“Scandal” came back from its almost year-long hiatus with a bang on Thursday night, with the Shondaland drama improving on the ratings from its Season 5 finale.
Airing at 9 p.m. on ABC, the returning series nabbed a 2.1 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic and 7.7 million viewers. Compared to the Season 5 finale that aired in May 2016 (1.8 rating, 6.6 million viewers), that’s an improvement of 17 percent in the key demo and in total viewers.
However, the Season 6 premiere was down considerably when compared to the Season 5 premiere that aired in September 2015. The latter episode put up a staggering 3.3 rating and 10.3 million viewers. That is a drop off of 36 percent in the demo and a 25 percent drop in total viewers.
ABC won the night easily thanks to the reunited Shondaland block, averaging a 2.1 rating for the night and 7.5 million viewers. “Grey’s Anatomy” aired at 8 with a 2.6 rating and 9.5 million viewers, followed by “Scandal” at 9. “How to Get Away with Murder” aired at 10 with a 1.5 rating and 5.4 million viewers.
CBS tied for second in the demo with a 1.0 rating and finished second overall in total viewers with 6.6 million. Repeats of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Mom” aired at 8 and 8:30. The Mary Tyler Moore special “Love Is All Around” aired at 9 and drew a 0.8 rating and 6.5 million viewers. The season finale of Pure Genius aired at 10 with a 0.7 rating and 5.2 million viewers.
Fox tied for second in the demo with a 1.0 rating but third in total viewers with 3.1 million. “Hell’s Kitchen” scored a 1.2 rating and 4 million viewers at 8. “My Kitchen Rules” followed at 9 with a 0.8 rating and 2.2 million viewers.
NBC was part of a three-way tie for fourth in the demo with a 0.6 rating but was fourth in total viewers with 3 million, airing only repeats.
Univision also tied for fourth in the demo with a 0.6 but fifth in total viewers with 1.9 million.
Telemundo also tied for fourth in the demo with a 0.6 but seventh in total viewers with 1.48 million.
The CW finished seventh in the demo with a 0.5 but sixth in total viewers with 1.54 million. “Supernatural” drew a 0.6 rating and 1.7 million viewers at 8. “Riverdale” debuted at 9 with a 0.5 rating and 1.4 million viewers.