What’s your must-see TV Thursday at 10 p.m.? A look at one week, by the numbers

When NBC announced it would move 30 Rock to 10 p.m. Thursdays in 2011, comedy fans breathed a sigh of relief that they wouldn't have to see their Emmy-winning darling go up against, and get beaten by, $#*! My Dad Says on CBS.

But have they seen the competition at 10 p.m. Thursday in January and February 2011? 30 Rock has it even rougher, ratings-wise, to fight for viewers. Your DVR and/or TiVo might be giving you fits as you try to figure out what to watch live, what to record, and what to wait for in later rebroadcasts on TV or online.

Just look back one week.

What were you watching last Thursday? Survey says…

The Mentalist (repeat on CBS): 10.111 million viewers (1.9/5 rating in ages 18-49)

Jersey Shore (MTV): 8.833 million viewers (4.5/13 in 18-49)

30 Rock (NBC): 4.922 million viewers (2.4/7 in 18-49)

Fairly Legal (USA): 4.095 million (1.0/3)

Beyond Scared Straight (A&E): 3.418 million (1.5/4)

Private Practice (repeat on ABC): 3.332 million (1.0/3)

NBA on (TNT) Miami Heat at New York Knicks: 2.784 million (1.1/3)

TNA: Impact (SPIKE): 1.934 million (.6/2)

Archer (FX): 1.529 million (.7/2)

Greta Van Susteren (FOX News): 1.524 million

Brad Meltzer's Decoded (HISTORY): 1.441 million viewers (.6/2)

Winter X Games Day 1 (ESPN): 1.279 million (.7/2)

Ed Show (MSNBC): 848,000

Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN): 459,000

Joy Behar Show (HLN): 369,000

This list doesn't include Bravo, which has Real Housewives new/rebroadcasts in that hour, nor what's on all of the other channels. But these are the biggies. And as you can see, 30 Rock and Archer have their work cut out for them week-in, week-out.

How do you map out your TV viewing at 10 p.m. Thursday?

(H/T to TVNewser and Travis Yanan)

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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