Thursday Ratings: American Idol Finale Down 44% Compared to Last Year

Truly horrible American Idol ratings are HORRIBLE. The numbers for last night’s finale are down SHARPLY from last year. Not only that, Big Bang Theory, kicked their asses. And for the first time, the big reveal did not hit the 20 million mark.  A frigging BBT RERUN was basically nipping at Idols heels at 8:30 pm.

Ratings were down 47% 44% in the demo compared to last year.

The good news: Ratings will likely be adjusted UP this afternoon. The actual reveal of the winner occurred AFTER 10 pm in an overrun. ETA: The numbers were adjusted up to 3.6 and 14.30 viewers

On FOX the finale of American Idol earned a 3.4, up from last week’s 2.8, but down sharply from the 6.4  last year’s finale earned. In total viewers, this marks the first year that American Idol‘s finale did not hit the 20 million mark. For those interested, in the half hour that the American Idol finale went up against The Big Bang Theory, it only earned a 2.8 adults 18-49 rating.

8:00PM

CBS The Big Bang Theory – Season Finale 4.4 16 14.78
FOX American Idol (8-10PM) -Season Finale 3.4 11 13.61 (adjusted up to 3.6, 14.30 viewers)
NBC The Office Retrospective 2.0 7 4.37
ABC Wipeout 1.0 3 3.82
CW The Vampire Diaries -Season Finale 1.0 3 2.20

8:30PM

CBS The Big Bang Theory -R 3.2 10 11.64

9:00PM

ABC Grey’s Anatomy – Season Finale 3.0 8 8.63
NBC The Office – Series Finale (9-10) 2.9 8 5.41
CBS Elementary (9-11) -Season Finale 2.0 6 8.93
CW Beauty And The Beast -Season Finale 0.5 1 1.34

10:00 PM

ABC Scandal -Finale 3.2 9 9.134
NBC The Office -Finale (10-10:15) /Hannibal (10:15-11PM) 1.7 5 3.52

Half Hour Breakdown by Marc Berman

8:00 p.m.

ABC – Wipeout
Viewers: 3.66 million (#4), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#5)

CBS – The Big Bang Theory (season finale)
Viewers: 14.78 million (#1), A18-49: 4.4/16 (#1)

NBC – The Office Retrospective
Viewers: 4.45 million (#3), A18-49: 2.0/ 7 (#3)

Fox – American Idol (season finale)
Viewers: 11.28 million (#2), A18-49: 2.8/10 (#2)

CW – The Vampire Diaries (season finale)
Viewers: 2.17 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#4)

———-

8:30 p.m.

ABC – Wipeout
Viewers: 3.97 million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#4)

CBS – The Big Bang Theory (R)
Viewers: 11.64 million (#2), A18-49: 3.2/10 (#2)

NBC – The Office Retrospective
Viewers: 4.29 million (#3), A18-49: 2.0/ 7 (#3)

Fox – American Idol (season finale)
Viewers: 13.30 million (#1), A18-49: 3.3/10 (#1)

CW – The Vampire Diaries (season finale)
Viewers: 2.22 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#5)

———-

9:00 p.m.

ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (season finale)
Viewers: 8.47 million (#3), A18-49: 2.9/ 8 (#2t)

CBS – Elementary (season finale)
Viewers: 9.60 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/ 8 (#4)

NBC – The Office (series finale)
Viewers: 5.47 million (#4), A18-49: 2.9/ 8 (#2t)

Fox – American Idol (season finale)
Viewers: 14.08 million (#1), A18-49: 3.6/10 (#1)

CW – Beauty and the Beast (season finale)
Viewers: 1.42 million (#5), A18-49: 0.5/ 2 (#5)

———-

9:30 p.m.

ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (season finale)
Viewers: 8.79 million (#2), A18-49: 3.0/ 8 (#2)

CBS – Elementary (season finale)
Viewers: 8.61 million (#3), A18-49: 2.0/ 5 (#4)

NBC – The Office (series finale)
Viewers: 5.35 million (#4), A18-49: 2.9/ 8 (#3)

Fox – American Idol (season finale)
Viewers: 15.77 million (#1), A18-49: 4.1/11 (#1)

CW – Beauty and the Beast (season finale)
Viewers: 1.25 million (#5), A18-49: 0.5/ 1 (#5)

———-

10:00 p.m.

ABC – Scandal (season finale)
Viewers: 9.08 million (#1), A18-49: 3.2/ 9 (#1)

CBS – Elementary (season finale)
Viewers: 8.97 million (#2), A18-49: 2.0/ 5 (#3)

NBC – The Office (series finale) / Hannibal
Viewers: 4.57 million (#3), A18-49: 2.3/ 6 (#2)

———-

10:30 p.m.

ABC – Scandal (season finale)
Viewers: 9.19 million (#1), A18-49: 3.2/ 9 (#1)

CBS – Elementary (season finale)
Viewers: 8.52 million (#2), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#2)

NBC – The Office (series finale) / Hannibal
Viewers: 2.47 million (#3), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#3)

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

About mj santilli 35156 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!