‘Bionic Woman’ shows her strength

It was “Bionic Woman” vs. “Grey’s Anatomy” – and “Grey’s Anatomy” wasn’t even on.

“Bionic Woman,” the hip new remake of that ’70s show, starring Michelle Ryan, beat its heavy competition at 9 p.m. Wednesday in the key 18- to 49-year-old demographic that advertisers crave most. This despite going up against the much-hyped “Private Practice,” starring Kate Walsh.

However, that “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff earned its own bragging rights – it won the time slot in terms of overall viewers, according to Nielsen’s preliminary estimates. And ABC won the night overall among both total viewers and 18- to 49-year-olds, since “Dancing With the Stars” continued its strong three-night run, and the series premiere of “Dirty Sexy Money” did reasonably well against CBS’ “CSI: New York.”

The shows also bested other newcomers in the most competitive hour in the fall season – including CW’s “Gossip Girl” and Fox’s “Kitchen Nightmares” – as well as the CBS ratings stalwart “Criminal Minds.”

“Private Practice” had 14.24 million viewers, putting it on top, and 13% of 18- to 49-year-olds watching at that hour, compared to 13.59 million viewers for “Bionic Woman,” which pulled in 14% of those 18- to 49-year old eyeballs, according to Nielsen data. “Bionic Woman’s” debut is the best showing so far among the new crop of fall shows. And if the ratings continue to hold, its demographic victory in the 9 p.m. Wednesday time slot suggests that NBC’s attempt to leverage the success of “Heroes” with another sci-fi fantasy series could pay off. NBC has been languishing in its fourth-place slot when it comes to that 18- to 49-year-old slice of the demographic pie.

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 rene.lynch@latimes.com