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Week 30 Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 30 numbers (first four nights final averages, Mon-Thurs):

Households: Fox 8.2/12.9; CBS 7.2/11.7; ABC 5.5/8.9; NBC 4.5/7.3; The CW 1.2/1.9; MNT 0.8/1.2.
Total Viewers: Fox 13.8 million; CBS 11.61 million; ABC 8.5 million; NBC 7.07 million; The CW 1.79 million; MNT 1.17 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox 4.8/12.9; CBS 3.1/8.4; NBC 2.6/7.2; ABC 2.4/6.5; The CW 0.8/2.2; MNT 0.3/0.9.

Analysis: Week 30 sees Fox with its biggest lead in a few weeks for the first four nights. Through the first four days, Fox has the lead in all categories, with CBS in second in all categories, ABC is third in HH/viewers, with NBC in fourth. NBC has a slim lead for third though in 18-49 for now.
Last week, CBS won in week 29 in HH/viewers, but Fox once again took 18-49 over CBS. Fox was second for the week in HH/viewers, with ABC third in all categories leaving NBC in fourth in all categories.
Monday it was ABC with the victory as Dancing with the Stars continues to dominate. ABC aired the a 90-minute version of Dancing with the Stars at an impressive 19.46 million, down some from the previous week. After that, ABC aired episode two of Bob Saget's new sitcom Surviving Suburbia at 9.71 million, down from the premiere. It needs to do a bit better. A new episode of crime-romance drama Castle followed doing 7.28 million...down a lot from previous week. CBS was all-new and started with comedies, The Big Bang Theory did 10.06 million, the first time it has gone over 10 million in weeks, followed by a new How I Met Your Mother doing 9.6 million, decent. Two and a Half Men followed with 15.03 million, just another day at the job. Rules of Engagement followed and closed the sitcom block with a decent 11.6 million. CBS closed the night with CSI: Miami at 13.39 million, which is a bit below normal. Fox started with a new episode of House and did 12.19 million, down over a million from previous week, then Fox had an all-new 24 doing 10.86 million, down just some from previous week. NBC was next with its sluggish Monday. A new Chuck did 6.21 million, but up a tad from previous week. The free-falling Heroes was next at just 6.83 million, but up some from its series low the previous week. Medium followed with 7.65 million for a new episode, up from previous week and quietly does decent on some nights. The CW was next with repeats (again) of Gossip Girl doing 900,00 viewers and One Tree Hill did 910,000 viewers.
Tuesday it was Fox on top. Fox started with a 64 minute American Idol doing 24.38 million, up two million from previous week. Yet again it goes overtime without notice. Fans DVRing/TiVoing are not happy. Then from 9:04pm to 10:03pm Fox aired a new Fringe at 10.15 million, up some from previous week. Viewers DVRing this also might be upset if they missed the final minutes thanks to the unscheduled Idol overrun. CBS started with a repeat of NCIS doing 13.56 million, followed by a repeat of The Mentalist doing 12.18 million. Without a Trace closed the night out with a new episode doing 13.23 million, up from previous week. As I said, when SVU is a repeat, this show goes up. This show is not a priority for fans of both shows. ABC was next and started with the return of According to Jim doing 4.52 and 4.13 million for two all-new episodes...could be better, but against Idol. Dancing with the Stars: The Results was next at 9pm doing 15.24 million, up from previous week as it only faced Idol for the first 4 minutes this time, which was still not planned. ABC followed with a new Cupid doing 6.1 million...up some from previous week, but ABC will not air it this week as they are airing two episodes of the comedic cop show The Unusuals on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 9.11 million, up a million from previous week. NBC finished the night with a repeat of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm doing just 6.49 million, as it usually repeats better than this. The CW aired a new episode of Reaper and did 2.05 million, down a tad from previous week and a new 90210 followed with 2.13 million, up some from previous week and finally built on the lead-in since its return.
Wednesday saw Fox dominate big. Fox was lead by the results show of American Idol at 9pm doing 24.11 million, up a lot from previous week. New Fox drama Lie to Me was preempted by a special all-new Bones doing 11.01 million, which is a big improvement. CBS started with repeat episodes of sitcoms Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, doing 5.57 and 5.76 million...not too bad for repeats. A repeat of Criminal Minds followed and did 10.58 million. CSI: NY followed with a new episode though doing 12.14 million, down some from previous week...but it did it on its own since the lead-in was a repeat. ABC was next with a new Scrubs and a new episode of the new Better Off Ted doing 5.06 and 4.62 million...both up from previous week. A good sign. Hopefully more people realize how funny Ted is. A new episode of Lost followed at 9pm doing 9.23 million, up from previous week. A new episode of The Unusuals at 10pm did 6.01 million, not bad and down some from previous week. Again this week it will air TWICE. Tuesday 10 and of course Wednesday at 10. NBC opened the night with a repeat of Law & Order doing 5.17 million, down some from previous week, a repeat of Law & Order: SVU followed and did 5.22 million, which is actually up from previous week when NBC aired the finale of Life. Law & Order followed at 10pm with another repeat and did 5.97 million, up week-to-week. The CW was on the map with America's Next Top Model doing a nice 3.78 million, up some from previous week then The CW followed with an encore of what else--90210-- doing 870,000 viewers.
Thursday saw CBS with the win. CBS started with a new Survivor: Tocantis at once again a below normal 11.64 million, but up from previous week. CSI was next with 15.72 million, down nearly a million from previous week but only a 3.8 18-49 rating again, the same as previous two weeks. And episode two of Harper's Island closed the night at 7.82 million, which was down nearly three million from the premiere...not good news at all for CBS. Fox started with Bones at 8.85 million, off a bit from previous week. An all-new Hell's Kitchen followed at 9pm did 8.11 million, up again from previous week. NBC started a new episode of My Name is Earl at 5.35 million at 8pm, what has happened? Then the new Parks and Recreation followed with 6.02 million, down some from the premiere. If it stays at 6 million or better, it'll be safe...anything lower is sayonara. The Office followed with a new episode doing 8.37 million, up some from previous week and 30 Rock followed with 7.32 million, up from previous week. NBC closed the night with a new episode of Southland doing 9.61 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, both down just a bit from the premiere...but can it do that this week when ABC is back all-new? ABC started with a new In the Motherhood doing 4.62 million, up some from previous week. An all-new Samantha Who? was next and did 4.84 million, on par really from previous week. A repeat of Grey's Anatomy was next and did 5.06 million, on par really from previous week. It returns this Thursday for new episodes the rest of the season. I've see the first two episodes back, and they are AMAZING. Good mix of drama and comedy even. Tune in. A repeat of Private Practice followed and did 4.23 million at 10pm, on par really from previous week. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 1.79 million followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 1.85 million, both down a bit week-to-week.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with repeat of Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMBERS. ABC did below normal with 20/20. The Prison Break return for Fox was very low rated, and NBC did much better with a two-hour Dateline.
Saturday numbers were quiet, with CBS winning in viewers and Fox in 18-49, as NBC did terrible with a new Kings and repeats, including an encore of Southland.
Tonight ABC Sunday returns! Though ABC will have to battle with CBS for the viewer title, but ABC will easily win in 18-49. CBS has a new 60 Minutes followed by the Amazing Race 14, & Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie. ABC will have a new AFV, a repeat of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and the returns of new episodes of Desperate Housewives. and Brothers & Sisters. Once again, as I said last week, I've seen the Brothers & Sisters return and it is very well done! Cristian de la Fuente guest stars. NBC has the two-hour Miss USA Pageant at 7pm and a two-hour Celebrity Apprentice, which is nothing it used to be. Fox has an all-new lineup of its animated comedies from 7:30-10, which includes the premiere of Sit Down Shut Up.
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 all categories. NBC will be fourth everywhere. As for the coming week...ABC has two episodes of The Unusuals this week (Tuesday and Wednesday at 10). While as we mentioned before, special repeats for CBS on special nights will happen Mon-Wed this week. No House tomorrow on Fox, as a special Bones is airing, while no Lost this Wednesday but a special will air. And Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice return for ABC!

