Friday TV Ratings 6/26/26: World Cup Declines but Continues to Easily Lead, Dateline Strong, NHL Draft Up from 2025 [+ Analysis]

A diminished FIFA World Cup broadcast (1.81) was still easily in the lead on Friday night, meaning Fox was once again on top. On NBC, Dateline (0.24, +0.09) surged, building on the repeat of America's Got Talent (0.18) that led into it. ABC aired a Celebrity Jeopardy! rerun (0.19) and 20/20 (0.19). CBS went with repeats of Sheriff Country (0.21), Fire Country (0.13), and Boston Blue (0.12). On the CW, an encore presentation of the Taylor Swift documentary Taylor (0.01) posted the same rating it did in its initial airing (0.01). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 6/19/26: WWE SmackDown Rises, World Cup Down but Still Dominant, Real Time with Bill Maher Rebounds [+ Analysis]

The Brazil v. Haiti FIFA World Cup game (2.86) was the top-rated broadcast of the night, giving Fox the lead once more. NBC's broadcast of the US Open Golf (0.27) was at a modest level in comparison, but it was a bit higher than a steady 20/20 (0.23, 0.00) on ABC. Repeats of Sheriff Country (0.17), Fire Country (0.15), and Boston Blue (0.10) aired on CBS. AVP Volleyball (0.03) remained rather low on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 6/12/26: USA/Paraguay World Cup Game Enormous, Toy Story: 30 Years & Beyond Solid, Sheriff Country Repeat Out-Rates Several Originals [+ Analysis]

Fox's broadcast of the USA v. Paraguay FIFA World Cup game posted an enormous 5.92 in the Adults 18-49 demographic, which easily put the network in first place on Friday night. On ABC, the special Toy Story: 30 Years and Beyond (0.24) performed well, but it fell behind a surprisingly strong repeat of CBS's Sheriff Country (0.25). Dateline (0.17, -0.02) declined on NBC. On the CW, the 9 p.m. episode of Totally Funny Animals (0.03, +0.02) was up from last week's premiere, and the series gained even more ground at 9:30 (0.06, +0.03). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 5/29/26: Happy’s Place Repeats Solid, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Repeat Tops Broadcast, UFL Stays Low [+ Analysis]

On NBC, reruns of Happy's Place (0.19/0.21) were a notch above a Dateline encore (0.17), while ABC's 20/20 (0.23) fell behind a repeat of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (0.26). CBS went with repeats of Sheriff Country (0.11), Fire Country (0.17), and Boston Blue (0.12), while UFL on Fox (0.09) couldn't even match those numbers. On the CW, The American Bible Challenge (0.02, -0.01) ended with a downtick. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 5/22/26: Boston Blue and Fire Country Rise for Finales, Sheriff Country Ends on a Series High, NBA Playoffs Down [+ Analysis]

CBS's Sheriff Country (0.34, +0.04), Fire Country (0.25, +0.01), and Boston Blue (0.22, +0.03) all rose for their respective finales, with Sheriff Country setting a new series high in the process. Over on ABC, a repeat of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (0.22) performed relatively well. NBA on NBC (1.77) led the way, while UFL on Fox (0.1) remained feeble. On the CW, The American Bible Challenge (0.03, 0.00) held steady. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 5/15/26: Celebrity Jeopardy! Ends on Another Season High, Sheriff Country Ties Series High, Dutton Ranch Decent on Paramount Network [+ Analysis]

ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.39, +0.06) surged on finale night, and lead-out 20/20 (0.30, +0.09) had an even stronger jump. On CBS, Sheriff Country (0.30, +0.03), Fire Country (0.24, +0.05), and Boston Blue (0.19, +0.02) all rose as well. NBC aired repeats of Happy's Place (0.17/0.12) and Dateline (0.15). UFL on Fox (0.09) was on the softer side, while the CW's American Bible Challenge (0.03, +0.01) grew slightly. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 5/8/26: Dateline NBC Ticks Up to Season High, Celebrity Jeopardy and WWE SmackDown Also Rise, Fire Country Declines [+ Analysis]

