Friday TV Ratings 9/20/24: Illinois/Nebraska College Football Game Dominates, NASCAR XFinity Race Solid by CW Standards, Secret Celebrity Renovation Special Respectable [+ Analysis]

Ratings Analysis: Fox's Illinois/Nebraska college football game (1.05) was the top-rated program on an otherwise quiet Friday night. On CBS, Secret Celebrity Renovation (0.23) was up from its last airing (0.16), while Lingo (0.17, 0.00) matched its week-ago installment for its finale. On ABC, 20/20 (0.17) got no help from a low-rated repeat of High Potential (0.15). NBC's Dateline (0.21) built on the rerun of AGT (0.19) that led into it. The NASCAR Xfinity: Food City 300 (0.12) brought some life back to the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. (P) = premiere. (F) = finale.  

Friday TV Ratings 9/29/23: Shark Tank Returns Up From Finale, WWE SmackDown Easily Leads (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: For its fall premiere, ABC's 'Shark Tank' (0.37) was up by two-hundredths when compared to its May season finale (0.35). '20/20' (0.29) dipped from there but still beat out the premiere of NBC's 'Dateline' (0.25) head-on. In fairness, 'Dateline' had less lead-in help than its newsmagazine rival since it aired after an 8 p.m. rerun of 'The Voice' (0.22) instead of an original broadcast. On CBS, 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.16, -0.06) collapsed on finale night and led into more encores of 'Fire Country' (0.12) and 'Blue Bloods' (0.13). Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.60, -0.03) shed a few ticks but maintained its dominance. The CW's broadcast of 'Miss USA 2023' (0.10) performed better than the network's usual fare.

Finals Update: ‘WWE SmackDown’ (+0.1), ‘Shark Tank’ (+0.1), ‘Secret Celebrity Renovation’ (+0.1), and ‘Dateline NBC’ (+0.1) adjusted up.

Friday TV Ratings 9/22/23: 20/20 Rises, Secret Celebrity Renovation Ticks Up, WWE SmackDown Slips (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: ABC's '20/20' (0.30) was up by five-hundredths when compared to last week and was the top program aside from Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.63, -0.07). 'Smackdown' itself dropped by several ticks but remained in the lead. A rerun of 'Shark Tank' (0.28) aired before '20/20' and performed significantly better than last week's 'Soul of a Nation' special (0.16). 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.22, +0.01) gained a hundredth on CBS and led into repeats of 'Fire Country' (0.15) and 'Blue Bloods' (0.16). NBC had encores of 'America's Got Talent' (0.20) and 'Dateline' (0.26). The CW re-ran 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' (0.05) and 'Inside the NFL' (0.03).

Finals Update: 'Dateline NBC' (+0.1) adjusted up.

Friday TV Ratings 9/15/23: WWE SmackDown Jumps, Secret Celebrity Renovation Also Ticks Up, Soul of a Nation Special Flops (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: After dealing with some rough declines, 'WWE Smackdown' (0.70, +0.17) bounced back in a big way on Fox. The wrestling series was easily the night's top program as nothing else even managed a 0.3 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic. CBS's 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.21, +0.04) gained a few hundredths and led into reruns of 'Buddy Games' (0.15) and 'Blue Bloods' (0.11). ABC's "Latin Music Revolution" edition of 'Soul of a Nation' (0.16) performed only slightly better than the week-ago 'Will Trent' encore (0.15). At 9, '20/20' (0.25) was once more the second highest-rated offering of the evening. NBC had repeats of 'America's Got Talent' (0.17) and 'Dateline' (0.23). The CW's showing of 2000 film 'Bring It On' (0.09) was rather solid by the network's standards. 

Finals Update: 'WWE SmackDown' (+0.1) and 'The Latin Music Revolution: A Soul of a Nation Presentation' (+0.1) adjusted up.

Friday TV Ratings 9/1/23: Family Law Rises for Finale, WWE SmackDown Drops but Remains Easily in First, Secret Celebrity Renovation Ties Season Low (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: Legal drama 'Family Law' (0.03/0.04) improved on last week's 0.02 rating for its two-hour finale on the CW. Though this is not much of a recovery for 'Law', up is up. Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.65, -0.13) lost a little more than a tenth, but the wrestling series was still 3x higher than its nearest competitor in the Adults 18-49 demographic. 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.17, -0.01) shed a hundredth on CBS after taking a week off. The program tied the season low it set on premiere night and led into reruns of 'Fire Country' (0.11) and 'Blue Bloods' (0.15). NBC's 'America's Got Talent' encore (0.21) handily beat ABC's 'Will Trent' (0.14) repeat in the 8 p.m. hour. However, the spoils went to ABC in the 9 p.m. hour as '20/20' (0.21) pulled ahead of 'Dateline' (0.20).