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of April 6-12, Week 29)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat did 4.75 million.
• King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - A repeat at 7:30 only did 3.01 million, though up some from the previous week. A repeat at 8:30 did 4.21 million. New episodes will now air at 7:30pm starting tonight.
• Family Guy (Fox) - 5.32 million for a repeat, lower than the previous week's repeat.
• American Dad! (Fox) 2 episodes - 1.96 million for a repeat at 7pm was lower than previous week, as its regular 9:30pm slot was also a repeat and did 4.5 million.

Week 30 (April 13-19):
Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 10.06 million for a new episode. Very good.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 9.6 million for a new episode..good.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.03 million for a new episode is #1 for all sitcoms.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 11.6 million for a new episode, again could be better still but decent.
• Surviving Suburbia (ABC) - 9.71 million for a new episode...down a million and a half from the premiere. Hopefully it goes back up tomorrow.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) 2 episodes - 4.52 and 4.13 million for two new episodes...the first one did acceptable at least.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - 5.57 million for a repeat.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 5.76 million for a repeat, built from the lead-in at least.
• Scrubs (ABC) - New showing did 5.06 million, up from previous week, as part two of the Bahama story aired.
• Better Off Ted (ABC) - 4.62 million for a new episode, up from previous week. Hopefully this is a sign of growth.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - Returned with a new episode and did just 5.35 million.
• In the Motherhood (ABC) - Just 4.62 million, but up some from previous week.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - 6.02 million, down from the premiere, but still built from the lead-in.
• Samantha Who? (ABC) - 4.84 million, on par from previous week. This show could see a huge jump this week as Grey's is back with new episodes.
• The Office (NBC) - 8.37 million, up from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 7.32 million...also up week-to-week.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - A repeat episode did a prelim 1.47 million...down a bit from previous week's prelim numbers.
• The Game (The CW) - A repeat episode did a prelim 1.31 million. Down from previous week's prelim numbers by a bit.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of Fox animated comedies from 7:30-10pm!

Summing it up. The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement & The Office were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (Surviving Suburbia, Parks and Recreation) or just plain old terrible (such as In the Motherhood, According to Jim 8:30).