Roseanne revival premiere ratings best This Is Us, except for one special episode
By Reed Gaudens
The highly anticipated revival of Roseanne knocked the ratings out of the park, but which This Is Us episode still reigns supreme?
Nobody knows better than This Is Us that the power of nostalgia can’t be underestimated. NBC’s time-jumping hit drama series centers on the concept of bittersweet memories as a connecting device to its audience, but now more than ever, nostalgia for the pop culture past has become another driving force on the small screen. Just ask Roseanne.
Following the footsteps of Full(er) House, Will & Grace, and a smattering of other assorted former favorites, ABC’s Roseanne returned with a brand-new reunion season after completing a nine-season run in 1997. The sitcom was once television’s No. 1 highest-rated show, and Tuesday night’s ratings indicate that the Conner family is right on track to reclaim their throne.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the premiere episode of the Roseanne revival scored an unheard of 18.2 million viewers and a mega-sized 5.1 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic. To put those numbers into perspective, the hourlong premiere easily bested This Is Us’ week-to-week ratings in both metrics. The Pearsons typically pull eight to 10 million viewers and, at its best, a 3.0 rating.
However, Roseanne didn’t top the enormous numbers This Is Us earned following its airing after the Super Bowl, though no one expected it to. The post-Super Bowl timeslot is famous for ratings inflation, but Roseanne’s impressive return is unprecedented, even in an age where network television has enjoyed a resurgence. Whether the sitcom can continue with this momentum remains to be seen, but curiosity and nostalgia sure wrangle a crowd.
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Next: Why This Is Us earning the highest post-Super Bowl ratings in six years is significant
Did you check out the triumphant return of Roseanne? What did you think of the show? Are you surprised the sitcom bested This Is Us in the ratings? Do you think the shows will battle each other next season should the sitcom be renewed? Let us know your thoughts and feelings on both shows in the comments, and be sure to keep the conversation going over on Twitter at @thisisuscrying!
This Is Us returns for Season 3 in September on NBC.