ABC's Tuesday Comedies Return Up; The Middle and FOTB Score Best-Since-Premiere Ratings

Facing stiff competition in the opening hour of the night from CBS' NCIS original and the time period premieres of NBC's The Wall and Fox's The Mick, ABC returned with Tuesday's Top 2 comedies in Adults 18-49 with The Middle (1.7/6) and American Housewife (1.6/5), beating Fox's New Girl (1.1/4) and Mick (1.3/4) head to head by 55% and 23% at 8pm and 8:30pm, respectively. Other competition on the night included cross-over episodes of NBC's Chicago Fire and Chicago PD (9-11pm) and Fox's season premiere of Bones (9-10pm).

All 4 of ABC's Tuesday comedies grew over their most recent originals (on 12/13/16), driving the Net to a 6-week high on the night in Adults 18-49 - since 11/22/16.

· At 8pm, ABC's The Middle was up from its most recent original in Adults 18-49 (+6% - 1.7/6 vs. 1.6/6) to deliver a best-since-premiere rating 12 weeks ago - since 10/11/16.

· At 8:30pm, ABC's American Housewife built by 7% on its last original airing in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.5/5) to tie its highest rating since mid-October - since 10/18/16.

· At 9pm, ABC's Fresh Off the Boat grew by double digits to deliver its best numbers since its season opener (on 10/11/16) in Total Viewers (+13% - 4.4 million vs. 3.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.2/4). Fresh Off the Boat was Tuesday's #3 comedy, outdelivering both of Fox's sit coms in viewers and young adults.

· At 9:30pm, ABC's The Real O'Neals built on its most recent original in Total Viewers (+6% - 3.3 million vs. 3.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+11% - 1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3), marking its strongest performance in 7 weeks - since 11/15/16.

Quick Take for Tuesday, January 3, 2017 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's 'The Middle,' 'American Housewife' and 'Fresh Off the Boat' Top Fox's 'New Girl' and 'The Mick' to Rank as Tuesday's Top 3 Comedies

'The Middle' Builds to Its Top Rating Since Its Season Premiere 12 Weeks Ago

'American Housewife' Ties Its Highest Rating Since Mid-October

'FOTB' Grows By Double Digits to Best-Since Premiere Numbers

'The Real O'Neals' Earns its Strongest Performance in 7 Weeks

Tuesday (1/3/17) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle": L3 = 8.0 million/2.2 rating and L7 = 8.6 million/2.4 rating

"American Housewife": L3 = 7.1 million/2.2 rating and L7 = 7.7 million/2.4 rating

"FOTB": L3 = 5.4 million/1.9 rating and L7 = 5.9 million/2.1 rating

"The Real O'Neals": L3 = 4.1 million/1.3 rating and L7 = 4.4 million/1.4 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Tuesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.1 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):

Facing stiff competition in the opening hour of the night from CBS' "NCIS" original and the time-period premieres of NBC's "The Wall" and Fox's "The Mick," ABC returned with Tuesday's Top 2 comedies in Adults 18-49, with "The Middle" (1.7/6) and "American Housewife" (1.6/5), beating Fox's "New Girl" (1.1/4) and "The Mick" (1.3/4) head to head by 55% and 23% at 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively. Other competition on the night included cross-over episodes of NBC's "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D." (9:00-11:00 p.m.) and Fox's final season premiere of "Bones" (9:00-10:00 p.m.).

All 4 of ABC's Tuesday comedies grew over their most-recent originals 3 weeks ago (on 12/13/16), driving the Net to a 6-week high on the night in Adults 18-49 - since 11/22/16.

· At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" was up from its most recent original in Adults 18-49 (+6% - 1.7/6 vs. 1.6/6) to deliver a best-since-premiere rating 12 weeks ago - since 10/11/16.

· At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "American Housewife" built by 7% on its last original airing in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.5/5) to tie its highest rating since mid-October - since 10/18/16.

· At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Fresh Off the Boat" grew by double digits to deliver its best numbers since its season opener (on 10/11/16) in Total Viewers (+13% - 4.4 million vs. 3.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.2/4). "Fresh Off the Boat" was Tuesday's No. 3 comedy, outdelivering both of Fox's sitcoms in viewers and young adults.

· At 9:30 p.m., ABC's "The Real O'Neals" built on its most recent original in Total Viewers (+6% - 3.3 million vs. 3.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+11% - 1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3), marking its strongest performance in 7 weeks - since 11/15/16.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on 2015-16 season averages for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 1/3/17.