Ratings: ‘Scandal’ season 3 starts with series high; ‘The Millers’ starts okay; NBC flops
How happy does Shonda Rhimes feel right now? It’s not often that a showrunner gets one smash hit in their lifetime, let alone two. However, she managed to find just that in “Scandal,” a show proving that quality and pop-culture consciousness is the key to success more so than a great marketing campaign or snazzy visual effects. This is almost the “Breaking Bad” of network TV; it may not be as strong as the AMC hit, but it has figured out how to draw more viewers with each successive season.
The season 3 premiere last night set a new series high for itself in a 3.6 in the 18-49 demographic; not only is that impressive, but the show was the top drama on the night and only second overall to the titan known as “The Big Bang Theory” (5.0). This is just another reason why “Scandal” repeats are already replacing “Lucky 7” on the schedule; you might as well just help the show become even more of a hit.
In the new show department, the only show that came close was “The Millers” with a 3.3, but still, we worry about whether or not this will last after a pilot that really should have been re-shot with the new cast members. With “Two and a Half Men” seemingly doing much better after ‘The Big Bang Theory,” it would not shock us if it is there at the end of this season in the place of “The Millers” again.
The real loser here is (surprise!) NBC, as they continue to stumble through how to create a successful comedy. “The Michael J. Fox Show” (1.9) is the closest thing to a hit of the group; “Welcome to the Family” (1.2) scored the lowest-rated premiere ever for the network, and we imagine that soon enough, “Community” will be in its place. There is a little more hope for “Sean Saves the World” (1.6), and we do at least think it is a smart move to air Sean Hayes here and keep Fox from going up against Robin Williams (even if “The Crazy Ones” dropped down to a 3.0 this week).
Did you see the success of “Scandal” coming? Be sure to share below! Meanwhile, head on over here if you want to read our full review from the premiere tonight.
Photo: ABC