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Week 12 (First Four Nights) Numbers; How the Sitcoms Did

Households: CBS: 7.8/12.4; NBC: 4.6/7.3; ABC: 4.5/7.2; Fox: 4.5/7.0; MNT: 1.4/2.2; The CW: 1.2/1.8.
Total Viewers: CBS: 12.12 million; NBC: 7.34 million; Fox: 7.25 million; ABC: 7.2 million; MNT: 2.38 million; The CW: 1.61 million.
Adults 18-49: CBS: 3.3/8.6; Fox: 2.8/7.3; NBC: 2.7/7.0; ABC: 2.1/5.7; MNT: 0.8/2.2; The CW: 0.7/2.0.

Analysis: Week 12 so far has seen CBS with a commanding lead thru three days (and four), as CBS has been new 3 of the 4 days for the entire night. Through the first four days, CBS has the lead in all categories, with NBC, ABC and Fox all battling for a distant second place thru three days. After four days, NBC pulled in front for 2nd place, since they were all-new on Thursday, and ABC had repeats, while Fox was new on Thursday, but didn't draw much.
Last week, CBS won week 11 in HH and viewers, while ABC was in a three-way tie for first in 18-49 with Fox and CBS, with ABC with slightly more 18-49 viewers. ABC was second in HH/viewers, NBC was third in HH, but fourth in viewers, while Fox was the opposite, fourth in HH and third in viewers. Because of the basic three-way tie in 18-49, NBC was fourth in 18-49, despite only trailing by .2 of a point. Worth noting, MNT finished ahead of The CW once again for the second straight week, and looks like this week as well.
Monday CBS was all-new and won the night beating 2nd place ABC. CBS started with new episodes of their comedies then ended with CSI: Miami. The Big Bang Theory did 10.5 million for yet another series high! Wow! A new episode of How I Met Your Mother followed 10.49 million, a season high and best showing of the series since the Britney episode last season. That felt like ages ago though, since Britney is back in full form again. #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men followed with 15.59 million for an all-new showing, while Worst Week didn't have to face a comedy and only did 10.44 million, losing a lot from its lead-in. At 10pm a new showing of CSI: Miami did 13.79 million, not bad at all. ABC started off the night very strong with all-time classic special A Charlie Brown Christmas doing a solid 11.02 million, despite being preempted in Tampa Bay for the Monday Night Football game. The two-hour series finale of Boston Legal followed with 9.88 million, but again ABC was preempted in Tampa area for the game, as they will air the series finale TODAY from 4-6pm. If Tampa aired it, we could have seen close to a million more than 9.88 million. NBC was next and as its regular line-up continues to be terrible. Chuck did 6.94 million, down from previous week, followed by Heroes at just 7.72 million, down from previous week. How will the fall finale do tomorrow? Can it even crack 9 million? The burn-off My Worst Own Enemy was next at just 3.63 million, a series low. Fox was next with the very weak Sarah Connor at just 5.25 million, down from previous week, and on its last legs Prison Break at 5.4 million, also down week-to-week. The CW was next with a new Gossip Girl doing a solid 2.99 million...but slightly off from previous week! One Tree Hill was again preempted as CW again aired a new episode of Privileged on a special night doing only 1.91 million, down from previous week.
Tuesday CBS was in repeats and still won the night in HH/viewers. CBS's quiet hit NCIS started the night off with 13.66 million for a repeat...how?? New drama The Mentalist followed with 13.69 million for a repeat, once again...how?? A repeat of Without a Trace did 8.56 million, as this show is no longer a bonafide hit. Fox was next with a new House at 14.05 million, up over a million week-to-week after a season low, followed by a repeat of Fringe with 6.95 million, no more new episodes until Jan. 20 for this show. NBC was next with another two-hour The Biggest Loser at a above normal 9.36 million, up from previous week, as the season finale is this week and Law & Order: SVU followed at 11.01 million, also up from the previous week. ABC was all the way to 4th on night this, a special all-new holiday showing of America's Funniest Home Videos on a special night and time did 7.03 million, but ABC does much better with actual holiday specials. Holiday themed episodes of According to Jim followed with 4.92 million and 5.15 million, both down from previous week...it should be better this week though. Jim lead into Eli Stone at 10pm at just 4.92 million, on par really from previous week. Just two more confirmed airings left (Dec. 16 and 30) unless ABC will unload the other remaining episodes in January on Saturdays? The CW aired a repeat of 90210 and only mustered 1.18 million, down a bit from previous week's repeat, and a repeat of the previous night's Privileged only did 1.06 million, but that was up from previous week's encore.
Wednesday was all CBS as its regular lineup returned after a week off. CBS started with sitcoms, as Old Christine did a decent 7.94 million and Gary Unmarried did 7.73 million, also not bad. Criminal Minds followed with a nice 14.68 million an at 10pm CSI: NY followed with 13.33 million, easily winning its hour. NBC opened the night with the new holiday special Little Spirit: Christmas in New York doing only 4.81 million, as Life followed with only 5.64 million, nearly down 2.5 million from previous week...ouch. Law & Order followed at 10pm doing 7.51 million, down nearly 4 million from previous week's season high. ABC was next but it started off slow with Pushing Daisies only managing 4.86 million, but really on par from previous week. Private Practice was next and did 6.86 million, down nearly a million week-to-week, though. Dirty Sexy Money was next and did 5.24 million, down a bit from previous week...what an ending to that episode! Go watch that episode on abc.com if you missed it! One of the best episodes of any series this year. Fox was next with reality series Secret Millionaire and the series did decent doing 7.26 million at 8pm, better than the previous week at 8pm, followed by a Bones repeat at only 4.47 million. The CW had a repeat of Stylista doing just 1.2 million, on par really week-to-week though, followed by an all-new Stylista doing the 1.32 million, better a bit than the previous week. MNT did VERY good for the special airing of the holiday movie Home Alone doing 3.64 million!
