Ratings: ‘Vampire Diaries’ and ‘The Originals’ Debut Down, ‘Scandal’ Fails to Get Mistress Bump

Daniel Holloway
Ratings: ‘Vampire Diaries’ and ‘The Originals’ Debut Down, ‘Scandal’ Fails to Get Mistress Bump

The CW’s vampire dramas joined the scrum of television’s most competitive night Thursday and took some hits in the process.

“The Vampire Diaries” kicked off its seventh season with a 0.6 rating in the advertiser coveted 18-49 demo, according to Nielsen overnight numbers — down 33 percent from last fall’s premiere. Season 3 of spin-off “The Originals” debuted to a 0.4, down 43 percent and tying its series low. The two shows, scheduled back-to-back for the first time, drew 1.37 million and 927,000 total viewers, respectively.

“Scandal” was strong in its third week of the new season, but received no bump following last week’s cliffhanger revelation in which Kerry Washington‘s Olivia Pope outed herself as the president’s mistress. The ABC drama declined 7 percent from last week to a 2.6 demo rating and drew 8.72 million viewers.

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Fellow Shonda Rhimes-produced dramas “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away With Murder” also ticked downward in the demo, each drawing a 2.1, each down 9 percent from last week. “Grey’s Anatomy” drew 8.06 million total viewers, while “How to Get Away With Murder drew” 7.2 million.

ABC was the night’s No. 2 network, averaging a 2.3 rating and 8 share. The CW finished fifth among English-language broadcasters with a 0.5 / 2.

CBS won the evening with “Thursday Night Football.” The Indianapolis Colts-Houston Texans game drew an early 10.7 household rating and 18 share in metered markets. Time-zone adjusted ratings will be available later Friday.

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NBC came in third with a 1.2 / 4. “Heroes Reborn” declined 25 percent from last week in the demo with a 1.2. “The Blacklist” was down 17 percent from its premiere last week at 1.5. “The Player” shed one tenth of a point at 0.9.

Fox finished fourth with a 1.1 / 4. “Bones” dropped one tenth of a point from last week to a 1.3. “Sleepy Hollow” was even with its premiere at 1.0.

The broadcast networks faced competition on ESPN from Game 1 of baseballs American League Division Series playoffs between the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals.