 The most @-@ watched episode of the series is " It 's the End of the World " , with 37 @.@ 88 million viewers , aided by a lead @-@ in from Super Bowl XL . In 2011 , Grey 's Anatomy was named the fourth @-@ highest revenue earning show of the year , with US $ 2 @.@ 67 million per half hour , behind Desperate Housewives , Two and a Half Men , and American Idol at the top . In 2012 , the show was the fifth @-@ highest revenue earning show of the year , with US $ 2 @.@ 75 million per half hour , behind Glee , Two and a Half Men , The X Factor ( U.S. ) and American Idol . While Grey 's Anatomy is no longer ranked in the top numbers for overall ratings , the show 's ranking in the key 18 – 49 demographic has remained high . As of season eight , the series is the highest @-@ rated drama on television in the target demographic . Below is a table of Grey 's Anatomy 's seasonal rankings in the U.S. television market , based on average total viewers per episode . Each U.S. network television season starts in September and ends in late May , which coincides with the completion of May sweeps . 
