Sunday, December 20, 2009

Week 13 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 13 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):

Households: 1. CBS 8.8/14.5 (rating/share); 2. NBC 3.9/6.5; 3. Fox 3.7/5.9; 4. ABC 3.0/4.9; 5. The CW 1.0/1.5
Total Viewers: 1. CBS 14.29 million; 2. NBC 6.41 million; 3. Fox 5.89 million; 4. ABC 4.51 million; 5. The CW 1.49 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. CBS 3.7/10.4 (rating/share); 2. NBC 2.2/6.4; 3. Fox 2.0/5.7; 4. ABC 1.4/3.9; 5. The CW 0.6/1.8

Week 13 (Dec. 14-20) Analysis: For week 13, CBS was all new with regular airings of their series, thus they dominated against repeats and December filler programming. In a slow week for everyone but CBS, obviously CBS is first in all categories, NBC is in second in everything, while Fox third and ABC has to settle for fourth. Last week, week 12, CBS beat second place NBC in HH/viewers for a first place finish once again, while NBC prevailed in 18-49 barely. CBS was close behind for second in 18-49. ABC was third in HH/viewers, but fourth in 18-49, while Fox was the opposite of that (fourth in HH/viewers and third in 18-49).
On Monday it was CBS in total control with all-new episodes, as House was a repeat for Fox. CBS started with all-new episodes of its comedies and a new CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with doing 9.64 million, up sharply from previous week, while a new Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 8.82 million, also up from previous week with lesser competition. Two and a Half Men followed with a new showing doing 16.37 million, up nearly two million from previous week, and The Big Bang Theory followed with a new airing of its own doing 15.58 million, up from previous week and a series high in viewers. A series high of 5.6 18-49 rating is excellent and retained that from previous week. It skewed older this week as the viewers went up a lot, but 18-49 rating stayed the same. A new CSI: Miami did 14.18 million, also up a lot from previous week with no competition. Fox had repeats of House and Lie to Me doing 6.72 and 6.64 million, decent for repeats. ABC didn't do much with the new special Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas doing just 5.6 million, down two million from previous week's timeslot holder. An all-new Find My Family did 5.44 million, up a bit from previous week but needs to do better. A repeat of Castle followed with 4.3 million. NBC started off with the new reality holiday filler Sing Off instead of the usual Heroes and Trauma doing 6.89 million for two-hours better than what those dramas usually, and an OK 2.3 A18-49 rating. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 4.75 million, but up a tad from previous week. The CW preempted One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl for a Vampire Diaries stunt that aired all week. Monday encores did 1.57 and 1.42 million, not bad.
On Tuesday, CBS dominated with everyone else in hibernation. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 20.69 million. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a new showing of its own doing 17.5 million. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife doing a solid 14.17 million. NBC was next airing another two-hours of the holiday filler Sing Off doing a decent 6.86 million and a better 2.6 18-49 rating, but still it is no The Biggest Loser which returns Jan. 5. Then The Jay Leno Show tanked as usual to only 5.2 million. ABC was on the map at 8pm with the all-time classic A Charlie Brown Christmas and Charlie Brown Christmas Tales doing 6.5 million for the entire hour. Then it was an all-new episode of Scrubs [Med School] doing 4.22 million only and a 1.8 18-49 rating, both down from previous week. A new showing of Better off Ted did only 3.18 million, worse than previous week's premiere. At 10pm, the forgotten was a repeat and did only 3.34 million and just a 1.0 18-49 rating, both down from previous week's repeat. Fox aired So You Think You Can Dance and 6.34 million, up a tad from previous week, then the special Gordon Ramsay Cookalong Live bombed to only 3.99 million. The CW preempted 90210 and Melrose Place for Vampire Diaries repeats that did 1.23 million and 1.21 million, almost better than what a new Melrose Place would do.
Wednesday it was CBS on top again with all-new episodes. CBS started with all-new episodes of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried doing 7.64 and 7.76 million, both up week-to-week. Next CBS aired an all-new Criminal Minds doing a rock solid 14.68 million, up some from previous week. CSI: NY was also all-new and did 13.55 million, also up from previous week. The season finale of So You Think You Can Dance on Fox mustered only 7.09 million...the show needs to stay in summer only. ABC comedies were repeats, a repeat of the holiday special Prep & Landing did a decent 6.54 million. The Middle was a repeat and did 5.27 million. Modern Family was also a repeat and did 5.1 million, as that was like the fourth time that bicycle episode aired. Cougar Town was also a repeat and did only 4.48 million. The comedies will be all-new again on Jan. 6, with guest stars galore! Eastwick was all-new and very good in quality but only did 3.66 million. NBC aired night three of Sing Off doing 6.51 million, lower than the usual Mercy and Law & Order: SVU would do. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at just 5.49 million, but up a million week-to-week. The CW aired more repeats of Vampire Diaries doing 1.3 and 1.39 million.
Thursday it was CBS on top again with all-new episodes. CBS opened with Survivor: Samoa at a solid 12.46 million and a 3.9 A18-49 rating, but both down week-to-week as the season finale airs tonight on a special night. A new CSI followed with a solid 15.58 million, but also down from previous week. At 10pm The Mentalist was new and did a similar 15.77 million, and also down from previous week. ABC was all in repeats, as two Grey's Anatomy repeats did only 3.79 and 4.0 million. Private Practice followed with a repeat of its own doing only 3.07 million. Needless to say, these don't repeat well. They return with new showings Jan. 14. Fox was in repeats as well with Bones doing a below normal 6.15 million for a repeat and a Fringe repeat only did 3.12 million. NBC preempted Community, Parks & Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock for the all-new holiday special SNL: A Gilly Christmas that did a decent 7.79 million, better than what the sitcoms average. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only 5.21 million, but up a tad week-to-week. The CW aired two more repeats of Vampire Diaries doing 1.89 and 1.9 million, as Supernatural was preempted.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but NBC won Friday with a repeat of Law & Order and Dateline, but ABC and CBS tied for the 18-49 crown. ABC won 9 & 10pm with 20/20, and CBS did decent in the 8pm hour with Frosty the Snowman and the follow-up special.
Saturday numbers were very quiet and low, as Fox won with its usual line-up on a very slow night filled with holiday movies and repeats.
Tonight ABC has a repeat of AFV as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters are preempted for the network television premiere of The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. NBC has an NFL game tonight so they will still win the night though but Vikings/Panthers won't be a big game for them. CBS has the Survivor Samoa finale from 8-11pm. Fox has a NFL overrun and repeats of its animated comedies from 8-10. Look for CBS to easily win the week as they should since they aired new episodes of regular programming. NBC will take second for the week, especially since they have NFL tonight. Fox and ABC will battle for third, with Fox likely hanging on in HH/viewers, but Fox will clearly win third in 18-49. As for this coming week, look for a lot of repeats and holiday specials as Christmas is on Friday!

