The Fall season has wrapped up, so now is a good time to look at how the genre entries performed on the broadcast networks. Only two shows that count as sci fi/fantasy aired on the Big Four networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) so far this season, La Brea (NBC) and Ghosts (CBS). But both of those finished the first half of the season in the Top 30. NBC’s lost-in-the-past series La Brea was as high as Number 17 when I tallied the numbers earlier in the season, but it slipped to Number 24 by the end of Fall. Still, that is pretty good for a genre entry on the broadcast networks, and the show has been renewed for a second season. The CBS supernatural comedy Ghosts was at Number 23 earlier in the season and it has slipped to Number 30, but it is still one of the top-rated comedies across the broadcast networks. It has received a full season pickup and appears to be on track for a second-year renewal. And the success of these two genre entries could convince the broadcast net execs to consider adding more in the 2022-23 season.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through December 16th. The comparisons are against ratings averages for other shows in the same category (drama, comedy, reality, etc.) on the same network and also against the overall average for the network. Continue on to see the rankings for The CW which I separated from the Big Four broadcast networks.
| Rank | Program | Network | Category | StD Rtg | StD Tot Vwrs | Network Category Perfomance | Network Performance |
| 1 | 60 Minutes | CBS | News | 1.15 | 9.260 | 0.00% ↑ | 1.08% ↑ |
| 2 | Survivor | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.96 | 5.700 | 0.63% ↑ | 0.73% ↑ |
| 3 | The Masked Singer | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.91 | 4.300 | 0.64% ↑ | 0.69% ↑ |
| 4 | The Simpsons | FOX | Comedy | 0.87 | 2.620 | 0.44% ↑ | 0.62% ↑ |
| 5 | Bachelor in Paradise | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.82 | 3.000 | 0.70% ↑ | 0.87% ↑ |
| 6 | The Voice | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.81 | 6.710 | 0.81% ↑ | 0.69% ↑ |
| 7 | 911 | FOX | Drama | 0.81 | 5.240 | 0.79% ↑ | 0.50% ↑ |
| 8 | Chicago Fire | NBC | Drama | 0.80 | 7.100 | 0.40% ↑ | 0.67% ↑ |
| 9 | Big Brother | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.79 | 3.370 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.43% ↑ |
| 10 | Chicago Med | NBC | Drama | 0.75 | 6.750 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.56% ↑ |
| 11 | Chicago PD | NBC | Drama | 0.73 | 5.870 | 0.28% ↑ | 0.52% ↑ |
| 12 | Dancing With The Stars | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.73 | 4.840 | 0.51% ↑ | 0.67% ↑ |
| 13 | FBI | CBS | Drama | 0.68 | 7.230 | 0.36% ↑ | 0.23% ↑ |
| 14 | Young Sheldon | CBS | Comedy | 0.67 | 6.880 | 0.23% ↑ | 0.21% ↑ |
| 15 | The Equalizer | CBS | Drama | 0.66 | 6.970 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.19% ↑ |
| 16 | Law and Order: SVU | NBC | Drama | 0.66 | 4.130 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.37% ↑ |
| 17 | The Bachelorette | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.65 | 2.820 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.49% ↑ |
| 18 | The Neighborhood | CBS | Comedy | 0.63 | 5.320 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.14% ↑ |
| 19 | Abbot Elementary | ABC | Comedy | 0.63 | 2.880 | 0.23% ↑ | 0.44% ↑ |
| 20 | NCIS | CBS | Drama | 0.62 | 7.630 | 0.24% ↑ | 0.12% ↑ |
| 21 | Grey’s Anatomy | ABC | Drama | 0.62 | 4.110 | 0.59% ↑ | 0.42% ↑ |
| 22 | Station 19 | ABC | Drama | 0.61 | 4.490 | 0.56% ↑ | 0.39% ↑ |
| 23 | That’s My Jam | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.60 | 4.260 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.25% ↑ |
| 24 | La Brea | NBC | Drama | 0.58 | 4.950 | 0.02% ↑ | 0.21% ↑ |
| 25 | The Goldbergs | ABC | Comedy | 0.57 | 3.240 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.30% ↑ |
| 26 | FBI: Most Wanted | CBS | Drama | 0.56 | 5.750 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.01% ↑ |
| 27 | Shark Tank | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.56 | 3.810 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.28% ↑ |
