Ratings Roundup for the Week of April 25, 2021

ABC saw The Oscars telecast hit a new low, dropping more than three ratings points from the telecast in 2020 (and the 2020 ceremony was the previous lowest-rated telecast winner). Was it that few people saw the movies nominated? The pandemic restrictions and how the awards were presented? Maybe. Though every other awards ceremony this season has been down, too. It may be that audiences simply no longer care as much for the pomp and circumstance as in the past. Most of the rest of the network's schedule was taken up with specials, the NFL draft, and President Biden's speech to Congress. 

CBS wrapped the final season of MacGyver last week. Mac and company ended about even with where they have been all season. NCIS took a big hit last week, dropping four tenths from its last new episode for a new series low. FBI and FBI: Most Wanted were down a tenth each. Bull was up a tenth. Young Sheldon and All Rise were even. 
 

NBC wrapped the first season of Kenan last week. The ratings haven't been great for the show, but it will likely squeak a second season. Back-to-back episodes of Manifest were even. New Amsterdam and The Voice were down a tenth. 

FOX unceremoniously yanked The Moodys from its schedule after cancelling the series. The final three episodes will air sometime over the summer. It was replaced with the premiere of sketch-comedy series, Let's Be Real, which didn't do any better in the same slot. Prodigal Son lost a tenth it couldn't afford. 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star were each down a couple of tenths. 

The CW ran a mix of reruns and Royals gossip coverage last week. Kung Fu held its rating numbers, but lost 100,000 viewers. It will be renewed, the network is merely playing coy with the announcement. All American was steady. Supergirl lost another 100,000 viewers as it continues to play out the side before disappearing into syndication. 

It's been a tough rating season for almost every show airing on network television this year. Short seasons and filming restrictions combined to make for a rather patchwork schedule of a few new episodes scattered amongst the reruns and specials resulting in lower ratings across the board. Network television was already suffering from audiences shifting to streaming services. Will this hasten the demise of the current television landscape? Or will networks be able to recover some of their losses in the Fall when, hopefully, production of new episodes returns to normal?