Thursday’s encore presentation of new series “Off the Map” performed respectably for a repeat, but given its creative connection to lead-in “Grey’s Anatomy,” the re-aired premiere’s ratings were not strong enough to suggest the ABC drama will emerge as a success when it returns to its regular timeslot next week.
Following Wednesday’s premiere, which scored a 2.3 adults 18-49 rating in the final nationals, the Thursday re-airing mustered a 2.0 with 6.02 million viewers. Given the involvement of “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rimes, the hope was that “Off the Map,” even as an encore airing, could have retained a bigger chunk of the veteran series’ strong lead-in (up to a 4.4 with 12.21 million viewers due to little timeslot competition).
Earlier in the night, “Wipeout” scored a strong 3.6 with 10.52 million viewers.
Though its renewal prospect remains far from a lock, CBS “$#*! My Dad Says” impressed Thursday night. Despite airing after a re-run of “The Big Bang Theory” that rated more than 25% below the last original (down to a 3.0 with 10.41 million viewers), “$#*!” held steady with a 2.9 rating and 10.19 million viewers. The performance should not convince anyone that the William Shatner comedy is a bona fide hit with an unconditionally-supportive audience, but it at least proves that the show’s ratings, mediocre as they might be, are not entirely dependent on support from a monstrous “Big Bang” lead-in.
FOX aired the night’s only other original with “Million Dollar Money Drop” (1.7 rating, 5.65 million).