Sunday, November 08, 2009

Week 7 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 7 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):

Households: #1. Fox 8.8/13.7; #2. CBS 8.2/13.1; #3. ABC 7.0/11.1; #4. NBC 4.1/6.5; #5. The CW 1.6/2.5
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 14.53 million; #2. CBS 13.13 million; #3. ABC 10.78 million; #4. NBC 6.38 million; #5. The CW 2.46 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.7/12.3; #2. CBS 3.4/9.1; #3. ABC 3.1/8.1; #4. NBC 2.3/6.1; #5. The CW 1.2/3.0

Week 7 (Nov. 2-8) Analysis: For week 7 we have Fox on top through the first four days in all categories thanks to the World Series again as games 5 and 6 did huge. Will Fox hang on for the win in HH/viewers though after Friday through tonight when the week is over? We shall see, but 18-49 is for sure Fox's this week. Through the first four days in week 7 Fox has the lead everywhere, with CBS in second, and ABC a close third. NBC is back in fourth everywhere as usual. Last week, week 6, Fox won the week in all categories with baseball. CBS was second in HH/viewers, nipping ABC. But ABC was second in 18-49, ahead of CBS. NBC was fourth in all categories and without the NFL, this network is even worse than it already is.
On Monday it was Fox on top with Game 5 of the World Series doing 17.09 million overall and 17.19 million in primetime. A two-hour Dancing with the Stars did 16.69 million for ABC, down from the previous week. An all-new Castle followed with a solid 9.43 million, down a tad from the previous week. Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 8.82 million, while Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 8.09 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, decent, but could be better given the lead-in. Two and a Half Men followed doing 13.51 million and The Big Bang Theory followed did a nice 12.73 million. The show also did a 4.7 18-49 rating building on the lead-in's 4.4 rating, excellent. A new episode of CSI: Miami did 12.52 million, could be better as a repeat the previous week only did one million less. Fox didn't have House and Lie to Me this week due to the World Series. NBC was next with Heroes doing 5.85 million, up a tad from the previous week. A new episode of Trauma followed and did only 5.82 million and only a 1.9 A18-49 rating, but both on par really from the previous week though. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 3.92 million, down nearly a million from previous week and one of its lowest showing yet (1.2 18-49 rating only as well). The CW on Mondays has been a struggle so far, with One Tree Hill doing only 2.32 million and Gossip Girl at an even worse 1.98 million...both down week-to-week.
On Tuesday, CBS was in control as usual, but ABC was much improved. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 20.18 million...yet another 20 million+ episode this season. A new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 15.29 million, not bad at all, but could be better with that huge lead-in. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife and did 12.74 million, better retention than the lead-in did with its lead-in. ABC was second for the night but started strong with the series premiere of the well received revival of V doing a gigantic 14.3 million and an even more impressive 5.2 18-49 rating, the best of any new premiere this fall! And the highest 8pm scripted drama premiere in 18-49 since 2004 when Lost premiered! Then it was Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 15.05 million, on par really week-to-week as we said goodbye to Michael Irvin and Mark Dacascos. ABC followed with a new episode of the forgotten doing 7.27 million, down nearly a million week-to-week. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser 2-hour show doing 9.11 million, down some from previous week, followed by the The Jay Leno Show at 5.96 million, which was down some from previous week. Fox aired So You Think You Can Dance for two-hours and did only 6.12 million, down some from previous week. The CW was next with a new 90210 doing only 1.92 million, followed by a new episode of dud Melrose Place at an even worse 1.48 million. Heather Locklear where are you?
Wednesday it was Fox on top by a big margin thanks to Game 6 of the World Series. Fox did 22.34 million for the entire game, and 22.66 million in primetime for it. Excellent showing and up nearly 3 million from game one the previous week. Congrats to the Yanks winning their 27th title! CBS started slow with Old Christine doing 6.68 million, followed by Gary Unmarried at 6.29 million. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next and did 12.55 million, while CSI: NY did 12.0 million, both affected by World Series a bit. ABC started the 8pm hour with Hank doing just 5.09 million an a 1.3 18-49 rating, a series low, as Charlie Brown did way better the previous week. The Middle was next and was down week-to-week in 18-49 going from a 2.2 to 1.8 18-49 rating, and an average 6.04 million. Hank is to blame! New episodes of the hilarious sitcoms Modern Family and Cougar Town both did well again with 8.77 and 6.87 million, both down some from previous week though but affected by the World Series, I'm sure. The A18-49 ratings for both were more telling doing 3.5 and 2.8. At 10pm Eastwick did 4.44 million, down from previous week. People need to watch this show...but it won't be o again until Nov. 25 due to specials the next few weeks. NBC opened the night with Mercy doing 6.63 million, as it usually does a bit better overall but the 18-49 this week was a series low of 1.7. Law & Order: SVU followed and did 7.95 million, down from previous week and a season low of 2.4 in 18-49. Looks like World Series affected it again. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at just 4.81 million, down again week-to-week. Fox will return So You Think You Can Dance and Glee this week. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at 3.87 million, up from previous week and a repeat of Vampire Diaries followed with 1.35 million, which was also up a tad week-to-week.
Thursday it was CBS and ABC battling. ABC opened the night with FLASHFORWARD doing 8.57 million down some from previous week. What a shocking game changing ending that was! A new Grey's Anatomy followed with 13.95 million and a great 5.1 A18-49 rating. And a new episode of Private Practice did a solid 9.11 million and a 3.4 A18-49 rating, both down some week-to-week. CBS opened with Survivor: Samoa at 12.44 million and a 3.7 A18-49 rating, up some from previous week in viewers. A new episode of CSI followed with 15.6 million, also up some from previous week while The Mentalist was also new and did a better 16.21 million, up from previous week. Fox returned Bones and did a solid 8.66 million, but Fringe was lost in the shuffle with series lows of 4.86 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, ouch. NBC was next with Community at 8pm doing 5.45 million up some from previous week again, followed by sitcom dud Parks & Recreation at only 4.91 million, up some week-to-week. At 9pm, The Office did 8.09 million and a solid 4.1 18-49 rating, but both down a bit week-to-week. A new episode of 30 Rock did 6.15 million, up ever so slightly from the previous week. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only 4.83 million, but actually up some week-to-week. The CW's only consistent player so far is Vampire Diaries and did a great 4.09 million, down a tad week-to-week, followed by a new Supernatural at 2.64 million, down from previous week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with their dramas as usual. NBC was good with Law & Order at 8 & 9pm but it was 20/20 at 10pm for ABC that was the night's winner.
Saturday numbers had Fox's regular line-up and ABC's College Football battle for the win in a close race.
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. NBC has a better than normal NFL game tonight, so look for it to be a bit above normal. CBS has its usual players but with a NFL overrun mixed in, and why is Three Rivers still airing during Sweeps? Fox has a special night of programs starting with a new Brothers, followed by a Seth MacFarlane themed night of American Dad at a special time of 7:30, Family Guy at a special time of 8pm, Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show, another Family Guy at its normal time, and The Cleveland Show at a special time of 9:30pm.
As for week 7, Fox will win in everything thanks to World Series I think...they could hang on overall even. Look for CBS in second in HH/viewers but ABC could take second in 18-49. ABC will be third in HH/viewers. NBC will be fourth in all categories even with the NFL game tonight. Check out V episode 2 this Tuesday at 8 on ABC! It is so cool!

