The grand finale of “The Big Bang Theory” saw an even greater ratings explosion in delayed viewing.
Having registered a stellar 3.1 rating in the key 18-49 demographic in Live+Same Day, the finale grew by 56% to finish with a round 5.0 rating in Live+7. For comparison, “Big Bang” averaged a 3.8 in Live+7 throughout its 12th and final season.
In terms of total viewership, the finale saw a 34% bump in delayed, finishing with 24.75 million viewers after it was watched by 18.5 during its live broadcast.
The finale’s initial rating was the show’s highest since January, 2018, while the total viewership figure was the highest it produced since September, 2015. “Big Bang Theory” is the first show to end its run as TV’s top series since the final season of “Seinfeld” aired in 1998.
With such a substantial lead-in, it’s hardly a surprise that “Big Bang” spinoff “Young Sheldon” came in a comfortable second place in the L+7 ratings for the week of May 13 with a 3.1 (up 48% from a 2.1 in live). “Young Sheldon” also impressively managed to beat out viewership juggernaut “NCIS” in total eyeballs. The Iain Armitage starrer was watched by 17.6 million viewers in delayed to 15.4 million for “NCIS.”
Related
Read the full week’s rankings below.
Live+7 Adults 18-49
| Telecast | Network | Broadcast Date | Live+SD A18-49 | Live+7 A18-49 | Actual Gain | % Gain |
| BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 3.2 | 5.0 | +1.8 | +56% |
| YOUNG SHELDON | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 2.1 | 3.1 | +1.0 | +48% |
| GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 05/16/2019 | 1.3 | 2.4 | +1.1 | +85% |
| BIG BANG FAREWELL, A | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 1.7 | 2.3 | +0.6 | +35% |
| SURVIVOR | CBS | 05/15/2019 | 1.5 | 2.2 | +0.7 | +47% |
| 911 | FOX | 05/13/2019 | 1.3 | 2.1 | +0.8 | +62% |
| BACHELORETTE, THE | ABC | 05/13/2019 | 1.4 | 2.0 | +0.6 | +43% |
| CHICAGO PD | NBC | 05/15/2019 | 1.0 | 1.9 | +0.9 | +90% |
| NEW AMSTERDAM | NBC | 05/14/2019 | 0.9 | 1.8 | +0.9 | +100% |
| NCIS | CBS | 05/14/2019 | 1.1 | 1.8 | +0.7 | +64% |
| CHICAGO FIRE | NBC | 05/15/2019 | 1.1 | 1.8 | +0.7 | +64% |
| CHICAGO MED | NBC | 05/15/2019 | 1.1 | 1.7 | +0.6 | +55% |
| AMERICAN IDOL-SUN | ABC | 05/19/2019 | 1.5 | 1.7 | +0.2 | +13% |
| LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 0.7 | 1.6 | +0.9 | +129% |
| STATION 19 | ABC | 05/16/2019 | 0.8 | 1.5 | +0.7 | +88% |
| S.W.A.T. | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 0.9 | 1.5 | +0.6 | +67% |
| SURVIVOR REUNION | CBS | 05/15/2019 | 0.9 | 1.5 | +0.6 | +67% |
| FBI | CBS | 05/14/2019 | 0.8 | 1.4 | +0.6 | +75% |
| VOICE | NBC | 05/13/2019 | 1.1 | 1.4 | +0.3 | +27% |
| VOICE-TUE | NBC | 05/14/2019 | 1.0 | 1.3 | +0.3 | +30% |
| BLACKLIST | NBC | 05/17/2019 | 0.6 | 1.2 | +0.6 | +100% |
| BULL | CBS | 05/13/2019 | 0.7 | 1.2 | +0.5 | +71% |
| WHISKEY CAVALIER | ABC | 05/15/2019 | 0.4 | 1.1 | +0.7 | +175% |
