Ratings: Broadcast Finals for May 9, 2013

SCANDAL is the real deal. For just the second time ever, the sophomore series topped its lead in, GREY'S ANATOMY, in the A18-49 ratings. Not by just a tenth of a point, but by 10%. The 3.2 demo rating it scored made it the #1 drama for the night, in the demographic, and it even topped AMERICAN IDOL. But, at this point, what show DOESN'T top IDOL?

Earlier for ABC, WIPEOUT had its season premiere and the numbers are very lackluster. Just 4.4 million viewers and a 1.3 demo rating. However, that is up from last week's WIFE SWAP season finale. WIPEOUT is a summer series and the numbers should rebound once the May sweeps have completed.

COMMUNITY closed shop (for good?) and like every other episode over the last couple of years, the ratings were terrible. The 3.1 million viewers was the lowest by an original program, from the Big 4 networks. The ONLY way NBC renews this skunk is strictly for syndication value.

THE OFFICE had its best numbers in quite a long time. 4.6 million viewers and a 2.3 rating in Adults 18-49. It was still #4 in its time slot, but it was up close to a million viewers and 15% in the demo, from last week. Next week's series finale should give the series its best numbers in two years, since soon after Steve Carell left.

Thursday Night Network Averages:

CBS - 12.3 million viewers, 2.8 rating in Adults 18-49.

FOX - 8.7 million viewers, 2.5 rating in Adults 18-49.

ABC - 7.4 million viewers, 2.5 rating in Adults 18-49.

NBC - 3.3 million viewers, 1.5 rating in Adults 18-49.

CW - 1.8 million viewers, 0.8 rating in Adults 18-49.

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	Wipeout	4.35	1.3
9:00	ABC	Grey's Anatomy	8.97	3.1	+106%
10:00	ABC	Scandal	8.87	3.2	-1%
8:00	CBS	The Big Bang Theory	16.30	4.9
8:30	CBS	Two and A Half Men	12.83	3.5	-21%
9:00	CBS	Person of Interest	13.16	2.4	+3%
10:00	CBS	Elementary	9.29	1.9	-29%
8:00	CW	The Vampire Diaries	2.28	1.0
9:00	CW	Beauty and the Beast	1.29	0.5	-43%
8:00	FOX	American Idol	11.57	2.9
9:00	FOX	Glee	5.92	2.0	-49%
8:00	NBC	Community	3.08	1.3
8:30	NBC	The Office[R]	2.35	1.1	-24
9:00	NBC	The Office	4.56	2.3	+94%
10:00	NBC	Hannibal	2.62	1.1	-43%

* - in millions