Ratings: Musical Grey's Hits A High Note

By Matt Webb Mitovich
JESSE WILLIAMS, SANDRA OH, KEVIN MCKIDD GREY'S ANATOMY - "Song Beneath the Song" - In a series first, the music that has been at the heart of the show and been beloved by fans comes to life for Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event. A cataclysmic event rattles the doctors of Seattle Grace to the core, as Callie, on the verge of an enormous life-changing moment with Arizona, envisions her hospital and friends as it has never-been-seen before. "Chasing Cars" (Snow Patrol), "How to Save a Life" (The Fray) and "The Story" (Brandi Carlile) are among the songs performed by the cast in one of the most special hours of "Greys Anatomy" yet, THURSDAY, MARCH 31 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/DANNY FELD) JESSE WILLIAMS, SANDRA OH, KEVIN MCKIDD

ABC's ratings gurus are surely singing this morning, given that the Grey's Anatomy "music event" — with 12.7 million total viewers and a 4.8 demo rating — delivered increases of 26 and 32 percent, respectively, over the show's week-ago outing. What's more, Grey's built audience over the hour and scored its most watched episode since the season premiere.

See what just a hint of promotion will get ya?

The Grey's Anatomy Music Event: Perfect Harmony, Or a Bit Off-Key? Vote!

Curiously, Private Practice somehow fumbled a full third of its engorged lead-in, going on to average 7.6 million viewers and a 2.8 rating (albeit numbers on par with its last outing).

Elsewhere on Thursday:

* American Idol's double-elimination results show drew 22 million viewers and a 6.7, up 7 percent week-to-week.

* The Big Bang Theory returned from its March Madness hiatus to 11.7 million viewers and a 3.6 demo rating, down a tad from its last fresh eppy.

* Coming off a Community repeat, NBC's soon-to-be-jettisoned Perfect Couples hit a series low 2.14 mil/1.0. I miss you already, Olivia Munn.

* In the 9 o'clock hour, CSI placed second with 12.5 million viewers and a 2.7 rating, down a bit on both counts. Fox's Mobbed thingamajig held onto about half of Idol's numbers, with 10.8 mil/3.8.

* The non-musical Mentalist was the night's most watched scripted series, with 13.86 million viewers, while its 2.8 rating this week edged out Private Practice.

What did you watch this Thursday?

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