Anchored by 'To Tell the Truth' Finale, ABC Tops Thursday in Total Viewers

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Anchored by ‘To Tell the Truth’ Finale, ABC Tops Thursday in Total Viewers

by Tony Maglio | September 4, 2020 @ 8:57 AM

But ”Big Brother“ carries CBS to ratings win in key adults 18-49 demo

We’re not gonna lie: “To Tell the Truth” didn’t blow anyone away on Thursday — but two hours of the game show did enough to deliver the most primetime viewers to ABC.

The Disney-owned broadcast network didn’t top the key adults 18-49 demographic last night. That victory went to CBS, and was single-handedly thanks to “Big Brother.”

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With Labor Day Weekend on the horizon, we do not (currently) have Nielsen numbers for the Spanish-language networks. Therefore we only ranked the English-language broadcasters below. We will update this story if and when numbers for Univision and Telemundo arrive.

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CBS was first in ratings with a 0.6 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 2.4 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Big Brother” at 8 p.m. posted a 1.0 rating and 4.1 million viewers. “Love Island” from 9 to 11 averaged a 0.4 and 1.6 million viewers.

ABC and Fox tied for second in ratings, both with a 0.4. ABC was first in total viewers with 2.9 million, Fox was fourth with 1.3 million.

For ABC, “Holey Moley” at 8 received a 0.5 and 3 million viewers. “To Tell the Truth” at 9 had a 0.4 and 2.9 million viewers. That one was coded as a special. The season finale at 10 got a 0.4 and 2.8 million viewers.

Fox aired a pair of “Beat Shazam” repeats last night.

Also Read: 'Judge Judy' Tops 2019-20 Syndication Ratings, Finishes 1st for 11th Year in a Row

NBC was fourth in ratings with a 0.3 and third in viewers with 2.2 million, airing reruns.

The CW had a 0.1 rating and 697,000 viewers. Both of those Nielsen data points likely placed The CW in seventh place.

For The CW, “Mysteries Decoded” at 8 had a 0.1 rating and 811,000 viewers. A repeat followed.

Labor Day 2020 TV Viewing Guide: Here Are 17 Things to Watch This Weekend (Photos)

For many of us, this Labor Day weekend will be the first in recent memory in which we will not attend a barbeque, crack open a cold one with the boys, or go for one last beach day of the season -- unless done so in outdoor settings and in small groups with the proper social-distance measures in place, of course. But allow us at TheWrap to pose an alternative: Stay inside and watch TV instead. Here are 17 options spaced out from Friday to Monday that just might keep you entertained.

Also Read: Ayrton Senna Miniseries About Late Brazilian Racing Driver Ordered at Netflix
(L-R) "Away" (Netflix), "The Boys" (Amazon), "P-Valley" (Starz)
"Away" - Netflix

Season 1 of this Hilary Swank-led series about astronauts on a very long mission to Mars premieres Friday.

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Netflix
"The Boys" Season 2 - Amazon

Crack open a cold one with The Boys when the second season of this series about a vigilante group that keeps superheroes-gone-rogue in check premieres on Friday.

Also Read: How ‘The Boys’ Faced ‘A Metric S— Ton of Pressure’ in Crafting Season 2
Amazon
"Mulan" - Disney+

Be one of the first to stream Disney's live-action remake of the animated classic movie when it becomes available to Disney+ subscribes for an extra fee on Friday.

Also Read: Jason Scott Lee Explains How His ‘Mulan’ Villain Differs From the Animated Version (Video)
Disney
"Noughts + Crosses" - Peacock

This fictional, dystopian alternate-history series about a society in which Black "Crosses" rule over white "Noughts" originally premiered on BBC One in the U.K., but Americans can catch it when it debuts Friday on Peacock.

Also Read: What ‘Noughts + Crosses’ EP Wants White Audiences to Learn From Alternate History Series
Peacock
"BTK: Chasing a Killer" - ID

Fans of true crime can watch this three-hour special presentation during ID's "6 Nights of Serial Killers" on Friday at 9 p.m.

Also Read: Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo Gets Multiple Life Sentences for Serial Murders, Rapes
Getty Images
Major League Soccer - FOX

Catch some soccer on Saturday when Orlando City plays Atlanta United at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Also Read: Natalie Portman Brings Women’s Soccer Back to Los Angeles With Ownership of New Team
Getty Images
"Black Love" Season 4 premiere - OWN

This series seeks out the secrets of making a marriage work, highlighting real-life love stories from the Black community. Check it out when it returns on Saturday at 9 p.m.

