It has been three weeks since the Fall season for the broadcast networks officially kicked off and we have enough numbers now to look at how the sci fi and fantasy entries are performing compared to other shows airing on those channels. Last year, both La Brea and Ghosts were in the Top 30 shows based on same-day ratings for the 18-49 demographic throughout the season. This year, both of those two are still in the Top 30 through the first three weeks, but just barely for La Brea. That show is currently in the Number 30 slot, though it is performing below the network average and below the average for dramas on NBC. Still, if it holds close to its current viewership levels, it might still have a chance at a third season.
Ghosts was usually behind La Brea last year in the rankings, but in the 2022-23 season it has jumped ahead to Number 19. It is performing above the network average and also above the average for comedies on CBS. In addition, it is the third highest-rated sitcom this season so far behind FOX’s animated shows The Simpsons and The Great North, both of which get a boost from football. Ghosts is also performing better than its lead-in Young Sheldon (Number 24) and should be on track for a third season renewal if it holds around these levels.
Quantum Leap got started a week earlier than the two shows above, but it has not performed as well so far. Its premiere week saw it land in the Number 34 slot, but after the most recent week it has dropped to Number 42. It is also currently the second lowest-rated drama on NBC. But it did just get an additional six episodes added to its first season, so it looks like the network is giving it some time to build an audience. These numbers are based on early season performance, so we will see how these shows track over the coming weeks.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows (plus Quantum Leap) for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through October 9th. 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 | The Bachelorette | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.90 | 3.570 | 0.78% ↑ | 1.09% ↑ |
| 2 | The Simpsons | FOX | Comedy | 0.84 | 2.600 | 0.83% ↑ | 0.89% ↑ |
| 3 | 60 Minutes | CBS | News | 0.82 | 8.350 | 0.00% | 0.83% ↑ |
| 4 | Survivor | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.75 | 4.920 | 0.84% ↑ | 0.67% ↑ |
| 5 | Chicago Fire | NBC | Drama | 0.71 | 6.950 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.40% ↑ |
| 6 | The Voice | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.69 | 6.250 | 0.50% ↑ | 0.36% ↑ |
| 7 | Chicago Med | NBC | Drama | 0.67 | 6.660 | 0.24% ↑ | 0.32% ↑ |
| 8 | Chicago PD | NBC | Drama | 0.67 | 5.620 | 0.24% ↑ | 0.32% ↑ |
| 9 | The Masked Singer | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.65 | 3.920 | 0.33% ↑ | 0.46% ↑ |
| 10 | 911 | FOX | Drama | 0.64 | 4.790 | 0.67% ↑ | 0.44% ↑ |
| 11 | The Equalizer | CBS | Drama | 0.60 | 7.040 | 0.41% ↑ | 0.34% ↑ |
| 12 | Big Brother | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.60 | 3.180 | 0.47% ↑ | 0.34% ↑ |
| 13 | Law and Order: SVU | NBC | Drama | 0.59 | 4.770 | 0.09% ↑ | 0.16% ↑ |
| 14 | FBI | CBS | Drama | 0.58 | 6.860 | 0.36% ↑ | 0.30% ↑ |
| 15 | Bachelor in Paradise | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.58 | 2.300 | 0.15% ↑ | 0.34% ↑ |
| 16 | The Great North | FOX | Comedy | 0.58 | 1.750 | 0.27% ↑ | 0.30% ↑ |
| 17 | Friday Night Smackdown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.57 | 2.330 | 0.17% ↑ | 0.28% ↑ |
| 18 | Grey’s Anatomy | ABC | Drama | 0.55 | 3.800 | 0.47% ↑ | 0.28% ↑ |
| 19 | Ghosts | CBS | Comedy | 0.52 | 6.330 | 0.08% ↑ | 0.16% ↑ |
| 20 | Law and Order | NBC | Drama | 0.51 | 4.410 | -0.06% ↓ | 0.00% ↑ |
| 21 | Station 19 | ABC | Drama | 0.51 | 4.200 | 0.37% ↑ | 0.18% ↑ |
| 22 | Law and Order: Organized Crime | NBC | Drama | 0.51 | 3.870 | -0.06% ↓ | 0.00% ↑ |
| 23 | Bob’s Burgers | FOX | Comedy | 0.51 | 1.480 | 0.11% ↑ | 0.15% ↑ |
| 24 | Young Sheldon | CBS | Comedy | 0.50 | 6.920 | 0.04% ↑ | 0.12% ↑ |
| 25 | The Conners | ABC | Comedy | 0.50 | 3.600 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.16% ↑ |
| 26 | Abbot Elementary | ABC | Comedy | 0.50 | 2.700 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.16% ↑ |
| 27 | The Neighborhood | CBS | Comedy | 0.49 | 5.070 | 0.02% ↑ | 0.09% ↑ |
| 28 | FBI: International | CBS | Drama | 0.48 | 5.640 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.07% ↑ |
| 29 | FBI: Most Wanted | CBS | Drama | 0.48 | 5.310 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.07% ↑ |
| 30 | La Brea | NBC | Drama | 0.47 | 3.530 | -0.13% ↓ | -0.08% ↓ |
| 42 | Quantum Leap | NBC | Drama | 0.39 | 2.900 | -0.28% ↓ | -0.23% ↓ |
The CW only has three genre entries airing this Fall and only two of those are represented below (The Winchesters just premiered last night). Stargirl is in the Number 2 slot and Kung Fu is at Number 3, but when you look at the ratings score (each at 0.06) you can see that they are not making much of a dent in the Prime Time audience. With new owners onboard, it is possible that they could completely shake up the schedule next season, so it is hard to say at this point if any of these shows are in good standing.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through October 9th for The CW.
| Rank | Program | Network | Category | StD Rtg | StD Tot Vwrs | Network Category Perfomance | Network Performance |
| 1 | Walker | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.760 | 0.46% ↑ | 0.49% ↑ |
| 2 | Kung Fu | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.400 | 0.10% ↑ | 0.12% ↑ |
| 3 | Stargirl | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.380 | 0.10% ↑ | 0.12% ↑ |
| 4 | Family Law | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.340 | 0.10% ↑ | 0.12% ↑ |
| 5 | Killer Camp | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.06 | 0.230 | 0.09% ↑ | 0.12% ↑ |
| 6 | Walker: Independence | CW | Drama | 0.05 | 0.620 | -0.09% ↓ | -0.07% ↓ |
| 7 | Coroner | CW | Drama | 0.05 | 0.410 | -0.09% ↓ | -0.07% ↓ |
| 8 | Great Chocolate Showdown | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.05 | 0.330 | -0.09% ↓ | -0.07% ↓ |
| 9 | Bump | CW | Comedy | 0.04 | 0.210 | -0.06% ↓ | -0.25% ↓ |
| 10 | Devils | CW | Drama | 0.03 | 0.170 | -0.45% ↓ | -0.44% ↓ |
CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Cancellation Watch posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.
SciFiTVSite.com: Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
