Wednesday Overnights: Modest Returns for ABC Sitcom Season-Enders

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Household Rating/Share
NBC: 5.0/ 9, CBS: 3.4/ 6, Fox: 3.2/ 6, ABC: 2.5/ 4, CW: 0.6/ 1

-Change Versus the Year Ago Evening:
NBC: +25, Fox: – 9, ABC: -11, CW: -14, CBS: -15

Ratings Breakdown:
It was another household overnight sweep for NBC with its “Chicago”-set drama trio: “Med” (#1 for the night: 5.3 rating/9 share at 8 p.m.), “Fire” (5.2/ 9 at 9 p.m.) and “PD” (4.5/ 8 at 10 p.m.). NBC would certainly be wise to leave these three dramas intact on Wednesday night next season.

There were six season finales: ABC’s 8-10 p.m. sitcom block – “The Goldbergs” (#4: 3.3/ 6 at 8 p.m.), “Schooled” (#4: 2.5/ 4 at 8:30 p.m.), “Modern Family” (#2: 3.3/ 6 at 9 p.m.) and “Single Parents” (#4: 2.0/ 3 at 9:30 p.m.); and Fox dramas “Empire” (#3: 3.6/ 6 at 8 p.m.) and “Star” (#4: 2.9/ 5 at 9 p.m.). ABC would be wise to canceled both “Schooled” and “Single Parents.” And Fox should bring back “Star” for midseason if it does decide to pair “Empire” with new companion series “Filthy Rich.”

Elsewhere, CBS’ veteran “Survivor” was consistent at a 4.7/ 8 (#2) in the 8 p.m. Go Devins! And that led into a typical 3.0/ 5, which is a current addiction thanks to the combination of teams from “Survivor,” “Big Brother” and “The Amazing Race.” Personally, I could not have been happier about the results last night.

At 10 p.m., CBS’ sophomore “SEAL Team,” which is not necessarily worthy of a third season, bested competing “Whiskey Calavier” on ABC by 40 percent in the household overnights (2.8/ 5 vs. 2.0/ 4).

The CW, meanwhile, was at typical Wednesday overnight levels as follows:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “The Goldbergs” (season finale): 3.3/ 6 (#4)
CBS – “Survivor”: 4.7/ 8 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago Med”: 5.2/ 9 (#1)
Fox – “Empire” (season finale): 3.5/ 6 (#3)
CW – “Riverdale”: 0.7/ 1 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Schooled” (season finale): 2.5/ 4 (#4)
CBS – “Survivor”: 4.6/ 8 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago Med”: 5.3/ 9 (#1)
Fox – “Empire” (season finale): 3.6/ 6 (#3)
CW – “Riverdale”: 0.6/ 1 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Modern Family” (season finale): 3.3/ 6 (#2)
CBS – “The Amazing Race”: 3.0/ 5 (#3)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 5.2/ 9 (#1)
Fox – “Star” (season finale): 2.9/ 5 (#4)
CW – “Jane the Virgin”: 0.6/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “Single Parents” (season finale): 2.0/ 3 (#4)
CBS – “The Amazing Race”: 2.9/ 5 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago Fire”: 5.2/ 9 (#1)
Fox – “Star” (season finale): 2.8/ 5 (#3)
CW – “Jane the Virgin”: 0.6/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “Whiskey Cavalier”: 2.0/ 4 (#3)
CBS – “SEAL Team”: 2.8/ 5 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago PD”: 4.5/ 8 (#1)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “Whiskey Cavalier”: 1.9/ 4 (#3)
CBS – “SEAL Team”: 2.8/ 5 (#2)
NBC – “Chicago PD”: 4.4/ 8 (#1)

Source: Nielsen Media Research