Exclusive: The Most Popular TV Shows, February 2018
Nostalgia is creeping its way into the Top 20.
In the age of live tweeting and online fandoms, traditional TV ratings are no longer the only metric to gauge how popular a television show is, which makes Parrot Analytics’s approach helpful. The company doesn’t only use ratings to measure a show’s global impact, they also measure the popularity of a given show in average demand expressions per capita. Parrot describes this as “the total audience demand being expressed for a title, within a country, on any platform, per 100 capita.”
In addition to viewership, this takes into account things like social media engagement, with more weight being given to more important actions like watching a series, versus simply commenting on a video. Parrot’s allows for the multiple aspects of television engagement to be taken into account. The company has exclusively shared its findings with Inverse for the top 20 hottest shows as of the end of February 2018 and here’s what shows made the list, including some older shows that are still kicking.
'Game of Thrones'
1. Game of Thrones
Since last month’s analysis Game of Thrones has increased to 16.25 average demand expressions per capita from a 12.66. The brand of HBO hit series is strong ahead of its 2019 final season premiere. While there hasn’t been big news for Game of Thrones, the minds behind the series, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, have been tapped to join the Star Wars universe.
'The Walking Dead'
2. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead returned to television series has resulted in an increase for the AMC series since last month’s list. On the heels of its midseason premiere the series has gone from 10.20 to 14.05 average demand expressions per capita. The premiere included the exit of one the show’s few original characters.
'Stranger Things'
3. Stranger Things
The highly anticipated return of Stranger Things resulted in a 13.22 average demand expressions per capita last month, but the score has dipped a bit since. The hype of the show’s second batch of episodes has worn off and the show’s average demand expressions per capita is 12.59 as of the end of February.
Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha in 'Vikings'
4. Vikings
Last month Vikings rode the wave of its most recent season to top the list, but since then things have cooled for the History channel drama. The show’s average demand expressions per capita dropped from 15.22 to 9.14. This could be a combination of distance from its latest finale and the return popular series The Walking Dead.
'The Big Bang Theory'
5. The Big Bang Theory
CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory saw a tiny dip in its average demand expressions per capita, but has kept its fifth-place spot on the list. It went from last month’s 7.93 to 7.67. The popular comedy is continuing to be a solid program for the network.
'La casa de papel'
6. La Casa De Papel
Spanish series La Casa De Papel has made a significant leap from its fourteenth-place spot in last month’s ranking. The series, which is being called Money Heist on Netflix, has an average demand expressions per capita score of 7.00, which is up from 4.90. The series is about a group of criminals who try to pull off the biggest heist of their careers.
'Grey's Anatomy'
7. Grey’s Anatomy
ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy saw a slight drop in average demand expressions per capita and was bumped down one spot in the ranking. It went from last month’s 7.48 to 6.31. The Shondaland drama, which is in its fourteenth season, is in the midst of launching new firefighter spinoff Station 19 last this month.
Joel Kinnaman as Takeshi Kovacs in 'Altered Carbon'.
8. Altered Carbon
Netflix’s newest drama Altered Carbon clearly made quite the impression with a big debut in the ranking. With an average demand expressions per capita score of 5.76, the first season clearly resonated with viewers. It tied with drama series Lucifer.
'Lucifer'
8. Lucifer
After debuting on the list last month, Fox drama Lucifer is still eighth on the list, but this tying with new addition Altered Carbon. Although it didn’t change its ranking, the show saw a small dip in average demand expressions per capita from 6.40 to 5.76. Lucifer is currently airing its third season.
'Prison Break'
10. Prison Break
Although the revival season of Prison Break aired its finale last May, the show has seen an increase in average demand expressions per capita since last month. It went from 4.86 to 5.48. The most recent news about the property comes from Dominic Purcell saying a sixth season is in the works on his Instagram account.
'The Flash'
11. The Flash
The Flash is currently saving Central City on a weekly basis over on The CW is still one of television’s top shows. A drop in average demand expressions per capita from 6.48 to 5.34 landing the drama lower on the list compared to last month. Currently in its fourth season show is clearly keeping audiences engaged.
'Arrow'
12. Arrow
After making a substantial leap from the fall to land in the Top 10 on last month’s list, Arrow has seen a small dip in average demand expressions per capita. The show went from 5.46 to 5.09, which resulted in the veteran CW series dropping a few places in the ranking.
K. J. Apa as Archie Andrews and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones in 'Riverdale'
13. Riverdale
Clearly the murder and small-town mayhem of Riverdale is resonating with people because the Archie Comics series is still a top series. In fact, its average demand expressions per capita score went from 4.60 to 4.97. Archie and his friends are keeping our attention.
'America's Funniest Home Videos'
14. America’s Funniest Home Videos
Making its way onto the list is comedy series America’s Funniest Home Videos, which is apparently still kicking. The series landed on the list with 4.68 average demand expressions per capita. While many know the series hosted by Tom Bergeron, Alfonso Ribeiro took over in 2015. It’s currently airing its twenty-eighth season.
'Spongebob Squarepants'
15. Spongebob Squarepants
Popular cartoon Spongebob Squarepants is cracking the top 20 this month. Spongebob and his friends in Bikini Bottom are keeping viewers engaged with 4.48 average demand expressions per capita. The show is currently airing its eleventh season.
'The Grand Tour'
16. The Grand Tour
Amazon series The Grand Tour is back on the list this month with an average demand expressions per capita score of 4.42. The score is slightly higher from last month’s 4.38, but it’s up to spots on the ranking. The second season of the series aired on February 16, 2018.
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
17. DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is joining The Flash and Arrow on the list this month. The time-traveling series returned from its winter hiatus on February 12 and currently has an average demand expressions per capita score of 4.33.
Sonequa Martin-Green in 'Star Trek: Discovery'
18. Star Trek: Discovery
With a few episodes left in its first season, Star Trek: Discovery had an average demand expressions per capita score of 4.95. Now that some time has passed since its finale the show has dropped to 4.25. Luckily fans have another season of the series to look forward to.
'Supernatural'
19. Supernatural
Supernatural’s sustained popularity continues with The Winchester brothers’ adventure keeping people engaged 13 Seasons in. In fact, the show’s average demand expressions per capita decreased slightly from 4.28 to 41.3, but it went up one spot in the ranking. The veteran series is attempting to spawn a spinoff Wayward Sisters, which recently had its backdoor pilot.
'How To Get Away With Murder'
20. How To Get Away With Murder
Making its debut on the list is ABC legal drama How To Get Away With Murder. The Viola Davis-starring series is currently in its fourth season and recently sparked some more engagement with its huge Scandal crossover event on March 1, 2018.
