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Week 32 Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 32 numbers (first four nights final averages, Mon-Thurs):

Households: CBS 8.2/13.1; Fox 7.5/11.8; ABC 6.6/10.6; NBC 4.6/7.4; The CW 1.6/2.4; MNT 0.9/1.3.
Total Viewers: CBS 13.07 million; Fox 12.66 million; ABC 10.06 million; NBC 7.21 million; The CW 2.39 million; MNT 1.3 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox 4.4/11.9; CBS 3.4/9.0; ABC 2.9/7.8; NBC 2.7/7.2; The CW 1.1/2.9; MNT 0.4/1.1.

Analysis: Week 32 sees CBS with the lead for the first four nights in HH/viewers and Fox on top in 18-49. When it is all said and done after tonight it will likely remain that way. Through the first four days, CBS and Fox share the lead as mentioned, with ABC in third and NBC back in fourth.
Last week, CBS won in week 31 in HH/viewers, but Fox once again took 18-49. Fox was second for the week in viewers, with ABC third in viewers, but second in HH and 18-49, leaving CBS in third in 18-49 and Fox in third in HH. NBC was fourth across the board.
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 19.28 million, down over a million from the previous week though. After that, ABC aired episode four of Bob Saget's new sitcom Surviving Suburbia at 8.98 million, down nearly a million from the previous week. Too bad. A new episode of crime-romance drama Castle followed doing 8.23 million...up a tad from previous week. CBS was all-new with episodes of The Big Bang Theory doing 9.24 million, followed by a new episode of How I Met Your Mother doing 8.87 million. A new Two and a Half Men followed with 14.16 million, seems lower than usual. Rules of Engagement followed with a new episode and closed the sitcom block with a decent 11.3 million, up nearly a million from previous week when the lead-in was a repeat. CBS closed the night with a new CSI: Miami at a below normal 12.12 million. Fox started with a new episode of House doing a below normal 11.69 million, then Fox had an all-new 24 doing 10.43 million, up a tad from previous week. NBC was next with its sluggish Monday with two finales. The finale of Chuck did 6.2 million, up a tad from previous week. The free-falling Heroes was next with its finale at just 6.47 million, on par really from previous week. Medium followed with 6.71 million for a new episode, down from previous week. The CW was next with a new Gossip Girl doing only 1.97 million, down from previous week and a new One Tree Hill did 2.28 million, also down from previous week.
Tuesday it was Fox on top but CBS was close by in HH/viewers. Fox started with a 62 minute American Idol doing 23.26 million, down some from previous week. Fox then aired a new Fringe at 9.62 million, also 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 new episode of NCIS did 16.7 million which was below normal, followed by a new episode of The Mentalist doing 17.11 million. Without a Trace was new and did a solid 12.21 million. ABC started with According to Jim doing a brutal 3.11 and 3.56 million for two all-new episodes...first one was down and the second one was up a bit from previous week. Preempted this week for Scrubs/Better Off Ted on a special night. Dancing with the Stars: The Results was next at 9pm doing 14.72 million, on par really from previous week. ABC followed with a new Cupid at just 5.59 million. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 9.26 million, exactly the same as the previous week. NBC finished the night with a new episode of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm doing 10.55 million, above normal for this season. The CW aired a new episode of Reaper and did just 1.76 million, down from previous week and a new 90210 followed with 1.79 million, down some from previous week.
Wednesday saw Fox with the win as President Obama had a news conference in the 8pm hour preempting programming for ABC, CBS and NBC, as Fox stuck to regular programming. Fox was led by the results show of American Idol at 9pm doing 22.37 million, down over a million from previous week. New Fox drama Lie to Me at 8pm did just 7.75 million, down some from previous week. CBS had to preempt Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, for Obama. A new Criminal Minds followed and did 13.61 million, down a tad from previous week when it was at 10pm. CSI: NY was new and did 12.5 million. ABC had to preempted Scrubs and the season finale of Better Off Ted because of Obama, as these episodes will now air Tuesdays at 8pm. The 100th episode of Lost followed at 9pm doing a solid 9.04 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating. What an episode! A new episode of The Unusuals at 10pm did 4.86 million, up a bit from previous week's series low. NBC opened the night with Obama instead of a repeat of Law & Order, a repeat of Law & Order: SVU followed and did 4.59 million, down a million from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm with a new episode and did 7.82 million, is this worth bringing back? The CW was on the map with America's Next Top Model doing a nice 4.01 million, exactly the same as previous week, then The CW followed with an encore of what else--90210-- doing 1.12 million viewers, completely losing the lead-in...and down a tad from previous week.
