One week after viewing levels took a tumble on Cinco De Mayo, most Thursday shows were on the rebound last night, including the finales of CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” and ABC’s “Scandal.” The Eye won the night narrowly over the Alphabet in young adults, though ABC was expected to again move ahead in three-day viewing numbers.
According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, “The Big Bang Theory” concluded its ninth season by drawing the night’s top scores in both adults 18-49 (3.3 rating/14 share) and total viewers (14.5 million viewers overall, its highest total since March 10). It was up 0.3 week to week in the demo and beat ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” head-to-head by 57% (3.3 vs. 2.1); with an expected uptick in the finals, “Big Bang” would finish within 8% of its year-ago finale rating (3.7).
From there, CBS dropped off sharply with “The Odd Couple” (second-place 1.6/6 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall), which was about on par with last week, but then rose at 9 p.m. with “Mom” (1.8/6 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) and at 9:30 p.m. with the season finale of “2 Broke Girls” (1.7/6 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall); both “Mom,” up 0.3 to match its season high, and “2 Broke Girls” tied with “Scandal” in 18-49 for the 9 o’clock hour while winning outright in 25-54 and total viewers. “Rush Hour” (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) was up a tick at 10.
At ABC, “Grey’s Anatomy” (2.1/8 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) was up a tenth from last week and was the night’s No. 2 program (behind “Big Bang Theory”) in 18-49 and 18-34 (1.6/8). “Scandal,” which has faded considerably over the past year, ended its season on an up note (1.8/6 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall), gaining 0.3 from last week to post its highest rating since its second episode of 2016 in February; compared with its year-ago closer, it was down 22% (0.5). At 10 p.m., the recently renewed “The Catch” (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) couldn’t take advantage of its stronger lead-in, holding at last week’s number.
NBC saw a one-tenth uptick for reality show “Strong” (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.6 million viewers overall) and drama “The Blacklist” (1.3/4 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall), whose episode served as the backdoor pilot for a potential new spinoff series starring Ryan Eggold and Famke Janssen. Last week’s “Blacklist” surged in Live+3 by 85% in 18-49 rating (1.24 to 2.29), the biggest percentage lift for any broadcast that night. Closing out the night, “Game of Silence” held steady (0.7/2 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall).
Fox’s “Bones” (0.8/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) was down a tenth and remained well behind ABC and CBS in the hour. And “American Grit” held at its low number (0.6/2 in 18-49, 1.9 million viewers overall).
And at CW, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (0.6/3 in 18-49, 1.9 million viewers overall) and “The 100” (0.4/1 in 18-49, 1.2 million viewers overall) held at last week’s numbers.
