'Scandal' ratings leap to all-time high

Go Scandal!

ABC’s soap continued its gravity-defying ratings ascent this season, leaping 23 percent this week to its best rating ever.

Scandal had 8.9 million viewers and a 3.2 rating at 10 p.m., easily squashing rivals. In fact, Scandal beat every broadcast show Thursday night except CBS’ comedy block power duo of Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men. Scandal is on track to rank as TV’s No. 1 drama for the second time in three weeks. ABC is set to announce its fall schedule next week. I wonder if Scandal will be the show that finally replaces Grey’s as the network’s 9 p.m. anchor on Thursdays?

ABC also had some bad news, though. The season premiere of reality competition Wipeout face-planted at 8 p.m., plummeting 56 percent from last year’s debut. Guess viewers are tired of the Big Balls.

Meanwhile, NBC’s Community finale was up 8 percent this week. We expect NBC to make a decision on a Community renewal by Sunday, and very possibly today. The Office bounced 28 percent to its best rating since November as it ramps up to its finale.

CBS had two season finales: Men was up 6 percent from last week and down 13 percent from last year’s finale. Person of Interest was steady with last week and down 4 percent from last year’s finale.

Full Chart: