ABC’s ‘Scandal’ shoots to a series high

ABC took a chance when it renewed the low-rated “Scandal” last May.

It looks like that chance is paying off.

For the second straight week the second-year drama hit a series high, and it topped timeslot rival “Elementary” on CBS for the second time, too.

“Scandal” averaged a 2.5 adults 18-49 rating at 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, up 14 percent over last week’s 2.2 and winning its timeslot.

Even more impressive, its lead-in was smaller this week, with the 9 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” falling 3 percent and tying a season low with a 3.0.

“Scandal” has been getting some positive buzz lately. Star Kerry Washington recently was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s entertainers of the year, and she and “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes are appearing on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” this weekend.

“Elementary,” meanwhile, averaged a 2.3 in the hour, up 5 percent over last week.

Earlier in the evening CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” hit a season high with a 4.2, the second straight week it has scored a season best following all the hubbub over series co-star Angus T. Jones’ controversial denouncement of the show in an online video that went viral.

NBC’s “The Office” grew 11 percent week to week, to a 2.1 at 9 p.m., but the soon-to-end “30 Rock” fell to a series-low 1.1 at 8 p.m.

Both of Fox’s shows were down versus last week, with “The X Factor” sliding 11 percent, to a 2.4, and lead-out “Glee” dipping 4 percent, to a 2.1.

CBS was first for the night among 18-49s with a 3.4 average overnight rating and a 10 share. Fox was second at 2.3/6, ABC third at 2.2/6, Univision fourth at 1.6/4, NBC fifth at 1.3/4, CW sixth at 0.8/2 and Telemundo seventh at 0.5/1.
 
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won't be available for several weeks. Forty-six percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
 
At 8 p.m. CBS led with a 4.8 for "The Big Bang Theory" (5.3) and "Men" (4.2), followed by Fox with a 2.4 for "Factor." Univision was third with a 1.6 for "Por Ella Soy Eva" and ABC fourth with a 1.2 for "Last Resort." NBC and CW tied for fifth at 1.1, NBC for "Rock" (1.1) and "Up All Night" (1.2) and CW for "The Vampire Diaries," and Telemundo was seventh with a 0.5 for "Rosa Diamante."
 
CBS was first again at 9 p.m. with a 3.2 for "Person of Interest," growing 10 percent over last week, while ABC moved to second with a 3.0 for "Grey's." Fox was third with a 2.1 for "Glee," NBC fourth with a 1.8 for "Office" (2.1) and "Parks and Recreation" (1.5), Univision fifth with a 1.7 for "Amores Verdaderos" and CW and Telemundo tied for sixth at 0.5, CW for "Beauty and the Beast" and Telemundo for "Corazon Valiente."
 
ABC moved to first at 10 p.m. with the 2.5 for "Scandal," with CBS second with the 2.3 for "Elementary." Univision was third with a 1.3 for "Amor Bravio," NBC fourth with a 1.0 for "Rock Center with Brian Williams" and Telemundo fifth with a 0.6 for "Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal" (0.7) and "El Rostro de la Venganza" (0.5).
 
CBS also finished first for the night among households with an 8.6 average overnight rating and a 14 share. ABC was second at 4.8/8, Fox third at 4.0/6, NBC fourth at 2.4/4, Univision fifth at 2.0/3, CW sixth at 1.3/2 and Telemundo seventh at 0.7/1.
 

Tags: abc, cbs, cw, dvr, elementary, fox, Grey, nbc, overnight ratings, overnights, scandal, thursday overnights, timeslot, two and a half men, univision