Ratings: S.W.A.T. Grows With Part 1 of Luca’s Sendoff, Blue Bloods Tops Friday
In the latest TV ratings, CBS’ Blue Bloods was Friday’s most-watched show, while Fox’s Friday Night SmackDown coverage dominated the night in the coveted 18-49 demo.
With the start of Luca/original cast member Kenny Johnson’s two-part sendoff, CBS’ S.W.A.T. (with 4.7 million total viewers and a 0.4 demo rating) ticked up in audience week-to-week.
Fire Country (5.1 million total viewers, 0.4 demo rating) and Blue Bloods (5.5 million viewers, 0.4 demo rating) in turn were pretty steady, and easily delivered Friday night’s two largest audiences.
The three CBS dramas, following some March Madness preemptions, will resume their seasons on Friday, April 5.
Elsewhere:
FOX | Friday Night SmackDown (2.34 mil/0.7) was steady.
ABC | Shark Tank (3 mil/0.3) was steady.
THE CW | Penn & Teller: Fool Us (572K/0.1) was steady, while Totally Funny Animals (323K/0.0) and Totally Funny Kids (285K/0.0) — which each appear to have budgets in the dozens of dollars — both lost viewers.
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The Live+Same Day numbers reported in TVLine’s daily-ish ratings column do NOT reflect a television program’s overall performance, given the increased use of delayed playback via DVR and streaming platforms, plus out-of-home viewing. These numbers (Nielsen fast nationals, unless specifically denoted in bold as finals) instead aim to simply illustrate trends or superlatives. Steve Harvey is not a judge or lawyer and merely offers an alternative forum of dispute resolution.
So, we get to wait till April 5th to find out if Luca’s sendoff is a funeral.
I doubt they’ll kill him off. It’d be a slap in the face to the show’s many fans.
They’re already “slapping” the faces of fans by cancelling the show. 💩makes no sense!
And yet you’re canceling both….
CBS is an idiot if they go through with canfelling Blue Bloods. It is one of their top rated shows and even the actors have even expressed a desire to keep the show going. But then CBS has rarely demonstrated good sense when it comes to their programing. Look at what they did with Gunsmoke back in the Seventies. It was a top rated show that was cancelled without warning just so they could replace it with two sitcoms.
I totally agree with you. I would much rather CBS reduce Blue Bloods and SWAT seasons to 10 – 13 episodes than cancel them. Most of the top shows on the streaming services have 8-10 episodes. A shorter season keeps these shows fresh and in demand. CBS should strongly consider ways to keep their viewers happy.
One of the biggest catches with that kind of approach is people are paid per episode so the question is would the cast and crew be willing to take that kind of pay cut. Especially the crew where it could be a near impossible task for find work for the second half of a season. The unfortunate thing is eventually ad revenue no longer covers the costs associated with production and a show goes away. Generally the shows that last the longest anymore are the ones that have a cast turnover so salaries don’t sink the show.
I TOTALLY AGREE
Hi Matt,
Are you or the TVLine team looking for any additional hands to help support in your ratings coverage?
That would literally be a dream job of mine.
I watch all CBS shows on Friday night and have enjoyed them for a long time and will miss the ones that don’t come back next season. I hope they can stay would be great.
Does anyone know when SWAT and Blue Bloods air there final episodes? I know BB is separated into two parts so I’m just wondering about the first half.
TVLine will of course report on finale dates for each broadcast television series once they are known.
Thanks Matt! Wasn’t sure if they were published and I missed it.
SWAT ends in April/May. Blue Bloods is splitting the season, with half airing now and the other half in the Fall, so it won’t end until Dec/Jan most likely.
S.W.A.T.
The writers regarding Shemar Moore character is horrible… His character with everyone, specially with his father is judgemental. I would love to see spinoff without his character.
I am so glad Blue Bloods is doing so great! A feel good tv series that does good on ratings. Thank God there is still ones
Gawdallmighty CBS, what are y’all thinking canceling S.W.A.T? JHC and to shoot Luca, what about Blac Betty, whose gonna drive her? Don’t get rid of your money makers and replace them with trash.
You couldn’t have said it better!
I loved SWAT, sorry it’s being cancelled.
It’s really is ridiculous that blue bloods is cancelled.heres a show that is topical current believes in God country family values and even shares an occasional drink. The police are human and arent the enemy The acting is above average,characters are real and even has problems. The. cast took pay cuts and reruns are on lots of cable stations so I’m sure over the years cbs will make all their money and more .We need more shows like this.i wonder if because this show isn’t politically correct is the real reason it got cancelled
Amen!!!
Oh, stop making everything political. The reason it’s been cancelled has been stated countless times–it’s simply gotten too expensive to keep going. In fact, this final season would not have happened had not everyone agreed to a 25% salary cut. I hate the loss too, but I live in the real world and understand that you can’t keep making a product if you’re losing money on it.
CBS getting rid of S.W.A.T. and Blue Bloods is absolutely stunning to me. It is one of my favorite nights of TV. There is nothing on TV now they can replace them with I will be staying home on a Friday night to watch anymore.. 2 awesome shows for WHAT????
very nice episode looking for more like the way how Hondo put away his gun in a safe place that right their is very important and brings a big eye opener to those who carried a gun with kids at their home good job Hondo as usual you always been my favourite Actor your presence add value to swat the show wouldn’t be what it is today without you
It’s crazy CBS has three of the strongest rating shows on Fridays and two of those shows are ending. Hopefully CBS can find good replacements to keep these ratings up.
Yes, Blue Bloods, and SWAT two really popular programs and the stupid idiot executives at CBS are canceling both…leaving a bunch of junk on air. The studio executives need to listen to their consumers!!
Don’t end swat keep going for more then just this season!
My heart broke a little when Luca was shot! It’s a shame S.W.A.T. and Blue Bloods are cancelled.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP S.W.A.T.?? & KEEP THE SAME ACTORS B4 THEY COMMIT TO OTHER GIGS??? GIVE US DETAILS HOW! I HOPE THEY DONT KILL OFF LUCA! THIS SHOW IS LOVED & THE CAST DYNAMIC IS GREAT & EXCITING!! EVEN IF WE MISS A SEASON BRING ALL
S.W.A.T. BACK! “TAKE OFF BLUE BLOOD ITS BORING WE’VE HAD ENUF! TAKE OFF GHOST A WASTE & TODD SHOW” THAT SHOULD KEEP S.W.A.T. ON ADD MONEY & BRING ON GOOD COMEDY WE HV SO MUCH BAD MAKE US LAUGH!
Please let their be a season 8 of SWAT. 13 episodes just isn’t enough. This is my show and i would love for it to continue. I’m hurting right now. I’m all liquid right now. ðŸ˜
Please renew Swat it is. great show.Everyone I know want Swat to be renewed.
Since Swat is one of the most watched TV shows on Friday night. I don’t understand why they are wanting to cancel it after season 7
Please tell me that they killed off Luca I love myself some Luca. He’s kind hearted and would have loved it he found someone to love Shame on you CBS
Couldn’t agree more. CBS are run by rookie children apparently. We’ll then have to watch other networks and give them the viewership instead.I won’t hesitate to leave CBS. I’ve abandoned ABC lol.
So much crying here. Some people should probably touch grass.