Sunday, November 01, 2009

Week 6 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 6 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):

Households: #1. Fox 8.7/13.6; #2. CBS 7.1/11.2; #3. ABC 6.8/10.8; #4. NBC 4.0/6.4; #5. The CW 1.5/2.3
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 14.1 million; #2. CBS 11.21 million; #3. ABC 10.75 million; #4. NBC 6.49 million; #5. The CW 2.37 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.6/12.2; #2. ABC 3.0/7.9; #3. CBS 2.8/7.2; #4. NBC 2.4/6.2; #5. The CW 1.1/2.9

Week 6 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1) Analysis: For week 6 we have Fox on top through the first four days in all categories thanks to the World Series. And it will remain that way after tonight when the week is over, too, with NFL overrun and more World Series action. Through the first four days in week 6 Fox has the lead everywhere, with CBS and ABC battling it out for second, right now CBS is second in HH/viewers, while ABC is second in 18-49. NBC is back in fourth everywhere as usual and there is no NFL coming to save the week tonight. Last week, week 5, CBS won the week in HH/viewers, while Fox took 18-49. It was the other way around with Fox second in HH/viewers, and CBS second in 18-49. ABC was third in all categories, though only .1 behind CBS for second in 18-49. NBC was fourth in all categories, but only .1 behind ABC for third in 18-49 (say thank you NFL!).
On Monday it was all ABC, as CBS was in repeats and Fox had no House. A two-hour Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 17.38 million for ABC, up from the previous week. An all-new Castle followed with a solid 9.99 million, and up again from the previous week in 18-49! This is the most consistent show on network TV. Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother repeat started it off with 6.94 million, OK for a repeat for a CBS Monday comedy and Accidentally on Purpose followed with its first repeat ever doing 5.89 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, not good. Two and a Half Men followed and was also a repeat doing 11.41 million which is good for a repeat, and The Big Bang Theory followed with a repeat and did a nice 10.85 million, when it was airing at 8pm...this would be GREAT for an all-new episode. Shows how much the show has grown at 9:30. The show also did a 3.8 18-49 rating for a repeat, excellent. A repeat episode of CSI: Miami did 11.52 million, not bad at all. Fox didn't have House but it had a special Top 20 special of So You Think You Can Dance which only attracted 5.85 million. A new episode of Lie to Me followed and did 6.33 million, a season low. NBC was next with Heroes doing 5.72 million, exactly the same from the previous week. A new episode of Trauma followed and did only 5.77 million and only a 1.9 A18-49 rating, but both up some from the previous week though. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 4.7 million, down a bit from previous week. The CW on Mondays has been a struggle so far, with One Tree Hill doing only 2.67 million and Gossip Girl at an even worse 2.31 million...but both up some week-to-week.
On Tuesday, CBS was in control as usual, but they were repeats so ABC was much closer. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 16.7 million for a repeat, don't know how. A repeat episode of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 11.09 million, not bad at all, but could be better with that huge lead-in. And finally CBS aired a repeat of The Good Wife and did 9.34 million, better retention than the lead-in did with its lead-in. ABC was second with the annual showing of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown/You're Elected, Charlie Brown doing 8.8 million. Then it was Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 15.2 million, up some week-to-week as we said goodbye to Louie Vitto and Melissa Joan Hart. ABC followed with a new episode of the forgotten doing 8.26 million, up nearly a million week-to-week. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser 2-hour show doing 9.67 million, down a tad from previous week, followed by the The Jay Leno Show at 6.06 million, which was up some from previous week. Fox aired So You Think You Can Dance for two-hours and did only 6.47 million. The CW was next with repeats...as 90210 did 1.26 million, followed by a repeat of dud Melrose Place at an even worse 770,000 viewers. I know it was a repeat, but still...
