TV Ratings: ‘Empire’ Inches Up, ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Tumbles

The Fox drama sees a small lift as the fall finale approaches. 'Empire'  Chuck Hodes/FOX

The Fox drama sees a small lift as the fall finale approaches.

Heading into its fall finale, Empire's season-two story appears to be one of stability.

After the comedown from its lofty September return, and the end of its abnormal live ratings ascension, its been relatively steady in each week's same-day showings with a similar narrative in its time-shifting. Wednesday's episode saw the show rebound from the previous week's dips — rising two-tenths of a point in the key demo to a 4.4 rating among adults 18-49.

Still miles ahead of the rest of the broadcast pack, Empire gave Fox a nightly win in the key demo after a steady Rosewood (1.4 adults).

There was no movement on ABC's lineup. The Middle (2.0 adults), The Goldbergs (2.2 adults), Modern Family (2.8 adults), Black-ish (1.9 adults) and Nashville (1.0 adults) were all even or steady with the previous episodes. The same was also the case with Survivor (2.0 adults), Criminal Minds (1.5 adults) and Code Black (1.2 adults) on CBS.

After The Mysteries of Laura (1.1 adults) on NBC, Law & Order: SVU (1.4 adults) tumbled six-tenths of a point from last week's Voice-lifted episode. Chicago PD, off two-tenths of a point, followed with a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. (For those keeping track, newcomer Chicago Med easily ranks as NBC's highest-rated Chicago series of the week — though it is also the only one to air at 9 o'clock.)

On the CW, Arrow (1.0 adults) and Supernatural (0.7 adults) held.
 

TV Ratings

Michael O'Connell