Also Read: Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, Courtney B Vance, Phylicia Rashad to Star in HBO’s ‘Between the World and Me’
OWN
"FOX NFL Sunday: 2020 Season Preview" - FOX

Watch Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan, and Curt Menefee talk about this year's unprecedented upcoming NFL Season on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Also Read: Fox Sports ‘Will Not Include’ Thom Brennaman in NFL Schedule Following ‘Abhorrent’ Slur on Hot Mic
NFL
"P-Valley" Season Finale - Starz

Watch the first season finale of this show about a Mississippi Delta strip club called The Pynk Sunday on Starz at 8 p.m.

Also Read: ‘P-Valley’ Creator Katori Hall on Why the Word ‘Pussy’ Was Censored in Starz Show’s Title
Starz
"Power Book II: Ghost" Series Premiere - Starz

Watch the very first episode of the very first spinoff (three more to come!) of the "Power" franchise on Sunday at 9 p.m.

Also Read: Cliff ‘Method Man’ Smith on How His ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Character Has a ‘Hint’ of Donald Trump
Starz
"Madagascar: A Little Wild" - Hulu and Peacock

For the kids, turn on this animated series featuring beloved zoo animals Marty, Alex, Gloria, and Melman from the "Madagascar" franchise on both streaming services Monday.

Also Read: Disney+ in September: Here’s Everything New Coming
DreamWorks Animation
"American Ninja Warrior" Season 12 Premiere - NBC

Watch the first night of qualifiers for Season 12 on Monday at 8 p.m. You'll see a lot of athleticism, but what you won't see is any trace of former champion Drew Drechsel.

Also Read: ‘All Stars Skills’ Version of ‘American Ninja Warrior’ Tops Monday’s TV Ratings
NBC
"The Bachelor: Greatest Seasons Ever!" Season finale - ABC

Watch Juan Pablo Galavis' episode of this recap series on Monday at 8 p.m. to gear up for the premiere of "The Bachelorette" on Oct. 13 starring one of the women from his season, Clare Crawley.

Also Read: Will Tayshia Adams Take Over for Clare Crawley as the Bachelorette?
ABC
"Devil's Road: The True Story of Ed and Lorraine Warren" - Travel Channel

Learn all about the real-life paranormal-investigating couple behind "The Conjuring" and "Annabelle" films in this special airing Monday night at 9 p.m.

Also Read: Ed and Lorraine Warren Go Inside the Amityville Horror House in ‘Shock Doc’ Preview
Ed and Lorraine Warren as played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in "The Conjuring 2." (Warner Bros. Pictures / New Line Cinema)
"The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne" - A&E

Fans of Black Sabbath -- or just a good time -- will want to tune in to A&E's two-hour biography special on Ozzy Osbourne on Monday at 9 p.m.

Also Read: Ozzy Osbourne Diagnosed With Parkinson’s: ‘It’s Been Terribly Challenging’ (Video)
Getty Images
"Amy Schumer Learns to Cook" Season 2 Finale - Food Network

If you like her comedy, you might also like to watch Schumer learn how to cook with the help of her husband, Chris Fischer, who happens to be a professional chef. Airs Monday at 10 p.m.

Also Read: Amy Schumer Shares Her Phone Number for Sexual Assault Victims: ‘I’m Here to Talk’
Getty Images
"How I Met Your Mother" 64-Episode Marathon - Laff Network

An oldie but a goodie. Scripps channel Laff Network, the country’s first-ever, over-the-air broadcast television network devoted to comedy around-the-clock, will marathon 64 of "HIMYM's" 208 episodes starting Sunday at 8 a.m. ET and running straight through Monday at midnight. The rest of the nine-season run continues from there.

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CBS

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From the series premiere of Netflix’s ”Away“ to Season 2 of Amazon’s ”The Boys“

For many of us, this Labor Day weekend will be the first in recent memory in which we will not attend a barbeque, crack open a cold one with the boys, or go for one last beach day of the season -- unless done so in outdoor settings and in small groups with the proper social-distance measures in place, of course. But allow us at TheWrap to pose an alternative: Stay inside and watch TV instead. Here are 17 options spaced out from Friday to Monday that just might keep you entertained.

Also Read: Ayrton Senna Miniseries About Late Brazilian Racing Driver Ordered at Netflix

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