Wednesday it was Fox on top by a big margin thanks to the World Series. Fox did 19.51 million for the entire game, and 19.66 million in primetime for it. Excellent game one numbers. CBS started slow with Old Christine repeat doing 6.24 million, which was not too far from original levels, followed by Gary Unmarried repeat at 5.89 million. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was a repeat and did 9.89 million which seems below normal, with CSI: NY repeat doing 9.46 million, repeats were affected by World Series, I guess. ABC started the 8pm hour with an edited version of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, as Hank was preempted. Brown did 6.0 million an a 2.0 18-49 rating, better than the previous week's Hank that did 5.78 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. The Middle did was up slightly week-to-week in 18-40 going from a 2.0 to 2.2 18-49 rating, and an average 6.49 million. New episodes of the hilarious sitcoms Modern Family and Cougar Town both did well again with 9.33 and 7.54 million, both up some from previous week. The A18-49 ratings for both were more telling doing 3.7 and 3.2. At 10pm Eastwick did 5.02 million, up though from previous week, which was a series low. Lindsay Price again was good. NBC opened the night with a new animated special instead of Mercy as Monsters vs. Aliens did 6.96 million and a repeat followed with only 5.54 million, Mercy does better overall but this hour was slightly improved in 18-49 this week. Law & Order: SVU followed and did 8.24 million, down a million or so from previous week. Looks like World Series affected it. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at just 5.03 million, down some week-to-week. Fox will return So You Think You Can Dance and Glee after the World Series is over. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at 3.51 million, up from previous week and a repeat of Vampire Diaries followed with 1.3 million, which is better than the dud Melrose Place.
Thursday it was Fox on top with World Series action, but CBS and ABC were competitive on this first night of November 2009 sweep. The World Series Game #2 did 18.9 million overall and 18.95 million in primetime. Excellent, as the Yankees evened the series at 1. ABC opened the night with FLASHFORWARD doing 8.92 million down nearly a million from previous week as the World Series might have affected it. Dominc Monaghan was great and mysterious. A new Grey's Anatomy followed with 13.74 million and a great 5.2 A18-49 rating, both down from previous week due to World Series. Give Dempsey the Emmy for that episode! And a new episode of Private Practice did a solid 9.16 million and a first place at 10pm 3.6 A18-49 rating, both down some week-to-week. CBS opened with Survivor: Samoa at 12.19 million and a 3.7 A18-49 rating, both down some from previous week. A new episode of CSI followed with 15.24 million, while The Mentalist was also new and did a better 15.53 million. Fox will return Bones and Fringe after the World Series is over with. NBC was next with Community at 8pm doing 5.32 million up some from previous week, followed by sitcom dud Parks & Recreation at only 4.8 million, down some week-to-week. At 9pm, The Office did 8.21 million and a solid 4.2 18-49 rating, both down a bit week-to-week. A new episode of 30 Rock did 6.1 million, down some from the previous week. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only 4.41 million, down again week-to-week. The CW's only consistent player so far is Vampire Diaries and did a great 4.18 million, followed by a new Supernatural at 2.92 million, while that is good, it could be better considering the lead-in.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with their dramas as usual. NBC was good with Dateline at 9 and 20/20 was solid at 10pm for ABC.
Saturday numbers had Fox win with World Series game 3 coverage, despite a 80 minute rain delay. The Yankees took a 2 game to 1 lead. ABC was next with College Football, while NBC was dead last with the Notre Dame game.
Tonight the full ABC Sunday line-up is airing (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters), look for solid numbers as usual despite the World Series. NBC doesn't have NFL tonight, so look for it to be dead last tonight by a wide margin. CBS has its usual players, but Three Rivers will be slaughtered again, as the cancelation click is ticking...why is it on for Sweeps? Fox has NFL overrun leading into Game 4 of the MLB World Series, so expect Fox to win the night in everything quite easily.
As for week 6, Fox will win in everything thanks to World Series. Look for CBS in second in HH/viewers and ABC second in 18-49. CBS will likely be third in 18-49, with ABC third in HH/viewers. NBC will be fourth in all categories and badly due to no NFL. Look for the premiere of V this Tuesday at 8 on ABC! Syfy is airing the original mini-series today, followed by V: The Final Battle, and all day Monday and Tuesday will be episodes from the '80s V series. Cool!

