The Blacklist Declassified

Just a note that the percent of people giving The Blacklist Season 2 a 5-Star rating on Amazon remains at 83% – exactly the same percent as for Season 1. So, at least in aggregate, the view is still very positive. Most people don’t detect a dropoff in quality. I actually like Season 2 better.

As reported by FutonCritic on 11/4 http://bit.ly/1u00yGk :

“Ratings: Projected “Live Plus Three Day” and “Live Plus Seven Day” Results:

“Adult 18-49 Rating
Show… L+SD… L+3… L+7
The Voice… 3.4… 4.1… 4.3
The Blacklist… 2.4… 4.0… 4.3

“Persons 2+ (Total Viewers)
Show… L+SD… L+3… L+7
The Voice… 11.9 million… 13.7 million… 14.0 million
The Blacklist… 9.2 million… 14.0 million… 15.3 million”

Key: L+SD = Live plus same day, L+3 = Live plus 3 days. Numbers given for “the demo” (18-49yo) and Total. “The demo” is more valued by advertisers.

You can see there is a huge pick-up of viewers when DVR viewing is added in. The Blacklist is setting records in this metric. This fits the view that this is a complex show where people like to be able to absorb the details. (Or maybe they just want to repeat the James Spader scenes – whatever.) I do think this show requires more viewer involvement. This blog attests to that – along with various other online forums.

I also see why The Blacklist appeals to younger people, who scour the net for what the MSM calls “conspiracy theories’ and who tend to be distrustful of other people and of institutions (see Pew Survey on Millennials: http://pewrsr.ch/10OU1Tc).

Though not officially decided, TVwatchUS has The Blacklist as slated #1 “Certain Renewal” for the 2015-16 Season for NBC http://bit.ly/1tZQIV4 (11/9). TVline calls it “a sure thing.” http://bit.ly/1uR9lMc So, unless The Blacklist’s viewership totally collapses in its new Thursday time slot, we can likely look forward to a third season & hopefully more.

[Cross-posted at WSJ Speakeasy]