Update 2: Final broadcast data reveals that the series premiere of FOX’s “Weird Loners” drew a soft 0.7 adults 18-49 rating with 1.89 million viewers.
While nothing can completely excuse a performance that weak, it is worth noting that the comedy premiere did not receive ample support from its “New Girl” lead-in. Tuesday’s episode of that show, which has already been renewed for a fifth season, drew a 1.0 adults 18-49 rating with 2.32 million viewers.
The 1.0 rating represents a series low.
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Update: FOX’s “Weird Loners” predictably got off to a slow start.
Leading out of a softly rated edition of “New Girl” (1.0, 2.32 million viewers), “Weird Loners” drew a weak 0.7 adults 18-49 rating with 1.92 million viewers.
FOX led into its comedies with “Hell’s Kitchen” (1.2, 3.36 million).
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FOX had no reason to expect Tuesday’s “Weird Loners” premiere to deliver a big number.
It lacked a special hook. Its previous timeslot occupant “The Mindy Project” never set the world on fire in the ratings department, and it had been delivering particularly weak numbers in recent weeks. Its “New Girl” lead-in is not a strong one.
Tuesday’s “Weird Loners” premiere did not deliver a big number.
According to metered market data, “Weird Loners” scored a 1.5 overnight household rating. Down from the 1.9 achieved by its “New Girl” lead-in, the number also trailed the 1.6 overnight household rating scored by last week’s “The Mindy Project” season finale (which aired out of a “New Girl” re-run and ended up with a soft 0.8 adults 18-49 rating and 2.05 million viewership total in the finals).
It also fell short of the 2.7 delivered by Tuesday’s edition of NBC’s “One Big Happy,” which airs in the same time slot.
Weak from from an overnight household standpoint and almost certainly weak in adults 18-49, the “Weird Loners” performance provides no reason for optimism about the show’s chances.
Preliminary adults 18-49 and total viewership data will be available at 11AM.