Week 7 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 6-- October 26-Nov. 1)

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

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new showing did 8.82 million, decent, 18-49 rating of 3.5 is better.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 8.09 million for a new episode...could be better but also could be worse. 3.1 18-49 rating is decent.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.51 million for a new episode. Just another day at the job.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 12.73 million is excellent! 4.7 18-49 rating was a nice build from the 4.4 the lead-in had. Come to think of it, I still need to see this episode.


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - New episode did 6.68 million...OK, but could be worse.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - New episode did 6.29 million...could be better, and seems lower than usual.
  • Hank (ABC) - The Thanksgiving episode did only 5.09 million and an even worse 1.3 18-49 rating. It needs to be pulled ASAP. It was scheduled to be preempted this week anyway for the CMA's.
  • The Middle (ABC) - 6.04 million and a 1.8 18-49. Below normal numbers thanks to Hank. But yet another solid episode!
  • Modern Family (ABC) - Another hilarious episode did 8.77 million and a nice 3.5 18-49 rating, both down some week-to-week though due to World Series Game 6.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 6.87 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both also down from previous week.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Community (NBC) - New episode did 5.45 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. Both up week-to-week a bit again...hmm good sign but a ways to go.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - This show did terrible doing only 4.91 million and just a 2.2 A18-49 rating, but both up some from previous week.
  • The Office (NBC) - 8.09 million for a new episode, down from the previous week. In 18-49 it did a 4.1 rating, down a tick.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode did 6.15 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. Down week-to-week in 18-49 by a tick but up in viewership by a bit.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's comedies from 7-10pm tonight, all-new.