| GOOD GIRLS | NBC | 05/19/2019 | 0.5 | 1.1 | +0.6 | +120% |
| NCIS: NEW ORLEANS | CBS | 05/14/2019 | 0.6 | 1.1 | +0.5 | +83% |
| SUPERSTORE | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 0.6 | 1.1 | +0.5 | +83% |
| SUPERSTORE 5/16 | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 0.6 | 1.1 | +0.5 | +83% |
| AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 0.8 | 1.1 | +0.3 | +38% |
| HAWAII FIVE-0 10P-SPECIAL | CBS | 05/17/2019 | 0.5 | 1.0 | +0.5 | +100% |
| NCIS: LOS ANGELES 10PM | CBS | 05/19/2019 | 0.5 | 1.0 | +0.5 | +100% |
| BROOKLYN NINE-NINE | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 0.5 | 1.0 | +0.5 | +100% |
| BROOKLYN NINE-NINE 5/16 | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 0.5 | 1.0 | +0.5 | +100% |
| BLACK-ISH | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 0.6 | 1.0 | +0.4 | +67% |
| FLASH | CW | 05/14/2019 | 0.6 | 1.0 | +0.4 | +67% |
| ENEMY WITHIN | NBC | 05/13/2019 | 0.6 | 1.0 | +0.4 | +67% |
| MASTERCHEF JUNIOR | FOX | 05/14/2019 | 0.7 | 1.0 | +0.3 | +43% |
| BLESS THIS MESS | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 0.6 | 0.9 | +0.3 | +50% |
| VILLAGE | NBC | 05/14/2019 | 0.6 | 0.9 | +0.3 | +50% |
| DATELINE-SUN | NBC | 05/19/2019 | 0.7 | 0.9 | +0.2 | +29% |
| FOR THE PEOPLE | ABC | 05/16/2019 | 0.4 | 0.8 | +0.4 | +100% |
| MARVEL AGENTS S.H.I.E.L.D | ABC | 05/17/2019 | 0.4 | 0.8 | +0.4 | +100% |
| DATELINE FRI | NBC | 05/17/2019 | 0.5 | 0.8 | +0.3 | +60% |
| KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 0.6 | 0.8 | +0.2 | +33% |
| CODE, THE | CBS | 05/13/2019 | 0.6 | 0.8 | +0.2 | +33% |
| 60 MINUTES | CBS | 05/19/2019 | 0.8 | 0.8 | even | +0% |
| FIX, THE | ABC | 05/13/2019 | 0.4 | 0.7 | +0.3 | +75% |
| JANE THE VIRGIN | CW | 05/15/2019 | 0.2 | 0.6 | +0.4 | +200% |
| HUNDRED, THE | CW | 05/14/2019 | 0.3 | 0.6 | +0.3 | +100% |
| SUPERGIRL | CW | 05/19/2019 | 0.3 | 0.6 | +0.3 | +100% |
| 20/20-FRI | ABC | 05/17/2019 | 0.4 | 0.6 | +0.2 | +50% |
| PARADISE HOTEL-MON | FOX | 05/13/2019 | 0.4 | 0.6 | +0.2 | +50% |
| MASTERCHEF FAM SHWDWN-1 | FOX | 05/15/2019 | 0.5 | 0.6 | +0.1 | +20% |
| AMER FUNN HM VIDEOS-7PM | ABC | 05/19/2019 | 0.6 | 0.6 | even | +0% |
| DCS LEGENDS OF TOMORROW | CW | 05/13/2019 | 0.3 | 0.5 | +0.2 | +67% |
| RIVERDALE | CW | 05/15/2019 | 0.3 | 0.5 | +0.2 | +67% |
| PARADISE HOTEL-WED | FOX | 05/15/2019 | 0.3 | 0.5 | +0.2 | +67% |
| 48 HOURS | CBS | 05/18/2019 | 0.4 | 0.5 | +0.1 | +25% |
| FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL | FOX | 05/18/2019 | 0.4 | 0.5 | +0.1 | +25% |
| PARADISE HOTEL | FOX | 05/16/2019 | 0.4 | 0.5 | +0.1 | +25% |
| DATELINE MYSTERY-2 | NBC | 05/18/2019 | 0.4 | 0.5 | +0.1 | +25% |
| MEGHAN AND HARRY PLUS ONE | CBS | 05/17/2019 | 0.5 | 0.5 | even | +0% |
| ARROW | CW | 05/13/2019 | 0.2 | 0.4 | +0.2 | +100% |
| CHARMED | CW | 05/19/2019 | 0.2 | 0.4 | +0.2 | +100% |
| 1969 | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 0.3 | 0.4 | +0.1 | +33% |
| CBS SUN MORN SPC:NO EXIT! | CBS | 05/17/2019 | 0.3 | 0.4 | +0.1 | +33% |
