'NCIS' Tops Harris Poll Of Favorite TV Shows

What is U.S. viewers' “favorite” TV show? A new Harris Poll offers up some insights — as well as confirming TV ratings results.

Harris Poll, a Nielsen company, in a January 14 through 20 online survey of 2,232 U.S. adults, says CBS’ “NCIS” easily comes in at first place. U.S. viewers list it among its “favorite current TV shows.” This mostly confirms its top status when it comes to current Nielsen ratings — 19.8 million overall average viewers for a recent original airing.

Harris Poll notes that its methodology “is independent and distinct from the methodology employed for the delivery of Nielsen's television ratings.”

CBS’ “Big Bang Theory” comes in at second place, according to Harris, with AMC’s “The Walking Dead” next. ABC’s “Scandal” is in fourth place; HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is next. They are followed by CBS’s “The Good Wife” and NBC’s “The Blacklist,” both tied for six.

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Most of this top group also scores high in Nielsen TV ratings. Some notable exceptions: “Thrones” is only available in a third of the U.S., due to HBO's current subscriber base. Its season ender last July earned 7.1 million viewers. “Good Wife,” for its most current Nielsen reading for an original, pulled in 9.6 million overall viewers, good for 19th place overall among broadcast shows.

Completing the top 10 are: ABCs’ “Modern Family” in eighth place; CBS’ “Blue Bloods” in ninth place; and CBS’ “Criminal Minds” in tenth place.

“NCIS” also scored the best results among men, women, baby boomers, suburban and rural viewers. “Walking Dead” was tops with urban viewers, millennials (18-37) and gen-xers (38-49).

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