Thursday Overnights: Modest Start for CW Drama ‘In the Dark’

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 5.2/ 9, ABC: 3.9. 7, NBC: 2.3/ 4, Fox: 1.0/ 2, CW: 0.8/ 1

Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
ABC and CBS: – 2 each, CBS: -11, NBC: -12, Fox: -50

Ratings Breakdown:
In series-premiere news, CW drama “In the Dark” opened with a modest 0.7 rating/1 share in the overnight households in the Thursday 9 p.m. hour, which led out of a 1.0/ 2 for veteran “Supernatural” at 8 p.m. Comparably, this was only on par with year-ago time period occupant “Arrow.” As always, the success (or lack of) for any CW series is highly dependent on social media.

Led by soon-to-conclude “The Big Bang Theory” (#1 for the night: 8.4/15 at 8 p.m.), it was an easy Thursday household overnight victory for CBS. That led into prequel “Young Sheldon,” which is likely to inherit the Thursday 8 p.m. half-hour next season, at a dominant 7.0/12 at 8:30 p.m. “Mom” was also solid at 9 p.m. (#1: 5.2/ 9), but recent entry “Fam” (#2: 3.5/ 6 at 9:30 p.m.) is a question mark for a second season.

In week two news, NBC sitcom “Abby’s” scored a modest 1.6/ 3 in the overnights, which was down by 20 percent from the already anemic 2.0/ 4 week-ago opener. Comparably, “Abby’s” was only on par with failed year-ago time period occupant “Champions,” and it dipped by 36 percent from lead-in “Will & Grace” (#3: 2.5/ 4), which concluded for the season. Next Thursday, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” returns to the Thursday 9 p.m. half-hour.

Earlier in the evening on NBC were sitcoms “Superstore” (#3: 2.2/ 4 at 8 p.m.) and “A.P. Bio” (#3: 1.4/ 2 at 8:30 p.m.) at typical Thursday overnight levels. Chances of a third season of “A.P. Bio” is highly unlikely.

Tops at 10 p.m. was CBS’ sophomore “S.W.A.T.” at a 3.6/ 7, which bested competing “Law & Order: SVU” on NBC (#2: 3.1/ 6) and ABC’s also sophomore “For the People” (#3: 2.5/ 5) by 16 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

Elsewhere, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” scored a consistent 5.3/10 in households at 8 p.m., which led into a second-place 3.9/ 7 for sophomore “Station 19.” I would count on a third season for the “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off. And Fox featured soon-to-conclude “Gotham” (#4: 1.0/ 2 at 8 p.m.) into an encore telecast of “The Orville” (#4: 1.1/ 2) at 9 p.m.

What follows are the household overnights by network and by half-hour for Thursday, April 4:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.4/10 (#2)
CBS – “The Big Bang Theory”: 8.4/15 (#1)
NBC – “Superstore”: 2.2/ 4 (#3)
Fox – “Gotham”: 1.1/ 2 (#4)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.0/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.2/ 9 (#1)
CBS – “Young Sheldon”: 7.0/12 (#1)
NBC – “A.P. Bio”: 1.4/ 2 (#3)
Fox – “Gotham”: 0.9/ 2 (#4t)
CW – “Supernatural”: 0.9/ 2 (#4t)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Station 19”: 3.9/ 7 (#2)
CBS – “Mom”: 5.2/ 9 (#1)
NBC – “Will & Grace” (season finale): 2.5/ 4 (#3)
Fox – “The Orville” (R): 1.0/ 2 (#4)
CW – “In the Dark” (series premiere): 0.7/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Station 19”: 3.8/ 7 (#1)
CBS – “Fam”: 3.5/ 6 (#2)
NBC – “Abby’s”: 1.6/ 3 (#3)
Fox – “The Orville” (R): 1.1/ 2 (#4)
CW – “In the Dark” (series premiere): 0.6/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “For the People”: 2.5/ 5 (#3)
CBS – “S.W.A.T.”: 3.6/ 7 (#1)
NBC – “Law & Order: SVU”: 3.0/ 5 (#2)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “For the People”: 2.4/ 5 (#3)
CBS – “S.W.A.T.”: 3.5/ 7 (#1)
NBC – “Law & Order: SVU”: 3.1/ 6 (#2)

Source: Nielsen Media Research