Tuning In to TV

‘Rock’ opener down

Despite winning yet another comedy series Emmy less than a month ago, viewership was down for NBC’s “30 Rock” season opener on Thursday compared to 2008, on a night when ABC topped the pivotal 18-to-49 demographic and CBS won in overall viewers.

According to Variety, citing preliminary nationals from Nielsen, “30 Rock” had 6.3 million viewers overall and lost viewers from its 9 p.m. lead-in, “The Office” (with 8.1 million viewers). Those numbers, however, could be affected by results of TBS’ broadcast of the Dodgers and Phillies baseball playoff game.

On the other hand, time slot rival “Grey’s Anatomy” (with 13.6 million) viewers) was ABC’s top performer of the night among 18-to-49-year-olds, while CBS’ “CSI” with 15.1 million) was first in overall viewers.

Fox’s “Fringe” (6 million) and the CW’s “Supernatural” (2.6 million) rounded out the 9 p.m. hour.

It was a similar story at 10 p.m., with ABC’s “Private Practice” (10.4 million) winning in the demographic and CBS’ “The Mentalist” (14.4 million) winning in overall viewers. “The Jay Leno Show” (5.2 million) showed a slight bump from the previous week for NBC, Variety said.

There was also consistency at 8 p.m. compared with a week earlier for CBS’ “Survivor” (11.9 million), ABC’s “FlashForward” (9.1 million) and the NBC sitcom “Community” (5.1 million). However, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” (4.7 million) and Fox’s “Bones” (9.1 million) had slight drops, while CW freshman favorite “The Vampire Diaries” delivered its best performance since its early September season premiere with 3.9 million viewers.

‘DWTS’ lauds

“Dancing With the Stars” says it plans to honor Michael Jackson with a special performance by the 16 professional dancers participating in this season’s competition.

According to Associated Press, Tuesday’s show will pay tribute to the King of Pop with a medley of Jackson songs representing different eras of his long career, in a fusion of classic ballroom and Latin styles.

One member of the “Dancing With the Stars” troupe, Cheryl Burke, says Jackson and his music are “an inspiration to every dancer.” Being part of this tribute “is an honor,” she says.

The program airs at 9 p.m. on WJLA-ABC-7.

‘Rivers’ admits Patinkin

Emmy winner Mandy Patinkin is returning to CBS, but he won’t be solving crimes or healing sick people.

The former “Criminal Minds” and “Chicago Hope” star will make a guest appearance on the network’s new medical drama “Three Rivers” later this fall, says Zap2it.com. He’ll be playing an ALS patient who, after a car crash, asks to be taken off life support so others can use his organs.

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