25 Top Network Ratings Darlings from 2015-16 TV Season
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1661721234/user/modwild)
Alright. It's true. Football comes in at the top spot. Then again at number four. And six. And a football related show at number five.
But there are still a lot of scripted shows out there people are watching. Perhaps not as much as in the 70s or 80s, but they're watching.
The Big Bang Theory and NCIS trump Empire in overall viewers, but not in the coveted 18-49 ratings. So there are differences in how you look at things.
Because reality shows are so prevalent when looking at total viewers, we're looking at scripted network ratings darlings from the season today.
So let's dig in!
1. Empire
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--jLcs81Ud--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1459195120/are-you-for-real-empire-s2e11.jpg)
At the moment, nothing can catch the runaway ratings success of Fox's Empire. It averaged a 6.4 rating.
2. The Big Bang Theory
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--jX5pObvL--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1400672299/yay-for-the-big-bang-theory.jpg)
CBS' The Big Bang Theory comes in second with an average rating of 5.8.
3. The X-Files
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--c_A5l-2---/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1454281851/feeling-emotional-the-x-files.jpg)
The X-Files revival scored big for Fox with an average rating of 4.8
4. Grey's Anatomy
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Bm_nPBX2--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1444068550/good-news-greys-anatomy-s12e3.jpg)
Grey's Anatomy may be our number one, but the ABC hit only scores a 3.6 average rating for the season.
5. How to Get Away with Murder
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--iX16JxpV--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1458181376/the-pressure-mounts-how-to-get-away-with-murder.jpg)
You can get away with murder with a 3.5 average rating at ABC.
6. Modern Family
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--8rU2J4xn--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1462321518/geeking-out-modern-family.jpg)
Modern Family is still hanging in there at ABC with a 3.4 average rating.
7. Scandal
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--F0CjJ4CQ--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1459710401/give-me-answers-scandal-s5e17.jpg)
Scandal ties for the season with Modern Family at 3.4.
8. Blindspot
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--EZw7lN-c--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1461533107/growing-closer-once-again-blindspot.png)
The new NBC series scored a 3.1 for the season.
9. NCIS
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ejz8G_eL--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1422834139/more-than-babies-ncis-s12e13.jpg)
The 12-year CBS megahit with viewers ties in the ratings with newbie Blindspot with a 3.1 rating.
10. Criminal Minds
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--p5O2uhH5--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1371218644/jj-returns-to-criminal-minds.png)
Criminal Minds Season 11 was hanging in with a 2.9 at CBS.
11. The Blacklist
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6Qe1HeNN--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1462400790/outside-the-law-the-blacklist.jpg)
The James Spader hit, NBC's Blacklist, scored 2.7, down from the NBC newbie Blacklist.
12. Life in Pieces
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--OeVnM6SF--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1431561435/life-in-pieces-photo.jpg)
The CBS comedy Life in Pieces tied with The Blacklist at 2.7.
13. Quantico
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--TNJ5KwQw--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1462671078/graduation-nears-quantico.jpg)
ABC's Quantico started out on a high, but averaged out at 2.6 for the season.
14. Chicago Fire
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--BV1u8un4--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1461624799/holloways-son-chicago-fire.jpg)
NBC's original Chicago mothership comes in at 2.5.
15. The Goldbergs
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--kaVNe6sd--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1420568510/cleaning-the-garage-the-goldbergs.jpg)
ABC's 80s retro, family comedy ties with Chicago Fire and Scorpion at 2.5.
16. Scorpion
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rOyowfGS--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1449529089/avoiding-catastrophe-scorpion.jpg)
The CBS geeky squad on Scorpion tied with The Goldbergs and Chicago Fire at 2.5.
17. black-ish
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--aGS1ZGvC--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1430882605/breaking-the-news-black-ish.jpg)
Coming in a tenth below a trio of tied shows, another trio of tied shows at 2.4. ABC's black-ish is in it with Fox's Lucifer and CBS' Supergirl.
18. Lucifer
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--8U0-wnOy--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1460485062/exploring-a-new-world.jpg)
Fox's Lucifer is in a three-way tie at 2.4 with Supergirl and black-ish.
19. Supergirl
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rWjwiHxt--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1458228645/supergirl-ready-for-a-fight-supergirl-season-1-episode-18.jpg)
CBS's Supergirl 2.4 three-way tie wasn't enough for the network, and they tossed her off to The CW. She's welcome there with her superhero friends!!
20. Chicago Med
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--iAhS8r6m--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1448928299/a-movie-theater-shooting-chicago-med.jpg)
The newest of the Chicago franchise makes the grade in a three-way tie with 2 Broke Girls and Shades of Blue at 2.3.
21. 2 Broke Girls
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--JtLSO3oF--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1461869005/off-course-2-broke-girls.jpg)
CBS' 2 Broke Girls are doing alright in their three-way tie at 2.3 for the season.
22. Shades of Blue
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--LGr1oN1t--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1452730314/the-lie-detector-shades-of-blue.jpg)
Jennifer Lopez had a decent showing with NBC's Shades of Blue, tying with the 2.3 number with 2 Broke Girls and Chicago Med.
23. Limitless
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ZpKmMn2b--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1459742382/rebeccas-first-time-limitless.jpg)
The highest rated new series at 2.2 to be cancelled, this CBS series is also the highest rated series other than The Good Wife to be shown the door. It was just one tenth below Supergirl, which was given new life at The CW.
24. Mom
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--z-vpWrfv--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1428431525/extreme-measures-mom.jpg)
Mom tied with another CBS series, Limitless, and NBC's 17-year-old Law & Order: SVU at 2.2, but didn't receive the ax!
25. Law & Order: SVU
![](https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--wqypVzIm--/t_slideshow/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1463448173/becoming-targets-law-and-order-svu.jpg)
After 17 years on the air, Law & Order: SVU runs in syndication all day and people STILL watch it new at night. Not bad!! It tied with Limitless and Mom for the 2.2 rating.