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Week 31 Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

As we mentioned on our Twitter page yesterday, we are sad to report Bea Arthur (Maude, Golden Girls) has passed away at the age of 86 from cancer. Stay tuned tomorrow for our tribute to her. Rest in Peace, Bea.

Week 31 numbers (first four nights final averages, Mon-Thurs):

Households: Fox 7.5/12.0; CBS 6.4/10.4; ABC 6.1/9.9; NBC 4.5/7.3; The CW 1.6/2.6; MNT 0.9/1.4.
Total Viewers: Fox 12.52 million; CBS 10.07 million; ABC 9.35 million; NBC 6.93 million; The CW 2.48 million; MNT 1.33 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox 4.2/11.3; CBS 2.7/7.4; ABC 2.7/7.3; NBC 2.6/6.9; The CW 1.1/3.1; MNT 0.4/1.1.

Analysis: Week 31 sees Fox with the lead for the first four nights. But as usual, they won't hang on in HH/viewers when it is all said and done. Through the first four days, Fox has the lead in all categories, with CBS in second in all categories, ABC is third with NBC of course in fourth.
Last week, CBS won in week 30 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, though NBC did tie ABC in 18-49.
Monday it was ABC with the victory as Dancing with the Stars continues to dominate. ABC aired a 90-minute version of Dancing with the Stars at an impressive 20.53 million, up over a million from the previous week as the group dance did good. Team dances this week! After that, ABC aired episode three of Bob Saget's new sitcom Surviving Suburbia at 9.87 million, up some from the previous week. Sex themed episode tomorrow! A new episode of crime-romance drama Castle followed doing 8.21 million...up some from previous week. CBS was in repeats primarily, repeat of The Big Bang Theory did 7.59 million, followed by a repeat of How I Met Your Mother did only 6.6 million. A repeat of Two and a Half Men followed with 11.48 million, yet still the number one sitcom for the week. Rules of Engagement followed with a new episode (the only one for CBS this night) and closed the sitcom block with a decent 10.59 million, down a million from previous week when the lead-in was new. CBS closed the night with a special repeat of The Mentalist at 9.42 million, CSI: Miami repeats do better than that. Fox started with a new episode of Bones on a special night doing 8.57 million, which is nothing like the usual timeslot holder House, which will return tomorrow, then Fox had an all-new 24 doing 10.34 million, down some from previous week. NBC was next with its sluggish Monday. A new Chuck did 6.11 million, down a tad from previous week. The free-falling Heroes was next at just 6.45 million, down from previous week. Medium followed with 7.34 million for a new episode, also down from previous week. The CW was next with a new Gossip Girl doing 2.37 million and a new One Tree Hill did 2.45 million...both should be over 3 million easily. Repeats of George Lopez on Nick at Nite do more than this!
Tuesday it was Fox on top. Fox started with a 61 minute American Idol doing 23.96 million, down some from previous week. Fox then aired a new Fringe at 9.9 million, down some from previous week. CBS started with special repeats of sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men doing an OK 5.86 and 6.6 million. Wonder why CBS did this? Are they thinking of comedies on Tuesdays next season? A repeat of NCIS at a special time of 9pm did 12.65 million, followed by a repeat of The Mentalist doing 12.46 million at a special time of 10pm. Without a Trace was preempted. ABC was next and started with According to Jim doing a brutal 3.37 and 3.35 million for two all-new episodes...down oer a million from previous week, as maybe the CBS comedies hurt it. Dancing with the Stars: The Results was next at 9pm doing 14.73 million, down some from previous week. ABC followed with a special airing of The Unusuals doing 5.81 million, Cupid returns this week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 9.26 million, up some from previous week. NBC finished the night with a repeat of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm doing just 7.04 million, but better than previous by some. The CW aired a new episode of Reaper and did 2.15 million, up a tad from previous week and a new 90210 followed with 1.88 million, down from previous week. That show is no 90210 from Fox.
Wednesday saw Fox dominate big. Fox was led by the results show of American Idol at 9pm doing 23.95 million, down a bit from previous week. New Fox drama Lie to Me was next doing just 7.97 million, as the previous week Bones did a much better 11.01 million. CBS started with repeat episodes of sitcoms Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, doing 5.07 and 5.41 million...both down from previous week. A repeat of Criminal Minds followed and did 9.84 million, down from previous week. CSI: NY was preempted for an all-new Criminal Minds at a special time doing 13.72 million, which is a major improvement in this timeslot. Is CBS thinking of moving this show to this slot next fall? ABC was next with a new Scrubs and a new episode of the new Better Off Ted doing 4.6 and 4.19 million...both down from previous week. That was the funniest half-hour I've seen this season, thanks to Better Off Ted! Shame on you for not watching! Season finale this week. A Lost Special followed at 9pm doing 6.75 million, look for the milestone episode number 100 this week! We get tons of answers. A new episode of The Unusuals at 10pm did 4.74 million, a series low. Hopefully it bounces back this week with Lost all-new. NBC opened the night with a repeat of Law & Order doing 5.7 million, up from previous week, a repeat of Law & Order: SVU followed and did 5.57 million, up from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm with another repeat and did 6.09 million, up some week-to-week. The CW was on the map with America's Next Top Model doing a nice 4.01 million, up some from previous week then The CW followed with an encore of what else--90210-- doing 1.14 million viewers, completely losing the lead-in...yet it was up from previous week.
Thursday saw CBS and ABC battle. CBS started with a new Survivor: Tocantis at once again a below normal 11.3 million, down from previous week. CSI was next with 14.64 million, down a million from previous week but only a 3.7 18-49 rating. And episode three of Harper's Island closed the night at 7.02 million, down from previous week even. ABC started with a repeat of Grey's Anatomy doing 4.97 million, which is a bit better than new episodes of In the Motherhood and Samantha Who? from previous week. An all-new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 13.51 million and a night best 5.0 18-49 rating. I told you it was great...I've see the next one too, and it is also AMAZING. A new Private Practice followed and did a first place 9.08 million at 10pm. Should be even higher this week with the season finale. Fox started with Bones at 8.42 million, off a bit from previous week again. An all-new Hell's Kitchen followed at 9pm did 6.8 million, down over a million from previous week. NBC started a new episode of My Name is Earl at 5.54 million at 8pm, up some from previous week. Then the new Parks and Recreation followed with a series low 5.26 million, ouch. These types of shows just don't generate big numbers I guess. The Office followed with a new episode doing 7.28 million, down over a million from previous week and 30 Rock followed with 6.3 million, down a million from previous week. NBC closed the night with a new episode of Southland doing 8.11 million and only a 2.4 18-49 rating, both series lows and on par with ER in viewers but not in 18-49. Smallville was new on The CW and did 3.1 million, which seems a bit below average followed by a new Supernatural at 2.7 million.
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 good with a special two-hour 20/20 from 9-11pm. Prison Break did terrible for Fox, and NBC did nothing with a two-hour Dateline.
Saturday numbers were quiet, with CBS winning in viewers and Fox in 18-49. Saturdays get lower than ever from March-May when the weather gets better.
Tonight will be ABC and CBS battling. ABC will easily win in 18-49, but it will be close for HH/viewers. CBS has a new 60 Minutes followed by the Amazing Race 14, Cold Case & The Unit. ABC will have new episodes of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters. Tonight's DH is said to be classic, tune in. NBC has a two-hour Dateline 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 dud 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...CBS has part one of NCIS back-door spin-off pilot called "Legend" this week. On Wednesday, a Presidential Address is slated for the 8pm hour, but we are not sure what that means yet. I hope Better Off Ted doesn't get affected. On that night at 9pm, Lost celebrates episode 100 with four spots for Flash Forward airing inside of it! The show launches THIS FALL! It's official! Ugly Betty returns this Thursday at 8 and Private Practice has its season finale at 10pm on that night on ABC!

