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Week 1 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Households: #1 ABC; #2 CBS; #3 Fox; #4 NBC; #5 The CW; #6 MNT.
Total Viewers: #1 ABC; #2 CBS; #3 Fox; #4 NBC; #5 The CW; #6 MNT.
Adults 18-49: #1 ABC; #2 CBS; #3 Fox; #4 NBC; #5 The CW; #6 MNT.

Analysis: We're back with another all-new TV season! The 2009-10 season has begun and most of the shows debuted this past week, with still some shows debuting in the next few weeks. Through the first four days, ABC has the lead in all categories as they did the past few seasons, with CBS second, Fox is in third this year, while NBC is back in fourth. ABC and CBS are just a tad down or on par really from last year's premiere week, with Fox way up thanks to a big House premiere but NBC is way down from last year's premiere week. Among 18-49, it is very close thru Thursday night. ABC has a prelim 4.0/10 rating/share in the demo, followed closely by CBS with a 3.9/10, Fox also has a 3.9/10, with NBC way behind with a 2.5/6 (last year they were at a 3.4/8.8 this time).
Monday was the first night of the 2009-10 season and it was a three way battle between Fox, ABC, and CBS. Two-hour season premiere of Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 17.79 million for ABC, but down from last year. The competition was much stiffer this year, but still did a solid 4.1 18-49 rating. The season premiere of Castle followed with a solid 9.26 million, on par with its numbers in the spring and an improvement over Boston Legal last fall. Fox had the two-hour season premiere of House and it did a surprising 17.16 million and a mammoth 6.7 A18-49 rating. Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 9.09 million, below last year's premiere and Accidentally on Purpose followed with its series premiere doing 8.91 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which could be better. Two and a Half Men followed with 13.63 million which seems below normal for the series, but The Big Bang Theory moved to its new time and did a nice 12.96 million, the only timeslot to go up for CBS from last year's premiere week. The show also did a solid 4.7 18-49 rating, for second for the night. The season premiere of CSI: Miami did 14.2 million, down a lot from last year's premiere. NBC followed with the two-hour season premiere of Heroes. The series goes down every year and this year the premiere was only at 6.1 million, down over 4 million from last fall's premiere. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 5.81 million. The CW on Mondays has been a struggle so far, with One Tree Hill doing only 2.29 million and Gossip Girl at an even worse 1.97 million. Last year both were over 3 million.
Tuesday, CBS and ABC battled. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opened the night off with 20.6 million, up over 2 million from last year's premiere and this was another series high. The premiere of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 18.73 million, though a concern was the drop in the second half. And finally CBS premiered The Good Wife and did 13.71 million, also solid but needs to be watched because of a drop at the halfway point. Good Tuesday for CBS. ABC was next with the ladies turn to dance on Dancing with the Stars doing 15.37 million from 8-10pm, the series premiere of the forgotten followed and did a decent 9.54 million. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser 2-hour show doing 7.55 million, down from its season premiere the previous week, followed by the The Jay Leno Show at just 6.91 million. Fox gave way to two episodes of Hell's Kitchen doing 6.78 and 6.98 million, but the show did a second place in 18-49 at a 3.3 average. The CW aired 90210 with just 2.0 million, followed by dud Melrose Place at an even worse 1.44 million.
Wednesday again it was a battle between CBS and ABC. CBS had the season premiere of Old Christine doing 7.17 million, which was up some from last year's season premieres, followed by the season premiere of Gary Unmarried at just 6.86 million, on par with its premiere last year. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 15.84 million and a solid 4.4 A18-49 rating, with CSI: NY doing 15.06 million. ABC had a special night and time of Dancing with the Stars, this time the Results. Bye bye to Ashley Hamilton and Macy Gray, as 15.36 million tuned in for the hour results show at 8pm, on par with last year's special on this night. The series premiere of Modern Family and Cougar Town both did very well at 12.6 and 11.28 million, but the 4.2 and 4.4 A18-49 ratings for both were more telling. At 10pm Eastwick premiered to a solid 8.5 million and a nice 3.0 18-49 rating. NBC opened the night with the series premiere of Mercy doing 8.38 million, not bad, but the 2.3 18-49 rating could be better. Law & Order: SVU on its new night and time had a hard time and only did 8.36 million. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at just 6.38 million. Fox was fourth, with So You Think You Can Dance at only 5.5 million, but then Glee followed to a decent 6.64 million and a 3.1 A18-49 rating. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at a only 2.82 million, even this is below 3 million now...a new episode of The Beautiful Life: TBL followed with just 1.05 million....ouch, CW has now pulled it!
Thursday it was ABC on top. ABC opened the night with the series premiere of FLASHFORWARD doing a 12.47 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, both first place finishes in the hour. The two-hour Grey's Anatomy season premiere followed with 17.03 million and a great 6.7 A18-49 rating. CBS opened with Survivor: Gabon at 11.66 million and a 3.7 A18-49 rating. The season premiere of CSI followed with 16.01 million, while the Thursday premiere of The Mentalist wasn't as strong as it was on Tuesday doing 15.07 million. Fox started off well with Bones at a solid 9.11 million, but Fringe followed and only did 5.73 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. NBC was in the familiar fourth place with SNL Thursday Update doing only 4.54 million, followed by sitcom dud Parks & Recreation at only 4.09 million. At 9pm The Office only mustered 7.46 million but a solid 3.9 18-49 rating, but way down than last year. Community closed the comedy block with only 5.39 million, not good for the second episode. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only 5.13 million. The CW's only consistent player so far is Vampire Diaries doing 3.8 million, followed by Supernatural at a could-be-better 2.66 million.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with their dramas but only mustered a prelim 2.0 18-49 rating average. ABC was second despite repeats, with 20/20 the best of the night in 18-49. Fox had a dismal Friday with its premieres inclding Brothers and NBC was a disappointment.
Saturday numbers had ABC win with Saturday Night Football in all categories and Fox was solid in young adults with its crime reality.
Tonight are the season premieres for ABC Sunday (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters). I saw the premiere of Desperate Housewives already, and it is great...look for the bride reveal right away! NBC should have something to tout about finally this week with the NFL game, as their highest rated show so far has been Mercy at 8.38 million...very sad. CBS has the two-hour season premiere of Amazing Race following 60 Minutes and Cold Case moves to 10pm. Fox launches its animation block with season premieres from 8-10pm, including the premiere of The Cleveland Show.
As for the week, ABC will win in HH, viewers and 18-49 most likely. CBS could come close in HH and viewers, but ABC likely has sealed 18-49. Will it be a clean sweep for ABC? They've got a good shot.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of September 14-20)

