) and adults 18-49 (6.3/16 from 5.4/16), +18% in adults 18-34 (4.5/13 from 3.8/12) and added +1.81m viewers (17.51m from 15.70m, +12%). 

At 10PM, SHARK won its time period in viewers (14.72m), was tied for first in households (9.5/16, with NBC), second in adults 25-54 (5.5/13) and third in adults 18-49 (4.2/11, -0.2 behind ABC).   Compared to last week's premiere, SHARK was up +2% in adults 18-49 (from 4.1/11) and even in adults 25-54 and viewers (from 14.74m).

For the night, CBS was first in households (11.1/17), viewers (18.27m), adults 25-54 (7.5/18) and second in adults 18-49 (6.0/16, -0.2 behind ABC).   

Update: For those of you tracking the ratings war on Thursday, "CSI" edged "Grey's Anatomy" in total viewers last night, while "Grey's" again had a sizable lead among viewers 18 to 49 years old. Both "CSI" and "Grey's" are still sizable hits, with close to 23.5 million viewers for the CBS show and about 23.3 million for "Grey's."

Going back to at least "China Beach," Marg Helgenberger has had a great face — beautiful but with a care-worn quality that doesn't hide the fact that she can also be tough as nails. "CSI" has been putting that look to good use in the two episodes this season, especially in Thursday's wrenching hour.

Over the years, "CSI" has been for me the kind of show "Law & Order" is for a lot of other people: something you don't necessarily seek out, but that you stop in for, have a good hour, then move on. But I've been watching "CSI" to see how it's doing as it battles "Grey's Anatomy," and getting drawn deeper into it,  even when it does things I don't like.

For one thing, did they really have to gun down Sam? ( A digression: If you're a fan of Scott Wilson, who has played Sam, check out "Junebug." It's pretty much Amy Adams's movie — and drags when she's not part of the action — but Wilson is wonderfully understated in a supporting role.) On the other hand, there's the elaborate, serialized mystery, the acting and the bursts of humor — I loved the singing of the cause of death. I don't need another hour of television, especially not in the overstuffed lineup on Thursday nights. But I'm not ready to give this one up yet.

When I mentioned in last night's post all the things I was watching or recording, I knew I had left something off the list. And it was "Shark," the James Woods drama that had its second airing last night. Woods is still great fun to watch, and the show emphasizes his nervous energy by having him and the camera in seemingly constant motion. It was also amusing to put Shark in the context of real-life Hollywood big shots, with Robert Shapiro and Wolfgang Puck in his poker game, and to see how the character is being molded more closely to Woods. The actor, for example, is a very serious poker player in real life.

But when you get past Woods, it's still not much of a show — way too glib in the way it wrapped up the case last night. If I was casting about for a show at 10 p.m. Thursday, I might check in with it again. But all the stuff I've recorded earlier in the evening is still sitting in the DVR as 10 o'clock arrives, so I don't really need another show in that hour.

I think "Survivor: Cook Islands" is in trouble. Tonight's episode ended the deliberate provocation of the racially divided tribes, turning the show into just plain "Survivor," and not great stuff at that. The eventual double cross that sent Cecelia packing was mildly entertaining but most of the episode dragged. And that's not very enticing when the competition includes "Earl/The Office," "Ugly Betty," "Smallville" — in other words, shows people can get passionate about.

We watched "Survivor" and then "Grey's Anatomy." I had already seen "Ugly Betty" and "Earl," and the DVR caught "CSI," "The Office," "Smallville," "Supernatural" and "Six Degrees." Maybe even more. It was an easy night to lose track. Anyway, "Grey's" made me feel as if its strengths are making its weaknesses more glaring.

The worst for me was Bailey's forgiving Izzie. First of all, no one should be forgiving Izzie. SHE KILLED A GUY. And I've had issues with the whole no-real-consequences for her going back to last season. Tonight's episode made that even worse. Nor should Bailey have to apologize for anything.