Despite having a rerun of Happy's Place (0.17) as its lead-in, NBC's Dateline (0.24, +0.06) soared to a new season high on Friday night. Newsmagazine competitor 20/20 (0.21, +0.02) also rose on ABC but couldn't quite catch up in the key demo. Earlier in the night, Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.28, +0.03) gained momentum. Over on CBS, Sheriff Country (0.27, +0.05) surged, and Boston Blue (0.17, +0.01) was up slightly, but Fire Country (0.19, -0.01) was down in the middle. UFL on Fox (0.12) ticked up, while The American Bible Challenge (0.02, -0.03) slipped on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 5/1/26: 152nd Kentucky Oaks Tops Broadcast, Sheriff Country Sinks, WWE SmackDown Also Slides [+ Analysis]

NBC's broadcast of the 152nd Kentucky Oaks (0.28) topped broadcast on Friday night, while Dateline (0.18, -0.04) had a softer showing than last week. On ABC, Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.25, -0.03) declined, but 20/20 (0.19, +0.02) rose. Sheriff Country (0.22, -0.05), Fire Country (0.20, -0.02), and Boston Blue (0.16, -0.02) all weakened on CBS. UFL on Fox (0.11) was up from last week, as was The American Bible Challenge (0.05, +0.03) on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 4/17/26: RuPaul’s Drag Race Steady on Finale Night, Happy’s Place Rises, Boston Blue Hits Highest Rating Since November [+ Analysis]

On CBS, Boston Blue (0.21, +0.04) bounced back considerably, even as Fire Country (0.24, -0.03) dipped. Sheriff Country (0.23, 0.00) matched last week's rating. Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.28, -0.03) declined on ABC, as did 20/20 (0.17, -0.07). Happy's Place (0.26, +0.03) and Dateline (0.23, +0.04) both rose on NBC. UFL on Fox (0.11) remained low. The American Bible Challenge (0.03, +0.01) ticked up on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 4/10/26: ABC Dominates Coverage of Artemis II Return, Fire Country Builds on Sheriff Country, Happy’s Place Ticks Up [+ Analysis]

Coverage of the Artemis II return brought some life back to broadcast on Friday night. ABC's coverage (1.85) easily led the way in the Adults 18-49 demographic, while NBC (0.73) placed a distant second. CBS (0.5) came in last among the big three, but this rating still doubled that of last week's Sheriff Country (0.25). After the coverage, NBC's Happy's Place (0.23, +0.01) ticked up, but Dateline (0.19, -0.07) plummeted. Sheriff Country (0.23, -0.02) and Boston Blue (0.17, -0.02) slipped on CBS, while Fire Country (0.27, +0.02) rose. ABC's 20/20 (0.24, +0.01) inched up. UFL on Fox (0.1) did not impress. The American Bible Challenge (0.02, -0.02) declined on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 4/3/26: Women’s College Basketball Final Four Up from 2025, Fire Country Draws Highest Rating Since Season Premiere, Boston Blue and WWE SmackDown Also Jump [+ Analysis]

Sheriff Country (0.25, +0.02), Fire Country (0.25, +0.06), and Boston Blue (0.19, +0.05) all rose on CBS, while ABC's 20/20 (0.23, -0.01) ticked down. Happy's Place (0.22, 0.00) held steady on NBC, while Dateline (0.26, +0.14) surged. UFL on Fox (0.15) was up from last week. The network premiere of The American Bible Challenge (0.04) fell behind a repeat of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.05) on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

ABC Renew/Cancel Week 23: We Need to Talk About RJ Decker + ABC Renew/Cancel March Madness Championship Voting!

RJ Decker finds itself in the firing line again this week on the aBC Renew/Cancel, as I take a look at whether ABC's newest scripted series is doing enough for a second season. Plus, an assessment of ABC's latest true crime filler series, which launched last Sunday to minimal fanfare.

Friday TV Ratings 3/27/26: March Madness Rises Again for Duke/St. John’s Game, RuPaul’s Drag Race Rises, Celebrity Jeopardy! Stable [+ Analysis]

CBS's March Madness broadcast (2.23) led the way on Friday night, while UFL on Fox (0.11) evidently underwhelmed. Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.31, 0.00) was stable on ABC, while 20/20 (0.24, -0.03) cooled down. NBC aired comedy repeats (0.20/0.12) and Dateline (0.17/0.12). The CW went with reruns of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.05) and Masters of Illusion (0.04). Key: (R) = repeat. 

Friday TV Ratings 3/20/26: RuPaul’s Drag Race Slips, March Madness Much Lower on Second Night, Celebrity Jeopardy! and Happy’s Place Also Decline [+ Analysis]

On ABC, Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.31, -0.01) ticked down, but 20/20 (0.27, +0.07) surged. NBC sitcom Happy's Place (0.22, -0.03) slipped, and Dateline (0.15, -0.07) plummeted. March Madness coverage (0.55/0.61) was significantly lower than yesterday on CBS. Fox aired repeats of Doc (0.08) and Best Medicine (0.06). Remarkable Women (0.01) underwhelmed on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. 

Friday TV Ratings 3/13/26: Celebrity Jeopardy! Returns Higher, Stumble Down for Finale, Happy’s Place and Boston Blue Also Dip [+ Analysis]

ABC got a solid rating out of the premiere of Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.32), but 20/20 (0.20, 0.00) did not appear to benefit from the stronger lead-in. NBC sitcom Stumble (0.19, -0.04) was down for its season finale, but Dateline (0.22, +0.02) rose at nine. Happy's Place (0.25, -0.08) plummeted at eight. Over on CBS, dramas Sheriff Country (0.23, -0.04), Fire Country (0.19, -0.03), and Boston Blue (0.14, -0.02) all slipped. Baseball on Fox (1.08) remained a dominant force. The CW aired a repeat of ABBA: Against the Odds (0.02). Key: (P) = premiere. (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 3/6/26: Happy’s Place Jumps to Season High, Stumble Also Rises, Sheriff Country and Fire Country Rebound [+ Analysis]

NBC sitcom Happy's Place (0.33, +0.09) jumped to a new season high on Friday night, and Stumble (0.23, +0.07) also rose substantially. Dateline (0.20, 0.00), however, held steady at nine, tying ABC's 20/20 (0.20, +0.04). Sheriff Country (0.27, +0.12) and Fire Country (0.22, +0.08) soared on CBS, but Boston Blue (0.16, +0.01) was only up slightly. Baseball on Fox (0.7) outpaced all other over-the-air competitors in the key demographic. Repeats of Penn & Teller (0.03) and Masters of Illusion (0.02) aired on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. 

Friday TV Ratings 2/27/26: Sheriff Country and Fire Country Return to New Series Lows, Stumble Sees No Benefit from Post-Olympics Airing, Boston Blue Steady [+ Analysis]

Sheriff Country (0.15, -0.04) and Fire Country (0.14, -0.03) both dropped to new series lows on CBS, while Boston Blue (0.15, 0.00) held steady. Happy's Place (0.24, -0.01) ticked down on NBC, and Stumble (0.16, -0.45) returned to its usual levels. Dateline (0.20, +0.01) gained a hundredth at nine. On ABC, 20/20 (0.16, -0.16) lost half of last week's rating. Fox was on top with college basketball (0.44). The CW aired repeats of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.07) and Masters of Illusion (0.04). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 2/20/26: Stumble Soars to Series High, Winter Olympics Decline but Well Above Previous Friday, 20/20 Jumps [+ Analysis]

With the help of an Olympics lead-in (1.45), NBC sitcom Stumble (0.61, +0.46) jumped to a new series high in a later slot. On ABC, 20/20 (0.32, +0.03) rose from last week. This Is UFC (0.13) made little noise on CBS, falling a tenth behind college basketball on Fox (0.23). Repeats of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03) and Masters of Illusion (0.02) aired on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 2/13/26: Winter Olympics Sink, RuPaul’s Drag Race Also Down, 20/20 Jumps [+ Analysis]

The Winter Olympics (1.21, -0.27) weakened considerably on NBC, even as nothing came close to it in the key demo. On ABC, 20/20 (0.29, +0.05) grew significantly, rising from an already solid Celebrity Wheel rerun (0.26). CBS aired repeats of Survivor (0.15) and Sheriff Country (0.08/0.09). College basketball (0.23) was down from last week on Fox. The CW aired reruns of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03) and Masters of Illusion (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.