TV Ratings: Laughs Score, Bang Beats GoT

CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” was last week’s top-rated program, with 12.5 million viewers tuning in to the sitcom in its home stretch. The final episode of its 12-season run will air Thursday, May 16.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” also nearing the end after eight seasons, placed second, according to The Associated Press citing Nielsen figures released Tuesday.

The fantasy drama drew 11.8 million viewers to the episode that debuted last Sunday, edged out by the sitcom it had bested the week before.

“Game of Thrones,” which ends May 19, reached a total 17.2 million viewers with figures for streaming, on-demand and a Sunday rerun included. That’s a slight dip from the big battle episode that aired April 28 and drew 17.8 million across HBO’s platforms.

A 2 percent uptick in viewership for NBC’s “Billboard Music Awards” was small but meaningful: most major music awards shows have seen double-digit, year-to-year losses, with the Grammys and its 1 percent increase reflecting a rare exception.

⏩ With eight of the 10 most-watched shows, CBS cruised to an overall weekly ratings victory with an average 5.96 million viewers. ABC had 4.64 million, NBC had 4.55 million viewers, Fox had 2.64 million, Telemundo had 1.36 million, Univision had 1.31 million, ION Television had 1.24 million and the CW had 740,000.

⏩ Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.4 million viewers in prime time. TNT had 2.36 million, MSNBC had 1.7 million, ESPN had 1.58 million and HGTV had 1.2 million.

⏩ ABC’s “World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8.4 million viewers, with NBC’s “Nightly News” second with 7.6 million. “CBS Evening News,” which will be replacing anchor Jeff Glor with Norah O’Donnell this summer, averaged 5.7 million viewers.

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⏩ The top 20 shows for the week of April 29-May 5:

1. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 12.5 million.
2. “Game of Thrones,” HBO, 11.8 million.
3. “NCIS,” CBS, 11.7 million.
4. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 10.7 million.
5. “FBI,” CBS, 8.9 million.
6. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 8.1 million.
7. “Billboard Music Awards,” NBC, 8 million.
8. “Mom,” CBS, 7.89 million.
9. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 7.6 million.
10. “American Idol” (Sunday), ABC, 7.5 million.

11. “Survivor,” CBS, 7.3 million
12. “The Voice,” NBC, 7.24 million.
13. NBA Playoffs: Golden State at Houston, ABC, 7.23 million.
14. “NCIS: New Orleans, CBS, 7.2 million.
15. “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 7 million.
16. “Hawaii Five-0,” CBS, 6.8
17. “Bull,” CBS, 6.5 million.
18. “Station 19,” ABC, 6.4 million.
19. “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 6.3 million.
20. NBA Playoffs: Houston at Golden State, Turner, 6.2 million.

⏩ As for syndication, The May sweep got underway in the week ending April 28 with the James Holzhauer-fueled Jeopardy jumping to its highest ratings in four years, according to TVNewsCheck.

Superstar contestant Holzhauer, who will not appear again until May 20 while the show airs a two-week tournament, amassed $1.69 million by May 3. The Las Vegas gambler has so far won 22 games, a record exceeded only by all-time Jeopardy champ Ken Jennings.

The household ratings for Jeopardy in the session ending April 28 led all shows for a second straight week, pole-vaulting 12% from the prior frame to a nosebleed-level 7.5 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen.

Among the closely watched talk shows, Dr. Phil held steady at a 2.7 and remained in command for the 138th week in a row. Live with Kelly and Ryan cemented its standing as the second-highest talker, grabbing the No. 2 for the ninth straight week despite a 4% dip to a 2.2. Rounding out the top six were Ellen DeGeneres, Wendy Williams, Maury and Steve Harvey’s Steve at 1.9, 1.4, 1.4 and 1.2, respectively.