There are no shades of gray about what TV show won the 10 o’clock time slot last night: That’d be the series premiere of Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta‘s “Shades of Blue.”
The competent cop show ended up as NBC’s most-watched Thursday debut in nearly seven years — since “Southland” — a time period spanning 32 series premieres. Still, the network finished third overall on a busy night.
Over on CBS, Jane Lynch‘s “Angel From Hell” opened pretty well for a sitcom. For ABC, the debut of reality competition “My Diet Is Better Than Yours” starting off starving for viewers.
Fox finished first last night with Part 2 of its final “American Idol” season premiere. The singing competition’s solid 2.6 rating/9 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and 10 million viewers were an all-time low for Night 2 of a season premiere. But, whatever, it topped Thursday primetime.
CBS was second in ratings with a 2.0/6 and in viewers with 9.2 million. “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 p.m. earned a 3.8/13 and 15.7 million viewers. “Life in Pieces” at 8:30 had a 2.2/7 and 9.4 million viewers. “Mom” at 9 received a 1.8/6 and 8.8 million viewers. “Angel From Hell” at 9:30 premiered to a 1.6/5 and 8 million viewers. “Elementary” at 10 closed primetime with a 1.2/4 and 6.7 million viewers.
NBC was third in ratings with a 1.5/5 and in viewers with 6.6 million. “Heroes: Reborn” at 8 had a 1.0/3 and 3.7 million viewers. “The Blacklist” at 9 got a 1.6/5 and 7.4 million viewers. “Shades of Blue” at 10 landed a 1.8/6 and 8.6 million viewers.
ABC and Univision tied for fourth in ratings, both with a 0.8/3. ABC was fourth in total viewers with 3 million viewers, Univision was fifth with 2.2 million viewers.
For ABC, “Beyond the Tank” at 8 posted a 1.0/3 and 4.3 million viewers. At 9, the two-hour premiere of “My Diet Is Better Than Yours” managed just a 0.7/2 and 2.4 million viewers.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.7/2 and in viewers with 1.9 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 629,000, airing just reruns.
14 Highest Selling 'American Idol' Alumni of All Time (Photos)
"American Idol" returns on March 11, and we couldn't be more excited. That's because it's the rare reality show that has actually produced some bona fide pop stars, hit-makers and even an Oscar winner. Whoever wins has a tough road getting there, and an even tougher climb up this ladder of the highest "Idol" alumni in album sales.
Carrie Underwood - 16.3 million albums sold in the U.S.
Underwood is the only solo country music star to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and 14 No. 1 hits on Billboard's country charts. Her last album, "Storyteller," came out in 2015, so by the time her next one drops, her lead may go up yet again.
Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson - 14.2 million albums sold in the U.S.
Don't credit Clarkson with the head start just because she was the very first "Idol" winner. She's had five albums go platinum in her career. Her latest album, "Meaning of Life," arrived in October of 2017.
Getty Images
Chris Daughtry - 7.35 million albums sold in the U.S.
Recording along with his band Daughtry, the Season 5 contestant's self-titled first album went quadruple platinum in 2006. Both that album and his follow-up "Leave This Town" hit No. 1 on Billboard's album charts. The band's fifth album is expected out this year.
Getty Images
Clay Aiken - 5 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 2 runner-up has released two platinum albums and one gold -- and he ran for Congress in 2014.
Getty Images
Fantasia Barrino - 3.3 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 3 winner had her 2004 song "I Believe" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and her last album came out in 2016.
Getty Images
Ruben Studdard - 2.6 million albums sold
The Season 2 winner's debut album "Soulful" went platinum, followed by a gold album for "I Need an Angel" in 2004.
Getty Images
Scotty McCreery - 2.1 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 10 winner's debut studio album, "Clear as Day," went platinum upon release. He also released a Christmas album that went gold.
Getty Images
Kellie Pickler - 1.55 million albums sold in the U.S.
Pickler only finished in sixth place during Season 5, but she ranks eighth overall on this list. She now has her own reality show on CMT.
Getty Images
David Cook - 1.5 million albums sold in the U.S.
The winner of Season 7 had his self-titled, debut album go platinum and peak at No. 3 on the album charts. Quite impressive for a pop rocker.
Getty Images
Phillip Phillips - 1.4 million albums sold
The Season 11 winner has only released two albums, but his first, "The World From the Side of the Moon," went platinum.
Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson - 1.4 million albums sold in the U.S.
Hudson has had two albums go gold, but she's the only "Idol" winner who knows what it's like to earn Oscar gold.
Getty Images
Jordin Sparks - 1.3 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 6 winner's self-titled debut album went platinum in 2007.
Getty Images
Adam Lambert - 1.2 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 8 runner-up has one gold album, his 2009 debut "For Your Entertainment," and has performed as the frontman for Queen.
Getty Images
David Archuleta - 1.1 million albums sold in the U.S.
Archuleta was only 16 when he competed on "Idol," one of the youngest contestants in the show's history. His debut album in 2008 went gold and peaked at No. 2.
Getty Images
1 of 15
These former contestants on Fox’s megahit reality franchise parlayed their TV time into serious album sales
"American Idol" returns on March 11, and we couldn't be more excited. That's because it's the rare reality show that has actually produced some bona fide pop stars, hit-makers and even an Oscar winner. Whoever wins has a tough road getting there, and an even tougher climb up this ladder of the highest "Idol" alumni in album sales.