• by Wayne Friedman , April 5, 2013

CBS' "Big Bang Theory" continues to have its way with Fox's "American Idol" on Thursday.

The big CBS comedy beat Fox's singing competition show by over two Nielsen rating points among 18-49 viewers -- a 5.2 rating/17 share to "Idol" at 2.9/9. It was just a tick above "Idol"'s lowest rating ever,  which it achieved a week before, while CBS ran its NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament.

"Theory" was up almost half a rating point from its last original on March 14, a 4.8/16. CBS's "Two and a Half Men," which followed "Theory," also gained. It was the second-best-rated show of the night at a 3.9/12, up from its 3.4/11 in its last original episode outing.

Fox's "New Girl " -- which came on after "Idol" -- got to a 2.0/6, down almost 10% from its last original episode. Fox's "The Mindy Project," which followed, reached a 1.3/4 -- the same numbers as its last original.

ABC continued to do well in the 10 p.m. slot with "Scandal" at a 2.6/8, at the same level as a week ago. CBS' "Elementary" was in second place in the time period at a 2.1/6, which tied its series low.

NBC's debut of "Hannibal" was only off a modest rating point at 10 p.m. -- a 1.6/5. Its early evening comedies continued to struggle collectively: "Community" at 1.0/3; "Parks & Recreation" with 1.5/5; "The Office" at 1.8/5; and "Go On" earning 1.1/3.

CBS easily won the night among 18-49 viewers with a 3.1/6, followed by Fox at a 2.3/7; ABC with a 2.2/7; Univision at a 1.5/4; NBC with a 1.4/4; and CW at a 0.3/1.

CBS and Fox tied for first among younger 18-34 viewers, at a 1.9/7 rating with ABC in third place, a 1.8/6.