Sunday, October 04, 2009

Week 2 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 2 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thurs):

Households: #1. CBS 8.6/14.0; #2. ABC 7.1/11.5; #3. Fox 4.8/7.5; #4. NBC 4.3/7.0; #5. The CW 1.6/2.5
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 13.8 million; #2. ABC 10.96 million; #3. Fox 7.99 million; #4. NBC 6.76 million; #5. The CW 2.37 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.8/10.3; #2. ABC 3.2/8.8; #3. Fox 3.2/8.5; #4. NBC 2.4/6.7; #5. The CW 1.1/3.1.

Analysis: For week two we had some new series debuts along with season premieres for this 2009-10 season. Through the first four days in week two, CBS has the lead in all categories, with ABC second, Fox in third and NBC is back in fourth. ABC was up through the first four days during premiere week, but CBS is on top so far this week. Last week, week 1, ABC took the crown in 18-49 nipping CBS, while CBS just edged ABC in HH/total viewers. NBC was third in HH/viewers (thanks to an NFL game), with Fox fourth. It was the opposite among 18-49 with Fox third, and NBC in fourth. Without the NFL, NBC is in terrible shape. Jay Leno might be cheap to make, but 8pm and 9pm are even weaker now for NBC.
On Monday ABC, Fox and CBS did well. A two-hour Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 17.03 million for ABC, down a bit from the premiere the previous week. An all-new Castle followed with a solid 9.15 million, basically on par with its numbers the previous week. What a great and fun show this is! Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 8.71 million, down a bit from the premiere and Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 8.03 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which could be better...both down from the premiere a bit. Two and a Half Men followed with 13.86 million which was up a bit from the season premiere, but The Big Bang Theory continues to impress and did a nice 13.27 million, up from the premiere. The show also did a mammoth 5.3 18-49 rating, for a series high. A new episode of CSI: Miami did 13.96 million, down a bit from the premiere. Fox had a regular edition of House and it did 14.71 million, which was down nearly three million from the two-hour premiere the previous week... the show did a 5.8 A18-49 rating, down from the 6.7 the previous week. NBC followed with the free-falling Heroes doing 5.72 million, down from the premiere previous week. The series premiere of Trauma followed and did an OK 6.68 million but just a 2.2 A18-49 rating. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 5.52 million, down from previous week. The CW on Mondays has been a struggle so far, with One Tree Hill doing only 2.51 million and Gossip Girl at an even worse 2.36 million...but both were up week-to-week.
On Tuesday, CBS was in control. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 21.37million, up from the season premiere even and this was another series high. Don't know how, though. A new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 17.4 million, down over a million from the series premiere. And finally CBS aired The Good Wife and did 13.69 million, also solid and on par with the premiere really. Good Tuesday for CBS overall. ABC was a distant second with the return of Shark Tank doing only 4.75 million...needs to do better. This show is perfect for summer. Then it was Dancing with the Stars: The Results on its normal night and time doing 13.02 million as we said goodbye to Kathy Ireland. ABC followed with a new episode of the forgotten doing 7.45 million, down two million from the series premiere. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser 2-hour show doing 9.18 million, up a lot from previous week, followed by the The Jay Leno Show at just 6.58 million (the best it can do), which was down from previous week. Fox aired Hell's Kitchen at 8 doing 6.64 million and a solid 3.1 18-49 rating. So You Think You Can Dance Tuesday was next and it bombed with only 5.18 million. The CW aired 90210 with just 2.21 million, followed by dud Melrose Place at an even worse 1.42 million. The latter was down a bit from previous week, while the former was up.
