Modest Return for Fox’s ‘Prison Break’

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 7.2/12, NBC: 4.2/ 7, ABC: 2.4/ 4, Fox: 2.0/ 3, CW: 0.9/ 2

-Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
ABC: +20, CBS: + 3, CW: no change, NBC: -12, Fox: -47

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Ratings Breakdown:
Ignited by “NCIS,” CBS led this first Tuesday in April in the household overnights, besting No. 2 NBC by 71 percent. But the more interesting news, and I would not call it positive, was the return of Fox drama “Prison Break” after an eight year absence.

“Prison Break” finished a distant second in the 9 p.m. hour, with a 2.5 rating/4 share in households from 9-10 p.m. Comparably, that was 79 percent above already renewed lead-in “The Mick” (#4: 1.4/ 2 at 8:30 p.m.). And it actually built by one-tenth of a rating point in the second half-hour (2.5 to 2.6). But this was also 65 percent below competing “Bull” on CBS (#1: 7.3/12). While the variation between the two dramas will certainly be smaller in adults 18-49 (and all the key demos), a 2.5 rating in the overnights amid the hype and promotion is just plain disappointing. Let’s now wait and see what the DVR usage looks like.

Opposite “Prison Break” was the time period premiere of ABC sitcom “Imaginary Mary,” which scored a modest 2.2/ 4 at 9:30 p.m. (#3). Comparably, that slipped from lead-in “Fresh off the Boat” (#3t: 2.5/ 4 at 9 p.m.) by 12 percent. And The CW opened the new season of drama ‘iZombie,” which at a mere 0.7/ 1 at 9 p.m. was 12 percent below the 0.8/ 1 in the year-ago evening.

Aforementioned “NCIS” topped the evening with an 8.6/15 at 8 p.m. NBC’s competing “The Voice,” which is a lock for dominance in all the key demos, was second with a 6.1/10. Next was ABC comedies “The Middle” (#3: 3.7/ 6) and “American Housewife” (#3: 3.0/ 5). Comparably, “The Middle” outdelivered the season (or series) finale of “New Girl” on Fox (#4: 1.5/ 3) by a hefty 147 percent. For my rationale why it is time for Fox to cancel “New Girl,” click here http://www.campaignlive.com/article/fence-tv-shows-broadcast-keep-cancel/1429597

Elsewhere, two more episodes of NBC sitcom “Trial & Error” could not compete, with a 2.6/ 4 in the 9 p.m. half-hour (#2) and a 1.9/ 3 at 9:30 p.m. (#4). Comparably, that 2.6 household overnight rating at 9 p.m. slipped from the 8:30 p.m. portion of “The Voice” (6.3) by 59 percent.

Tops at 10 p.m. was “NCIS: New Orleans” on CBS at a 5.7/10, followed by NBC’s “Chicago Fire” (4.1/ 7) and “Agents of SHIELD” on ABC (1.5/ 3). Comparably, look for a time period victory in adults 18-49 for “Chicago Fire.”

What follows are the household overnight results for Tuesday, April 4 by half-hour:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “The Middle”: 3.7/ 6 (#3)
CBS – “NCIS”: 8.5/15 (#1)
NBC – “The Voice”: 5.9/10 (#1)
Fox – “New Girl”: 1.5/ 3 (#4)
CW – “D.C.’s Legends of Tomorrow”: 1.2/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “American Housewife”: 3.0/ 5 (#3)
CBS – “NCIS”: 8.7/14 (#1)
NBC – “The Voice”: 6.3/10 (#1)
Fox – “The Mick”: 1.4/ 2 (#4)
CW – “D.C.’s Legends of Tomorrow”: 1.1/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Fresh Off the Boat”: 2.5/ 4 (#3t)
CBS – “Bull”: 7.3/12 (#1)
NBC – “Trial & Error”: 2.6/ 4 (#2)
Fox – “Prison Break” (season premiere): 2.5/ 4 (#3t)
CW – “iZombie” (season premiere): 0.7/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Imaginary Mary” (time period premiere): 2.2/ 4 (#3)
CBS – “Bull”: 7.1/12 (#1)
NBC – “Trial & Error”: 1.9/ 3 (#4)
Fox – “Prison Break” (season premiere): 2.6/ 4 (#2)
CW – “iZombie” (season premiere): 0.6/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “Agents of SHIELD”: 1.6/ 3 (#3)
CBS – “NCIS: New Orleans”: 5.9/10 (#1)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 4.1/ 7 (#2)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “Agents of SHIELD”: 1.4/ 3 (#3)
CBS – “NCIS: New Orleans”: 5.6/10 (#1)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 4.2/ 8 (#2)

Source: Nielsen Media Research