RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Good Wife’ Finale Dips, ‘Revenge’ Up, ‘Red Widow’ Hits Low, CBS & Fox Tie To Top Demo
It was the fourth night of the May sweep last night, and it also was the end of the fourth season of The Good Wife (1.6/4) on CBS. Full of the corruption, cynicism and plot twists that have marked the legal drama’s latest season, plus a new Governor, the 9 PM finale was up 7% from last week but dipped 6% from the 1.7 of last year’s April 29 season finale. With 9.01 million watching, last night’s Good Wife was also down from the 9.97 million who tuned in for its Season 3 finale. CBS began the night at 7 PM with 60 Minutes (1.5/5), which was the most-watched show of the night with 11.59 million viewers but down 21% from its April 21 show. The Amazing Race (2.3/6) also was down but just 4% from last week. Airing at 10 PM, The Mentalist (1.5/4) wrapped up the night, slipping 6% from its April 21 airing. With 9.60 million watching, CBS won Sunday in viewership and tied with Fox to top the night among adults 18-49 with a 1.7.
Fox’s Sunday animation block was mainly new shows last night. After a The Simpsons (0.9/3) encore, a new The Cleveland Show (1.2/4) was up 33% from the harsh fall last week’s show took. Following that was a new Simpsons (2.0/6) and Bob’s Burgers (1.7/5), with the former up 11% from its last original two weeks ago and the latter even with its April 21 episode. A Seth MacFarlane double-dose was next with Family Guy (2.5/7) and American Dad (1.9/5). The highest-rated show of the night among the 18-49 crowd, Family Guy was even with its last original April 14. American Dad bopped up 6% from its April 21 show.
ABC’s Sunday night soap dramas Revenge (1.7/4) and Red Widow (0.7/2) were both back after nearly a monthlong absence. The former was up 13% from its last original March 31, while freshman Red Widow cratered 30% from its last new show to hit a season low and a low for any ABC original drama broadcast this season. Those March 31 shows were actually coded as specials by ABC so they won’t be counted in the series’ season averages. Compared with the regularly scheduled March 24 broadcasts, last night’s Revenge was down 6% and Red Widow fell 42%. Red Widow is dead and Revenge hasn’t been officially renewed, but their season finales are set: Revenge will end its second cycle May 12 while Red Widow will see its season cease May 5. Airing at 7 PM, America’s Funniest Home Videos (1.5/5) rose 15% from last week’s show. Following that was Once Upon A Time (2.0/5), which was down 5% from its April 21 show to hit a series low.
It was a challenge to make a promo video for LG, dogs and Joan Rivers as guest mentor on All-Star Celebrity Apprentice (1.5/4) last night. But it was pretty much business as usual ratingswise, with the show dipping 6% from last week. The two-hour Donald Trump-hosted show succeeded a two-hour repeat of the battle rounds of last week’s The Voice (0.8/3). There will be a lot of The Voice this week with two hours tonight, two hours Tuesday and a one-hour show Wednesday going head to head with Fox’s American Idol and CBS’ Survivor.
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RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ & ‘Red Widow’ Hit Lows, ‘Revenge’ Down; CBS Wins Night
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