RATINGS RECAP: 3/14/17

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:30 American Housewife
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Fresh Off the Boat
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:30 The Real O'Neals
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
10:00 People Icons
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6

CBS
8:00 NCIS
Viewers: 14.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 NCIS: New Orleans
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

NBC
8:00 The Voice
Viewers: 11.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 This is Us
Viewers: 12.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
10:00 Trial & Error
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:30 Trial & Error
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX
8:00 New Girl
Viewers: 1.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
8:30 The Mick (Repeat)
Viewers: 1.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7

CW
8:00 The Flash
Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
9:00 DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Viewers: 1.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5

On Tuesday night, freshman phenom This is Us ended its impressive first season with strong numbers. First up on NBC though, The Voice was up a tenth in viewers and down a tenth in the demo. Then This is Us ended season one by surging 1.6 million viewers and four tenths in the demo to a new series high. This is a show that debuted to huge numbers and it didn't have a constant rise like Empire did but it got to the point where it was hitting new highs multiple times and ending its season six tenths in the demo above its already impressive September premiere. The creators only wanted 18 episodes so that's why it is ending in March but you can bet NBC will relentlessly promote its return in the fall. However, the good news for NBC ended when the clock turned 10pm. Despite a huge lead-in for sampling, new comedy Trial & Error pulled a weak 1.4 demo (two full points below This is Us) and further dropped to a 1.0 at 10:30pm. This was a huge opportunity and it blew it so I don't think its long term prospects are very good.

On ABC, The Middle was down two tenths in viewers but up a tenth in the demo. It has held up very well on Tuesdays. At 8:30pm, American Housewife was down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. Fresh Off the Boat was down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo at 9pm. The season finale of The Real O'Neals ended the comedy block down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. I don't think this will be back for a third season but it wouldn't completely shock me if it was. At 10pm, People Icons was up a tenth in viewers and the demo from last week's premiere. On CBS, NCIS inched down again as it was even in viewers and down a tenth in the demo. It has been exploring new lows in the demo several times this season. Two hours of NCIS: New Orleans followed and was up from its usual 10pm performance. On FOX, New Girl was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo while Bones was even. Finally on the CW, The Flash was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo while DC's Legends of Tomorrow was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: This is Us (NBC)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: Trial & Error (NBC)