Update: our polled readers were too optimistic, though in their defense, it would've been hard to predict the late start time in advance. Elementary averaged 20.8 million viewers.
The timeslot immediately following the Super Bowl has in recent years been used to either premiere a new show, give a sampling boost to an existing relatively new show, or just reap the bonus advertising revenue from an already well performing veteran.
This year, CBS has slated Elementary to follow the big game, its only freshman scripted show that seems likely to survive the season.
Last year, NBC went with The Voice after the Super Bowl, and it averaged a very nice 37.61 million viewers.
What do you think the viewership of Elementary following the Super Bowl will be and why?
If you'd like to guess the viewership for the Super Bowl itself, click here.
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The "Program After The Super Bowl" Ratings History
| Super Bowl | Year | Network | Program | HH rating | HH Share | Avg. Homes (million) | Avg. Viewers (million) |
| XLVI | 2012 | NBC | The Voice | 18.4 | 31 | 37.611 | |
| XLV | 2011 | FOX | Glee | 13.6 | 25 | 15.777 | 26.796 |
| XLIV | 2010 | CBS | Undercover Boss | 19.1 | 32 | 21.91 | 38.654 |
| XLIII | 2009 | NBC | The Office | 11.6 | 21 | 13.338 | 22.905 |
| XLII | 2008 | FOX | House | 15.7 | 27 | 17.719 | 29.045 |
| XLI | 2007 | CBS | Criminal Minds | 15.1 | 26 | 16.770 | 26.314 |
| XL | 2006 | ABC | Grey's Anatomy | 21.0 | 34 | 23.106 | 37.881 |
| XXXIX | 2005 | FOX | Simpsons | 13.0 | 22 | 14.228 | 23.074 |
| XXXVIII | 2004 | CBS | Survivor All-Star | 17.9 | 32 | 19.415 | 33.535 |
| XXXVII | 2003 | ABC | Alias | 10.6 | 20 | 11.283 | 17.362 |
| XXXVI | 2002 | FOX | Malcolm In The Middle | 11.5 | 21 | 12.117 | 21.445 |
| XXXV | 2001 | CBS | Survivor II | 24.5 | 39 | 25.076 | 45.369 |
| XXXIV | 2000 | ABC | The Practice | 15.3 | 27 | 15.420 | 23.847 |
| XXXIII | 1999 | FOX | Family Guy -Preview | 12.6 | 21 | 12.560 | 22.005 |
| XXXII | 1998 | NBC | Third Rock from the Sun | 19.7 | 34 | 19.260 | 33.662 |
| XXXI | 1997 | FOX | X-Files | 17.2 | 29 | 16.730 | 29.098 |
| XXX | 1996 | NBC | Friends | 29.6 | 46 | 28.400 | 52.925 |
| XXIX | 1995 | ABC | Extreme Special | 14.2 | 25 | 13.350 | 22.594 |
| XXVIII | 1994 | NBC | John Laroquette Show | 12.3 | 22 | 11.590 | 17.708 |
| XXVII | 1993 | NBC | Homicide Special | 18.0 | 31 | 16.760 | 28.121 |
| XXVI | 1992 | CBS | 60 Minutes | 16.8 | 30 | 15.470 | 24.821 |
| XXV | 1991 | ABC | Davis Rules | 15.5 | 25 | 14.430 | 26.695 |
| XXIV | 1990 | CBS | Grand Slam | 18.6 | 30 | 17.130 | 30.765 |
| XXIII | 1989 | NBC | Sun Nite Movie | 20.9 | 36 | 18.890 | |
| XXII | 1988 | ABC | Wonder Years | 17.9 | 31 | 15.860 | 28.976 |
| XXI | 1987 | CBS | Hard Copy Special | 19.8 | 33 | 17.310 | |
| XX | 1986 | NBC | NBC Sunday Night Movie | 16.5 | 25 | 14.170 | 39.729 |
| XIX | 1985 | ABC | Macgrouder and Loud | 22.8 | 38 | 19.360 | |
| XVIII | 1984 | CBS | Airwolf Special(s) | 21.6 | 36 | 18.100 | 27.874 |
| XVII | 1983 | NBC | A-Team Special | 26.3 | 39 | 21.910 | 21.910 |
| XVI | 1982 | CBS | 60 Minutes | 26.2 | 36 | 21.350 | |
| XV | 1981 | NBC | Chips | 16.3 | 26 | 12.680 | |
| XIV | 1980 | CBS | 60 Minutes | 33.0 | 50 | 25.179 | 40.746 |
| XIII | 1979 | NBC | Brothers and Sisters | 21.0 | 32 | 15.650 | 31.722 |
| XII | 1978 | CBS | All In the Family | 30.4 | 47 | 22.160 | 35.472 |
| XI | 1977 | NBC | Disney's "Kit Carson" | 25.8 | 37 | 18.370 | 42.816 |
| X | 1976 | CBS | Phoenix Open Golf | 16.5 | 31 | 11.480 | 22.363 |
| IX | 1975 | NBC | NBC Sunday Night News | 16.7 | 28 | 11.440 | 15.924 |
| VIII | 1974 | CBS | Perry Mason** | 12.7 | 20 | 8.410 | 15.058 |
| VII | 1973 | NBC | Disney's "The Mystery | 28.4 | 44 | 18.400 | |
| VI | 1972 | CBS | 60 Minutes | 20.3 | 36 | 12.610 | |
| V | 1971 | NBC | Bing CrosbyPro-Am Golf Champshps | 19.2 | 36 | 11.540 | |
| IV | 1970 | CBS | Lassie | 21.5 | 34 | 12.580 | |
| III | 1969 | NBC | G.E. College Bowl | 11.7 | 21 | 6.670 | |
| II | 1968 | CBS | Lassie | 26.3 | 41.2 | 14.730 | |
| I | 1967 | CBS | Lassie | 15.6 | 25.3 | 8.560 | |
| I | 1967 | NBC | Disney's "The Mosby Raiders" Part II | 21.7 | 33.7 | 11.910 |
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2006-12 numbers are Live+Same Day, all others are Live Viewing.
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2013 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
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For comparison, here are the historical Super Bowl ratings themselves.
25-29 seems like the safe bet.
Criminal Minds got 26 million so Elementary will be around 24 million !
I guess it will get a 26 millions and a 8.0
It will do worse than Glee. 25 million.
Bill, There’s no historical 18-49 post-super bowl program ratings?
I vote for 25-29.9 millions..
11.5 and 27 millions!
It will do the same as GLEE
LMAO@GLEE’S NUMBERS WHAT A FLOP!
no way its topping the voice
Worse than criminal minds and glee imo.. 20-25
Survivor :@
I thought in 2010 Hawaii 5-0 was after the Super Bowl.
It’s preformance will depend on what time it starts.
Don’t know why, but I sense a major flop for Elementary’s ratings
Big Bang Theory should of followed, would have loved to see those monster numbers. Wouldn’t be Friends level, but would probably be pretty close.
PoI fans, how does defeat taste? LOL GO ELEMENTARY!
I just wish I could depend on my DVR listings; as I do NOT bother watching football…
The Super Bowl started getting over 100 million just three years ago so its possible that it can beat Criminal Minds but that’s the area I got it in is 25-29 million.
@HotLatino4GayMarriage
I’m a fan of both shows so your post just sounds like a cry for attention IMO.
@HotLatino4GayMarriage
We’re doing well, thank you, since POI doesn’t need the boost, unlike Elementary!
Elementary after the Super Bowl will get super ratings, but Elementary at the regular timeslot will quickly go back to its regular numbers.