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Week 29 Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 29 numbers (first four nights final averages, Mon-Thurs):

Households: CBS 8.2/13.3; Fox 7.9/12.4; ABC 5.6/9.0; NBC 4.5/7.2; The CW 1.4/2.1; MNT 0.7/1.1.
Total Viewers: Fox 13.32 million; CBS 13.31 million; ABC 8.63 million; NBC 6.99 million; The CW 1.98 million; MNT 1.05 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox 4.7/12.7; CBS 3.6/9.8; NBC 2.5/6.8; ABC 2.4/6.5; The CW 0.9/2.4; MNT 0.3/0.9.

Analysis: Week 29 sees CBS and Fox again neck and neck. Through the first four days, Fox and CBS share a slim lead each in viewers and HH, but Fox has a big lead in 18-49 with CBS in second, ABC is third in HH/viewers, with NBC in fourth. NBC has a slim lead for third though in 18-49.
Last week, CBS won in week 28 in HH/viewers, but Fox once again took 18-49 but just barely over CBS. Fox was second for the week in HH/viewers, with ABC third and NBC in fourth even with the ER finale. NBC was third though in 18-49, nipping by ABC.
Monday it was ABC with the victory as Dancing with the Stars continues to dominate. ABC aired the first 90-minute version of Dancing with the Stars at an impressive 19.88 million, down some from the previous week, but that was two-hours. After that, ABC aired the series premiere of Bob Saget's new sitcom Surviving Suburbia at a decent 11.25 million. Hopefully it can sustain or build tomorrow. A new episode of crime-romance drama Castle followed doing 9.03 million...on par really from previous week despite not having the Dancing lead-in. This show's plots get better each week. CBS started with repeats of its 8pm comedies, The Big Bang Theory did a below normal for a repeat at 6.94 million, followed by a repeat of How I Met Your Mother doing 6.1 million, not too good. The rest of CBS Monday was preempted for the NCAA Basketball Championship game between UNC and Michigan State at 17.65 million, which lasted until 11:47pm. Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement and CSI: Miami return tomorrow. Fox started with a new episode of House and did 13.29 million, up from previous week, then Fox had an all-new 24 doing 10.96 million, down from previous week, as it probably was affected by NCAA. NBC was next with its sluggish Monday. A new Chuck did 6.1 million, but up from previous week. The downfall of Heroes continues as this show did just 6.11 million, a series low, and a series low of 2.6 18-49 rating. What to do NBC? Medium followed with 7.17 million for a new episode, down a bit from previous week. The CW was next with repeats (already?) of Gossip Girl doing 1.08 million and One Tree Hill did 1.09 million.
Tuesday it was Fox on top, but CBS was very close behind. Fox started with a 69 minute American Idol doing 22.81 million, down near two million from previous week, then at 9:09pm to 10:07pm Fox returned Fringe at just 9.88 million, as it went down each 15 minutes except from 10-10:07pm, as viewers tuning in for 10pm programming probably came in. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 17.81 million, up some from previous week. A new episode of The Mentalist was next and did 16.92 million, on par really from previous week. Without a Trace was next at 12.15 million, down some from previous week. ABC was next and started with the holiday special Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown & Charlie Brown All-Stars doing 4.36 million, as this is not as high rated as the classics like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dancing with the Stars: The Results was next at 9pm doing 14.56 million, up from previous week as it only faced Idol for the first 9 minutes, which was not planned but Fox was slick. ABC followed with a new Cupid doing 5.71 million...down over a million from previous week, it should do better. It's a simple plot...Cupid tries to hook up a new couple each week, so this isn't serialized folks, you can join in anytime! NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 8.1 million, down from previous week again. NBC finished the night with a new Law & Order: SVU at 10pm doing 9.26 million...down some week-to-week. The CW aired a new episode of Reaper and did 2.11 million, down from previous week and a new 90210 followed with only 1.96 million, down from previous week's return.
Wednesday saw Fox dominate. Fox was lead by the results show of American Idol at 9pm doing 22.98 million, but that was nearly down two million from previous week. New Fox drama Lie to Me started the night off at 8pm doing 8.56 million, down from previous week. CBS started with new episodes of sitcoms Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, doing 7.17 and 7.24 million...not too bad. A new Criminal Minds followed and did 13.61 million. CSI: NY followed with a new episode as well doing 12.5 million, seems lower that normal. ABC was next with a new Scrubs and a new episode of the new Better Off Ted doing 4.56 and 4.04 million...both down from previous week. A new episode of Lost followed at 9pm doing a below normal 8.56 million, down from previous week, as it seems everything was down from normal on this night (except some of CBS). And the series premiere of The Unusuals at 10pm did 6.83 million, it improved on the numbers in the slot, but needs to do this or better every week. It's a good show, too! NBC opened the night with a repeat of Law & Order doing 5.44 million, the finale of Life followed and did an improved 4.6 million, down nearly from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm with another repeat and did a way below normal 4.64 million, down nearly two million week-to-week, as looks like Unusuals affected it a bit. The CW was on the map with America's Next Top Model doing a nice 3.69 million, down some from previous week then The CW followed with a special episode doing 1.86 million...was that a clip show?
Thursday saw CBS with the win. CBS started with a new Survivor: Tocantis at once again a below normal 11.24 million, down a tad from previous week. CSI was next with 16.62 million, up two million from previous week but only a 3.8 18-49 rating, the same as previous week. And the premiere of new mystery Harper's Island closed the night at 10.21 million, which was lower than Eleventh Hour's finale the previous week...not a good sign. Fox started with Bones at 9.01 million, off a bit from previous week. An all-new Hell's Kitchen followed at 9pm did 7.54 million, up from previous week. NBC started with a special all-new episode of The Office at a special time doing a decent 7.32 million at 8pm, as My Name is Earl was preempted. Then the series premiere of Parks and Recreation followed with 6.88 million, which is OK, but will it continue that? The Office followed with a second new episode on its normal time doing a better 8.02 million and 30 Rock followed with 6.81 million, needs to do better. NBC closed the night wit the series premiere of Southland doing 9.86 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, not bad and on par with this season of ER. Will it continue? ABC started with a new In the Motherhood doing 4.51 million, down from previous week. An all-new Samantha Who? was next and did 4.83 million, up some from previous week. A repeat of Grey's Anatomy was next and did 5.12 million, up some from previous week. One more week before the return on April 23 for the final batch of episodes of the season. A repeat of Private Practice followed and did 4.22 million at 10pm, up from previous week. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 1.97 million followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 2.05 million.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMBERS. ABC finished second for the night helped by 20/20. The Sarah Connor Chronicles finale and a new Dollhouse did terrible for Fox, and NBC was not much better with the season finale of Friday Night Lights. A typical Friday.
Saturday numbers were quiet, with ABC winning the night with the classic film The Ten Commandments.
Tonight Easter will affect programming a bit. CBS should win. CBS has a new 60 Minutes followed by the Amazing Race 14, Cold Case & The Unit. ABC will have a new AFV, a new two-hour Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and a repeat of Desperate Housewives. The regular line-up including Brothers & Sisters, returns next week until the ends of the season. I've seen the Brothers & Sisters return already...good stuff! NBC has a two-hour Dateline at 7pm and a two-hour Celebrity Apprentice, which is nothing it used to be. Fox has a repeat lineup of its animated comedies.
As for the week, CBS should win the week in HH/viewers, with Fox in 18-49. Fox will be second in HH/viewers, while ABC will take third in HH/viewers, but it will be close race for third in 18-49 but ABC should edge NBC. As for the coming week...ABC returns According to Jim on Tuesday with back-to-back episodes starting at 8:00pm, as Constance Marie (Angie from George Lopez) guest stars! Look for a stunning black dress! And on Friday Fox returns Prison Break with its final episodes.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of March 30-April 5, Week 28)

• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - 6.5 million for an all-new episode...down a bit from previous week. A special repeat at 9:30 did an OK 5.54 million.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - A repeat at 7:30 only did 2.89 million, down a tad from the previous week.
• Family Guy (Fox) 2 episodes - We got two repeats...the first at a special time of 8:30pm did 5.87 million, and the second in its regular time at 9pm did a better 6.18 million.
• American Dad! (Fox) - 2.58 million for a repeat at 7pm was a bit better than previous week, as its regular 9:30pm slot was preempted.

Week 29:
Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 6.94 million for a repeat...below normal.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Only 6.1 million for a repeat is below normal, but in defense, it aired in the late night in the mountain time zone.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - preempted.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - preempted.
• Surviving Suburbia (ABC) - 11.25 million for the premiere. Sounds good, but could have been better. If it does similar number or more, then it is doing its job.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - 7.17 million for a new episode is not too bad.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 7.24 million for a new episode, and built from the lead-in.
• Scrubs (ABC) - New showing did 4.56 million, down from previous week, as JD and the gang went to the Bahamas. Part two this week.
• Better Off Ted (ABC) - 4.04 million for a new episode, series low. Too bad it was a good episode with a funny look at racism.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - preempted
• In the Motherhood (ABC) - Just 4.51 million, lowest yet. That bully at the school was great. Gary Coleman like character, but mean.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - 6.88 million for the premiere is not bad, but remember Kath & Kim started this way too and this show had Office as its lead-in and lead-out.
• Samantha Who? (ABC) - 4.83 million, up some from previous week.
• The Office (NBC) 2 episodes - 7.32 million for a special all-new 8pm airing could have been better, but the 9pm airing did a decent 8.02 million. I think this show has reached its peak, as the ratings have seen a downward trend.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.81 million...not good, but not bad.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.47 million...down from previous week's prelim numbers.
• The Game (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.38 million. Down from previous week's prelim numbers by quite a bit.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are repeats of Fox animated comedies from 7-10pm!

Summing it up. Surviving Suburbia & The Office 9pm were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (The Office 8pm, Parks and Recreation, Gary Unmarried) or just plain old terrible (such as In the Motherhood, Better Off Ted).