tv ratings

Emmys: A Meh Broadcast Earns Meh Ratings

An Emmy statuette is seen in the Architectural Digest Greenroom, where celebrities will wait to go onstage during the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards show at the Shrine Auditorium, on September 15, 2005 in Los Angles, California. The Emmys will take place on September 18. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

Like the show itself, ratings for last night’s Emmy Awards were just okay. Per Nielsen, about 13.2 million people caught the Modern Family–Homeland coronation train, up a tad from last year (12.4 million) and higher-rated than three of the five last Emmycasts. The news wasn’t so great among younger viewers, however. Despite boasting Jimmy Kimmel as host, Sunday’s show tied 2008’s bomb-tastic Emmys as the lowest-rated ever among adults under 50 (both telecasts averaged a 3.8 rating in said demo group). Given the ratings surge for Sunday Night Football in recent years, and the continuing rise in time-shifting due to DVRs, the Emmy numbers aren’t dreadful. That said, perhaps the networks ought to consider shifting their big awards show away from football night in America. Everyone would look just as glamorous on Tuesdays.

Emmys: A Meh Broadcast Earns Meh Ratings