Ratings: Big Bang Returns Bigger Than Ever, Crazy Ones Opens Strong, Glee and Grey's Drop
Premiere Week’s Thursday, like the universe, started with a big bang.
CBS’ double-pump of The Big Bang Theory — with 18.3 million viewers/5.3 rating (its biggest premiere ever), then 19.5 mil/5.8 — averaged out to an increase of 20 and 11 percent over last fall’s launch, with the second outing within spitting distance of the hitcom’s largest audience ever (20 mil). UPDATE: Per finals, the 8:30 Bang broke the show’s record, with 20.44 million viewers.
RELATED | The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Premiere Recap: The Lonely Hearts Club
Leading out of that, The Crazy Ones retained 15.6 mil and a 4.0, improving on Person of Interest‘s most recent tallies in the time slot by 18 and 67 percent and netting CBS’ best demo there since CSI circa Nov. 2009. Two and a Half Men‘s opener (11.5 mil/2.9) also out-demo’d POI, yet was down 17 percent from its previous premiere, now sans a Big Bang lead-in.
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Capping CBS’ night, Elementary returned to 10.1 mil/2.1, well shy of its series debut (13.4 mil/3.1) but up from its freshman finale (9 mil/2.0).
RELATED | Elementary Premiere Recap: Quid Bro Quo
NBC | Parks and Recreation‘s wonderful hour-long opener did 3.3 mil/1.3, down from both its previous premiere (3.5 mil/1.7) and 30 Rock‘s year-ago numbers in Thursday’s lead-off spot (3.5 mi/1.4). The Michael J. Fox Show‘s double-episode debut averaged 7.3 mil/2.1, matching The Office‘s year-ago demo while drawing 70 percent more viewers. Parenthood christened its new time slot with 5.2 mil/1.6, down 5 and 16 percent from its last Tuesday premiere but matching Hannibal‘s launch demo and (thankfully!) almost doubling Do No Harm‘s.
RELATED | Fall TV Poll: Does Michael J. Fox Still Have It?
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ABC | A SHIELD encore added 5.2 mil and a 1.4 to its opening week haul. Grey’s Anatomy‘s two-hour premiere then drew 9.3 mil and a 3.4, down some 20 percent year-over-year but up from its May finale (9 mil/3.1).
RELATED | Grey’s Anatomy Season 10 Premiere Recap: You Win Some, You Lose Some
FOX | The X Factor matched last Thursday’s 6.4 mil/2.0, while Glee (5.2 mil/2.0) fell a good 30 percent from its previous premiere.
RELATED | Glee Premiere Recap: All You Need Is Love! Love Is All You Need?
Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
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