TV ratings: CBS wins with football; ABC stays strong with ‘TGIT’

ABC’s Thursday night block of Shonda Rhimes shows continues to dominate the ratings, according to Nielsen.

“Scandal,” the political drama starring Kerry Washington, was the most watched non-sports program of the night in the key 18-to-49-year-old demographic.

The show, part of ABC’s “TGIT” (“Thank God It’s Thursday”) lineup, earned a rating of 2.9 in the key demo, making it second to Thursday Night Football on CBS. With about 9.8 million viewers, the show was also second most watched overall.

The network’s new Rhimes show, “How to Get Away With Murder” fell 13% from last week but still nabbed the No. 3 spot in the key demographic and overall. The Viola Davis-starring show earned a rating of 2.7 in the key demographic and averaged 9.7 million viewers.

For the fourth consecutive week this fall season, ABC’s Thursday was up from the same night last year in total viewers and adults. The network was second overall and in the key demographic, averaging 9.3 million viewers and a rating of 2.7.

CBS won the night with a rating of 3.6 in the key demographic and about 11.9 million viewers. However, due to the nature of live sports, ratings for the network are approximate.

The New York Jets-New England Patriots game was No. 1 most watched with a rating of 3.9. It averaged 12.5 million viewers.

“The NFL Kickoff,” which aired just before the game, was fourth most watched with a rating of 2.5 in the key demographic. It averaged 8.9 million viewers.

Rhimes’ “Grey’s Anatomy” rounded out the top five most watched programs with a rating of 2.4 and about 8.4 million viewers.

Meanwhile, Fox and NBC tied for third in the key demographic, both posting ratings of 1.2.

Fox’s “Bones” stayed even with last week in the key demographic with a rating of 1.6. It averaged 6.4 million viewers.

“Gracepoint,” down one tenth from last week, earned a rating of 0.8 in the key demographic. It held even in total viewers, averaging 3.8 million.

The network was third most watched overall with 5.1 million viewers.

NBC shows also stayed steady.

“Biggest Loser” was up 8% from last week with a rating of 1.3 in the key demographic. The weight-loss competition averaged 4.7 million viewers.

Though “Bad Judge” was down 8% from last week, it averaged a rating of 1.2 in the key demographic. About 4.7 million peopled tuned in.

“A to Z” and “Parenthood” stayed even with last week. “A to Z,” one of NBC’s new sitcoms, earned a rating of 1.0 in the key demo and averaged 3.4 million viewers. Meanwhile, “Parenthood” averaged a rating of 1.3 and 4.1 million viewers.

On the CW, “Vampire Diaries” and “Reign” were up one tenth from last week. “Vampire Diaries” earned a rating of 0.9 in the key demographic. With 1.9 million viewers, the show had its most watched episode since mid-March. “Reign” posted a rating of 0.5 in the key demographic. It averaged 1.4 million viewers.

The shows helped the CW have its most watched Thursday since May 1.

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