SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Week 33 Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did; SitcomsOnline.com 2009-10 Upfront Preview: NBC

Week 33 numbers (first four nights final averages, Mon-Thurs):

Households: CBS 7.9/12.9; Fox 7.6/12.1; ABC 6.8/11.0; NBC 4.5/7.3; The CW 1.6/2.5; MNT 0.8/1.2.
Total Viewers: Fox 12.92 million; CBS 12.63 million; ABC 10.51 million; NBC 6.96 million; The CW 2.41 million; MNT 1.21 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox 4.6/12.4; CBS 3.3/9.2; ABC 3.1/8.5; NBC 2.4/6.5; The CW 1.1/3.0; MNT 0.4/1.1.

Analysis: Week 32 sees CBS with the lead for the first four nights in HH but Fox is on top in viewers and 18-49. CBS will likely take over in HH when the week is done after tonight, but Fox will prevail in 18-49. 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 32 in HH/viewers, but Fox once again took 18-49. Fox was second for the week in viewers and 18-49, with ABC third in viewers, but ABC was second in HH, 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 two-hour version of Dancing with the Stars at 20.28 million, up a million from the previous week though that was 92-minutes. A new episode of crime-romance drama Castle followed doing 9.97 million...up well over a million from previous week. Season finale is tomorrow of this drama that is poised to return next season. CBS was all-new with episodes of The Big Bang Theory doing 9.25 million, on par really from previous week, followed by a new episode of How I Met Your Mother doing 8.89 million, also on par really from previous week. A new Two and a Half Men followed with 14.17 million, yes on par really from previous week. Rules of Engagement followed with a new episode and closed the sitcom block with a decent 11.33 million, continuing the pattern of its lead-ins being on par really from previous week. CBS closed the night with a new CSI: Miami at 13.72 million, up over a million from previous week's low. Fox started with a new episode of House doing 12.05 million, up from previous week...then Fox had an all-new 24 doing 10.11 million, down from previous week. NBC was next with a sluggish return of Deal or No Deal doing only 4.36 million, Chuck doesn't look so bad now, does it? Medium followed with a two-hour installment doing 7.24 million, up from previous week when it was an hour at 10pm. The CW was next with a new Gossip Girl doing only 2.22 million, but up some from previous week and a new One Tree Hill did 2.23 million, down a tad from previous week.
Tuesday it was Fox on top but CBS was close by in HH/viewers. Fox started with a 63 minute American Idol doing 23.41 million, up some from previous week. Fox then aired a new Fringe at 9.24 million, down from previous week. CBS started with a new episode of NCIS doing 16.72 million which was on par really from previous week, followed by a new episode of The Mentalist doing 16.68 million, down from previous week. Without a Trace was new and did 11.83 million, down from previous week. ABC started with special episodes of Scrubs/Better Off Ted on a special night doing 3.7 and 3.07 million only. Dancing with the Stars: The Results was next at 9pm doing 14.56 million, down some from previous week. ABC followed with a new Cupid at just 5.14 million, down from previous week. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 9.13 million, down some from the previous week. NBC finished the night with a new episode of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm doing 9.82 million, down from previous week. The CW aired a new episode of Reaper and did just 1.89 million, but up some from previous week and a new 90210 followed with 1.84 million, also up some from previous week.
Wednesday saw Fox with the win. Fox was led by the results show of American Idol at 9pm doing 23.57 million, up over a million from previous week. New Fox drama Lie to Me at 8pm did 8.68 million, up nearly a million from previous week. CBS started with sitcoms Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, doing 6.45 and 6.66 million...OK. A new Criminal Minds followed and did 14.13 million, up from previous week. CSI: NY was new and did 13.4 million, up nearly a million week-to-week. ABC aired the perfect Scrubs finale as J.D. said goodbye and did 5.07 million, could have been better, but decent enough. An all-new episode of Lost followed at 9pm doing a solid 8.7 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, both slightly off from previous week. Three-hour finale event this week, with a clip show followed by two episodes! A new episode of The Unusuals at 10pm did 4.63 million, down a bit from previous week, as the show will now return May 27. NBC opened the night with the NBC premiere of Law & Order: Criminal Intent doing 5.71 million, followed by a repeat of Law & Order: SVU doing only 4.51 million, down a bit from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm with a new episode and did 8.14 million, up some from previous week. The CW was on the map with America's Next Top Model doing a nice 3.82 million, though down a bit from previous week, then The CW followed with an encore of what else--90210-- doing 1.09 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 11.99 million, up some from previous week. CSI was next with 14.91 million, down some from previous week and just a 3.6 18-49 rating. And a special repeat of CSI at 10pm did 9.58 million, down from previous week's encore of Criminal Minds. ABC started with a new episode of Ugly Betty doing 7.38 million, up nicely from previous week. An all-new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 15.55 million and a night best 5.4 18-49 rating, both up from previous week and #1 in the timeslot. A 10.3 HH rating, too. The special Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist followed and did a solid 10.23 million at 10pm. Fox started with Bones at 8.76 million, down some from previous week. An all-new Hell's Kitchen followed at 9pm did 6.5 million, down from previous week. NBC started with a new episode of My Name is Earl at only 4.47 million at 8pm, down again from previous week. Cancel this already. Then the new Parks and Recreation followed with another low of 4.72 million, ouch and they renewed this for next season. Again these types of shows just don't generate big numbers I guess. The Office followed with a new episode doing 7.84 million, up some from previous week and 30 Rock followed with only 6.13 million, but up some from previous week. NBC closed the night with a new episode of Southland doing 6.61 million and only a 2.0 18-49 rating, both series lows again and lower than what ER did. Smallville was new on The CW and did 3.39 million, up some from previous week, followed by a new Supernatural at 2.79 million, down 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 the movie Happy Feet from 8-10pm. Prison Break/Dollhouse did terrible for Fox, and NBC did better than normal with a two-hour Dateline.
Saturday saw Fox win with NASCAR, edging the Cavs/Hawks NBA Playoffs game on ABC.
Tonight will be ABC and CBS battling. ABC will easily win in 18-49, but it will again 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. Season finale of B&S tonight! NBC has an one-hour Dateline at 7pm and a three-hour season finale of Celebrity Apprentice, which doesn't usually do well with expanded finales. 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. NBC will be fourth everywhere. As for the coming week...lots of season finales including Big Bang Theory, Castle, The Biggest Loser, Fringe, Cupid, Lie to Me, America's Next Top Model, Lost, NBC comedies, Smallville, Supernatural, Grey's Anatomy, CSI, CSI NY, Prison Break, America's Funniest Home Videos and next Sunday: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, Survivor, and the Fox animated comedies.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of April 27-May 3, Week 32)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 6.66 million. Up some from previous week.
• Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox) - Just 2.06 million in its move to 7pm, ouch.
• King of the Hill (Fox) - A new episode at 8:30pm did 5.14 million, much better than previous week when it aired at 7:30.
• Family Guy (Fox) - 6.57 million for a new episode...down a bit from previous week.American Dad! (Fox) 2 episodes - 2.52 million for a repeat at 7:30pm was higher than previous week when it was 7pm, and its regular 9:30pm slot was new and did 5.35 million, up some from previous week.

