TV ratings: 'Splash' has a decent start Tuesday, 'NCIS: LA' spinoff strong

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The premiere of ABC's celebrity diving show "Splash" didn't score perfect marks in the ratings Tuesday, but it had a pretty decent start.

It finished second in its hour (behind "NCIS") in both viewers and adults 18-49, and ABC says it scored the best ratings for an unscripted series premiere since "The X Factor" in 2011. "Splash" and a "Dancing With the Stars" special also helped "Body of Proof" score its biggest audience of the season.

Elsewhere, "NCIS: Los Angeles" was steady with an episode that introduced a possible spinoff series, rising a little in viewers over its last new episode and holding even in the 18-49 demo. "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project" were steady for FOX.

CBS had its usual wide lead in total viewers averaging just under 15 million and a 9.5 rating/15 share in households in primetime. ABC (8.9 million, 5.7/9) was the best of the rest. FOX (4.3 million, 2.7/4) came in third, beating out NBC (2.9 million, 2.0/3). The CW trailed with 800,000 viewers and a 0.5/1.

CBS also led the 18-49 demographic with a 2.6 rating. ABC and FOX tied for second at 2.0. Neither NBC (0.9) nor The CW (0.3) could crack the 1.0 barrier.

Tuesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "NCIS" (19.1 million viewers, 12.0/19 households)
ABC: "Splash" series premiere (8.8 million, 5.4/9)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (4.85 million, 3.0/5)
NBC: "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (3.7 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: Special - "Justin Timberlake Album Release Party" (1.1 million, 0.7/1)

18-49 leader: "NCIS" (3.1)

9 p.m.

CBS: "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.6 million, 10.4/16)
ABC: "Dancing With the Stars: Exclusive First Look" (9.6 million, 6.2/10)
FOX: "New Girl" (4.2 million, 2.7/4)/"The Mindy Project" (3.2 million, 2.0/3)
NBC: "Go On" (2.9 million, 2.7/4)/"The New Normal" (2.1 million, 1.5/2)
The CW: "Beauty and the Beast" rerun (529,000, 0.4/1)

18-49 leader: "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2.8)

10 p.m.

CBS: "Golden Boy" (9.3 million, 6.1/10)
ABC: "Body of Proof" (8.25 million, 5.5/9)
NBC: "Smash" (2.65 million, 1.9/3)

18-49 leader: "Golden Boy" (1.7)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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