ABC's "Grey's" is Up - "Grey's" and "Scandal" Top "Idol" in Adults 18-49

ABC finished #2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 to CBS, as Grey's Anatomy and Scandal ranked as Thursday's Top 2 dramas for the 2nd week in a row. ABC's Scandal is on track to finish as the #1 regular 10pm drama on any net on any night with young adults for its 11th consecutive first run broadcast (on each week since its January return). In fact both ABC dramas outdelivered Fox's American Idol on the night in Adults 18-49. ABC held even with its performance on the same Thursday last May.

In its season finale, Wife Swap was up 6% week to week in viewers and held 100% in Adults 18-49.

Spiking over its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+164%) at 9pm and growing week to week, ABC's Grey's Anatomy surged to rank as the #1 series in its hour for its 5th straight original, beating CBS' Person of Interest by 21%, Fox's Idol-driven Glee by 61% and NBC's comedies by 71% (The Office/Parks and Recreation season finale). Grey's was up over the prior week by 7% in Adults 18-49 to equal a 6-week high - since 3/21/13. In addition the show matched its top Women 18-34 number since February - since 2/21/13.

With strong lead-in retention, ABC's Scandal dominated its 10 o'clock drama competition in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' Elementary by 30% and NBC's Hannibal by 160%. Scandal has been the #1 TV series in its time slot on each of its last 14 originals. Continuing to outpace its freshman season by wide margins, Scandal was up from the same night last year by 21% in viewers and by 37% in young adults. Building its overall audience (+3%), Scandal earned its most-watched telecast since March 21, 2013.

Scandal Social Activity: The ABC sophomore drama continued to register as Thursday's #1 most social broadcast series during primetime, with an 86% advantage over #2 American Idol in number of tweets (288k vs. 155k). ABC's most social show this season with 3.4 million total tweets, Scandal's social activity was up 65% over last week to its 2nd-highest levels ever for any episode.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 2, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Earns Second on Thursday in Adults 18-49 and Airs the Evening's Top 2 Dramas for the 2nd Week in a Row with "Grey's" and "Scandal"

"Wife Swap" is Up by Double Digits from its Most Recent Season Finale

Thursday's No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Grows Week to Week to Equal a 6-Week High in the Key Demo

ABC's "Scandal" Dominates its 10 O'clock Drama Competition and is on Track to Finish as the Week's Top 10pm Drama on Any Net for its 11th Straight Original

"Scandal" is Thursday's No. 1 Most Social Broadcast Series with an 85% Advantage Over No. 2 "American Idol," and Delivers 3.4 Million Total Tweets Season to Date

Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC finished No. 2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tie) to CBS, as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" ranked as Thursday's Top 2 dramas for the 2nd week in a row. ABC's "Scandal" is on track to finish as the No. 1 regular 10 o'clock drama on any net on any night with young adults for its 11th consecutive first run broadcast (on each week since its January return). In fact both ABC dramas outdelivered Fox's "American Idol" on the night in Adults 18-49.

· The Net held even with its Adult 18-49 performance on the same Thursday last May.

"Wife Swap" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

In its season finale, "Wife Swap" was up 6% week to week in viewers (3.6 million vs. 3.4 million) and held 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4).

· The ABC unscripted series was up by double-digit percentages in viewers (+16%) and young adults (+10%) from its most recent season finale (3.1 million and 1.0/4 on 8/13/10).

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Spiking over its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+164%) at 9:00 p.m. and growing week to week, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.9/8) surged to rank as the No. 1 series in its hour for its 5th straight original, beating CBS' "Person of Interest" by 21% (2.4/7), Fox's "Idol"-driven "Glee" by 61% (1.8/5) and NBC's comedies by 71% ("The Office"/"Parks and Recreation" season finale = 1.7/5).

· "Grey's" was up over the prior week by 7% in Adults 18-49 to equal a 6-week high, while tying its top Women 18-34 number since February - since 3/21/13 and 2/21/13, respectively.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

With strong lead-in retention, ABC's "Scandal" dominated its 10 o'clock drama competition in Adults 18-49 (2.6/8), outdelivering CBS' "Elementary" by 30% (2.0/6) and NBC's "Hannibal" by 160% (1.0/3). "Scandal" has been the No. 1 TV series in its time slot on each of its last 14 originals.

· Continuing to outpace its freshman season by wide margins, "Scandal" was up from the same night last year by 21% in viewers (8.1 million vs. 6.7 million) and by 37% in young adults (2.6/8 vs. 1.9/5).

· Building its overall audience (+3%), "Scandal" earned its most-watched telecast since March 21, 2013.

"Scandal" Social Activity: The ABC sophomore drama continued to register as Thursday's No. 1 most social broadcast series during primetime, with an 86% advantage over No. 2 "American Idol" in number of tweets (288,000 vs. 155,000). ABC's most social show this season with 3.4 million total tweets, "Scandal's" social activity was up 65% over last week to its 2nd-highest-ever levels for any episode.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 48% currently, from 44% at the same point in 2012.

More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next-day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 05/02/13. Socialguide 05/02/13, Total Tweets for each episode +/- 3hrs during telecast.