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


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 23

Abbott Elementary - "Class Pet" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Janine gets a budget for class pets, but Melissa is resistant to taking on the added work and responsibility for her room’s guinea pig. An IT rep from the school district arrives to set up new computers.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Bullies" (Comedy Central, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Chris gets a gig DJ-ing at a drag ball and develops drag queen eyes.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Career Tests" (Comedy Central, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Chris and Greg tape over a porno rented from Caruso and must replace it.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 21)

Wednesday, October 23

  • Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Watch Billy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Bernadette Peters (High Desert/Mozart in the Jungle/All's Fair) - Bernadette is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - NBC's Today catches up with Olivia some time between 7-9am.
  • Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) - Bridget talks about Somebody Somewhere on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) - David discusses Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings. One or two Wizards Beyond Waverly Place cast members will be on New York Living at 10:05am.
  • Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - Judith talks about Before on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Mariska talks about the greatest thing sheĆ¢€™s learned since turning 60 on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Dexter Darden (Saved by the Bell) - Dexter talks about Peacock's Fight Night; The Million Dollar Heist on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, 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 talks about Poppa's House on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Ropers - The Complete Series Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

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

10/22 - Goosebumps: The Vanishing Premieres January 10; Michelle Buteau Gets 2nd Netflix Special
10/21 - Fox Adds Martin Short to Grimsburg; Secret Level Cast Announced by Prime Video
10/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 21, 2024)
10/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Rick and Morty Renewed for Two More Seasons; A Look at Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Crossover
10/18 - Apple TV+ Renews Shrinking for Season 3; Guest Voices for Phineas and Ferb New Season
10/17 - Watson Premieres January 2025 on CBS; Anthony Jeselnik Gets 3rd Netflix Comedy Special
10/16 - Lifetime's It's a Wonderful Lifetime 2024 Schedule; YouTube Sitcom Gets Season 4
10/15 - Tom Papa Is Home Free on Netflix; Apple TV+ Reveals Season 2 Details for Silo
10/14 - ABC Halloween 2024 Schedule; Reba Creates Happy's Place Theme Song
10/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 14, 2024)
10/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Spinoff of The Big Bang Theory in the Works; Velma Canceled by Max
10/11 - Netflix Renews Nobody Wants This; Alicia Silverstone to Lead Acorn TV Series
10/10 - Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls Returns November 21; FETV Acquires Laramie
10/09 - HBO's Seth Meyers Special Debuts October 26; New Late Night Comedy Series Focuses on Crazy Florida
10/08 - Somebody Somewhere Returns for Final Season; Virgin River Season 6 Drops for Holiday Season
10/07 - Vice TV Announces Black Comedy in America Series; Netflix Stars Team Up for Netflix Movie
10/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 7, 2024)
10/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Cancels That '90s Show; Who's the Boss? Reboot Not Moving Forward at Freevee
10/04 - Family Guy Halloween Special: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater; What We Do in the Shadows Returns for Final Season
10/03 - Jack Whitehall Holiday Comedy Special; Leighton Meester Joins Apple TV+ Series
10/02 - The Franchise Launches Sunday on HBO; Remembering John Amos of Good Times
10/01 - No Good Deed Premieres in December on Netflix; SNL Season 50 Opens Strong
09/30 - TV One Acquires black-ish; Whitney Cummings to Host Friends Game Show Event
09/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 30, 2024)
09/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Kathy Bates Matlock Premiere Brings Solid Ratings; Whitney Cummings to Host Friends-themed Game Show
09/27 - Apple TV+ Shrinking Season 2; FETV Highway Patrol 10-4 Day Marathon
09/26 - Max's Velma Halloween Special; Apple TV+ Peanuts Holiday Specials This Holiday Season
09/25 - AXS TV Acquires Nashville; MGM+ Rebooting Robin Hood
09/24 - Trailer and Guest Voices for Everybody Still Hates Chris; The Lincoln Lawyer Returns October 17 on Netflix
09/23 - Laff Fall 2024 Schedule with The Conners and Bob ♥ Abishola; CBS' Comfy Blue Sofa Tour
09/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 23, 2024)