CBS’s beloved sitcom “Young Sheldon” is going out with a bang in its final season, drawing bigger premiere night audiences than the show has seen in years. Clearly, CBS’s marketing push around the finale, including a high-profile Super Bowl campaign, drummed up interest and paid off big time.

On Thursday (Feb 15) a impassive 7.99 million viewers tuned in for the season 7 premiere episode. This marks Young Sheldon’s largest same-day crowd since April 2020. Not only that, but the premiere was the highest rated show of the week.

The numbers get even more impressive when you look at the key 18-49 demographic that advertisers care so much about. Young Sheldon scored a mighty 0.63 rating among 18-49 year-olds. That’s the show’s best demo rating since March 2023, spanning eight full episodes. So not only is the audience huge, it also skews younger.

What’s behind this surge? Well, Young Sheldon has always pulled solid numbers for CBS. Announcing a final season likely brought back longtime fans who wanted closure. And the show’s addition to Netflix last November opened it up to new audiences, which probably gave the premiere a boost.

As Young Sheldon continues its farewell tour, it’s a reminder of how lovable comedy and charismatic characters resonate across generations. Scoring blockbuster premieres in a fractured media landscape is no small feat either. CBS has to be thrilled at starting their season off on such a high note—the pressure is on for other networks now!