Sunday, October 05, 2008

Week 2 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

Week 2 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):


Households: CBS: 8.1/12.7; ABC: 6.8/10.7; NBC: 5.2/8.2; Fox: 4.5/6.9; The CW: 2.1/3.2; MNT: 0.9/1.4.
Total Viewers: CBS: 12.73 million; ABC: 10.27 million; NBC: 8.17 million; Fox: 7.26 million; The CW: 3.15 million; MNT: 1.4 million.
Adults 18-49: CBS: 3.6/9.4; NBC: 3.1/8.1; ABC: 2.8/7.5; Fox: 2.8/7.5; The CW: 1.5/3.9; MNT: 0.5/1.2.

Analysis: Week 2 has not been a typical week to say the least. The big guns on Thursday were preempted due to the Vice Presidential Debate, which did well, but of course not as much as the regular Thursday airings...and the debate itself doesn't count in the ratings. Through the first four days, CBS has the lead in all categories, with ABC second in HH/viewers (but tied for third in 18-49), NBC in third in HH/viewers (2nd in 18-49) and Fox in fourth in HH/viewers but tied for third in 18-49. ABC is down big from the first four nights of last week, as the People Magazine Special on Tuesday bombed, the Wednesday premieres disappointed, and no Grey's Anatomy. Last week, ABC won premiere week in all categories, with CBS second in HH/viewers (but third in 18-49), NBC was third in HH/viewers (but 2nd in 18-49), and Fox fourth across the board.
Monday was all ABC thanks to of course Dancing with the Stars. The two-hour episode did 18.88 million and a 4.4/11 in 18-49...down from previous week, but still #1. A new Boston Legal followed with 8.56 million, down a tad from the premiere. Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. The Big Bang Theory did 8.6 million, down a bit from previous week and How I Met Your Mother followed with 8.72 million, down a million from the premiere. Two and a Half Men and new single-camera sitcom Worst Week followed with 13.58 and 8.96 million. Men was down over a million from previous week, while Worst Week was down two million from its premiere. This show is on alert already. At 10pm a new CSI: Miami did 14.34 million, down nearly three million from previous week...but still #1 by a landslide at 10. NBC followed with its drama line-up. Chuck launched its second season to a so-so 6.84 million, Heroes followed with 9.5 million...down a bit from the two-hour premiere the week before, but this time it built a bit in its second half-hour. A special preview and the second season premiere of Life aired at 10pm with just 6.94 million. Fox was a distant fourth with Sarah Connor continuing to fall with just 5.37 million and Prison Break did a similar 5.28 million...both shows need to me removed or moved. The CW is on its game this year on Mondays with Gossip Girl doing a solid 3.4 million and the resurgent One Tree Hill at 3.42 million...both up week-to-week.
Tuesday, it was all CBS. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 17.47 million, down just a 1/2 million from previous week, followed by The Mentalist which did a nice 15.48 million...down just a bit from the premiere. This show could be the real deal here for CBS. Clearly the new hit of the season so far. At 10pm Without a Trace did 12.61 million, up over a million from previous week's season premiere. Fox was next with House doing 12.98 million, up a 1/2 million or so week-to-week. Still way down from what it does. Fringe was next with 9.91 million...also up a 1/2 million or so from previous week. I still think Fringe is lead-in dependent, as it showed without House it was doing low 3s in the 18-49 demo. ABC was next with the family game show Opportunity Knocks at 5.96 million, down from the premiere...this week it will be preempted due to the Presidential Debate. Dancing with the Stars: The Results followed with 15.49 million...needs to do a bit better, as Kim Kardashian was voted off. ABC aired the People Magazine Half Their Size special at 10pm at just 4.88 million...this might cost ABC a chance to win the week. NBC was fourth with The Biggest Loser 2-hour show doing 7.39 million, on par from previous week, followed by the Law & Order: SVU at a below normal 10.39 million, but up from the season premiere. The CW aired a new 90210 with 3.25 million...up from previous week. A new Privileged did just 1.87 million...though up a bit week-to-week.
Wednesday again it was CBS with the win. CBS started with sitcoms, Old Christine did just 6.8 million, though that was a bit up from previous week, followed new sitcom Gary Unmarried at just 6.91 million, also up a bit from the premiere. Not good still. However veteran dramas Criminal Minds and CSI: NY followed doing 14.78 (down nearly three million from the premiere) and 14.88 million (up a bit from the premiere). NBC opened the night with the new cheesy Knight Rider doing just 7.77 million...but actually up a bit week to week, followed by the season finale of the summer hit America's Got Talent at 12.69 million, up from previous week by over 2 million. At 10pm NBC the dud Lipstick Jungle at just 5.34 million. Down nearly a million from its premiere the previous week. ABC had a disappointing night with its Wednesday premieres (though they still were #1 in 18-34 and second in 18-49)... Pushing Daisies did just 6.33 million for its second season premiere, the biggest disappointment of the night. Last fall it averaged over 9 million. If it can go up this week to over 7 million, it's a start. Private Practice followed with 8.16 million but the Talent finale might have affected it. Look for it go up this week...hopefully over 10 million, as last fall it averaged over 11 million. Dirty Sexy Money followed with 7.02 million, good retention and actually up from its December finale. The show was down though over a million from its average last fall. What an episode that was though! Certainly dirtier and sexier! Fox was fourth, but started well with Bones at a strong 10.03 million, up a bit week to week. Two 'Til Death episodes did just 4.24 and 3.61 million...another problem for Fox. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at a decent 4.03 million, on par really from previous week...a repeat of 90210 followed with 1.66 million, down from previous week.
Thursday the Vice Presidential Debate took stage and preempted a lot of the big guns from 9-11pm. CBS opened with Survivor: Gabon at 13.08 million, on par with the two-hour premiere from previous week. CBS's coverage of the debate (ratings not counted) did 11.1 million, for third place. The analysis following the debate counts in the ratings and did 7.97 million. ABC opened the night with Ugly Betty doing 8.31 million, down from the premiere (but great episode!), it should go up this week with the regular Thursday line-up. In the mountain time zone, it didn't air until 9pm, when it usually airs at 7pm. As for the debate, ABC was #1 with 13.13 million (ratings don't count though), and the analysis did a solid 9.78 million. NBC was third with the one-hour episode of My Name is Earl doing 6.72, up a tad from previous week's premiere. NBC's coverage of the debate was second place with 12.82 million (ratings not counted) and the analysis did a solid 9.78 million. Fox had another terrible Thursday with Hole in the Wall doing just 3.4 and 3.73 million in the 8pm hour, followed by Fox's coverage of the debate at 4.5 million (doesn't count) and its analysis at 4.04 million. Smallville on The CW did 4.05 million, down a bit from previous week, followed by Supernatural at a decent 3.51 million...and up from previous week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with their dramas, as Ghost Whisperer did very solid but the premiere of The Ex-List saw a lot of bleeding but still managed to win the 9pm hour with a weak rating. NUMB3RS at 10pm saw year-to-year declines, possibly thanks to the bad lead-in. Reality on ABC, NBC, and Fox from 8-10 saw bad numbers.
Saturday numbers saw ABC win in the preliminaries, and Fox in 18-49.
Tonight should be a victory for ABC Sunday (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters) and they will win the night in viewers. CBS could get a bit of a boost from the NFL and NBC will do well in primetime with NFL, but seems like a weaker game. Fox will do well in young adults, as usual. I wonder how the new MRC shows will do for CW Sunday? Valentine with Christine Lakin looks good ;)
As for the week, CBS should win in HH, viewers and possibly 18-49. Maybe ABC or NBC can win 18-49 though. ABC will be a solid second in HH/viewers. This week it should be back to normal a bit, but the Tuesday shows will be affected this week with the third debate. How will The Mentalist, Fringe respond the following week? ABC won't mind though this Tuesday, as it will just air Dancing with the Stars: The Results at 8pm ET (still 9pm PT though) followed by the debate.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of September 22-28)