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of April 13-19, Week 30)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did an OK 6.58 million. Not doing that good this season.
• Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox) - The series premiere only mustered 5.19 million...not good and a worse 2.3 18-40 rating, dropping from the 3.1 its lead-in put up.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - Fox has moved the show to 7:30pm for all new episodes now, and the 250th episode only put up 3.39 million.
• Family Guy (Fox) - 7.34 million for a new episode...decent, but this show hasn't done that good this year as well.
• American Dad! (Fox) 2 episodes - 2.5 million for a repeat at 7pm was higher than previous week, and its regular 9:30pm slot was new and did 5.72 million.

Week 31 (April 20-26):
Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 7.59 million for a repeat...decent.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 6.6 million for a repeat is OK.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.48 million for a REPEAT.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 10.59 million for a new episode, down over a million from previous week. I just wanted to see some building from a repeat, but didn't happen.
• Surviving Suburbia (ABC) - 9.87 million for a new episode...up some from previous week.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) 2 episodes - 3.37 and 3.35 million for two new episodes...not good at all.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special repeat on a special night did 5.86 million. Nice to have Kaley back on Tuesdays at 8. Only for that week though.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A special repeat on a special night and time did even 6.6 million.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - 5.07 million for a repeat...down from previous week.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 5.41 million for a repeat, built from the lead-in at least but down from previous week.
• Scrubs (ABC) - New showing did 4.6 million, down from previous week. Looks to be preempted this week by Obama.
• Better Off Ted (ABC) - 4.19 million for a new episode, down from previous week. Season finale is scheduled for this week, but looks like Obama will preempt it.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - New episode and did just 5.54 million, but up some from previous week.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - 5.26 million...series low.
• The Office (NBC) - 7.28 million, down over a million from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.3 million...also down a million week-to-week.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.79 million...up from previous week's repeat prelim numbers.
• The Game (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.89 million. Up from previous week's prelim repeat numbers.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

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

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