Here are the ratings for the Prime Suspect TV series. A tough-as-nails NYPD homicide detective who works to uphold the law while fighting discrimination and dis-trust in her own department. The first season of Prime Suspect typically airs on Thursday nights at 10pm on the NBC network.
These are the TV show’s ratings for the 2011-12 season, the best way to tell if Prime Suspect is going to be cancelled or renewed for season two. Check out our NBC ratings report card to see how this show’s numbers compare with the others on the network.
These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:
Final season averages: 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.61 million total viewers.
Episode 01-13: Sunday, 1/22/12 (series finale)
0.7 in the demo (-11% episode-to-episode change) with 3.6 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.19 in the demo with 4.61 million.
Demo average rank: #14 of 16 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-12: Sunday, 1/22/12
0.8 in the demo (-20% episode-to-episode change) with 4.31 million; fourth in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.23 in the demo with 4.69 million.
Demo average rank: #14 of 16 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-11: Thursday, 12/22/11
1.0 in the demo (+11% week-to-week change) with 4.44 million; second in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.27 in the demo with 4.72 million.
Demo average rank: #11 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-10: Thursday, 12/15/11
0.9 in the demo (-31% episode-to-episode change) with 3.70 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.3 in the demo with 4.75 million.
Demo average rank: #11 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-09: Thursday, 12/01/11
1.3 in the demo (+18% week-to-week change) with 4.69 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.34 in the demo with 4.87 million.
Demo average rank: #11 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-08: Thursday, 11/17/11
1.1 in the demo (-15% week-to-week change) with 4.34 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.35 in the demo with 4.89 million.
Demo average rank: #10 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-07: Thursday, 11/17/11
1.3 in the demo (+8% week-to-week change) with 4.86 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.39 in the demo with 4.97 million.
Demo average rank: #9 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-06: Thursday, 11/03/11
1.2 in the demo (+9% week-to-week change) with 4.51 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.40 in the demo with 4.99 million.
Demo average rank: #9 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-05: Thursday, 10/27/11
1.1 in the demo (-15% week-to-week change) with 4.03 million; fourth in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.44 in the demo with 5.08 million.
Demo average rank: #8 of 11 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Episode 01-04: Thursday, 10/13/11
1.3 in the demo (-13% week-to-week change) with 4.6 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.5 in the demo with 5.34 million.
Demo average rank: #8 of 11 scripted TV shows currently on the network.
Episode 01-03: Thursday, 10/6/11
1.5 in the demo (0% week-to-week change) with 5.04 million; third in the timeslot.
Season average: 1.6 in the demo with 5.59 million.
Demo average rank: #8 of 11 scripted TV shows currently on the network.
Episode 01-02: Thursday, 9/29/11
There was no better news in week two. The new TV series attracted a poor 1.5 in the demo with 5.69 million. That’s a decline of 17% in the demo and the show already couldn’t afford to lose any points. It’s looking like this may be one of NBC’s first cancellations of the season.
Season average: 1.6 demo with 5.87 million.
Episode 01-01: Thursday, 9/22/11
Though it looked like it would be one of the stronger shows on the NBC schedule, the viewers don’t seem to agree. The first episode registered a disappointing 1.8 in the 18-49 demographic and just 6.05 million viewers. It was in third (last) place for the timeslot. What’s more, many viewers turned the program off before the episode finished. That’s not a good sign for next week.
On a positive note, Prime Suspect outperformed last season’s non-celebrity version of The Apprentice by 20%. That’s not much of a consolation though since that edition was a certifiable bomb.
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 new Prime Suspect TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a second season?
I love this show. I think it’s a great alternative to the other female leads in prime time. Bello’s character is smart, gritty and up against the old boys club and has the biggest Achille’s heel by having an affair with a higher ranking officer. Bello handles the dilemma with ‘balls’!
I love that it’s set in NYC and the stories so far are intense. i hope NBC keeps this series in their line up. it’s my Thursday night must-see.
that show sucked and will always suck!!!!
This is a pretty good show. I don’t understand all the hate. Personally, I’m now in a bind because Burn Notice is now on at 10 instead of 9. Maybe it should be on CBS. It would probably do better.
