Sunday, December 11, 2011

Week 12 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2011-12 Week 12 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: #1. CBS 7.4 rating/11.7 share; #2. Fox 4.8/7.4; #3. ABC 4.2/6.5; #4. NBC 3.4/5.3; #5. The CW 0.9/1.5
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 11.91 million; #2. Fox 8.06 million; #3. ABC 6.72 million; #4. NBC 5.28 million; #5. The CW 1.39 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.1 rating/8.1 share; #2. Fox 2.6/7.0; #3. ABC 2.0/5.4; #4. NBC 1.6/4.3; #5. The CW 0.6/1.6

Week 12 (Dec. 5-11) Analysis: Week 12 had some new episodes, but still repeats and specials are ruling this time of the year. Through the first four nights, CBS is on top in all categories. Fox follows in second in everything. And then ABC is in third and NBC stuck in fourth. When the week is over with, CBS will win the week in all categories as the NFL overrun is with them tonight. Fox should be second in all categories this week. While, NBC should go ahead of ABC for third because of the NFL game tonight. There is a chance NBC could go ahead of Fox in 18-49, but I don't think it will happen. As for last week, week 11, CBS won the week in HH/viewers, but Fox prevailed in 18-49. It was an atypical week, with Fox second in HH/viewers, followed by NBC and then ABC. Among 18-49, after Fox it was NBC sneaking in for second place, followed closely by CBS then ABC.

On Monday, CBS was all-new for the night and came on to. Starting first with ABC, A Charlie Brown Christmas started it off with a solid 9.05 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up from last season and previous week's Grinch special. At 8:30pm, the premiere of Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice followed with 6.99 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, lower than previous week's Shrek the Halls airing. The original special premiered much better in 2009. At 9pm week three of game show You Deserve It did only 3.56 million and only a 1.0 18-49 rating, down again from the previous week. I think the show will be pulled after tomorrow night. Just a guess. At 10pm, an all-new Castle did 8.12 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating for a season low but it was up from the same night last season (with Skating as its lead-in). A horrible lead-in for the same night the past two seasons for Castle. For CBS, a new How I Met Your Mother started it off with 11.51 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating for first place. Great showing but seems it skewed older than usual. A new 2 Broke Girls followed with an even better 12.75 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating. Another excellent showing. At 9pm, a new Two and a Half Men, with new star Ashton Kutcher, did 15.18 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, tied for #1 of the week in scripted series. A new episode of Mike & Molly followed and did 12.66 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, solid showing. A new episode of Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 11.01 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, good for first place. Fox preempted Terra Nova and House for the American Country Awards that did 7.47 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down from the usual Fox Monday but better than the awards show from last season. NBC followed with the two-hour The Sing-Off Christmas special doing just 4.18 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. Next year NBC will just air it in December rather than all fall, but will it return to December form from the previous two seasons? At 10pm, NBC aired a new episode of Rock Center with Brian Williams and it did an embarrassing 3.42 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, tying its series low. The CW was new with Gossip Girl doing 1.28 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. At 9pm Hart of Dixie did 1.81 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating each, down a tenth from previous week.

On Tuesday, Fox took the honors as CBS was in repeats. First, CBS had a repeat of NCIS do 12.73 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Then NCIS: Los Angeles was a repeat too doing 12.23 million and 2.2 18-49 rating, nice showing. And at 10pm, Unforgettable was a repeat as well and did 7.95 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, not bad. ABC started with new comedy Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 8.79 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up three tenths from the previous week but down some in total viewers, so it skewed younger. Why? NCIS was back this week, repeat or not, the older viewers last week when to this show rather than Rudolph, which skews younger. Anyway, still a new episode of Last Man to come this week! Week eight (and final week) of Man Up! was next and it did only 4.82 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. ABC has now pulled the series for a full hour of Last Man. Then at 9pm, ABC aired a repeat of The Middle and did 3.77 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down from previous week's one-hour repeat. Then at 9:30pm the repeat of the pilot for Suburgatory did 4.02 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, building from its lead-in. Body of Proof was next at 10pm and was all-new doing 7.23 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week and a season low. New episodes return Jan. 3. Fox aired an all-new Glee and did 7.11 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Then the comedies took the 9pm hour with New Girl doing 6.79 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week but still skewing very young. Then at 9:30pm Raising Hope did 4.57 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week and needs to do better. NBC was next with the special A Michael Buble Christmas doing 7.07 million but just a 1.5 18-49 rating. The Biggest Loser aired at a special time of 9-11pm doing 6.67 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down some from the previous week when it aired 8-10pm. NBC preempted Parenthood this week and it will return in January. The CW aired a new 90210 that did 1.46 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. Then the Sarah Michelle Gellar drama Ringer was a repeat and did 830,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating.

