“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” has brought CBS network 23.5 million people in front of their TV last week. This was the sitcom’s season premiere and it seems that CBS got itself a nice No. 1 place among all the big networks. In addition, this was the prime-time show to attract more than 20 million viewers, as Nielsen Media Research said on Tuesday.

CBS has all new more surprises for its viewers, as samplings for “Eleventh Hour” and “Life on Mars.” The last one will be aired by ABC and the two will compete at 10 p.m. on Thursday. Last season of “ER” from NBC got behind the track having fewer viewers even if there are the last episodes.

Even “Saturday Night Live” had only 10.9 million people in front on their TVs despite of the fact that the political special was the first of three leading up the election. All that NBC aired on Thursday was less interesting than what CBS had to offer.

Wednesday night lineup for ABC had troubles too. “Private Practice” had only 7.4 million viewers, while “Pushing Daisies” or “Dirty Sexy Money” didn’t even get to the 6 million mark. The CW had an idea to give the Sunday night lineup to Media Rights Capital, but it’s kind of tricky and concerning after “Easy Money” made only 753,000 viewers on a night which is supposed to be the most popular.

According to Nielsen Media research, all five important networks had 37.62 million viewers last week while the same 2007’s same week had more than 42.32 million viewers. It seems that this year’s political campaigns and the economic crisis led most of the viewers toward the news channels.