Update: The season premieres of FOX’s “New Girl” and “The Mindy Project” drew adults 18-49 ratings of 1.7 and 1.3, respectively.
Both numbers were down considerably from those posted by the fall 2013 premieres. Last year, “New Girl” opened with a 2.9 adults 18-49 rating, while “Mindy” delivered a 1.9.
Of note, however, is the transformed lead-in support. Last year, the episodes received solid lead-in support from the premieres of “Dads” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” This year, the 8PM hour was occupied by “Utopia,” which drew a mere 1.0.
Viewership for Tuesday’s season four “New Girl” premiere clocked in at 3.04 million. “Mindy” reached 2.68 million viewers.
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In possession of virtually no buzz, waned fan interest and abysmal lead-in support from “Utopia,” the premieres of FOX’s comedies “New Girl” and “The Mindy Project” declined sharply from last year’s kickoff episodes.
Down 41% from last year’s opener, “New Girl” posted a mere 2.3 overnight household rating. Lead-out “Mindy” delivered a 2.0 household mark, which represented a year-over-year decline of 30%.
Boosted by stronger hype and the debuts of “Dads” and “Brooklyn Nine Nine” in the lead-in hour, last year’s season premieres enjoyed considerable–and unsustainable–improvement over their preceding season finales.
Airing out of an episode of “Utopia” that drew a 1.9 overnight number, Neither this Tuesday’s “New Girl” nor this Tuesday’s “The Mindy Project” was expected to match its inflated, corresponding mark from last year.
But given the curiosity that always emerges for season premieres and the fact that the shows did not face full slates of competition, there was certainly hope that they would avoid year-over-year falls of 41% and 30%, respectively.