Wednesday again it was CBS with the overall win, but ABC and Fox had a lot doing well. CBS started slow with Old Christine doing 6.65 million, which was down from the season premiere, followed by Gary Unmarried at just 6.65 million as well, down a bit from its premiere. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 14.24 million which was down well over a million from the season premiere, with CSI: NY doing 13.16 million, down two million from previous weeks' premiere. ABC started the 8pm hour on top with Hank & The Middle with their series premiere. Hank did a solid 8.34 million but the 2.2 18-49 rating was low. The Middle did a better 8.71 million and a better 2.6 18-49 rating. If ABC can keep those numbers or close to it, they'll take it in this weak hour. New episodes of the hilarious sitcoms Modern Family and Cougar Town both did very well in week two with 9.99 and 9.25 million, but the 3.8 A18-49 ratings for both were more telling giving ABC the win at 9pm. At 10pm Eastwick did an OK 6.57 million, down two million from the premiere. It's a surprisingly good show! NBC opened the night with Mercy doing 7.39 million, down a million from the premiere. Law & Order: SVU followed and only did 8.08 million...see you can't just move a 10pm hit and move it to 9pm where this is more competition. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at just 6.11 million, down week-to-week. Fox was fourth, with So You Think You Can Dance at 6.81 million...up from previous week since there was no Dancing on ABC, but then Glee followed to a decent 7.4 million and a 3.3 A18-49 rating, both were up from previous week. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at 3.28 million, up a lot from previous week and a repeat of Melrose Place followed with just 1.02 million.
Thursday it was ABC on top in 18-49 and CBS overall. ABC opened the night with FLASHFORWARD doing 10.73 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, both very solid and competitive. A new Grey's Anatomy followed with 15.69 million and a great 6.1 A18-49 rating. And the season premiere of Private Practice impressed with 11.58 million and a great 4.6 A18-49 rating. What a premiere that was! CBS opened with Survivor: Gabon at 11.54 million and a 3.7 A18-49 rating. A new episode of CSI followed with 15.94 million, down a tad week-to-week, while The Mentalist was up week-to-week with 15.75 million. Fox started off well with Bones at a solid 9.43 million...up some from previous week, but Fringe followed and only did 6.03 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. NBC was in the familiar fourth place with SNL Thursday Update doing only 5.02 million but it was up from previous week, followed by sitcom dud Parks & Recreation at only 4.67 million, though it was up week-to-week. At 9pm The Office only mustered 7.41 million but a solid 3.9 18-49 rating, but way down than last year. Community closed the comedy block with only 5.86 million, but up some from previous week. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only 5.03 million, down a bit week-to-week. The CW's only consistent player so far is Vampire Diaries doing 3.53 million, off a bit week-to-week, followed by Supernatural at a could-be-better 2.6 million.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with their dramas but only mustered a prelim 1.7 18-49 rating average. Fox continues to stumble on Friday with Brothers, 'Til Death & Dollhouse 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 the full ABC Sunday line-up is back (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters). Some good stuff on Brothers and Sisters tonight...it is great. NBC should have something to tout about finally this week with the NFL game. CBS has the premiere of Three Rivers which could be slaughtered. Fox has its animation block from 8-10pm, including rookie The Cleveland Show.
As for week two, CBS will win in HH, viewers and 18-49. Though ABC could nip CBS in 18-49. Question is if NBC can move from 4th to 3rd thanks to NFL?

