Six weeks into the 2017-18 TV season and we’ve got a pretty clear snapshot of what shows are flush and which are busts. TheWrap has ranked the 16 highest- and 15 lowest-rated (there were ties, chill) television series based on their Nielsen ratings to-date.
To be fair at both ends of this study, we did not include any shows with fewer than four episodes to calculate. That hurt “Young Sheldon” and saved “SWAT” — so you’re even here, CBS.
By the way, we looked at just entertainment series only, so no sports or news programming. That eliminated all NFL games and shows like “60 Minutes.”
All ratings in this story come from Nielsen’s “most current” data stream, which includes a week’s worth of delayed viewing where available.
Rank: 1
Series: “This Is Us”
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 4.5
This Is… TV’s top show.
Rank: 2
Series: “Big Bang Theory”
Network: CBS
18-49 Rating: 4.2
And spinoff “Young Sheldon” would have been No. 3 on this list, but the new sitcom’s two-episode to-date count eliminated it.
Rank: 3
Series: “The Good Doctor”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 3.5
“Good Doctor,” GREAT ratings. The clear breakout hit of 2017-18.
Rank: 4 (tie)
Series: “Will & Grace”
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 3.1
After all these years, the revived sitcom is still “Must-see TV,” based on its early Nielsen returns.
Rank: 4 (tie)
Series: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 3.1
This patient just won’t die.
Rank: 4 (tie)
Series: “Empire”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 3.1
Don’t tell Lucious and Cookie Lyon (or Dana Walden and Gary Newman, for that matter) their “Empire” is crumbling — because it’s clearly not.
Rank: 7
Series: “The Voice”
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 2.8
The hills are alive with the sound of music, and so is NBC’s singing competition.
Rank: 8
Series: “Modern Family”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 2.7
Who needs Emmys when you still haul in this type of viewership?
Rank: 9
Series: “The Voice” (Tuesday)
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 2.5
See: “The Voice.” Then flip your daily calendar to Tuesday.
Rank: 10
Series: “Survivor”
Network: CBS
18-49 Rating: 2.2
The title is apt for this reality hit in its 35th season. That is not a typo.
Rank: 11 (tie)
Series: “Chicago PD”
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 2.0
It’s one of Dick Wolf’s biggest current hits…
Rank: 11 (tie)
Series: “Law & Order: SVU”
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 2.0
…Here’s the other.
Rank: 11 (tie)
Series: “Criminal Minds”
Network: CBS
18-49 Rating: 2.0
Judging from its enviable viewership, you can’t even tell the show’s two biggest stars left before this current season.
Rank: 11 (tie)
Series: “The Goldbergs”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 2.0
This wouldn’t have been a very good rating in the ’80s, but it is now.
Rank: 11 (tie)
Series: “The Orville”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 2.0
Seth MacFarlane can thank Fox for a very gracious launch time slot after the NFL’s opening Sunday game, which is why this drama (yes, it’s a drama) makes the list.
Rank: 11 (tie)
Series: “Star”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 2.0
A “Star” is born? More like a “Star” has an “Empire” lead-in this season.
“Chicago Fire,” “American Housewife,” “The Gifted,” “NCIS” and “SEAL Team” just missed the cut — each currently averages a 1.9 rating.
Now, on to the bad ones, ranked from worst to incrementally less awful.
Rank: Dead last
Series: “The Toy Box”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 0.4
The worst gift this holiday season.
Rank: Second-to-last
Series: “The Exorcist”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 0.6
Exorcise this Friday show from Fox’s schedule already.
Rank: Third-to-last (tie)
Series: “Ten Days in the Valley”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 0.7
More like “Four Hours in the Time Slot.” That’s how many episodes “Ten Days” got before being banished to Saturdays.
Rank: Fourth-to-last (tie)
Series: “Once Upon a Time”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 1.0
You had to really believe in fairy tales to bring this one back for another season.
Rank: Fourth-to-last (tie)
Series: “Marvel’s Inhumans”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 1.0
Intolerable.
Rank: Fourth-to-last (tie)
Series: “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 1.0
We can’t make fun of this one, somehow still plugging along in its 28th actual year. Yeah, this show has been on ABC since 1989.
Rank: Fourth-to-last (tie)
Series: “Madam Secretary”
Network: CBS
18-49 Rating: 1.0
Impeach.
Rank: Eighth-to-last (tie)
Series: “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World ”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 1.1
Spoiler: He does not.
Rank: Eighth-to-last (tie)
Series: “MacGyver”
Network: CBS
18-49 Rating: 1.1
It’s a Friday show, but even Les Moonves can’t save this one with a paperclip and some chewing gum.
Rank: Eighth-to-last (tie)
Series: “Great News”
Network: NBC
18-49 Rating: 1.1
Not a great show, not even decent ratings.
Rank: 11th-to-last (tie)
Series: “Lucifer”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 1.2
Star Tom Ellis would have to make a deal with the Devil for a fourth season.
Rank: 11th-to-last (tie)
Series: “Last Man on Earth”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 1.2
Last season on Fox?
Rank: 11th-to-last (tie)
Series: “Hell’s Kitchen”
Network: Fox
18-49 Rating: 1.2
Burn in Hell alongside Lucifer.
Rank: 11th-to-last (tie)
Series: “The Mayor”
Network: ABC
18-49 Rating: 1.2
Don’t even bother running for reelection.
Rank: 11th-to-last (tie)
Series: “Me, Myself and I”
Network: CBS
18-49 Rating: 1.2
Nope, No and Not a chance.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Wisdom of the Crowd” managed to escape damnation here — each of those three shows have a 1.3 average.
