Not many viewers shimmied down Fox’s chimney to check out Year 2 of Taraji P. Henson’s “White Hot Holidays.”
The special received 3.5 million total viewers this time around, down 31 percent from 2015’s 5.1 million. The actress behind Cookie Lyon shared the stage and title last year with fellow “Empire” star Terrence Howard. Also in 2015, “White Hot” aired out of a rerun of their hit hip-hop soap opera, while this version was a self-starter at 8 p.m.
It wasn’t the worst dud on Thursday, however. Over on ABC, the “Notorious” season finale managed just a 0.5 rating/2 share in the key 18-49 demographic, and 2.6 million total viewers. In the demo, that’s down 44 percent from its previous original. That said, last night had no “Grey’s Anatomy” setting the Disney-owned broadcaster’s primetime tone.
NBC swept the evening again with “Thursday Night Football.”
NBC was first in ratings with a 3.5/12 in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 11.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. Pregame show “Football Night in America” and the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Oakland Raiders filled out primetime — and then some.
CBS was second in ratings with a 1.3/5 and in viewers with 7 million. Following a rerun, “The Great Indoors” at 8:30 got a 1.5/5 and 7.3 million viewers. At 9, “Mom” had a 1.4/5 and 7.5 million viewers. “Life in Pieces” at 9:30 received a 1.2/4 and 6.4 million viewers. “Pure Genius” at 10 closed prime to a 1.0/4 and 5.6 million viewers.
ABC and Fox tied for third in ratings, both with a 0.8/3. ABC was third in total viewers with 3.5 million, Fox was fourth with 3.2 million.
For ABC, following repeats, “The Great Holiday Baking Show” at 9 had a 0.9/3 and 4.2 million viewers. “Notorious” followed.
For Fox, the Henson-hosted special at 8 got a 0.9/3. The “Pitch” season finale at 9 received a 0.8/3 and 2.9 million viewers.
The CW and Telemundo tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.7/2. CW was fifth in total viewers with 1.9 million, Telemundo was seventh with 1.75 million.
For CW, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” at 8 put up a 0.7/2 and 2 million viewers. “Supernatural” at 9 posted a 0.6/2 and 1.7 million viewers.
Univision was seventh in ratings with a 0.6/2 and sixth in viewers with 1.80 million.
(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that “White Hot Holidays” slipped 35 percent. The decline was actually 31 percent. TheWrap regrets the error.)