“Ben & Kate” Disappoints in Ratings, “Mindy Project” Also Underwhelming

Update: As expected, the FOX comedies performed better by the standards of the adults 18-49 demographic than they did in the overnight metered markets. Still, a 2.0 adults 18-49 rating with 4.2 million viewers is a weak start for “Ben & Kate,” and given that this was a premiere episode with a stronger-than-usual lead-in, its status is not looking promising.

Both “New Girl” episodes delivered a 2.7 rating (episode one averaged 5.3 million viewers, while episode two attracted 5.2 million), while “The Mindy Project” opened to a 2.4 with 4.7 million.

Numbers for “The Mindy Project” are also underwhelming, but positivity comes in the fact that it beat timeslot competitor “The New Normal” in the demo.
——

FOX’s new Tuesday lineup features the best-reviewed new comedy of the year in “Ben & Kate” and the network’s most hyped launch in “The Mindy Project,” but its overnight ratings performance leaves a lot to be desired.

While the expected young skew might make the numbers a bit more palatable in the adults 18-49 demographic, none of the four shows lit the world on fire in the metered markets.

According to TV Media Insights, flagship FOX live action comedy “New Girl” opened the night with a 4.0 overnight metered market rating, which represents a stiff decline from the impressive 7.4 to which it debuted last year. A second episode at 9PM averaged a 3.8.

Sandwiched in between was the acclaimed “Ben & Kate,” which managed only a 2.9 at 8:30PM. Unless word-of-mouth turns things around, the show’s prospects are already looking pessimistic, especially since its lead-in will be the less popular “Raising Hope” going forward.

Mindy Kaling’s “The Mindy Project” closed the night at 9:30PM, delivering a 3.3. Though its retention out of “New Girl” was not terrible, the rating itself will likely prove very disappointing when final numbers come out.

Written by Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002.

Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj.

Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Loading…

McKayla Maroney Impressed with Offer to Guest on The CW’s “Hart of Dixie”

“Vegas” Ratings Open Below “Unforgettable,” Viewership Solid