Sunday, November 29, 2009

Week 10 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 10 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):
(Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, final network averages for Wednesday and Thursday are not available, so I won't give you the first four nights numbers below...but check the analysis for the final program numbers for Monday and Tuesday and prelim numbers for Wednesday and on.)

Households: n/a
Total Viewers: n/a
Adults 18-49: n/a

Week 10 (Nov. 23-29) Analysis: For week 10 we don't have final first four night averages because of Thanksgiving, but I can predict that CBS is on top in all categories through the first four days. ABC is a close second in all categories thanks to huge numbers on Monday and Tuesday. While Fox is in 3rd followed by NBC in 4th. Last week, week 9, CBS hung on and beat ABC in HH/viewers, but ABC prevailed in 18-49 for the second straight week. CBS was second in 18-49, with NBC in third in all categories thanks to the NFL. Fox was in fourth everywhere.
On Monday it was ABC on top. A 90-minute Dancing with the Stars final performance show did a season high 20.41 million for ABC, up nearly two million from the previous week. A special preview of the new feel-good series Find My Family launched to good numbers with 12.76 million and a decent 2.9 18-49 rating. The series will air Mondays starting tomorrow at 9pm. An all-new Castle followed with a solid 10.31 million, down just a bit from the previous week when it had the direct Dancing lead-in, but it reached a season high in 18-49 with a 2.7 rating! Watch out for Castle in 2010 as it could grow even more with the younger skewing The Bachelor as its lead-in (and Alyssa Milano guest starring!). Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 8.75 million, up week-to-week, while Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 7.9 million and a 3/1 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week. Two and a Half Men followed doing 13.88 million, up a tad week-to-week and The Big Bang Theory followed and built from the lead0in for the first time in viewers with 14.13 million, up nearly a million from previous week, as it didn't go up against Dancing for the first time. The show also did a 5.2 18-49 rating building on the lead-in's 4.7 rating. A new episode of CSI: Miami did 13.22 million, down a tad from previous week. Fox started with House doing a solid 11.95 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, but both down week-to-week again, followed by Lie to Me at only 7.16 million, off some from previous week again. NBC was next with Heroes doing 5.16 million, up a bit from the previous week. A new episode of Trauma followed and did only 5.39million and only a 1.7 A18-49 rating, in viewers it was up a tad from the previous week but in 18-49 it was down a tenth. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 4.49 million, but actually up ever so slightly from previous week. The CW was in repeats for some reason during sweeps, as One Tree Hill did only 1.13 million and Gossip Girl at an even worse 964,000 viewers. Repeats, but still it was bad.
On Tuesday, CBS and ABC battled. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 20.35 million...on par really from previous week. A new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 17.22 million, up a ton from previous week as the series had a character cross-over from the parent show. No wonder. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife and did 12.53 million, down some from previous week. ABC was second for the night with episode four (the last of 2009) of V doing 9.3 million, on par from the previous week. 3.1 18-49 rating was also the same as previous week. Good sign. Then it was the two-hour grand finale of Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 19.29 million, up of course week-to-week as Donny Osmond beat Mya and Kelly Osbourne for the trophy. The 10pm hour was well over 20 million and close to a 5 rating in 18-49. For you the forgotten fans, the show is back this Tuesday with an all-new episode. NBC was next with two-hours of The Biggest Loser doing 8.91 million, down from previous week when it was 90-minutes, followed by the The Jay Leno Show at 4.88 million, which was down well over a million from previous week. Fox aired So You Think You Can Dance for two-hours and did only 5.45 million, down from previous week. The CW was next with more repeats...a repeat of 90210 did only 1.11 million, followed by a repeat of Melrose Place at an even worse 774,000 viewers.
Wednesday it was CBS on top in a lower than usual night on Thanksgiving Eve. Ratings are not final for this night yet and are just prelim. CBS started with a new Old Christine doing a prelim 7.01 million, down some from previous week, followed by a new Gary Unmarried at prelim 6.8 million, down some from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next and did a prelim 13.51 million, down some week-to-week, while CSI: NY did a prelim 12.67 million, down from previous week. ABC comedies were lower than normal, as a repeat of Modern Family did a decent prelim 5.54 million and a prelim 1.6 18-49 rating, lower than last week of course. The Middle was new and next and did a prelim 6.0 million and a prelim 1.8 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Modern Family was new and did a prelim 7.12 million and a prelim 2.4 18-49 rating, series lows, but expected. Cougar Town was next and all-new as well doing a prelim 5.53 million and a prelim 1.9 18-49 rating. The comedies will be all-new again on Dec. 9, but The Middle is new this week (Dec. 2). Eastwick was next and did a prelim 3.65 million, not good. NBC preempted Mercy and Law & Order: SVU for a Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now? special doing a decent prelim 7.7 million and a prelim 2.8 18-49 rating. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at just a prelim 5.11 million, but actually up week-to-week. Fox started with So You Think You Can Dance doing only a prelim 4.88 million, down from previous week and a season low obviously, and Glee was next at a prelim 6.11 million and a prelim 2.5 18-49 rating, both series lows, but again expected. The CW aired a movie and did a prelim 1.34 million. Its best ratings of the week actually.
Thursday it was CBS on top with mostly repeats on Thanksgiving Night. Again these are only prelim numbers and not final. ABC preempted the usual FLASHFORWARD, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice with specials. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving opened the night with a decent prelim of 6.4 million. ABC next aired two concert specials, Beyonce: I Am Yours did an OK prelim 5.14 million and a better prelim of 1.7 in 18-49. Paul McCartney: Good Evening NYC only did a prelim 4.66 million and a prelim 1.2 18-49 rating. CBS opened with Survivor: Samoa clip show at a prelim 9.96 million and a prelim 3.1 A18-49 rating, both down from previous week but expected. A repeat of CSI followed with a prelim 8.73 million. At 10pm The Mentalist was also a repeat and did a prelim 9.2 million. Fox preempted Bones and Fringe for the movie Night at the Museum doing a prelim 6.65 million, not bad. NBC preempted its comedies Community, Parks & Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock but they did a special one-hour repeat of The Office at 8pm that mustered just a prelim 2.68 million. An NBC special was next called NBC's People of the Year doing a prelim 5.17 million, it did OK. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only a prelim 5.04 million, but up a bit week-to-week. The CW aired repeats of Vampire Diaries and Supernatural but the prelim ratings had also a NY Giants game mixed in NY, so it is best to wait until the final numbers to see how these repeats did.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday with repeats of their dramas as usual overall, but ABC's 20/20 at 10pm was the night's best in viewers and 18-49. New showings of Supernanny and Ugly Betty were at season lows due to the holiday.
Saturday numbers had ABC's College Football prevailing in all areas by a slim margin in prelim numbers.
Tonight the full ABC Sunday line-up is back (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters) look for solid ratings as usual, as on AFV, Bob Saget returns for a special 20th anniversary episode with Tom Bergeron. NBC has an NFL game tonight so they will win the night. CBS has a holiday movie from 9-11pm tonight that will skew pretty old. Fox has Animation Domination from 8-10 and an NFL overrun that will keep them competitive. Look for CBS to win the week likely in HH/viewers over ABC and they should win in 18-49 as well. NBC could overtake Fox in all categories for 3rd place thanks to NFL once again. As for this coming week, look for President Obama to speak on Tuesday at 8pm ET (more on that tomorrow on the blog) and the season premiere of the new Scrubs at 9pm Tuesday on ABC!

