Annnnnd…. we’re off!
The Fall TV season began in earnest on Monday, with The Big Bang Theory‘s season-opening double-pump dominating the night with 18.1 million total viewers and a 5.4 demo rating (per finals) — up from its May finale and matching its year-ago, Thursday premiere.
Leading out of that, Scorpion — which TVLine readers gave an average grade of “B” — launched with 13.8 mil and a 3.2, up sharply from both what CBS sitcoms averaged in the 9 o’clock hour a year ago (8.4 mil/2.7) and Hostages‘ premiere (7.5 mil/1.8, at 10 pm).
Under the Dome‘s season finale (average grade: “B-“) closed the Eye’s night with 7.6 mil/1.8, up 9 percent and two tenths week-to-week.
Elsewhere….
FOX | Gotham (average grade: “B+”) debuted to 8.2 million viewers and a strong 3.2 rating, up from both Bones‘ year-ago performance (7.8 mil/2.3) as Monday’s lead-off hitter and giving Fox its best Mondays-at-8 series launch since Prison Break in 2005. Sleepy Hollow followed with 5.5 mil/2.0, down from both its year-ago debut (10 mil/3.5) and its January finale (6.9 mil/2.3), but it should be noted that this show’s a big DVR gainer.
NBC | The Voice returned to 13 mil/3.9, dropping 13 and 23 percent from its previous fall opener (and well shy of its February premiere, 15.9 mil/4.7), hitting a series low for a premiere. The Blacklist (12.3 mil/3.4) was off 10 percent from its Season 1 premiere, yet scored its second-best demo rating ever.
ABC | Dancing With the Stars (12.8 mil/2.2) dipped 6 and 8 percent versus stiffer competition, while Forever sneak-peeked to 8.6 mil/1.7 (versus Castle‘s year-ago 11.5 mil/2.2), outdrawing the Dome finale.
THE CW | Top Model (800K/0.3) was down 20 and 25 percent.
NEXT MONDAY: CBS’ Mom and NCIS: Los Angeles and ABC’s Castle premiere.
Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
