Re: CSI Ratings versus Grey's Anatomy
I think it's simply because the perception is that the younger crowd still watches Grey's more than CSI. Even if they get the same audience numbers, the age of the viewers is still important. They view those in the 18-49 crowd as having disposable income, and therefore the most valuable to advertisers.
As far as ET goes... I dunno. Again, they're a business too, and they want to show what sells. The fact is that CSI was never that kind of show. Yeah, they did interviews now and then, but it's not like with GA. People don't run up to each other in the hall and go, "OMGZ did you see Greg swab that semen stain??!!" "I know - and Warrick looked under the microscope!"
When CSI does personal storylines, sure, but not for their average episodes. There's more "gossip" for an average episode of GA.
Unfortunately, the gossip right now is, "This sucks". heh.
Staying under the radar publicity wise has probably been very, very important for CSI. Not having its stars run around and be featured in US Weekly, not having their every episode picked apart... it allows them to stay very big, but at the same time not kind of fall with the actions of one star (such as Isaiah Washington) or be trashed for a bad episode (though it sounds, at the moment, like all GA's episodes are being trashed).
CSI is the big silent winner.