Harris Poll Reveals 'NCIS' and 'The Big Bang Theory' as America's Favorite TV Shows

NCIS and The Big Bang Theory are America’s top two favorite current shows, according to a newly released Harris Poll of 2,232 U.S. adults who were surveyed online in English between Jan. 14 and Jan. 20, 2015.

“We all know that NCIS and The Big Bang Theory are the top-rated scripted series, but this survey demonstrates that these shows clearly stand out as America’s favorite choice in a growing television universe,” said David Poltrack, Chief Research Officer, CBS Corporation, President, CBS Vision. “This level of viewer engagement is important because research has proven that engaged viewers are more receptive to and more responsive to advertising. The CBS primetime lineup accounted for far more ‘favorite’ mentions than that of any other network and contained more different programs chosen as viewer favorites, confirming the unique bond between this Network’s programs and its audience.”


FAVORITE CURRENT TV SHOW
“What is your favorite current TV show?”

Unprompted responses

Base: All adults

	Total
NCIS	1
The Big Bang Theory	2
The Walking Dead	3
Scandal	4
Game of Thrones	5
The Good Wife (tie)	6
The Blacklist (tie)	6
Modern Family	8
Blue Bloods	9
Criminal Minds	10

Source: Harris Poll

'The Blacklist' is The Top-Rated Post Super Bowl Entertainment Telecast in 3 Years

NBC’s special post-Super Bowl telecast of The Blacklist averaged a 13.5 rating, 24 share in metered-market households, making it the top-rated post-Super Bowl entertainment telecast in three years.

It’s a record rating for the series.

The 13.5 makes it the top primetime entertainment telecast since the Oscars (27.7/42 on March 2, 2014) in metered-market households.

The Blacklist is up +9% versus the year-ago post-Super Bowl edition of New Girl on Fox (12.4/21 in metered-market households on February 2, 2014).

Versus two years ago, The Blacklist is up +13%, with its 13.5 rating topping a 12.0 for CBS’s Elementary on February 3, 2013.

The last post-Super Bowl entertainment telecast to rate higher was NBC’s February 5, 2012 edition of The Voice, which scored a 20.0/30.

Note: The Blacklist local-market numbers are reported on a quarter-hour basis, meaning they likely understate the show’s actual rating since the accurate start time was 10:38 and Nielsen measurement began at 10:45.

NBC to Air Promos for 'The Blacklist', 'Odyssey', 'Undateable' and 'The Voice' During Super Bowl

Ads for The Blacklist, The Voice, Odyssey and Undateable will run during the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLIX will deliver the most viewers of any television event of the year, so it makes sense NBC is using this enormous audience platform to promote many of its current, midseason and fall series.

Among the highlights:

The Blacklist spot (30 seconds) features Red Reddington (James Spader), who remains stoically calm amongst a sea of explosions and automotive chaos. “The Blacklist” airs the first of an electrifying two-part episode immediate following the Super Bowl before moving to its new 9 p.m. Thursday timeslot beginning February 5.

NBC Sets Premieres Dates for 'Allegiance,' 'A.D.,' 'Odyssey' and 'The Slap'

NBC has announced premiere dates for its burgeoning midseason schedule — dramas The Blacklist, Allegiance, Night Shift, A.D. and Odyssey, event series The Slap, and comedies One Big Happy and Undateable.

As previously announced, Emmy Award winner James Spader and The Blacklist will return to the NBC schedule on Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, immediately following the game. The series then shifts to its new timeslot beginning Thursday, February 5 at 9 p.m.

The Blacklist will serve as a lead-in to the new spy thriller Allegiance from writer-director George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau). Allegiance will air Thursdays at 10 p.m. beginning February 5.

'The Blacklist' Season 2 Premieres Tonight: Red Confronts an Important Person From His Past

Red confronts an important person from his past on the second season premiere of The Blacklist, airing Monday, September 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Mary Louise Parker (Weeds), Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) and Peter Stormare (Fargo) guest star.

In the episode, "Lord Baltimore," Red (James Spader) continues to battle Berlin (Stormare) and faces a new threat from a man named Lord Baltimore. An important person comes back from the past into Red's world. Meanwhile, Liz (Megan Boone) tries to move forward with her life after her showdown with Tom (Ryan Eggold).

Watch a sneak peek video below:

Massive Marketing Campaign Underway to Continue Momentum for 'The Blacklist'

NBC is waging a comprehensive marketing campaign to ensure the continued awareness for its No. 1 drama series, The Blacklist, which kicks off its second season at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Monday, September 22.

