Despite the predictable names on the already-disclosed list, Barbara Walters’ annual special pulled in nice numbers this Thursday night. The highly-promoted lovefest helped ABC win the demos while CBS was on top with the viewers.

8pm

• Survivor: Gabon (4.0/11 in 18-49) got 12.8 million caught up in the game.
• Ugly Betty (2.6/7) entertained 8.5 million.
• My Name is Earl (6.1 million, 2.5/7) was down 10%; Kath & Kim (4.9 million, 2.2/6) was off by 11%.
• Kitchen Nightmares* (1.5/4) cooked up 3.7 million.
• Smallville* (0.8/2) turned in 2.3 million.

9pm

• CSI (17.4 million, 4.6/11 in 18-49) was the night’s most-watched program.
• Grey’s Anatomy (15.2 million, 5.5/14) had Thursday’s best demos.
• The Office (4.3/11) made 8.3 million laugh; 30 Rock (3.4/8) registered 7.1 million.
• A second hour of Kitchen Nightmares* (4.1 million, 1.8/5) did better than the first.
• Supernatural* (2 million, 0.8/2) retained most of its lead-in.

10pm

• Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008 (4.2/11 in 18-49) had 13.2 million counting down.
• Eleventh Hour (2.7/7) raked in 10.9 million.
• ER (8.2 million, 3.2/9) fell by 10%.

*denotes repeat