  • The Simpsons (Fox) - Season premiere did an inflated 9.47 million after the NFL.
  • King of the Hill (Fox) - 7.1 million for the season premiere...not great, but good.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - 9.09 million for the season premiere, down from last year's premiere, which was an hour long episode. Still good.
  • American Dad (Fox) - Only 6.89 million...will this show be on the chopping block if one of the two midseason animated series does well?

Monday Sitcoms

  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.6 million is pretty solid...down from the season premiere, but it was expected. Now it needs to stay in the 8.6-9.3 million range.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8.72 million is decent and it did build from the lead-in, but should be doing higher...it was down a million from the premiere.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.58 million...still #1 but down over a million from its premiere
  • Worst Week (CBS) - Just 8.96 million...not good retention at all. I'm predicting this week it will do lower than the 8-9pm sitcoms and this sitcom has a great lead-in! If it does...it's curtains.


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

  • Old Christine (CBS) - Only 6.8 million for its second airing here. This time it didn't have the Dancing with the Stars excuse. Could we see this back to Monday soon?
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - Up a bit from the premiere to 6.91 million. I'm surprised it built still from the lead-in...but one of these weeks it will start not to. Will it be this week?
  • 'Til Death (Fox) 2 episodes - Two episodes did a weak 4.24 and 3.61 million...Do Not Disturb style for the latter. This will be gone soon.


Thursday Sitcoms

  • My Name is Earl (NBC) - 6.72 million for another two episodes from 8-9pm. Up a bit from the premiere.
  • The Office (NBC) - Preempted.

