RATINGS RECAP: 2/6/14

ABC
8:00 The Taste
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
10:00 Shark Tank (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 17.5 million, 18-49 demo: 5.2
8:30 The Millers
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
9:00 The Crazy Ones
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:30 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Elementary
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8 

NBC
8:00 Winter Olympics
Viewers: 20.0 million, 18-49 demo: 6.0 

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 11.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Rake
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

Thursday night had a special Winter Olympics night on NBC ahead of the regular opening ceremony on Friday night. It delivered a solid 20 million viewers and a 6.0 demo. That's well below what the Opening Ceremonies got in 2010 but I think things will perk up on Friday night. This was sort of a unique airing. Of the 20 million viewers, 14 million stuck around to watch Jay Leno's farewell to The Tonight Show for its most watched night since 1998. On ABC, The Taste was down four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. On FOX, American Idol was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo at 8pm. At 9pm, Rake was down nine tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for another series low. I can't see FOX sticking with this show in this slot for the rest of the season. There is just no interest.

Finally on CBS, the 8pm hour was barely affected by the Olympics. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was down 1.6 million viewers and even in the demo. Between Big Bang, American Idol, and the Olympics, over 40 million viewers were watching network TV at 8pm. At 8:30pm, The Millers was down eight tenths in viewers and even in the demo. It's still only at 50% retention but the 9pm hour was more troubling this week. First up, The Crazy Ones was down eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. I've been a supporter of this show and it's performance but this is a troubling showing and there is still a flow problem with this show and the rest of the Thursday lineup. At 9:30pm, Two and a Half Men was down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo to tie a series low. I think this show could go back to being an anchor next season especially with the unique position CBS will be in on Thursdays now that it has eight NFL games to start off the season. It's regular Thursday lineup won't premiere until November next season. At 10pm, Elementary was down eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.