Bow your heads, CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC and CW execs
Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude for the blessings we have in our lives. And despite the troubles facing the broadcast networks in recent years, with eroding audiences and the rise in streaming giants, there are some bright spots on each network’s lineup: the entertainment series that likely got a mention in executives’ recitals of grace before dinner yesterday.
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Below are the three highest-rated primetime shows among adults 18-49 on each of the free over-the-air channels. The numbers are from Nielsen’s “most current” ratings metric, and include a week’s worth of delayed viewing (mostly DVR catchup) where available.
We excluded sports programming here, as the NFL would have (gobble) gobbled up the top few slots for NBC and Fox. Note: We dragged certain series out to two decimal places just to break ties.
Also Read: Fox Has Won 6 Weeks of Ratings in a Row for the First Time Ever: Here's How

CBS
CBS
- “Survivor”: 1.74 rating
- “NCIS”: 1.68 rating
- “Young Sheldon”: 1.5 rating
How could CBS not be thankful for a reality competition thriving in its 39th (not a typo) season? Meanwhile, “NCIS” is currently the most-watched show on television for the 10th out of the last 11 seasons. (NBC’s “This Is Us” was No. 1 in total viewers in 2017-18, when it had the post-Super Bowl time slot.)
“Young Sheldon” is no “Big Bang Theory” — at this same point last season, “BBT” averaged a whopping 3.6 rating — but the spinoff still podiums for CBS.
Also Read: 'Strange Angel' Canceled by CBS All Access After 2 Seasons

NBC
NBC
- “This Is Us”: 2.7 rating
- “Chicago Fire”: 1.8 rating
- “Chicago P.D.”: 1.74 rating
There’s a third “Chicago” show that doesn’t make the cut here — but it’s pretty close. “Chicago Med” is currently averaging a 1.6 rating in the key demo.
That is good enough for sixth on NBC’s schedule, as singing competition “The Voice” makes up the next two slots.
Also Read: NBC Least Watched Across All 5 Days of Trump Impeachment Hearings - but Wins in Key Demo

Fox
Fox
- “The Masked Singer”: 2.9 rating
- “9-1-1”: 2.3 rating
- “The Simpsons”: 1.6 rating
South Korean import “The Masked Singer” is the first smash-hit alternative series to launch on broadcast TV since “X-Factor” debuted on Fox back in 2011.
And even “Survivor” has to tip its cap to Fox’s “The Simpsons,” still going strong in its remarkable 31st season.
Also Read: 'Masked Singer' Format Creator Signs First-Look Deal With Universal TV Alternative Studio

ABC
ABC
- “Grey’s Anatomy”: 2.2 rating
- “Modern Family”: 1.7 rating
- “The Conners”: 1.53 rating
Good news, bad news for ABC. “Modern Family” is still the network’s highest-rated comedy, but all those years of Dunphy fun come to an end this spring with the sitcom’s series finale.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” currently in its 16th season, is no spring chicken either, but it has already been renewed through at least next year.
Also Read: 'Stargirl' to Air on Both DC Universe and The CW

