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Week 28 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

Week 28 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: Fox 8.1/12.6, CBS 7.8/12.4, ABC 5.9/9.4, NBC 4.6/7.3, The CW 1.3/2.1, MyNetworkTV 0.8/1.2
Total Viewers: Fox 13.45 million, CBS 12.4 million, ABC 8.92 million, NBC 6.99 million, The CW 1.93 million, MyNetworkTV 1.14 million
Adults 18-49: Fox 4.9/12.9, CBS 3.7/9.9, ABC 2.5/6.6, NBC 2.4/6.4, The CW 0.8/2.2, MyNetworkTV 0.4/1.0

Analysis: Week 28 so far has Fox and CBS dominating...as CBS's scripted hits have returned (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). Through the first four days of week 28, we have Fox on top by a slim margin, with CBS in second in HH/viewers, and 18-49. ABC is third, with NBC 4th in all categories. Last week, week 27, CBS edged out Fox (thanks to the NCAA) for number one in HH, but it Fox had a slight edge in total viewers. Fox was also first in 18-49, with CBS in second. ABC was 3rd in, with NBC fourth in everything.
On Monday, it was ABC on top with Dancing with the Stars doing 20.56 million for 96 minutes, slightly up from the two-hour episode the week before. The Bachelor: London Calling followed with 7.67 million, up a bit from the previous week. CBS was next with its sitcoms which were all-new! The Big Bang Theory's did 8.43 million, slightly off from the previous week, How I Met Your Mother followed with 9.5 million, down from the 10.67 million the week before, as Britney Spears guest-starred on that one. Two and a Half Men followed with 14.5 million, up slightly from previous week and the season finale of Old Christine followed with a season high 12.57 million, up nearly three million from previous week. CSI: Miami closed the night with a solid 15.65 million, down from its return the previous week. NBC was led by Deal or No Deal at 9pm doing 10.07 million, slightly off week-to-week, but NBC started the night off at 8pm slow with My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad at 4.3 million, but it was a bit up from previous week actually. Medium closed the night off with 9.65 million, it also was up week-to-week. Fox aired a repeat of House to start off the night and it did 7.5 million, down a bit from previous week, following at 9pm was a new New Amsterdam doing 6.6 million, up from previous week. The CW had a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.06 million and a new Pussycat Dolls at just 1.29 million...both down from previous week.
On Tuesday, Fox was on top thanks to Idol at 26.12 million at 8pm, up over a million from previous week...and that was 90-minutes, too. At 9pm Fox premiered a new season of Hell's Kitchen and it did solid with 11.85 million...but more impressive was the 5.5 18-49 rating. ABC was next with two new episodes of Just for Laughs at 8pm doing 5.32 and 5.48 million...up from what it normally was doing. Then at 9pm, Dancing with the Stars: The Results did a solid 17.28 million, down slightly from previous week as Steve Guttenberg got shockingly eliminated. He didn't deserve to go...Carrolla or Winkour should have been the one instead. ABC closed the night at 10pm with the special ABC News Special: Live To Be 150 at 9.7 million. CBS was next with a repeat of NCIS at 9.97 million, up from previous week, followed by the Tuesday edition of the disappointing Big Brother 9 at just 6.11 million, but it was up from previous week. A new CSI: Miami on a special night did a very solid 14.23 million for part two of a two-part two-night event. NBC aired a two-hour Biggest Loser at 8.17 million, up from previous week, and a repeat of Law & Order: SVU drew 5.77 million, down nearly three million viewers from previous week...thanks to CBS. The CW aired a new Beauty & The Geek at just 1.6 million and a repeat of Reaper did 1.73 million, ouch it beat a new episode of Geek.
On Wednesday, it was all Fox again. American Idol Results at 9pm did 24.84 million, down from previous week, the season finale of The Moment of Truth at 8pm did 10.16 million, up a bit from previous week. CBS continues to struggle with Big Brother 9 at just 5.94 million, up a bit from previous week, but Criminal Minds and CSI: NY are now back with new episodes, and did solid at 12.81 and 12.85 million...very good, but it seems below normal. NBC was next with Deal or No Deal starting the night off with 9.53 million, followed by a repeat of Law & Order: Criminal Intent at 5.12 million, down from previous week, and the original Law & Order was a repeat as well and it did 6.48 million, down from previous week's repeat. ABC's Wife Swap did 5.69 million for a new episode, down from previous week, a new Supernanny followed with 5.89 million, up slightly from previous week, but that was a repeat and finally a new MEN IN TREES did 5.46 million, down a bit from previous week. The CW had an all-new Top Model at a decent 3.87 million, up a bit from previous week, a repeat of Pussycat Dolls did just 1.47 million, down a bit from previous week but still better than its original Monday airing, sad, isn't it?
On Thursday, CBS was back with its big guns and thus was number one for the night. Survivor: Micronesia started the night off with 12.87 million, seems below normal...but CSI followed with a nice 20.58 million for its return episode and Without a Trace closed the night off with its return episode doing 15.2 million. Fox was next with two Are You Smarter That a 5th Grader? episodes doing 9.88 and 10.41 million, wonder why it went up? NBC was next, with an all-new My Name is Earl hour doing 7.53 million...decent, but again seems below normal. The Office repeat marathon followed from 9-11pm doing not so good, dropping in each half-hour: 5.09, 4.58, 4.34, and 4.3 million...new episodes return this coming week. ABC was well behind as its top guns won't return until April 24, so they will have to suffer a bit the next two weeks. ABC started the night off with two new episodes of the hilarious Miss Guided at 4.6 and 4.34 million, down from the two episodes the previous week, these two were the season finale. Lost repeat followed with just 4.07 million, thus Eli Stone closed the night with only 5.15 million, down from previous week, but the building on a repeat shows this show does have an audience of its own...and is worth returning next season...two more episodes remain for this season on Thursdays and a special one for next Sunday following the return of Desperate Housewives.
Like usual, no Friday finals yet. CBS returned its top Friday shows and won the night, as Ghost Whisperer's return, a special primetime Price is Right, and the return of NUMB3RS all led it shours. NBC's Dateline did well at 10pm as well, but Amne$ia suffered at 8pm and ABC's return of Duel didn't do so well, which is sad to hear because it was really good. Saturday ratings were not available to us.
Tonight will be a toss-up, but ABC will win most likely again, lead by Oprah's Big Give but Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a repeat, so not sure how it will be affected. CBS could be a wildcard and win the night, but with Big Brother & Dexter, it seems unlikely but 60 Minutes & a new Cold Case will make it interesting. NBC has a new Dateline but I'm scared to see how repeats of USA Network's Monk and Psych will do from 8-10pm...I think they will bomb big time. Fox will be in repeats with The Simpsons, Family Guy but King of the Hill is all-new.
As for the week, I believe CBS will win in HH, viewers with Fox in 18-49. Fox will be 2nd in HH/viewers and ABC will hang on for third in all spots, leaving NBC in 4th.
This coming week sees more shows return from strike hiatus such as Samantha Who and The Office.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of March 17-23)

