“Grey’s Anatomy” grew week-to-week with its Season 14 finale on Thursday, when the Shondaland show’s farewell to April (Sarah Drew) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) was the No. 1 show of the night. Fortunately for the ABC medical drama, CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” concluded its own run last week, and ABC claimed the top spot in primetime’s core demo this time around.
Even without its biggest comedy, CBS still finished first last night in terms of total viewers. At 10 p.m., the network’s “S.W.A.T.” season finale topped its time slot, which also included ABC’s latest “What Would You Do?” premiere.
ABC was the evening’s runner-up in overall eyeballs; CBS ran second in the key 18-49 demographic.
ABC was first in ratings with a 1.2 rating/5 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 5.1 million, according to preliminary numbers. The “Grey’s” finale at 8 p.m. earned a 1.9/9 and 7.5 million viewers. The Season 1 finale of “Station 19” at 9 had a 1.0/4 and 5.1 million viewers. At 10, that “WWYD?” premiere managed a 0.6/3 and 2.7 million viewers.
CBS was second in ratings with a 1.0/4 and in viewers with 6.1 million. Following reruns, “Life in Pieces” at 9 got a 1.0/4 and 5.6 million viewers. A second episode at 9:30 — the show’s season finale — dipped to a 0.9/4 and 4.9 million viewers. The “S.W.A.T.” season finale at 10 received a 1.0/4 and 6.1 million viewers.
NBC was third in ratings with a 0.8/3 and in viewers with 3.6 million. After a repeat, a two-hour “American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars” special starting at 9 averaged a 0.8/3 and 3.4 million viewers.
Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/3 and in viewers with 2.4 million. The “Gotham” season finale at 8 had a 0.6/3 and 2.2 million viewers. At 9, “Showtime at the Apollo” got a 0.6/3 and 2.6 million viewers.
The CW and Telemundo tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. The CW was fifth in total viewers with 1.5 million, Telemundo was sixth with 1.2 million.
For The CW, the “Supernatural” season finale at 8 had a 0.5/2 and 1.6 million viewers. At 9, the “Arrow” season finale got a 0.5/2 and 1.3 million viewers.
Univision was seventh in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1 million.