Update: When it comes to CBS’ “Scorpion,” the overnight ratings painted a far too flattering picture.
Despite dipping less than 10% in the overnight households, the new CBS drama endured a hefty 19% drop in adults 18-49 this week.
Monday’s episode, the show’s third, slipped to a 2.5 adults 18-49 rating. Down a more modest 11%, its viewership average clocked in at 11.93 million.
Earlier in the night, CBS offered a new “The Big Bang Theory” (4.5 adults 18-49 rating, 15.75 million viewers) and a “Big Bang” encore (2.9 rating, 11.72 million).
It closed its evening with an installment of deflated “NCIS: LA” (1.6 rating, 8.68 million viewers).
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A solid performer by any reasonable standard, “Scorpion” nonetheless emerges from week three looking less impressive than it did in week two.
A drop was obviously going to come at some point, but considering the extent to which new dramas usually fade over their first few episodes, CBS’ “Scorpion” has no immediate cause for concern.
Monday’s episode delivered an 8.0 overnight household rating. Down from the 8.7 delivered by last Monday’s episode, the rating trails that of the September 22 premiere by a mere 10%. Considering many new dramas fall by more than 10% from episode one to episode two and then by an additional 10% or more from episode two to three, a total drop of 10% is certainly not a sign of weakness.
That is not to say the “Scorpion” ratings portrait is immune to change. Later this month, CBS will fill the 8PM slot, which is currently occupied by new “The Big Bang Theory” episodes, with broadcasts of lower-rated comedy “2 Broke Girls.”
That will bring less viewers to CBS at the onset of the night and thus create a more daunting ratings battle for “Scorpion.” If “Scorpion” is to remain a force, it needs to spend the next three weeks cultivating passionate loyalty from its viewers.
— Other CBS programs for Monday: “The Big Bang Theory” at 8PM (10.3 overnight household rating), “The Big Bang Theory” re-run at 8:30PM (7.5 overnight household rating) and “NCIS: Los Angeles” at 10PM (5.8 overnight household rating).