Blue Bloods season 8 ratings down — is it Amy Carlson’s exit, something else?

One of the things that CarterMatt has praised Blue Bloods for over time is its remarkable consistency in the ratings. It seems as though no matter what is going on with the cast or the storylines, this is a show that finds a way to constantly persevere and deliver great numbers time and time again. It has a lot to be proud of in that it consistently draws more viewers than virtually any other show on Friday night.

However, we have noticed something unusual that has transpired this season — some of the first big drops that we’ve seen for the show. Just take a look at some of the ratings in the past as more evidence of what we’re talking about. Season 8 to date is down 22% in the 18-49 demographic and down almost 13% in total viewers from season 7. In the same measurements, season 7 was down 8% and 5%, respectively, versus season 6. Meanwhile, season 6 was down 4% and 7% from season 5, and season 5 was down 8% and 2% from season 4. For the majority of shows out there, it’s not unusual for them to decline 10-15% in both measurements.

So what is going on with Blue Bloods this season? It could be a product of many different things.

1. The show’s retention catching up to it – With most shows, there is a time in which the ratings do start to fall. Maybe we’re just at that point now and Blue Bloods is not getting enough new viewers to compensate for the ones that they are losing.

2. The departure of Amy Carlson – There is something to be said here for the show’s family dynamic — maybe losing Linda Reagan was a bridge too far for some. We will mention that the premiere drew a 1.2 rating and 10.04 million viewers, by far the best numbers this season. The year-to-year decline here versus the start of season 7 was only 11% in the demo and 5% in total viewers. It’s clearly gone down since then.

3. Early-season skew – It’s possible that the averages will increase as time goes on. Friday shows tend to perform a little bit better in the colder months when there is less for viewers to do outside.

Why do you think the Blue Bloods ratings are down at the moment?

Share some of your thoughts in the comments below!

(Photo: CBS.)