Ratings Chart Attack!

Barbara Walters’ “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008,” which crowned President-elect Barack Obama as No. 1 on the list, helped lift ABC to its best Thursday ratings performance since premiere week in late September.

ABC’s “Fascinating” posted a 4.2 rating/11 share in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research data. The show landed very close to its performance last year, down two-tenths of a ratings point.

For a little background, “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling topped Ms. Walters’ list last year, with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi claiming the top spot in 2006.

“Ugly Betty” (2.6/7) was in line with its last original performance, while “Grey’s Anatomy” (5.5/14) chalked up its worst original rating ever outside of clip shows and Thanksgiving airings.

ABC placed first for the night with a 4.1/11 and second in viewers with 12.3 million.

“CSI” on CBS bottomed out in adults 18-49 with a 4.6/11, its worst original Thursday showing ever, excluding Thanksgiving. The show drew 17.4 million viewers.

“Survivor” (4.0/11, 12.8 million) matched its pre-Thanksgiving showing, while “Eleventh Hour” (2.7/7, 10.9 million) dipped to its lowest rating of the season.

CBS placed second in adults 18-49 with a 3.8/10 and first in total viewers with 13.7 million.

NBC’s Thursday fell in line with its pre-Thanksgiving showing, with “My Name Is Earl” (2.5/7), “Kath and Kim” (2.2/6), “The Office” (4.3/11), “30 Rock” (3.4/8) and “ER” (3.2/9) ending up nearly on par with their last original episodes. NBC took third with a 3.1/8.

Fox and The CW were in repeats, ending fourth and fifth with an average 1.7/4 and 0.8/2, respectively.