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - All-new episode did 1.39 million, up from the 990,000 viewers the week before...at least it went over a million.
  
• Aliens in America (The CW) - A repeat did just 1 million, but it beat the 910,000 the previous week...and that was NEW!
  
• The Game (The CW) - A new episode did 1.5 million, up a bit from previous week.
  
• Girlfriends (The CW) - A repeat did 1.55 million, up from previous week...and it built on the lead-in...impressive.
  
• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 7.14 million...seems way below for a new showing.
  
• King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - A repeat at 7pm did just 3.3 million, but it was up from previous week. A new episode at 8:30 did 6.07 million...typical.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - Just 7.28 million for a repeat...but better than previous week, which was like 3 million less.
  
• Unhitched (Fox) - Just 4.18 million for the finale...a goner for sure.
  
• American Dad (Fox) - Only 3.97 million for a repeat at 7:30pm, but it was up a bit from previous week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.43 million tuned in, down just a bit from previous week.
  
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 9.5 million tuned in for a new episode...down from previous week's 10.67 million. If it can do 9.5 million or so every week now, it will be back for sure next season.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.5 million for a new episode...up a bit from previous week.
• Old Christine (CBS) - 12.57 million for the season finale...two factors...didn't go head-to-head with Dancing with the Stars and it was the season finale.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None
  

Wednesday Sitcoms

• None
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• Miss Guided (ABC) 2 episodes - Two new episodes did 4.6 and 4.34 million...down from previous week...these two were the last episodes of the season. Hopefully it warrants a return sometime next season.
• My Name is Earl (NBC) - The one-hour return did a solid 7.53 million...seems low though, but maybe next week it will be higher as the rest of NBC's comedies return.
  
• The Office (NBC) 4 episodes - 4 repeats to get ready for the return this week did not so good dropping in each half-hour: 5.09, 4.58, 4.34, and 4.3 million.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) is a mix of new and repeats of sitcoms on The CW from 8-10, and Fox's animated comedies are also a mix of new and repeats from 7-10.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother, Old Christine & The Big Bang Theory were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (My Name is Earl) or just plain old terrible (The Office repeats, Miss Guided).