RATINGS RECAP: 1/7/15

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
8:30 The Goldbergs
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:30 Black-ish
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Galavant (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

CBS
8:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 2014 People's Choice Awards
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

NBC
8:00 The Mysteries of Laura
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:00 Chicago PD
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 11.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:00 Empire
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.8

All hail Empire! FOX's new hip hop drama delivered stunning numbers in a premiere that exceeded almost everyone's expectations. First up on FOX was the return of American Idol. It was down over 30% from last year's premiere, but well above what it was doing at the end of last season. The year to year comparison isn't totally fair since it didn't air in the 9pm hour this year. I do think the year-to-year numbers will start getting better. Then came Empire. FOX needed this show to hit after tons of promotion and it certainly delivered. It tied How to Get Away with Murder for the best demo number for a series premiere this season. It built on its Idol lead-in by six tenths in the demo. We'll have to see how things go, but this could be a game changer for FOX after so many dismal premieres this season. It tapped into an audience that was ripe for the taking and is, in my opinion, the most impressive premiere since Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Fall 2013. Over on CBS, The Mentalist began its Wednesday run with very soft numbers. It will air here for the next several weeks until its series finale in February, we'll see if it can find more of an audience in the weeks to come. The People's Choice Awards were down a lot from last year as they didn't get much interest.

Over on ABC, the 8pm hour was very strong. The Middle was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a season high while The Goldbergs was up four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for its best performance since the series premiere. What a success story this show has been on its new night. At 9pm, Modern Family was down four tenths in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. Black-ish was down 1.1 million viewers and two tenths in the demo. The demo tied a series low and the total viewer count was an outright low. It lost to the 8pm comedies for the first time but it shouldn't be too surprising since Empire most certainly had crossover appeal. Finally on NBC, The Mysteries of Laura was down 1.3 million viewers but up a tenth in the demo. The viewer total was a series low. Law & Order: SVU was up nine tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo while Chicago PD was up seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: Empire (FOX)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: The Mentalist (CBS)