Finals Update: All shows held their preliminary rounded rating.

Friday TV Ratings 8/18/23: WWE SmackDown Stable, Secret Celebrity Renovation Slips, Family Law Rises (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: 'WWE Smackdown' (0.55, 0.00) held steady on Fox and refused to be beaten by any other program in the Adults 18-49 demographic. 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.18, -0.04) dealt with a decline, as did reruns of 'Fire Country' (0.11) and 'Blue Bloods' (0.12). 'Family Law' (0.06, +0.02) and 'Moonshine' (0.03, +0.01) bounced back on the CW. NBC's repeats of 'American Ninja Warrior' (0.20) and 'Dateline' (0.26) trounced ABC's encores of 'Will Trent' (0.15) and '20/20' (0.16). 

Finals Update: The repeat of 'American Ninja Warrior' (-0.1) adjusted down.

Friday TV Ratings 8/11/23: WWE SmackDown Drops as Dateline Encore Takes Second Amid Huge NFL Preseason Preemptions, Secret Celebrity Renovation Rises (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.55, -0.07) took a clear hit but was still the top Friday-night program. On CBS, 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.22, +0.05) rebounded rather nicely after its lackluster premiere from last week. Reruns of 'Fire Country' (0.13) and 'Blue Bloods' (0.15) followed 'Renovation'. NBC went with repeats of 'Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge' (0.15) and 'Dateline' (0.24). ABC had encores of 'Will Trent' (0.21) and '20/20' (0.18). 'Family Law' (0.04, -0.02) and 'Moonshine' (0.02, -0.01) slipped on the CW. 

Finals Update: 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (-0.1) adjusted down. Repeats of 'Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge' (-0.3), 'Dateline NBC' (-0.1), '20/20' (-0.1), and 'Fire Country' (-0.2) also adjusted down.

Summer Renew/Cancel Week 9: Big Brother Is Still a Big Deal

This week on the Summer Renew/Cancel, two CBS veterans return, including one of the summer's strongest shows and one of its weakest. Keep reading for my initial predictions for Big Brother and Secret Celebrity Renovation!

Friday TV Ratings 8/4/23: Secret Celebrity Renovation Returns Low, WWE Smackdown Ticks Up, Dateline NBC Takes Second (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: CBS brought back 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.17) for another batch of episodes, but the program's premiere was below last summer's start (0.25) by over 30%. The 10 p.m. 'Blue Bloods' rerun (0.14) was at the same level as last week. Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.62, +0.01) gained a hundredth and was the highest-rated program of the evening. ABC went the usual rerun duo of 'Will Trent' (0.18) and '20/20' (0.22). NBC was two-hundredths below the alphabet network at 8 with its repeat of 'Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge' (0.16). They managed to pull ahead by two-hundredths at 9 with their 'Dateline' encore (0.24). On the CW, 'Family Law' (0.06, +0.01) picked up a hundredth, while 'Moonshine' (0.03, 0.00) held flat.

Finals Update: 'Moonshine' (-0.1) adjusted down, as did repeats of 'Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge' (-0.1) and 'Dateline NBC' (-0.1).

Premiere Friday TV Ratings 9/23/22: Shark Tank Live Premiere Nearly Steady, Big Brother Clip Show Weak, Secret Celebrity Renovation Finale Horrific (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: ABC's 'Shark Tank' (0.48) went live for the first time in its run, but the addition of a studio audience did not result in a noticeable surge. Nonetheless, this rating was just 8% lower than its 2021 premiere (0.52) and shows that 'Tank' still has legitimate life in it. '20/20' (0.32) also had a small dip from its year-ago start (0.36) but fell a hundredth short of NBC's 'Dateline' (0.33). The 'Dateline' rating looked far more impressive than '20/20' since the former had to grow from a weak 'Capital One College Bowl' lead-in (0.22). CBS started out their evening with a middling 'Big Brother' clip show (0.37) that placed third in the 8PM hour. At 9, 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.14, -0.07) crashed to a horrific rating for its season finale and was beaten by the 10PM rerun of 'Blue Bloods' (0.16). Fox mainstay 'WWE Smackdown' (0.63) was the top program of the night by a wide margin, putting all other shows to shame. The CW's 'Killer Camp' (0.06, +0.02) picked up two-hundredths on finale night and led into reruns of 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' (0.05/0.06).

Finals Update: 'WWE SmackDown' (+0.1), 'Shark Tank' (+0.1), 'Big Brother' (+0.1), and the repeat of 'Blue Bloods' (+0.1) adjusted up.

