Thursday nights on network TV continue to be a battleground for viewers, with a mix of high-stakes dramas, quirky comedies, and lighthearted game shows vying for attention. In the latest Thursday TV ratings from Nielsen, covering January 15, 2026, ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville and NBC’s Law & Order franchise showed resilience amid a sea of reruns and returning series. Meanwhile, FOX’s Going Dutch hit a new series low, and reruns of CBS’s Elsbeth and The CW’s Trivial Pursuit filled out the lineup. These TV show ratings offer key insights into viewer preferences in the 18-49 demo—the metric advertisers crave most—and total viewership trends in an era dominated by streaming.
If you’re searching for the most up-to-date Nielsen Thursday TV ratings, 9-1-1: Nashville ratings, or Law & Order viewership, this deep dive breaks it all down. From episode recaps and cast highlights to comparisons with prior weeks and seasons, we’ll analyze what these numbers mean for renewals, cancellations, and your Thursday night watchlist. With broadcast TV facing stiff competition from Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, these weekly TV ratings are more crucial than ever.
The Big Picture: Thursday Night Lineups and Overall Winners
On this particular Thursday, new episodes were limited due to midseason breaks and holiday scheduling disruptions. ABC led the pack in scripted content with fresh installments of 9-1-1 (0.37 rating in 18-49, 4.12 million viewers) leading into 9-1-1: Nashville (0.25, 3.37M). NBC countered with Law & Order (estimated ~0.29, ~3.97M from prior patterns) and Law & Order: SVU (0.30, 3.96M). FOX aired Hell’s Kitchen (0.21-0.23 range), Animal Control (0.15, 1.07M), and Going Dutch (new low 0.10 at 9:30 PM, 0.90M). CBS and The CW leaned heavily on reruns: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (R), Ghosts (R), Matlock (R), Elsbeth (R) (~0.13-0.17), and Trivial Pursuit (R) (0.04-0.06, ~0.43-0.47M).
ABC dominated the night in total scripted viewership, thanks to the 9-1-1 franchise’s loyal fanbase. The mothership 9-1-1 ranked as the #1 scripted show, while 9-1-1: Nashville placed #4 in the demo. NBC’s procedural powerhouse held strong, but FOX’s comedies struggled post-hiatus. Reruns across CBS and CW provided filler but underscored the networks’ reliance on evergreen content during January’s transitional period.
These Thursday night TV ratings reflect broader 2025-26 season trends: Dramas like 9-1-1: Nashville and Law & Order thrive on multiplatform viewing (live + Hulu/Peacock + 35-day delayed), often doubling linear numbers. For context, 9-1-1: Nashville‘s fall premiere exploded to 19.29 million cross-platform viewers after 35 days—a 414% lift from its 3.75M live+same-day debut.
9-1-1: Nashville – Rebound Amid Midseason Slump?
9-1-1: Nashville (ABC, 9 PM) delivered a solid rebound with a 0.25 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.37 million viewers, up from its midseason return low of 0.18 (2.89M) the prior week. This episode followed 9-1-1‘s strong 0.37/4.12M lead-in, retaining ~68% of the demo—a marked improvement from 58% retention last time out.
Launched in October 2025 as a Ryan Murphy spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville explores Tennessee’s emergency responders entangled with a powerful local dynasty. Starring a fresh ensemble (details on cast below), it premiered to 0.29/3.75M live, but multiplatform metrics painted a rosier picture: 12.4M after 7 days (231% lift), 19.29M after 35 days (No. 1 new broadcast series in 18-49 at 2.15). Recent linear dips (0.18-0.29 average) raise eyebrows—below even cancelled Doctor Odyssey‘s lows—but streaming strength (9.2M avg. first three eps) keeps renewal odds at “likely.” ABC’s investment in Murphy’s deal suggests patience, especially with Grey’s Anatomy (0.24ish) close behind at 10 PM.
Season context: Fall eps averaged 0.24-0.29 demo, with viewers ~3-3.8M. This rebound signals potential stabilization, but competition from Law & Order crossovers looms. Fans praise the Nashville flair—country music ties, dynasty drama—but critics note formulaic plots mirroring the original 9-1-1 (Season 9: 0.30-0.35 avg.).
If 9-1-1: Nashville ratings hold here, expect Season 2 buzz by upfronts.
Going Dutch: FOX Comedy Hits Rock Bottom
FOX’s Going Dutch (9:30 PM) cratered to a new series low of 0.10 demo / 0.90M viewers in its Season 2 return, down sharply from Season 1 averages (~0.15-0.20). The comedy, starring Denis Leary as a brash U.S. Army Colonel reassigned to a quirky Dutch base (with his estranged daughter), premiered Jan 2025 to mixed reviews (Rotten Tomatoes: 85% critics, 52% audience; IMDb 5.6/10).
