Update: Consistent with Headline Planet’s projection, FOX’s “Family Guy”-“The Simpsons” crossover delivered a dominant performance in adults 18-49. It was the night’s top scripted program in the demo.
Entitled “The Simpsons Guy,” the hourlong “Family Guy” season premiere drew a massive 4.5 adults 18-49 rating with 8.4 million viewers.
The most-watched “Family Guy” episode since January 2011, it gained viewers as it progressed. The show opened with a 4.3 and 8.1 million viewers in the 9-9:30PM half hour before reaching a 4.7 and 8.7 million in the 9:30-10PM portion.
Earlier in the night, FOX drew a 3.9 adults 18-49 rating with 8.5 million viewers for the season premiere of “The Simpsons” and a 2.6 with 5.5 million viewers for the launch of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
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As far as the overnight ratings go, FOX’s long-awaited “Family Guy”-“The Simpsons” crossover did not perform like a blockbuster event.
It did, however, deliver a very encouraging number in the 9PM hour.
Entitled “The Simpsons Guy” and functioning as the “Family Guy” season premiere, the episode drew a 5.4 overnight household rating. Insofar as both series skew favorably in the adults 18-49 demographic, the solid overnight rating foretells an impressive performance with young adults.
Set to be released by noon, the adults 18-49 rating will surely best all competition but NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” broadcast.
Earlier in the night, “The Simpsons” leveraged its “The OT” lead-in to score a respectable 5.5 overnight rating in the 8-8:30PM half hour. The season premiere of relocated “Brooklyn Nine Nine” delivered a 3.8 from 8:30-9PM.
While that performance compares very favorably to what “B99” was regularly drawing on Tuesdays last season, it also reflects a considerable drop from its lead-in. Had a second “The Simpsons” aired in the 8:30PM slot, it would have provided a stronger bridge between FOX’s football coverage and its “Simpsons Guy” crossover episode.