Thursday Overnights: Soft Start for Sitcom ‘A.P. Bio’ on NBC

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 2018

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 6.0/10, ABC: 4.5/ 8, NBC: 2.9/ 5, Fox: 2.7/ 4, CW: 1.1/ 2

Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
Fox: +23, CW: +10, CBS: + 9, ABC: – 6, NBC: -12

Ratings Breakdown:
It was an easy metered market (overnight) victory for CBS on this first Thursday in February, which bested No. 2 ABC by 33 percent in households. As always, “The Big Bang Theory” topped the night, this time with a hefty 9.5 rating/16 share in households in the 8 p.m. half-hour. But equally relevant was prequel spin-off “Young Sheldon” at a dominant 8.0/13 at 8:30 p.m., which at 84 percent retention out of it parent series is more than any other show has held historically.

With stronger lead-in support, “Mom” on CBS is enjoying an above-average rated season, last night with a 5.9/10 (#1) in the 9 p.m. half-hour. Happy 100th episode to “Mom”! And that led into “Life in Pieces” at a 4.5/ 7 (#1) at 9:30 p.m., followed by the freshman reboot of “S.W.A.T” at a 4.0/ 7 (#1) at 10 p.m. Although “S.W.A.T.” beat competing “Chicago Fire” (#2: 3.8/ 7) by five percent, the NBC drama should have no trouble winning the time period in adults 18-49 (and all the key young adult demographics).

In series-premiere/preview news, NBC sitcom “A.P. Bio” opened with a fourth-place 2.3/ 4 in the household overnights at 9:30 p.m., which slipped from lead-in “Will & Grace” (#3: 3.1/ 5 at 9 p.m.) by 26 percent. The two sitcoms, on average, were 32 percent below year-ago time period occupant “Chicago Med” (4.0/ 7 on 2/02/17). Since most new series drop 10 to 20 percent in the household overnights in week two, consider this a very disappointing start for “A.P. Bio.”

Following last night’s preview, “A.P. Bio” will return in the Thursday 9:30 p.m. half-hour following the network’s coverage of the Winter Olympic Games on March 1.

Earlier in the evening on NBC were sitcoms “Superstore” (#4: 2.4/ 4 at 8 p.m.) and the season finale of “The Good Place” (#4: 2.3/ 4 at 8:30 p.m.), which is a shoo-in for a third season renewal based on the critical acclaim.

Over at ABC, veteran “Grey’s Anatomy” remained the standout at a solid 6.3/10 in the 8 p.m. hour. Next season, “Grey’s Anatomy” will tie NBC’s “ER” as the longest running medical drama in the history of television. And it led into soon-to-conclude “Scandal” at a second-place 4.3/ 7 at 9 p.m., followed by “How to Get Away With Murder” at a third-place 2.9/ 5 at 10 p.m.

Upcoming “Station 19,” the spin-off from “Grey’s Anatomy,” will premiere with a two-hour installment on Thursday, March 22 at 9 p.m. ET, and then continue to lead out of parent “Grey’s Anatomy” every week. Current time period occupant “Scandal” will move into the Thursday 10 p.m. hour (in place of “How to Get Away With Murder”), where it will remain through its series finale on April 19.

Elsewhere, Fox singing competition “The Four: Battle for Stardom” scored a typical 2.7/ 4 in the 8-10 p.m. block based on the household overnights. In other words, this is no “American Idol.” And The CW featured the pairing of “Supernatural” (#5: 1.2/ 2 at 8 p.m.), which could very well be back for season 14 in 2018-19, and “Arrow” (#5: 1.0/ 5), which has lost steam this season after moving to Thursday.