Ratings Analysis: Though the vast majority of new scripted programming has underwhelmed, ABC's reboot of 'The Wonder Years' (0.67) got off to a fairly respectable start in the 8:30 slot. This rating was a touch higher than the fall 2020 return of 'American Housewife' (0.65) and proves that this sitcom could be a worthy addition to the lineup, barring it doesn't have an alarming decline in week two. At 8, 'The Goldbergs' (0.70) was a tenth lower than its year-ago premiere (0.83) but higher than any of its other 2021 episodes. In the 9pm hour, 'The Conners' (0.65) fell from 'Wonder Years' and dropped by close to three-tenths on a year-to-year basis. Meanwhile, 'Home Economics' (0.41) was an even bigger eyesore in season two, barely retaining 60% of 'Conners' and finding itself close to series low territory. The debut of 'A Million Little Things' (0.29) hit a new low-point and was dead-last in the 10pm hour.
On Fox, 'The Masked Singer' (1.11) continued to show signs of fatigue, going five-tenths below where it began the previous fall. New unscripted series 'Alter Ego' (0.65) had a middling premiere at 9 and couldn't even hold two-thirds of its 'Masked' lead-in. CBS's 'Survivor' (1.06) came within striking distance of 'Singer' but took a noticeable step-down from its spring 2020 levels. 'Big Brother' (0.61) performed poorly in the 10pm slot when stacked up against its usual delivery. NBC's 'Chicago Med' (0.78) fell by a whopping four-tenths from last year's premiere. 'Chicago Fire' (0.86) and 'Chicago PD' (0.87) fared far better, down just a tenth each. The CW's 'Riverdale' (0.07) lost a hundredth while 'In the Dark' (0.04) garnered a fresh series low.
Finals Update: 'The Masked Singer' (+0.1), 'Survivor' (+0.1), 'Chicago Med' (+0.1), 'The Goldbergs' (+0.1), 'The Wonder Years' (+0.1), 'Chicago Fire' (+0.1), 'The Conners' (+0.1), 'Alter Ego' (+0.1) and 'Chicago PD' (+0.1) adjusted up.
(P) = premiere