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 / 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

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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)