Ratings report: 'ER' beats premieres of 'Life on Mars' and 'Eleventh Hour'

In its 15th and final season, NBC’s “ER” isn’t the fearsome competitor it once was. But on Thursday it looked tough enough against two new rivals, both Americanized versions of British cop dramas.

The 10 p.m. premieres of ABC’s “Life on Mars” –- an adaptation of the BBC cult hit about a time-traveling detective –- and CBS’ “Eleventh Hour” –- a sci-fi investigations drama imported from ITV –- tied with 11.6 million total viewers apiece, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. “ER” was third with 9.3 million.

But here’s the surprise: The aging “ER” narrowly won among the crucial demographic of adults ages 18 to 49 (3.9 rating/10 share versus 3.8/10 for “Mars”), suggesting that the ABC series faces a tough climb in luring those all-important young viewers. The fact that “Mars” –- ABC’s only new scripted series this fall -- fought to a draw with “Eleventh Hour” probably also means that the two similarly themed shows are cannibalizing each other’s audience at that hour.

Meanwhile, NBC’s new sitcom “Kath & Kim” –- an update on the Australian comedy –- won a distant second place in its time slot (3.2/9; 7.5 million viewers overall), while NBC’s premiere of “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday” was a surprisingly competitive No. 3 in a rough 9:30 time period (5.0/12; 10.6 million overall).

CBS easily won the night in both viewers and young adults, thanks to the strength of “Survivor: Gabon” (13.3 million) and the ninth-season premiere of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (23 million).

-- Scott Collins

(Photo courtesy NBC)

Comments

[Winnipeg]

Why is CSI a single line in this story? They got 23 Million viewers for their Season 9 premiere episode and beat their main competition Grey's Anatomy by a wide margin and you focus on ER (an old show on it's last season) beating two new shows with 9 million viewers. And,why, in your Catergories box don't you even list CSI or any of it's clones. CSI is one show that I make an effort to watch; I can't say that I ever made a effort to watch ER or Grey's

[kentb]

ERs last thursday episode seemed exceptional in production qualities(story, acting,directing). Angela Basset was a very positive addition. I guess that not winning for overall viewership says something about viewer demand. If I develop interest in the ER competition I imagine it will be available thru on demand cable services. Congrats to ER for a great effort.

[Jason]

Life on Mars is real good and funny KEEP WATCHING