Image Credit: NBC

For the first time in eight years, NBC might avoid finishing the broadcast season in last place.

The 2011-12 season concluded Wednesday and network ratings analysts say NBC officially ranks third among the Big Four networks among the key adults 18-49 demographic. ABC has the notoriety of slipping to fourth, with NBC having edged out its rival by a mere tenth of a rating point.

Broadcasters released their traditional season-end ratings tallies today (below), but additional DVR data will continue to trickle in during the next couple weeks. There is a chance ABC’s average could round up to tie NBC, though network analysts say this is unlikely. READ FULL STORY »

NBC’s Grimm wrapped up its first season by leading the ratings Friday night.

The fantasy procedural had 5.3 million viewers and 1.6 rating among adults 18-49, matching its best score since January. Grimm has been an unexpected success story for NBC during an otherwise, well, grim season for the network, performing solidly on TV’s toughest night. The finale had Nick finally revealing to Juliette his secret identity.

Right behind Grimm was the finale for ABC’s Shark Tank (5.5 million, 1.5), which recently earned its first full-season order. The business-based reality show will return this fall to launch 22 episodes.

The CW’s Nikita (1.5 million, 0.4) had its finale, its rating unchanged since last week. Supernatural (1.6 million, 0.6) was actually down a tick for its closer. Nikita will stay on Fridays next season, but Supernatural is getting quite an upgrade — shifting to Wednesdays with a lead-in from new show Arrow.

Image Credit: Harper Smith/ABC

For the first time ever within the regular TV season, Jimmy Kimmel topped Jay Leno among adults 18-49. This ratings win actually happened last week, but we’re just telling you now because Nielsen collects accurate late-night ratings via stagecoach or something and they take awhile to be released. Despite airing in a later time period, Kimmel edged out Leno by 4 percent last Thursday.

Anyway, back to our usual next-day focus. Wednesday night: CBS’ two-hour Criminal Minds finale blowout was not only up 21 percent from last week, but also improved upon the drama’s finale last year — a rare claim nowadays. READ FULL STORY »

Image Credit: CW

Gossip Girl wasn’t on The CW’s recent list of early (read: easy decision) renewals, but most insiders think the show will get a final season order (perhaps announced on the day of the network’s upfront next week? Just like the One Tree Hill final season pickup last year…).

Monday night’s episode didn’t help the show’s chances, but at this point the show’s outcome is unlikely to change anyway: Gossip Girl (869,000 viewers, 0.4 adult demo rating) fell 50 percent this week to an all-time low. Hart of Dixie (1.3 million, 0.6), however, made its expected renewal decision easier. Though the show dipped slightly from last week, it still rose mightily from its Gossip lead-in. READ FULL STORY »

Image Credit: ABC

Amid an otherwise uneventful night in the ratings, Wednesday night’s American Idol quietly changed an important standing headed into broadcast upfront presentations to advertisers this month: Which network has the top-rated TV series.

Until last night, it was NBC with The Voice. Now Idol has reclaimed the No. 1 spot for the season (even if you include the special post-Super Bowl airing of The Voice). Idol has averaged 6.2 on Wednesdays in the adult demo and The Voice is at 6.1 We still have the rest of the month to go, and things could still change, but Fox will be relieved to face Madison Avenue and claim, as they have for many years in a row, TV’s top non-sports series.

Still, NBC has plenty reason to be proud of The Voice. Even if the chair-spinning music competition doesn’t topple Idol for the season, it proved once again that Idol is not the only the big-draw karaoke in town. READ FULL STORY »