| 28 | WWE Friday Night SmackDown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.56 | 2.180 | 0.01% ↑ | 0.04% ↑ |
| 29 | NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | Drama | 0.55 | 5.540 | 0.10% ↑ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 30 | Ghosts | CBS | Comedy | 0.55 | 5.510 | 0.01% ↑ | -0.01% ↓ |
The CW shows remain in a class among themselves, and based on the ratings data it appears that a shift in the network strategy could be on the horizon. Genre entries used to dominate the audience for The CW, especially the Arrow-verse shows, but that could be changing. Non-genre entry All-American topped the list of network shows in Fall 2021 with Walker at the Number 3 slot. The reboot of The Waltons Homecoming, which aired as a special, pulled a 0.12 rating which ties it with Walker. My guess is that network execs will certainly be looking at adding an ongoing Waltons TV series next season. The Flash did make it to the Number 2 slot, and the carryover of Stargirl from Summer was at Number 4. But the numbers start to drop off after that with Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman further down the list. Neither of those two are in danger of cancellation this season, but the network could start pushing out Arrow-verse shows in the coming years if they continue to have more success with non-genre entries (I will be looking at that in more detail in an upcoming post). New series 4400 is currently at Number 10 on the list (it was at Number 5 earlier in the season), and it looks to be on track for a second season renewal. In fact, I am still expecting a blanket renewal for the Fall shows to arrive around the January/February timeframe. But the network could start shaking things up in future seasons.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through December 16th for The CW.
| Rank | Program | Network | Category | StD Rtg | StD Tot Vwrs | Network Category Perfomance | Network Performance |
| 1 | All American | CW | Drama | 0.20 | 0.580 | 1.32% ↑ | 1.48% ↑ |
| 2 | The Flash | CW | Drama | 0.17 | 0.720 | 0.98% ↑ | 1.10% ↑ |
| 3 | Walker | CW | Drama | 0.12 | 0.930 | 0.39% ↑ | 0.49% ↑ |
| 4 | Stargirl | CW | Drama | 0.11 | 0.550 | 0.28% ↑ | 0.36% ↑ |
| 5 | Masters of Illusion | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.09 | 0.720 | 0.28% ↑ | 0.11% ↑ |
| 6 | Penn and Teller | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.09 | 0.680 | 0.28% ↑ | 0.11% ↑ |
| 7 | Legends of Tomorrow | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.520 | -0.07% ↓ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 8 | Batwoman | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.450 | -0.07% ↓ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 9 | Supergirl | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.430 | -0.07% ↓ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 10 | 4400 | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.390 | -0.07% ↓ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 11 | Legacies | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.370 | -0.07% ↓ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 12 | Coroner | CW | Drama | 0.07 | 0.560 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.13% ↓ |
| 13 | Roswell, New Mexico | CW | Drama | 0.07 | 0.440 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.13% ↓ |
| 14 | World’s Funniest Animals | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.07 | 0.430 | 0.00% ↓ | -0.13% ↓ |
| 15 | Riverdale | CW | Drama | 0.07 | 0.300 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.13% ↓ |
| 16 | Legends of the Hidden Temple | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.06 | 0.230 | -0.14% ↓ | -0.26% ↓ |
| 17 | Nancy Drew | CW | Drama | 0.05 | 0.330 | -0.42% ↓ | -0.38% ↓ |
| 18 | Wellington Paranormal | CW | Comedy | 0.05 | 0.200 | 0.00% | -0.38% ↓ |
| 19 | The Outpost | CW | Drama | 0.04 | 0.330 | -0.54% ↓ | -0.50% ↓ |
| 20 | Dynasty | CW | Drama | 0.04 | 0.240 | -0.54% ↓ | -0.50% ↓ |
| 21 | Killer Camp | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.04 | 0.160 | -0.43% ↓ | -0.50% ↓ |
| 22 | In The Dark | CW | Drama | 0.03 | 0.300 | -0.65% ↓ | -0.63% ↓ |
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