ABC’s “The Conners” debuted to a 2.3 rating/10 share among adults 18-49 and 10.5 million total viewers on Tuesday. While it’s not a perfect comparison — and those are solid numbers — they don’t look great next to the gaudy returns “Roseanne” premiered to in the spring.
In late March, “Roseanne” returned to a 4.9 demo rating and 17.7 million viewers. A second episode that same night rose to a 5.3 and 18.6 million viewers. That means “Roseanne” did 113 percent better in the demo than “The Conners,” and had 69 percent more overall audience members than its spinoff.
Still, “The Conners” is now the No. 1 new series of the TV season. Since “Roseanne” was considered a revival of an existing series and this one is a new show, “The Conners” is ABC’s most-watched comedy series debut in four years, and the best in three years among adults 18-49.
NBC topped Tuesday in the key demo and CBS won in total viewers. ABC was runner-up in the demo and third among overall audience averages.
Read Tuesday’s earlier-available overnight ratings here.
NBC was first in ratings with a 1.7 rating/7 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 8 million, according to preliminary numbers. “The Voice” at 8 p.m. earned a 1.7/7 and 8.8 million viewers. The Jack-in-Vietnam episode of “This Is Us” at 9 scored a 2.2/8 and 8.9 million viewers. “New Amsterdam” at 10 received a 1.2/5 and 6.4 million viewers.
ABC was second in ratings with a 1.3/5 and third in viewers with 6 million. After “The Conners” at 8, new sitcom “The Kids Are Alright” premiered to a 1.4/6 and 6.6 million viewers. A new season of “Black-ish” at 9 opened to a 1.1/4 and 4.5 million viewers. “Splitting Up Together” returned at 9:30 to a 1.0/4 and 3.7 million viewers. New Nathan Fillion drama “The Rookie” at 10 debuted to a 1.0/4 and 5.4 million viewers.
CBS was third in ratings with a 1.0/4, but first in viewers with 9.5 million. “NCIS” at 8 put up a 1.2/5 and 11.7 million viewers. “FBI” at 9 posted a 1.0/4 and 9.4 million viewers. “NCIS: New Orleans” at 10 closed out primetime with a 0.8/3 and 7.4 million viewers.
Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/3 and in viewers with 2.4 million. “The Gifted” at 8 got a 0.6/2 and 1.9 million viewers. At 9, “Lethal Weapon” had a 0.7/3 and 2.9 million viewers.
Telemundo and The CW tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. Telemundo was fifth in total viewers with 1.35 million, CW was sixth with 1.34 million
For The CW, “The Flash” at 8 had a 0.6/3 and 1.6 million viewers. At 9, “Black Lightning” got a 0.3/1 and 1 million viewers.
Univision was seventh in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1.2 million.