Friday TV Ratings 9/16/22: Dynasty Stays Low for Series Finale, Dateline Premieres Weaker, CBS Fall Preview Low (UPDATED)

It was another Friday night won by WWE Smackdown (0.50), even as the wrestling series shed seven hundredths. With the summer season now over, it was the final week in which Smackdown is not expected to face any major competition from the Big Three networks, as Shark Tank and SWAT will premiere in the coming weeks. Speaking of Shark Tank, it aired a repeat (0.32) that was slightly higher than the finale of The Con that aired in its time slot the week prior. The 9 PM 20/20 broadcast (0.24) trailed last week's Queen Elizabeth II-centered airing by a noticeable amount. NBC's Capital One College Bowl (0.24) was about steady in its second week, down only a single hundredth from the 9 PM airing last week and stable with the season premiere. The season premiere of Dateline NBC (0.31) was below its 2021-22 season average, but still took third for the night. CBS continued its HGTV-esque series Secret Celebrity Renovation (0.21), and saw a decline after last week's uptick. Their Fall Preview (0.18) aired at 9 PM and drew little interest, with a Young Sheldon encore (0.15) rating even lower. The night wrapped up with a repeat of Blue Bloods (0.19) that rated higher than last week's airings. On The CW, they said farewell to perennial ratings under-performer Dynasty (0.02) after what somehow was a five-season run, steady with last week's paltry series low. At 8, Killer Camp (0.04) doubled its rating from last week and yet still managed to remain a rounded 0.0.

Finals Update: The CBS Fall Preview (+0.1) adjusted up. Killer Camp (-0.1) and Dynasty (-0.) adjusted down.

Friday TV Ratings 9/9/22: College Bowl Returns Heavily Down, The Con Ends Steady, Queen Elizabeth II Special OK (UPDATED)

Finals Update: WWE SmackDown (+0.1) adjusted up.

Analysis to come.

Friday TV Ratings 9/2/22: Dynasty Remains Dismal After Hiatus, WWE SmackDown Slightly Up (UPDATED

Finals Update: WWE SmackDown (+0.1) adjusted up.

Analysis to come.

Friday TV Ratings 8/26/22: WWE SmackDown Remains in First, Secret Celebrity Renovation and Killer Camp Stay Low (UPDATED)

Finals Update: Secret Celebrity Renovation (-0.2), Killer Camp (-0.1), and repeats of Shark Tank (-0.1), American Ninja Warrior (-0.1), Blue Bloods (-0.1 each), World's Funniest Animals (-0.1 each) and Dateline NBC (-0.1) adjusted down.

Analysis to come.

Friday TV Ratings 8/19/22: Killer Camp Stays Low in Return, WWE SmackDown and Secret Celebrity Renovation Rise (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: The CW's 'Killer Camp' (0.04) returned a hundredth higher than the last time it aired back in October of 2021 (0.03) but was still at the same, meager level as a pair of 'World's Funniest Animals' reruns (0.03/0.04) that followed. CBS's 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.24, +0.06) picked up some steam and managed to beat the repeats of 'Blue Bloods' (0.18/0.21) that it led into, something it rarely does. ABC's encores of 'Shark Tank' (0.33) and '20/20' (0.35) were well above NBC's reruns of 'American Ninja Warrior' (0.22) and 'Dateline' (0.19). Fox program 'WWE Smackdown' (0.47, +0.03) topped the evening in unsurprising fashion, rising by three-hundredths from last week in the process. 

Finals Update: 'Killer Camp' (-0.1), 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (-0.1), and repeats of 'Shark Tank' (-0.1), 'American Ninja Warrior' (-0.1), and 'Dateline NBC' (-0.1) adjusted down.

Friday TV Ratings 8/12/22: Secret Celebrity Renovation Slips, WWE SmackDown Leads, 20/20 Takes Second (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: CBS's 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.18, -0.05) dropped by five-hundredths and was beaten out by the reruns of 'Blue Bloods' (0.19/0.24) that followed. Fox wrestling staple 'WWE Smackdown' (0.44, -0.05) also lost five-hundredths but found itself atop the Friday night roster yet again. ABC's '20/20' repeat (0.35) took second place, growing slightly from the 'Shark Tank' encore (0.33) that preceded it. NBC had middling reruns of 'America's Got Talent' (0.26) and 'Dateline' (0.24). The CW's 'Dynasty' (0.02, -0.02) declined by two-hundredths and was bested by the 'Killer Camp' repeat (0.03) that led into it.

Finals Update: 'WWE SmackDown' (-0.1) and 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (-0.1) adjusted down, as did repeats of 'Shark Tank' (-0.1), '20/20' (-0.1), 'Dateline NBC' (-0.1) and 'Blue Bloods' (-0.1 each). 

