Opening Week Winners of the 2014 Fall TV Season

The 2014 Fall TV season began a little over a week ago, and it already has some TV lovers making the claim that it is one of the best they have seen in a long time. Right across the board there is something to be excited about – new series have not failed to live up to expectations, returning series have picked up right where they left off, and just about every night is riddled with a blend of shows of all genres that can keep anyone glued to the couch.

 

While there are a lot that deserve mentioning, here are a few winners from the opening week of the 2014 Fall TV season, inclusive of new and returning shows, as well as networks that hit it out of the park:

 

 

New Series

 

NCIS: New Orleans

 

New city, same old franchise success. The latest installment in the NCIS franchise, NCIS: New Orleans did more than enough to show it’s a spin-off that is here to stay… for a very long time. Considering that NCIS itself is a spin-off, the airing network – CBS – appears to have found the formula for success. Hitting the screens on September 23, the series premiered with over 17 million live viewers, putting it right up there with the most-watched series premieres of the current season.

 

 

Gotham

 

The series, which is scripted to outline the early years of some of the most revered characters in fictional history, did not disappoint. Premiering on September 22 on Fox, Gotham – which pretty much chronicles the journey of everyone from the Batman franchise (and then some) – managed to record over 8 million live viewers. The positive reviews poured in for the show, and having seen it, they are all well-deserved.

 

Gotham started out strong and solid.

 

How to Get Away With Murder

 

Surprise, surprise… Shonda Rhimes. In what now feels to be an ever-present reality, the talented producer and writer has uncovered another gem with her latest series – How to Get Away With Murder. Having developed an amazing relationship with the network over the past decade, this series like other successes of hers appears on ABC.

 

With its debut performance, the series managed to amass over 14 million live viewers, which is more than commendable. For those looking for something to be in awe of, think on the fact that the series shattered the DVR playback record and raised it to approximately 6 million, resulting in a three-day span of over 20 million viewers.

 

 

Returning Series

 

The Big Bang Theory

 

If the term “Bazinga!” stands for never-ending success, then it would be most appropriate for The Big Bang Theory. Returning for its eighth season on September 22, the TV series racked up over 18 million live viewers, as TV lovers from all over tuned in to see how Sheldon was managing following his decision to leave for a while.

 

During the episode, one of the most memorable moments in the show’s history was seen, as Sheldon admitted to Leonard that he wanted to engage in coyness with Amy. Undoubtedly, fans of the show will be eager to see what other interesting bits of information can unfold.

 

 

Scandal

 

Very few can argue with the fact that Scandal has become the most followed drama on television over the past couple of years, and its return for a fourth season on September 25 has only worked to reinforce this belief. The series opened in the region of 12 million live viewers to the show, with TV lovers tuning in to see Olivia Pope return to Washington D.C. after walking away from just about everyone and everything she knew.

 

 

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) helped to break DVR records on the show’s premiere night.

 

Her exodus – as well as the passing of Harrison Wright – had affected all the members of Olivia Pope and Associates in a very big way, and the emotion that comes with it is just what the doctor ordered for all who thoroughly missed the show.

 

 

TV Networks

 

CBS

 

The return of The Big Bang Theory alone would have been enough to put CBS among the mix, but the truth is that its Fall success has been far more widespread than that.  NCIS: New Orleans was earlier mentioned as one of the “new series” opening week winners, and its ongoing “mother” series NCIS was also up there with an impressive 18 million live viewers of its own.

 

Among the other network premieres, Madam Secretary (with just under 15 million), and Scorpion (with just under 14 million) were also series premieres that arguably made CBS the network with the most to smile about.

 

 

ABC

 

Thanks to “ShondaLand”, Thursdays are a big night for ABC, as How To Get Away With Murder has joined in with Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal to pull in millions of viewers during that three-show time span. Impressively, they all managed to record double-digit viewership numbers.

 

That being said, however, ABC has other shows to be proud of. New series Forever and Black-ish both had commendable openings, while returning shows Once Upon a Time and Castle pulled in double-digit viewership on their “opening” night.

 

 

 

 

Opening Week Winners of the 2014 Fall TV Season