RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ & ‘Once Upon A Time’ Hit Lows, NCAA, ‘Red Widow’ & ‘American Dad’ Rise
In a night that saw CBS’ schedule slide due to NCAA basketball overrun, NBC’s Sunday was anchored by All-Star Celebrity Apprentice (1.5/4) from 9-11 PM. The reality show saw Team Plan B winning the latest challenge, another C-lister fired by Donald Trump, and Omarosa live to fight another week. Now in its fourth week of the cycle, the show was down 17% from last week to hit a season low. NBC started the night with a Dateline NBC (1.1/3) from 7-9 PM. Dateline actually had a season high for Sunday viewers with 6.110 million, though it was down 15% from last week for its lowest rated Sunday this season and tied a season low.
There was no NCAA Tournament scheduled on CBS’ primetime court Sunday, but in the Eastern and Central time zones, March Madness did spill over 46 minutes. That means last night’s ratings are approximate and very likely subject to change more than usual. Broadcast over CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV, the NCAA Tournament is averaging a 6.3/14 overnight rating, marking the highest opening week for the tournament in 23 years. Last night’s primetime games (5:15-9:15 PM/8 PM-12:15 AM) were up 26% and 2%, respectively, over last year’s comparable games. Despite the overrun (4.1/13) and the primetime slide, CBS fielded a full squad starting with 60 Minutes (2.7/8); the newsmagazine started around 7:45 PM. The Amazing Race (2.3/6) was followed by The Good Wife (1.8/4), which had a guest appearance by Matthew Perry. The Mentalist (1.5/4) ended the unpredictable night for the network. CBS won the night in total viewers and the adults 18-49 demographic.
Four weeks into its freshman season, ABC’s struggling Red Widow (1.2/3) had a good night. Up 20% from last week’s season low, the series had its best result since its March 3 premiere. America’s Funniest Home Videos (1.3/4) began the night for ABC. The long-running series dipped 7% from its last original March 10 to tie a series low. Once Upon A Time (2.1/6) was down 9% from last week to hit a series low. Revenge (1.8/4) was flat with its March 17 show.
An encore Bob’s Burgers (0.9/3) kicked off Fox’s Sunday animation block. That was followed by repeats of The Cleveland Show (0.9/3) and The Simpsons (1.6/4). A new Bob’s Burgers (1.7/4) was next and even with last week’s show. Family Guy (2.6/6) bopped up 8% from last week, while American Dad (2.3/5) saw a strong 21% rise from its March 17 show.
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