Friday TV Ratings 8/5/22: The Fatal Flaw Dips on Finale Night, WWE SmackDown Remains on Top, Dynasty Stays Low After Break (UPDATED)

Ratings Analysis: ABC's 'The Fatal Flaw' (0.28, -0.03) shed three-hundredths for its season finale and was followed by a slightly stronger '20/20' rerun (0.31). 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.23, -0.02) inched down from its premiere on CBS and led into more repeats of 'Blue Bloods' (0.21/0.24). NBC had mediocre encores of 'American Ninja Warrior' (0.23) and 'Dateline' (0.21). 'WWE Smackdown' (0.49, -0.03) dropped by three-hundredths on Fox but led the night as it often does. The CW's 'Dynasty' (0.04, -0.01) lost a hundredth for its first episode since early July. The 'Killer Camp' repeat (0.04) that preceded it posted the same rating.

Finals Update: All shows held their preliminary ratings.

Friday TV Ratings 7/29/22: Secret Celebrity Renovation Stays Low in Return, The Fatal Flaw Hits New High in New Slot, Dropping WWE SmackDown Leads

Ratings Analysis: CBS's 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.25) returned five-hundredths higher than its September 2021 season finale (0.20) but could only manage to secure the third-place slot in its hour. Reruns of 'Blue Bloods' (0.16/0.20) occupied the 9-11PM stretch. Over on ABC, 'The Fatal Flaw' (0.31, +0.07) climbed to a new series high for its first episode since being shipped to Fridays. Much of that growth is likely a result of being placed in a more cushiony 8PM timeslot, as opposed to the more challenging 10PM slot it occupied on Thursday nights. Despite the passable performance, 'Flaw' was bested by the 9PM edition of '20/20' (0.33). Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.52, -0.10) dropped by a full tenth but still beat out its competitors. NBC had middling repeats of 'American Ninja Warrior' (0.22) and 'Dateline' (0.28). The CW had lifeless encores of 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' (0.07) and 'World's Funniest Animals' (0.04/0.04).

Finals Update: 'WWE Smackdown' (+0.1), 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (+0.1), the 9PM repeat of 'Blue Bloods' (+0.1), and 'Dateline' (+0.1) adjusted up. The two reruns of 'World's Funniest Animals' (-0.1; -0.1) adjusted down.

Premiere Friday TV Ratings 9/24/21: Secret Celebrity Renovation Ends Steady Behind Down Big Brother, Dateline NBC Premiere Also Steady, Wonder Years Repeat Tops Ordinary Joe Repeat (UPDATED)

Preliminary Analysis: There were no series debuts on Friday evening as a clip show of CBS's 'Big Brother' (0.5) and Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.5) tied for the top spot. CBS followed 'Brother' up with the steady season finale of lackluster filler program 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.2) and another 'Blue Bloods' rerun (0.2). NBC got little mileage out of a pilot encore of 'Ordinary Joe' (0.2), with the 'Dateline' premiere (0.4) managing to double 'Joe in the 9pm hour. ABC had repeats of 'The Wonder Years' (0.3) and 'Home Economics' (0.3) in the 8pm hour, with 'Economics' only a tenth lower than Wednesday's return. '20/20' (0.3) remained in meager territory without its usual 'Shark Tank' lead-in. 'Dynasty' (0.1/0.1) held flat on the CW.

Finals Update: WWE SmackDown (+0.1) and repeats of The Wonder Years (+0.1) and 20/20 (+0.1) adjusted up. The 9 PM Dynasty (-0.1) adjusted down.

Friday TV Ratings 9/3/21: CBS Sunday Morning: The Pet Project Abysmal, WWE SmackDown Remains #1 (UPDATED)

Preliminary Analysis: Only three things in life are guaranteed: death, taxes, and Fox's 'WWE Smackdown' (0.6) topping yet another Friday evening. The wrestling series held even with last week and doubled its nearest competitor. CBS was on the decline as both 'Secret Celebrity Renovation' (0.2) and 'The Greatest #AtHome Videos' (0.2) gave back a tenth. To make matters worse, a 'CBS Sunday Morning' special about the Pet Project (0.1) completely tanked in the 10pm slot, going below every non-CW entry. CBS was further humiliated by the fact that ABC's reruns of 'Shark Tank' (0.3) and '20/20' (0.3) rated higher than their originals. NBC matched the alphabet network with encores of 'American Ninja Warrior' (0.3) and 'Dateline' (0.3). 'Burden of Truth' (0.1) and 'Dynasty' (0.1) both rose by a tick on the CW, placing them a notch above the dreaded 0.0 rating for the time being. 

Finals Update: Secret Celebrity Renovation (+0.1) and repeats of Shark Tank (+0.1) and 20/20 (+0.1) adjusted up.

Burden of Truth (-0.1) and Dynasty (-0.1) adjusted down.