Ratings: MacGyver Debuts With a Bang, 11-Year Audience High for Time Slot
By Matt Webb Mitovich
Using little more than tin foil, plaster dust and three paper clips, CBS’ MacGyver opened big on Friday, drawing 10.9 million total viewers and a 1.7 demo rating, easily outperforming The Amazing Race‘s year-ago premiere in the time slot (5.8 mil/1.2) and dominating the night in both measures.
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All told, MacGyver gave CBS its biggest audience in the Friday lead-off spot in 11 years (Ghost Whisperer) and its best demo number in nearly four (Undercover Boss). Of Premiere Week’s drama launches, it drew the second-largest audience (behind Bull) and third-highest rating. TVLine readers gave the pilot an average grade of “C+.”
Hawaii Five-0 in turn returned to its best numbers since Jan. 22 and Feb. 12, respectively — 10.1 mil and a 1.3, up 22 and 30 percent from its year-ago premiere. Blue Bloods (10.4 mil/1.3) returned up from its finale, matching its previous opener.
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Friday’s other drama debut, Fox’s The Exorcist, did 2.9 mil and a 1.0 leading out of Hell’s Kitchen (3.3 mil.1.1), marking the least watched, lowest rated series premiere thus far of the Fall TV season. Readers gave the horror-thriller an average grade of “B.”
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Over on ABC, Last Man Standing (5.8 mil/1.1) matched its previous premiere. Dr. Ken (4.1 mil/0.9) was down sharply from its year-ago launch (6.7 mil/1.5) but on par with its freshman finale. Shark Tank (4.9 mil/1.1) dropped 20 and 35 percent from its previous premiere, marking its lowest Friday numbers in… a very long time.
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