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.
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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.
