NBC’s “Parenthood” came to a conclusion on Thursday night, when it enjoyed a nice Nielsen ratings bump from last season’s finale. The Jason Katims‘ show’s lead-in — “The Biggest Loser” Season 16 finale — was down 36 percent from last year’s season ender.
To be fair to “Loser,” last year the show aired on a Tuesday in a different time slot, so its competition was quite different. In other words, it didn’t have to contend with the monster that Shondaland Thursdays have become.
Speaking of which, the return of ABC’s hit #TGIT programming block handed it first place in the key demo. Fox’s “Backstrom” fell 26 percent from last week’s debut.
ABC was first in ratings with a 3.1 rating/10 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 10.2 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 p.m. received a 2.7/9 and 8.6 million viewers. “Scandal” at 9 scored a 3.6/11 and 10.4 million viewers. “How to Get Away With Murder” at 10 earned a 3.0/10 and 9.1 million viewers.
CBS was second in ratings with a 2.3/7 and first in viewers with 10.2 million. “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 scored a night’s best 4.4/15 and 17 million viewers. “Mom” at 8:30 received a 2.8/9 and 11.8 million viewers. “Two and a Half Men” at 9 had a 2.3/7 and 9.7 million viewers. “The McCarthys” at 9:30 got a 1.6/5 and 7.1 million viewers. “Elementary” at 10 generated a 1.3/4 and 7.6 million viewers.
Fox was third in ratings with a 1.8/5 and in viewers with 7.3 million. “American Idol” at 8 received a 2.2/7 — down 19 percent from last week — and 9.2 million viewers. “Backstrom” at 9 had a 1.4/4 and 5.3 million viewers.
NBC was fourth in ratings with a 1.5/5 and in viewers with 5.4 million. “The Biggest Loser” Season 16 finale at 8 got a 1.4/4 and 5.3 million viewers. The end of “Parenthood” brought in 1.7/5 — up 31 percent — and 5.5 million viewers.
Univision was fifth in ratings with a 1.2/4 and in total viewers with 3 million.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and in total viewers with 1.4 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.5/2 and in total viewers with 1.2 million. “The Vampire Diaries” at 8 got a 0.7/2 and 1.5 million viewers. “Reign” at 9 had a 0.4/1 and one million viewers.