Analysis to come.
Sunday TV Ratings 2/8/26: Super Bowl Slightly Down from 2025, Winter Olympics Dip from 2022 Post-Super Bowl Rating, Puppy Bowl Ratings to Come
Saturday TV Ratings 2/7/26: Winter Olympics Barely Down from First Competitive Night of Beijing Olympics, The Way To You Decent on Hallmark, College Basketball on ESPN Takes Second
Analysis to come.
Friday TV Ratings 2/6/26: Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Up Dramatically from 2022 Opening Ceremony, WWE SmackDown Jumps Again, Unrivaled Up from Previous Friday
Analysis to come.
Marietta Season 8 Episode 15 - What If...?
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Marietta Season 8 Episode 15
What If...?
ABC Renew/Cancel Week 16: Shifting Gears Stays Strong As It Parks Season Two
Thursday TV Ratings 2/5/26: NFL Honors Soar Above 2025 Rating, Winter Olympics Preview Strong, Next Level Chef and Animal Control Dip [+ Analysis]
NBC had a strong night overall as an Olympics preview special (0.45) dominated, and the NFL Honors (0.69) rose by a whopping 57% from last year (0.44). On Fox, Next Level Chef (0.26, -0.03), Animal Control (0.17, -0.04), and Going Dutch (0.13, -0.06) all declined. CBS aired encores of Georgie & Mandy (0.21), Ghosts (0.14), Matlock (0.12), and Elsbeth (0.09). ABC went with a trio of 9-1-1 repeats (0.25/0.21/0.12). Scrabble (0.04, -0.01) slipped on the CW, but Trivial Pursuit (0.06, +0.02) rose. Key: (R) = repeat.
Evergreen Aimee Season 5 Episode 12 - The Ferrera-Donahues Take on Milano-Cortina
Evergreen Aimee Season 5 Episode 12
The Ferrera-Donahues Take on Milano-Cortina
The Muppet Show Special Review
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| Photo Credit: ABC |
Few would have a bad word to say about The Muppet Show, a comedy-variety series that brought the stars of the day to the stage and made stars out of the felt creations that stood alongside them. But after the series signed off in 1981, successfully bringing the Muppets back to the small screen became an unprecedented struggle. First came The Jim Henson Hour, a 1989 NBC effort that was pulled after a handful of episodes. Then came Muppets Tonight, a hip ABC reimagining that lasted just two short seasons in the late '90s, the second of which was tossed on the Disney Channel. The franchise returned to ABC in 2015 with The Muppets, a mockumentary sitcom that started strong but lost viewers rapidly. Soon after, Kermit and the gang entered the streaming age, leading to the emergence of Muppets Now and The Muppets Mayhem on Disney Plus, but neither lasted more than a season. And now comes The Muppet Show...again, a return to the format that captivated viewers in the first place. As a whole, this half-hour showcase is well aware of what made the original series a pop-culture staple, and it sticks to the basics in an endearing way.
The Muppets have long been governed by the principle of "affectionate anarchy", a phrase often used by legendary puppeteer and film director Frank Oz. Finding the proper balance between the heart-warming and the heart-pounding is key to the development of a solid production. That balance is generally respected during this half-hour. Anarchy is on display throughout as Crazy Harry threatens to ruin Sabrina Carpenter's performance of "Manchild", and resident janitor Beauregard causes trouble during Rizzo's rendition of The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights". But then affection shines through when Kermit allows as many Muppets as possible to have a moment in the spotlight, leading to a grand performance of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now". This serves as a tremendous ending to an episode rife with backstage drama over who gets to perform for the first show back, an apt storyline given the circumstances.
The special also excels by introducing new elements. One area where this is evident is with the expansion of the audience's role. Outside of Statler and Waldorf's quips from the balcony, the spectators in the original Muppet Show rarely had a prominent function. Here, they get a chance to interact with the stage show in front of them, with guest star Maya Rudolph and the relatively obscure Beautiful Day Monster emerging as a unique comedic duo from the crowd. Rudolph's brush with death, as a result of a Muppet Labs skit gone wrong, is an entertaining bit that occurs only because new avenues have been opened up.
