Thursday Overnights: CBS Wins; ‘Will & Grace’ Remains a Keeper on NBC

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 6.1/10, ABC: 4.1/ 7, NBC: 3.7/ 6, Fox: 2.5/ 4, CW: 1.1/ 2

Percent Change from Opening Thursday in 2016 – 9/21/16:
CBS: +11, Fox: + 9. ABC: + 5, NBC: + 3, CW: -15

-Ratings Breakdown:
The final “Thursday Night Football” match-up on CBS, Miami vs. Baltimore, kept the Eye net in the overnight winner’s circle. The Ravens’ 40 to 0 victory was below average, however, at an estimated 6.5 rating/11 share in the household overnights in primetime. Next week on CBS will be “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 p.m. into episode two of prequel “Young Sheldon” at 8:30 p.m., the season premieres of “Mom” and “Life in Pieces” from 9-10 p.m., and the series premiere of “S.W.A.T.” at 10 p.m.

On NBC, the return of “Will & Grace” remained a much needed success at a second-place 5.1/ 8 in the 9 p.m. half-hour. Comparably, that built from lead-in “The Good Place” (#3: 2.9/ 5 at 8:30 p.m.) by 76 percent. It was 13 percent above year-ago time period occupant “Chicago Med” (4.5/ 7 on 10/27/16). And it means more series are likely to be revived because of “Will & Grace.” For more on “Will & Grace,” click here

Earlier in the evening on NBC was underrated “Superstore” at a third-place 3.1/ 5 at 8 p.m. Sophomore “Great News,” unfortunately, continues to squander the lead-in support from “Will & Grace,” dropping by 45 percent with a fourth-place 2.8/ 5 at 9:30 p.m. And that led to a 4.2/ 7 (#2) for “Chicago Fire” at 10 p.m., which was 17 percent above “The Blacklist” on the year-ago evening (3.6/ 7 on 10/27/16).

Elsewhere, ABC scored a typical Thursday with its combination of “Grey’s Anatomy” (#1t: 5.6/ 9), the final season of “Scandal” (#3: 2.9/ 5) and “How To Get Away With Murder” (#3: 2.9/ 5). Fox newbie “The Orville” (#4: 2.9/ 5 at 9 p.m.) increased by 32 percent from lead-in “Gotham” (#4: 2.2/ 4 at 8 p.m.), which means a full season episode order is likely on its way. And The CW featured veteran “Supernatural” (#5: 1.2/ 2 at 8 p.m.) into relocated “Arrow” (#5: 1.0/ 2), which has lost steam since moving into the Thursday 9 p.m. ET hour.

What follows is the breakdown by half-hour for Thursday, October 26:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.8/10 (#1)
CBS – NFL Football Kickoff: 3.8/ 7 (#3)
NBC – “Superstore”: 3.1/ 5 (#3)
Fox – “Gotham”: 2.2/ 4 (#4)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.2/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.4/ 9 (#2)
CBS – Thursday Football (Miami Dophins vs. Baltimore Ravens): 6.2/11 (#1)
NBC – “The Good Place”: 2.9/ 5 (#3)
Fox – “Gotham”: 2.1/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.2/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Scandal”: 4.0/ 6 (#3)
CBS – Thursday Football (Miami Dophins vs. Baltimore Ravens): 6.7/11 (#1)
NBC – “Will & Grace”: 5.1/ 8 (#2)
Fox – “The Orville”: 2.8/ 5 (#4)
CW – “Arrow”: 1.0/ 2 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Scandal”: 3.8/ 6 (#3)
CBS – Thursday Football (Miami Dophins vs. Baltimore Ravens): 7.3/12 (#1)
NBC – “Great News”: 2.8/ 5 (#4)
Fox – “The Orville”: 2.9/ 5 (#3)
CW – “Arrow”: 0.9/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “How to Get Away With Murder”: 3.0/ 5 (#3)
CBS – Thursday Football (Miami Dophins vs. Baltimore Ravens): 6.1/10 (#1)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 4.2/ 7 (#2)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “How to Get Away With Murder”: 2.8/ 5 (#3)
CBS – Thursday Football (Miami Dophins vs. Baltimore Ravens): 6.1/11 (#1)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 4.2/ 8 (#2)

Source: Nielsen Media Research