Season 1 viewer votes trended up (8.86-9.16/10 on TVSeriesFinale), but linear ratings faltered amid Animal Control (0.15/1.07M) and Hell’s Kitchen (0.21-0.23). Critics laud dry wit and cast (Danny Pudi shines), but plots feel “dumb” or culturally off-base for some Dutch viewers. Hulu streaming helps (Disney+ availability), but cancellation whispers grow—FOX’s Thursday comedies lag behind Next Level Chef.
Going Dutch ratings trend:
- S1 Premiere: ~0.15-0.20 demo
- Jan 15 S2: 0.10 (new low)
- Multiplatform: Modest lifts, but not 9-1-1 levels.
Renewal? Leans cancel; needs 0.15+ to survive.
Law & Order Franchise: Steady Procedural Powerhouse
NBC’s Law & Order (8 PM, ~0.29/3.97M) rose for an SVU crossover, buoyed by the mothership’s Season 25 stability (avg. 0.30 demo YTD). SVU (9 PM, 0.30/3.96M) matched, up from recent 0.21-0.27 dips. Total viewers held ~4M, strong for Thursdays.
Entering its 25th season (revived 2022 post-2010 cancel), Law & Order thrives on “ripped from headlines” cases, with casts like Hugh Dancy anchoring. SVU S27 similarly resilient (0.26-0.30). Crossovers boost: Prior week up 0.06. Peacock streaming adds 50%+ lifts. Verdict: Safe for S26/S28.
Elsbeth Rerun Holds Steady in CBS Comedy Block
CBS’s Elsbeth rerun (~0.13-0.17 demo / 1.66-1.95M) fit mid-pack with Matlock (R, 0.14/1.95M), Ghosts (R, 0.17/2.61M). New S3 eps avg. 0.17-0.20 demo, top delayed viewing gainer (doubles linear via Paramount+). Carrie Preston’s quirky lawyer spin-off from The Good Wife ranks high in 25-54. Rerun context: Stable, but new eps needed vs. ABC dramas.
Trivial Pursuit: CW’s Game Show Filler
The CW’s Trivial Pursuit rerun (0.04-0.06 / 0.43-0.47M) was low but expected—game show renewed for S2 (30 eps, LeVar Burton hosting). S1 new eps ~0.25 HH / 0.35-0.48M viewers. Trivia categories draw niche, but Thursday slot suits casual viewing. Low demo hurts, but cheap production = renewal lock.
Comparisons, Trends, and Renewal Outlook
Week-over-week:
- 9-1-1: Nashville: +0.07 demo (rebound win)
- Going Dutch: New low (-0.05+)
- Law & Order/SVU: +0.01-0.06 (crossover boost)
- Reruns: Flat, 0.04-0.17 range
Season YTD (18-49 avg.):
- 9-1-1: 0.33 (renewed vibes)
- Nashville: 0.24 (likely renew, streaming savior)
- L&O: 0.30 (safe)
- Going Dutch S2: <0.15 (bubble)
- Elsbeth: 0.17 (certain renew)
- Trivial Pursuit: 0.05-0.10 (renewed)
Streaming impact: 9-1-1: Nashville (Hulu) and Elsbeth (Paramount+) shine in 35-day metrics, offsetting linear drops. FOX/Hulu helps Going Dutch marginally.
Cable/Streaming rivals: NFL playoffs crushed (32M+ avg.), but scripted held. Netflix’s unscripted topped, pressuring lineups.
Predictions (per TVSeriesFinale/TheTVRatingsGuide):
- Renew: 9-1-1 duo, L&O, Elsbeth, Trivial Pursuit
- Likely: Nashville
- Bubble/Cancel risk: Going Dutch
Why These Ratings Matter for Viewers and Networks
In 2026, TV ratings blend linear Nielsen with big data + streaming. ABC’s drama block eyes Grey’s synergy; NBC’s L&O Thursday owns procedurals; FOX tweaks comedies; CBS/CW fill with reruns/games. Viewer shift to on-demand favors bingers—Nashville‘s 19M premiere proves franchise pull.
Conclusion: What’s Next for Thursday TV?
This week’s Thursday TV ratings highlight dramas’ dominance, comedies’ woes, and reruns’ reliability. 9-1-1: Nashville‘s rebound offers hope amid slumps, while Going Dutch fights for relevance. Law & Order and Elsbeth chug along, Trivial Pursuit entertains lightly. As midseason ramps (e.g., Elsbeth S3B Jan), watch for 9-1-1 crossovers or FOX shakeups.
Stream on Hulu (ABC/FOX), Peacock (NBC), Paramount+ (CBS). Check TVSeriesFinale weekly for updates. What did you watch? Drop thoughts below—9-1-1: Nashville fans, is renewal deserved? Going Dutch diehards, can it recover?