Week 6 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 5-- October 19-25)

  • Brothers (Fox) - preempted for NFL/MLB ALCS.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted for MLB ALCS.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted for MLB ALCS.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - preempted for MLB ALCS.
  • American Dad (Fox) - preempted for MLB ALCS.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 6.94 million, not too bad for a repeat.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 5.89 million for a repeat, not too good...
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.41 million for a repeat, and still easily the best overall for sitcoms.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 10.85 million for a repeat. Last season everyone would have been ecstatic for it to get that in new episodes!


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - Repeat did 6.24 million, that is pretty close to original levels from the previous week.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - Repeat did 5.89 million...could be better.
  • Hank (ABC) - preempted. Look for the Thanksgiving episode this week, possibly its last airing?
  • The Middle (ABC) - 6.49 million and a 2.2 18-49. Brick and Sue are such great characters!
  • Modern Family (ABC) - Another hilarious episode did 9.33 million and a nice 3.7 18-49 rating, both up week-to-week.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 7.54 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, both also up from previous week.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Community (NBC) - New episode did 5.32 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Both up week-to-week a bit.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - This show did terrible doing only 4.8 million and just a 2.0 A18-49 rating, both down some from previous week.
  • The Office (NBC) - 8.21 million for a new episode, down from the previous week. In 18-49 it did a 4.2 rating, also down some.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode did 6.1 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating. Down week-to-week.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - Fox aired a quick repeat during the rain delay of the World Series at about 8:40pm ET. Prelim numbers show 7.44 million.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no sitcoms, as Fox's animated comedies are preempted for NFL/World Series action.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Office, & Cougar Town were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Middle, 30 Rock) or just plain old terrible (such as Accidentally on Purpose, Parks & Recreation).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 29

St. Denis Medical - "This Place Is Our Everything" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A storm causes chaos in the Emergency Department; Alex is torn between an obligation to her husband and her co-workers' needs; Joyce goes on a spending spree with found money.

Night Court - "Blood Moonstruck" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On the night of the blood moon, Abby and Gurgs help Julianne with a surprising romantic prospect; Wyatt finds himself in hot water when he fills in as Dan's replacement.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Adjust Your Crown, Sis" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Ella sponsors the membership of the new wife of a longtime dea-con into her social club, Incomparable Crowns, she begins to suspect something may be going on behind closed doors in the new marriage.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Ay-Bay-Bay" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Leah wants to try for another baby, but when Jeremy plays hard to get, Leah hatches a plan to seduce him; Mr. Brown has to babysit Kimberly's grandson who appears to be the perfect angel, until he reveals himself to be a mischievous handful.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 28)

Tuesday, April 29

  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Watching Ellie/Seinfeld/Day by Day) - Catch Julia on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Mo Amer (Mo/Ramy) - Mo is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Mary Lynn Rajskub (Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy/How to Be a Gentleman/Veronica's Closet/The Larry Sanders Show) - Mary appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Tina Fey (The Four Seasons/Only Murders in the Building/30 Rock) - Tina stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about The Four Seasons on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Tim Bagley (The Great North/Teachers/Grace and Frankie/Web Therapy/Stril Mall) and Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe) - Tim and Andy are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Paul Feig (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/The Louie Show/The Jackie Thomas Show/Dirty Dancing) - Paul talks about Another Simple Favor on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda talks about the Wanda Sykes: Please & Thank You Tour on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ed Helms (Rutherford Falls/The Office) - Ed talks about SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. He will also be on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Essence Atkins (Poppa's House/Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy/Under One Roof) - Essence joins Tamron Hall for a candid conversation on everything from her recent abstinence journey to her career longevity as a working mom, so check your local listings.
  • Bill Bellamy (Mr. Box Office/Men, Women & Dogs/Cousin Skeeter) - Bill will be on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
  • Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley drops by Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel talks about his CBS game show, Flip Side, and shares stories from his memoir, Growing Up Urkel, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Erika Alexander (Run the World/Living Single/The Cosby Show) and Kim Coles (Living Single/The Geena Davis Show) - Erika and Kim join Sherri to discuss their latest projects, so check your local listings.
  • Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - NBC's Today catches up with Joe in the 9am hour.
  • Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) and Erika Henningsen (The Four Seasons) - Will and Erika talk about The Four Seasons on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!/Friends from College/Playing House/Gary Unmarried) - Keegan-Michael is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry appears on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two

11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season

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


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