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Week 23 (First Four Nights) Numbers; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 23 numbers (first four nights final averages, Mon-Thurs):

Households: Fox: 9.1/14.2; CBS: 7.4/11.9; ABC: 4.8/7.7; NBC: 4.3/6.9; The CW: 0.9/1.4; MNT: 0.6/1.0.
Total Viewers: Fox: 15.9 million; CBS: 11.81 million; ABC: 7.38 million; NBC: 6.84 million; The CW: 1.32 million; MNT: 960,000 viewers.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.8/15.1; CBS: 3.0/8.1; ABC: 2.6/6.9; NBC: 2.6/6.8; The CW: 0.5/1.4; MNT: 0.3/0.8

Analysis: Week 23 has Fox in the lead in all categories through the first four days again. Through the first four day, as mentioned Fox is on top, with CBS in second in HH, while ABC is third in everything but tied for third with NBC in 18-49. And NBC is fourth everywhere else.
Last week, Fox nipped by ABC in week 22 in all categories. CBS was third in everything, and of course NBC back in fourth.
Monday Fox and ABC battled as CBS was in repeats again. Fox started with House and did a solid 14.86 million, up some from previous week leading into an all-new 24 at 11.68 million, also up some from previous week. ABC was next with a two-hour special The Bachelor: The Women Tell All did an excellent 10.93 million, down from previous week's regular episode but expect the finale to be very big tomorrow. I'm guessing 15 million+. The final episode of True Beauty followed and did a decent 7.43 million, up from previous week. CBS had repeats again. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory did a decent 8.32 million...down a bit from previous week's rerun, while a rerun of How I Met Your Mother did 7.56 million, as this repeat was up a bit from previous week. #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men was also a repeat and did 12.07 million, down over a million from previous week's repeat. A special repeat of Old Christine followed and did 9.23 million, which was up from the finale of Worst Week the previous week...ouch. At 10pm an encore episode of CSI: Miami did 10.06 million, down a bit from previous week. NBC was next with its so-so line-up. A new Chuck did 6.59 million, down from previous week and a 2.3 18-49 rating could be a series low. Heroes still struggled and did 7.07 million, down from previous week and just barely got 7 million and was beat by 24 in 18-49 even. Medium followed with 8.43 million, down a bit from previous week. The CW was next with a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.0 million, down some from previous week's repeat and a repeat of One Tree Hill did 1.24 million, up a tad from previous week's repeat.
Tuesday Fox moved American Idol to Wednesday because President Obama was addressing Congress tonight. So CBS won. CBS started with NCIS at 18.27 million...up a bit from previous week. New drama The Mentalist was preempted as President Obama addressed to Congress. Without a Trace was also preempted, as CBS aired an analysis of the address to 8.29 million, followed by a Two and a Half Men repeat from 10:41pm-11:12pm at 6.85 millon. NBC was next with an abbreviated one-hour The Biggest Loser at 9.86 million, the second hour was moved to the following night at 8pm, as Obama addresses Congress at 9pm. NBC followed with a repeat of The Office at 10:41pm doing just 4.16 million, as Law & Order: SVU was preempted. ABC was next and started with an all-new Homeland Security USA at 6.14 million, up well over a million with no Idol on the night. ABC then aired the Obama address to Congress, asScrubs was preempted. ABC's analysis of the address did a solid 8.33 million. ABC ended with an abbreviated Primetime: What Would You Do at 10:41pm and did an OK 5.54 million. Fox had no Idol, as a Bones repeat only did 4.93 million, followed by Obama's address to Congress coverage. The CW aired a repeat of 90210 and did 1.29 million, up a bit from previous week and the season (or series) finale of Privileged only did 1.53 million.
Wednesday saw you know who dominate, as the regular Tuesday edition was moved to this night for this week. Fox aired a two-hour American Idol doing 24.54 million, on par really from the previous week but that was one hour. New Fox drama Lie to Me had to be preempted. CBS started with repeats of sitcom Old Christine at just 5.6 million and a repeat of Gary Unmarried at a slightly better 5.71 million. A new episode of Criminal Minds followed and did 13.93 million, down some from previous week. CSI: NY followed with a new showing also doing 12.56 million, up a bit from previous week. ABC was next with an enhanced encore of Lost at 8pm doing 5.0 million, down some from previous week, but I bet this week fans who missed it the previous week because of the second hour of Idol will watch, followed by an all-new Lost doing 10.05 million, down a million or so from previous week as Idol affected it. A new Life on Mars did 4.88 million, down from previous week. NBC opened the night with a special Biggest Loser, instead of the loser Knight Rider, doing 8.61 million, a new episode of the dud Life followed and did just 4.89 million, down some from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm but was a repeat and did 5.77 million. The CW aired another repeat of Privileged at 8pm at just 880,000 viewers and a repeat of 90210 followed with only 570,000 viewers.