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of September 21-27)

  • Brothers (Fox) 2 episodes - 1.79 million and 3.64 million for two repeats. Some of the country had NFL until 7:21, so the first repeat was joined in progress and it did 3.3 million after the game, which is terrible.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - The season premiere did an outstanding 8.31 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - The highly promoted series premiere did 9.51 million and an impressive 4.9 18-49 rating. If it can hold that, Fox will be more than pleased.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - Wow the season premiere did 10.11 million and a huge 5.2 18-49 rating. It won't last, but that is a good start!
  • American Dad (Fox) - The season premiere did 7.14 million and a solid but could be better (since the lead-in did excellent) 3.6 18-49 rating.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - New episode did 8.71 million, lower than the season premiere, but did retain the 3.6 A18-49 rating.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 8.03 million for week two and a 3.1 18-49 rating, both down from the premiere. If it falls below 8 million and a 3 18-49 rating, then CBS will be concerned.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.86 million...up from the season premiere.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 13.27 million...also up from the season premiere and built from the lead-in's 18-49 rating from a 4.8 to a 5.3...nicely done. That was a great episode, too. That insect professor was a riot!


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

  • Old Christine (CBS) - New episode did 6.65 million, down from the season premiere. 18-49 rating of a 1.9 needs to be better and also down from the premiere.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - Like the lead-in, 6.65 million, not as much down from previous week, but built from the lead-in a bit in 18-49 to a 2.2 rating.
  • Hank (ABC) - The series premiere was sampled...did a decent 8.34 million but the 2.2 18-49 rating could be better.
  • The Middle (ABC) -8.71 million for the premiere was solid but thanks to the lead-in the 18-49 rating was a disappointing 2.6 rating. If it can hold that, then that is fine. Funny show!
  • Modern Family (ABC) - Episode two did 9.99 million and a nice 3.8 18-49 rating. Looks like a solid hit that skews young!
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - Episode two for this great sitcom did 9.25 million and also a 3.8 18-49 rating. If both of these can do a 3.6 or more every week, then ABC is in business and has a good comedy foundation.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - This show did terrible doing only 4.67 million and just a 2.0 A18-49 rating...sorry Amy Poehler, but you did go up from previous week a bit!
  • The Office (NBC) - Building on the lead-in, the series did 7.41 million, but its strength is 18-49 and it did a 3.9 rating.
  • Community (NBC) - A new episode did 5.86 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating ... both up some from previous week. Wonder if it can retain that when it moves to 8pm soon?

Friday Sitcoms

  • Brothers (Fox) - Worse than the premiere! Prelim ratings show a terrible 2.42 million.
  • 'Til Death (Fox) - The season premiere did only a prelim 2.29 million!

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes 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, & The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Hank, Gary Unmarried) or just plain old terrible (such as 'Til Death, Brothers).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, October 10

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Final" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Vee leaves Transylvania for boarding school to chase her musical dreams. As she keeps her vampire identity a secret, unexpected obstacles threaten to return her to the shadows.

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Holiday" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vee leaves Transylvania for boarding school to chase her musical dreams. As she keeps her vampire identity a secret, unexpected obstacles threaten to return her to the shadows.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Friday, October 10

  • Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) and Aziz Ansari (Master of None/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Seth and Aziz on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - Rose appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also chats about If I Had Legs I’d Kick You with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Bill Bellamy (Mr. Box Office/Men, Women & Dogs/Cousin Skeeter) - Bill is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael discusses his new book Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Kenzi Richardson (Vampirina: Teenage Vampire) - Kenzi talks about Vampirina: Teenage Vampire on ABC's The View at 11am ET/10am CT-PT and on GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris sits down for a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE to chat about the Season 2 premiere of Watson on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya stops by the studio to discuss Loot on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Greta Lee (HouseBroken/Russian Doll) - Greta talks about Disney's Tron: Ares on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Dermot Mulroney (The Righteous Gemstones/Four Weddings and a Funeral) - Dermot is a guest on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris and Rebecca Ferguson talk about A House of Dynamite on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Aubrey talks about her new book Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl stops by to chat with Sherri about the new season of Abbott Elementary on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - TV legend Henry shares details about his 40th book, Detective Duck: The Mystery at Emerald Pond, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Teri Hatcher (The Odd Couple/Sunday Dinner/Karen's Song/The Love Boat) - Teri and her daughter Emerson Tenney talk about the Desperately Devoted podcast on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Jeremy Piven (Entourage/Ellen/Pride & Joy/The Larry Sanders Show) - Jeremy is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/09 - Rachel Sennott's I Love LA Comedy Series Trailer; Kaley Cuoco Heads to MGM+
10/08 - Prime Video's Kevin Details; Trailer for Crutch with Tracy Morgan
10/07 - The CW's TV We Love Docuseries; Happy's Place Season 2 Trailer
10/06 - Dancing with the Stars Surging in Viewership, Especially Among Younger Viewers; Remembering Kimberly Hébert Gregory of Vice Principals
10/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 6, 2025)
10/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels The Great North; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Set to Reunite for 30 Year Anniversary
10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
09/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Paper to Get Linear Run on NBC; Saturday Night Live Announces New Hosts
09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire