Wednesday Overnights: Clean Sweep for ‘Survivor’ Ignited CBS

What follows are the metered market (overnight) results in households by network and by half-hour for Wednesday, December 20, 2017:

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 4.9/ 9, NBC: 2.5/ 5, ABC: 1.9/ 3, Fox: 1.5/ 3, CW: 0.7/ 1

Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
CW: +40, CBS: +36, NBC: +19, ABC: -21, Fox: -29

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Ratings Breakdown:
It was all about CBS last night with the season-finale of warhorse “Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers” at an estimated 5.2 rating/9 share in households from 8-10:20 p.m. ET. That led into the live “Survivor” reunion show, which began at 10:20 p.m. ET and scored a dominant 3.8/ 7 in the 10:30 p.m. half hour.

Spoiler Alert: If you don’t want to know who won “Survivor” last night, skip this paragraph. In what I believe was both a highly satisfying and ultimately controversial season-ending installment of this veteran franchise, it seemed like the producers slanted the conclusion in favor of winner Ben Driebergen. The twist at the end, which saved Ben from obviously being voted out, seemed just the way to add suspense and intrigue to the game (while keeping Ben in the mix). But Ben was the ultimate survivor, working tirelessly to find those idols. And Chrissy Hofbeck, another exceptional player, will likely be back competing in another season.

Elsewhere, it was all repeats. NBC finished in the distant No. 2 spot care of an episode of “Will & Grace” (#2: 2.6/ 5 at 8 p.m.) into 2012 theatrical “Pitch Perfect” (#2: 2.4/ 4 from 8:30-11 p.m.). ABC featured its Wednesday 8-10 p.m. sitcom rotation – “The Goldbergs” (#3: 2.5/ 4), “Speechless” (#3: 1.9/ 3), “Modern Family” (#3: 2.1/ 3) and “American Housewife” (#3: 1.7/ 3) into an encore of “The Match Game” (#3: 1.6/ 3 at 10 p.m.). Fox featured its pairing of “Empire” (#4: 1.7/ 3) and “Star” (#4: 1.2/ 2), which never play well in second-runs. And The CW went the encore holiday specials route care of animated “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (#5: 0.8/ 1 at 8 p.m.) and “The 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time” (#5: 0.7/ 1 at 9 p.m.).

Ho! Ho! Ho! That is the Wednesday overnights!

What follows are the household overnight results for Wednesday, December 20 by half-hour:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “The Goldbergs” (R): 2.5/ 4 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor” (season finale): 5.3/ 9 (#1)
NBC – “Will & Grace” (R): 2.6/ 5 (#2)
Fox – “Empire” (R): 1.8/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (R): 0.8/ 1 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Speechless” (R): 1.9/ 3 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor” (season finale): 5.3/ 9 (#1)
NBC – Movie: “Pitch Perfect” (R): 2.3/ 4 (#2)
Fox – “Empire” (R): 1.7/ 3 (#4)
CW – “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (R): 0.7/ 1 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Modern Family” (R): 2.1/ 9 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor” (season finale): 5.2/ 9 (#1)
NBC – Movie: “Pitch Perfect” (R): 2.3/ 4 (#2)
Fox – “Star” (R): 1.3/ 2 (#4)
CW – “The 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time” (R): 0.7/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “American Dad” (R): 1.7/ 3 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor” (season finale): 5.0/ 9 (#1)
NBC – Movie: “Pitch Perfect” (R): 2.4/ 4 (#2)
Fox – “Star” (R): 1.2/ 2 (#4)
CW – “The 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time” (R): 0.7/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “The Match Game” (R): 1.6/ 3 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor” (season finale) / “Survivor” Reunion: 5.0/ 9 (#1)
NBC – Movie: “Pitch Perfect” (R): 2.5/ 4 (#2)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “The Match Game” (R): 1.6/ 3 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor” (season finale) / “Survivor” Reunion: 3.8/ 7 (#1)
NBC – Movie: “Pitch Perfect” (R): 2.7/5 (#2)

Source: Nielsen Media Research