Ratings: The Flash Hits the Ground Running, CW's Best Debut in 5 Years; ABC Sitcoms Tumble, POI Slips

Barry Allen is no Flash in the pan.

The CW’s new superhero series on Tuesday night debuted to 4.8 million total viewers and a 1.9 demo rating (per finals), marking the network’s most watched and highest rated series launch since The Vampire Diaries in 2009 (4.9 mil/2.1).

The Flash‘s quick start — which TVLine readers gave an average grade of “A-“ — was up hugely from The Originals‘ year-ago premiere in the Tuesday lead-off spot (2 mil/0.9), and it even bested sire Arrow‘s own launch numbers (4.1 mil/1.3).

All told, it stands as The CW’s second-most watched series premiere ever (now lapping 90210) and third-highest rated in the demo.

With some Flash overrun now subtracted out, Supernatural (average grade: “B+”) was adjusted down to 2.5 million viewers and a 1.1 rating, on par with its finale and down a tenth from its previous premiere.

Elsewhere….

NBC | Leading out of a Voice clip show (9.1 mil/2.5), Chicago Fire (8.4 mil/2.1) dipped 3 percent and two tenths.

CBS | NCIS (17.3 mil/2.6) and NCIS: New Orleans (15.4 mil/2.3) both shed some eyeballs but were steady in the demo, while Person of Interest (9.6 mil/1.6) slipped 10 percent and two tenths.

ABC | Selfie (4 mil/1.2) dropped 25 percent, while Manhattan Love Story (3.2 mil/0.9) tumbled 32 and 40 percent. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (4.7 mil/1.7) slipped 8 percent and a tenth and Forever (5.4 mil/1.3) dipped 5 percent and a tenth.

FOX | A Family Guy rerun (2 mil/0.9) was up a tenth from Utopia‘s final Tuesday outing. New Girl (2.6 mil/1.4) added some eyeballs plus a tenth in the demo, while Mindy Project (2.2 mil/1.0) dipped a tenth.

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The Flash Season 1 Photos