The return of The Muppet Show will not delight all. Many iconic recurring sketches are absent, and viewers may have trouble adjusting to Kermit the Frog's new voice. But when a franchise has provided so many different movies, shows, and specials over the years, there is no possible way to cater to everyone. One Muppet enthusiast is not going to want the same final product as another, and it is a difficult task to match the magic of the puppeteers who are no longer with us. And yet, the cast and crew still come close to replicating the charm of The Muppet Show. Even the little things, like Gonzo losing control of his skates or Zoot finding one of Beaker's eyeballs in his saxophone, reveal that the writers understand how to form sight gags true to the spirit of the source material. And while this special provides longtime fans with a trip down memory lane, it also gives newcomers a sample of the infectious joy that these characters have supplied for so long. That is about all one could ask of a Muppet production in 2026.
Grade: A-
What did you think of The Muppet Show? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
What’s Trending on Streaming: Daily Trending Lists for Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix from February 1-February 7
Wednesday TV Ratings 2/4/26: The Muppet Show Impressive, Shifting Gears Rises for Finale, The Masked Singer Tumbles to Series Low [+ Analysis]
It was time to light the lights on Wednesday night as The Muppet Show (0.52) returned for a new installment for the first time in decades. The ABC showing of the special was the highest-rated broadcast of the evening in the Adults 18-49 demographic, rising by a tenth from an already strong Abbott Elementary (0.42, +0.02). Earlier in the night, Shifting Gears (0.39, +0.03) enjoyed a nice finale uptick. On CBS, The Price Is Right At Night (0.39, +0.08) surged, but Hollywood Squares (0.20, -0.07) plummeted. Chicago Med (0.36, +0.05), Chicago Fire (0.34, +0.09), and Chicago PD (0.28, +0.06) all soared on NBC. Fox's The Masked Singer (0.20, -0.14) and Fear Factor: House of Fear (0.19, -0.07) were pushed to later slots and collapsed as a result. Police 24/7 (0.04, 0.00) was stable on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.
Our House Season 8 Episode 13 - Our Shootout
Our House Season 8 Episode 13
Our Shootout
NBC Renew/Cancel Week 15: Another Stumble for Stumble
Tuesday TV Ratings 2/3/26: The Turpins: A New House of Horror Special Respectable on ABC, Best Medicine Hits Tuesday High, Will Trent Ticks Up as High Potential Ticks Down [+ Analysis]
The Turpins: A New House of Horror (0.22) looked respectable in the 10 p.m. hour on ABC, even as it dropped significantly from High Potential (0.39, -0.01). Will Trent (0.37, +0.01) ticked up at eight. On Fox, Best Medicine (0.25, +0.03) climbed higher, while Doc (0.21, 0.00) matched last week's rating. Harlan Coben's Final Twist (0.16, -0.03) slipped on CBS, while NBA on NBC (0.34) was up slightly. The CW's WWE NXT (0.08, 0.00) tied its week-ago installment. Key: (R) = repeat.
Monday TV Ratings 2/2/26: Memory of a Killer Slides in Week Two, American Idol and The Rookie Also Decline, St. Denis Medical Rises [+ Analysis]
Fox drama Memory of a Killer (0.16, -0.06) dealt with a worrying decline on Monday night, this time falling behind its Extracted lead-in (0.19, -0.03). Also down from last week were ABC's American Idol (0.56, -0.06) and The Rookie (0.25, -0.02). On NBC, St. Denis Medical (0.33, +0.02) and Brilliant Minds (0.12, +0.01) inched up, while The Wall (0.16, 0.00) tied last week's rating. The Super Bowl Greatest Commercials special (0.30) was down by 17% from last year (0.36) on CBS. Key: (R) = repeat.
Sunday TV Ratings 2/1/26: Grammys Drop 17% from 2025, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Stable, Rise of the 49ers Debuts Strong [+ Analysis]
CBS's broadcast of the Grammy Awards (3.24) dropped by 17% in the Adults 18-49 demographic when compared to the year-ago ceremony (3.91), but the decline in viewership (-6.5%) was less dramatic. NBA on NBC (0.76/0.55) was respectable, even as it paled in comparison to the Grammys. ABC went with repeats of America's Funniest Home Videos (0.44/0.30) and American Idol (0.14). The CW's showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (0.07) beat Fox's encore of Fear Factor: House of Fear (0.06). Key: (R) = repeat.
