'Scandal' ends biggest season ever with highest finale yet

Scandal crushed Thursday rivals with its highest-rated season finale. The closer was up 15 percent from last year to draw its second-largest audience of all time — 10.5 million viewers and a 3.4 adults 18-49 rating. Overall this season, the soapy drama was up 43 percent in the demo to post its best season ever, at least in the ratings.

As for the rest of the broadcast lineup … well … not so great. The Community finale was down 23 percent from last season and the Parenthood finale was down 28 percent from last season. And CBS’ one-hour Crazy Ones finale was really soft for a CBS comedy, with its second episode hitting a series low — this did not help Robin Williams’ odds for a second-season renewal.

Also: NBC’s Parks & Rec sank under the 1.0 line to hit a series low, Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen climbed 21 percent, Idol was up 12 percent, and new comedy Surviving Jack ain’t gonna survive. Full chart:

NET/TIME/SHOW 18-49 RATINGTOTAL VIEWERS (+000)FOX8-9PHELL KTCHN-1.74,8239:00PAM IDOL-1.97,8849:30PSURVIVING-1.04,297ABC8-9PGREYS-THU8-RP0.83,4179-10PGREY ANTMY-2.58,10010-11PSCANDAL-3.410,451CBS8:00PBIG BANG-R2.29,6688:30PBG BNG-SPC-RS2.610,8299:00PCRAZY1-S1.66,3039:30PCRAZY ONES-1.35,36210-11PNCISRS1.06,026NBC8:00PCOMMUNITY-1.02,9028:30PPARK & REC-0.92,3869-10PHLLYWD GME-0.93,19610-11PPARENTHOOD-1.33,961CW8-9PVAMPIRE DRS0.71,6639-10PREIGN0.41,394