ABC’s ‘Last Man Standing’ delivers big in syndication; season 7 prospects brighten

 

If there was ever a show out there that qualified for “the little comedy that could” status, it’s probably ABC’s “Last Man Standing.” From one vantage point, it is so easy to say “of course this show is doing well,” given the fact that you’ve got a well-known lead actor in Tim Allen who already has one show under his belt in “Home Improvement” that was an enormous hit. Yet, at the same time this is a show that gets a tiny amount of press, and one that also airs at a quiet time on Friday night.

Yet, at the same time the show continues to be decent in live+same day ratings. So far this season, it’s down about 7% year-to-year to a 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic, but that is a relatively minuscule decrease when you compare it to the performance of some other shows that are airing across the board right now. The same goes for its 8% drop in total viewers.

What is even more impressive is the latest news that is coming in via Deadline, who claims that for the week of December 5, it was behind only “Modern Family,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men” among the comedies in broadcast syndication. Also, it is currently the top-rated new comedy, drama, or reality series out there in the syndication market.

The site notes that waiting an extra year until season 6 to start syndicating these episodes (most shows do so after season 5) may have allowed it to take advantage of a less-competitive market. Meanwhile, another valid point here is that this show is likely an alternative to many people, given that it may have a more conservative viewership base to the majority of the other sitcoms that are currently out there.

Ultimately, the big takeaway at the moment is that whether you are looking at broadcast or syndication ratings at the moment, the future of a “Last Man Standing” renewal is bright, and Allen and the rest of the cast could be employed for quite some time. (Photo: ABC.)