Saturday TV Ratings 1/31/26: Saturday Night Live Jumps, College Basketball on ESPN Beats NBA on ABC, Missing the Boat Strong on Hallmark [+ Analysis]
NBC's Saturday Night Live (0.70, +0.19) bounced back considerably after last week's sluggish performance, topping the night altogether. NBA on ABC (0.41) more than doubled college basketball on Fox (0.19). 48 Hours (0.14, 0.00) was steady on CBS. The CW aired I Am Burt Reynolds (0.03). Key: (R) = repeat.
Friday TV Ratings 1/30/26: WWE SmackDown Jumps, College Basketball Easily Leads, Happy’s Place and Stumble Slide [+ Analysis]
After last week's surge, Happy's Place (0.25, -0.07) and Stumble (0.15, -0.07) both came crashing down on NBC, but Dateline (0.19, 0.00) showcased stability. ABC aired a shockingly strong Celebrity Wheel rerun (0.38) and 20/20 (0.24, +0.01). A Grammy Awards special (0.12) underwhelmed on CBS, while Fox's college basketball broadcast (0.54) was the top-rated program of the night. On the CW, Masters of Illusion (0.04, 0.00) tied its last original. Key: (R) = repeat.
Marietta Season 8 Episode 14 - Storm of the Century - Part Two
Marietta Season 8 Episode 14
Storm of the Century - Part Two
FOX Renew/Cancel (Feb. 3rd Update): Best Medicine Will Be Refilled
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| Photo Credit: Fox |
Below are the February 3rd Fox renew/cancel predictions for the 2025-26 television season. The table embedded includes the Adults 18-49 ratings average of each program. The "Y2Y (year-to-year) Change" column compares a show's current average to its average from the previous season.
Memory of a Killer: Thanks to a massive football lead-in, new drama Memory of a Killer debuted with an impressive 1.35 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic. Less than twenty-four hours later, the series became a mere memory for the majority of those who watched the pilot, as 84% of that premiere rating vanished overnight. Nonetheless, a 0.22 is still a workable rating, and the series actually grew from its Extracted lead-in in total viewers. On the streaming platform Hulu, Killer immediately established a strong presence, remaining in the top ten for five consecutive days. All these signs are positive, so the series is likely to be renewed based on the limited data available.
Animal Control: For the first time in its run, Fox decided to provide Animal Control with a direct NFL lead-in for its premiere. As a result, the series posted a towering 1.2 rating on arrival. In its latest episode, the sitcom garnered a 0.21, a rating higher than eight of the ten episodes from its previous season. The fact that Fox felt Animal Control was worthy of a football boost is already promising, but the series also has a recent Netflix deal working in its favor. That, coupled with its relative ratings stability, makes it a certain renewal.
Best Medicine: The NFL lead-in that Best Medicine received on premiere night was on the softer side, so it began with just a 0.45 rating. Since then, it has stabilized at a respectable level, hovering in the 0.22-0.23 range on Tuesday nights. Its performance on Hulu is also solid, even if it doesn't chart as high as Memory of a Killer. Thus, it begins as a likely renewal.
Going Dutch: The shakiest "likely renewal" of the bunch is Going Dutch. The series does not have a meaningful presence on Hulu, and its Adults 18-49 average pales in comparison to the shows above. Still, its recent ratings growth (0.10 > 0.17 > 0.19) is a step in the right direction, so it starts in the green.
