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

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

Thursday, January 27

Young Sheldon - "A Lot of Band-Aids and the Cooper Surrender" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon makes friends with his dorm neighbors. Also, George Sr. learns his job is in jeopardy.

United States of Al - "Hunt / Shikar" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Riley, upset that Freddy taught Hazel how to ride a bike while he was deployed, attempts to teach her something new to make up for it. Also, Ariana invites Al to a fundraiser involving spin bikes, where he becomes competitive with Ariana’s handsome cycling instructor, and Art introduces Lois to his favorite secret pastime.

B Positive - "Dagobah, a Room and a Chimney Sweep" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.

B Positive - "A Boss, a Bear Claw and a Defibrillator" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.

Call Me Kat - "Call Me Forty" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Oscar attempts multiple surprises to celebrate Kat's 40th birthday, including meeting his mother; Max tries to figure out why he continually strikes out with women.

Pivoting - "Hell on Wheels" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Sarah dips her toes into the dating pool and enlists Amy and Jodie's help in vetting a woman whom she ran across on a dating app; Amy's maternal instincts are tested when she learns Luke isn't fitting in with other kids.

grown-ish - "It Was Good Until It Wasn't" (Freeform, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The gang copes with the fallout of the explosive events that took place at the luau; Aaron deals with the accountability of his actions at the party; Zoey turns to Pops and Ruby for advice; Ana and Vivek keep a secret under wraps.

Single Drunk Female - "I'm Sorry, But…" (Freeform, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Sam tries to win over Brit by making an amends at her birthday party. Unfortunately, Sam wasn't invited, and neglects Felicia. Meanwhile, when Sam's probation officer stops by, Carol struggles to explain Sam's "situation" to her friends.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 24)

Thursday, January 27

Kevin James (The Crew/Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Catch Kevin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Ilana Glazer (The Afterparty/Broad City) - Ilana appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together/Rules of Engagement/My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star) - Oliver and his sister Kate are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kean will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Cross (Arrested Development/Running Wilde/Oliver Beene) - David appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
Tom Selleck (The Closer) - Tom talks about Blue Bloods on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show.
Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Julie is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is talking all about her new memoir and cooking up her mom’s upside-down cake on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Subutagory) - Ana talks about American Auto on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about AMC's La Fortuna on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle talks about Moonfall on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Trevor Jackson (grown-ish) - Trevor talks about grown-ish on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.