Bigger returns for ABC dramas

Absence apparently did make the heart grow fonder in the case of ABC’s Thursday night dramas.

“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” returned from a nearly three-month hiatus last night to strong numbers. Both shows won their timeslot and posted gains over their most recent episodes on Dec. 12.

“Scandal” drew a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, up 3 percent from its last original and matching its second-highest rating ever.

It bettered the combined ratings for rival 10 p.m. shows “Elementary” and “Parenthood.”

“Grey’s” posted a 3.0, its best rating in five months and up 11 percent from its last original.

The shows lifted ABC to a close second behind CBS for the night.

CBS had the night’s No. 1 program, “The Big Bang Theory,” back from a two-week Olympics break. It averaged a 4.9.

Fox’s “American Idol” dipped to another series low with a 2.3 at 8 p.m.

CBS was first for the night among 18-49s with a 2.5 average overnight rating and an 8 share. ABC was second at 2.4/7, Fox third at 1.5/5, NBC and Univision tied for fourth at 1.1/3, CW sixth at 0.7/2 and Telemundo seventh at 0.5/2.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-nine percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

At 8 p.m. CBS was first with a 3.9 for “Bang” (4.9) and “The Millers” (2.8), followed by Fox with a 2.3 for “Idol.” ABC and NBC tied for third at 1.0, ABC for “Countdown to the Oscars” and NBC for “Community” (1.0) and “Parks and Recreation” (1.0). CW and Univision tied for fifth at 0.9, CW for “The Vampire Diaries” and Univision for “Por Siempre Mi Amor,” and Telemundo was seventh with a 0.4 for “La Impostora.”

ABC took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 3.0 for “Grey’s,” while CBS slipped to second with a 2.2 for “Two and a Half Men” (2.5) and “The Crazy Ones” (1.9). Univision was third with a 1.4 for “Lo Que La Vida Me Robo,” NBC fourth with a 1.2 for “Hollywood Game Night,” Fox fifth with a 0.8 for “Rake” and CW and Telemundo tied for sixth at 0.6, CW for “Reign” and Telemundo for “En Otra Piel.”

At 10 p.m. ABC led again with a 3.3 for “Scandal,” with CBS second with a 1.6 for “Elementary.” NBC was third with a 1.1 for “Parenthood,” Univision fourth with a 0.9 for “Que Pobres Tan Ricos” and Telemundo fifth with a 0.6 for “Camelia, La Texana.”

CBS also led the night among households with a 6.5 average overnight rating and an 11 share. ABC was second at 5.3/9, Fox third at 4.1/6, NBC fourth at 2.1/3, Univision fifth at 1.6/3, CW sixth at 1.1/2 and Telemundo seventh at 0.7/1.

Tags: abc, american idol, Grey's Anatomy, overnight ratings, overnights, scandal, the big bang theory, thursday overnights