| RED LINE, THE | CBS | 05/19/2019 | 0.3 | 0.4 | +0.1 | +33% |
| FOX MOVIE-SUN SP 5/19 | FOX | 05/19/2019 | 0.4 | 0.4 | even | +0% |
| MENTAL SAMURAI | FOX | 05/14/2019 | 0.4 | 0.4 | even | +0% |
| DATELINE MYSTERY-1 | NBC | 05/18/2019 | 0.4 | 0.4 | even | +0% |
| RANSOM | CBS | 05/18/2019 | 0.2 | 0.3 | +0.1 | +50% |
| IZOMBIE | CW | 05/16/2019 | 0.2 | 0.3 | +0.1 | +50% |
| DYNASTY | CW | 05/17/2019 | 0.1 | 0.2 | +0.1 | +100% |
| IN THE DARK | CW | 05/16/2019 | 0.2 | 0.2 | even | +0% |
Live+7 Total Viewers
| Telecast | Network | Broadcast Date | Live+SD Total Viewership (in millions) | Live+7 Total Viewership (in millions) | Actual Gain | % Gain |
| BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 18535 | 24755 | +6220 | +34% |
| YOUNG SHELDON | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 13604 | 17594 | +3990 | +29% |
| NCIS | CBS | 05/14/2019 | 11701 | 15449 | +3748 | +32% |
| BIG BANG FAREWELL, A | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 11612 | 13884 | +2272 | +20% |
| FBI | CBS | 05/14/2019 | 8562 | 12071 | +3509 | +41% |
| CHICAGO FIRE | NBC | 05/15/2019 | 7960 | 11373 | +3413 | +43% |
| BULL | CBS | 05/13/2019 | 7191 | 11183 | +3992 | +56% |
| CHICAGO PD | NBC | 05/15/2019 | 6733 | 10816 | +4083 | +61% |
| CHICAGO MED | NBC | 05/15/2019 | 7982 | 10813 | +2831 | +35% |
| NEW AMSTERDAM | NBC | 05/14/2019 | 5544 | 10110 | +4566 | +82% |
| NCIS: NEW ORLEANS | CBS | 05/14/2019 | 6934 | 10058 | +3124 | +45% |
| AMERICAN IDOL-SUN | ABC | 05/19/2019 | 8745 | 9768 | +1023 | +12% |
| SURVIVOR | CBS | 05/15/2019 | 7213 | 9440 | +2227 | +31% |
| 911 | FOX | 05/13/2019 | 6447 | 9363 | +2916 | +45% |
| GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 05/16/2019 | 5995 | 9110 | +3115 | +52% |
| S.W.A.T. | CBS | 05/16/2019 | 5757 | 8975 | +3218 | +56% |
| VOICE | NBC | 05/13/2019 | 7696 | 8946 | +1250 | +16% |
| 60 MINUTES | CBS | 05/19/2019 | 8426 | 8909 | +483 | +6% |
| NCIS: LOS ANGELES 10PM | CBS | 05/19/2019 | 5279 | 8271 | +2992 | +57% |
| HAWAII FIVE-0 10P-SPECIAL | CBS | 05/17/2019 | 5111 | 8198 | +3087 | +60% |
| VOICE-TUE | NBC | 05/14/2019 | 6564 | 7855 | +1291 | +20% |
| CODE, THE | CBS | 05/13/2019 | 5543 | 7332 | +1789 | +32% |
| BLACKLIST | NBC | 05/17/2019 | 4513 | 7330 | +2817 | +62% |
| STATION 19 | ABC | 05/16/2019 | 4827 | 7249 | +2422 | +50% |
| LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 3582 | 6760 | +3178 | +89% |
| SURVIVOR REUNION | CBS | 05/15/2019 | 4643 | 6472 | +1829 | +39% |
| BACHELORETTE, THE | ABC | 05/13/2019 | 4784 | 6400 | +1616 | +34% |
| ENEMY WITHIN | NBC | 05/13/2019 | 3675 | 6138 | +2463 | +67% |
| VILLAGE | NBC | 05/14/2019 | 3811 | 5516 | +1705 | +45% |
| MEGHAN AND HARRY PLUS ONE | CBS | 05/17/2019 | 4980 | 5407 | +427 | +9% |
| WHISKEY CAVALIER | ABC | 05/15/2019 | 2541 | 5356 | +2815 | +111% |
| DATELINE-SUN | NBC | 05/19/2019 | 4364 | 5268 | +904 | +21% |
| DATELINE FRI | NBC | 05/17/2019 | 3964 | 4998 | +1034 | +26% |