The CW
The CW
- “The Flash”: 0.8 rating
- “Batwoman”: 0.52 rating
- “Riverdale”: 0.51 rating
Yes, these are much lower ratings than the so-called “Big 4” competition above. The CW is the youngest-skewing of the broadcast networks, which can be felt in the middle and upper portions of what we generally consider the key demo for companies that advertise on television entertainment programming. It is also the most digitally centric, which makes sense, considering the audience drawn to shows based on DC Comics superheroes or the Archie comics universe.
Also Read: Ratings: AMAs Fall to Another Record Low in Demo Despite Even More Taylor Swift Than Last Year
Now, enjoy the turkey day leftovers, readers, and be sure to load up on some Black Friday deals like those mashed potatoes.
But before you take another tryptophan-induced nap, check out the below leftovers — err, honorable mentions — for the current broadcast season to date. After all, it’s now the Christmas season and we’re feeling generous.
One more apiece:
CBS: “FBI” (1.24)
NBC: “The Voice” (1.72)
Fox: “Prodigal Son” (1.4)
ABC: “The Good Doctor” (1.48)
The CW: “Supernatural” (0.39)
19 Best Thanksgiving TV Episodes and Specials Ever (Photos)
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From happy families to dysfunctional kin and everything in between, TV has no shortage of great Thanksgiving-themed episodes worth being thankful for. Here, TheWrap has rounded up 19 of the best for you to watch while digesting a turkey feast or avoiding your family.
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"Master of None" - "Thanksgiving" Dev celebrates Thanksgiving with Denise's family across several years, giving viewers a glimpse into her mother's (Angela Bassett's) slow journey toward accepting her daughter's sexuality.Netflix
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"Friends" - "The One With All the Thanksgivings" The Friends gather in Monica's apartment to reminisce about their worst Thanksgiving memories, including the time Monica accidentally cutting off Chandler's toe and Joey getting his head stuck in a turkey.NBC
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"Friends" - "The One With the Football" Ross and Monica's sibling rivalry comes out in full force when the Gellers go head-to-head in a touch football game that quickly grows heated.NBC
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"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" - "The Gang Squashes Their Beefs" The "Always Sunny" gang attempts to make amends by meeting up with their many enemies to bury the hatchet so they can finally have an ideal Thanksgiving.FX
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"How I Met Your Mother" - "Slapsgiving" Marshall continues one of the show's longest running gags and delivers Barney's third slap, while Ted and Robin struggle to remain friends after their breakup.CBS
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"Fresh off the Boat" - "Huangsgiving" Jessica gets a 5 a.m. call from her mother informing her that she will be hosting Thanksgiving, but she bites off more than she can chew, and nothing is ready on time.ABC
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"Gilmore Girls" - "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving" Lorelai and Rory's boundless appetite is put to the test when they find themselves quadruple booked for Thanksgiving dinner. Their strategy? Skip the rolls.WB
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"Bewitched" - "Samantha's Thanksgiving to Remember" Samantha uses her magic to transport herself and her family back through time, but when her husband gets caught using a modern day match, he finds himself on trial for witchcraft.
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"The Brady Bunch" - "The Un-underground Movie" Greg enlists Alice and his family to star in a movie about the first Thanksgiving for school, but their constant complaining and advice leads to trouble.
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"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" Charlie Brown and Sally are planning to go to their grandparents' house for Thanksgiving, but Peppermint Patty tricks him into having her, Franklin and Marcie over for dinner instead.ABC
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"The Simpsons" - "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" Bart runs away from home after destroying Lisa's Thanksgiving centerpiece and learns to appreciate his family when he finds himself spending the holiday at a homeless shelter.Fox
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"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" - "Pangs" All college freshman Buffy Summers wanted was to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for her friends, and instead she ended up battling a Native American spirit who curses Xander as retribution for the diseases brought over by Europeans.20th Television
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"Orange Is the New Black" - "F---sgiving" Piper lands herself in solitary confinement with sexual dance moves over Thanksgiving, while Larry makes plans to share his story about an "atypical" long-distance relationship in an NPR interview.Netflix
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"Boy Meets World" - "Turkey Day" After Cory and Shawn win a Thanksgiving dinner in their school's food drive, their families decide to spend the holiday together at Shawn's family's trailer park home.
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"South Park" - "Black Friday" The second installment in "South Park's" three-part "Game of Thrones" parody, "Black Friday" follows the characters as they plan to take on a Black Friday sale at the mall.Comedy Central
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"Gossip Girl" - "Blair Waldorf Must Pie" Like a few other shows on this list, "Gossip Girl" had several Thanksgiving episodes over its full run. But the best was this Season 1 episode that featured a big blow up between Serena and Blair, flashbacks to happier times for the BFFs, and a reconciliation between the two when Blair needs Serena's help to confront her struggle with bulimia.Warner Bros
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"Everybody Loves Raymond" - "No Fat" Realizing that she and Frank need to eat healthier, Marie makes some changes to the menu for Thanksgiving dinner.
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"Bob's Burgers" - "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal" Mr. Fischoeder hires Bob as his cook for Thanksgiving dinner, and the rest of the Belchers to pose as his own family in attempts to impress his date.Fox
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"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" - "Thanksgiving" The show's very first Thanksgiving episode was its best, featuring Captain Holt and Jake leaving dinner at Amy's early to go solve a crime and creating elaborate backstories for their fake identities: Bob Barley and Gerald Gimes. The cooking at Amy's goes wrong and the whole squad, including Jake and Holt, end up getting at the precinct.NBC
”Friends“ wasn’t the only series to dedicate shows to Turkey Day
Tony Maglio
TV Editor • tony.maglio@thewrap.com • Twitter: @tonymaglio