‘The Bachelor’, ‘Super Bowl Commercials’, ‘The Originals’ Eye Ratings Highs

For a second consecutive night, viewers went for about pageantry and a clip show. On Sunday, Miss Universe and America’s Funniest Home Videos finished No.1 and No.2 in adults 18-49 with their best numbers in awhile, last night it was The Bachelor and Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials. (Some Tuesday fast national results may have been impacted by local weather-related preemptions on the East Coast.)

ABC’s The Bachelor (7.9 million, 2.2 in 18-49) posted increases for a second straight week (+4% in viewers, +5% in demo) to mark season highs in both categories. Even with a repeat Castle the network is poised to win the night in 18-49.

CBS’ annual Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials special (10.77 million, 2.1) at 8 PM was up +12% in viewers and +11% in A18-49 from last year’s special, which aired on Wednesday, to mark the most watched and highest rated installment of the clip show franchise since 2010. Scorpion and NCIS: LA repeats followed.

The Super Bowl commercials special was tied with Fox’s Gotham (2.1, down a tenth from the most recent original) as the second highest rated program on the night in the demo. (Of course, Gotham has a far greater upside potential with time-shifted viewing but it also costs 100 times more). Sleepy Hollow (1.4) was up a tenth.

The CW is claiming its most watched Monday (1.648 million) in more than three years (since 10/24/11) and its best 18-49 delivery in more than 2 years (12/17/12). If the fast nationals hold, The Originals (1.699 million, 0.7) rose +12% from last week in viewers to a season high and +17% in the demo. Jane The Virgin had its large audience (1.597 million, +15%) and highest 18-49 rating (0.6, +20%) since its series debut. (Some of the gains could be due to local storm-related preemptions.)

NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice (1.8) was even with its fast national last week, State of Affairs (1.0) was down a tenth.