Wednesday it was a three-way battle between CBS, ABC and Fox. First, CBS started the night off with Survivor: South Pacific doing 11.59 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was new and did 12.41 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating. At 10pm, CSI was new doing 11.14 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, not bad for 10pm. ABC was all-new with holiday episodes of its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 8.72 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, for solid start to the night. Suburgatory followed at 8:30pm with 8.02 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, another solid showing. Great episode, but not as good as Thanksgiving I thought. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm and it did 12.2 million and 5.1 18-49 rating, tied for #1 for the week in scripted series and so far for any program. At 9:30pm the buzzworthy Happy Endings was new too and did 6.38 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, solid but not its best showing. Great episode though! At 10pm the new drama Revenge was new 7.35 million and 2.4 18-49 rating, up from its previous new episode on Thanksgiving Eve. What an episode! And the promo for the next new episode in January was chilling. Fox aired The X Factor from 8-9:30pm doing 10.7 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down three tenths from previous week. Then week two of new comedy I Hate My Teenage Daughter followed at 9:30pm and did 5.38 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from the premiere obviously. NBC opened the night with a new Up All Night doing 4.96 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. A repeat followed with 3.76 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. I think Whitney will bomb big at 8pm in January. At 9pm, Harry's Law was new and did 7.08 million but only a 1.2 18-49 rating, both down from previous week. And at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was also new, and did 7.03 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week because the other 10pm dramas were new this week. The CW had an encore of Top Model do only 1.22 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, much lower than previous week's Muppet Christmas Letters to Santa. Then a new America's Next Top Model was next at 9pm with 2.39 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. A better showing for it.

Thursday it was CBS with the win. First, ABC opened the night with the special Winter Wipeout: Deck the Balls doing a solid 6.65 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, but down from previous week's Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was preempted as ABC aired AFV Christmas Spectacular doing 6.5 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, not bad. Private Practice was also preempted, as ABC aired the special The Great Big American Auction doing 4.77 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. It was decent in quality, but I don't think we will see any more. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory at 14.02 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, great but below normal. Then, a new Rules of Engagement was next doing 9.95 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, solid and I wonder if CBS can do any better than this with Rob in January. My guess is no. A new episode of Person of Interest followed with 12.66 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, its normal showing. A new The Mentalist followed and did 13.04 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating. Fox started with The X Factor doing 9.84 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. How much longer is this airing? Until Dec. 22. Then at 9pm, a new Bones did 8.11 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down from previous week. NBC aired new episodes of its comedies with the finale until spring Community doing 3.6 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, still not good and down some from previous week. Parks and Recreation followed with only 3.64million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. The Office was new at 9pm doing 5.79 and a 2.9 18-49 rating, also on par with previous week. I seriously think this show will be low-mid 2's in 2012. At 9:30pm Whitney was new with 4.08 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, not good but on par with previous week. NBC's drama bust Prime Suspect was preempted for a special night and time of Grimm, which didn't do well with only 4.03 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, but up some in 18-49 from previous week's Prime Suspect. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries and new drama The Secret Circle were repeats that did 1.19 million/0.4 18-49 rating and 900,000 viewers/0.3 18-49 rating -- both on par week-to-week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS and NBC were tied for first on a very slow Friday night, with CBS' Frosty the Snowman the highest rated program of the night. NBC's dramas returned and were on par really from the last time they aired. Fox was in repeats and ABC was on par with its previous Friday.
Saturday numbers have CBS winning in the preliminaries, but ABC's numbers were not available as they aired a live debate that could win them the night in the finals. NBC's first annual American Giving Awards barely did anything, while Rudolph lead the night for CBS.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new with its first two-hours with AFV & Once Upon a Time. Desperate Housewives and Pan Am are not on as ABC airs the holiday movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This is the fall finale for Once and then it will return Jan. 8 with the rest of ABC Sunday. NBC will win the night with the NFL with the Cowboys and Giants, and it will be big. CBS has its normal line-up being all-new of 60 Minutes, Amazing Race, The Good Wife and CSI: Miami, but they will be delayed due to the NFL overrun. Fox has the animated comedies from 7-10pm, but they will be lower this week with no NFL lead-in.