Week 33 (May 4-10):
Monday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 9.25 million for a new episode, on par from previous week's 9.24 million. Season finale tomorrow.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8.89 million for a new episode...pattern for the CBS comedies this week is up so slightly from previous week.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.17 million for the comedy leader...same pattern as above
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 11.33 million for a new episode, decent stuff....same pattern as above again.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Scrubs (ABC) - 3.7 million on a special night...was better than According to Jim.
• Better Off Ted (ABC) - 3.07 million for the season finale on a special night was NOT better than the usual Jim. That should tell you if ABC has plans for this show for next season.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - 6.45 million for a new episode is below normal.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 6.66 million for a new episode...could be better.
• Scrubs (ABC) - J.D.'s finale was awesome and did 5.07 million.

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - New episode and did just 4.47 million, could be a series low...ouch.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - 4.72 million...series low again.
• The Office (NBC) - 7.84 million, up some from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.13 million...seems very low again but better than previous week.

Friday Sitcoms

• Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 1.83 million...up some from previous week's prelim numbers. That was the finale.
• The Game (The CW) - A new episode did a prelim 2.05 million. Up 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 (Gary Unmarried, 30 Rock) or just plain old terrible (such as Better Off Ted, My Name is Earl).

NBC was the first network to release something about 2009-2010 with their infront last week, but they have not announced their actual 2009-10 schedule yet.
NBC's schedule seems easy to predict (at least we think so) since they have announced most of the shows that they have picked-up. With the addition of The Jay Leno Show on weeknights in the 10pm hour, NBC will have limited space, losing 5 hours a week.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com NBC 2009-10 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: Parenthood, Trauma, Mercy, Day One (dramas) and Community & 100 Questions (comedies)
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: None (everything new seems locked for fall)
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Off Duty (comedy)

OUR FALL 2009 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM Football Night in America
8:00PM Sunday Night Football
(March: 7PM Dateline, 8-10PM Celebrity Apprentice, 10PM The Marriage Ref (NEW!))

Mondays
8:00PM Heroes
9:00PM Trauma (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM The Biggest Loser
9:00PM Parenthood (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM Law & Order: SVU
9:00PM Southland

Thursdays
8:00PM SNL: Weekend Update Thursday / 100 Questions (NEW!)
8:30PM Parks & Recreation
9:00PM The Office
9:30PM 30 Rock

Fridays
8:00PM Dateline
9:00PM Law & Order

Saturdays
8:00-11:00PM Repeats

Comments: NBC has already announced it has picked-up six new series and I have included three of them here. NBC already has confirmed that Day One will launch in the winter following the 2010 Winter Olympics. I don't see how medical drama Mercy could air in the fall, since medical drama Trauma has also been picked-up. One or the other will be in the fall, with the other held for midseason. I have included Law & Order on the schedule, even though it has not been picked-up yet. NBC will likely bring some series in midseason just in case Jay Leno Show tanks. Medium and Chuck could be among them. Even My Name is Earl has a shot. As far as more new series for midseason, I'm having Mercy, Day One, and Community for midseason. NBC could pick up another series, perhaps the new legal drama Legally Mad, even though it tested poorly...but there is a fee if they don't pick-it up. It is said NBC will likely pick this or Chuck, as both are from Warner Bros. NBC also had three alternative series officially picked-up if needed (The Marriage Ref, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins and The Sing Off). They could put those on in the winter/spring.
For Mondays, NBC has said Heroes will stay on Mondays, but I think it will be on the move to 8pm. Trauma is a good candidate to follow Heroes, as Trauma just doesn't seem like an 8pm show. On Tuesdays, The Biggest Loser could be reduced to 60 or 90 minutes...it is certainly not good for NBC, but I think they have to do it since they are losing the 10pm hour. Parenthood seems like their best pilot and it could work after Loser. Another option they have is to have a comedy at 9:30pm, maybe 100 Questions...but I think they will use that on Thursdays at 8, al la Friends. Wednesdays could have Law & Order: SVU moving to this night and airing at 8pm leading into Southland, which has to be 9pm as 8pm seems way too early for a show like that. On Thursdays, it will be comedies of course...it's just the placement that needs to be determined. I think they will start off with SNL specials for the first 6 Thursdays leading into Parks & Recreation to try and build that up. Then NBC should try multicamera sitcom 100 Questions leading into the single camera comedies...because I just don't think another single camera sitcom is what NBC needs here. They could save single camera sitcom Community for midseason. Fridays will be a wild card for NBC. Will they pick-up Law & Order and put it on Fridays or save it for midseason again? The same goes for Medium. NBC could easily slot an episode of Dateline here....and dare I say it, Deal or No Deal? Saturdays will be repeats of course, while Sundays in the fall is NFL giving NBC some life. Then in January into mid-Feb. they could slot specials or miniseries until the Winter Olympics begin, which will be Feb. 12-28, 2010. After that NBC will likely launch their Sunday lineup of Celebrity Apprentice and perhaps another reality series to go with it, such as Seinfeld's The Marriage Ref? Another scenario could be the scripted Legally Mad, if NBC picks it up. Day One would likely replace Heroes after the Olympics.
Series that will be canceled or are ending include: Kath & Kim, Kings, Chopping Block, Lipstick Jungle, Knight Rider, Life, Crusoe, My Worst Own Enemy, Howdie Do It, ER.
Chuck & My Name is Earl are still question marks, while Medium & Law & Order are likely to get an additional season.
Anyway, this season NBC had another terrible season with declines from the previous year despite having the highest rated Super Bowl ever this year. Looking at next season, it'll be another tough year for NBC...especially if Jay Leno bombs big time. We still don't know how some of NBC's current 10pm shows will do in earlier timeslots, with some moving to even possibly 8pm. I think NBC is a mess and in a dire need of a hit as Southland and Parks & Recreation didn't do that this midseason and were lucky to be picked-up. On any other network, they could have not been brought back.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own!

Remember, next Tuesday (May 19) is the actual date when we will find out NBC's "schedule" plans for the 2009-10 season. So, come on back next Tuesday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong). Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview on Fox's upfront, which will be May 18.