The network will use extensive on-air, print, outdoor and digital platforms to increase momentum and anticipation for the series and cement Raymond "Red" Reddington (Emmy Award-winning actor James Spader) as a national icon and the ultimate anti-hero.

For on-air purposes, a round-up of Red's favorite one-liners will be set to AC/DC's classic rock song "Back in Black" and will be in heavy rotation on all of NBC's dayparts - daytime, prime time and late night - as well as the cable networks of NBCUniversal.

On the print side, some of the top magazine titles in the world will have a faux facelift as a specially created "Blacklist" cover will "take over" such publications as Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, the New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Playboy.

NEWS BRIEF: 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Live Stage Show, 'The Walking Dead' Most Discussed, AMC In Talks to Acquire Stake in BBC America

* Actors from The Bold and the Beautiful will appear in a live stage show in the Netherlands on October 3rd and 4th. Participating actors include Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer), Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester), Kim Matula (Hope Logan) and Heather Tom (Katie Logan).

* Folks at the Burbank, California-based restaurant Not a Burger Stand have come up with an amusing way of offering discounts to their customers. Each week they draw up a new famous television show or movie character on a chalkboard and note that if customers order their food in the voice of or dress up as the character shown, they will receive a certain percentage off the bill.

* Supernatural will be welcoming back some familiar faces for its 10th season (premiering October 7), including Sheriff Mills (played by Kim Rhodes). Meanwhile, the CW series' "musical-ish" 200th episode will feature "just about every character — I’ll say they will be represented — that you’ve ever loved or hated on the show, and I say that very obliquely on purpose," executive producer Jeremy Carver teases. "So they will be there in spirit."

* Readers of TV adaptations of books need to let go. "I'm so sick of going on the Internet and seeing all the book readers being snobby, spoiling it for other people, then saying, 'Well, it's not a spoiler. The books have been out for years.' Like, couldn't you just stop being mad for a second and let other people enjoy the show?"

* These days, a new show has to use every tool in its arsenal to attract viewers as quickly as possible: splashy advertising, big name guest stars, over-the-top promos, and of course, a blockbuster web presence, one that gathers fans on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr who will then faithfully promote the show with homemade image macros and clever hashtags born from love. But while a show might leave our airwaves, a Facebook fan page is forever. What becomes of the social media accounts of canceled shows?

* Who were the most talked about characters in The Walking Dead's fourth season? No one got as much attention as Rick or The Governor, but Michonne and Daryl certainly had their moments. Hershel also got lots of attention — by dying. And Beth and Carol's journeys were the subject of much speculation.

* AMC Networks is in talks to acquire nearly a 50% stake in cabler BBC America.

* Covert Affairs actress Piper Perabo wore a unique, textured metallic gown to tie the knot with director-producer Stephen Kay, who played Reginald on General Hospital in his acting days, last Saturday in New York City.

* Guiding Light's iconic "The Slut of Springfield" scene aired 30 years ago.

* Former Scandal star Columbus Short was ordered to appear Wednesday morning in criminal court for a hearing in his domestic violence case. His wife was asking the judge for more protection from the actor, who is mired in legal trouble. But the actor wasn't there, so the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

* NBC's The Blacklist has tapped Krysten Ritter for a guest-starring gig.

* Katie Couric left her self-titled talk show behind in a special "Farewell to Katie" episode that aired Wednesday.

* What better way to celebrate the release of Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery on Blu-ray than with a mash-up with The Muppets?

* Claire Holt, who famously pulled out of her series regular gig on The Originals during its first season, has snagged a series regular role on NBC's upcoming Charles Manson-themed event series Aquarius. Holt will play tough-skinned police officer Charmain Tully.

NBC Sets Fall Premiere Dates for 'The Blacklist', 'The Mysteries of Laura', 'Parenthood' and More

NBC has announced premiere dates for its fall schedule, which include No. 1 broadcast program “Sunday Night Football,” the return of No. 1 reality series “The Voice,” No. 1 new series “The Blacklist,” and the debuts of highly anticipated comedy “Marry Me” and drama “The Mysteries of Laura.”

“Sunday Night Football” launches its campaign on Thursday, Sept. 4 when the Green Bay Packers travel to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Three days later on Sunday, Sept. 7, the Indianapolis Colts will play at the AFC champion Denver Broncos (8:20 p.m. ET/5:20 p.m. PT). The game will be preceded by the season premiere of “Football Night in America” (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT).

“The Biggest Loser,” in which contestants lose weight in the hope of restarting their lives, returns for its 16th season Thursday, Sept. 11 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT).