TGIT Ratings Prove Thursday Really is Shonda Rhimes' Night

#TGIT Was A HUGE Success
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Actresses Kerry Washington, Viola Davis and Ellen Pompeo attend the #TGIT premiere event hosted by Twitter at Palihouse Holloway on September 20, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Actresses Kerry Washington, Viola Davis and Ellen Pompeo attend the #TGIT premiere event hosted by Twitter at Palihouse Holloway on September 20, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Shonda Rimes owns Thursday nights. ABC marketed Thursday's new lineup as #TGIT, airing Rhimes' three shows, "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal" and newcomer "How to Get Away with Murder." The grouping paid off.

The Season 11 premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" opened the night at 8:00 p.m. with 9.8 million viewers and a 3.0 rating in the desirable 18-49 demographic. The Season 4 premiere of "Scandal," starting at 9:00 p.m., garnered 11.9 million viewers and a 3.8 rating. But the big surprise was "How to Get Away with Murder," starring Viola Davis as a law professor. The freshman drama captured an outstanding 14 million viewers and the same in-demo rating as "Scandal."

Rhimes' new show -- written and created by Pete Nowalk -- is up 33 percent from last year's "Scandal" season opener, then in the 10:00 p.m. time slot. According to reports, Sept. 25 was ABC's biggest Thursday night in five years. All hail Shondaland.

Before You Go

"Scandal" Season 3

'Scandal'

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot