RATINGS RECAP: 9/28/16

ABC
8:00 The Goldbergs
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:30 Speechless
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:00 Modern Family

Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

9:30 Black-ish

Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

10:00 Designated Survivor

Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

CBS

8:00 Survivor

Viewers: 9.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1

9:00 Criminal Minds

Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

10:00 Code Black

Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

NBC

8:00 Blindspot

Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

9:00 Law & Order: SVU

Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

10:00 Chicago PD

Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:00 Lethal Weapon

Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

9:00 Empire

Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7

CW

8:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (Repeat)

Viewers: 1.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.3

9:00 Whose Line is it Anyway?

Viewers: 1.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.4

9:30 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)

Viewers: 1.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.3

On Wednesday night, two shows had season premieres (a rare occurrence this week). Survivor started things out down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's premiere. The season premiere of Criminal Minds followed and did OK with a 1.9 demo. I wonder if it will go up for Thomas Gibson's unexpected final episode next week and the upcoming return of Paget Brewster. At 10pm, the season premiere of Code Black delivered a modest 6.4 million viewers and 1.2 demo. This show got a surprise renewal when they had an underwhelming freshman class last year but with stronger newbies like Bull and MacGyver, they may not have room this year. However, it was in the winter when Code Black actually started to have a chance to return so we'll see what happens.

On ABC, everything was down some from premiere week but only one performance I would label "disappointing." The Goldbergs started things out down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It could probably be doing better than a 1.9 but I think that may happen when the 8:00 half hour is a little higher viewed in a couple weeks. At 8:30pm, week two of Speechless had a promising showing, dropping just a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. It got a full season order from ABC tonight. At 9pm, Modern Family was down eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. It's already starting to creep towards levels it was getting in the spring. But the disappointing performance belonged to Black-ish which fell eight tenths in viewers and a rough four tenths in the demo. A show following Modern Family and with some critical heat should be doing better than a 1.6 demo in week two. It led into the second week of Designated Survivor, which fell two million viewers and four tenths in the demo. I don't think this is a bad showing for a second week of a show that had a heavily hyped premiere. I thought it might get a 1.7 or even 1.6 demo. Just like Speechless, Designated Survivor was given a full season today by ABC.

FOX looks like it has a more legitimate hit as a lead-in to Empire this year with Lethal Weapon. It was down seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo and came within a tenth of tying Survivor to lead the hour. It was even with Rosewood's performance a year ago despite Empire being down a whopping 33% year to year. Empire fell 1.2 million viewers and a rough six tenths in the demo from its premiere. It is definitely coming back to the pack now even as it remains one of the top shows on TV. Finally on NBC, Blindspot was down half a million viewers and even in the demo. It's early but I would call this an overachiever in the 8pm timeslot so far considering it could have completely collapsed. It still could but it hasn't yet. At 9pm, Law & Order: SVU was hit hard by the return of Criminal Minds, falling 1.7 million viewers and two tenths in the demo. At 10pm, Chicago PD was down eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: Lethal Weapon (FOX)

LOSER OF THE NIGHT: Code Black (CBS)