Sunday, January 20, 2008

Notes on Allan Melvin and Suzanne Pleshette; Week 17 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

Just a heads up this weekend has been filled with sitcom actors passing away. We will have a full report tomorrow with tributes. But we would just like to let everyone know that veteran actors Allan Melvin and Suzanne Pleshette have passed away. Allan Melvin of course is best remembered for his roles on The Brady Bunch as Alice's boyfriend Sam the butcher and on All in the Family & Archie Bunker's Place as Archie's pal Barney. He passed away Thursday at the age of 84 and it was not announced until late Friday, therefore we couldn't do a tribute in time.
Suzanne Pleshette is best remembered for her role as Bob Newhart's wife on The Bob Newhart Show in the '70s. She recently had recurring roles on Will & Grace, Good Morning Miami and 8 Simple Rules. She passed away late yesterday and joins her husband Tom Poston, who passed away last year. She was 70.
We will have full tributes for both tomorrow, so please come on back.


Week 17 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: Fox 11.5/17.4, CBS 7.4/11.5, NBC 6.2/9.7, ABC 4.4/6.8, The CW 1.3/1.9, MyNetworkTV 0.8/1.2
Total Viewers: Fox 20.75 million, CBS 11.56 million, NBC 9.77 million, ABC 6.38 million, The CW 1.87 million, MyNetworkTV 1.15 million
Adults 18-49: Fox 8.4/20.7, NBC 3.5/8.8, CBS 2.7/6.8, ABC 2.1/5.3, The CW 0.8/1.9, MyNetworkTV 0.4/1.1

