Ratings Chart Attack!

NBC’s “30 Rock” welcomed guest star Oprah Winfrey last night, giving the show its second-highest rating ever and its best audience retention from lead-in “The Office” to date.

While avoiding “sleep crime,” “30 Rock” garnered a 3.9 rating/9 share in the adults 18- to 49-year-old demographic, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research data, declining 5% from last week’s series high.

“Rock” held on to 93% of its “Office” lead-in (4.2/10), which matched its season low.

“My Name Is Earl” (2.6/7), “Kath and Kim” 2.4/6) and “ER” (3.3/9) were around average. NBC placed third for Thursday with a 3.3/8.

CBS’ “Survivor” declined 7% week-to-week, holding at a 3.8 rating/10 share and drawing 12.2 million viewers.

It’s the show’s lowest Thursday numbers in the 18-49 demo, minus Thanksgiving and clip shows.

“CSI” (5.1/12, 18.1 million) grew 6% in adults 18-49, while “Eleventh Hour” (3.1/8, 11 million) increased 11%.

CBS won the night with a 4.0/10 and 13.8 million.

ABC’s “Ugly Betty” (2.7/7) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (5.9/14) were on par with last week’s numbers, but in their second week in sweeps, both shows are off substantially (“Betty” by 23% and “Grey’s” by 28%) from this time last year. “Life on Mars” (2.9/8) also fell from its average. ABC landed second for the night with a 3.9/10.

Fox (2.1/5) took fourth with two episodes of “Kitchen Nightmares” (2.0/5, 2.2/5), with its regularly scheduled 9 p.m. episode up 29% from last week.

The CW was fifth with “Smallville” (2.0/5, up 18%) and “Supernatural” (1.6/4, up one-tenth of a ratings point), putting in a nightly average of 1.8/4.

Now a word from ComaNaprasil: