TV Ratings: 'The Masked Singer' Makes Strong Finish For Fox

'The Masked Singer", based on a South Korean format, stuffs celebrities into outlandish, uncomfortable looking costumes and then requires them to sing their hearts out.

Embraced by viewers since its debut, “The Mask” was the second most-watched show last week, topped only by CBS’ long-running drama “NCIS,” reports The Associated Press citing Nielsen figures released Tuesday.

The audience’s reward: to watch the fuzzy Monster win and be revealed as T-Pain, with runners-up Gladys Knight (Bee) and Donny Osmond (Peacock) also unmasked.

“The Mask” which had a brisk, 10-episode run and posted its highest ratings with the finale, was renewed for a second season, Fox said.

CBS averaged 5.9 million viewers, followed by NBC with 5.4 million. ABC had 4.8 million, Fox had 3.4 million, Univision had 1.3 million, ION Television had 1.28 million, Telemundo had 1.1 million and the CW had 740,000.

Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.4 million viewers. MSNBC had 2 million, USA had 1.3 million, HGTV had 1.26 million and CNN had 1.15 million.

In addition to wins among total viewers, Fox News beat its cable news competition among adults 25-54:

• FNC – Prime time (418,000) and Total Day (256,000)
• MSNBC – Prime time (383,000) and Total Day (211,000)
• CNN – Prime time (352,000) and Total Day (232,000)

Basic cable ranker: Week of... by on Scribd

⏩ ABC’s “World News Tonight” led the evening newscasts with an average of 9.4 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” had 9.4 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 6.3 million.

⏩ Primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Feb. 25-March 3:

1. “NCIS,” CBS, 11.8 million.
2. “The Masked Singer” (9 p.m. ET), Fox, 11.5 million.
3. “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 10.8 million.
4. “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 10.6 million.
5. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 10.2 million.
6. “FBI,” CBS, 9.5 million.
7. “American Idol,” ABC, 8.7 million.
8. “The Masked Singer” (8 p.m. ET), Fox, 8.6 million.
9. “Chicago Med,” NBC, 8.5 million.
10. “Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 8.29 million.

11. “Chicago Fire,” NBC, 8.27 million.
12. “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 7.19 million.
13. “Chicago PD,” NBC, 7.1 million.
14. “Survivor,” CBS, 7 million.
15. “The Neighborhood,” CBS, 7.07 million.
16. “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 6.99 million.
17. “NCIS: Los Angeles,” CBS, 6.97 million.
18. “God Friended Me,” CBS, 6.8 million.
19. “The Bachelor,” ABC, 6.7 million.
20. “Bull,” CBS, 6.7 million

⏩ Basic Cable Top 10 (Prime Time)

1. Fox News (2,453,000)
2. MSNBC (2,091,000)
3. HGTV (1,260,000)
4. USA (1,220,000)
5. CNN (1,171,000)
6. History (1,144,000)
7. Discovery (1,124,000)
8. ESPN (1,073,000)
9. TBS (1,014,000)
10. TLC (1,007,000)

⏩ Talk Shows

1. Dr. Phil 3.2 -3%
2. Ellen DeGeneres 2.4 +9%
3. Live with Kelly and Ryan 2.3 NC
4. Maury 1.5 NC
5. Steve 1.4 NC

⏩ Court Shows

1. Judge Judy  7.9 +1%
2. Hot Bench 2.6 NC
3. People’s Court 1.6 +7%
4. Judge Mathis 1.1 NC
5. Divorce Court  0.8 NC

⏩ Game Shows

1. Family Feud 6.8 NC
2. Jeopardy 6.8 +5%
3. Wheel of Fortune  6.7 +3%
4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire  1.7 -6%
5. Funny You Should Ask  0.6 +20%

⏩ Magazine Shows

1. Entertainment Tonight  3.2 NC
2. Inside Edition  3.2 NC
3. TMZ  1.4 +8%
4. Access  1.4 NC
5. Extra 1.1 NC

⏩ Off-Net Sitcoms

1. Big Bang Theory  5.0 +2%
2. Last Man Standing  2.4 NC
3. Modern Family  1.9 NC
4. Two and a Half Men 1.5 NC
5. The Goldbergs 1.5 NC