‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Off To Low Ratings Start

UPDATE 3:30 PM: As projected, ABC’s Castle (1.1) slipped a tenth in the finals to join slot mate NCIS: LA (1.1) in hitting new series low. As usual, CBS’ The Big Bang Theory (3.9) and NBC’s The Voice (3.3) were adjusted up, by a tenth each, while Life In Pieces (1.8) and Scorpion (1.7) each slid a tenth.

PREVIOUS 9:30 AM: For two falls in a row, the CW has launched a quirky hourlong comedy to some of the best reviews for a new series… and different ratings results. Last year, Jane The Virgin opened with an OK 0.6 adults 18-49 Live+Same Day rating and 1.61 million viewers in adults 18-49. This year, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, debuted to half of that rating, a 0.3 in 18-49, and 930,000 viewers. There was a qualifier — Jane had a lead-in, The Originals (0.7 in 18-49), while Crazy Ex-Girlfriend opened the night at 8 PM. Still, this is a very low number, tying now-defunct The Messengers and Cult as the lowest-rated in-season scripted series premiere on the CW among 18-49 with the smallest premiere viewership ever.

Like it did last year with Jane, the CW gave Ex-Girlfriend an order for additional scripts (5) ahead of its premiere as a vote of confidence based on the delivered episodes after the pilot. Speaking of Jane, the Golden Globe-winning dramedy kicked off its second season with a 0.4 in 18-49 and 1.06 million viewers, down 33% in the demo from its series premiere with 133% stronger lead-in to tie a Live+SD series low, down from the Season 1 finale (0.5, 1.2 million).

Overall, it was a soft ratings start for the CW’s heavily promoted new comedy night, which will have to rely on multi-platform viewing, word of mouth and critical buzz to get traction.

Nice uptick for NBC’s breakout new drama Blindspot (2.5), which was up a tenth from last week, reversing its post-premiere slide. The tattoo mystery has proven a DVR juggernaut, with the premiere growing from a 3.1 18-49 L+SD rating to a 5 in Live+7 and adding 6.0 million viewers overall (10.6 million to 16.6 million).

Most other series on the Big 4 held steady.

NBC’s The Voice (3.2) was even with its fast national last week, helping NBC win another Monday in 18-49 and total viewers. CBS’ The Big Bang Theory (3.7) was up a tenth from the fast national, freshman comedy Life In Pieces held the 1.9 rating for a third straight week, Scorpion (1.8) also was even, while NCIS: LA (1.1) slipped a tenth to a new series low in Live+SD.

ABC’s Castle (1.2), which has been going toe-to-toe with NCIS: LA, staying tied at a series-low 1.2 for the past 3 weeks, may again join its CBS counterpart as its fast national may have been impacted by an NFL preemption. (The veteran drama, currently on par with last Monday, usually gets adjusted down in the finals.) Dancing With The Stars (1.7) also was even with last week.

Fox’s Gotham (1.5) and Minority Report (0.7) both were flat week-to-week, with Minority Report, which just saw its order reduced from 13 to 10 episodes, tying a low.