• The Simpsons (Fox) 3 episodes - three repeat episodes starting at 7:30 to 9pm did 3.72, 5.08, and 5.52 million ...season premiere is tonight
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - series premiere tonight.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 5.34 million...season premiere is tonight.
• American Dad (Fox) - A repeat did 4.53 million...yes, season premiere is tonight.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - The season premiere did 9.09 million, lower than the timeslot premiere of Big Bang Theory last year and lower than last season's season premiere, which was at 8:30pm, of 9.79 million. Still decent.
• Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 8.91 million for the series premiere is lower than last year's 9.79 million of How I Met Your Mother, and only a 3.3 18-49 rating compared to Mother's 4.0 from last year. This show needs to sustain these numbers at least to be a hit.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.63 million...down from last season's season premiere. Lots of competition.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 12.96 million for the season premiere on its new time, and built from the lead-in's 18-49 rating from a 4.5 to a 4.7...nicely done. The only timeslot to go up for CBS on this night from last year.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

• Old Christine (CBS) - Season premiere did OK, doing 7.17 million. 18-49 rating of a 2.2 needs to be better.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - Season premiere only mustered 6.86 million, but built from the lead-in a bit in 18-49 to a 2.3 rating.
• Modern Family (ABC) - The series premiere did a massive 12.6 million and a nice 4.2 18-49 rating. Best comedy premiere in at least 2 seasons.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - The series premiere of this sitcom did a solid 11.28 million and an even better 4.4 18-49 rating.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - This show did terrible doing only 4.09 million and just a 1.8 A18-49 rating...sorry Amy Poehler.
• The Office (NBC) - Building on the lead-in, the series did 7.46 million, but its strength is 18-49 and it did a 3.9 rating.
• Community (NBC) - Second week had a big dip to only 5.39 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating is concerning, especially following a 3.9.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• Brothers (Fox) 2 episodes - The series premiere did terrible with a prelim of 2.82 million for two episodes and only a prelim 1.0 A18-49 rating.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A special repeat of the pilot did actually solid for a repeat with a prelim 4.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating...beat new stuff on Fox and NBC. More sampling!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A special repeat of the pilot also did decent with a prelim 4.18 million and a prelim 1.5 A18-49 rating. More sampling!
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are season premieres of Fox's animated comedies from 8-10PM.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, Modern Family, Cougar Town, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, Accidentally on Purpose, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Community, Old Christine) or just plain old terrible (such as Parks & Recreation, Brothers).

Stay tuned this week for the premieres of Hank and The Middle joining Modern Family and Cougar Town on ABC Comedy Wednesday!

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 3:00 PM

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Labels: Weekly Ratings