TV Ratings: ‘Big Bang’ and ‘Chicago Med’ Hit Lows — And ‘Scandal’ Improves

Maybe it’s that midseason fatigue finally setting in, or maybe some viewers just had better things to do, but most broadcast series were down double digits on Thursday night.

The only network not in the red was ABC. Both Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal marked significant improvement from their recent episodes. Grey’s, as close as it’s been with CBS’ The Big Bang Theory in memory, averaged a 2.1 rating among adults 18-49. And Scandal jumped three-tenths of a point top a 1.6 rating in the key demo. At 10 p.m., The Catch was more on the steady side with its 0.8 rating — but the hour is not exactly a point of bragging for any of the broadcasters.

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Shonda Rhimes‘ trio of dramas added up to a nightly win in the key demo, as CBS averaged a narrow No. 2 with its dipping Big Bang Theory. The pricey flagship, just renewed for two more seasons, was down three tenths of a ratings point to its lowest same-day showing on record. Its 2.5 rating among adults 18-49 still easily topped all other nightly efforts, but marked a clear sign of aging for the show. The Great Indoors (1.4 adults) was improved, but only because its most recent episode aired on a Monday, while Mom (1.3 adults) and Life in Pieces (1.1 adults) were both off a shade.

Veteran reality show The Amazing Race premiered in CBS’ troubled 10 o’clock time slot. And while it was up from recent dramas in the hour, it was below any showing it earned on Friday nights during its last run with a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers. But, hey, that’s enough to win you the time slot on Thursdays.

The Big Bang Theory was not alone in its same-day lows. Chicago Med sunk to a 0.9 rating in the key demo after an aptly-titled Powerless (0.6 adults) on NBC. On the bright side, The Blacklist: Redemption was up to a 0.8 rating.

NBC’s dips were enough to give Fox shared status as No. 3 for the night with a new MasterChef Junior (1.0 adults) and Kicking & Screaming (0.6 adults). On the CW, Supernatural (0.6 adults) and Riverdale (0.4 adults) were steady.