UPDATED WITH FINALS AND CABLE: One week from its series finale, CBS comedy “Mike & Molly” saw a nice ratings spike Monday, but NBC remained on top among the broadcast networks in key demos every half-hour with “The Voice” and “Blindspot.” The NBC drama, along with ABC’s “Castle,” seemed to pick up some younger viewers from CBS, which has shifted from “NCIS: Los Angeles” to “Person of Interest” in the night’s closing hour.
TNT, meanwhile, led the night with its coverage of Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers, according to Nielsen. The overtime contest averaged a 2.6 rating in 18-49 and 6.16 million total viewers from 10:55 p.m. ET to about 1:50 a.m. — the network’s largest audience since Game 4 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals between Cleveland and Atlanta. The first game of its doubleheader between Miami and Toronto did a 1.6 in the demo and about 4 million viewers.
Looking at Monday’s broadcast ratings action, according to final “live plus same-day” national estimates from Nielsen, “The Voice” averaged a 2.1 rating/7 share in adults 18-49 and 9.82 million viewers overall from 8 to 10:01 p.m., steady with last week and standing as Monday’s top-rated series in 18-49, 25-54 (3.0/8) and 18-34 (1.3/6).
Following “The Voice,” NBC’s “Blindspot” (1.3/5 in 18-49, 5.61 million viewers overall) held steady with last week in 18-49 was up in both adults 18-34 (0.8 vs. 0.7) and women 18-34 (1.1 vs. 0.8). Last week’s episode grew by 72% from its same-day 18-49 rating (1.30) to its Live+3 rating (2.24) — the largest percentage lift for a Monday telecast on the Big Four in six months.
At CBS, “Mike & Molly” averaged a 1.6 rating/6 share in adults 18-49 and 7.73 million viewers overall at 8 p.m. and edged up at 8:30 p.m. to a 1.7/6 in the demo and 8.06 million, rising week to week in the demo by 0.3 for each half-hour. That leaves the show, which concludes its six-season run with a pair of episodes next week, in line with its Wednesday airings earlier this year, while the total-viewer count is its best since last season.
A repeat “The Big Bang Theory” (1.5/5 in 18-49, 7.44 million viewers overall) and original “The Odd Couple” (1.3/4 in 18-49, 5.81 million viewers overall) were on par with last week, while “Person of Interest” (1.0/3 in 18-49, 5.80 million viewers overall) was a couple of ticks below its season premiere last Tuesday and also came in below every episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles” to air in the Monday-at-10 slot for CBS this season.
ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” (1.7/6 in 18-49, 11.32 million viewers overall) was down a tenth week to week, placing second among the Big Four from 8 to 10 p.m. in most demos while winning the block in total viewers. “Castle” (1.1/4 in 18-49, 6.74 million viewers overall) was up a tenth to match its top score since October while hitting a season high in total viewers.
Fox’s “Gotham” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.67 million viewers overall) held steady week to week, and “Houdini & Doyle” (0.6/2 in 18-49, 2.36 million viewers overall) was off a smidge from its weaks premiere of last week.
And at CW, “Reign” (0.2/1 in 18-49, 0.78 million viewers overall) fell to a low while “Jane the Virgin” remained low itself (0.3/1 in 18-49, 0.90 million viewers overall). “Jane” more than doubled its lead-in among adults women 18-34 (0.5 vs. 0.2).
