AKA "The Week TV Went Without Ratings." Click on each day to get your full ratings report; the latest in news at the end. We'll be back to our usual report format beginning March 20th, barring any more power outages at Nielsen!
MONDAY, MARCH 13TH, 2017
IN BROADCAST: Not everything came up roses for the season finale of ABC's THE BACHELOR; CBS comedies lose ground against the unscripted favorite, while FOX's 24: LEGACY ticks up.
IN CABLE: WALKING DEAD has a revives from its 5 year low; WWE delivers its customary weekly smackdown; college basketball creeps in.
TUESDAY, MARCH 14TH, 2017
IN BROADCAST: NBC's wins the ratings game with THIS IS US shatters previous records, finishing highest ever in its season finale; CBS takes the night in total viewership with NCIS and NCIS: NEW ORLEANS.
IN CABLE: RACHEL MADDOW SHOW takes in largest audience ever, desperate to get a look at anything Trump tax-related.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15TH, 2017
IN BROADCAST: ABC wins the night overall, but loses eyeballs to THE VOICE's clip show. FOX freshman dramas STAR and LETHAL WEAPON wrap up their seasons a tenth above last week.
IN CABLE: VH1'S BLACK INK CREW lands on top, with TBS's FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE close behind; weekly NBA coverage posts solid numbers throughout the night.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16TH, 2017
IN BROADCAST: ABC's GREY'S ANATOMY and NBC's CHICAGO MED prove it's still good to be a medical drama on broadcast; CBS gets in on the NCAA Tournament opener, while FOX sees a dip with its competition series KICKING AND SCREAMING.
IN CABLE: March Madness has officially landed, taking just over half the slots in the top 25. Elsewhere, History Channel's SWAMP PEOPLE continues to lead in original programming, with THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH holding steady.
PROGRAMMING NEWS:
Programming Notes:
- NBC has announced its summer schedule. The lineup will debut a slew of new original and competition series, as well as bringing back several favorites, in addition to the recently announced four-week primetime run of SNL: WEEKEND UPDATE. Premieres are as follows:
- Monday, May 8 – 10-11pm – WORLD OF DANCE (premiere)
- Tuesday, May 30 – 8-10pm – AMERICA’S GOT TALENT (Season 12)
- Wednesday, May 31, 9pm – THE CARMICHAEL SHOW (premiere)
- Monday, June 12 – 8-10pm – AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR (Season 6)
- Monday, June 12 – 10-11pm – SPARTAN: ULTIMATE TEAM CHALLENGE (Season 2)
- Wednesday, June 21 – 8-9pm – LITTLE BIG SHOTS: FOREVER YOUNG (Spin off from Little Big Shots)
- Thursday, June 22, 8-9pm - THE WALL (Season 2)
- Thursday, June 22, 9-10pm – THE NIGHT SHIFT (Season 4)
- Tuesday, July 25, 10-11pm – MIDNIGHT, TEXAS (premiere)
- Monday, August 7, 10-11pm – HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT (Season 5)
- Thursday, August 10, 9pm – SNL: WEEKEND UPDATE (limited run)
- Wednesday, August 16, 9-10pm – MARLON (back-to-back premiere)
- CBS has announced a two-hour primetime special exploring the life and legacy of Princess Diana, anchored by Gayle King. PRINCESS DIANA: HER LIFE – HER DEATH – THE TRUTH will air Monday, May 22nd from 8-10pm.
- ABC has set the broadcast premiere date for DOWNWARD DOG, after its Sundance launch in January. The show will follow Modern Family on Wednesday, May 17th, but then move to Tuesdays at 8pm for the rest of its 8-episode summer run.
Orders & Renewals:
- The Ryan Murphy on FX juggernaut continues. His latest project POSE, co-written with Brad Falchuk and newcomer Steven Canals, will go ahead with production in October, with an anticipated 2018 premiere. The show, set in 1986, examines the juxtaposition of the various social strata in New York City, from the rise of Wall street elites to the downtown social and literary scene.
- MOM on CBS is closing in on an early renewal for a fifth season. The Emmy nominated and solid ratings performer’s comeback was never much in doubt, but has been wrapped up with the complex negotiations surrounding the rest of CBS’s shows with golden goose showrunner Chuck Lorre.
- NBC has given the go-ahead to SHADES OF BLUE starring Jennifer Lopez, green lighting a 10-epsiode Season 3. It joins other early renewals THIS IS US, THE GOOD PLACE, and SUPERSTORE on the 2017-18 slate.
- VH1 has renewed AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL for a second cycle on the channel, and its 24th cycle overall. Much to fans’ delight, Queen of the Smize, Tyra Banks will be returning to host the show.
- The critically praised THE EXPANSE has been granted a 13-episode third season on SyFy, to premiere in 2018.
- Speaking of Syfy, the cable channel has also renewed 12 MONKEYS for a fourth and final 10-episode season, to air sometime in 2018. Season 3’s 10 episodes will air over 3 consecutive nights starting May 19th.
Casting:
- Oscar and four-time Emmy nominated Australian-born actress Rachel Griffiths has signed on to NBC’s untitled medical drama (fka SALVATION), penned and executive produced by Paul Haggis and Law & Order veteran Warren Leight. Griffiths will play lead Kim Masters, an ER nurse who arguably holds together the entire department together at Salvation Hospital in Brooklyn. The pilot, produced by Sony TV, is currently shooting on location in New York.
OTHER NEWS:
- Legendary artist Chuck Berry, widely known as the first and one of the greatest rock and rock guitarists and songwriters of the 20th century passed away Saturday, March 18th, prompting tributes from across the entertainment community.
- Although news is thin on the ground due to a strict media blackout, sources have said that the first week of WGA contract negotiations have shown some progress and “it’s very cordial.” Figuring heavily into the contract talks this go around are what to do about the guild’s ailing health plan, along with the downturn in weekly compensation for TV writer-producers. While many writers have already said they are willing to strike, both sides of the bargaining table have until May 1st to make a deal.
