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Trio of Midseason Thursday Night Newbies Continue to Struggle

ABC and CBS Share Top-Rated Thursday Night Overnight Honors

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Household Rating/Share
ABC and CBS: 4.7/ 8 each, NBC: 3.1/ 5, Fox: 2.3/ 4, CW: 1.0/ 2

-Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
NBC: – 9, ABC: -11, CBS: -15, CW: -23, Fox: -62

-Ratings Breakdown:
One look at the network overnight results and the immediate observation on this second Thursday in January is erosion. Minus “American Idol,” which is already in talks to return on NBC, Fox lost the most stream – 62 percent in households – with its pairing of the season-premiere of “MasterChef Junior” (#3: 2.9 rating/5 share) and failing “My Kitchen Rules” (#4: 1.8/ 3) from 8-10 p.m. Comparably, “MasterChef Junior” was on par with the week-ago season-finale of “Hell’s Kitchen.”

In week two news, NBC sitcom “Powerless” (#4: 1.7/ 3 at 8:30 p.m.) dropped by19 percent from the already anemic 2.1/ 3 in the household overnights one week earlier, which translated into just 3.10 million viewers and a 1.1 rating/4 share in adults 18-49 (based on the Live + Same Day data). Overnight retention for “Powerless” out of “Superstore” (#4: 2.4/ 4 at 8 p.m.) was also lacking at 71 percent.

Also in week two news was CBS action/adventure “Training Day,” based on the theatrical of the same name, with a third-place 2.9/ 8 in the household overnights at 10 p.m. While that was equal to its week-ago opener, it only translated into just 4.73 million viewers and a 0.9/ 3 in adults 18-49, also based on the Live + Same Day data. Tick, tock…the cancellation clock is ticking on both “Powerless” and “Training Day.”

First in the 10 p.m. hour was ABC’s fading “How to Get Away With Murder” at a 3.6/ 7, which year-to-year dipped by 16 percent. Also deteriorating, and in the No. 2 spot, was NBC’s competing “The Blacklist” at a 3.2/ 6, which was down by 14 percent from year-ago time period occupant “Shades of Blue.”

Tops for the night, of course, was “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS, with a 9.0/15 in the 8 p.m. half-hour. But a second-place 4.6/ 7 for “The Great Indoors” at 8:30 p.m. is too much of a loss, and the expected renewals of sitcoms “Kevin Can Wait” and “Man With a Plan” means a second season of “The Great Indoors” in unlikely.

Next on the Eye net was reliable “Mom” at a 4.9/ 8 (#1) in the 9 p.m. half-hour, followed by sophomore “Life in Pieces” at a 4.0/ 6 (#2t) at 9:30 p.m. Personally, I would like “Life in Pieces” better if this comedy was not in…um…pieces.

On ABC, veteran “Grey’s Anatomy” remains the network’s highest rated Thursday night option with a 5.9/ 9 at 8 p.m. And it led into an also dominant 4.8/ 8 for “Scandal” at 9 p.m., which is a vast improvement from recent time period occupant “Notorious.”

At 9 p.m. on NBC was drama “Chicago Med” at a third-place 3.9/ 6, which built from lowly lead-in “Powerless” by a significant 129 percent.

Capping off the night was The CW’s combination of “Supernatural” (#5: 1.2/ 2 at 8 p.m.) and recently introduced “Riverdale” (#5: 0.9/ 1), which was only equal to year-ago time period occupant “The 100.”

What follows is the breakdown by half-hour for Thursday, February 9:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.9/ 9 (#2)
CBS – “The Big Bang Theory”: 9.0/15 (#1)
NBC – “Superstore”: 2.4/ 4 (#4)
Fox – “MasterChef Junior” (season premiere): 2.8/ 5 (#3)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.2/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Grey’s Anatomy”: 5.9/ 9 (#1)
CBS – “The Great Indoors”: 4.6/ 7 (#2)
NBC – “Powerless”: 1.7/ 3 (#4)
Fox – “MasterChef Junior” (season premiere): 3.0/ 5 (#3)
CW – “Supernatural”: 1.1/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Scandal”: 4.8/ 8 (#2)
CBS – “Mom”: 4.9/ 8 (#1)
NBC – “Chicago Med”: 3.8/ 6 (#3)
Fox – “My Kitchen Rules”: 1.8/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Riverdale”: 0.9/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Scandal”: 4.6/ 7 (#1)
CBS – “Life in Pieces”: 4.0/ 6 (#2t)
NBC – “Chicago Med”: 4.0/ 6 (#2t)
Fox – “My Kitchen Rules”: 1.7/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Riverdale”: 0.8/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “How to Get Away With Murder”: 3.7/ 6 (#1)
CBS – “Training Day”: 2.9/ 5 (#3)
NBC – “The Blacklist”: 3.3.3/ 6 (#2)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “How to Get Away With Murder”: 3.5/ 7 (#1)
CBS – “Training Day”: 2.8/ 5 (#3)
NBC – “The Blacklist”: 3.1/ 6 (#2)

Source: Nielsen Media Research