TV Ratings: ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ ‘Facts of Life’ Redos Post Decent Numbers for ABC

The third Live in Front of a Studio Audience special on ABC came up short of its predecessors in the ratings, but it still led primetime Tuesday among adults 18-49 — and provided a decent launchpad for the network’s comedy Abbott Elementary.

CBS’ FBI led the night in total viewers, and the People’s Choice Awards got a boost in returning to broadcast TV for the first time in four years.

ABC’s re-creations of The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes averaged 4.8 million viewers and a 0.96 rating among adults 18-49. That was down from 5.79 million and 1.1 for the second Live in Front of a Studio Audience in December 2019; the declines of 17 percent in total viewers and 13 percent in the key ad demo are in keeping with overall linear ratings declines over the past two years.

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Abbott Elementary premiered after the special to 2.88 million viewers and a 0.63 18-49 rating; the latter figure is on par with the debut of The Wonder Years (0.67) in September. The Abbott premiere was a one-night affair; the show will begin its regular run in January. Queens (1.46 million, 0.34) posted a five-episode high in viewers.

Elsewhere Tuesday, FBI led primetime in viewers with 7.02 million for CBS, to go with a 0.62 rating in the 18-49 demo. FBI: International (5.79 million, 0.54) and FBI: Most Wanted (5.45 million, 0.5) led their respective hours in total viewers.

The People’s Choice Awards, simulcast on NBC and E!, averaged 3.67 million viewers and a 0.59 in the key demo — a big jump from the 1.12 million and 0.3 for last year’s E!-only telecast. The Voice (6.89 million viewers, 0.74 in 18-49) edged up from a week ago. Fox’s The Resident (3.02 million, 0.4) and Our Kind of People (1.14 million, 0.22) declined week to week.

An NBA doubleheader on TNT scored the two best 18-49 ratings on cable (0.58 for Lakers-Celtics and 0.46 for Nets-Mavericks). Fox News’ The Five had the biggest total audience with 3.3 million viewers.

Bookmark THR.com/Ratings for more ratings news and numbers.