Next-level TV ratings and scheduling analysis at SpottedRatings.com

Thursday, November 6, 2014

WHAT MATTERS:

FINALS UPDATE: While The 100 couldn't hold its 0.6, there was some very good news for the CDub: Arrow upticked to a new season high 1.1, putting it ahead of the year-ago episode. The blow to Chicago PD (1.4) was also softened somewhat, though it still marked a new season low.

ABC took its lineup off for the always potent CMA Awards (4.5). It was pretty close to last year's 4.7 final.

Despite the added ABC competition, most shows were close to even, including the return of Hell's Kitchen (1.3) and Red Band Society (0.9) after a World Series hiatus. The notable exceptions: CBS' crime dramas Criminal Minds (2.1) and Stalker (1.5) each dipped to new lows, and NBC's Chicago PD (1.3) had a real stinker of an outing on an otherwise steady NBC. The 100 posted a second straight preliminary uptick to 0.6 and will hope to hold onto this one in finals.

WHAT MATTERS:

FINALS UPDATE: Fox's good night (and CBS' strong repeats) went unchanged in finals, but it got even worse for the comedies elsewhere. Selfie is now at twin 0.9's, while About a Boy (0.9) adjusted down by a truly brutal two tenths.

On a night with a lot of repeats, clip shows and pre-emptions due to election coverage, Fox had the entertainment world almost completely to itself, and it appears they took major advantage. MasterChef Junior (1.8) returned two tenths above last year's Friday premiere and well above what the network has been getting lately from Hell's Kitchen. It'll probably drop once NCIS and The Voice are back; but if it holds close to this in finals (not sure about local pre-emptions), it seems likely to remain a stronger option than Hell's. This lead-in support also vaulted New Girl (1.6) and The Mindy Project (1.3), which had best-since-premiere numbers and beat the competing NBC comedies in the 9/8c hour.

The comedies on other networks didn't benefit against reduced competition; Marry Me (1.3) and About a Boy (1.1) each dropped again following a The Voice clip show (2.3), while a double-dose of Selfie was down for ABC (1.0 at 8:00, 0.9 at 8:30). ABC then sat out Agents of SHIELD for a weaker Marvel special (1.2). CBS and the CW were in full repeat/election coverage mode.

WHAT MATTERS:

It was a bounce-back Sunday for ABC's drama trio of Once Upon a Time (2.5), Resurrection (1.4) and Revenge (1.2). That may in part be thanks to the 7:00 hour, which surged with the re-installation of America's Funniest Home Videos (1.2) after last week's much weaker special.

CBS had what looks like one of its bigger NFL overruns from a Tom Brady/Peyton Manning showdown. The lineup started very close to 8:00 Eastern and appears to have significantly boosted 60 Minutes (3.3) even over recent overrun results. And Madam Secretary (1.8) likely posted its biggest number since the premiere.

For the first time in a month, Fox aired its regular lineup without the NFL overrun and saw Bob's Burgers (1.5), The Simpsons (2.0) and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (1.6) roughly match their deliveries from that night. Then came yet another Family Guy repeat (1.2) for some reason. And finally airing in a bad situation, Mulaney (0.7) plummeted well below its premiere rating from a month ago. Maybe this will be enough to get it pulled.

WHAT MATTERS:

CBS began its two-week foray into primetime college football on top, with its Notre Dame/Navy game (1.1) making a surge late in primetime to beat out uncompetitive games on ABC and Fox. The broadcast games figure to fare a lot better next week with LSU/Alabama and Ohio State/Michigan State on tap, but everything this week finished way behind ESPN's competing Ole Miss/Auburn (1.80).

WHAT MATTERS:

It was a pretty scary Halloween ratings-wise in general, but nowhere more than at NBC. Grimm (1.1) took a significant drop from last week's premiere and newbie Constantine (0.9) crashed by a half-point. Next Friday will be the first truly normal Friday situation for these shows, but Constantine has put itself in a deep hole.

There were actually a few week-to-week risers on Halloween, but most were shows that severely underachieved vs. the World Series last week, like The Amazing Race (1.1) and Last Man Standing (1.2). The one true bright spot, even moreso than usual, was Shark Tank (2.0), tying its season high on the lowest-viewed Friday of the season to date.

Meanwhile, Hawaii Five-0 (1.1) and Cristela (1.0) did not bounce back from drops last week, but we'll see if they can do so when viewing increases next week. Blue Bloods (1.1) hit a season low, and Utopia (0.5) fell in its return after a week off.

WHAT MATTERS:

FINALS UPDATE: With New York City taken out of the CW numbers, Jane the Virgin (0.4) was even week-to-week and The Originals (0.5) hit a new low. ABC's CMA Awards preview (1.2) did significantly worse than Castle, while The Voice (3.5) was the only series to get an upward adjustment in finals. ESPN's Monday Night Football (4.3) hit a season low.

Week seven finally put an end to the long streak of declines for Gotham (2.4), as the series rebounded by two tenths. But that was of no help to Sleepy Hollow (1.5), down to a new low for the second straight week.

CBS saw small declines across the board in its second week with no The Big Bang Theory. 2 Broke Girls (2.2) dropped two tenths to a level at which CBS will still probably be pretty content. The Millers (1.6), Scorpion (2.2) and NCIS: Los Angeles (1.5) each shed a tenth, marking new lows for all three.

On NBC, The Voice (3.4) and The Blacklist (2.4) gave back last week's gains. ABC and the CW were pre-empted for Monday Night Football, so it's likely another deceptive rise for Jane the Virgin (0.6).