As for the week (week 12), it's should be CBS with the win since they have been leading and the NFL overrun tonight will confirm the win. I'm guessing Fox will be second, but NBC could be a player if the NFL game does monster numbers tonight. ABC could be fourth across the board, as a result. As for the coming week (week 13), more repeats than new episodes take over, but you can catch 2 Broke Girls tomorrow night on CBS at a special time of 8pm. And Last Man Standing is new on Tuesday for ABC, part of a special hour. Tune in for comedies, as always!

Week 12 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 11 -- Nov. 28-Dec. 4)

  • The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 9.0 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, up BIG from previous week but it had a direct NFL lead-in in the east/central zones causing a big uptick in those time zones.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at a special time of 9:30pm just did 5.47 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up sharply from previous week when it aired at 7:30pm.
  • Allen Gregory (Fox) - A new episode did 5.26 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, also up from previous week and up for the first time ever. It's all because of the NFL lead-in though.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - An all-new episode did 7.14 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week's season low.
  • American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did a big 11.51 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating. Excellent! 18-49 was around the same as it has been doing all season but the total viewers went up a lot, skewing older than usual.
  • 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode did 12.75 million a 4.6 18-49 rating, which is excellent of course but the same as its lead-in up a lot in total viewers and flat in 18-49.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.18 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating is excellent but also lower than normal. Tied with #1 for the week among scripted series in 18-49.
  • Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new episode did 12.66 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is solid and on par with normal.

Tuesday Sitcoms

  • Last Man Standing (ABC) - An all-new Christmas episode in the 8pm half-hour did 8.79 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week but down some in total viewers. It skewed younger than previous week and a great showing. A new episode this week part of a special hour.
  • Man Up! (ABC) - Week eight of this comedy did 4.82 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week for a series low. ABC has pulled it now and Last Man Standing will air for a full hour starting this week.
  • The Middle (ABC) - A repeat at 9pm posted 3.77 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's one-hour repeat.
  • Suburgatory (ABC) - A repeat of the pilot at 9:30pm did decent with 4.02 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, building on its lead-in.
  • New Girl (Fox) - A new episode did 6.79 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is very good and young skewing, but down some from previous week.
  • Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did 4.57 million and only a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is also down some from previous week.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • The Middle (ABC) - A new episode came back and did 8.72 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, a solid showing.
  • Suburgatory (ABC) - A new episode did 8.02 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, holding on to 100% of its lead-in. Great and I think this show will grow even more in January.
  • Up All Night (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode did only 4.96 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Could be worse though. A repeat followed with 3.76 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
  • Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 12.2 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, a season low (not counting Thanksgiving Eve), but still the tied for #1 for scripted series for the week. In fact, tired for #1 for any show so far, but that will change with the NFL airing tonight.
  • Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode did 6.38 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, not its best showing but still solid. Great Christmas episode.
  • I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox) - Week two following The X Factor did 5.38 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from its premiere the previous week and losing to the ABC competing comedy.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 14.02 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, great but down from normal. Not close to Modern or Men this week, in fact 2 Broke Girls and Bang tied for third this week in scripted series.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A new episode did 9.95 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. Could be better, but still solid enough.
  • Community (NBC) - This week was the the finale until spring (I apologize for saying that last Sunday) did 3.6 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Not good.
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode did 3.64 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week but still needs to do better.
  • The Office (NBC) - A new showing did 5.79 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, also on par from previous week.
  • Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did only 4.08 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, yes on par week-to-week. But on par is good only if the ratings are good, and the ratings stink for this series.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10pm, including new ones from 7:30-10, with Christmas episodes.

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, The Middle, Last Man Standing, Suburgatory were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Up All Night, Raising Hope) or just plain old terrible (such as Community, Whitney).


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


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)