Robin Williams Beats Michael J. Fox in First TV Ratings Battle With Help From Big Bang Theory, Glee Returns Down

The Crazy Ones, Williams' new CBS comedy, attracted 15.6 million viewers and a 4.0 rating, while NBC's The Michael J. Fox Show debuted to 7.3 million/2.1 rating

And the first round goes to Robin Williams!

Two of the entertainment industry's most beloved actors' new TV series went head-to-head on Thursday night, battling it out for ratings domination. Williams' new CBS comedy The Crazy Ones, which costars Buffy's Sarah Michelle Gellar, debuted to an impressive 15.6 million viewers and a 4.0 rating in the demo, while Michael J. Fox's new sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show's hour-long premiere garnered 7.3 million viewers and a 2.1 rating in the demo.

However, we feel the need to include an asterisik next to those numbers as Williams and Gellar received some help from some pretty popular nerds over at The Big Bang Theory...

Prior  to The Crazy Ones at 9 p.m., CBS wisely aired two new episodes of The Big Bang Theory, which brought in a whopping average of 18.9 million viewers and 5.5 demo rating, which is about a 20 percent and 11 percent increase over its previous premiere. Fox's lead-in Parks and Recreation attracted 3.3 million viewers and a 1.3 rating.

In our Save It or Sink It polls, 81.9 percent of you voted to "Save" The Crazy Ones, while The Michael J. Fox Show scored 73 percent "Save It."

As for CBS' other returning comedy, Two and a Half Men's premiere, which featured the debut of Amber Tamblyn as Charlie's (Charlie Sheen) daughter, did 11.5 million.

Glee's highly-anticipated return on Fox brought in 5.2 million viewers, which is down 20 percent from the season four opener.

Prior to Grey's Anatomy's season 10 opener, ABC re-aired Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s premiere ep, which brought in 5.2 million viewers. On Tuesday, S.H.I.E.L.D. debuted to 11.9 million viewers and a 4.6 rating, TV's best drama debut in four years. Superhero, indeed!

Shonda Rhimes' longrunning medical drama's two-hour return garnered 9.3 million viewers and a 3.4 demo rating, down from the season nine premiere. Next week, Rhimes' hit political soap Scandal takes over the 10 p.m. timeslot. On its new night, NBC's beloved family drama Parenthood drew 5.2 million/1.6 rating, down just slightly from last season's premiere.