Update: According to final broadcast data, Thursday’s “The Blacklist” drew a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating with 8.0 million viewers.
While that represents a rise from last week’s episode, which posted a 1.7 and 7.7 million, it is a rise that came against notably lighter competitive programming. While ABC and CBS averaged a combined 6.5 adults 18-49 rating in the 9PM timeslot last week (for “Scandal” and “Two and a Half Men,” respectively), the two networks settled for a combined 4.9 this week (for “How to Get Away with Murder” and a “Big Bang Theory” re-run/”Mom,” respectively).
Proud of the gain, NBC touts that Thursday’s episode was the highest-rated “The Blacklist” since the show’s February 5 timeslot premiere.
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ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder” finale was not quite as formidable an opponent as last week’s “Scandal” (a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating vs. a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating) and CBS’ 9PM combination of a “The Big Bang Theory” re-run and “Mom” did not draw as well as the “Two and a Half Men” finale.
Despite those appealing realities, NBC’s “The Blacklist” managed only a slight ratings gain this week.
Per fast national data, Thursday’s edition of the flagship NBC drama drew a 1.8 adults 18-49 rating with 7.85 million viewers. Up from last week’s 1.7 rating and 7.71 million viewership average, the performance is nonetheless weak by the show’s standard.
Only the previous two episodes fared worse in adults 18-49 (both drew 1.7 ratings) and only the previous installment drew a smaller audience.
Underwhelming, the limited size of the rise should not have been unexpected. The 2/12 edition, which did face “Scandal” but battled with an even weaker CBS lineup than this week’s episode (a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating versus a 2.1 this week), drew a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating with 8.19 million viewers. There was no reason, outside of blind optimism, to believe this week’s episode would fare better.
The combination of a dramatically weaker lead-in (“The Slap,” with a 0.7 adults 18-49 rating and 3.62 million viewers this week, is certainly no “The Voice”), the very idea of a new night, the competitive forces in the timeslot (even without “Scandal,” Thursday at 9PM is not an easy timeslot) and loss of buzz is producing notably softer “Blacklist” ratings performances.
And while the ratings hit would be a worthy sacrifice if NBC could use its Monday “The Voice” broadcast to launch a new hit in the 10PM hour, that has not been the case. “State of Affairs” flopped there this fall, and relocated “The Night Shift” failed to make waves this week.
NBC closed its night with 10PM drama “Allegiance” (0.8 adults 18-49 rating, 3.61 million).
