NBC’s new single-camera comedy “The Office” won its 9:30 p.m. (ET) time period last Thursday in adults 18 to 49, edging out the premiere of Fox’s new multicamera teen comedy “Life on a Stick.”

“The Office” scored a 5.0 rating in adults 18 to 49, according to Nielsen Media Research. That was up 4 percent from its lead-in, “The Apprentice.” “Life on a Stick” scored a 4.0 in the demo, down 53 percent from the night’s No. 1 show in adults 18 to 49, “American Idol” (8.6).

Both shows may have benefited from series pre-emptions on CBS. Instead of its usual “Survivor,” “CSI” and “Without a Trace” lineup, CBS aired NCAA basketball and scored a 4.0 rating in the demo for the night, compared with Thursday winner NBC (5.2) and Fox (5.0).

“Office,” the American version of the critically acclaimed BBC series of the same name, got a special Thursday night premiere before its scheduled time period premiere Tuesday, March 29. “Stick” was scheduled to premiere Wednesday, March 23, but after an “Idol” voting snafu on Tuesday, Fox delayed “Stick’s” premiere by one day to accommodate an extra airing of the hit musical reality series. “Stick” is scheduled to air on Wednesdays starting this week.

In adults 18 to 34, “The Office” scored a 4.6 rating, while “Stick” came in with a 3.7. In persons 12 to 17 “Stick” prevailed in the time period, scoring a 3.2 rating. “Idol” won the night in teens with a 5.4, while “Stick” tied for No. 2 in the youthful demo with Fox’s 8 p.m. drama, “The O.C.”