The only thing better for preliminary ratings than a “Big Bang Theory” lead-in is an NFL preemption unfairly boosting the data. While CBS’s Thursday numbers are approximate and subject to change in the Miami and Buffalo markets, currently, the Anna Faris-Allison Janney sitcom “Mom” hit new highs Thursday night. We’ll find out later if the numbers hold.
Either way, ABC was tops in the demo for the third straight Thursday — basically ever since CBS lost “Thursday Night Football” rights midseason. CBS was best in viewers.
ABC was first in ratings with a 2.8 rating/9 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in viewers with an average of 9.2 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 p.m. received a 2.4/7 and 8.3 million viewers. “Scandal” at 9 scored a 3.2/9 and 10 million viewers. “How to Get Away With Murder” at 10 earned a 2.9/9 and 9.2 million viewers.
CBS was second in ratings with a 2.3/7 and first in viewers with 9.9 million. “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 scored night-highs of a 4.5/15 and 17.1 million viewers. “Mom” at 8:30 earned new bests of a 2.8/8 and 11.8 million viewers. “Two & a Half Men” at 9 received a 2.2/7 and 9.5 million viewers. “The McCarthys” at 9:30 got a 1.6/5 and 6.9 million viewers. “Elementary” at 10 had a 1.2/4 and 6.9 million viewers.
Univision was third in ratings with a 1.1/3, but fifth in viewers with 2.8 million.
Fox and NBC tied for fourth in ratings, both with a 1.0/3. Fox was third in viewers with 4.5 million viewers, NBC was fourth in viewers with 3.7 million viewers.
For Fox, “Bones” at 8 had a 1.2/4 and 5.5 million viewers. At 9, “Gracepoint” got a 0.8/2 and 3.4 million viewers.
For NBC, “The Biggest Loser” at 8 received a 1.2/4 and 4.5 million viewers. “Bad Judge” at 9 got a 0.9/3 and 3.7 million viewers. At 9:30, “A to Z” fell 25 percent to a 0.6/2 and had 2.4 million viewers. “Parenthood” at 10 dropped to a 1.0/3 — down 23 percent — and 3.6 million viewers.
Telemundo and The CW tied for sixth in ratings, both with a 0.6/2. Telemundo was sixth in viewers with 1.4 million viewers, CW was seventh with 1.4 million viewers.
For CW, “Vampire Diaries” at 8 got a 0.7/2 — tying a low — and 1.6 million viewers. “Reign” at 9 also tied a demo low with a 0.4/1, and had 1.2 million viewers.