Thursday saw CBS and ABC battle. CBS started with a new Survivor: Tocantis at 11.73 million, up some from previous week. CSI was next with 15.54 million, up nearly a million from previous week but still the same 3.7 18-49 rating. And a special repeat of Criminal Minds did 10.23 million, up over three million from previous week's all-new Harper's Island, ouch. ABC started with the return of Ugly Betty doing 6.72 million. An all-new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 14.12 million and a night best 5.1 18-49 rating, both up from previous week. The season finale of Private Practice followed and did 9.7 million at 10pm, up from previous week and a first place 3.5 18-49 rating. Fox started with Bones at 8.94 million, up some from previous week. An all-new Hell's Kitchen followed at 9pm did 6.84 million, up a bit from previous week. NBC started with a new episode of My Name is Earl at 5.16 million at 8pm, down some from previous week. Then the new Parks and Recreation followed with another low of 5.07 million, ouch and they renewed this for next season. These types of shows just don't generate big numbers I guess. The Office followed with a new episode doing 7.41 million, up some from previous week and 30 Rock followed with only 5.95 million, what happened? NBC closed the night with a new episode of Southland doing 6.66 million and only a 2.0 18-49 rating, both series lows and lower than what ER did. Smallville was new on The CW and did 3.23 million, up some from previous week, followed by a new Supernatural at 2.95 million, also up some from previous week.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with new episodes of Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMBERS. ABC did decent with 20/20 at 10pm. Prison Break/Dollhouse did terrible for Fox, and NBC did OK with a two-hour Dateline.
Saturday numbers were not available but Fox should win with NASCAR.
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. I've seen tonight's B&S already...oh my and a great ending. 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 7-10, 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 but could sneak in for 2nd in 18-49 and HH like the previous week. NBC will be fourth everywhere. As for the coming week...CBS has part two of NCIS back-door spin-off pilot called "Legend" this Tuesday again. Also on Tuesday, special night of Scrubs and Better Off Ted will air on ABC in the 8pm hour, while the 1-hour season finale of Scrubs is Wednesday in the 8pm hour. The special Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist airs Thursday at 10 on ABC and the network premiere of movie Happy Feet is on Friday at 8pm on ABC. Sports takes over on Saturday with NASCAR on Fox and Game 3 of the NBA East Semifinals between Cleveland and Atlanta.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of April 20-26, Week 31)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did an OK 6.0 million. Down from previous week.
• Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox) - Just 4.21 million for the second episode...now Fox will move to from 8:30 to 7pm, ouch.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did only 2.89 million, lower than previous week.
• Family Guy (Fox) - 6.67 million for a new episode...not too good.
• American Dad! (Fox) 2 episodes - 2.19 million for a repeat at 7pm was lower than previous week, and its regular 9:30pm slot was new and did 5.13 million, down like everything tonight.

Week 32 (April 27-May 3):
Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 9.24 million for a new episode is good, but could be better as shown.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8.87 million for a new episode.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.16 million for the comedy leader.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 11.3 million for a new episode, decent stuff.
• Surviving Suburbia (ABC) - 8.98 million for a new episode...preempted tomorrow for a two-hour DWTS as the remaining couples dance twice each.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) 2 episodes - 3.11 and 3.56 million for two new episodes...not good at all again. The second episode was very funny with Garry Marshall and the hot physical therapist.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - preempted for Obama address.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - preempted for Obama address.
• Scrubs (ABC) - preempted for Obama address.
• Better Off Ted (ABC) - preempted for Obama address.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - New episode and did just 5.16 million, ouch.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - 5.07 million...series low again.
• The Office (NBC) - 7.41 million, up some from previous week's season low.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 5.95 million...seems very low.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.73 million...down some from previous week's prelim numbers.
• The Game (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.86 million. Down some from previous week's prelim numbers.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

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

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, 30 Rock) or just plain old terrible (such as Parks & Recreation, My Name is Earl, According to Jim).