RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Do No Harm’ Falls Again, ‘Community’ Returns Up, ‘American Idol’ Dips, ‘Scandal’ Hits High
After the worst in-season network debut rating ever last week, NBC’s Do No Harm (0.7/2) did itself more harm by falling 22% from that January 31 debut. To put it in further perspective, viewership of the certainly soon-to-be-cancelled new show fell from the 3.3 million who watched last week to 2.18 million. It wasn’t all bad news on NBC on Thursday, however. With the end of 30 Rock last Thursday, this week saw the long-delayed return of Community (1.8/6) for a fourth season at 8 PM. The comedy bested its previous season opener of September 22, 2011, when it wasn’t facing American Idol, by 6%, and beat its May 17, 2012 Season 3 finale by 38%.
Related: POST MORTEM: What Led To ‘Do No Harm’s’ Historic Ratings Flop
Meanwhile, it was Part 2 of Hollywood Week on American Idol (4.1/12) last night. With 14.15 million viewers, harsh words reminiscent of Simon Cowell from judge Nicki Minaj, and some harsh contestant cuts, the singing competition series dipped 9% from last week’s audition show. More singing followed on Fox with Glee (2.2/6), which bopped up 5% from its January 31 show.
The Big Bang Theory (6.1/18) flexed its sitcom blockbuster muscle again last night with a strong rating in the key demo. Up against Idol, the science sitcom was the most-watched show of the night with 18.85 million viewers, up 13% from last week. Two And A Half Men (4.1/11) followed and rose 5% from its January 31 show, while Person Of Interest (3.2/8) was flat with last week. After drawing more than 20 million viewers Sunday following the Super Bowl, Elementary (2.3/6) was back on its regular night and in its regular time slot on Thursday. Even with the prized post-big-game slot, the contemporary Sherlock Holmes series was up only 5% from last week. With 14.23 million watching, CBS won the night in total viewers and in adults 18-49.
Now solidly in its 8:30 PM Thursday slot, on NBC, Parks And Recreation (2.0/5) hit a season high last night and rose 18% from its last original two weeks ago. The Office (2.1/6), whose series finale is set for May 16, was even with last week’s airing. Back after two weeks, the freshman White House comedy 1600 Penn (1.1/3) slid 15% to hit a series low.
Primetime started on ABC with an encore of Shark Tank (1.3/4), followed by a new Grey’s Anatomy (3.1/8) that was up 11% from last week. Scandal (2.8/8) ended the night for ABC up a slight 4% from its January 30 show but also a series high. The Vampire Diaries (1.1/3) on the CW was down from last week’s 1.3/4 as was Beauty And The Beast (0.6/1), which fell 14% from its January 31 airing.
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