Sunday, December 11, 2005

Remembering Richard Pryor; Week 12 Ratings Numbers Through Thursday; How the Sitcoms Did

Today we will pay tribute to one of the best comedians ever--Richard Pryor. Mr. Pryor was a great stand-up comedian on stage and brought great laughter to his roles in the movies. While he never was a sitcom star, we will still pay tribute to him. Pryor died yesterday morning of a heart attack. Pryor battled alcohol and drugs in the early '80s, in fact he burned 50% of his body while freebasing cocaine at his home. Later Pryor battled multiple sclerosis for many years. Through all that, he still cracked jokes, even at himself. Pryor did have some sitcom history in him, despite not ever starring in one. He wrote a few episodes of the '70s sitcom Sanford & Son. He made a few guest stints on some sitcoms such as The Partridge Family, Martin, Malcolm & Eddie, and Norm. In 1977, NBC gave Pryor his own show titled, The Richard Pryor Show. It was a comedy-variety show, but did not last long at all. Tim Ried and Robin Williams also starred, with Williams also a writer. The ratings were not good, despite the show being of good quality.
But it was the stand-up and the movies that he was more known for. He especially was known for all the movies he did with his good friend Gene Wilder. He starred with Mr. Wilder in hit movies such as Stir Crazy and See No Evil Hear No Evil. Mr. Pryor was also nominated for an Emmy for his guest stint on an episode of the CBS drama Chicago Hope. Mr. Pryor just turned 65 on December 1. He will be missed by many and we all will always remember him flying with Superman through the clouds.

Week 12 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: CBS: 8.8/13.6; NBC: 7.1/10.9; ABC: 6.4/9.9; FOX 3.6/5.4; UPN: 2.3/3.5; The WB: 2.3/3.4
Total Viewers: CBS: 13.86 million; NBC: 10.77 million; ABC: 9.87 million; FOX 5.65 million; UPN: 3.33 million; The WB: 3.29 million.
Adults 18-49: CBS: 4.5/11.5; NBC: 4.0/10.1; ABC: 3.5/8.9; FOX 2.6/6.6; UPN: 1.4/3.6; The WB: 1.4/3.4.

Analysis: It was the first full week of week after November sweeps. Repeats dominated the schedule with shows like Lost, Two and a Half Men, Commander in Chief, and CSI: NY in repeats. NBC was the only real network that had mostly original programming, hence their ratings were decent. The CBS comedies repeated pretty well on Monday, but Monday Night Football took home the prize. CSI: Miami repeat did very well with 15.33 million. It was not so well for Arrested Development and Kitchen Confidential, which both aired original episodes and bombed. Tuesday saw NBC having an all original line-up with My Name is Earl and Law & Order: SVU leading the way. Fear Factor returned, but not many tuned in. The Office was its usual self, losing a lot from the lead-in. ABC's A Charlie Brown Christmas was the highest rated in 5 years. CBS relied on Victoria Secret Fashion Show but unforunately that special was the lowest rated one ever. On Wednesday, again NBC was all original and won the night thanks t Law & Order. ABC's Alias at a special night and time was not too good, but a Lost repeat did well. CBS bombed with part two of the Pope movie. Thursday was all original for both CBS and NBC, with CBS's CSI drawing 30.95 million viewers! Take that Donald! The Donald only had 11.27 million. Don't expect The Apprentice to return to Thursday nights after the Winter Olympics.
Not included in the ratings are Friday and Saturday. Friday saw CBS winning with its dramas. NBC bombed with one of the last episodes of Three Wishes. ABC saw moderate success with the new Charlie Brown Christmas special, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown. A new Hot Properties didn't draw much of an interest. Saturday was pathetic as usual.
CBS will for sure win by a wide margin in total viewers for the week and adults 18-49. ABC Sunday has no Housewives this week but a special two-hour holiday themed Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the Christmas episode of Grey's Anatomy will battle the Survivor season finale. Who will be second place for the week in adults 18-49? NBC or ABC? It all depends on tonight!

Monday Sitcoms

  • The King of Queens (CBS) - 9.26 million for a repeat is very good.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Will CBS move this show in March to Wednesdays? Something will have to air then as Still Standing and Yes, Dear are expected to get the boot by then. 8.72 million tuned in for this repeat broadcast.
  • Arrested Development (FOX) - Only 4.09 million for an all-new episode. I guess this will never be a ratings smash despite whatever Fox does.
  • Kitchen Confidential (FOX) - A big loss with a repeat on UPN almost beating it! 3.14 million tuned in. Just for that Fox has officially canceled this sitcom. Look for repeats of ArD to takeover until January 9.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat scored 14.11 million.
  • Out of Practice (CBS) - The consistent sitcom scored decent with a repeat at 11.01 million.
  • One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - Repeats, repeats, repeats, repeats! Scored in similar levels as they usually do for encores.

Tuesday Sitcoms
  • My Name is Earl (NBC) - With no House on Fox and Commander in Chief in a repeat, Earl was the most watched show with 13.99 million. Can it do that number Thursdays at 9? If it does, NBC will be happy, as The Apprentice can not get that anymore.
  • The Office (NBC) - Again a four million drop--but at least it is consistent! A loyal audience I guess.
Wednesday Sitcoms
  • George Lopez (ABC) - Up from last week to 8.08 million and a 2.9 adult 18-49 rating.
  • Freddie (ABC) - Down from last week in total viewers to 7.44 million but up in A18-49 with a 3.1 rating. No original Lost episode tonight hurt the overall numbers.
  • That '70s Show (FOX) - Young audience is there, but not overall.
  • Stacked (FOX) - How can more people watch this show than Arrested Development? ArD has more buzz and press. 5.07 million. I bet it will do even worse Thursdays.
Thursday Sitcoms
  • Joey (NBC) - Up from last week's repeat airing of 7.32 to 7.77 million. Decent, but NBC needs to jump start this line-up with something else again.
  • Will & Grace (NBC) - Jumped big from lead-in to 8.79 million.
  • Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - Like last week, 4.43 million tuned in for a repeat.
  • Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - It was repeats all around tonight. Worse than last week though, as Cuts only did 1.89 million.

Friday Sitcoms

Not even going here. Fox's Malcolm and Bernie were not in their normal 8 p.m. slot, but repeats aired in the 9 p.m. hour, but was dead last with The WB even winning! ABC's Hope & Faith was a repeat and scored a 4.2 rating, but Hot Properties was all new and did terrible with a 3.5 rating. The WB did its normal ratings. Close to a 2.

Summing it up. Out of Practice, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and The King of Queens were the only impressive sitcoms this week. Everything else was OK (such as Freddie, George Lopez) or just plain old terrible (such as Stacked, Bernie Mac, Malcolm in the Middle).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, March 19

Night Court - "The Duke's a Hazard" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Gurgs' royal boyfriend pays a surprise visit, she questions their compatibility; Dan defends his family's honor after he discovers a feud that dates back centuries.

Extended Family - "The Consequences of Being Irish" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Jim learns of Trey's St. Patrick's Day fundraiser plans, he offers his expertise in an effort to save Trey and the Celtics from embarrassment.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 18)

Tuesday, March 19

  • Tracy Morgan (The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Catch Tracy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale/God's Favorite Idiot/American Housewife/The Odd Couple/About a Boy) - Leslie appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Brendan Hunt (Ted Lasso), Marc Maron (GLOW/Maron) and Zainab Johnson (Upload) - Brendan, Marc and Zainab are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Hilary Swank (Camp Wilder) - NBC's Today catches up with Hilary in the 10am hour.
  • The cast of Girls5eva) - Busy Philipps, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Sara Bareilles are guests on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse talks about his podcast Dinner's On Me on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Annie Potts (Young Sheldon/Over the Top/Love & War/Designing Women/Goodtime Girls) - Annie talks about her legendary career and new film, Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire, on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Joe stops by Tamron hall to chat about hosting the new Deal or No Deal Island, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)

Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Father Knows Best - The Complete Series The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)

That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

03/18 - Shout! TV Celebrates 25 Years of Farscape; AMC Acquires Snowpiercer
03/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 18, 2024)
03/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Ty Burrell Sitcom in the Works at ABC; CBS Renews Ghosts
03/15 - Netflix Heads to the Arctic for Comedy Series; Neal Brennan's 3rd Comedy Special
03/14 - SNL Announces Second to Last 3 Episode Set of Season; Bill Maher Renewed for 2 More Seasons
03/13 - CBS Renews Ghosts and Fire Country; Apple TV+ Orders Owen Wilson Comedy
03/12 - Roseanne Couch Week on COZI TV; The CW Orders Leighton Meester Series for 2025
03/11 - Every Grey's Anatomy Episode Now on Hulu; You Season 5 Casting Update
03/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 11, 2024)
03/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Tim Allen Headlining ABC Comedy Pilot; NBC Developing Bewitched Inspired Sitcom
03/08 - Amazon Freevee Gets New Comedy Series; Apple TV+ Loot Returns April 3
03/07 - Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik Reprising Their Characters from Big Bang; Monsters at Work Returns for Season 2
03/06 - CBS Orders Multi-Camera Spin-off of Young Sheldon; FETV Acquires Highway Patrol
03/05 - Fox Summer 2024 Schedule, In-Season Finales; CBS Renews Tracker for Season 2
03/04 - Laff Acquires Matthew Perry and Will Arnett Sitcoms; Lisa Whelchel Returns for MeTV Series
03/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 4, 2024)
03/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Pluto TV Adds More Channels Including Universal Action; CBS Renews Young and the Restless for Four More Years
03/01 - Lopez vs Lopez Season 2 Brings Out the Stars; Prime Video's Música Drops April 4
02/29 - Season 3 of Hacks Adds Star Power; Remembering Richard Lewis
02/28 - BUZZR Celebrates Women's History Month in March; 10th Anniversary of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
02/27 - Little House on the Prairie Big 5-0 Stunt on COZI TV; Netflix Orders Tires Starring Shane Gillis
02/26 - Hulu Orders Chad Powers Starring Glen Powell; Netflix's Mindy Kaling Produced Comedy Rounds Out Cast
02/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 26, 2024)
02/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Frasier Reboot Gets Second Season; Jimmy Kimmel Hints at End of Talk Show
02/23 - Paramount+ Renews Frasier for Season 2; Netflix Orders Series from Maid Showrunner
02/22 - 30th SAG Awards Presenters Announced; Jay Pharoah Heads to Fox
02/21 - SNL Loads Up for Next 3 Weeks; Tig Notaro Prime Video Special
02/20 - Brittany Snow to Star Opposite Malin Akerman in Starz Series; Dennis Quaid Joining Paramount+
02/19 - Rewind TV's 227 on 2/27 Marathon; Dolly Parton's Pet Gala with Special Guests
02/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 19, 2024)