Sunday, September 21, 2008

Summer Week 17 Sitcom Ratings; New Season Preview

Summer is now over after tonight! The 2008-09 TV season gets officially underway tomorrow and next Sunday we will be back with our normal weekly report with the first four nights numbers, analysis and how the sitcoms did! But first, here is week 17 for the summer for sitcoms:

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of September 8-14)


  • The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - Fox only aired comedies from 7-8pm and two repeats did 2.68 and 4.07 million...which was up against Football on CBS for the most of the country.
  • King of the Hill (Fox) - preempted.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - preempted
  • American Dad! (Fox) - preempted

Summer Week 17 (September 15-21)

Monday Sitcoms


  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 5.94 million for a repeat...should have done a bit better, but the more important thing is how will it do tomorrow for its season premiere? Anything less than 8-8.5 million would be disappointing.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 5.4 million for a repeat airing...not good, down week to week and did not build from the lead-in. It should be a different story tomorrow, as I'm predicting 9-9.5 million.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 9.97 million for a repeat, up from previous week...tomorrow's season premiere should do above 12 million, but it will battle Dancing with the Stars on ABC, which should do 20 million+.
  • Old Christine (CBS) - 7.42 million for a repeat but remember the series will move to Wednesdays at 8 this week. New sitcom Worst Week will air in this slot, and I expect at least 10 million for the premiere.
Tuesday Sitcoms


  • None, Tuesdays used to be a sitcom night...now nothing.
Wednesday Sitcoms


  • Old Christine (CBS) 2 episodes - Two repeats didn't muster much...just 4.38 and 4.59 million. This week it will be new and I really am not expecting much...look for 7 million or less. Gary Unmarried will follow and will likely build a bit for its premiere at least, but after this week, maybe not.
  • 'Til Death (Fox) - Just 4.89 million for week two of the new season, down from the season premiere's 6.06 million...it'll go down more this week and it is time for Brad Garrett and company to end.
  • Do Not Disturb (Fox) - Just 3.9 million for the second episode...down already from the series premiere's 4.65 million. This was my pick for the first cancelation of the season, and so far doesn't look good for Jerry O'Connell and gang.
Thursday Sitcoms


  • My Name is Earl (NBC) - A repeat at a special time of 8:30pm following a special America's Got Talent Results did 5.05 million, down a bit from previous week. Look for more erosion for Earl this year. It's no longer a must see comedy as the show will only do 7 million or less for its premiere.
  • The Office (NBC) 1 Hour - One-hour repeat did just 4.48 million. Look for the one-hour premiere this week to do close to 9 million and a good 18-49 number (NBC hopes for a 5 rating). It's no Grey's Anatomy but a solid hit that contends for #1 sitcom in 18-49, while Two and a Half Men and Samantha Who do better in viewers.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms


  • None.

Tonight you can catch encores of Fox's animated comedies from 7-10 tonight but everyone will be watching the Emmys on ABC from 8-11 (and ESPN's coverage of the last game at Yankee Stadium). Jimmy Kimmel's hilarious Emmy special will air at 7pm on ABC.

New Season Preview (Season Starts Tomorrow, Sept. 22):

The new season starts Monday and here is a preview what is airing on premiere week! On ABC, it's the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars from 8-10pm and the last season premiere of Boston Legal on a new night at 10pm. CBS will launch its comedy block with season premieres of The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men & the series premiere of Worst Week from 8-10pm, and the season premiere of drama CSI: Miami at 10pm. NBC will have a Heroes night with a countdown special at 8pm followed by the two-hour season premiere of 9-11pm. Fox and The CW already launched their Monday series a few weeks ago with Fox's dramas Sarah Connor Chronicles & Prison Break off to very slow starts and good starts for The CW's Gossip Girl & One Tree Hill.
On Tuesday, ABC will launch new game-reality show Opportunity Knocks at 8pm followed by a special Dancing with the Stars from 9-11pm where the couples do a second dance for the first time in premiere week, while one person goes home at the beginning of the show. CBS will launch a new season of the reliable NCIS followed by the series premiere The Mentalist, and the season premiere of Without a Trace, on yet another night. NBC launched The Biggest Loser last week to OK numbers will have another two-hour episode from 8-10pm followed by the season premiere of old faithful Law & Order: SVU. Again, Fox and The CW launched their Tuesday shows already with Fox airing House & Fringe and The CW airing 90210 & Privileged. Expect all four of those to be down a bit this week.
On Wednesday, the three night Dancing with the Stars premiere concludes with the Results Show on a special night and time of 8-9pm followed by the highly addicitive David Blaine Special from 9-11pm, this time he goes for the Dive of Death. On CBS, sitcom Old Christine moves to a new night and time of 8pm followed by the series premiere of Gary Unmarried...then the big guns of Criminal Minds & CSI: NY will have their season premieres. NBC will premiere Knight Rider, which hopefully got better after that awful TV movie, followed by one of the last episodes of the summer show America's Got Talent leading into the season premiere of Lipstick Jungle at 10pm. Fox and The CW will continue their line-ups, Fox with Bones and sitcoms 'Til Death & Do Not Disturb. The CW has Top Model and an encore of 90210.
On Thursday, ABC will have the season premiere of Ugly Betty at 8pm and the two-hour season premiere of Grey's Anatomy from 9-11pm. The clear winner of the night in ratings. CBS will have a two-hour premiere of Survivor: Gabon from 8-10pm, the first time ever the show will launch with a two-hour episode, followed by an encore of CSI's finale from last year at 10pm. CSI launches its new season on Oct. 9. NBC will have a two-episode premiere of My Name is Earl, followed by the one-hour The Office season premiere at 9pm, and ER at 10pm will have its season premiere. Fox will have two episodes this week of Kitchen Nightmares from 8-10pm. And The CW will have week two of Smallville and Supernatural.
On Friday, the first Presidential Debate takes over primetime from 9-11pm ET as Obama and McCain debate for the first of three times. At 8pm, ABC will air a special 20/20, CBS will encore the premiere of The Mentalist, NBC will have dud America's Toughest Jobs, and Fox will air a new Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The CW will have its last airing of WWE Smackdown, as it moves to MyNetworkTV.
On Saturdays its slow as usual with ABC probably doing the best with College Football. Fox is new with Cops and AMW.
And next Sunday, its more premieres, as ABC will have the two-hour season premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition from 7-9pm, followed by the anticipated season premiere of Desperate Housewives at 9pm and the family drama Brothers & Sisters at 10pm. CBS has an all-new night with 60 Minutes, Amazing Race 13, Cold Case and The Unit on its new night and time. NBC will turn it over once again to Sunday Night NFL. Fox will have the premieres of their animated series The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad! from 8-10pm following NFL coverage. The CW still has repeats until the MRC block launches.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, August 29

Happy's Place - "The Doctor Is Out" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Bobbie praises Steve's progress with his OCD, he decides he's finally ready to quit therapy; Gabby embarks on a side hustle enlisting ambassadors to sell bracelets for a third party.

Happy's Place - "Alarm Bells" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Isabella requests Emmett's help getting a security system installed, Bobbie claims she can protect her sister better than any alarm or man, leading to Bobbie and Emmett having a competition over who's the better protector.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 25)

Friday, August 29

  • Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Timothy Olyphant (Stick/Santa Clarita Diet) - Watch Timothy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Austin Butler (Ruby & the Rockits/Zoey 101/Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide) - Austin is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Jenna Ortega (Stuck in the Middle/Richie Rich) - Jenna appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Clifton Davis (Amen/That's My Mama) - Clifton makes a special appearance on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Co-host Gayle King sits down with Sabrina on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts/Young Sheldon) - Danielle talks about Ghosts on a repeat on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • David Zayas (The Bear) - David talks about The Bear and Paramount+'s Dexter: Resurrection on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
  • Regina King (The Boondocks/Leap of Faith/227) - Regina talks about Caught Stealing on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Kel Mitchell (Game Shakers/Kenan & Kel) - NBC's Today catches up with Kel in the 9am hour. He will also be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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08/28 - NBC's Password Renewed for Season 3 for 2026; Pluto TV Streaming CBS Shows Ahead of Fall Season
08/27 - Hulu's Deli Boys Renewed for Season 2 with Fred Armisen; HBO's I Love LA Premieres November 2
08/26 - English Teacher Returns on FX for Season 2; Jesse Williams Prime Video Series Trailer
08/25 - Doc Season 2 Trailer for Fox; Remembering David Ketchum and Jerry Adler
08/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 25, 2025)
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08/22 - Hulu's Futurama Season 13 Trailer; A Man on the Inside Returns November 20 on Netflix
08/21 - George Lopez Coming to COZI TV; The Morning Show Season 4 Trailer
08/20 - Welcome Back, Kotter 50th Anniversary Marathon on Rewind TV; Apple TV+ Palm Royale Season 2 Premieres November 12
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08/13 - Remembering Danielle Spencer of What's Happening!!; Trailer for Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building
08/12 - Netflix's Comedy Kiss or Die Premieres September 9; Lori Harvey Joins Reasonable Doubt
08/11 - Roku Originals Books a Return Trip with Season 2 Renewal of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross; Netflix's Fixed Trailer
08/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 11, 2025)
08/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Trailer Released for The Paper; ABC Gives Pilot Order to Do You Want Kids?
08/08 - Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2 Premieres September 12; The Paper Trailer for Peacock
08/07 - Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 4 Celebs; Sweetpea Season 2 Stars
08/06 - Molly Shannon Joins Will Ferrell Golf Comedy Series; Netflix's Season 2 of My Life with the Walter Boys
08/05 - Disney+ Musical Comedy Electric Bloom Premieres; NBC Renews American Ninja Warrior for Season 18
08/04 - Remembering Loni Anderson of WKRP in Cincinnati; And Just Like That... to End After 3 Seasons
08/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 4, 2025)
08/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Family Guy Specials Coming to Hulu; Jimmy Kimmel Rooting for Emmy for Stephen Colbert
08/01 - Long Story Short Gets Season 2 Ahead of Premiere; Netflix's Wayward Premieres September 25
07/31 - Solar Opposites Final Season on Hulu; Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
07/30 - FETV Acquires The Jeffersons, Uncut; BET+ Comedy Churchy Returns August 21, BET Greenlights Sketch Comedy Series
07/29 - NBC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; Fox Fall 2025 Premiere Dates