| The TV Ratings Guide | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Extracted | Memory of a Killer | ||
| Tues | Best Medicine | Doc | ||
| Wed | The Masked Singer | Fear Factor: House of Fear | ||
| Thurs | Next Level Chef | Animal Control | Going Dutch | |
| Fri | Fox College Hoops | |||
| Sun | The Simpsons | Universal Basic Guys | Krapopolis | Bob's Burgers |
Renewed
Certain Renew
Likely Renew
Likely Cancel
Certain Cancel
Canceled
ABC Renew/Cancel Week 15: American Idol Is No False Idol
Happy’s Place and St. Denis Medical Renewed for Third Seasons by NBC
NBC has issued its first renewals for the season, and once again, sophomore comedy St. Denis Medical is among them. Also renewed alongside St. Denis Medical is fellow second-season sitcom Happy's Place. Both Eries have been solid and reliable performers for ABC throughout their runs, with St. Denis Medical ranking as NBC's #4 series with a 0.31 average, while Happy's Place has performed respectably in a tough Friday night time slot, with a 0.24 average. The two series have helped NBC rebuild a long-struggling comedy brand, with the network not having any long-running comedy veterans on their lineup since Superstore ended in 2021. While just entering their third seasons next year, both St. Denis Medical and Happy's Place look stronger than any of NBC's recent third-season comedies, suggesting a path forward for a network that has seen major ratings declines in recent years. Both are correct predictions for The TV Ratings Guide.
Thursday TV Ratings 1/29/26: Next Level Chef Returns Up from Finale, 9-1-1: Nashville and SVU Jump to Season Highs, Going Dutch and Grey’s Anatomy Also Tick Up [+ Analysis]
On Fox, Next Level Chef (0.29) had a healthy return to the network, rising from where it left off in May (0.26). Later in the night, Animal Control (0.21, +0.01) and Going Dutch (0.19, +0.02) both ticked up. ABC's 9-1-1 (0.35, +0.05), 9-1-1: Nashville (0.32, +0.08), and Grey's Anatomy (0.22, +0.04) all gained some serious momentum. Law & Order (0.28, 0.00) and The Hunting Party (0.15, 0.00) were both steady on NBC, but Law & Order: SVU (0.35, +0.03) climbed higher in the middle. CBS was once more in repeat mode (0.22/0.15/0.10/0.10). Scrabble (0.05, 0.00) tied last week's premiere on the CW, but Trivial Pursuit (0.04, -0.02) dipped. Key: (P) = premiere. (R) = repeat.
Evergreen Aimee Season 5 Episode 11 - Olympics at Last!
Evergreen Aimee Season 5 Episode 11
Olympics at Last!
CBS Renew/Cancel Week 14: The Price Is Right At Night Is Still All Right
What’s Trending on Streaming: Daily Trending Lists for Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix from January 25-January 31
Wednesday TV Ratings 1/28/26: Chicago PD and Chicago Fire Drop to Series Lows, Abbott Elementary Rises as Shifting Gears Slips, The Price is Right at Night and Hollywood Squares Rise After Time Slot Swap [+ Analysis]
Chicago Med (0.31, -0.02), Chicago Fire (0.25, -0.05), and Chicago PD (0.22, -0.03) could not stop the bleeding on NBC, as all three programs were down for a second week in a row. ABC comedy Shifting Gears (0.36, -0.02) also slipped, but Abbott Elementary (0.40, +0.06) had a shocking surge. Later, Dirty Talk (0.18, +0.01) ticked up for its finale, and Shark Tank (0.15, +0.02) also rose. On CBS, The Price Is Right At Night (0.31, +0.10) gained a full tenth in its move to eight, and Hollywood Squares (0.27, +0.09) also rose dramatically in its new time slot. The Masked Singer (0.34, 0.00) and Fear Factor: House of Fear (0.26, 0.00) were both steady on Fox, as was the CW's Police 24/7 (0.04, 0.00). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.
Our House Season 8 Episode 12 - Our Church
Our House Season 8 Episode 12
Our Church
NBC Renew/Cancel Week 14: NBC Are Losing Their Brilliant Minds
Tuesday TV Ratings 1/27/26: Best Medicine and High Potential Slightly Down, Harlan Coben’s Final Twist and Doc Rise, NBA Sinks [+ Analysis]
On ABC, Will Trent (0.36, 0.00) matched last week's rating, while High Potential (0.40, -0.01) inched down. Best Medicine (0.22, -0.01) also lost a hundredth on Fox, but Doc (0.21, +0.06) recovered quite nicely. NBA on NBC (0.33) lost a tenth, while Harlan Coben's Final Twist (0.19, +0.03) rose on CBS. The CW's WWE NXT (0.08, 0.00) held steady. Key: (R) = repeat.
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