Update: The initial verdict was slightly unfair to “Super Fun Night.”
While poor reviews and word-of-mouth suggest it could face declines in the weeks ahead, it got off to a very respectable start. Wednesday’s episode drew a timeslot-winning 3.2 adults 18-49 rating with 8.21 million viewers. Lead-in “Modern Family” garnered a 4.2 with 10.91 million.
“The Middle” kicked off ABC’s night with a modest 2.2 and 7.77 million, while “Back in the Game” mustered a 1.8 with 6.59 million pairs of eyeballs. “Nashville” wrapped up ABC’s evening with a 1.9 rating and 6.02 million viewers at 10PM.
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It was not the ratings disaster some anticipated, but based on the overnights, the premiere of “Super Fun Night” was certainly not super.
According to TV Media Insights, the Rebel Wilson vehicle posted a 5.5 overnight metered market rating from 9:30-10PM. Virtually even with the number for last year’s “Suburgatory” bow (5.6), it turned away thirty percent of its “Modern Family” lead-in (8.0).
The show’s adults 18-49 number will not be available until noon, but it seems reasonable to assume it will trail that of “Family” by a similar percentage.
And if that assumption holds, it will provide yet another example of ABC’s inability to find an ideal companion for “Modern Family.” While the Emmy-winner’s lead-in prevents comedies from flopping in the 9:30PM position, no show has attracted enough of the holdover audience to become a legitimate hit.
Earlier in the night, “The Middle” delivered a 5.7, while episode two of “Back in the Game” declined slightly to a 4.7.