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What Were the TV Season’s Top-Rated and Most-Watched Shows? And Which Cancelled Drama Did the ‘Best’?
Courtesy of PMC
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Most Watched TV Shows 2022-2023 Season
Courtesy of CBS, Getty Images and Fox
The numbers are in for the 2022-23 broadcast-TV season, and this year was, as always, a touchdown for football fare.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football ranked No. 1 for the season — and was veritably steady year-over-year — with an average rating of 4.9 in the coveted 18-49 demographic (including Live+7 DVR playback data).
Tying for a distant second, all averaging a 1.0 demo rating, were CBS’ Survivor, Fox’s (ABC-bound) 9-1-1, and NBC’s Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.
IN THE 18-49 DEMO, among dramas, 9-1-1, Fire and P.D. were trailed by NBC’s Chicago Med and Law & Order: SVU, both of which averaged a 0.9. On the sitcom side, CBS’ Young Sheldon and Ghosts led the pack with a 0.9 average.
Of the Top 20 non-sports entertainment programs, ABC and NBC each boasted six, followed by CBS’ five and and Fox’s three.
IN TOTAL VIEWERS, CBS’ NCIS (averaging 9.9 million, down 9% YOY) four-peated as the TV season’s most-watched drama and was followed closely by CBS’ own FBI (9.6 mil), while the network’s Young Sheldon (with 9.3 million viewers, up a tick YOY) four-peated as the most watched comedy.
All told, CBS delivered a whopping 13 (!) of the Top 20 most-watched entertainment programs, followed by NBC (with five), and ABC and Fox (one each)
Listed below are my hand-curated rankings for the broadcast networks’ assorted offerings; last season’s can be found here. Hit Comments to share what delights or depresses you.
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TOP RETURNING COMEDY | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1 (tie). Ghosts, CBS (0.9 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
1 (tie). Young Sheldon, CBS (0.9)
2. Abbott Elementary, ABC (0.8)
3 (tie). The Conners, ABC (0.7)
3 (tie). The Neighborhood, CBS (0.7)In Total Viewers
Young Sheldon (9.3 million) -
TOP NEW COMEDY | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: NBC 1. Night Court, NBC (0.7 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2. Not Dead Yet, ABC (0.5)
3. Animal Control, Fox (0.4)In Total Viewers
Night Court (5.2 million) -
TOP RETURNING DRAMA | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox 1 (tie). 9-1-1, Fox (1.0 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
1 (tie). Chicago Fire, NBC (1.0)
1 (tie). Chicago P.D., NBC (1.0)
2 (tie). Chicago Med, NBC (0.9)
2 (tie). Law & Order: SVU, NBC (0.9)In Total Viewers
NCIS, CBS (9.9 million) -
TOP NEW DRAMA | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: CBS 1. Fire Country, CBS (0.8 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2 (tie). Will Trent, ABC (0.6)
2 (tie). East New York, CBS (0.6)
2 (tie). Accused, Fox (0.6)
2 (tie). Quantum Leap, NBC (0.6)In Total Viewers
Fire Country (8.4 million) -
TOP UNSCRIPTED SHOW | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. Survivor, CBS (1.0 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2 (tie). American Idol (Sunday), ABC (0.9)
2 (tie). The Masked Singer, Fox (0.9)
2 (tie). Next Level Chef, Fox (0.9)
3 (tie). The Bachelor, ABC (0.8)
3 (tie). The Voice, NBC (0.8)In Total Viewers
The Voice (Monday) (7.3 million) -
TOP-RATED CANCELLED SHOWS | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. 9-1-1, Fox (1.0 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback) —but renewed by ABC after Fox cancelled it
2 (tie). East New York, CBS (0.6)
2 (tie). New Amsterdam, NBC (0.6)
3 (tie). Big Sky, ABC (0.5)
3 (tie). A Million Little Things, ABC (0.5)
3 (tie). The Goldbergs, ABC (0.5)
3 (tie). NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS (0.5)
3 (tie). The Resident, Fox (0.5)In Total Viewers
East New York (6.8 million)
NCIS: Los Angeles (6.2 million) -
LOWEST-RATED RENEWED SHOWS (SCRIPTED) | 18-49
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Walker, The CW (0.1, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
Lopez vs. Lopez, NBC (0.3)
All American, The CW (0.3)
Animal Control, Fox (0.4)Fewest Total Viewers
All American (875,000) -
'TOP 10' OVERALL BY DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Sunday Night Football, NBC (4.9 rating, -2% year-over-year)
Survivor, CBS (1.0, -23%)
9-1-1, Fox (1.0, -23%)
Chicago Fire, NBC (1.0, -23%)
Chicago P.D., NBC (1.0, -23%)
American Idol (Sunday), ABC (0.9, -18%)
Saturday Night Football, ABC (0.9, -18%)
Ghosts, CBS (0.9, -10%)
Young Sheldon, CBS (0.9, -10%)
60 Minutes, CBS (0.9, -10%)
The Masked Singer, Fox (0.9, -25%)
Next Level Chef, Fox (0.9, -10%)
Chicago Med, NBC (0.9, -18%)
Law & Order: SVU, NBC (0.9, -25%)DROPPED OUT OF LAST YEAR’S TOP 10
Thursday Night Football (moved to Prime Video), This Is Us (ended), Grey’s Anatomy -
TOP 10 OVERALL BY TOTAL VIEWERS
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. Sunday Night Football, NBC (18.1 million, +1% year over year)
2. NCIS, CBS (9.9 million, -9%)
3. FBI, CBS (9.6 million, -7%)
4. Blue Bloods, CBS (9.4 million, -4%)
5. Young Sheldon, CBS (9.32 million, +1%)
6. Chicago Fire, NBC (9.28 million, -6%)
7. Ghosts, CBS (9.1 million, +8%)
8. 60 Minutes, CBS (8.8 million, -4%)
9. Chicago Med, NBC (8.5 million, -7%)
10. The Equalizer, CBS (8.4 million, -11%)DROPPED OUT OF LAST YEAR’S TOP 10
Thursday Night Football (moved to Prime Video), Chicago P.D.Want scoop on any of these shows? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
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55 Comments
I hope they reconsider about The Resident. It was an excellent program.
Agree that is was excellent, but it’s done. Props sold, actors released from contracts. It had a good run and did have a good ending. Way too expensive to bring back. If ABC didn’t want it (like they wanted 911), no one will want it (as it’s produced by 20th TV, a Disney company)
Someone anyone….please bring back East New York!!!
For sure! So much potential juicy drama to take to the next level, what with new mayor and new Chief likely to be Suarez & Heywood’s nemesis; Killian facing Fed. prosecution (or Russian retaliation), Yanko’s wife’s agoraphobia, etc. This would be a great fit for ABC, whose drama lineup has new holes in it (especially procedurals) and is weak overall–it would be a great heir to NYPD Blue’s legacy.
I agree. East New York was just getting started. I love the show. I am sorry about The Resident. Two great shows.
i agree worth a watch.
As a former NYPD Lieutenant who was a policeman in several ENY Precincts, canceling the next Blue Bloods after its first season. Remember how poorly other police dramas have done in the past? NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues, Law and Order, Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, Miami Vice, Dragnet, Kojak, The Wire, The Shield, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and even Starsky and Hutch and even The Andy Griffith Show! Have you ever thought that the Brits know something about what audiences like besides comedy and The Royalty? Give a look sometime at what is offered on Acorn or BritBox. I subscribe to both as one way to not have to be angered by the incessant bombardment of Big Pharma commercials….especially when there is singing and dancing involved by their happy pill swallowers!
Agreed!
ABSOLUTELY AGREE
so i’m outside the most coveted demo because I don’t shop? That’s news to me. Never mind I don’t watch anything on CBS except Survivor.
I’m 72 and I shop my butt off–guess we buy the wrong stuff. (BTW, who do you think buys all those expensive “boutique” proprietary biologic drugs that Pharma spends billions advertising? It’s not Gen Z through age 49). And who has the disposable income for high-end SUVs and EVs? Networks are shooting themselves in the foot.
We’re supposedly too set in our ways to change brands so Madison Avenue thinks they can only sell us pharmaceuticals, luxury cars, and investment firms.
As an actual geezer, I can assure you that when shopping, the single word we look for most often is “NEW!” This whole “demo” nonsense went out the window 20 years ago, but the networks and their advertisers refuse to pick up on the obvious.
