Broadcast TV’s Most-Watched Debuts Since 2013, From ‘Blindspot’ to ‘Instinct’ (Photos)
As things currently stand, the Top 5 new broadcast series premieres of the 2018-19 TV season belong to “Manifest,” “God Friended Me,” “F.B.I.,” “New Amsterdam” and “Magnum P.I.”
Don’t call them “hit shows” quite yet, however — history should make you more conservative with that label.
TheWrap dug up the Top 5 new broadcast TV debuts for each of the past five years. Some of these shows and their Live + Same Day Nielsen numbers may surprise you — as will how quickly many came back down to Earth or completely just went away.
Also Read: Ratings: 'Chicago' Mega-Crossover Hands NBC Huge Wednesday Viewer Win
It’s important to note that many of the gaudiest viewer totals here could simply have been boosted by stunt programming — premiering a new series out of NFL football, for example. Another way to goose these stats is to launch a series behind a consistent performer, placing a CBS sitcom behind “The Big Bang Theory” or airing a drama after “NCIS,” for example.
TV viewers, especially the older ones that beef up CBS’ total-viewer stats, are creatures of habit. They’re willing to sample something right after their favorite shows — but that doesn’t mean they’ll show up the next week or the following season in a new time slot.
See how our selection of series premieres ranks below.
Also Read: HGTV Greenlights 'Mediterranean Life,' Orders 68 More Episodes of Sunday Beach Shows
Rank Among Selection: 30
Series: “Magnum P.I.”
Debut Season: 2018-19
Net: CBS
Series Premiere Viewers: 8.12 million
Fate: TBD
Rank Among Selection: 29
Series: “New Amsterdam”
Debut Season: 2018-19
Net: NBC
Series Premiere Viewers: 8.4 million
Fate: TBD
Rank Among Selection: 28
Series: “Instinct”
Debut Season: 2017-18
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 9.1 million
Fate: The James Patterson adaptation dipped in the ratings over its first season and was the subject of a plagiarism scandal, but CBS stuck by the drama and has picked it up for a second season.
Rank Among Selection: 27
Series: “Limitless”
Debut Season: 2015-16
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 9.86 million
Fate: Despite a good start, the ratings for “Limitless” failed to keep pace with CBS’ other dramas and the show was canceled after one season.
Rank Among Selection: 26
Series: “SEAL Team”
Debut Season: 2017-18
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 9.88 million
Fate: “SEAL Team” earned an early renewal from CBS, but the show’s second season debuted down.
Rank Among Selection: 25
Series: “F.B.I.”
Debut Season: 2018-19
Net: CBS
Series Premiere Viewers: 10.08 million
Fate: TBD
Rank Among Selection: 24
Series: “God Friended Me”
Debut Season: 2018-19
Net: CBS
Series Premiere Viewers: 10.14 million
Fate: TBD
Rank Among Selection: 23
Series: “Manifest”
Debut Season: 2018-19
Net: NBC
Series Premiere Viewers: 10.4 million
Fate: TBD
Rank Among Selection: 22
Series: “American Idol” (Sunday)
Debut Season: 2017-18
Net: ABC
Series Premere Viewers: 10.49 million
Fate: ABC picked up a second season of “Idol,” with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie all set to return.
Rank Among Selection: 21
Series: “Superior Donuts”
Debut Season: 2016-17
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 10.54 million
Fate: The show was canceled by CBS after its second season failed to live up to its post-“Big Bang Theory” debut.
Rank Among Selection: 20
Series: “Blindspot”
Debut Season: 2015-16
Net: NBC
Series Premere Viewers: 10.6 million
Fate: “Blindspot” was moved to Friday nights for its third season, where it proved to be a reliable performer for NBC, and was renewed for a fourth.
Rank Among Selection: 19
Series: “MacGyver”
Debut Season: 2016-17
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 10.7 million
Fate: “MacGyver” has declined in the ratings across its first two seasons, with the third debuting even lower.
Rank Among Selection: 18
Series: “Kevin Can Wait”
Debut Season: 2016-17
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 11.1 million
Fate: A showrunner swap and a somewhat casting shake-up led to steep declines for “Kevin Can Wait” and the show was canceled after two seasons.
Rank Among Selection: 17
Series: “Life in Pieces”
Debut Season: 2015-16
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 11.3 million
Fate: The ensemble comedy managed to survive being moved out from after “The Big Bang Theory” and has grown into a reliable performer for CBS.
