RATINGS RECAP: 10/18/16

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:30 American Housewife
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Fresh Off the Boat
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:30 The Real O'Neals
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
10:00 Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Viewers: 2.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7

CBS
8:00 NCIS
Viewers: 14.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:00 Bull
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 NCIS: New Orleans
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

NBC
8:00 The Voice
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 This is Us
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
10:00 Chicago Fire
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Viewers: 2.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
8:30 New Girl
Viewers: 1.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
9:00 Scream Queens
Viewers: 1.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6

CW
8:00 The Flash
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 No Tomorrow
Viewers: 0.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.3

On Tuesday night, ABC had its second week of its new sitcom lineup and everything came down at least two tenths in a disappointing showing. At 8pm, The Middle was down eight tenths and a rough three tenths in the demo. The viewer total was the lowest since 2010. The Middle had a strong transition to Tuesdays with its premiere but this week proves it'll be a tough task especially against The Voice and NCIS. The best news of the sitcom block came from the new American Housewife, which was down eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo, but built on its Middle lead-in by two tenths in the demo. There's definitely some promise and interest here. At 9pm, Fresh Off the Boat was down nine tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. The clear weakling is The Real O'Neals, which was down nine tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo to a weak 0.9 demo. While not setting the world on fire, the other three shows are acceptable. O'Neals is looking like a problem for ABC and should be the first comedy replaced. This lineup has a night of Halloween episodes next season, which could help matters. At 10pm, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo to a series low. CBS had a very steady night as all three shows were even in the demo. In total viewers, NCIS was even, Bull was down seven tenths, and NCIS: New Orleans was down a tenth.

On NBC, The Voice started things off down four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It was another great week for This is Us, which was down just two tenths in viewers and built on its Voice lead-in for a second week. This is a genuine hit for NBC. At 10pm, Chicago Fire was down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's season premiere. Finally on FOX, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was even with last week and New Girl was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. The viewer total is a series low. Scream Queens explored even more lows, dropping two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo to a series low. If I was FOX, I would flip this and Hell's Kitchen for the rest of the calendar year. Finally on the CW, The Flash was down a tenth in viewers and the demo to a new series low. This show has been pretty weak so far this season but I'm not sure why. No Tomorrow probably bought itself a little more time by going up a tenth in viewers and the demo even with the lead-in dropping.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: American Housewife (ABC)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: The Real O'Neals (ABC)