Friday Sitcoms

  • Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - Final numbers are not in yet...but the prelim numbers show just above 2 million for the season premiere...not good, but seems to be doing better than Sundays at 8 when some episodes did under one million actually.
  • The Game (The CW) - No final numbers yet for Friday, but did just under 2 million in prelim numbers. I would have thought this show would build a bit. Maybe it will in the finals. Check our message board tomorrow for final Friday numbers.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are the Fox animated comedies from 7-10PM.

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


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, September 28

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 25)

Thursday, September 28

  • George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - Catch George on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He joins Drew for the entire show opening up about meeting the love of his life Amal, revealing the sweet thing they still do for each other to this day, their engagement story and more on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - Hank is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Diane Morgan (After Life) - Diane appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (How to Be a Bookie) and Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie/Corporate) - Sebastian and Baron are guests on repeats of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Garcelle Beauvais (Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show) - E! News has an interview with Garcelle at 11pm on E!.
  • Kerry Washington (Unprisoned) - Kerry is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo.
  • Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon/Your Family or Mine/Gary Unmarried/Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)) - Ed talks about his new book To the Temple of Tranquility...And Step On It! A Memoir on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell/Alexa & Katie/Good Morning, Miami/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Tiffani discusses her latest cookbook, Here We Go Again: Recipes and Inspiration to Level Up Your Leftovers, on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Sam Jay (Bust Down) - Sam talks about her just-released HBO comedy special, Salute Me or Shoot Me, on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (June-October)

Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
07/18 - South Park - Seasons 21-25 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/25 - The Neighborhood - Season Five
07/25 - Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - Season One
07/25 - Superstore - The Complete Series
08/22 - Back to Life - Season 1 / Season 2
08/29 - Smiling Friends - Season 1 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

09/27 - Moonlighting Coming to Hulu; Showtime Announces Date for The Curse
09/26 - Rick and Morty Season 7 Trailer; Fox's Krapopolis Debuts Well
09/25 - Laff Fall 2023 Schedule with Last Man Standing and Man with a Plan; Upload Returns October 20
09/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 25, 2023)
09/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: An End on the Horizon for WGA Strike?; Hallmark Ready for Christmas
09/22 - The Santa Clauses Season 2 Launches November 8; CBS Alters Fall Schedule
09/21 - Penn & Teller: Fool Us Gets New Return Date; Netflix's Unicorn Academy Premieres November 2
09/20 - Paramount+ Announces Colin from Accounts; The Really Loud House Gets Halloween Movie
09/19 - The Simpsons Season 34 Streams October 11 on Disney+; Good Burger 2 Set for Holiday Season
09/18 - Hulu's Huluween and Disney+'s Hallowstream Line-Up; Shining Vale Returns October 13 on STARZ
09/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 18, 2023)
09/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC
09/15 - Antenna TV's Bewitched Halloween Marathon; Rewind TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon
09/14 - Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Cast; BUZZR Celebrates 40 Years of Press Your Luck
09/13 - TBS Acquires Modern Family; The Frasier Awards on COZI TV
09/12 - Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen Gets CBS Late Night Run; Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy Special
09/11 - Matt Rife Gets Netflix Special; Star Trek Day and Kid Cudi Join Forces
09/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 11, 2023)
09/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Bros. Television Suspends Deals with Top Creators; Fran Drescher Re-Elected President of SAG-AFTRA
09/08 - CBS Announces Hosts of Game Show; New Goosebumps Premieres Friday the 13th This October on Disney+ and Hulu
09/07 - MeTV Presents Svengoolie's Halloween BOOnanza!; The CW Moving Fall Comedies to Thursdays
09/06 - CBS to Air NCIS: Sydney This Fall; Fox Makes Fall Change
09/05 - TBS and TNT September Stunts Include Big Bang Theory Batman Day Marathon; Netflix UK Produced Series Updates
09/04 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2023 Include Three's Company
09/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 4, 2023)
09/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: No Third Season for How I Met Your Father; Spectrum Dispute with Disney Could Spell End of Cable
09/01 - September Is Anniversary Month on Hulu; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween Returns for Its 25th Anniversary
08/31 - Max's Original Comedy Series Starstruck Season 3 and Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Premiere Dates; AXS TV Announces Fall Programming Lineup
08/30 - The Partridge Family Coming to AXS TV Starting Oct. 2; CBS to Air A Tribute to Bob Barker Special Aug. 31, Marathon of Match Game Episodes to Air Sept. 2 on Game Show Network
08/29 - Once Upon a Time Coming to Hulu; Young Love Launches on Max in September
08/28 - Remembering TV Legend Bob Barker; Wolf Like Me Returns in October on Peacock
08/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 28, 2023)