With added competition from the NFL draft and the spring decline both in play, Thursday was a rough night for virtually every broadcast television series not named “Scandal.”
Ratings were down nearly across the board, with shows like “The Big Bang Theory” (4.2 adults 18-49 rating, 14.38 million) and “Two and a Half Men” (2.8, 11.03 million) falling dramatically to their season and series lows, respectively.
CBS’ dramas “Person of Interest” (2.4, 12.99 million) and “Elementary” (2.0, 9.94 million) joined “Men” in dropping to series lows.
Over on FOX, “American Idol” struggled with a 2.7 rating and 11.11 million viewers. With “Grey’s Anatomy” (2.7, 8.12 million) and “The Office” (1.7, 3.13 million) back in the fold, “Glee” fell to a mere 1.8 rating with 5.24 million viewers.
ABC, which leveraged “Grey’s” to a 9PM win, also won at 10PM with help from dominant “Scandal.” A rare gainer Thursday, “Scandal” posted an impressive 2.8 rating with 7.76 million.
Earlier in the night, “Wife Swap” posted a soft, season low 1.1 and 3.42 million.
NBC opened with “Community” (1.0, 2.40 million), before leading into a re-run of “The Office,” the new “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation” 1.3, 2.54 million) and “Hannibal” (1.0, 2.40 million).