James Spader's "Blacklist" should see its best ratings ever, airing after Sunday's Super Bowl. (Paul Keleher)
Season in and season out, the Super Bowl is the most-watched broadcast across all of television for the calendar year. So when the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks raise the Lombardi Trophy this weekend, NBC Sports will be celebrating right alongside the winning 53-man roster. Immediately after that, it will be “The Blacklist’s” turn to pop some champagne while dreaming of ostentatious Nielsen numbers.
The critically acclaimed James Spader drama returns on Sunday night in the highly coveted post-Super Bowl timeslot. The result is guaranteed to hand “The Blacklist” its most-watched episode ever — likely by a landslide — though it remains to be seen just how well it will do.
NBC won’t make predictions because a) that would be unbecoming and b) they really don’t know. A lousy blowout (like last year’s Seahawks-Broncos contest) won’t help, and overtime — while it would be amazing for holding viewership late — could really push the timeslot too far towards (or possibly past) 11 p.m. ET.
Either way, the game and the subsequent procedural drama will be a hit, though it likely won’t even sniff the most-watched post-Super Bowl program of all time, which also happened to be on NBC — just 19 years ago.
On Jan. 28, 1996, “Friends” scored a monstrous 52.9 million viewers after the big game; hauling in a 28.2 rating in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic. That dwarfs the second-place finisher, CBS’s “Survivor” from 2001, which earned 45.4 million viewers and a 21.8 rating. Those two are the only shows since 1988 (from which reliable records are readily available) to best the massive 40-million-plus viewer mark or a gaudy 20-plus rating.
In third place is 2010’s “Undercover Boss,” besting 2006’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and 2012’s “The Voice” in total viewers, but not in the key demo rating.
At the bottom of the pile is 2003’s “Alias,” which got 17.4 million total viewers and an 8.2 demo rating. Up one spot is 2013’s “Elementary,” which had more total viewers (20.9 million) but the lowest demo rating on our list (7.8).
Rounding out the Bottom five are “Malcolm in the Middle” (2002), “Family Guy” (2009) and “Extreme” (1995).
See TheWrap’s list of the 27 Most and Least Watched Post-Super Bowl TV Shows:
21 Super Bowl XLIX Ads: Watch This Year's Buzziest Commercials (Video)
Bud Light - "Real Life PacMan"
Budweiser built a life-sized PacMan board for their commercial this year, complete with LED lights and Bruce Buffer announcing.
BMW i3 - "Newfangled Idea" featuring Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric
Former "Today" co-hosts Gumbel and Couric are reunited to poke fun at themselves and their lack of Internet savviness.
Carl's Jr. - "Au Naturel"
Carl's Jr. put together another titillating burger ad, this time featuring model Charlottle McKinney, who follows in the sexy footsteps of 2012's Kate Upton.
Nationwide Insurance - "Invisible Mindy" with Mindy Kaling
Tired of being ignored, Fox star Mindy Kaling determines she must really be invisible.
Nissan - "Playtime with Dad"
Nissan enlisted several YouTube stars, including Action Movie Kid, for ads focusing on how dads make playtime more fun.
Toyota Camry - "How Great I Am"
Paralympian Amy Purdy's athletic skills are on full display in this ad featuring audio from former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.
Snickers - "'Brady Bunch' Parody"
On-screen tough guy Danny Trejo pokes fun at himself in this "Brady Bunch" spoof. Let's hope a Snickers doesn't hit his nose.
Purina Friskies - "Dear Kitten: The Disappearing Humans"
Who doesn't love an animal ad? An older cat teaches a kitten the secrets of Super Bowl Sunday.
Dove Men + Care - "Real Strength"
Dove highlighted all the little things dads do to show they really care in this tear-jerking ad.
Victoria's Secret - "Angels Play Football"
A team of Victoria's Secret models settle their differences on the gridiron.
Skittles - "It Will Be Settled"
In this brief teaser, a group of very muscular townspeople seem to have a score to settle with the Taste the Rainbow brand.
T-Mobile - "Kim's Data Stash"
Selfie queen Kim Kardashian tackles the serious issue of data left unused on monthly cell phone plans in this mock-PSA.
Wix - #ItsThatEasy
Former Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre won a Super Bowl in 1997 and now he's starring in a commercial during it for Wix.
Budweiser - "Lost Dog"
Is it too early to crown the so-called "King of Beers" as the King of Super Bowl XLIX? Puppy gets lost, Clydesdales save the day, you bawl your eyes out.
Kia - "The Perfect Getaway"
Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan pokes fun at his action movie pedigree in this ad for the new Kia Sorento.
Mercedes-Benz - "Fable"
The German automaker puts a fresh twist on the age old story of the tortoise and the hare.
Squarespace - DreamingwithJeff.com
Jeff Bridges wants to ensure all your dreams are pleasant ones in this ad for the website building service.
Pepsi - Halftime Touches Down
This latest Pepsi ad teaser promises an out of this world experience during the Super Bowl halftime
Snickers - "'Brady Bunch' Parody"
Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi take on the roles of Marcia and Jan Brady respectively in this Snickers ad.
Skechers - "Relaxed Fit with Pete Rose"
Controversial former baseball star Pete Rose pokes fun at his lifetime Hall of Fame ban in this new ad
E's "The Royals" - Making Headlines
E's new scripted series starring Elizabeth Hurley will get the royal treatment during Sunday's game
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From puppy love to a scantily-clad supermodel eating a burger, preview the ads that will air during the most expensive time slot of the year
Bud Light - "Real Life PacMan"
Budweiser built a life-sized PacMan board for their commercial this year, complete with LED lights and Bruce Buffer announcing.