The ratings for FOX’s Glee series have been dropping for awhile. Will they fall low enough to see the TV series cancelled? That’s the real drama.
These are the TV show’s ratings for the 2012-13 season, the best way to tell if Glee is going to be cancelled or renewed for season five.
The fourth season of Glee typically airs Thursday nights at 9pm on the FOX network. The large cast includes Amber Riley, Chord Overstreet, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Darren Criss, Dianna Agron, Harry Shum, Heather Morris, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Mark Salling, Matthew Morrison, and Naya Rivera.
These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:
Final season averages: 2.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 5.86 million total viewers.
Episode 04-22: Thursday, 05/09/13
2.0 in the demo (+5% change) with 5.92 million (+14% change).
Season averages: 2.21 in the demo with 5.86 million.
Episode 04-21: Thursday, 05/02/13
1.9 in the demo (+6% change) with 5.19 million (-1% change).
Season averages: 2.22 in the demo with 5.86 million.
Episode 04-20: Thursday, 04/25/13
1.8 in the demo (-14% change) with 5.24 million (-15% change).
Season averages: 2.23 in the demo with 5.89 million.
UPDATE: FOX has renewed Glee for two more seasons.
Episode 04-19: Thursday, 04/18/13
2.1 in the demo (-13% change) with 6.14 million (-8% change).
Season averages: 2.26 in the demo with 5.92 million.
Episode 04-18: Thursday, 04/11/13
2.4 in the demo (+20% change) with 6.67 million (+13% change).
Season averages: 2.27 in the demo with 5.91 million.
Episode 04-17: Thursday, 03/21/13
2.0 in the demo (0% change) with 5.91 million (+10% change).
Season averages: 2.26 in the demo with 5.87 million.
Episode 04-16: Thursday, 03/14/13
2.0 in the demo (-17% change) with 5.37 million (-20% change).
Season averages: 2.27 in the demo with 5.87 million.
Episode 04-15: Thursday, 03/07/13 (special 9:30pm time)
2.4 in the demo (+41% change) with 6.72 million (+31% change).
Season averages: 2.29 in the demo with 5.90 million.
Episode 04-14: Thursday, 02/14/13
1.7 in the demo (-23% change) with 5.13 million (-15% change).
Season averages: 2.29 in the demo with 5.84 million.
Episode 04-13: Thursday, 02/07/13
2.2 in the demo (+5% change) with 6.03 million (+10% change).
Season averages: 2.33 in the demo with 5.89 million.
Episode 04-12: Thursday, 01/31/13
2.1 in the demo (-19% change) with 5.48 million (-19% change).
Season averages: 2.34 in the demo with 5.88 million.
Episode 04-11: Thursday, 01/24/13
2.6 in the demo (+30% change) with 6.79 million (+29% change).
Season averages: 2.36 in the demo with 5.92 million.
Episode 04-10: Thursday, 12/13/12
2.0 in the demo (-9% change) with 5.26 million (-3% change).
Season averages: 2.34 in the demo with 5.83 million.
Episode 04-09: Thursday, 12/06/12
2.2 in the demo (0% change) with 5.43 million (+1% change).
Season averages: 2.38 in the demo with 5.90 million.
Episode 04-08: Thursday, 11/29/12
2.2 in the demo (+47% change) with 5.39 million (+17% change).
Season averages: 2.40 in the demo with 5.96 million.
Episode 04-07: Thursday, 11/22/12
1.5 in the demo (-29% change) with 4.62 million (-12% change).
Season averages: 2.43 in the demo with 6.04 million.
Episode 04-06: Thursday, 11/15/12
2.1 in the demo (-13% change) with 5.22 million (-8% change).
Season averages: 2.58 in the demo with 6.27 million.
Episode 04-05: Thursday, 11/08/12
2.4 in the demo (-8% change) with 5.68 million (-6% change).
Season averages: 2.68 in the demo with 6.48 million.
Episode 04-04: Thursday, 10/04/12
2.6 in the demo (+8% change) with 6.07 million (+5% change).
Season averages: 2.75 in the demo with 6.68 million.
Episode 04-03: Thursday, 09/27/12
2.4 in the demo (-17% change) with 5.79 million (-22% change).
Season averages: 2.80 in the demo with 6.89 million.
Episode 04-02: Thursday, 09/20/12
2.9 demo rating (-7% change) with 7.46 million (+1% change).
Season averages: 3.00 in the demo with 7.44 million.
Episode 04-01: Thursday, 09/13/12
3.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.41 million total viewers.
Season averages: 3.10 in the demo with 7.41 million.
On a new night, with only medium competition, the fourth season premiere of Glee was down significantly year-to-year. In the demo, the series was down by 23% (vs a 4.0 rating) and was down by 20% in total viewers (vs 9.21 million). On their own, the numbers are still very good but one has to wonder how they bode for the rest of the season.
Reference point: The 2011-12 season averaged a 3.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 7.31 million viewers.
Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.
What do you think? Do you like the Glee TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a fifth season?
