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"The Big Bang Theory rose to beat off American Idol in total viewers and 18-49 demos last night, Nielsen overnight data indicates. When the pair clashed between 8pm and 8.30pm, Big Bang Theory had 16m (5.4) for CBS, ahead of American Idol&amp;#039;s 15.5m (4.8).   The Jim Parsons sitcom climbed 300k and two demo points week-on-week, but was still not the most-watched show of the evening. Over the entire 8pm hour, American Idol averaged 17m (5.4) for Fox, down on last week but enough to win the night. After Big Bang Theory, new CBS comedy Rob was steady at 8.30pm with 11.6m (3.5). Facing little competition in the 9pm hour, Fox&amp;#039;s The Finder soared to 8.5m (2.9), up a hefty 1.7m on its last episode. Meanwhile, The CW&amp;#039;s movie screening of The Covenant was seen by 1.3m (1.5). On NBC, The Firm climbed to 3.8m (1.0) in the 10pm hour, while 30 Rock amused 3.8m (1.6) at 8pm, and 4m (1.9) for its telecast at 9pm.  Elsewhere on the Peacock Network, Parks and Recreation fell to another all-time low of 3.5m (1.7), and an Up All Night repeat pulled in 3m (1.4) at 9.30pm. Old episodes of Person of Interest (10.5m/2.1) and The Mentalist (9.6m/1.9) helped CBS finish runner-up. Likewise, reruns of Wipeout (4.9m/1.5), Grey&amp;#039;s Anatomy (4m/1.3) and Private Practice (2.8m/0.9) secured ABC a respectable third place primetime finish. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/american-idol/news/a362543/big-bang-theory-achieves-victory-in-american-idol-clash/>