• by Wayne Friedman , October 15, 2010

NBC's special live Thursday night "30 Rock" surged ratings up 43% versus the week before -- but the comedy still didn't win its time period.

NBC's "30 Rock" rose to a Nielsen preliminary 3.0 rating/9 share among the 18-49 crowd. But the show couldn't beat "$#*! My Dad Says" on CBS, which posted a 3.1/9 in the 8:30 p.m. time period.

The new CBS show is still getting a major shot in the arm from "Big Bang Theory," which registered a 4.1 rating/13 share at 8 p.m,, up from a 4.0 rating the week before. But "Dad" had some movement of its own -- climbing 11% from the previous week's results.

The special NBC event did boost its Thursday night fortunes overall -- up 14% from a week ago to a 2.4/7 from a 2.1 rating. Its 8 p.m. "Community" grew 22% to a 2.2/7.

Overall, CBS improved its Thursday performance week-to-week; while ABC, its nearest competitor, remained at the same levels. CBS climbed to a Thursday average 3.3/10 from a 3.1 average rating. ABC stayed the same with a 2.9/8 from the previous week.

CBS got stronger results from its 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows -- "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" grew 15% to a 3.1/8 and "The Mentalist" went 10% higher to a 3.3/9.

ABC still had the best-rated show "Grey's Anatomy", which stayed the same at a 4.5/12 at 9 p.m. The network's "Private Practice" was its star performer of the night: up 7% to a 3.1/9.

Fox stayed the same week-to-week, at a 2.3/7. "Bones" came in with an identical 2.6/8, and "Fringe" was the same as a week ago at 2.0/5.

The CW has already moved into repeats with "Vampire Diaries" and "Nikita," thus giving back about half its ratings results from the week before, at a 0.7/2 versus a 1.4/4 among 18-49 viewers. Its key 18-34 audience results went in the same direction, earning a 0.7/2 this particular Thursday.

In the race for the 18-34 audience, ABC led with a 2.7/8; NBC was next at a 2.6/8; followed by CBS and Fox at a 2.0/6; then Univision at 1.9/6.