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I think the show started its downfall when the writers continued shoving Rachel towards Finn. Given that they have the chemistry but most people saw the greater chemistry between Mark & Lea. Bad boy-Good girl tandem is so clichè as it is but it is one of the most appreciated and watched for feel good movies. Season 4 has been real bad. Changing scenes from Ohio to New york. I am betting they would once again shove Rachel to Finn again in this season as if they have a very epic love story when they have none. People are so… Read more »
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GLEE is a shadow of its former self. There is no continuity unless you count a slushee. They leave storylines unfinished and immediately try to make viewers feel something for the revised versions of the originals. I am tired of Rachel Berry.RM has outright said no other graduates will get any attention unless they come back to McKinley (oh how realistic is that). What disappoints me the most is how he excluded all the talent he has to focus only on Lea/Rachel who is the most dysfunctional character in the show. How about concluding the TIKE and SAMCEDES storyline since… Read more »
@A Film Director,
Please, Glee is still strong and deserves it’s spot on TV. As long as their Neilson rating and sales(iTunes mostly) are high, Glee is going no where. They overshadow all the other FOX shows due to revenue. Bones might get more viewers, but Glee makes more money for FOX. So please stfu and stop rambling on about nothing.
Ryan Murphy wants to create and to incorporate new things, but too much quickly. It’s the case about the relationships. And particularly the case of Sam and Brittany. They didn’t use to be good friends in last seasons but now, they are the best friends ever (or maybe more) just like that!
this is so not true! and i dont understand why everyone hates marley and jake! they have amazing voices, even better than some of the old cast members! okay, kitty, sugar and unique are very annoying and i just want them out, but this doesnt mean, the whole show goes down. if the show would leave mc kinely and only give their time to santana, rachel, kurt and quinn, what would be with some other members, who havent finished school yet? like artie, tina, blaine and brittany? or joe? artie and tine have even been there in the first episode… Read more »
I’m glad somebody is still supporting Glee. People can be such hypocrites. They love it when it’s all innocent and child-like. But, when things change, the brush it aside. I, for one, would love to see how this turns out. I’ll admit, season 4 was off to a rocky start but the only way it can go is up. Seeing Finn and Rachel together was good while it lasted. But, it’s kinda nice that they are taking a break. Gives them time to truly find themselves and figure out what they really want. But, in the end, true love is… Read more »
“The only way it can go now is up” LOL! Eating your words now huh? Since it has, for the most part, gone continuously downhill. Don’t underestimate these writers. Just when you think they can’t get any worse they will prove you wrong in spectacular fashion. Glee is a horrible, pathetic imitation of what it once was. The sooner Fox wash their hands of it, the better. They’re lucky they’re on FOX because I doubt they’d have gotten a season four on any other network…
Not surprising. Ryan Murphy needs to dump Mckinley. I’m only watching the NY parts but even in fast forward the Mckinley parts managed to annoy me. I deduced we have a Quinn Season 1 clone, a Puck season 1 clone, Blaine singing a solo yet AGAIN, yet ANOTHER Vocal Adrenaline lead singer joining, and some bland new brunette singing all the leads while Tina is once again shunted off to the background!! And Mr Shue has become a shell of his former character. Love the Rachel and Kurt in NY story. But its annoying having to stop and fast forward… Read more »
My thoughts exactly! I really only watch the NYC scenes and lately those have been cut short. I was so mad/disappointed when Rachel’s first solo of the season (having waited a summer break) was interrupted by the new character.
The show is still popular and outdraws other fox shows like raising hope which never goes away. I love glee but they’ve got to have more focus. Please Ryan Murphy focus on Kurt and Rachel and get off of the need to go to the new kids and the Mckinley storyline for the majority of the show, its giving me whiplash. I record the show and forward to the new York parts to tell the truth. You have one of the most charismatic pairings in Tv in Kurt and Rachel and the possibilities are endless with them.
how awesome would it be if they added santana to that dynamic. I would give anything to see rachel, kurt, and santana living in the same apartment! Now THAT is a comedy worth watching!
Glee has been scheduled opposite Person of Interest and Grey’s Anatomy, two very strong shows. Most people can only record one show at a time for later viewing. This does not bode well for Glee.
Glee has always deserved its place on TV! Its a culture phenomenon and will go down in history! Lea Michele/Rachel is the centre piece of the show! As long as she remains in t, Glee will alwas be amazing! This season has been flawless so far! 🙂
Why isn’t Fox splitting the show into two shows? One stays in high school and the other follows the college-aged kids. I’m so tired of the Rachel character. You can leave McKinley, but you can’t leave yourself. I wish she was not the center of the show. Bring back Mike Chang!
You know I think it’s a crying shame, there are so many, MANY other GREAT shows that are more worthy of being on the air than this show, yet this show is STILL on and other shows are being cancelled. This show was done for me after season two, that’s when it stopped being real, it stopped being the great “reach for your dreams” show that I thought it originally was. This show is now just a show without any body to it, just guest stars here & there…ugh….no.
Hey, the show isn’t tanking, and appears to still have a good share of the coveted demo. It’s ‘WAY ahead of some of Fox’s other offerings. While it’s not one of my personal faves, I’m looking at it from a business point of view, and, unless salary demands, etc. run outta control, it liix like good business to keep “Glee” for at least one more whole season. We’ll see how it does once the summer junk is off the air.