Update: The two-hour “How to Get Away with Murder” season finale was Thursday’s top-rated program within the 9-11PM timeslot.
From start-to-finish, “HTGAWM” drew a 2.8 adults 18-49 rating with 8.98 million viewers. The 9-10PM portion scored a 2.7 with 8.67 million viewers, while the latter hour delivered a 2.9 with 9.27 million.
The episode delivered its peak adults 18-49 rating (3.0) during the 10:30-11PM half-hour.
While CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” re-run (9-9:30PM ET) was technically the most-watched individual program within the 9-10PM hour (8.88 million), ABC’s broadcast won on an hourly basis (“Mom” brought CBS’ 9PM average down to 8.52 million). “HTGAWM” convincingly bested all timeslot opponents in adults 18-49.
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While its 9PM performance was not quite as potent as that of usual timeslot occupant “Scandal”–at least as far as the overnight household numbers go–the two hour “How to Get Away with Murder” finale was television’s #1 program across its entire Thursday slot.
The episode, which revealed Frank as Lila’s killer (on behalf of Sam, who claimed Frank owed him), confirmed that Oliver has HIV, shared that Laurel had been secretly holding Michaela’s engagement ring for leverage and ended with a shot of a murdered Rebecca, drew a 6.5 overnight household rating from 9-11PM Thursday.
Neither the 9PM competitors [“The Big Bang Theory” re-run/Mom” (5.6 for CBS), “The Blacklist” (5.3 for NBC), “Backstrom” (2.7 for FOX)] nor the 10PM competitors [“The Victoria’s Secret Swim Special” (2.9 for CBS), “Allegiance” (2.4 for NBC)] were able to compete with the final first season episode of ABC’s successful freshman drama.
ABC led into “HTGAWM” with “Grey’s Anatomy” (6.1 overnight rating).
Adults 18-49 and total viewership data will be shared by 11:15AM ET.