‘Parks and Rec’ Reunion Zooms to Thursday’s Top Ratings Spot
But NBC ends up third in key demo, fourth in total viewers
Tony Maglio | May 1, 2020 @ 8:25 AM
Last Updated: May 1, 2020 @ 8:50 AM
NBC
Reunited and it feels so good. On Thursday, NBC’s “Parks and Rec” special scored primetime’s highest TV ratings.
The accomplishment wasn’t enough to carry the network’s other time slots, and NBC ended up in third place on the evening among adults 18-49. In terms of total viewers, NBC finished fourth.
ABC topped Thursday in the key demo, CBS was first in total viewers.
ABC was first in ratings with a 0.8 rating/4 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 4.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” at 8 had a 0.8/5 and 6.2 million viewers. At 9, “Station 19” got a 0.9/5 and 5.5 million viewers. “How to Get Away With Murder” at 10 received a 0.6/3 and 2.8 million viewers.
CBS was second in ratings with a 0.7/4 and first in viewers with 6.4 million. “Young Sheldon” at 8 landed a 1.1/6 and 10 million viewers. At 8:30, “Man With a Plan” had a 0.7/4 and 6.6 million viewers. A second episode at 9 got a 0.7/4 and 6.2 million viewers. At 9:30, “Broke” received a 0.6/3 and 5.1 million viewers. “Tommy” at 10 finished primetime off with a 0.5/3 and 5.1 million viewers.
NBC was third in ratings with a 0.6/3 and fourth in viewers with 2.45 million. A Paley Center salute to “Parks and Recreation” at 8 drew a 1.0/6 and 3.4 million viewers. At 8:30, the actual “Parks and Rec” episode earned a 1.4/7 and 3.7 million viewers. Following a rerun of its series debut, the premiere of Episode 2 of “Council of Dads” at 10 settled for a 0.3/2 and 2 million viewers.
Not only did “Parks and Rec” do well, it did good: Last night’s telecast has already raised $2.8 million for Feeding America.
Fox and Univision tied for fourth in ratings, both with a 0.5. Univision had a 3 share, Fox got a 2. Fox was third in total viewers with 2.52 million, Univision was fifth with 1.7 million.
For Fox, the “Last Man Standing” season finale at 8 had a 0.7/4 and 4.1 million viewers. Repeats followed.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.3/2 and in viewers with 1 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.1/0 and in viewers with 419,000. “Katy Keene” at 8 had a 0.1/1 and 446,000. At 9, “In the Dark” managed a 0.1/0 and 392,000 viewers.
18 New Midseason TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers: From 'Broke' to 'Listen to Your Heart' (Photos)
When it comes to broadcast TV, winter is typically no fall -- but a few of this year's new midseason shows could have made the cut for an earlier start, ratings-wise. TheWrap has ranked all of 2020's midseason series premieres -- so far -- by their "live" total-viewer tallies. Spinoffs of Fox's "9-1-1" and CBS' "FBI" had impressive starts, The CW's "Riverdale" offshoot and ABC's "The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart" did not. Scroll through our gallery for the Nielsen returns for the 18 midseason shows that have debuted this season and check back for updates as more premiere. Least-watched is first, most-watched is last. Readers can find our Fall TV version of these rankings here.
Rank: 17 Show: "Duncanville" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 1.5 million
Fox
Rank: 16 Show: "Flirty Dancing" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 1.8 million* (*Time period premiere. Special post-NFL doubleheader series debut, which aired live across all timezones, earned 3.2 million viewers)
Fox
Rank: 15 Show: "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist"* Net: NBC Total Viewers: 2 million* (*Time period premiere. Sneak-peek preview of first episode got 2.7 million viewers)
NBC
Rank: 14 Show: "Indebted" Net: NBC Total Viewers: 2.1 million
NBC
Rank: 13 Show: "The Baker and the Beauty" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 2.6 million viewers
ABC
Rank: 12 Show: "The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 2.97 million
ABC
Rank: 11 Show: "For Life" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 3.178 million
ABC
Rank: 10 Show: "Outmatched" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 3.202 million
Fox
Rank: 9 Show: "Council of Dads" Net: NBC Total Viewers: 3.9 million
NBC
Rank: 8 Show: "Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector" Net: NBC Total Viewers: 4.4 million
NBC
Rank: 7 Show: "Deputy" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 4.6 million
Fox
Rank: 6 Show: "Tommy" Net: CBS Total Viewers: 4.787 million
CBS
Rank: 5 Show: "Lego Masters" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 4.837 million
Fox
Rank: 4 Show: "9-1-1: Lone Star" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 5.8 million* (*Time period premiere. Special post-NFC Championship series debut earned 11.5 million viewers)
Fox
Rank: 3 Show: "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 6.3 million viewers
ABC
Rank: 2 Show: "Broke" Net: CBS Total Viewers: 7.05 million
CBS
Rank: 1 Show: "FBI: Most Wanted" Net: CBS Total Viewers: 7.19 million
CBS
1 of 19
Two spinoffs started off strong — two did not
When it comes to broadcast TV, winter is typically no fall -- but a few of this year's new midseason shows could have made the cut for an earlier start, ratings-wise. TheWrap has ranked all of 2020's midseason series premieres -- so far -- by their "live" total-viewer tallies. Spinoffs of Fox's "9-1-1" and CBS' "FBI" had impressive starts, The CW's "Riverdale" offshoot and ABC's "The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart" did not. Scroll through our gallery for the Nielsen returns for the 18 midseason shows that have debuted this season and check back for updates as more premiere. Least-watched is first, most-watched is last. Readers can find our Fall TV version of these rankings here.