CBS Tops Midweek Overnights; ‘American Crime’ Remains the Weak Link on ABC

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Note: The following ratings exclude the Philadelphia, Boston, St. Louis, Greensboro-High Point and Charlotte markets.

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 5.0 rating/8 share, NBC and Fox: 4.6/ 7 each, ABC: 4.0/ 6, CW: 1.5/ 2

Percent Change From the Year-Ago Week:
CBS: + 6, CW: no change, NBC: -12, ABC: -13, Fox: -42

Ratings Breakdown:
CBS topped this fourth Wednesday in February in the household overnights care of its combination of “Survivor” (#2: 5.2 rating/8 share), which was on par with its week-ago season opener, “Criminal Minds” (#2: 5.3/ 9) and the season (or series) finale of freshman drama “Code Black” (#2: 4.5/ 8). Comparably, household retention for “Code Black” out of the 9:30 p.m. portion of “Criminal Minds” (5.4/ 9) was solid at 83 percent and it trailed NBC’s competing “Chicago PD” (#1: 4.6/ 8) by only one-tenth of a rating point. In other words, my personal vote is for a second season renewal for “Code Black.”

As for “Survivor,” and speaking as a die-hard fan, last night’s tribal was one of the best I have ever seen. The clock keeps ticking on this ageless franchise.

Earlier in the evening on NBC was consistent overnight performances for “The Mysteries of Laura” (#3: 4.6/ 7 at 8 p.m.), which I have suggested could be a positive option for Friday next season, and “Law & Order: SVU” (#3: 4.6/ 7 at 9 p.m.).

Over at Fox, soon-to-conclude “American Idol” led the 8 p.m. hour with a 6.2/10 in the overnights into a 3.0/ 5 for “Hell’s Kitchen” at 9 p.m., which dipped by an extensive 52 percent. The reason for Fox’s steep year-to-year decline was because of the 9.2/14 for “Empire” on the year-ago evening.

On ABC, sophomore “American Crime” remained the network’s weak Wednesday link at a 2.7/ 5 at 10 p.m. The 8-10 p.m. comedy rotation – “The Middle” (#3t: 4.6/ 7), “The Goldbergs” (#4: 4./1 6), “Modern Family” (#1: 5.6/ 9) and “black-ish” (#3: 4.2/ 7) – was consistent. As much as I personally enjoy “The Middle,” Axl (Charlie McDermott) and Sue (Eden Sher) constantly returning home from college is just plain idiotic.

The CW capped off the night with dramas “Arrow” (#5: 1.9/ 3) and “Supernatural,” which were also consistent.

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