Network Holiday Programming: The WB; Week 10 Ratings

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Network Holiday Programming: The WB; Week 10 Ratings

The WB will kick off their holiday programming with a special movie, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Note, this has nothing to do with the series that aired on The WB some years back, at least I don't think.
A World Premiere Movie Based on the Popular American Girls Doll Series -- This heartwarming family drama centers around the life of spunky, strong-willed Felicity Merriman (Shailene Woodley), a ten-year-old girl growing up in colonial Williamsburg. Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and Smallville's John Schneider also star. Airs Tuesday, November 29 at 8 p.m. and encores Sunday, December 4 at 8 p.m.

Grandma Got Run-Over By a Reindeer: An Animated Christmas Special Based On The Hit Holiday Song -- Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, this goofy and heartwarming adventure features young Jake Spankenheimer on the quest of a lifetime to track his missing grandma down on Christmas Eve and prove that Santa Claus is indeed real. Michele Lee (Knots Landing) provides the voice of Jake's greedy Cousin Mel and recording artist Elmo Shropshire provides the narration. Airs Sunday, December 11 at 7:30 pm. ET/PT.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Animated Holiday Classic Returns to The WB -- The Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the holiday-loving Whos of Whoville. But while he's stealing their presents and roast beast, he learns a most unexpected lesson about the holiday. Airs Wednesday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A Scooby Doo Christmas: When the Scooby Gang stumbles upon the quaint town of Winter Hollow, they quickly discover that strangers are not welcome and Christmas is not discussed due to a ghostly headless snowman that appears every Yuletide to destroy people's houses, along with their holiday joy. To Shaggy and Scooby's dismay, Fred, Daphne and Velma decide to spend a chilling Christmas Eve at the local inn to solve the mystery of the snowman and bring the spirit of Christmas back to Winter Hollow. Airs Friday, December 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Samantha: An American Girld Holiday: A Holiday Special Based on the Most Popular American Girl Doll --"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" stars Mia Farrow, Anna Sophia Robb, Kelsey Lewis, Jordan Bridges and Rebecca Mader. The movie focuses on 9-year-old Samantha Parkington™, an orphan who lives with her wealthy grandmother in Mount Bedford, New York in 1904. Samantha is one of the three original American Girl® characters, as well as the most popular doll in the collection. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT

The Wizard of Oz: The Beloved Family Classic Based On The Novel By L. Frank Baum -- When a tornado sweeps Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) away from her Kansas home and off to the magical land of Oz, located "somewhere over the rainbow," she is befriended by a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley) and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who help her avoid the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) as they travel down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard (Frank Morgan), whom they believe can help Dorothy return home. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and King Vidor and written by L. Frank Baum, Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf with original music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The WB has not released yet if their series programming will have holiday episodes. So you'll have to check back with us if shows like Twins and Reba will have a holiday episode. And as of now, UPN has no holiday programming and they also have not released if their series will have holiday episodes. So stay tuned!

Now to the ratings game. I do not have the final numbers for Wednesday and on (thanks to the holiday weekend), so I can't show you how the networks did the first four days, but I can still break down the sitcoms that aired this week.

Monday Sitcoms

The King of Queens (CBS) - 10.98 million tuned in and a 3.7 A18-49 rating.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Solid, but slightly down from lead-in. 10.29 million and 3.6 A18-49 rating.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Up from last week's 15.17 million to 15.74 million. And a sitcom leading 5.2 A18-49 rating for the week.
Out of Practice (CBS) - Has been much better lately, 13.26 tuned in. Pretty good retention from lead-in. And a 4.3 A18-49 rating. I hope the hiatus in January and February won't hurt this sitcom.
One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - Consistent again, between 3.3-3.9 million.

Tuesday Sitcoms

My Name is Earl (NBC) - Up from previous week to 12.22 million.
The Office (NBC) - 8.09 million tuned in, over 4 million drop from lead-in. Concerning for NBC.

Wednesday Sitcoms

Still Standing (CBS) -With ABC and FOX airing a special and a movie, this was the only sitcom in the half hour. It should have done better, but it didn't.
Yes, Dear (CBS) - Same as above.

Thursday Sitcoms

Joey (NBC) - Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving Day, but Joey had its lowest ratings ever probably. Why did NBC air an original on Thanksgiving? Do they think this show is like Friends? People want to watch Charlie Brown on Thanksgiving, not Joey-- and they did, as ABC beat NBC in this half hour.
Will & Grace (NBC) - Not what it once used to be. I know it was Thanksgiving Day, but still, the rating was below a 4.
Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - I don't have final numbers, but UPN was dead last in the 8 p.m hour.
Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - 9 p.m. hour average was only a 1.2. Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving and sweeps, but UPN should have aired a special instead.

Friday Sitcoms

What I Like About You (The WB) - A repeat, but dead last in its slot.
Reba (The WB) - A repeat at 8:30 improved on its lead-in.
Hope & Faith (ABC) - ABC should have aired a repeat or a special since no one wants to watch sitcoms on the holiday weekend, as NBC found out last night.
Hot Properties (ABC) - See above.
Twins (The WB) - A repeat that was dead last in its slot.

Summing it up. My Name is Earl, 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--maybe because they aired pre-Thanksgiving. Everything else was pre-empted or in reruns or did terrible on holiday airings (Joey, Will & Grace, Hope & Faith, Hot Properties).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, April 21

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Your Own Medicine" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After Dave’s disastrous attempt to dunk a basketball, Calvin takes care of his injured neighbor. Also, Gemma befriends a cool mom group while babysitting Daphne.

Poppa's House - "Babygirl" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Junior’s sister, Natalie (Amora Wayans), visits and reveals her engagement, he insists that she make up with their father, whom she still blames for their parents’ divorce.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 21)

Monday, April 21

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Quinta on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Milana Vayntrub (Other Space) - Anna and Milana are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Christopher Meloni (Happy/Surviving Jack/Misery Loves Company/The Fanelli Boys) - E! News has an interview with Christopher at 11pm on E!. He will also be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - Gayle King sits down with George on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Penn Badgley (Do Over) - Penn talks about You on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building/Telenovela) - Eva stops by Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive) - Annaleigh chats with the hosts on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Justina in the 9am hour.
Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - NBC's Today catches up Sarah in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Chloe Fineman joins Drew and Valerie in the kitchen to share a delicious recipe on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Amy Schumer (Life & Beth), Jillian Bell (Bless the Harts/Idiotsitter/Eastbound & Down/Workaholics) and Brianne Howey (Dollface) - Amy, Jillian and Brianne about starring in Netflix's new comedy Kinda Pregnant on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
James Brolin (Life in Pieces) - James talks about Netflix's Ransom Canyon on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.