NCIS + or – 9% YOY? Up in the written portion, it’s -, in the charts it’s +.
Fixed.
Please don’t cancel East New York!
I’m still mad CBS cancelled East New York, just to replace it with another new show(I think its the Matlock remake) that they will probably cancel next year. ENY showed up on a lot of Best lists above.
It’s all about the $$$. ENY was not CBS owned. Seems we’re at a point where it doesn’t make sense for the networks to show any shows not produced by a related entity. I know Warner & Sony would disagree but it’s becoming the reality…
Someone please pick up East New York!!!
“The Voice” did well this season in the ratings.
The viewers must really like Blake.
“American Idol” isn’t the ratings juggernaut it used to be.
In its prime, the show could pull in as many as 30 million viewers.
The last truly successful “Idol” winner was Philip Phillips in Season 11.
Right? And it’s only 21 seasons in.
Fox cancelled “Idol” due to diminishing ratings.
The ABC version is about the judges, the Disney synergy, and the notion of the producers’ “Chosen One.”
The shock eliminations that seem to be perceived as threats to the Chosen One.
“Idol” is a popularity contest, not a singing competition.
Haven’t watched since Season 3, will trust your assessment!
.
Fact is, down as it may be and all things being relative in the world of ratings, IDOL is the No. 5-rated program (tie) on broadcast TV.
This year’s American Idol was the best yet. The judges provide the contestants superb musical advice in a positive fashion. There will be at least five super star singers from the top 10. If you haven’t seen the rebooted version on ABC (for the past 5 years), I suggest you check it out on Hulu or live next season Feb 2024.
Fox didn’t cancel it because of ratings it left fox as their #2 program, like 911 lack of ownership and bad contracts made it wherefore was losing money even after halo effect, where it helped them launch shows.
So they let it go.
NCIS is still the best, even after 20 years. 💪
Seeing NCIS LA on that last for the last time.. :(
I would watch Night Court if they would get rid of the canned laughter! So annoying, not necessary!
I am amazed that Grey’s Anatomy finally is nowhere to be seen on these lists.
So FOX got rid of the highest-rated scripted show on broadcast television. Brilliant!
It seem that FOX thinks it is ok to cram junk down the veiwers throats but when there is a show we actually want they cancel it! Bring back the Resident with 5 million viewers I think it was a great show!
I don’t like some of the comedy shows that are still on. I wonder whoever rates and gets rid of shows realizes the time the show is on, the night and the show it follows effects who watches. Many of the shows that are on after sport games are past their shows time and sometimes not shown. Some of the higher rated programs are let go while lower rated programs are kept.
Boy are we hard up for new comedies.
Bring back East New York
Excellent stories and cast.
Canceling East New York was a tragedy! Why didn’t they just postpone it mid-season and have it replace SWAT on Friday nights. Then, when Blue Bloods eventually ends, it could move to the late Friday night slot.
I’m still soo angry East NY was dropped!! Excellent police show and 100 times more realistic than blue bloods! I’m soo over the Reagan, same basic theme every week. East NY has a 1st rate cast and Really deserves another chance. AWESOME SHOW
Leave Chicago P.D. Alone. Bought does need a live interest tho but still love this show!!!!
Meant Voight needs a love interest
Enjoyed watching East New York and The Resident. I thought these shows were well written and acted. I am glad 911 was picked up by ABC. Hopefully another network will pick up E.N.Y. and Resident. TY
I don’t normally comment but on no list did 911 Lone Star make it. So why would Fox renew this show but cancel 911 (which thankfully was picked up by ABC?
I love So Help Me Todd, but how can it make it past S2 next year?
East New York was one of the Best new shows. Can not understand why it was cancelled. The ratings were good enough to keep it. CBS you fave made another bad decision.
If you ask me, they are looking at this ratings thing all wrong. The only numbers that should matter are overall viewers. What makes them think that viewers aged 18-49 are the most important. Do they know how much time and money many people older than 49 have.
It is insane to me the shows that renew versus the ones that decide to cancel. I mean it makes no sense. Why renew a show with 875 000 viewers and cancel one with 6.8 million. Who makes the decisions for this?