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Week 33 First Four Day Ratings; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 33 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: CBS: 9.2/14.5; FOX 9.2/14.3; NBC: 6.5/10.2; ABC: 5.0/7.8; The WB: 2.4/3.8; UPN 1.7/2.7.
Total Viewers: FOX 15.25 million; CBS: 14.25 million; NBC: 9.64 million; ABC: 7.52 million; The WB: 3.72 million; UPN: 2.56 million.
Adults 18-49: FOX 6.1/16.2; CBS: 4.4/11.5; NBC: 3.5/9.3; ABC: 2.8/7.4; The WB: 1.5/4.0; UPN: 1.2/3.0.

Analysis: The second week of May sweeps saw more of the same as week one. It will get interesting when the season finals start airing. Fox again had a strong Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 24 was first in its 9 p.m. timeslot with 13.15 million viewers (Two and a Half Men won the 9 p.m. half hour for CBS with 14.31 million) and a strong 5.2 rating in A18-49. Prison Break before that was second place in A18-49 and total viewers. CBS's comedies were all new, the 8 p.m. hour has sprung a huge leak though. Both King of Queens and How I Met Your Mother usually score 9-10 million or more, but now they are in the 7 million range, not good for impressive for the week. Monday's highest rated show, CSI: Miami, was just that with 19.31 million, nearly doubling the next nearest program (Medium 10.16 million). ABC's What Abut Brian was up from last week's 5.38 million to 6.03 million, losing a lot of its Supernanny season finale lead-in (which did an impressive 10.31 million). Tuesday was all Fox with American Idol & House, with 28.58 and 22.71 million viewers. House was down from last week's ratings but this week was a two-part episode that continued on Wednesday. CBS's dramas did well against them with NCIS and The Unit both scoring well over 14 million but everything else was anemic, like usual. CBS did however lose a lot of ground at 10 p.m. with the Dynasty Reunion which was a big bust at 5.35 million. ABC's comedies did terrible, as According to Jim and Hope & Faith's season finales very well might be series finales. Less than Perfect will be back in June with more new episodes, but after that there is no shot of another season. Wednesday it was better than usual for Fox, as House aired on this night, too and scored 17.16 million to open the night! Fox's Idol was too much for everyone with 29.26 million in the 9 p.m. half hour. Lost was back with all-new episodes and a huge shocking ending and did a decent 15.56 million opposite the AI juggernaut. CBS's Criminal Minds was also in the game in the hour with 12.17 million. Deal or No Deal scored 12.41 million viewers for NBC to start the night, down more than 3 million from last week thanks to the special House airing. Thursday it was all CBS in a big way. CBS's Survivor easily won in total viewers and adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. CBS won the 9 and 10 p.m. hours with new episodes of CSI and Without a Trace scoring 26.05 and 19.11 million. Without a Trace was up from last week, so good sign for CBS, but I still like the rumors that the show will be moving to another night. NBC's comedies were all down big once again, especially My Name is Earl. Earl only scored 8.8 million down from last week's 9.05 million viewers. The aging ER did only 11.78 million, and the rumor is NBC will bench it next fall and air it in January. Friday saw CBS winning with its dramas lead by NUMB3RS. Loser of the night was NBC's Conviction, which will be convicted probably after the season. Saturday saw decent numbers again for CBS with repeats of CSI: NY and CSI and an all-new 48 Hours Mystery. I think the networks will try to be more aggresive next season on Saturdays, at least I hope. FOX will win the week in adults 18-49, but CBS will win in total viewers. ABC will win tonight in a big way and will surpass NBC again in total viewers and A18-49 for the week. It'll be close. But it won't be close tonight as EM: Home Edition and DH, & GA are all-new!


Monday Sitcoms

• The King of Queens (CBS) - 7.44 million for a new episode is concerning.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - New episode scored 7.24 million,down from last week's 7.6 million. This show might be a little overrated.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.31 million for an all-new episode. Easily the number one sitcom, but this is no Raymond.
• New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) - 11.92 million tuned in, but this show was doing much better than that in its first few airings. Expect this show to probably lead-off Mondays next fall.
• One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - All new and had usual numbers, peaking at 9 p.m. with 2.85 million. One of them will survive to the CW.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) - 4.54 million for the season finale. Dana is pregnant. Will we find out if she ever has the baby next season? The show is on the bubble.
• Hope & Faith (ABC) 2 episodes - 2 all new episodes. 4.11 million at 8:30 and the season finale at 5.7 million at 9 p.m. Both up from last week, but I still think According to Jim should've aired at 9 p.m.
  
• Less than Perfect (ABC) - 4.98 million tuned in, now we have to wait until June for more new episodes.
  
• Scrubs (NBC) 2 episodes - 3.01 million at 8:30 for a repeat is pathetic, and only 5.07 million for a new show at 9 p.m. losing to Hope & Faith even.
  
• Teachers (NBC) - 4.49 million only. Cancelation clock is ticking.
  

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) 2 episodes - Two special repeat airings did 2.44 and 2.35 million.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Will & Grace (NBC) 2 episodes - 6.97 for an all-new episode followed by 7 million for a repeat.
• That's 70s Show (FOX) 2 episodes - 4.64 and 5.69 million for two all-new episodes.
  
• My Name is Earl (NBC) - 8.8 million...downfall continues for the once hot sitcom.
  
• The Office (NBC) - 7.45 million and a 3.7 A18-49 rating is decent enough for this show, can it survive without Earl though?
  
• Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - 3.17 million for a new episode.
  
• Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - Dump these now! Air a marathon of Chris every Thursday instead.

Friday Sitcoms

Reba: Season finale and a repeat were both last. 2.0 and 1.9 rating each.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, My Name is Earl (almost did not make it here), and The New Adventures of Old Christine were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Office, King of Queens, How I Met Your Mother) or just plain old terrible (such as UPN Thursday, Scrubs 8:30, Teachers).
Sad state for the sitcom this May. Hopefully it will be better next fall.