On a larger point, the medical characters have become so strong, and their stories sufficiently engrossing, that the patients just aren't that interesting. Last night's patients would not have been that exciting under most circumstances; we've seen the life-to-its-fullest bit before, and the bride noted that cases involving impaling have been around.

Good work, though, from Sara Ramirez, Chandra Wilson, Kate Walsh. The McSteamy surprise was pretty good, although I don't like the way it was played to let McDreamy off the moral hook. Better effort than usual from Ellen Pompeo, who is managing to look livelier than she did last season.

And deep bows of respect to the great Diahann Carroll as Burke's mom. Wonderful stuff with Cristina and with Burke. Nice use of Richard Roundtree, too; he's there, he's formidable and he needs few words to make an impact.

Last week, "The Office" did an episode that should rank among the greatest sitcom episodes of all time. This week, it was merely terrific: Michael and the wedding-dress comment, Angela's jealousy, the double date, the looks on Jim and Pam's faces after the phone call and then, to pay it all off, the scene with Jim in Michael's room, loaded with pain, bitterly funny. Talk to Roy, indeed.

And, as if that wasn't enough, the stains …

You've had a chance to see it. Comments welcome. And here's an odd one — in the form of a letter to Betty — that arrived in tonight's e-mail, clearly from someone who didn't see the braces as part of the show's overall exaggeration:

Dear Betty,
I saw you on Thursday and I want to be the first to congratulate you on joining the growing trend of more than one million adults with braces – you are well on your way to a healthy, beautiful smile.

Although most adults today opt for sleeker and less noticeable braces, it looks like you decided on the retro “railroad tracks” model. If you ever want to make a change, please feel free to contact me — or one of my 9,350 colleagues in the U.S. and Canada — at the American Association of Orthodontists. If you want to see the latest treatments we offer, or if you’d like to find an orthodontist near you, please visit us online at www.braces.org.

Good luck with the new job and keep smiling,
Donald R. Joondeph, DDS, MS
President
American Association of Orthodontists

As part of my moving into pop culture, I have a piece in today's Beacon Journal about Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise and whether personal controversy affects how we see performers in onscreen roles. (The answer, by the way, is yes in some cases.) You can find the column here.

Thursday is TV Mailbag day in the Beacon Journal, and today's entry is here.

Don't forget "Ugly Betty," which premieres tonight. (I've already expressed my admiration here and in the Beacon Journal, so I'll spare you reading it again.

Last spring, NBC announced it was holding "Crossing Jordan" for midseason. Then, as part of a schedule overhaul, it decided to bring it back after all, with the return planned for Oct. 20. Now that return has been put on hold while NBC tries to improve its ratings with … another game show. Here's the announcement:

One contestant will battle "the mob" of 100 others in an attempt to win $1 million in NBC's newest international game show import "1 vs 100," from Endemol USA, premiering its five-week run on Friday, October 13 (9-10 p.m.) following an original episode of "Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m. ET).

Following the series premiere, "1 vs 100" will air in its regular time slot on Fridays at 8 p.m. beginning October 20, leading into the return of "Las Vegas" (9-10 p.m. ET).  As a result, "Crossing Jordan" will rejoin the NBC schedule at a date to be announced later.   

The announcement was made today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"This entertaining game is a proven winner from Europe that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as the pressure builds with every question and the financial stakes grow higher," said Reilly.  "Bob Saget is the perfect host to keep things percolating without letting the excitement of so many people spin out of control."

Reilly continued:  "The introduction of this new show also allows us the luxury of saving such a proven and versatile series as 'Crossing Jordan' for use later in the season." (end announcement excerpt)

I'm not a fan of "Crossing Jordan," but I hear from a lot of them because its scheduling has been erratic. In fact, I was about to answer an e-mail about the show today — and to mention the Oct. 20 return, which NBC still had on its consumer Web site. Fortunately, a couple of brain cells remembered clicking past the "1 vs 100" release.

