RATINGS RECAP: 2/18/15

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 The Goldbergs
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:30 Black-ish
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 10.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Stalker
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

NBC
8:00 The Mysteries of Laura
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Chicago PD
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Empire
Viewers: 13.0 million, 18-49 demo: 5.2

Well, it's done it again. The phenomenon that is Empire continued to steamroll the competition. First up on FOX, American Idol was even with last week. Then Empire was up a million viewers and another four tenths int he demo. This is unlike anything we have seen in a very long time. It is truly taking over primetime TV and it seems to me like more and more people are talking about it. When will it slow down? It doesn't show any sign of it yet. Over on ABC, The Middle started things off down a tenth in viewers and up a tenth in the demo while The Goldbergs was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. Modern Family was awfully low in the total viewer count as it was down a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. The good news was that Black-ish was not negatively affected. It was down four tenths in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. It seems to be stabilizing itself against the Empire train. At 10pm, Nashville was down half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo.

CBS said goodbye to The Mentalist after seven seasons but it went out with a whimper. It had a decent total viewer count for its final two hours, but it skewed ancient which was always the problem with this show after a fast start. I don't think CBS will miss this one, but it did have its loyal fans. The lower demo lead-in hurt Stalker as it was down nine tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. NBC benefited from the weaker CBS showing as all three dramas were up from last week. The Mysteries of Laura was up a tenth in viewers and the demo while Law & Order: SVU was up four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. Chicago PD was up half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo, easily winning the 10pm hour.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: Empire (FOX)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: Stalker (CBS)