If it were on CBS it would be another bland procedural. I have to go to basic cable for Justified, South land , and The Closer to get my intelligent crime drama fix. Prime Suspect need NBC to go back to the days of being humble. Giving television show seasons to grow an audience. They can’t compete with the other networks following the same. Seriously have grasped the situation that Jeff Zucker era left NBC in. They can’t follow the CBS model and expect the same result. They need to redefine their brand. Become the network that about progressive and… Read more »
LOVE THE SHOW!!!! MARIA BELLA IS AWESOME!!!!!!
I also think this is the best new show on TV. I watched the original with Helen Mirren, but you have to judge this show on it’s own merits, just as you would The Office. It has consistently gotten better and better. If you left after one episode because she is disliked by the guys (then you didn’t watch the original which was the same) and have not watched the subsequent shows then you left too early. Bello is excellent, cast offs from Fringe, Flash Forward, Mercy/Rubicon (two good shows cancelled to early, particularly the latter) and Aidan Quinn are… Read more »
I haven’t seen the BBC original of Prime Suspect but would like to. I also liked Free Agents (US) which was canceled after the 4th episode but do not like the original BBC sitcom.
Keep Prime Suspect. Some of the best writing and acting on network TV.
the show is great .maria bello is great and the cast is great.keep the show on the air.
Maria Bello is great, and the scripts are getting better. Last night’s was the best so far. The earlier stories were too much about how the guys don’t like her, and that stuff doesn’t work . . . way too heavy handed with it. The story with the child abuser was creepy and probably caused a lot of viewers to click away and not come back. But there are good things about the show, especially Bello, and NBC should do whatever is necessary to make it work. It has the makings of one of the best shows I’ve seen on… Read more »
I think Prime Suspect is one of the best new shows on the air.
I am liking the show but sadly have accepted the fact that it will most likely be cancelled.
I enjoy the show, although not perfect, it is entertaining and i believe that as more episodes come, it will get better. The storyline has a bright future if the do it right. The biggest challenge however is the time slot, up against Private Practice and The Mentalist. NBC should give it a better schedule to gain a bigger audience
I really liked this show – and I like Maria Bello!! If you just watch without actually thinking, you might conclude that it’s boring or lifeless (as some of you have said)! However, if you put thought into how a strong, confident, and slightly defiant woman can feel in such a boys’ club, you can feel the anguish she goes through daily! I know, from personal experience, that there are a lot of boys’ clubs, full of scandalous politics and perceived superiority towards woman! The fact that she stood up for herself and did her job, then, in private, showed… Read more »
I enjoyed the show. She stood up for herself after being shut out at least 3 other times and treated as if she didn’t deserve to be part of “THEIR TEAM” She is a detective and as such , should have been afforded the respect of a detective.
She’s good at her job and not kissing Bu_ _.
I watched the original BBC Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren and loved it. I watched this American version and I was very disappointed. Bello’s portrayal of the main character was lifeless and I won’t waste the time to mention the male characters around her.
I watched this premiere twice, just to make sure I wasn’t drawing the wrong conclusions. Sadly, I was not. I saw a squad of male NYPD detectives whose primary action, besides ridiculing and harassing the female in their group, seemed to be sitting around the office drinking on the job. The image projected was boorish guys who are pig-headed, not to bright, and kinda lazy. (When a suspect has a victim’s blood on him, there’s no need to look any further.) The image of the female detective wasn’t much better. When one of the “good old boy” detectives has a… Read more »
apparently nobody cares enough to comment. I, as one of many, chose not to watch Bello the Clown. Helen Mirren rocks!
Prime Suspect is a Gritty Adult Crime Drama that a character study. It’s twice as smart as any of procedurals on CBS. Some want the show to take on serialize content. It won’t happen due to bad history of serialization on broadcast. Last year we had The Chicago Code on Fox as the last attempt to bring back complex crime drama to broadcast. Alas it couldn’t hold on 2.o demo and Fox was making room for X-factor and Terra Nova. We all know how Terra Nova has turned into a big financial blunder for Fox. Hopefully NBC will give it… Read more »
Thanks for the comment George. Prime Suspect( US) has yet to air in the UK. I watched Helen Mirren in the UK version and like most people loved the series. I will watch the US version when it airs here and judge it on its own. I also agree with you about most of the procededural shows on CBS (CSI) which is way past it best but still watchabel in my opinion( CSI NY & Miami) which for me “jumped the shark” early on in their runs. I was dismayed when I heard the Chicago Code had been cancelled as… Read more »