ABC's "Scandal" Is Thursday's #2 TV Show and Surges 68% in Adults 18-49 as TV's Fastest Growing Returning Series

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 6.9 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): ABC ran a strong #2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6), outdelivering Fox by 31% (1.6/5) and NBC by 110% (1.0/3). The Net ranked #1 on the night in Adults 18-34 (tie) and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). In Adults 18-49, ABC's Scandal finished as the #2 TV show of the night for the 3rd week in row, behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory. In addition, Scandal and Grey's Anatomy continued to stand as Thursday's Top 2 dramas with young adults.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (8-9pm - 3.5 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49): From 8-9pm, ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland held steady week to week in Adults 18-49. The ABC freshman drama drew 25% more viewers in the hour than NBC's comedies and paced within 1-tenth in Adults 18-49 (Parks and Recreation/Parks and Recreation = 2.8 million and 1.0/3)

Grey's Anatomy (9-10pm - 8.5 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49): Building on its lead-in by 178% at 9pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy dominated its competition in Adults 18-49, beating out CBS' comedies in the hour by 19% (The Crazy Ones/Two and a Half Men = 2.1/6), Fox's Glee by 56% (1.6/4) and NBC's comedies by 178% (Sean Saves the World/The Michael J Fox Show = 0.9/2). Grey's Anatomy was up over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Total Viewer number and within 1-tenth in Adults 18-49. In the most recent week of L7 data, Grey's was broadcast TV's top gainer in Adults 18-49 with a 2.0 rating point increase from its L+SD number and delivered a season-high build of 4.1 million Total Viewers.

Scandal (10-11pm - 8.8 million and 2.9/8 in AD18-49): Gaining on Grey's lead-in by 16% in Adults 18-49 and holding even week to week, ABC's Scandal nearly beat CBS and NBC combined in the 10pm hour, leading Elementary by 61% (1.8/5) and Parenthood by 142% (1.2/3). On average, Scandal up 68% over the same point last year in Adults 18-49, making it TV's fastest-growing returning series this season and ABC's highest-rated show in the time slot since Lost during the 2007-08 season. In the most recent week of L7 data, Scandal jumped 1.7 rating points in Adults 18-49 to earn the series' biggest-ever increase from its L+SD number.

Quick Take for Thursday, November 21, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 and No. 1 in Adults 18-34 and Key Women

ABC's "Wonderland" Draws 25% More Viewers than NBC's "Parks and Recreation"

Gaining Viewers, "Grey's" Dominates Its 9 O'clock Competition in Adults 18-49

Up 16% from Its Adult 18-49 Lead-in, "Scandal" Overshadows Its 10 O'clock Drama Competition by 61% Over CBS' "Elementary" and 142% Over NBC's "Parenthood"

"Scandal" Jumps 68% in Adults 18-49 as TV's Fastest-Growing Returning Series

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.9 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

ABC ran a strong No. 2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6), outdelivering Fox by 31% (1.6/5) and NBC by 110% (1.0/3). The Net ranked No. 1 on the night in Adults 18-34 (tie) and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· In Adults 18-49, ABC's "Scandal" finished as the No. 2 TV show of the night for the 3rd week in row, behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory." In addition, "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy" continued to stand as Thursday's Top 2 dramas with young adults.

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 3.5 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-9:00pm, ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" drew 25% more viewers in the hour than NBC's comedies and paced within 1-tenth in Adults 18-49 ("Parks and Recreation"/"Parks and Recreation" = 2.8 million and 1.0/3). The ABC freshman drama held steady week to week in Adults 18-49.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.5 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49):

Building on its lead-in by 178% at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" dominated its competition in Adults 18-49, beating out CBS' comedies in the hour by 19% ("The Crazy Ones"/"Two and a Half Men" = 2.1/6), Fox's "Glee" by 56% (1.6/4) and NBC's comedies by 178% ("Sean Saves the World"/"The Michael J Fox Show" = 0.9/2).

· "Grey's Anatomy" was up over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Total Viewer number and paced within 1-tenth in Adults 18-49.

· In the most recent week of L7 data, "Grey's" was broadcast TV's top gainer in Adults 18-49 with a 2.0 rating point increase from its L+SD number and delivered a season-high build of 4.1 million Total Viewers.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:000 p.m. - 8.8 million and 2.9/8 in AD18-49):

Gaining on its "Grey's" lead-in by 16% in Adults 18-49 and holding even week to week, ABC's "Scandal" nearly beat CBS and NBC combined in the 10:00 p.m. hour, leading "Elementary" by 61% (1.8/5) and "Parenthood" by 142% (1.2/3).

· On average, "Scandal" is up 68% over the same point last year in Adults 18-49, making it TV's fastest-growing returning series this season and ABC's highest-rated show in the time slot since "Lost" during the 2007-08 season.

· In the most recent week of L7 data, "Scandal" jumped 1.7 rating points in Adults 18-49 to earn the series' biggest-ever increase from its L+SD number.

Social Stats: "Scandal" continued to rank as Thursday's No. 1 most social TV show with 395,563 tweets, increasing 13% week to week to its 2nd-highest number this season.

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 46% 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, 11/21/13. Socialguide 11/21/13, Total Tweets for each episode +/- 3hrs during telecast.