Thursday saw CBS easily win as ABC was in repeats. CBS opened with Survivor: Gabon at 13.05 million, up from previous week, a new CSI with the first episode of Laurence Fishburne followed with 20.86 million, its best showing since the season premiere, and a new Eleventh Hour followed with a series high 13.4 million due to a lack of competition. NBC was actually next, but a distant next, with My Name is Earldoing just 6.55 million, though up a bit week-to-week, followed by Kath & Kim at just 5.38 million, also up slightly from previous week, while The Office perked up to 8.76 million, up from previous week, followed by 30 Rock at 7.38 million, up a bit week-to-week and a new ER closed the night with 9.04 million, up from previous week. ABC was next with all repeats...a repeat of Ugly Betty did 5.09 million, an encore of Grey's Anatomy was next and did 6.26 million, followed by a repeat of Private Practice doing only 4.23 million at 10pm. Fox was fourth for the night with the Thursday premiere of Secret Millionaire at only 5.4 million, followed by a special Thursday airing of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? doing only 4.59 million...ouch. Smallville repeat on The CW did 2.5 million, better than previous week, followed by a Supernatural repeat at 1.98 million, down slightly from previous week.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday but down from usual as they aired holiday specials from 8-10, so Ghost Whisperer was preempted and NUMB3RS was a repeat. NBC, Fox, and ABC all did about the same.
Saturday was very slow, but Fox won the night, with CBS second in HH/viewers, but fourth in 18-49. ABC and NBC's holiday movies did about the same.
Tonight once again NFL plays a big role to what will happen. CBS will probably start very fast since they have an overrun of an NFL game into the 7pm hour, followed by 60 Minutes, and the Survivor: Gabon finale. That could be down big from usual because NBC has a GREAT Sunday Night Football game tonight between the Giants and Cowboys...oh boy. ABC's regular Sunday line-up of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters, is preempted, but AFV is still new at 7pm and the holiday airing of The Santa Clause 2 won't win the night, but will do solid. Fox will be in repeats for their animation, so they are out of the mix.
As for the week, CBS will easily win the week in HH, viewers and 18-49. Who will be second? Likely NBC after a huge NFL showing likely tonight, with ABC third and Fox in fourth, but Fox could nip ABC in 18-49. What to watch for this week? Holiday airings will rule...CBS Monday has a lot of them! Monday also has the fall finales of Sarah Connor on Fox and Heroes on NBC. A Charlie Brown Christmas is on again this Tuesday on ABC and a Christmas episode of According to Jim with Steve Guttenberg. Tuesday also has the fall finale of Biggest Loser and the premiere of Momma's Boys on NBC. Wednesday, NBC has a new Muppets Christmas special at 8. And finally Million Dollar Password returns this week on Thursday and next Sunday at 8 on CBS! Note: Our ratings will likely be off until the new year as we get into repeat mode. Maybe we will have a report next week, or maybe not...stay tuned.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of Dec. 1-7)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - a new episode at a special time of 8:30pm following the BCS Selection Show only did 6.43 million...ouch.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - preempted.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 6.6 million, not bad and did more than The Simpsons, and was new.
• American Dad (Fox) - A repeat only did 5.31 million, almost as same as a new one the previous week. But still not too good.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 10.5 million for a new episode. A series high! Can tomorrow do even better with lesser competition?
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 10.49 million for a new episode...season high!
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.59 million, what else can be said about this show?
• Worst Week (CBS) - 10.44 million for new episode. It may sound a lot, but it should be doing better. 12-13 million from that lead-in would be better. Even 11.5 million would be respectable.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) 2 episodes - 4.92 and 5.15 million for two new ones...not good.

• Old Christine (CBS) - 7.94 million for a new episode...solid.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 7.73 million for a new episode, also decent.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - Only 6.55 million...but up from previous week.
• Kath & Kim (NBC) - 5.38 million only for a new episode, but at least up over 5 million this week.
• The Office (NBC) - 8.76 million for an all-new showing...decent.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 7.38 million for a new episode, not bad, but could be & should be better.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) 2 episodes - 1.59 million prelim for a new episode and a repeat...not too good.
• The Game (The CW) - preempted.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10 but are repeats.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and The Office were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Old Christine, Worst Week) or just plain old terrible (such as Kath & Kim, According to Jim).

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 6:45 PM

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Labels: Weekly Ratings