Thursday TV Ratings 6/16/22: NBA Finals Jump in Final Game, Legacies Slightly Down for Series Finale (Final Ratings)

Ratings Analysis: The sixth and final game of the 2022 NBA Finals (4.32, +0.33) posted the highest rating out of all 2022 games and even eclipsed the last game of 2021 (4.27). ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night' (0.53, -0.02) and 'NBA Countdown' (0.88, -0.02) declined by two-hundredths apiece in the 8PM hour. As the Golden State Warriors took home the gold, most of the other networks did not dare to air originals. CBS went with its usual repeat lineup of 'Young Sheldon' (0.30), 'United States of Al' (0.25), 'Ghosts' (0.24), 'B Positive' (0.22), and 'Bull' (0.22). NBC's reruns of 'Law & Order' (0.22), 'Law & Order: SVU' (0.26), and 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' (0.24) had a slightly higher average than Fox's encores of 'MasterChef Junior' (0.25) and 'Don't Forget the Lyrics!' (0.21). Over on the CW, 'Walker' (0.11, -0.01) and the series finale of 'Legacies' (0.09, -0.01) each shed a single hundredth. 

Thursday TV Ratings 6/9/22: January 6th Committee Hearing Draws Decent Interest Across Big Three Networks as ABC Coverage Leads (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: The January 6th Committee Hearings got under way on Thursday evening, with three of the five networks broadcasting the investigation live. ABC's telecast, entitled 'Attack on the Capitol: The Investigation', garnered the most attention by mustering up a strong 0.66 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic and crossing the 5 million mark in total viewers. NBC trailed the alphabet network by a wide margin when using both metrics, managing a softer 0.48 rating and 3.7 million viewers. CBS settled for last place in both the 18-49 demo (0.38) and total viewers (3.49 million) but was very close to the peacock network when it came to viewership. In the 10PM hour, ABC once more took the lead with its LGBTQ-themed 'PRIDE: To Be Seen' (0.25) special. CBS moved up to second at 10 as the network's rerun of 'Bull' (0.23) outpaced NBC's encore of 'Law & Order: SVU' (0.20). Fox went with underwhelming reruns of 'MasterChef Junior' (0.18) and 'Don't Forget the Lyrics!' (0.20). 'Walker' (0.12, +0.05) and 'Legacies' (0.10, +0.03) surged to their highest ratings in several months on the CW. 

Finals Update: 'Attack on the Capitol' (+0.1), 'The January 6th Hearings' (+0.1), and 'Capitol Assault Hearings' (+0.1) adjusted up.

The CW Renew/Cancel 2021-22 Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts on Legacies, Charmed, Dynasty & More Amid a Mass Exodus of Programming

 

The end has arrived for this season, and all of The CW's renewals and cancellations have been announced. That means it's time for me to take a look back at the season that was, discussing my hits and misses and thoughts on the future of a network entering an era of change.

Thursday TV Ratings 6/2/22: NBA Finals Start Well Above 2021, MasterChef Junior Ticks Up, Walker and Legacies Down After Breaks (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: Though the Boston Celtics beat out the Golden State Warriors in game one of the 'NBA Finals (3.63), it was ABC that took the win in the Nielsen department. This rating was over 25% higher than the first game of 2021 (2.86) and led the alphabet network to a clean victory. 'Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night' (0.55) and 'NBA Countdown' (0.85) were on the softer side in the 8PM hour but still trounced all non-ABC broadcasts. Over on the Fox network, the 8'o clock episode of 'MasterChef Junior' (0.40, +0.09) improved a good bit from the week prior but the 9PM one (0.33, -0.07) was on the lower-end. NBC chugged along with reruns of 'Law & Order' (0.32), 'Law & Order: SVU' (0.34), and 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' (0.29). CBS went with encores of 'Young Sheldon' (0.34), 'United States of Al' (0.29), 'Ghosts' (0.28), and 'B Positive' (0.23). At 10, a special about Queen Elizabeth II entitled 'Her Majesty the Queen' (0.21) attracted even less interest than the sitcom repeats in the key demo. On the CW, 'Walker' (0.07, -0.03) and 'Legacies' (0.07, -0.01) both declined in their returns and posted matching ratings. 

Finals Update: 'NBA Finals Game 1' (+1.0) and the 8 PM episode of 'MasterChef Junior' (+0.1) adjusted up. 'Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night' (-0.5) and 'NBA Countdown' (-0.1) adjusted down.

Legacies Canceled by The CW

The legacy of The Vampire Diaries seems to be ending here, as The Originals spinoff Legacies has been canceled by The CW after four seasons. The show has been a so-so performer for The CW, sinking 40% this season to a 0.08 average in its second season of airing behind Walker. That put it ahead of the renewed Nancy Drew, but behind the already-canceled Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow.  Created by Julie Plec, the series stars Danielle Rose Russell, Jenny Boyd, Quincy Fouse, Matt Davis, Chris Lee, Ben Levin and Leo Howard. It will air its series finale in June.