Thursday saw Fox edge CBS win in HH/viewers but won big in 18-49. Fox aired a special results show of American Idol on a special night, as the schedule for this week was altered due to Obama, and did a solid 20.89 million...but not normal for this show. Bones was preempted, but an all-new Hell's Kitchen at 9pm did an above normal 9.85 million, obviously up week-to-week. CBS started with Survivor: Tocantis doing 12.05 million, down from previous week as Idol affected it a bit, followed by a new CSI at 17.72 million, up some from previous week, and a new Eleventh Hour followed with 11.7 million, also up some from previous week. ABC started with a new Ugly Betty doing 6.74 million, down from previous week as Idol affected it, a repeat of Grey's Anatomy was next and did 6.8 million, seems above normal for a repeat. A repeat of Private Practice followed and did 4.63 million at 10pm. NBC was in the gutter in fourth...an animated special Secrets of the Furious Five preempted My Name is Earl and did just 4.03 million, a new Kath & Kim followed with only 3.39 million, ouch. A repeat of The Office did just 5.29 million, yet it built on the lead-in and that was NEW. A new showing of 30 Rock followed with just 6.36 million..not bad, but is this lead-in dependent? A new ER was next and did 8.72 million, up over a million week-to-week. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 2.09 million, followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 1.94 million.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with new episodes of Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMBERS as usual. ABC finished second for the night helped by 20/20 and Supernanny. NBC was way back and Fox was off the map with the should-be-pulled Sarah Connor Chronicles and the new Dollhouse.
Saturday numbers were low with CBS winning a slow night in viewers but Fox won by a wider margin in 18-49.
Tonight will be a battle between CBS and ABC. CBS has a new 60 Minutes and The Amazing Race, followed by a special Jesse Stone movie which draws in viewers but not in 18-49. ABC will have new showings of AFV and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition but big gun Desperate Housewives is preempted for a special two-hour movie event of Brothers & Sisters, which looks excellent. NBC has a two-hour Dateline and followed by a two hour premiere of Celebrity Apprentice which could do decent or bomb big. Fox has the conclusion of a NASCAR race followed by animated comedies which are all new but Family Guy (what else is new?).
As for the week, Fox or CBS could win the week. Fox for sure in 18-49, though. ABC will be third and NBC fourth. As for the coming week...the weird March sweeps starts Thursday, but networks are backing off than normal with a mix of repeats this sweep. But before sweeps, The Bachelor has its finale tomorrow that will do huge.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of Feb. 16-22, Week 22)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted for NASCAR.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - preempted for NASCAR.
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted for NASCAR.
• American Dad (Fox) - preempted for NASCAR.

Week 23:
Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.32 million for a repeat, down from previous week a bit...but still very good.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 7.566 million for a repeat...up from previous week but could be better.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 12.07 million for a repeat for our sitcom leader. Though, down over a million.
• Old Christine (CBS) - 9.23 million for a repeat...not bad.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Special encore from 10:41-11:12pm ET did 6.85 million following Obama coverage.
• The Office (NBC) - A repeat at 10:41pm after Obama did just 4.16 million.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - 5.6 million for a repeat could be better.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 5.71 million for a repeat and built from the lead-in.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - preempted for a Kung Fu Panda special that did only 4.03 million.
• Kath & Kim (NBC) - 3.39 million for a new episode. NOT good!
• The Office (NBC) - 5.29 million for a repeat. Though tt built from the lead-in and that was NEW once again.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.36 million for a new episode...not as good as usual.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) 2 episodes - 1.55 and 1.07 prelim million for two repeats at 8 and 9pm.
• The Game (The CW) 2 episodes - 1.25 and 1.33 prelim million for two repeats at 8:30 & 9:30pm.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox animated comedies from 8-10pm!

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