Thursday Overnights: Mixed Results for the New Midseason Series

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 5.5/10, ABC: 4.1/ 7, NBC: 2.5/ 4, Fox: 1.8/ 3, CW: 1.0/ 2

-Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
CBS: +22, CW: no change, ABC: – 5, Fox: -10, NBC: -11

Ratings Breakdown:
The household overnight results were mixed for the recent trio of new Thursday night scripted network entries. Week two of “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off “Station 19” on ABC was consistent at a second-place 4.0 rating/7 share in households in the 9 p.m. hour (which last week translated into 5.34 million viewers and a 1.1 rating/5 share, based on the Live+Same Day data). Comparably, that was 25 percent below its “Grey’s Anatomy” lead-in (#2: 5.3/ 9 from 8-9 p.m.) and it led into a third-place 3.0/ 6 for relocated (and soon-to-conclude) “Scandal” at 10 p.m.

The two new NBC comedies, “A.P. Bio” at 8:30 p.m. and “Champions” at 9:30 p.m., were off the overnight charts, each with a 1.4/ 2 in households. Comparably, “A.P. Bio” dipped by 33 percent from lead-in “Superstore” (#3: 2.1/ 4 in the 8 p.m. half-hour), and “Champions” was 52 percent below “Will & Grace” at 9 p.m. (#3: 2.9/ 5).

Despite the minimal lead-in support, “Chicago Fire” perked up to a dominant 3.6/ 6 in the household overnights at 10 p.m.

As always, “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS topped the night, with a rock-solid 8.7/16 at 8 p.m. And that led into a very dominant 7.5/13 for prequel “Young Sheldon” at 8:30 p.m., which has held more of the “Big Bang” lead-in this season than any other show in the past.

Next on the Eye net was “Mom” at a first-place 5.6/10 in the 9 p.m. half-hour, which has clearly benefited with stronger lead-in support, followed by “Life in Pieces” at a 4.0/ 7 (#2) at 9:30 p.m. At 10 p.m. on CBS was recently renewed “S.W.A.T.” at a 3.5/ 6 (#2) at 10 p.m.

Elsewhere, Fox could not compete with its pairing of “Gotham” (#3: 1.8/ 3 at 8 p.m.) and “Showtime at the Apollo” (#4: 1.9/ 3 at 9 p.m.). And The CW featured “Supernatural” (#5: 1.2/ 2 at 8 p.m.) and “Arrow” (#5: 0.8/ 1 at 9 p.m.), which are both expected back next season.

What follows are the household overnight ratings for Thursday, March 29 broken out by half-hour:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.4/10 (#2)
CBS – “The Big Bang Theory”: 8.7/16 (#1)
NBC – “Superstore”: 2.1/ 4 (#3)
Fox – “Gotham”: 1.9/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.2/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.2/ 9 (#2)
CBS – “Young Sheldon”: 7.5/13 (#1)
NBC – “A.P. Bio”: 1.4/ 2 (#4)
Fox – “Gotham”: 1.8/ 3 (#3)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.2/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Station 19”: 4.0/ 7 (#2)
CBS – “Mom”: 5.6/10 (#1)
NBC – “Will & Grace”: 2.9/ 5 (#3)
Fox – “Showtime at the Apollo”: 1.8/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Arrow”: 0.8/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Station 19”: 4.1/ 7 (#1)
CBS – “Life in Pieces”: 4.0/ 7 (#2)
NBC – “Champions”: 1.4/ 2 (#4)
Fox – “Showtime at the Apollo”: 2.0/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Arrow”: 0.8/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “Scandal” (time period premiere): 3.1/ 6 (#3)
CBS – “S.W.A.T.”: 3.6/ 6 (#1t)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 3.6/ 6 (#1t)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “Scandal” (time period premiere): 2.9/ 6 (#3)
CBS – “S.W.A.T.”: 3.4/ 6 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 3.7/ 7 (#1)

Source: Nielsen Media Research