Week 10 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 9-- Nov. 16-22)

  • Brothers (Fox) - New episode only mustered 2.27 million. Is that paying homage to the classic sitcom 227? I doubt it, as that series was millions times better in quality and ratings.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - Only 6.88 million tuned in for a new episode at 8pm, down from the over 9 million the week prior. No NFL lead-in was the reason for the big drop. 3.3 18-49 rating was decent though, but down big also from the week prior. A repeat at 7:30pm did 3.96 million.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - 6.56 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating. Looks like series lows and once again going down. 18-49 rating was basically on par from previous week though, going down from a 3.4 to a 3.3.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - 7.48 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating is excellent for a new showing...but it also was down from previous week.
  • American Dad (Fox) - 5.6 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating...still so-so.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new showing did 8.75 million, up from previous week. Solid showing.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 7.9 million for a new episode...up from previous week. Will it grow in December with no Dancing on ABC?
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.88 million for a new episode. Up some from previous week and the same 4.7 18-49 rating from previous week.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - For the first time ever, a new episode built from the lead-in! 14.13 million tuned in as it looks like having no Dancing in the half-hour helped. This was a series high in viewers I believe. 5.2 18-49 rating is also excellent but not a series high.


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - New episode did a prelim 7.01 million...down some from previous week.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - New episode did a prelim 6.8 million...down some from previous week.
  • The Middle (ABC) - A prelim 6.0 million for an all-new showing of this underrated family comedy. Too bad it aired on Thanksgiving Eve...great episode.
  • Modern Family (ABC) 2 episodes - A repeat at 8pm did solid for a repeat doing a prelim 5.54 million, down from previous week's final 6.13 million. But a new episode at 9 featuring a nice birthday-Thanksgiving episode did a prelim 7.12 million and a prelim 2.4 18-49 rating...down from normal of course, but not bad for Thanksgiving Eve.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - A prelim 5.53 million and a prelim 1.9 18-49 rating for a new showing. Another good Thanksgiving episode.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Community (NBC) - preempted.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - preempted.
  • The Office (NBC) - A one-hour repeat at 8pm only did a prelim 2.68 million.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - preempted.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 8-10pm tonight, all-new, along with Brothers at 7.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother & Accidentally on Purpose were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Middle, Old Christine) or just plain old terrible (such as Brothers from week 9, The Office repeat).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, March 18

The Neighborhood - (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Worth the Cooties" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After Christina kicks Abishola and Dottie out for making light of her pre-pregnancy preparations, Christina bonds with Douglas and Abishola spends a fun day with Dottie. Also, when Bob, Goodwin and Kofo are stumped on a work issue, Bob insists they go out to lunch to loosen up.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 18)

Monday, March 18

  • Christina Applegate (Dead to Me/Up All Night/Samantha Who?/Jesse/Married with Children) - Watch Christina on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Rachel Dratch (Grimsburg/Imaginary Mary/30 Rock) - Rachel appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and John Hodgman (Up Here/Married) - Sasheer and John are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa will be on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Brett Gelman (Camping/Fleabag/Married/Go On) - Brett talks about The Terrifying Realm of the Possible: Nearly True Stories on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
  • William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - NBC's Today catches up with William in the 9am hour.


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


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