‘The Bachelorette’ Solid In Return, All Season Finale Ratings Down Vs. Last Year
It’s been a long broadcast season, so TV viewers may be ready for new summer offerings. A summer staple, ABC’s The Bachelorette, returned last night in solid fighting form, drawing a 2.0 adults 18-49 rating in the fast nationals. That is currently the top demo rating of the night, edging the performance finales of NBC’s The Voice and Dancing with the Stars (both at a 1.9). There may be upward adjustments in the finals but the two-hour The Bachelorette will likely end up at least tied for first place. The Bachelor spinoff is currently off by a tenth from the Live+same day rating for last season’s opener, which could be made up in the finals.
The Voice (1.9) is likely to be adjusted up to a 2.0, which would be off a tenth from last week’s Live+same day result and down -23% from last year’s spring finale. The hourlong Dancing with the Stars (1.9) ticked up two tenths from last week. It is currently running four tenths (-17%) behind last May’s performance finale. With the Bachelorette-Dancing combo, ABC topped NBC to win the final Monday of the season in 18-49 (2.0 vs. 1.7). In a photo finish, NBC squeaked by in the total viewer race (8.71 million vs. 8.54 million) in the fast nationals but the race is too close to call. Closing out the night for NBC was the season finale of Blindspot (1.3), which was on par with last week but at the lower end of the freshman series’ Live+same day deliveries. The serialized thriller will be facing an uphill battle in the fall when it moves to the Wednesday 8 PM slot.
The other drama finale last night was Fox’s Gotham (1.2), dipping a tenth from last week and down -29% from its freshman finale. Summer series Houdini & Doyle (0.6) ticked down a tenth after an unimpressive start.
Price Is Right specials (1.3) proved not to be as suitable lead-ins for CBS The Odd Couple than The Big Bang Theory reruns. After clinching a third-season renewal with better-than-expected run, the comedy starring Matthew Perry had a disappointing Season 2 finish against The Voice performance finale and The Bachelorette premiere. Its last two episodes of the season drew a 1.0 and a 0.9 in 18-49, down from the 1.3 for last week’s original and half of the sitcom’s freshman season finale delivery. Departing Person of Interest 0.9) was steady.
The CW’s Reign (0.3) also held steady in the demo. Whose Line Is It Anyway? returned to a 0,4 in 18-49 and 1.3 million viewers. It matched Jane the Virgin‘s finale last week in the demo while drawing 44% larger viewership.
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