Update: Monday’s “The Blacklist” drew a 2.5 adults 18-49 rating with 9.1 million viewers. While both numbers are series lows, they do not reflect frightening drops from average levels and reveal that the show, at least for the time being, can survive without its “The Voice” lead-in.
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Airing for the first time without lead-in support from flagship “The Voice,” NBC’s freshman drama “The Blacklist” was sure to take a hit in the overnight ratings race.
The blow, though likely enough to bring “The Blacklist” to a series low, was not devastating.
Monday’s episode, which aired out of the low-rated “American Ninja Warrior: USA: vs. Japan,” delivered a solid 5.6 overnight metered market rating. The 23% drop from part two of the midseason finale (and 15% from part one) is not trivial, but it is not nearly enough to compromise the show’s standing as a success.
Expected to win the timeslot race in adults 18-49 (and compete with “Castle” for the total viewership prize), “The Blacklist” proved Monday that it has its own audience. Its success is not inextricably linked to “The Voice.”
“Ninja,” which aired from 8-10PM, averaged a 3.1 overnight metered market rating. The last “Voice” to lead into “The Blacklist” delivered a 7.6 in that same timeslot.