SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Week 22 (First Four Nights) Numbers; How the Sitcoms Did

Households: Fox: 9.3/14.2; CBS: 8.0/12.5; ABC: 5.5/8.6; NBC: 4.6/7.3; The CW: 0.8/1.3; MNT: 0.7/1.1.
Total Viewers: Fox: 16.09 million; CBS: 12.76 million; ABC: 8.52 million; NBC: 7.27 million; The CW: 1.24 million; MNT: 1.11 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.9/14.8; CBS: 3.2/8.3; ABC: 3.2/8.1; NBC: 2.6/6.8; The CW: 0.5/1.3; MNT: 0.3/0.8.

Analysis: Week 22 has Fox in the lead in all categories through the first four days. Through the first four day, as mentioned Fox is on top, with CBS in second in HH/viewers and tied with ABC for second in 18-49, while ABC is third in HH/viewers. And NBC in fourth everywhere.
Last week, CBS won week 21 in HH and viewers, while Fox took first in 18-49. Fox was second in HH/viewers, while CBS was second in 18-49, just nipping ABC thanks to the Grammys. ABC was third in everything, and of course NBC back in fourth.
Monday Fox and ABC battled as CBS was in repeats. Fox started with House and did a solid14.2 million leading into an all-new 24 at 11.22 million, up from previous week when it had Obama as its lead-in. ABC was next with a two-hour episode of The Bachelor did an excellent 12.52 million for week seven...and yes up once again. This time up a million from the previous week. It has gone up in all telecasts...it is doing excellent and the finale will be huge. The penultimate episode of True Beauty followed and did a decent 6.99 million. Season finale tomorrow. CBS had repeats...well for the most part. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory did a decent 8.73 million, while a rerun of How I Met Your Mother did 7.29 million, as this repeats worse. #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men was also a repeat and did 13.32 million, who else can pull that off for a repeat? The finale of Worst Week followed and did a poultry 8.7 million, while that sounds good...dropping near 5 million from a repeat is not good. At 10pm an encore episode of CSI: Miami did 10.5 million. NBC was next with its so-so line-up. A new Chuck did 6.84 million as looks like the 3-D episode didn't bring in new viewers. Same old same old. Heroes still struggled and did 7.74 million, down a bit from previous week and Medium followed with 8.97 million, but up over a million from previous week. The CW was next with a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.18 million and a repeat of One Tree Hill did 1.08 million, both down from previous week's repeats. Is it me or is this night more repeats than new for The CW?
Tuesday that show called American Idol dominated. Fox devoted the entire night to Idol, as it did 25.37 million for two-hours, up a bit from previous week, as that was just an hour. Fringe is now on an extended hiatus and will likely return in mid-March or...even later. CBS was next as NCIS started the night off at 18.06 million...on par really from previous week. New drama The Mentalist did 18.23 million, down over 1.5 million as it faced Idol head-to-head this week...but who cares, 18.23 million is awesome. The only problem is 70% of the audience are over 55! At 10pm, Without a Trace was new and did 12.1 million, down nearly two million week-to-week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser at 8.88 million, down from previous week, as it was affected a bit by that second hour of Idol. NBC followed at 10pm with a new Law & Order: SVU at a disappointing 9.48 million. Has this show gone tired? ABC was next and started with an all-new Homeland Security USA at 4.71 million...looks like this would work better Fridays at 8pm. Two repeats of Scrubs followed with 2.92 and 2.78 million, ouch. Next new episode is on its new night and time of Wednesdays at 8 starting March 18. So repeats until then, if they air. ABC ended with Primetime: What Would You Do at 10pm and did an OK 5.7 million. The CW aired a repeat of 90210 and did 1.08 million and an encore of Privileged only did 760,000 viewers.
Wednesday saw you know who dominate, yes I keep saying that but isn't it true sadly? Fox aired a results show of American Idol at 8pm doing 24.79 million, on par really from the previous week but that was two hours. New Fox drama Lie to Me followed and did 11.09 million for third place...not good news. CBS started with new episodes of sitcom Old Christine at an OK 6.72 million, on par really from previous week and a new episode of Gary Unmarried at an almost similar 6.5 million, off just a bit week-to-week. These are iffy for CBS. A new episode of Criminal Minds followed and did 14.54 million, up two million from previous week. CSI: NY followed with a new showing also doing 12.33 million, up some from previous week. ABC was next with an enhanced encore of Lost at 8pm doing 5.43 million, up over a million from previous week as looks like fans who missed it the previous week because of the second hour of Idol caught up, followed by an all-new Lost doing 11.41 million, up over a million and half from previous week and a great 5.2 18-49 rating, up .8 from previous week. A new Life on Mars did 5.48 million, up nearly a million from previous week. NBC opened the night with Knight Rider doing 5.32 million, down slightly from previous, a new episode of the dud Life followed and did just 5.04 million, but actually up from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm doing only 7.23 million, down a bit 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 840,000 viewers and a repeat of 90210 followed with only 740,000 viewers, both down from previous week. Why not air comedy repeats instead?
Thursday saw CBS win in HH/viewers and ABC win the night in 18-49. ABC started with a new Ugly Betty doing 7.6 million, up slightly from previous week, a new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 15.57 million and a 5.9 18-49 rating. A new Private Practice followed and did 11.16 million at 10pm, and a 4.4 18-49 rating for a regular episode, so looks like the crossover with its parent helped. CBS started with Survivor: Tocantis doing 13.59 million, on par really from previous week, followed by a new CSI at 16.92 million, down a million from previous week, and a new Eleventh Hour followed with 11.17 million, up a bit from previous week. Fox followed with a new Bones at a solid 9.51 million followed by an all-new Hell's Kitchen at 6.57 million, but its strength was 18-49 doing a 3.2 rating despite the fierce competition. NBC was in the gutter in fourth...an all-new My Name is Earl did 6.79 million, up some week-to-week, a new Kath & Kim followed with 5.18 million, down from previous week. A repeat of The Office did just 5.89 million, yet it built on the lead-in. A repeat of 30 Rock followed with just 4.85 million. A new ER was next and did just 7.51 million, up a bit week-to-week. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 2.27 million, followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 1.97 million.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with repeats of Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMBERS as usual. ABC finished second for the night helped by 20/20 and Supernanny. NBC saw more declines for Howdie Do It at 8pm. And Fox was off the map with the should-be-pulled Sarah Connor Chronicles but did a bit better with week two of Dollhouse.
Saturday numbers were low with CBS winning a slow night in viewers and Fox in 18-49.
Tonight will all ABC with the Academy Awards. CBS has a new 60 Minutes and The Amazing Race, but the latter will be killed likely. NBC has a two-hour Dateline and a two-hour special 100 Most Outrageous Moments. Fox has a NASCAR race.
As for the week, ABC could win the week. It all depends on how big the Oscars do tonight. Maybe 40 million or more? Can't be worse than last year's 32 million. Look for CBS and Fox to be in the mix for the top as well, while NBC has no chance at anything but 4th. What to look for this week...Obama's Address to Congress Tuesday at 9pm ET/6pm PT will mess up programming. A slow week ends with a Brothers & Sisters movie event on ABC from 9-11pm next Sunday.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of Feb. 9-15, Week 21)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did a below normal 6.73 million...maybe the Grammy's hurt it?
• King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - A new episode did just 5.41 million and a repeat at 7pm did just 3.6 million.
• Family Guy (Fox) - FINALLY a new episode aired! 7.41 million tuned in...could have been better though. Now what will Fox do? Next new one is March 8...another 2 weeks off!
• American Dad (Fox) 2 episodes - A new airing did just 5.88 million and a repeat at 7:30 did a terrible 3.43 million.

Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.73 million for a repeat...very good actually.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 7.29 million for a repeat...could be better.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.32 million for our sitcom leader...and did I mention it was a repeat? Why rewatchable?
• Worst Week (CBS) - Series...I mean season finale did 8.7 million. Should have been much better.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Scrubs (ABC) 2 episodes - Two repeats did a pathetic 2.92 and 2.78 million, as Idol ate it. Repeats until its move to Wednesdays at 8 starting March 18.

• Old Christine (CBS) - 6.72 million vs. Idol, a bit up from previous week ever so slightly.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 6.5 million but the show did build from its lead-in in 18-49 a bit.
• Under One Roof (MNT) 2 episodes - Two repeats did 930,000 and 900,000 viewers...ouch. But good lord it went up!

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - 6.79 million for a new episode...up a bit week-to-week.
• Kath & Kim (NBC) - 5.18 million, back down after a week of gains.
• The Office (NBC) - 5.89 million for a repeat. It built from the lead-in and that was NEW.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 4.85 million for a repeat. Not too good.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - 1.42 prelim million for a repeat.
• The Game (The CW) - 1.18 prelim million for a repeat. Why not move this to Wednesdays at 9??

Saturday Sitcoms

• Scrubs (ABC) - A repeat at 8pm barely registered.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no comedies. Watch the Oscars!

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as repeats of The Office, How I Met Your Mother) or just plain old terrible (such as Worst Week, Scrubs).

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 6:30 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Weekly Ratings