'Big Bang Theory' Starts the New Year Strong
by EG
The Big Bang Theory, TV's most popular scripted series, came back from its winter break this week to impressive ratings. This week's episode was, in fact, the highest-rated episode of the series since the beginning of the season in the fall.
This week's episode drew 16.7 million total viewers and earned a 3.6 rating in the 18-49 age demographic. Those numbers were far ahead of anything else on network TV, and they were even ahead of Big Bang's own ratings going all the way back to the second episode of this season.
They're also big enough to cement Big Bang's reign as the most-watched non-fiction series on TV. It consistently edges out network-mate NCIS, and, at least this season, beats The Walking Dead's total viewership by more than 50 percent.
It's important to note, however, that Big Bang is most popular among viewers who fall outside the 18-49 age group, the demographic that's most prized by advertisers. When you only look at that group, TWD easily bests both Big Bang and NCIS, at least for now.
TWD's ratings decline this season hasn't been big enough so far to endanger its position at the top, but the gap between it and Big Bang - at least in terms of same-day viewership - is narrowing.