Preliminary Analysis: The monotonous stream of ratings in the 0.2-0.5 range was finally interrupted as the NFL returned to NBC in momentous fashion with the Texans v. Chiefs game (5.4). This was a full ratings point behind where football began in 2019 (a preliminary 6.4 for a Packers v. Bears game) but still felt like a refreshing jolt of energy after a summer where few programs could even come near a 1.0 rating. The game was preceded by the NFL Kickoff (4.1).
The other networks didn't have the luxury of football help and most of them stayed frozen at fairly tepid levels. CBS's 'Big Brother' (1.0) remained a stand-out, holding steady with its previous outing and continuing to remain at or above a 1.0 A18-49 rating. That momentum once more disappeared at 9 as 'Love Island' (0.4) shed over half of its 'Brother' lead-in despite remaining even with its prior episode. A lowly 'Bull' repeat (0.3) closed the night out.
ABC housed the season finale of reality-competition series 'Holey Moley' (0.4) and followed up with a 9pm 'Moley' special (0.3). It was a rotten new season and series low for the sophomore program at the worst possible moment. Regardless, it's easy to see how it may have been hurt by the NFL competition and it was really only a tenth below its 2019 closer (0.5). The alphabet network ended the night with a Paige Winter special focusing on her shark attack (0.3). It performed about as well as one could expect from something airing in the 10pm slot during the late summer months.
Fox backed away from the original game and went with a repeat of '24 Hours to Hell & Back' (0.3) and a pair of 'Last Man Standing' encores (0.2/0.2). The CW was slightly behind them with repeats of 'Mysteries Decoded' (0.1) and 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' (0.1).
Finals Update: Holey Moley (+0.1), Big Brother (+0.1), NFL Kickoff (+0.2) and NFL: Texans v. Chiefs (+1.3) adjusted up.