Week 13 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 12 -- Dec. 7-13)

  • Brothers (Fox) - Some of the country got the 7pm new episode that did only 1.46 million for 16 minutes, while the rest of the country joined in after NFL at 7:16pm and did only 2.08 million. Everyone got the 7:30pm episode on time and it only managed 2.62 million. Terrible!
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - 6.97 million for an all-new episode...not bad, but could be better. No NFL lead-in so not as high.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - 6.53 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. OK, but better than King of the Hill last season.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - 7.66 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating is good, but below normal a bit for this show.
  • American Dad (Fox) - 6.2 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating is decent, but needs to hold the numbers better from its lead-in.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did a solid 9.64 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating. No competition, so this is what I expected, though 18-49 could have been better.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 8.82 million for a new episode is better than normal. A 3.2 18-49 rating is up, but still could be better given the competition and lead-in.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 16.37 million for a new episode, this is what I was expecting the previous week.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A series high of 15.58 million and tied for a series high with a 5.6 18-49 rating, building on the lead-in's 5.2. Very good as usual, but it skewed older it seems than normal as viewers were up from previous week but 18-49 remained exactly the same. Still good!!


Tuesday Sitcoms

  • Scrubs (ABC) - An all-new episode of the [Med School] edition did 4.22 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, both down from previous week. Whenever this show airs this season, it will be new. So watch!
  • Better off Ted (ABC) - Only 3.18 million, even lower than the previous week's season premiere. As mentioned above, whenever this show airs this season it will be new. Even the next two Tuesdays in December...watch it, nothing else is on!

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did a decent 7.64 million and an OK 2.3 18-49 rating, both seem to be season highs with lesser competition airing.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 7.76 million for a new episode and a 2.5 18-49 rating, built from the lead-in in viewers for the first time in a long time. Season highs.
  • The Middle (ABC) - 5.27 million for a repeat is decent.
  • Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 5.1 million, but this was like the fourth time this episode aired.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - A repeat only mustered 4.48 million. Don't forget ABC Comedy Wednesday returns Jan. 6 with Lisa Kudrow on Cougar Town!

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Community (NBC) - preempted.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - preempted.
  • The Office (NBC) - preempted.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - preempted.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) on Fox are repeats of animated comedies from 8-10pm tonight following NFL action.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Accidentally on Purpose, & Gary Unmarried were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Middle repeat, Old Christine) or just plain old terrible (such as Better off Ted, Brothers Sun from Week 12).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, May 31

Night Court - "Pilot" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Judge Abby Stone follows in the footsteps of her late father Harry Stone as she takes over the night shift of a Manhattan arraignment court; when a public defender is needed, Abby sees potential in former prosecutor Dan Fielding.

Night Court - "The Nighthawks" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abby pushes Dan Fielding to embrace his new role as public defender; Neil gets on board with Abby's quest to improve the courtroom and quickly realizes why trying is for the birds.

Dave - "Looking for Love" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Dave's quest for love reaches a conclusion.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Wednesday, May 31

  • Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso/Shrinking) - Watch Brett on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Christopher Meloni (Happy/Surviving Jack/Misery Loves Company/The Fanelli Boys) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place/Barry) - D'Arcy appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Rob Corddry (The Unicorn/Ballers/Childrens Hospital/The Winner) - Rob will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Hong Chau (A to Z) - Hong appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - E! News has an interview with Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - Rose chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Jaime Camil (Schmigadoon!/Broke) - Jaime appears on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry joins Sherri to discuss hosting the new season of America’s Got Talent on NBC on Sherri, so check your local listings. He will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
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05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
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05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
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05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
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05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix
05/01 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17