It hasn't been a great year for Harry Hamlin onscreen. Last spring he saw his "Veronica Mars" character done away with, and tonight he found himself in the bottom two on "Dancing With the Stars" along with Jerry Springer.

And we'll get to hear still more professions of disbelief from Springer, since not even Hamlin's having wife Lisa Rinna in his cheering section was enough to keep him from being told buh-bye.

Neither Hamlin nor Springer had had the lowest marks from the judges, who had been especially snippy during last night's performance show. (See my notes below.) So they must have ranked even lower with viewers.

Not that surprising, either. They've both lacked grace on the dance floor, especially with a lot of showmanship coming from other competitors — although Sara Evans is pretty bad, too. But, as one commentator noted during tonight's show, Evans seems to unbutton her top a little more every week — and some viewers are going to want to see how many buttons are left.

I am sitting here waiting for a conference call to start. Because I can't just sit for any length of time — you should see the ever-changing book stack in the bathroom — I have also been flipping through  Phil Rosenthal's book "You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom." Good book, no matter where you read it.

Rosenthal is, as the book's cover points out, creator and executive producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond," which was based not only on Ray Romano's life but on those of Rosenthal and the other writers. That should tell you he is funny. The book is also conversational — including swearing — and extremely informative about what it's like to write for television. Highly recommended. The book is from Viking, lists for $25.95 and is due in stores on Oct. 23.

Thanks for all the recent comments. Didn't get to much TV on Tuesday night — life keeps getting in the way — except for  "Dancing With the Stars." But that did raise a few questions:

What's with all the hostility toward Emmitt Smith?

Did they seriously think Sara Evans danced well, or were they just blinded by her cleavage? (It was quite a night for heaving bosoms, and not just hers.)

I know the show is deliberately kitschy, but what was going on with the women's costumes?

Have any of the judges actually seen pictures of Dorothy Dandridge?

In the end, last night felt like one where the judges — between cries of "no lifts!" — were trying to balance out the field, to keep the likes of Smith and Joey Lawrence from running away with the competition, and to bring Willa Ford and Evans back into serious contention. But they may just have been trying to fire up the audience — mobilizing the base for contestants either through ire (the judges slagged our favorite!) or enthusiasm (the people were like were called good tonight!). Then you get more votes and a bigger tune-in.

But come on, the lowest score of the night for Smith?

I've been working my way through some of last night's TV, which I missed because of a meeting and a need for sleep. The only thing I saw in real time was "Two and a Half Men." Funny still, good cameo from Mr. Tyler. (For some recent news about Tyler, see here.)

Caught up with "How I Met Your Mother." Some good parts — Barney is still one of TV's great characters — but mixed feelings about other things. Not a fan of the dramatic moments, as I have said before. And there was a point last night when I began to wonder if they've made Marshall the new Ted — writing all this wistful stuff for him because Jason Segel might manage to make it interesting. So far, not so good. Oh, and I had already watched "The Class," which still isn't giving me a reason to turn on the TV at 8.

And so to "The New Adventures of Old Christine," which went for a big jaw-dropping ending where Old Christine's date turns out to be the father of New Christine. Might have been funnier if I hadn't started thinking, didn't "Two and a Half Men" do something like this last season? In fact, it did a version that, if memory serves, was even more insanely complicated — Alan's ex dated the father of Alan's current girlfriend, whose mother spent some time (see how nicely I can do euphemism?) with Charlie.

I know that sitcoms borrow notions from each other all the time, but there should be some kind of rule about not grabbing an idea that's been done by the comedy that airs right before yours — especially when the lead-in comedy has been around longer and is more successful, so its viewers are probably yours, too.

Oh, well. Still waiting from last night: "7th Heaven." And it may wait awhile, since the TV and the DVR will be rolling tonight. ("House," "NCIS," "The Unit," "Dancing With the Stars," "Smith" …) Also, at some point I am going to have to come up with a new title for this blog, as it more clearly expands into pop culture. The best thing I have come up with so far is "Beacon Pop, Caffeine-Free." So, yes, I have to work on that…