Thursday marked the end of an era, and the “Scandal” series finale grew 44 percent from its prior week’s rating in the key 18-49 demographic. The final hour of Kerry Washington’s ABC series rose 29 percent in total viewers versus last Thursday.
A week ago, “Scandal” got a 0.9 rating/4 share and 4.2 million viewers. This “Scandal” landed a 1.3/5 among adults 18-49, which is the show’s best Nielsen number in two-and-a-half months. That figure is 8 percent better than last year’s season finale, when the show posted a 1.2.
The Shondaland drama got 5.4 million total viewers at 10 p.m. last night, 4 percent higher than last year’s 5.2 million overall audience members.
None of that means ABC won primetime, however. CBS finished first outright, and bested the “T.G.I.T.” home by one-tenth of a point in the main demo.
CBS was first in ratings with a 1.4 rating/6 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 8.3 million, according to preliminary numbers. “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 scored a 2.4/11 and 12.6 million viewers. At 8:30, “Young Sheldon” earned a 1.9/8 and 11.4 million viewers. “Mom” at 9 put up a 1.4/6 and 8.8 million viewers. “Life in Pieces” at 9:30 received a 1.0/4 and 6.3 million viewers. “S.W.A.T.” at 10 closed primetime to a 0.9/4 and 5.3 million viewers.
ABC was second in ratings with a 1.3/6 and in viewers with 5.9 million. “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 posted a 1.6/7 and 6.9 million viewers. At 9, “Station 19” saw a 1.1/4 and 5.4 million viewers. The “Scandal” conclusion followed.
NBC was third in ratings with a 0.7/3 and in viewers with 3.1 million. “Superstore” at 8 had a 0.8/4 and 2.8 million viewers. At 8:30, “A.P. Bio” managed a 0.6/3 and 1.9 million viewers. Following a rerun, “Champions” at 9:30 settled for a 0.4/2 and 1.7 million viewers. “Chicago Fire” at 10 got a 1.0/4 and 5.2 million viewers.
Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/3 and in viewers with 2.3 million. “Gotham” at 8 had a 0.6/3 and 2.2 million viewers. At 9, “Showtime at the Apollo” got a 0.6/2 and 2.5 million viewers.
The CW and Univision tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. CW was fifth in total viewers with 1.6 million, Univision was sixth with 1.5 million.
For The CW, “Supernatural” at 8 had a 0.6/3 and 1.8 million viewers. At 9, “Arrow” got a 0.4/2 and 1.3 million viewers. The youngest-skewing broadcast channel’s lineup was preempted in the key New York City market for a Yankees game.
Telemundo was seventh in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1.2 million.