| AMER FUNN HM VIDEOS-7PM | ABC | 05/19/2019 | 4492 | 4861 | +369 | +8% |
| AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 3668 | 4813 | +1145 | +31% |
| FIX, THE | ABC | 05/13/2019 | 2419 | 4533 | +2114 | +87% |
| BLESS THIS MESS | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 2659 | 4386 | +1727 | +65% |
| FOR THE PEOPLE | ABC | 05/16/2019 | 2543 | 4136 | +1593 | +63% |
| RED LINE, THE | CBS | 05/19/2019 | 3236 | 4125 | +889 | +27% |
| GOOD GIRLS | NBC | 05/19/2019 | 2353 | 4058 | +1705 | +72% |
| 48 HOURS | CBS | 05/18/2019 | 3090 | 3900 | +810 | +26% |
| MASTERCHEF JUNIOR | FOX | 05/14/2019 | 2837 | 3881 | +1044 | +37% |
| BLACK-ISH | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 2770 | 3875 | +1105 | +40% |
| KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 2854 | 3851 | +997 | +35% |
| CBS SUN MORN SPC:NO EXIT! | CBS | 05/17/2019 | 3273 | 3474 | +201 | +6% |
| MARVEL AGENTS S.H.I.E.L.D | ABC | 05/17/2019 | 2183 | 3420 | +1237 | +57% |
| SUPERSTORE | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 2341 | 3412 | +1071 | +46% |
| 20/20-FRI | ABC | 05/17/2019 | 2522 | 3187 | +665 | +26% |
| SUPERSTORE 5/16 | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 1952 | 3146 | +1194 | +61% |
| RANSOM | CBS | 05/18/2019 | 2245 | 3058 | +813 | +36% |
| DATELINE MYSTERY-2 | NBC | 05/18/2019 | 2699 | 2970 | +271 | +10% |
| DATELINE MYSTERY-1 | NBC | 05/18/2019 | 2622 | 2829 | +207 | +8% |
| FLASH | CW | 05/14/2019 | 1533 | 2693 | +1160 | +76% |
| BROOKLYN NINE-NINE | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 1629 | 2549 | +920 | +56% |
| BROOKLYN NINE-NINE 5/16 | NBC | 05/16/2019 | 1548 | 2457 | +909 | +59% |
| FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL | FOX | 05/18/2019 | 2360 | 2382 | +22 | +1% |
| MASTERCHEF FAM SHWDWN-1 | FOX | 05/15/2019 | 2012 | 2282 | +270 | +13% |
| 1969 | ABC | 05/14/2019 | 1802 | 2261 | +459 | +25% |
| SUPERGIRL | CW | 05/19/2019 | 1075 | 1872 | +797 | +74% |
| MENTAL SAMURAI | FOX | 05/14/2019 | 1388 | 1640 | +252 | +18% |
| PARADISE HOTEL-MON | FOX | 05/13/2019 | 1191 | 1578 | +387 | +32% |
| HUNDRED, THE | CW | 05/14/2019 | 819 | 1572 | +753 | +92% |
| DCS LEGENDS OF TOMORROW | CW | 05/13/2019 | 987 | 1538 | +551 | +56% |
| ARROW | CW | 05/13/2019 | 951 | 1509 | +558 | +59% |
| RIVERDALE | CW | 05/15/2019 | 861 | 1472 | +611 | +71% |
| PARADISE HOTEL | FOX | 05/16/2019 | 1111 | 1455 | +344 | +31% |
| PARADISE HOTEL-WED | FOX | 05/15/2019 | 1092 | 1444 | +352 | +32% |
| JANE THE VIRGIN | CW | 05/15/2019 | 616 | 1370 | +754 | +122% |
| FOX MOVIE-SUN SP 5/19 | FOX | 05/19/2019 | 1220 | 1366 | +146 | +12% |
| CHARMED | CW | 05/19/2019 | 589 | 1221 | +632 | +107% |
| IZOMBIE | CW | 05/16/2019 | 568 | 920 | +352 | +62% |
| IN THE DARK | CW | 05/16/2019 | 524 | 847 | +323 | +62% |
| DYNASTY | CW | 05/17/2019 | 493 | 686 | +193 | +39% |
This article was originally published by Variety.com. Read the original article here.