Ratings: ‘NCIS’ season 12 hits series low; ‘The Flash’ steady; ‘Agents of SHIELD’ up
We should start here by saying that it is very impressive that “NCIS” in its 12th season is able to draw close to 16 million viewers an episode. However, at the same time, we should also say that it is stunning just how few of these people are now in the 18-49 demographic.
Last night, the show drew a series-low rating of 1.9 in the demo, which is the main thing that appeals to advertisers. By comparison, the season 5 premiere of “Game of Thrones” had half the viewers of “NCIS,” but also more than twice the demo rating. It is just an interesting indictment on what is considered a big hit and worthy of press in today’s news cycle. We’re not trying to bury “NCIS,” though; while the series low is a disappointment, this is not a show going anywhere. So long as it remains in the top half of CBS dramas in the demo, it will be around, provided of course the cast wants to keep doing it. We just hope that whenever it does end, the cast gets an opportunity to actually leave on a high note.
As for some of the ratings elsewhere Tuesday, “Agents of SHIELD” (1.6) did improve week to week following its string of strong episodes, and we feel like it is pretty likely to be coming back for another season at this point. ABC does not want to sever ties with Marvel, even if the show is not a commercial smash. Meanwhile, “The Flash” (1.3) held its entire rating from its last new episode, even with a week’s hiatus thrown in there.
On the “getting canceled” front, “Weird Loners” (0.6) is doing terrible, and we’re not that confident about “One Big Happy” (1.1) and its ability to stay afloat.
If you missed it yesterday, head over here to preview what is next on “NCIS.” Also, sign up to score some further TV updates on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: CBS.)
Beverly
April 16, 2015 @ 3:36 am
I don’t think anyone is surprised by the low numbers for last night’s episode as it was Bishop centric. Actually for the first time I thought she did a pretty decent job. Still not field agent material but she has been improving in the last 1 1/2 years as they cut out her qurks. .Maybe this episode will give her a way to make a quiet exit as she realizes that she doesn’t belong in the field and returns to NSA. I have not warmed up to Zoe but thought Tony had some chemistry with Agent Martinez. I thought that the last time she was on the show when Bishop first appeared. These female connections do not always have to be romantic which is what they seem to do to Tony but I think they could have been good friends. That’s another thing about this season that I found unsettling. The speed with which they hooked up Tony, Tim and Abby. The woman that plays Delilah fortunately is pretty good. Zoe and Burt is it…can go. Focus on the cases, slow down on the terrorism, go back to basics of what the team does and balance crazy Tony with competent Tony. Season 13 may be the last. I hope they at least try to give the fans what they have been asking for.
liz laughlin
April 16, 2015 @ 5:04 pm
I would like to see them return to the “agent afloat” storyline. I know that usuually the “agent afloat” is a younger agent but stories that showed team members on a sub, carrier etc. were ones that I really liked. Polls show that about 80% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the military. Showing more positive stories about the military it seems would sell. The show is called the NCIS, Naval Criminal Investigative Service. I would like to see more emphasis on the Navy and Marine Corps. I think that is why I liked the last episode more than the others this year. I’m not high on Bishop but I liked to see Gibbs and Bishop in the Middle East. I suspect that the expense of paying Mark Harmon’s big salary may cut into the budget for creativity. I read in the past that it is more expensive to go off the lot and onto a ship for filming. I really miss the shipboard stories I have ten years of JAG and old eps of NCIS. That will have to to do I guess.
liz laughlin
April 15, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
Last night’s episode had a 1.9 in the demo and a total of 15.4 million. That will no doubt be adjusted up. Even so, the total viewership is much lower than season 11 at this time. The demo has slipped from 2.81 to about 2.5.
I think that CBS could fix this show and stop the drop. Getting rid of Harmon would not be an option but they could make him the director and cut his number of episodes in half. That would let him semi retire and save $ for tptb. Promote Tony to team leader. Let McCallum retire and let Jimmy be the pathologist. Bishop either has to evolve into a competent agent or get someone new. They could hire two new actors and still be under their salary cap. The writing would have to tick up quite a bit but it could be done, in my opinion. If they keep doing what they are doing, then they will get less than what they got. The demo has been dropping each year since season 8 and total average viewersip has been dropping about 800,000 per year since season 10.
Erin
April 15, 2015 @ 5:48 pm
Well I missed NCIS on purpose last night because it was obviously going to be another, in a long line of super Gibbs performing miracles while a smug McGee outsmarted idiot Tony again. The focus on Gibbs and McGee as the two smartest and only agents or people of any value has gotten quite old. As a Tony fan I simply can’t understand why they’ve pigeon holed and wasted this formerly wonderful character by either writing him as completely insignificant or as the weeks dim witted joke. But – I’m not in the coveted demo so I guess I’m no loss to the CBS number crunchers.
liz laughlin
April 15, 2015 @ 6:17 pm
Actually, it wasn’t that bad. It was one of the better episodes this year. It was pretty balanced as far as screen time for the characters. Gibbs did take Bishop to Afghanistan. But this time when she started to whine about the danger and that she didn’t think she could do it, he told he to obey orders and he would have her back. He was very firm with her, FINALLY. Anyway, it wasn’t excellent but It was okay.
Cassy
April 15, 2015 @ 5:25 pm
I’m 19 years old and never miss an episode. And season 12 is just as amazing as every other. This is one of the very rare shows that keeps getting better each season. I’m a proud fan.
ezrasace
April 15, 2015 @ 5:01 pm
It is telling when a network show is rated against a pay network show such as NCIS and Game of Thrones. If NCIS could have the nudity, etc. of Game of Thrones, then all of the horny boys would come. Apples and fish don’t compare well.
liz laughlin
April 16, 2015 @ 5:20 pm
If CBS could get the rating system changed, I’m sure they would. Thank goodness for the system. I was just talking to two male co-workers about The Game of Thrones. One had just discovered it; the other was a fan. I told them that the only episode I ever saw was the one with a graphic rape scene in it and that was it for me. To quote Groucho Marx,” When I heard about [the Broadway play] “Hair”, I was kind of curious about the six naked primates on stage. So I called up the box office and they said tickets were $11 apiece. That’s an awful price to pay. I went into the bathroom at home and took off all my clothes and looked in the mirror for five minutes. And I said, ‘This isn’t worth $11’.”