Robin Williams TV comeback, 'The Crazy Ones,' brings in 15.6 million viewers

The television landscape may have changed dramatically since Robin Williams' last small screen project, 1978's "Mork and Mindy," but it looks like the 62-year-old actor has another hit on his hands with CBS' "The Crazy Ones."

Starring Williams as the kooky owner of an ad agency and Sarah Michelle Gellar as his more conventional daughter, the sitcom won the Thursday night ratings battle with 15.6 million viewers -- thanks in large part to a huge lead-in from "The Big Bang Theory."

Williams return to television has been pegged in competition with Michael J. Fox's comeback, "The Michael J. Fox Show," which earned a respectable 7.2 million viewers.

Though he hasn't starred in a television series since the early 1980s, Williams can relate to his new role.

Simon's "kind of similar to me," Williams said in a recent interview with USA Today. "I think he's had a very interesting life, multiple marriages, rehab. He's an idea guy trying to be relevant in these times. In an age of social networking, he's trying to catch up, literally."

Despite his hopes for success, Williams told CBS Los Angeles that he remembered a time when their were only three networks.

“It’s weird being back on TV,” he said.