RATINGS RECAP: 1/31/13

ABC
8:00 Shark Tank (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 Scandal
Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 17.8 million, 18-49 demo: 5.4
8:30 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 13.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 15.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 Elementary
Viewers: 10.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

NBC
8:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:30 The Office
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Do No Harm
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 13.8 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
9:00 Glee
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 

Thursday night marked the beginning of February sweeps but there was disastrous news for NBC and its new drama premiere. First at 8pm, 30 Rock signed off after seven seasons with a one hour episode and it perked up 1.1 million viewers and half a demo point for its finale. This was its best demo in two years for a show that always had a loyal following but struggled in the ratings. It will go down as one of the most critically acclaimed comedies ever but it never managed to break out of its niche following (the closest it came was during Tina Fey's Sarah Palin days). At 9pm, NBC aired double episodes of The Office. The 9pm episode was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo but the 9:30pm episode tied a series low. Then the disaster struck at 10pm where Do No Harm posted the worst premiere numbers for a drama EVER on the big four networks. I say shows are DOA a lot but this one truly is. Will NBC even let it air another week? This is very embarrassing for NBC.

On CBS, The Big Bang Theory returned down 2.2 million viewers and a full demo point. That sounds like a horrible drop but its coming from a 6.4 demo and the competition was much stronger so that's ok. I think the 6.4 and 20 million viewers it got three weeks ago was probably its peak for the season now that American Idol is back. At 8:30pm, Two and a Half Men was down seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. At 9pm, Person of Interest was even in viewers and down a tenth in the demo. It handily beat Grey's Anatomy in the demo which is worth noting. At 10pm, Elementary was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. CBS better hope the Super Bowl airing helps this show out because its been an underperformer. 

Over on ABC, Grey's Anatomy was down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a season low. It was still strong but lost by four tenths to Person of Interest after handling that show in the fall. At 10pm, Scandal was up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo with its best retention out of Grey's Anatomy yet. Talk about a surging show. It seems like its only a matter of time before Scandal passes Grey's in the demo. Finally on FOX, American Idol was down 1.9 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo as it was trounced by The Big Bang Theory. At 9pm, Glee was down 1.3 million viewers and half a demo point. The retention is terrible out of Idol and some are saying (and I agree) that FOX should try their comedies here and move Glee to Tuesdays. There is tough 9pm competition but its not comedy competition outside of the faded Office.