RATINGS RECAP: 1/29/15

ABC
8:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Scandal
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
10:00 How to Get Away with Murder
Viewers: 9.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 17.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
8:30 Mom
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:30 The McCarthys
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Elementary
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

NBC
8:00 The Biggest Loser
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 Parenthood
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Backstrom
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

On the first night of February sweeps, ABC's TGIT lineup came back with a vengeance. At 8pm, Grey's Anatomy was up three tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo for its best number since the season premiere. Scandal also posted its best number since the season premiere. It was up four tenths in viewers and a strong half a demo point. This was its second best result ever (besides the season premiere). Looks like the time off did nothing to hurt the two veteran Shonda shows. At 10pm, How to Get Away with Murder was strong but it didn't get the bounce the other two shows got. It was down six tenths in viewers and even in the demo. This was the show that got to air reruns since its last episode and yet it couldn't come back with a big spike. That's got to be at least a little bit disappointing.

NBC had a nice uptick for its finale night. The season finale of The Biggest Loser was up nine tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a season high. The series finale of the critically beloved Parenthood had a pretty impressive jump. It was up 1.1 million viewers and four tenths in the demo for its best performance since January 22, 2013. It might have jumped even more if it hadn't been against the return of ABC's lineup. It's a nice way to go out for a show that always had a loyal audience. Next week, The Blacklist and Allegiance come to NBC's Thursday night. As expected, FOX took a big hit. American Idol was down 1.3 million viewers and six tenths in the demo for a season low while week two of Backstrom took a big hit. It was down 2.7 million viewers and half a demo point from its season premiere. It could get even worse for this show next week against The Blacklist.

Amidst all the other results, it was CBS that had the top demo show as usual with The Big Bang Theory. It was down eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It was able to beat Empire for top scripted demo of the week so far, but The Blacklist's post-Super Bowl episode will surely take the cake. Mom was helped by a new lead-in as it rose seven tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo for a series high. At 9pm, Two and a Half Men was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It might see a spike in the weeks leading up to its final episode, but it has to face both Scandal and The Blacklist next week. At 9:30pm, The McCarthys was up a tenth in viewers and the demo. Elementary ended things on a down note for CBS as it fell six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: Scandal (ABC)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: Backstrom (FOX)