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Week 21 (First Four Nights) Numbers; How the Sitcoms Did

Households: CBS: 8.6/13.6; Fox: 8.5/13.0; ABC: 5.3/8.3; NBC: 4.9/7.8; The CW: 1.1/1.7; MNT: 0.6/1.0.
Total Viewers: Fox: 14.84 million; CBS: 13.95 million; ABC: 8.32 million; NBC: 7.69 million; The CW: 1.64 million; MNT: 1.01 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.5/13.8; CBS: 3.6/9.2; ABC: 3.2/8.1; NBC: 2.9/7.3; The CW: 0.7/1.8; MNT: 0.3/0.8.

Analysis: Week 21 has CBS in the lead in HH edging Fox by a hair through the first four days. Through the first four day, as mentioned CBS has the lead in HH, though Fox has the edge in viewers and has a commanding lead in 18-49. CBS is second in viewers and 18-49, while ABC is third in all categories and NBC in fourth.
Last week, CBS won week 20 in HH and viewers, while Fox took first in 18-49. Fox was second in HH/viewers, while CBS was second in 18-49. ABC was third in everything, and of course NBC back in fourth. No NFL, means a given fourth place for NBC.
Monday President Obama has a special news conference at 8pm, causing the networks to move stuff, delay stuff, etc. A big mess. ABC's coverage of the event was first place, but the conference doesn't count in the ratings. CBS had to move The Big Bang Theory to 9:30pm this week, while How I Met Your Mother was preempted. #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men aired in its normal time and and did a below normal 15.0 million for a new episode, down over 1.5 million from previous week. The finale of Worst Week was moved to tomorrow thanks to Obama, so CBS aired The Big Bang Theory at a special time and did an excellent 12.72 million, for of course a series high. At 10pm a new episode of CSI: Miami did 13.81 million, which was way down from the previous week...nearly three million below previous week. Fox had to preempt House because of Obama, so that cost them big time. However 24 still aired but at 10.61 million, down from previous week. ABC was ahead of Fox on this atypical Monday, with a two-hour episode of The Bachelor at a special time of 9-11pm out east and it did an excellent 11.59 million for week six...and yes up once again. It has gone up in all telecasts...it is doing excellent. Because of Obama, True Beauty was preempted and moved to the following night. NBC had to preempt Chuck because of Obama and that could end up hurting this series as it just returned the previous week. Heroes still struggled and did 7.9 million, down from previous week and Medium followed with 7.89 million, also down from previous week. The CW was next with a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.67 million and a repeat of One Tree Hill did 1.38 million.
Tuesday that show called American Idol dominated, but CBS nearly won the night in viewers still but did in HH. Fox started with Idol, doing 24.94 million, down a million or so from previous week. Fringe followed with just 9.83 million, down nearly three million from previous week, ouch...now the show is on hiatus for a month or so as Idol expands to two-hours. CBS was next as NCIS started the night off with doing 18.03 million...but the question is, how? New drama The Mentalist was finally new and returned with 19.7 million, building on its lead-in by a lot this time. At 10pm, Without a Trace was new and did 14.31 million, up nearly two million week-to-week, as it had a much bigger lead-in this week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser at 9.25 million, but down over a million from previous week. NBC followed at 10pm with a special Dateline on the octuplet mom preempting Law & Order: SVU doing slightly better than that at 11.26 million. ABC was next and started with a the classic 1975 special Be My Valentine Charlie Brown and the 2002 special A Charlie Brown Valentine at a below normal 4.81 million, as Homeland Security USA does better than that. Two all-new Scrubs episodes followed with 4.56 and 4.22 million, which was both down a bit from previous week once again. ABC preempted Primetime: What Would You Do at 10pm and aired True Beauty on a special night because of Obama and looks like viewers did not find it or know about it because it did just 3.69 million. The CW aired a new 90210 and did 2.38 million, down a bit week-to-week and a new Privileged only did 1.4 million, also down some from previous week.
Wednesday saw you know who dominate. Fox aired a two-hour American Idol doing 24.82 million, down two million from the previous week and that was just one our. New Fox drama Lie to Me was preempted, but Fox didn't mind. CBS started with new episodes of sitcom Old Christine at an OK 6.67 million and an episode of Gary Unmarried at an almost similar 6.54 million. These are iffy for CBS. A new episode of Criminal Minds followed and did 12.48 million, seems below normal. CSI: NY followed with a new showing also at a below normal 11.94 million. ABC was next with an enhanced encore of Lost at 8pm doing 4.31 million, down some from previous week, followed by an all-new Lost doing 9.82 million, down over a million from previous week thanks to Idol but still a solid 4.4 18-49 rating. A new Life on Mars did 4.63 million, down over a million from previous week as well. NBC opened the night with Knight Rider doing 5.48 million, up some from previous, a new episode of the dud Life followed and did just 4.59 million, down over two million from its return the previous week when it had lesser competition thanks to Katie Couric on CBS. Law & Order followed at 10pm doing only 7.44 million, down well over a million from previous week, it's time for NBC to put this show to rest. The CW aired another repeat of Privileged at 8pm at just 1.02 million, but up some actually from previous week, and a repeat of 90210 followed with only 880,000 viewers, down slightly from previous week.
Thursday saw CBS win in HH/viewers and ABC win the night in 18-49. ABC started with a new Ugly Betty doing 7.4 million, up slightly from previous week, a new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 15.16 million and a 5.9 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. A new Private Practice followed and did a a great 14.1 million at 10pm, and a series high of 5.7 18-49 rating! The episode was a crossover with its parent and delivered big time in quality and the ratings. The conclusion is this coming week! CBS started with the return of Survivor: Tocantis doing 13.63 million, followed by a new CSI at 17.94 million and a new Eleventh Hour followed with 10.94 million. NBC was third with an all-new line-up, too...My Name is Earl did 6.4 million, up slightly from previous week a new Kath & Kim followed with 5.51 million, up from previous week. A new The Office did 9.0 million, up from previous week, followed by a highly promoted new 30 Rock at 7.68 million, up over a million this week. ER was next and did just 7.24 million, the second lowest ever. Fox had to take a back seat as Bones and Hell's Kitchen were preempted for te 40th Annual NAACP Awards doing just 4.2 million. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 2.41 million, followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 1.99 million.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with a new Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMB3RS as usual. However, ABC finished second but won the 10pm hour with 20/20 and also an above average Supernanny at 9pm did solid. NBC saw more declines for Howdie Do It at 8pm. And Fox was off the map with the return of Sarah Connor Chronicles but did a bit better with the series premiere of Dollhouse.
Saturday numbers were so low it was not funny. Valentine's Day affected the night badly, as no network went above 4 million.
Tonight will be CBS and ABC battling for the win. CBS with its usual lineup and the season premiere of The Amazing Race and ABC with its Sunday combination of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. NBC has a two-hour Dateline and the conclusion of the mini-series XIII, which did terrible last Sunday. Fox has returns its animation with finally an all-night new line-up.
As for the week, CBS should hang on for the win in HH/viewers, while Fox in 18-49. Fox should be second in HH/viewers and ABC could be 2nd in 18-49, if CBS does lower than ABC tonight. ABC will be third in HH/viewers, while NBC should be fourth across the board. What to look for this week...the conclusion of the crossover on ABC Thursday with Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice! The CW will be in repeats the entire week and they will lose to MNT because of it. The week ends in a bang with the Oscars on ABC, so ABC will win the week this coming week.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of Feb. 2-8, Week 20)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat episode did just 4.75 million.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - A new episode did just 4.75 million, but its lead in was a repeat.
• Family Guy (Fox) - Yet another repeat of this show did 5.56 million...not too bad though. This show is FINALLY new tonight.
• American Dad (Fox) - A repeat did just 4.6 million.

Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 12.72 million for a new episode...series high...but it aired at 9:30pm this week thanks to Obama.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - preempted thanks to Obama.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.0 million for our sitcom leader...but down well over a million from previous week.
• Worst Week (CBS) - preempted thanks to Obama. Series...I mean season... finale tomorrow.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Scrubs (ABC) 2 episodes - Two all-new episodes did 4.56 and 4.22 million only and a 2.0 18-49 rating. Now repeats until its move to Wednesdays at 8 starting March 18.

• Old Christine (CBS) - 6.67 million vs. Idol, not too good but not that bad.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 6.54 million but the show did build from its lead-in in 18-49 a bit.
• Under One Roof (MNT) 2 episodes - Two repeats did 620,000 and 590,000 viewers...ouch. Looks Flavor Flav needs to find some more love on VH1.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - 6.4 million for a new episode...not too good but up a bit week-to-week.
• Kath & Kim (NBC) - 5.51 million, it actually went up.
• The Office (NBC) - 9.0 million for a new episode, finally cracked 9 million. Now a repeat this week. Bad timing for NBC.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 7.68 million for a new episode...up from previous week as a guest star had to drive it up.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - 1.36 prelim million for a new episode.
• The Game (The CW) - 1.53 prelim million for a new episode. Why not move this to Wednesdays at 9??

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of Fox's animated comedies from 8-10pm.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Old Christine, Gary Unmarried) or just plain old terrible (such as Under One Roof, Scrubs).

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 6:00 PM

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Labels: Weekly Ratings