RATINGS RECAP: 1/4/15

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:00 Galavant
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:00 Resurrection
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
8:00 Madam Secretary
Viewers: 11.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 The Good Wife
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

NBC
7:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Celebrity Apprentice
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

FOX
7:00 NFL Overrun
Viewers: 33.0 million, 18-49 demo: 11.9
8:00 The Simpsons
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
8:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:00 Family Guy
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:30 Bob's Burgers
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

It was a busy Sunday night with lots of positive ratings news. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the solid premiere of Galavant despite an avalanche of competition. ABC's musical fairytale was well-promoted and delivered a very decent performance. It was especially impressive since it was on an island as the lead-in (America's Funniest Home Videos) was pretty low and the lead-out (Resurrection) was even worse. ABC has to be very pleased with this start but let's see how it holds up against major events like the Golden Globes and AFC Championship Game over the next two weeks. The good news did not extend later in the night as Resurrection and Revenge delivered horrible numbers. Resurrection was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo while Revenge was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for a series low. Time for these shows to say goodbye.

Of course the biggest ratings came from FOX thanks to a mammoth lead-in from the Cowboys-Lions game. The game ended almost exactly at 8pm and that let The Simpsons have its best number since January 15, 2012. Brooklyn Nine-Nine felt the halo and posted a series high, beating its season premiere number by three tenths in the demo. I don't think this show has been given enough credit for how well it has done paired with The Simpsons. FOX has certainly had live action shows not fit in as well as this one has and it was definitely a question mark going in. The halo effect lessened but still had an impact. Family Guy was up 1.1 million viewers and half a demo point. Bob's Burgers closed out the night up 1.5 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo for a season high. It was a great night for FOX but the huge lead-in probably negates any sort of long-term effect for these shows.

NBC had a strong premiere with the return of Celebrity Apprentice. After almost two years away, this was almost as surprising a result as Galavant. NBC will have to see how it does in its regular Monday night slot, but this was a very promising start. CBS was left in the dust with all the competition, but it still did OK in total viewers. After a very low showing from 60 Minutes against the football, Madam Secretary was solid. It was on the low end in the demo, but it really didn't do that bad considering the lead-in and competition. If it settles here without football this spring, I think the total viewer count will be enough to get it another season. At 9pm, The Good Wife was up a tenth in viewers and down a tenth in the demo from its last airing. CSI closed out the night up eight tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo.