Sunday, May 25, 2008

Week 35 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

The final week of the season was week 35 (the season ended Wednesday but Thurs-Sun will count for week 35, but not in the 07-08 season ratings). I don't have final numbers for this past Thursday, which did have ABC program the season finales of Ugly Betty & Grey's Anatomy, but they will not count in the 2007-08 averages unfortunately. Since I don't have final numbers for Thursday, I'll give you the final May sweep ratings instead of the week's first four night numbers:

May 2008 Sweep Ratings (April 24-May 21, 2008):

Households: CBS 6.8/11, ABC 6.3/11, Fox 6.1/10, NBC 3.9/7, The CW 1.7/3, MNT 0.8/1
Total Viewers: CBS 10.66 million, Fox 10.01 million, ABC 9.68 million, NBC 5.95 million, The CW 2.66 million, MNT 1.19 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox 3.8/11, ABC 3.1/9, CBS 2.8/8, NBC 1.9/5, The CW 1.1/3, MNT 0.5/1

Week 35 Analysis: Week 35 goes through tonight, but the season ended Wednesday, with Fox on top the final three days of May sweep/07-08 season. ABC still had Betty/Grey's finales on Thursday, so through the first four days, they are second. Last week, week 34, CBS edged ABC for number one in HH and viewers again, as Fox was third in both categories, but not by much. Fox had the lead in 18-49. ABC was second, while CBS was third in 18-49 and NBC was an uncompetitive fourth in everything.
On Monday, ABC was on top with Dancing with the Stars doing 19.22 million for 65 minutes for the final Monday airing, up from the week before. The Bachelorette two-hour premiere did a solid 8.08 million...so if it is close to that this summer, ABC will be happy. CBS started with season finale of its sitcoms and leading it off was The Big Bang Theory at 7.34 million, down week to week, the season finale of How I Met Your Mother followed and built on that and did 7.99 million...down from previous week, #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men followed and closed its season with 14.7 million ... up from previous week. Closing the sitcom block was the season finale of Rules of Engagement at 12.29 million, also up a lot from previous week. Season finale of CSI: Miami closed the night for CBS at 16.26 million...up a ton from previous week. Fox aired the season closer of Bones to start off the night and it did a solid 10.3 million, up from the previous week and following at 9pm was the season finale of House doing 16.36 million, also up over a million week to week. NBC was in the bottom with American Gladiators at just 4.03 million for 90 minutes, down even from previous week, and Dateline NBC closed the night off with 5.85 million, for the second half of the night. The CW had the finale of Gossip Girl doing 3.0 million, up from previous week and the finale of One Tree Hill perked up to 3.23 million, up from previous week...these two shows will air again together in the fall.
On Tuesday, Fox was on top thanks to Idol at 27.06 million at 8pm, up nearly 3 million week to week. At 9pm Fox aired a new Hell's Kitchen and it did solid with 11.44 million...up a tad from previous week. ABC was next with a repeat of Monday's Dancing with the Stars doing 8.74. Then at 9pm, it was the two-hour live season finale of Dancing with the Stars: The Results and it did 20.12 million, down from the fall's finale by a bit, as Kristi Yamaguchi wins it all! CBS was next with the two-hour season finale of NCIS at 16.52 million, this show is a very quiet big hit, followed by the now canceled Shark with 10.27 million, as it aired its series finale. NBC was in the gutter again as a new Most Outrageous Moments at 8pm did just 3.95 million, just like previous week and a repeat followed with 3.99 million, down a tad week-to-week. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU followed with just 3.88 million at 9pm (that was nearly down three million from previous week), and another Law & Order: SVU followed at 10pm with just 5.76 million. NBC seriously needs help. The CW aired a repeat of Reaper at 1.56 million, followed by the season finale of Reaper at a solid 2.53 million, as it went up from previous week.
On Wednesday, it was Fox on top again. American Idol Results closed the season as David Cook won it all with 31.66 million for the two-hour finale. CBS was next with Price is Right Primetime at 8pm and did 7.59 million, up actually week to week and Criminal Minds and CSI: NY closed its season with the finals and they did 13.15 and 11.83 million, but the latter was down a tad week to week. NBC was next with two repeats of Law & Order starting the night off with just 5.4 and 5.05 million and the season finale of Law & Order followed with 8.57 million, up a bit from previous week. ABC was next with two repeats of Lost at just 3.03 million...too bad the season finale couldn't air on this night, as Thursday, May 29 seems to far out, but production issues couldn't make it possible. Damn strike. Closing the night for ABC was the season finale of Boston Legal at 6.47 million on its own...so not its fault it was not good. The CW had a repeat of Farmer Wants a Wife at 1.61 million, followed by an original episode of Farmer Wants a Wife at 1.86 million, down slightly from the previous week. MyNetworkTV aired a new Under One Roof starring Flavor Flav and it did 1.04...up over a million for the first time in 3 weeks. Season officially ends after this night!
On Thursday, the TV summer season started. But ABC still had two season finales to air. We don't have final numbers yet though. Ugly Betty finale and the two-hour Grey's Anatomy finale obviously won the night for ABC, as Grey's built on each half-hour and had its best outing since returning from the strike. Lost will have its two-hour season finale this Thursday. Fox did solid for the season premiere of the summer series So You Think You Can Dance?. NBC did better from 8-9:30 than usual with Deal Or No Deal airing instead of the sitcoms and the season premiere of summer's Last Comic Standing didn't do much. CBS aired repeats all night, as CSI did very below number for a repeat at 9pm.
Like usual, no Friday finals yet. CBS won though with reoeats of Ghost Whisperer and NUMB3RS. It was a worse Friday than usual. Saturday ratings had the NBA Playoffs on ABC so decent, while CBS's original movie couldn't get above 1.0 18-49 rating (prelim).
Tonight will be repeat filled, as the season is over and tomorrow is Memorial Day. So no one will be watching TV probably. NBA Playoffs on TNT will probably be the best draw of the night at 9pm along with NASCAR on Fox.
As for the week, since Thurs-Sun is primarily repeats, I think Fox will have enough to win the week. ABC will be 2nd likely after a strong Thursday.
This coming week sees more summer programming and repeats, but you'll find the season finales of According to Jim and Lost, too. But after this week, it is all over for regular season series.


Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of May 12-18)

  • Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - The season finale did 1.48 million, up from the previous week. Not bad...but was doing better on Mondays...will be Fridays at 8 next fall.
  • Aliens in America (The CW) - The last episode did 1.28 million, also up week to week.
  • The Game (The CW) - The season finale did 1.66 million, up from the previous week...moving to Fridays at 8:30 next fall.
  • Girlfriends (The CW) - A repeat did 1.2 million, on par really, but down a tad from previous week.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - Season finale did just 6.19 million...up a bit from previous week..but this is way too low. Earlier at 7:30 a repeat did only 3.79 million....up just a bit from previous week.
  • King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - A repeat at 7pm did just 2.68 million, up a bit from previous week. Season finale at its normal time of 8:30 did 5.4 million...up from previous week, but still way low.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 6.18 million...while that is not good, it was a repeat and nearly beat the others on Fox.
  • American Dad (Fox) - Just 5.64 million for the season finale...but its lead-in was a repeat once again, but the episode was down a bit from previous week.
  • The Office (NBC) 4 episodes - 4 repeats did pathetic. 2.72, 2.65, 2.79 and 3.14 million...don't understand why they repeated them the last few weeks.

Monday Sitcoms

  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 7.34 million tuned in for the season finale, down from previous week sadly.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 7.99 million for the season finale, down a million from previous week which had Britney.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.7 million for the finale, up a good margin over the previous week.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 12.29 million for the season finale, up even a better margin over the previous week. Factor? No Deal on NBC and no Samantha on ABC.


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Under One Roof (MyNetworkTV) - 1.04 million, over a million yes, but should be doing a bit better. This is no House of Payne.
Thursday Sitcoms
  • None
Friday Sitcoms
  • None

Saturday Sitcoms
  • None.


Airing tonight (Sunday) are a mix repeats of sitcoms on The CW from 8-10.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men & Rules of Engagement, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory) or just plain old terrible (Under One Roof, Aliens in America).


We will have a full 2007-08 season (Sept. 24-May 21) wrap-up with complete final numbers soon.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 28

The Conners - "Keep On Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners are dealing with the pandemic and life's financial troubles.

The Conners - "Halloween and the Election vs the Pandemic" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Halloween has been canceled, so the family works to create an unforgettable experience.

Son of a Critch - "Airing Out" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Critches are doing their annual airing-out-the-house ritual; some family secrets are uncovered.

Son of a Critch - "Cabaret" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Mark finally gets the chance to take the stage as a stand-up comedian.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 25)

Thursday, March 28

  • Joey King (Bent) - Joey talks about We Were the Lucky Ones on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo discusses his starring role in the AMC crime-thriller series Parish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy stops by to talk about her upcoming starring turn in Ryan Murphy's horror drama Grotesquerie on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks about Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Lorraine Toussaint (Where I Live) - Lorraine is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


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

03/28 - Netflix's Good Times Animated Comedy Trailer; Too Close for Comfort and Check It Out! Complete Series on DVD
03/27 - The Upshaws Part 5 This April; Max Orders Noah Wyle Medical Drama
03/26 - Apple TV+ Orders Star-Studded Comedy; Elizabeth Banks Joins New Peacock Series
03/25 - Disney Channel Orders Wizards of Waverly Place Revival; Paramount+ Animated Comedy Ark: The Animated Series
03/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 25, 2024)
03/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Sets Premiere Date for Good Times Animated Reboot; NBC Renews Several Popular Series
03/22 - NBC Renews Nearly All Chicago and Law & Order Series; Goosebumps Season 2 Cast Update
03/21 - Hallmark Renews The Way Home; You Final Season Sets Cast
03/20 - Community Arrives on Peacock April 1, Movie Coming Soon; Hulu Premieres New Comedy Dinosaur April 5
03/19 - NBC Summer 2024 Schedule; Starz Drama Rounds Out All-Star Cast
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