Ratings: ‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors’ Warms Up 12.8 Million Viewers

Tony Maglio
Ratings: ‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors’ Warms Up 12.8 Million Viewers

“Dolly Parton‘s Coat of Many Colors” warmed up 12.8 million total viewers last night — the most for a made-for-TV movie across the Big 4 broadcast networks in three-and-a-half years, or a span of 100 movies.

Excluding sports and live musicals, “Coat of Many Colors” delivered NBC’s top total viewer result in the time period in six years, since the “ER” finale on April 2, 2009 (16.4 million total viewers). Finally, “Coat” was NBC’s most-watched scripted telecast since the “SNL 40” special on Feb. 15, which hauled in 23.1 million total viewers.

All that said, CBS managed to top NBC across primetime in the key 18-49 demographic — so we’ll break down its programming first.

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CBS was first in ratings with a 2.2 rating/7 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 8.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 p.m. earned a 4.0/15 and 16 million viewers. At 8:30, “Life in Pieces” posted a 2.4/8 and 9.6 million viewers. “Mom” at 9 had a 2.0/7 and 8.2 million viewers. At 9:30, “2 Broke Girls” got a 1.9/6 and 7 million viewers. At 10, “Elementary” received a 1.3/4 and 6.2 million viewers.

NBC was second in ratings with a 1.6/5 and first in viewers with 11 million. “Michael Buble’s Christmas in Hollywood” at 8 had a 1.1/4 and 7.2 million viewers. At 9, the two-hour “Coat of Many Colors” averaged a 1.8 rating. Clearly, it faired better among total viewers.

ABC was third in ratings with a 1.0/3 and fourth in viewers with 3.2 million. “Toy Story at 20th: To Infinity and Beyond” at 8 got a 0.9/3 and 3.3 million viewers. The original film followed.

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Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.9/3 and third in viewers with 4.5 million. Part 1 of the “Bones” fall finale at 8 received a 0.9/3 and 4.6 million viewers. Part 2 at 9 posted a 1.0/3 and 4.4 million viewers.

Univision and Telemundo tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.7/2. Univision was fifth in viewers 1.9 million total viewers; Telemundo was sixth with 1.8 million viewers.

The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.5/2 and in viewers with 1.1 million. “The Vampire Diaries” at 8 had a 0.5/2 and 1.2 million viewers. “The Originals” at 9 got a 0.4/1 and 981,000 viewers.