NBC grouts another night with its filling of choice.
NBC: So, yes–shoving THE VOICE into just about any timeslot on the schedule will lift both that slot and whatever follows it. But last night’s special episode pulled a 3.0, one of its lowest rated episodes ever, and 2 full points below CBS at 8PM, and even a full point behind 2 1/2 Men (and still possibly inflated by an Indianapolis simulcast of the NFL game). This is where the rider would normally change horses, to give his panting mount a rest–except that NBC doesn’t have any other horses. Anyway, the increased lead-in (twice as big as the network’s normal 8PM rating) boosted THE OFFICE to a season high 2.5 that, as with the previous night’s Chicago Fire, is unlikely to be repeated. With all that, PARKS & RECREATION was up merely 0.1 from last week to 1.8, and ROCK CENTER was actually down to 1.1.
FOX: Any competing airing of The Voice puts a bullet into X FACTOR, and last night tied a season low 2.3. Without having to face NBC’s behemoth, GLEE was slightly higher at 2.4, although that still tied its season low.
ABC: Is 1.4 a high enough number to keep LAST RESORT in production for spring? Not that long ago it wouldn’t have been close, but times have changed. It was slightly up from its last airing, despite the increased competition on NBC. GREY’S ANATOMY perked up a bit to 3.2, and SCANDAL was flat at what has been a very consistent level of 2.0. not far behind CBS in the hour.
CBS: THE BIG BANG THEORY was the highest rated show of the night at 5.0, down 0.2 from last week. 2 1/2 MEN, with a return from guest star Miley Cyrus, tied its highest rating of the season with 4.0, up an impressive 0.4 from last week. PERSON OF INTEREST was steady with 3.0, while ELEMENTARY was down, tying its low at 2.2.
CW: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES was down a notch to 1.4, but BEAUTY AND THE BEAST rebounded slightly to 0.7.
Aside from NBC’s stopgap reruns to fill the 8PM hour, everything is new tonight. Of particular note will be the 2d week numbers for ABC’s LAST MAN STANDING/MALIBU COUNTRY hour.
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