Rank Among Selection: 16
Series: “The Good Doctor”
Debut Season: 2017-18
Net: ABC
Series Premere Viewers: 11.4 million
Fate: “The Good Doctor” was a big hit in its first season on ABC, though its sophomore run is currently performing way down in the early going.
Rank Among Selection: 15
Series: “Hunted”
Debut Season: 2016-17
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 11.8 million
Fate: The reality competition show ran for seven episodes, but was not picked up for a second season.
Rank Among Selection: 14
Series: “The Blacklist”
Debut Season: 2013-14
Net: NBC
Series Premere Viewers: 12.6 million
Fate: One of NBC’s biggest scripted success stories of recent seasons, “The Blacklist” is currently in its sixth season and inspired one short-lived spinoff.
Rank Among Selection: 13
Series: “Supergirl”
Debut Season: 2015-16
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 13 million
Fate: “Supergirl” eventually was moved to The CW, where it was reunited with the network’s other DC superhero shows. It is currently heading into Season 4.
Rank Among Selection: 12
Series: “The Millers”
Debut Season: 2013-14
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 13.1 million
Fate: “The Millers” suffered a steep ratings drop after losing its “Big Bang Theory” lead-in, and was canceled after its second season.
Rank Among Selection: 11
Series: “Resurrection”
Debut Season: 2013-14
Net: ABC
Series Premere Viewers: 13.5 million
Fate: Despite a premiere buoyed by its Oscars lead-in, the supernatural drama flamed out in its second season and was canceled.
Rank Among Selection: 10
Series: “The Odd Couple”
Debut Season: 2014-15
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 13.6 million
Fate: “The Odd Couple” ran for three seasons before it settled in as the network’s least-watched comedy and was given the axe.
Rank Among Selection: 9
Series: “Scorpion”
Debut Season: 2014-15
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 13.9 million
Fate: “Scorpion” was on the bubble for much of its run, and CBS held out for weeks before ultimately opting not to pick up a fifth season of the procedural.
Rank Among Selection: 8
Series: “How to Get Away With Murder”
Debut Season: 2014-15
Net: ABC
Series Premere Viewers: 14.1 million
Fate: The Shondaland drama earned some awards attention for lead Viola Davis and has become a staple of ABC’s Thursday-night line-up. It is currently entering Season 5.
Rank Among Selection: 7
Series: “Madam Secretary”
Debut Season: 2014-15
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 14.8 million
Fate: The Tea Leoni-led political drama has declined steadily in the ratings across its four-season run, but CBS nonetheless renewed the series for a fifth outing.
Rank Among Selection: 6
Series: “Little Big Shots”
Debut Season: 2015-16
Net: NBC
Series Premere Viewers: 14.9 million
Fate: The Steve Harvey game show showcasing children’s talents was moved to summer for part of its most recent third season and saw viewership suffer as a result.
Rank Among Selection: 5
Series: “The Crazy Ones”
Debut Season: 2013-14
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 15.5 million
Fate: Robin Williams’ return to television received mixed reviews and fizzled in the ratings, leading to its cancellation after one season.
Rank Among Selection: 4
Series: “Bull”
Debut Season: 2016-17
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 15.6 million
Fate: Across its first two seasons, “Bull” grew into one of CBS’ top performers and was quickly picked up for a third by the network.
Rank Among Selection: 3
Series: “Intelligence”
Debut Season: 2013-14
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 16.5 million
Fate: Starring “Lost” alum Josh Holloway as a spy with a computer in his brain, “Intelligence” failed to make a mark with viewers across its 13-episode first season and was cancelled.
Rank Among Selection: 2
Series: “Young Sheldon”
Debut Season: 2017-18
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 17.2 million
Fate: The “Big Bang Theory” spinoff was one of CBS’ earliest successes last season, becoming the first new series to be renewed by the network.
Rank Among Selection: 1
Series: “NCIS: New Orleans”
Debut Season: 2014-15
Net: CBS
Series Premere Viewers: 17.4 million
Fate: The “NCIS” spinoff lost some viewers after it was moved out from after the flagship franchise, and the show has since suffered some behind-the-scenes turmoil, but it remains one of the network’s most-watched dramas.
Read original story Broadcast TV’s Most-Watched Debuts Since 2013, From ‘Blindspot’ to ‘Instinct’ (Photos) At TheWrap
