Thursday Overnights: ABC’s ‘Quantico’ Season Opener Left at the Starting Gate

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 5.2/ 9, ABC: 3.6/ 6, Fox: 3.1/ 5, NBC: 2.2/ 4, CW: 0.9/ 1

-Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
Fox: +107, CBS: +21, CW: +12, ABC: – 3, NBC: -27

Ratings Breakdown:
CBS’ 8-9 p.m. combination of “The Big Bang Theory” (#1 for the night: 8.0 rating/14 share) and prequel spin-off “Young Sheldon” (#1: 7.1/12) led the Eye net to a typical Thursday overnight victory, last night besting No. 2 ABC by 44 percent in households.

In season-premiere news, ABC drama “Quantico” was left at the starting gate, with a mere 2.0/ 4 in the household overnights at 10 p.m. Comparably, that slipped from lead-in “Station 19” (#2: 3.7/ 6 at 9 p.m.) by 46 percent, and it trailed competing “Chicago Fire” on NBC (#1: 3.8/ 7) and “S.W.A.T.” on CBS (#2: 3.4/ 6) by 47 percent and 41 percent, respectively. “Quantico” was also nine percent below year-ago time period occupant “The Catch” (2.2/ 4 on 4/27/17).

Earlier in the evening on ABC was veteran “Grey’s Anatomy” at a consistent (and second place) 5.0/ 8 from 8-9 p.m.

Also on CBS was the 9-10 p.m. combination of sitcoms “Mom” (#1: 5.5/ 9) and “Life in Pieces” (#1: 4.0/ 7), which have both benefited from the improved lead-in support from “Young Sheldon” at 8:30 p.m.

Elsewhere, Fox populated the evening with night one of the 2018 NFL Draft, which averaged a 3.1/ 5 from 8-10 p.m. NBC was basically off the overnight charts with its 8-10 p.m. comedy combination of “Superstore” (#4: 2.0/ 3), “A.P. Bio” (#4: 1.2/ 2), a repeat of “Will & Grace” (#4: 1.4/ 2) and “Champions” (#4: 1.1/ 2). Needless to say, both “A.P. Bio” and “Champions” have no shot at a second season. And The CW featured “Supernatural” (#5: 1.0/ 2) and “Arrow” (#5: 0.8/ 1), which both are confirmed to return next season.

What follows are the household overnight ratings for Thursday, April 5 broken out by half-hour:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.1/ 9 (#2)
CBS – “The Big Bang Theory”: 8.0/14 (#1)
NBC – “Superstore”: 2.0/ 3 (#4)
Fox – 2018 NFL Draft: 3.1/ 6 (#3)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.0/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 4.9/ 8 (#2)
CBS – “Young Sheldon”: 7.1/12 (#1)
NBC – “A.P. Bio”: 1.2/ 2 (#4)
Fox – 2018 NFL Draft: 3.2/ 6 (#3)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.0/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Station 19”: 3.7/ 6 (#2)
CBS – “Mom”: 5.5/ 9 (#1)
NBC – “Will & Grace” (R): 1.4/ 2 (#4)
Fox – 2018 NFL Draft: 3.1/ 5 (#3)
CW – “Arrow”: 0.8/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Station 19”: 3.7/ 6 (#2)
CBS – “Life in Pieces”: 4.0/ 7 (#1)
NBC – “Champions”: 1.1/ 2 (#4)
Fox – “Showtime at the Apollo”: 2.0/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Arrow”: 0.7/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “Quantico” (season premiere): 2.1/ 4 (#3)
CBS – “S.W.A.T.: 3.5/ 6 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 3.8/ 7 (#1)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “Quantico” (season premiere): 1.9/ 4 (#3)
CBS – “S.W.A.T.: 3.3/ 6 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 3.9/ 7 (#1)

Source: Nielsen Media Research