Analysis: Week 17 saw the juggernaut return for Fox, even though it was down a bit, it ruled TV. Fox is obviously on top by big this week in all categories. CBS is a distant second in HH and viewers, with NBC a distant second in 18-49. NBC is third in HH and viewers, while CBS is third in 18-49. ABC is fourth in all categories. Fox will for sure win the week thanks to Idol and tonight's NFC Championship Game, which will probably get over 40 million. The writers' strike has caused a lot of repeats, thus CBS and ABC are down, while NBC is doing better than it normally would do with scripted programming, thanks to the reality shows. Last week, week 16, CBS edged Fox in HH and viewers, while Fox took the 18-49 crown. CBS was second in 18-49. NBC and ABC were neck-and-neck for third, with NBC the slight edge.
On Monday, all of the big 4 had something to smile about. NBC saw a decent night with American Gladiators doing 10.61 million, down slightly from previous week, but its strength is 18-49 as it did a 4.6 rating, also slightly down from previous week. Deal or No Deal (stop with this show!) followed with 15.08 million, way up from previous week, almost by 5 million, followed by Medium at 9.51 million, slightly down from the season premiere. CBS was in repeat mode for its sitcoms, but it still did pretty well, especially Two and a Half Men doing 11.51 million..slightly up from previous week. The other three sitcoms were all way above from previous week. See sitcom numbers below. CBS closed the night off with an all-new CSI: Miami at 14.8 million, I believe that was the pre-strike finale. Fox saw the return of Prison Break at its normal so-so numbers doing 7.87 million and a 3.3 18-49, it was followed by episode two of Sarah Connor Chronicles which did 10.08 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating...way down from the previous night's premiere, but still solid. Let's see how it does tomorrow. ABC's 90 minute Dance War did a solid 10.5 million, down slightly from previous week. Notes from the Underbelly followed at 9:30 at just 4.57 million. I think for February sweeps, ABC should continue to 90-minute Dance War's, but air Samantha Who at 9:30 instead of 9:00 and bench Underbelly until March. October Road followed at 10pm with just 4.86 million, slightly down from previous week. Maybe some people who watched the beautiful Odette Yustman in Cloverfield at the box office this weekend (41.3 million in sales!) will tune in this week to see Odette on the small screen! The CW had repeats of their sitcoms...the best was Chris at 2.04 million and the worst was Aliens in America's 1.31 million.
On Tuesday, Fox was on top thanks to Idol's 33.41 million, down from last season's premiere by about 4-5 million. But still big. 13.8 18-49 is still massive. CBS was a distant second with a new NCIS at 15.82 million, very solid...followed by night two of the mini-series Comanche Moon at 12.56 million. NBC suffered from Idol, as a two-hour Biggest Loser did 7.18 million, down three million from previous week and Law & Order: SVU at 12.2 million, also down over 3 million from previous week. ABC also suffered from Idol-itis, as Just for Laughs started the night off with 4.52 million, down almost 1.5 million from previous week, a repeat followed with just 4.18 million...According to Jim followed with 4.01 million and a repeat of Carpoolers only managed 3.07 million. Thank god Idol ill only be an hour next week. ABC closed the night off with an all-new Boston Legal at a below normal 7.43 million. The CW aired a repeat of Reaper at just 1.58 million and all-new One Tree Hill did 2.72 million...down from previous week.
On Wednesday, it was all Fox again. American Idol's second night of two-hours did 30.44, down 3 million from previous week, and again down from last season's second night, but once again still big. NBC started the night off with the Wednesday edition of Deal or No Deal at 11.81 million, down about 2 million from previous week, the NBC airing of USA Network's Law & Order: Criminal Intent did 8.77 million, down less than a million from previous week, followed by the original Law & Order at 11.59 million, up a bit from previous week. CBS started off slow with Power of 10 at just 4.79 million, down a million from previous week and the final night of the mini-series Comanche Moon did solid with 12.13 million...each night went down, but still solid. ABC's Wife Swap and Supernanny did 5.11 and 6.04 million, both down by almost 3 million from previous week...Idol-itis strikes again. ABC closed the night with Cashmere Mafia at 5.46 million, down 1/2 million or so from previous week. The CW had a new showing of Crowned and a repeat of Gossip Girl at 1.45 and 1.02 million...Crowned is not doing good, down from previous week obviously with Idol airing.
On Thursday, we had repeats of the two big players, but there were some new showings for scripted series. CBS started the night off with a repeat of Without a Trace at a solid 8.93 million, followed by a repeat of CSI at 14.15 for #1 for the night, and a new Without a Trace closed the night off with a decent 13.29 million. Fox was second thanks to Idol's promotion for sure, as Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? reached season highs in all categories with 11.58 million, followed by Don't Forget the Lyrics! at 8.79 million even. ABC's big gun of Grey's Anatomy was in repeat mode and it doesn't repeat as well as the other big gun (CBS's CSI), but Ugly Betty was all-new and started the night with 9.51 million, solid but down from previous week, the Grey's repeat did 7.4 million, followed by an all-new Big Shots which had a major storyline at the end doing just 4.7 million, down well over a million from previous week when it had a new Grey's as its lead-in. NBC started the night with two repeats of their comedies in the 8pm hour as My Name is Earl did 5.62 million and The Office at just 4.88 million, Celebrity Apprentice followed with 9.14 million, up a million from previous week and ER closed the night out with 8.92 million, down from previous week.
Like usual, no Friday finals yet, but CBS won each hour thanks to Ghost Whisperer and NUMB3RS. Even Moonlight won its hour as again there was no Women's Murder Club. 1 vs. 100 for NBC is no Deal or No Deal in the ratings, but it is a more challenging (and better) game show than Deal. Saturday ratings were not available at the time of this writing.
Tonight will be all Fox thanks to the NFC Championship Game between the NY Giants and the Green Bay Packers. ABC and CBS will battle for a distant second, ABC has an all-new two-hour Home Edition while CBS has the Amazing Race finale, but it will likely suffer against the game. NBC will be off the map with a movie (Runaway Bride).
As for the week, Fox will win in HH, viewers and 18-49 because of the NFL game (7-10pm even) and two nights of two-hour Idol's. CBS will likely be second in all categories, with NBC third and ABC fourth.
This coming week...American Idol goes down to one-hour on Tuesday and Wednesdays, so the other nets might get a boost, but again repeats will probably keep them even, especially CBS and ABC, since NBC has new stuff with Deal and other reality shows. ABC has Lost in the waiting area starting Jan. 31!


Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of January 7-13)

  • Aliens in America (The CW) - A repeat did just 666,000 viewers..pretty soon the show will be moving to 8:30pm on this night as the Monday sitcoms make their move to Sundays.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode did an above average 11.33 million and 5.5 18-49 rating thanks to the NFL and Sarah Connor premiere lead-in.
  • American Dad (Fox) - 8.62 million for a new episode...way above normal, see above.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 7.13 million for a repeat...up over a million from previous week's repeat of 5.98 million.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.07 million for a repeat...up nearly 2 million from previous week's repeat of 6.21 million. Tomorrow is the last scheduled repeat, before Welcome to the Captain takes over. Look for our review of that next week.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.51 million tuned in for a repeat..very good, up slightly from previous week.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 8.42 million for a repeat, good, up 1/2 million or so from previous week.
  • CW Monday Comedies: Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, The Game. All were repeats ... Chris led the block with 2.04 million, Aliens did 1.31 million, Girlfriends did 1.32 million, and The Game did 1.67 million.


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • According to Jim (ABC) - A new episode faced Idol head to head, so it only did 4.01 million. Not against Idol this
  • Carpoolers (ABC) - Since Idol was on in the hour, ABC scheduled a repeat, but it only managed 3.07 million...all-new this week, and not against Idol.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • None
Thursday Sitcoms
  • My Name is Earl (NBC) - A repeat did 5.62 million.
  • The Office (NBC) - 4.88 million for a repeat.
Friday Sitcoms
  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms
  • None.


Airing tonight (Sunday) is a repeat of Aliens in America on The CW at 7:30, and Fox's animated comedies are preempted for the NFL game.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and Rules of Engagement repeats were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as My Name is Earl, How I Met Your Mother repeats) or just plain old terrible (According to Jim, Carpoolers repeat).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 28

The Conners - "Keep On Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners are dealing with the pandemic and life's financial troubles.

The Conners - "Halloween and the Election vs the Pandemic" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Halloween has been canceled, so the family works to create an unforgettable experience.

Son of a Critch - "Airing Out" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Critches are doing their annual airing-out-the-house ritual; some family secrets are uncovered.

Son of a Critch - "Cabaret" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Mark finally gets the chance to take the stage as a stand-up comedian.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 25)

Thursday, March 28

  • Joey King (Bent) - Joey talks about We Were the Lucky Ones on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo discusses his starring role in the AMC crime-thriller series Parish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy stops by to talk about her upcoming starring turn in Ryan Murphy's horror drama Grotesquerie on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks about Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Lorraine Toussaint (Where I Live) - Lorraine is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


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

03/27 - The Upshaws Part 5 This April; Max Orders Noah Wyle Medical Drama
03/26 - Apple TV+ Orders Star-Studded Comedy; Elizabeth Banks Joins New Peacock Series
03/25 - Disney Channel Orders Wizards of Waverly Place Revival; Paramount+ Animated Comedy Ark: The Animated Series
03/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 25, 2024)
03/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Sets Premiere Date for Good Times Animated Reboot; NBC Renews Several Popular Series
03/22 - NBC Renews Nearly All Chicago and Law & Order Series; Goosebumps Season 2 Cast Update
03/21 - Hallmark Renews The Way Home; You Final Season Sets Cast
03/20 - Community Arrives on Peacock April 1, Movie Coming Soon; Hulu Premieres New Comedy Dinosaur April 5
03/19 - NBC Summer 2024 Schedule; Starz Drama Rounds Out All-Star Cast
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