Preliminary Analysis: Game 4 of the NBA finals (1.9) actually rose four-tenths from what game three managed in prelims (1.5) and will likely eclipse the 2.2 that game posted in finals. Despite that shred of good news, NBA ratings are still far below the year prior. Before the game came more 'Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night' (1.3) and 'NBA Countdown (1.2). NBC's 'Weakest Link' (0.8) took a steep four-tenth decline from last week's debate-boosted debut but remains in fairly solid territory. The bigger issue came at 9pm when the return of 'Ellen's Game of Games' (0.6) posted a new series low by a wide margin. In comparison, the January 2020 premiere of 'Game of Games' managed a sturdy 1.0 A18-49 rating, with the series going as high as a 1.4 on one occasion. The peacock network wrapped up a disappointing night with drama 'Transplant' (0.4), down a tenth from its previous installment.
The remaining three networks all had series premieres but none of them garnered a number that could even be considered remotely solid. CBS's premiere of 'The FBI Declassified' (0.4) was somehow the strongest of the three, leading out of 'NCIS' (0.5) and 'FBI' (0.4) repeats. Fox's 'NEXT' (0.3) completely bombed out the gate, going below even the debuts of 'LA's Finest' (0.5) and 'Filthy Rich' (0.5). Its lead-in 'Cosmos' (0.3) was down a tenth from last week. And the CW had the series premiere of 'Swamp Thing' (0.2). It was a decent showing by the network's standards but nothing to write home about.
Finals Update: Game 4 of the NBA Finals (2.9, +1.0) adjusted up by a full point and matched game 1 while going seven-tenths above game 3 (2.2). As usual, 'Jimmy Kimmel Game Night' (0.6, -0.7) and 'NBA Countdown' (0.8, -0.4) adjusted down by multiple tenths. The premiere of 'Ellen's Game of Games' (0.7, +0.1) adjusted up on NBC.
Key:
(R) = repeat
(P) = premiere
