There’s a bit of a similarity in the lead characters on CBS’ “Young Sheldon” and ABC’s “The Good Doctor”: They’re both highly intelligent but socially uncomfortable, and apparently on the spectrum. But here’s one more thing they have in common: Their shows are two of this fall’s earliest new hits.
“Young Sheldon” and “The Good Doctor” are the first new fall 2017 series to score full-season pickups, in light of their solid debut ratings. According to the just-released Live+3 ratings (which includes three days of DVR and VOD usage) for premiere week, “Young Sheldon” was the week’s top-rated new comedy, and “The Good Doctor” was the top-rated new drama.
As a matter of fact, “Young Sheldon” (21.5 million) and “The Good Doctor” (16.9 million) were bigger than Sunday Night Football. Here’s what else is incredible: Both shows premiered on the same Monday night, Sept. 25 — the very first night of the new season.
On Sept. 25, “Young Sheldon” averaged a 5.2 rating with adults 18-49 (L+3), holding on to most of its “The Big Bang Theory” lead-in (5.5).
Popular on IndieWire
In a week dominated by premieres, it was veteran series “Big Bang,” now in its 10th season, that led all viewers (22 million), while Sunday Night Football still led with adults 18-49 (5.8 rating). But close behind: The Season 2 premiere of NBC’s “This Is Us” averaged a 5.7 rating in adults 18-49 (L+3), adding 46% from its initial live rating.
The tale of “This Is Us” doesn’t end there. In “live plus seven day” Nielsens, the show jumps to 6.5 in 18-49, making it the top-rated entertainment telecast on broadcast television since the Academy Awards (9.5 in L+7 on Feb. 26) and NBC’s top rated fall premiere of an entertainment series since the Season 2 return of “Heroes” in 2007 (8.41).
As for the latest on-demand viewership chart from Xfinity, once again “The Good Doctor” and “Young Sheldon” led the way with new shows (well, if you don’t include “Will & Grace”).
Here are this week’s rankers:
Adults 18-49 ranker, week ending Oct. 1, 2017:
|
RANK |
SHOW & NETWORK |
LIVE+3 RATING |
WATCHED RATING |
|
1 |
NFL Sunday Night Football NBC |
5.8 |
5.8 |
|
2 |
This Is Us NBC |
5.7 |
3.9 |
|
3 |
The Big Bang Theory CBS |
5.5 |
4.1 |
|
4 |
Young Sheldon CBS |
5.2 |
3.8 |
|
5 |
NFL Monday Night Football ESPN |
5.1 |
5.0 |
|
6 |
NFL Thursday Night Football CBS/NFL |
4.8 |
4.8 |
|
7 |
Will & Grace NBC |
4.6 |
3.0 |
|
8 |
The Good Doctor ABC |
3.7 |
2.2 |
|
9 |
Grey’s Anatomy ABC |
3.5 |
2.3 |
|
10 |
The Voice (Monday) NBC |
3.3 |
2.6 |
|
11 |
Empire Fox Modern Family ABC |
3.2 3.2 |
2.4 2.1 |
|
13 |
The Voice (Tuesday) NBC |
3.1 |
2.7 |
|
14 |
Kevin Can Wait CBS |
2.9 |
2.3 |
|
15 |
Survivor CBS Chicago Fire NBC |
2.4 2.4 |
1.8 1.5 |
|
17 |
The Goldbergs ABC Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders NBC |
2.3 2.3 |
1.8 1.6 |
|
19 |
Star Fox American Housewife ABC NCIS CBS Seal Team CBS Criminal Minds CBS American Horror Story: Cult FX |
2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 |
1.8 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.1 |
|
25 |
Designated Survivor ABC 60 Minutes CBS Law & Order SVU NBC |
2.1 2.1 2.1 |
1.1 2.1 1.4 |
| Adults 18-49; ratings points. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
Total viewers ranker, week ending Oct. 1, 2017:
|
RANK |
SHOW & NETWORK |
LIVE+3 |
WATCHED |
|
1 |
The Big Bang Theory CBS |
22.02 |
17.66 |
|
2 |
Young Sheldon CBS |
21.50 |
17.22 |
|
3 |
This Is Us NBC |
17.79 |
12.94 |
|
4 |
The Good Doctor ABC |
16.86 |
11.35 |
|
5 |
NFL Sunday Night Football NBC |
16.79 |
16.74 |
|
6 |
NCIS CBS |
16.30 |
13.29 |
|
7 |
Will & Grace NBC |
14.79 |
10.20 |
|
8 |
NFL Thursday Night Football CBS/NFL |
14.73 |
14.62 |
|
9 |
Blue Bloods CBS |
13.91 |
10.04 |
|
10 |
NFL Monday Night Football ESPN |
13.79 |
13.70 |
|
11 |
Seal Team CBS |
13.16 |
9.88 |
|
12 |
Bull CBS |
12.99 |
10.06 |
|
13 |
60 Minutes CBS |
12.79 |
12.46 |
| 14 |
The Voice (Monday) NBC |
12.72 |
10.57 |
|
15 |
The Voice (Tuesday) NBC |
12.62 |
10.93 |
|
16 |
Kevin Can Wait CBS |
12.03 |
10.26 |
|
17 |
NCIS: New Orleans CBS |
11.72 |
8.78 |
|
18 |
Hawai’i Five-0 CBS |
11.35 |
8.64 |
|
19 |
NCIS: Los Angeles CBS |
11.31 |
8.95 |
|
20 |
Grey’s Anatomy ABC |
11.15 |
8.08 |
|
21 |
Chicago Fire NBC |
10.67 |
7.19 |
|
22 |
Survivor CBS |
10.31 |
8.34 |
|
23 |
Criminal Minds CBS |
10.25 |
7.00 |
|
24 |
Wisdom of the Crowd CBS |
10.15 |
8.83 |
|
25 |
Dancing with the Stars ABC |
10.09 |
8.67 |
| Total viewers; in millions. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
Here is this week’s Xfinity On Demand ranker:
Top 20 TV Series, Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2017:
|
RANK |
SHOW |
NETWORK |
|
1 |
Game of Thrones |
HBO |
|
2 |
This Is Us |
NBC |
|
3 |
Will & Grace |
NBC |
|
4 |
The Vietnam War |
PBS |
|
5 |
Outlander |
Starz |
|
6 |
Rick and Morty |
Adult Swim |
|
7 |
The Good Doctor |
ABC |
|
8 |
American Horror Story: Cult |
FX |
|
9 |
The Big Bang Theory |
CBS |
|
10 |
Ballers |
HBO |
|
11 |
Young Sheldon |
CBS |
|
12 |
Ray Donovan |
Showtime |
|
13 |
Grey’s Anatomy |
ABC |
|
14 |
Teen Mom 2 |
MTV |
|
15 |
Dancing with the Stars |
ABC |
|
16 |
The Orville |
Fox |
|
17 |
The Sinner |
USA |
|
18 |
The Simpsons |
Fox/FXX |
|
19 |
The Deuce |
HBO |
|
20 |
Empire |
Fox |
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest TV news! Sign up for our TV email newsletter here.
