Ratings: ‘Person of Interest,’ ABC’s ‘Scandal’ season 2 soar

There are some crazy things happening on Thursday nights, and the first one is something that we truly want to highlights: when you produce a great show, you are eventually going to get better numbers of the network gives you the time you deserve.

Ever since ABC launched our Best New Show nominee “Scandal” last spring, they have been pretty patient despite barely hovering around the 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic (typically the range in which some shows can get canceled). Thanks to this, they have allowed the show to build up all season long, and the past two excellent episodes have made the waiting all worthwhile. After all, when was the last time you saw ABC handily beat a new episode of a CBS show on Thursday in the 18-49 demographic?

Overall, “Scandal” drew an impressive 2.5 rating that is easily the top-rated hour of the entire season, and an improvement of over 10% from last week’s 2.2. The most impressive part about this is that the show built up to the number organically, as “Grey’s Anatomy” actually only drew a season-low 3.0 as a lead-in.

Elsewhere, “Person of Interest” is currently tracking to beat “Grey’s Anatomy” for the first time all season courtesy of a 3.2, which is its highest rating in several week.s (It has a tendency to be adjusted down in the final ratings, but even with that the world place it will likely end up is tied with the hospital drama.) “Two and a Half Men” also rose versus last week to a 4.2 rating, while “The Big Bang Theory” easily won the night with a 5.3.

Now, for the bad news. “The Vampire Diaries” plummeted for whatever reason down to a 1.1 rating for a memorable flashback episode, while “Beauty and the Beast” continued to prove unworthy for its lead-in with a 0.5 that is pretty atrocious. (Why isn’t “Cult” taking its timeslot again?)

What surprised you on this list the most? Be sure to share what you think below!