Preliminary Ratings: Thursday 05/15/14

THE BIG BANG THEORY closed the books on another season, with it's usual large rating numbers. the veteran sitcom collected 16.3 million viewers and a 4.8 rating in Adults 18-49. It is up nearly 2 million viewers and a full rating point, from last week's season low numbers. Compared to last season's finale, BIG BANG is up about one half million viewers and even in the demo ratings. Next season, the hist comedy will kick off the season on Mondays nights, before returning to Thursdays, just before Halloween.

At 8:30, THE MILLERS closed out it's first season to relatively decent numbers. It did lose more than a third of the BIG BANG audience, but was the 2nd most watched program and #3 on the night, in the A18-49 ratings. The sitcom still needs nurturing and CBS is smart to keep it pared with THE BIG BANG THEORY for a second year. The network doesn't need another 2 BROKE GIRLS debacle.

Closing out the night, on CBS, was the ELEMENTARY season ender, which was below it's season average. Compared to last season's finale, ELEMENTARY is down 1.7 million viewers and 30% in the demo ratings. But, last year it had a BIG BANG repeat as it's lead in, and not a lame duck freshman sitcom.

The CW's two Thursday dramas ended their seasons Thursday night. Both series did pull about what they had been getting the last few weeks. Last year. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES got 2.2 million viewers and a solid 1.1 demo rating. A considerable drop to this season's finale of 1.6 million and a 0.8 demo. REIGN stayed even with last year's BEAUTY AND THE BEST finale, which held the time slot in 2012-13.

ABC's former big gun drama, GREY'S ANATOMY was the top show of it's 9 p.m. time slot, but is down 19% in the A18-49 ratings, compared to last season's finale. Not too surprising considering the age of the series, and little support on either side, from ABC.

NBC's second part, of two, of the remake ROSEMARY'S BABY  did just as awful as part one. Just 3.3 million viewers and and and a 1.0 demo rating is a drop from it's HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT lead in. When you drop in the ratings from HGN, you know things are not going good.

FOX quietly finished second on the night, with it's duo of HELL'S KITCHEN and AMERICAN IDOL. IDOL was up 25%, in the demo ratings, from last week's Thursday episode. Last year, IDOL was up about 50% higher, in it's second to last week of the season (May 9, 2013).
 

Preliminary Network Averages:

ABC - 5.5 million viewers, 1.4 rating in A18-49

CBS - 9.0 million viewers, 2.2 rating in A18-49

CW - 1.4 million viewers, 0.7 rating in A18-49

FOX - 6.7 million viewers, 1.9 rating in A18-49

NBC - 3.5 million viewers, 1.0 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	Grey's Anatomy [R]	3.60	0.6
9:00	ABC	Grey's Anatomy	8.60	2.5	141%
10:00	ABC	Black Box	4.20	1.1	-51%
8:00	CBS	The Big Bang Theory	16.30	4.8
8:30	CBS	The Millers	9.90	2.4	-39%
9:00	CBS	Two And A Half Men [R]	7.60	1.8	-23%
9:30	CBS	Bad Teacher	5.50	1.4	-27%
10:00	CBS	Elementary	7.30	1.4	33%
8:00	CW	The Vampire Diaries	1.60	0.8
9:00	CW	Reign	1.30	0.5	-20%
8:00	FOX	Hell's Kitchen	4.80	1.7
9:00	FOX	American Idol	8.60	2.0	80%
8:00	NBC	Hollywood Game Night	3.80	1.1
9:00	NBC	Movie: Rosemary's Baby, Pt 2	3.30	1.0	-13%

* - in millions