TV ratings: ABC’s ‘#TGIT’ lineup a force in key demo

ABC sure has a handle on Thursday nights.

The alphabet network came out on top once again in the key demographic of adults 18-49 with its night of Shonda Rhimes-backed dramas, according to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen.

“Grey’s Anatomy” held steady from last week with a 2.4 rating in the key demo and 8.3 million viewers in the 8 p.m. hour. Sandwich-center “Scandal” was up 10% in the demo with a 3.2 rating in the and 10 million total viewers. Closing out the night on the network was “How to Get Away With Murder,” which was up 4% with viewers under 50, clocking in a 2.9 rating and 9.2 million total viewers.

Bit, just as ABC is murdering the competition in the key demographic, it will soon be without its “#TGIT” (Thank God It’s Thursday) force. The three dramas are one week from their fall finales, surely signaling some ratings dips on the night for the network.

But, for now, compared to the same November sweep night of a year ago, ABC’s Thursday lineup was up 33% in adults 18-49 and 30% in total viewers.

“Thursday Night Football” made a play on the night over on CBS -- at least for viewers in Buffalo and Miami, resulting in tentative numbers for the network. But it appears CBS kept its grip in total audience, coming in first among the networks with 9.87 million viewers.

“The Big Bang Theory” helped tip the scales, up 5% in the key demo with a 4.5 rating, and bringing in a hefty 17 million viewers in its 8 p.m. slot to rule the night as the No. 1 program. “Mom” picked up steam with a 2.8 in the key demo (up 22% from last week) and 11.8 million total viewers -- series highs if the numbers hold.

In the 9 p.m. hour, “Two and a Half Men” and “The McCarthys” on CBS were second in viewers behind “Scandal,” pulling in a respective 2.2 and 1.6, respectively, in the key demo. CBS’ “Elementary” was also second in viewers in its 10 p.m. slot, edged out by its ABC competition, with 6.9 million total viewers, and a 1.2 in the demo.

Over at NBC, “The Biggest Loser” was down 8% from last week with a rating of 1.2 in the key demographic. The weight-loss competition averaged 4.5 million viewers.

Meanwhile, it looks like some viewers have already said their goodbyes to on-their-way-out sitcoms “Bad Judge” and “A to Z,” both were down with a respective 0.9 and 0.6 in the the key demo. And though “Parenthood” grew by 10% from half-hour to half-hour, from a 1.0 to a 1.1, it was still down from last week’s 1.4 rating in the key demo; overall, it brought in 3.6 million viewers in its 10 p.m. slot.

Fox saw episodes of “Bones” and “Gracepoint” perform on par with last week, with a 1.3 and a 0.8, respectively, in the demo.

Over on the CW, “The Vampire Diaries” and “Reign” held steady. “The Vampire Diaries” earned a rating of 0.7 in the key demo and 1.6 million total viewers. Period drama “Reign” posted a 0.4 in the key demo and 1.2 million total viewers.

Twitter: @villarrealy