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TCA Winter 2010 Press Tour: NBC; Week 16 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

It's day two of the TCA Winter 2010 Press Tour and the infamous NBC is up today! First up was a session on the Winter Olympics at 9am PT. Next, the NBC Executive Session was held at 10am PT and that was probably the biggest executive session of TCA this winter because of this Leno-Conan fiasco. So what happened? Angela Bromstad and Jeff Gaspin confirmed that The Jay Leno Show will end starting Friday, Feb. 12 (so its last airing looks to be Feb. 11). So it is now official. However, nothing about late night was announced but she mentioned that they want to keep Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon. I guess Carson Daly is the odd man out? But he will remain in some form with NBC (like the New Year's Eve Show). The proposed schedule would have Leno at 11:35, Conan at 12:05 and Fallon at 1:05. But it all depends on if Conan agrees to this and so far nothing has been settled. So stay tuned I guess. In other NBC TCA updates from this session, they are planning a Law & Order: Los Angeles for development but nothing formal on that yet. They have picked up more episodes of the original Law & Order for this season, bringing the episode count up to about 20 episodes (up from original order of 16). She also mentioned that a 21st season is not official yet (but I think they'll bring it back next season). As for mid-season stuff, The Marriage Ref, a new reality series from Jerry Seinfeld, will premiere after the Winter Olympics Closing Cermonies on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 10:30pm as a half-hour sneak peek before settling into its Sundays at 8pm slot starting March 14, as previously announced. NBC also plans on airing new multicamera sitcom 100 Questions this season, but still no date and time has been announced. They also cut the miniseries Day One from a four-hour event to a two-hour movie now and they plan on airing it as a backdoor pilot sometime later this season. I guess if it does well, they will order it as a series. Medical drama Trauma will return after the Winter Olympics, but no date and time has been announced. As for struggling drama Heroes, no decision will be made until May during upfronts, but she said it has a chance of coming back for a fifth season. NBC will have their upfront on Monday, May 17, so they will have not that weird infront anymore. Thank god! And finally for the Canadian import Persons Unknown, will end up airing in the summer now. NBC has an option to air Friday Night Lights starting March 1, but probably won't until the summer. Also, Law & Order: Criminal Intent will be once again repurposed on NBC after the episodes air on sister network USA Network. No schedule has been announced yet on what NBC will do at 10pm starting in March, since Leno will be gone from primetime. 2 nights will be scripted, another night will have reality, and then the rest will be Dateline. So stay tuned for that.

In other announcements, Howie Mandel will replace David Hasselhoff as one of the judges on America's Got Talent joining Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan along with host Nick Cannon.
NBC will empower communities to renovate their aging and broken public schools - while inspiring students, parents, and teachers to rediscover a sense of pride that will positively impact their lives and futures - in the proactive alternative project School Pride, a new two-hour special for fall 2010.
NBC also unveiled some of its early development projects that have been green-lit for 2010-11, including a large slate of dramas such as Prime Suspect (from Hank Steinberg, Without A Trace), an updated version of the classic The Rockford Files (from David Shore, House), Undercovers (from J.J. Abrams, Lost), Chase (from Jerry Bruckheimer, CSI franchise), Kindreds (from David E. Kelley, Boston Legal) and The Event; Comedies include the untitled Adam Corolla project. These are just pilot orders and does not mean they will make it on the schedule yet. We won't know that until upfront.

After an hour break, there was a session for NBC News at 11:45am PT. Then sessions for shows from Syfy, Oxygen, and Bravo are next in the afternoon. NBC will have panels starting at 4pm PT today with midseason drama Parenthood up first, followed by sophomore sitcom Parks and Recreation at 4:45pm PT, and upcoming reality series The Marriage Ref at 5:15pm PT.


And now back to our regular weekly ratings report...

Week 16 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals:

Households: 1. CBS 7.4/11.7 (rating/share); 2. ABC 7.2/11.3; 3. Fox 5.3/8.2; 4. NBC 4.2/6.6; 5. The CW 0.7/1.0
Total Viewers: 1. ABC 12.14 million; 2. CBS 11.84 million; 3. Fox 8.59 million; 4. NBC 6.63 million; 5. The CW 1.02 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. ABC 4.2/11.0 (rating/share); 2. CBS 2.9/7.7; 3. Fox 2.8/7.6; 4. NBC 2.4/6.2; 5. The CW 0.4/1.0

Week 16 (Jan. 4-10) Analysis: For week 16, big sporting events has ruled and some good returns for network regular shows. BCS National Championship on ABC did big. So far through the first four days of the week in final ratings, ABC has a slim lead for first in total viewers, and CBS edging ABC by just a bit in HH. ABC is the clear cut leader in 18-49 right now thanks to the BCS National Championship. CBS follows in second, with Fox in third in every category, and NBC fourth in every category as usual until NFL saves it. Last week, week 15, CBS beat second place Fox in HH/viewers for a first place finish once again, while Fox prevailed in 18-49 over ABC. CBS was tied with NBC for third in 18-49. ABC was third in HH/viewers, while NBC was fourth.
On Monday it was Fox in the lead with the Fiesta Bowl doing 13.82 million as Fox averaged 13.13 in primetime, regular House was preempted. CBS was next with repeats of its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother repeat started it off with doing 6.87 million, up a million from previous week, while a repeat of Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 6.61 million, also up a million or so from previous week. Two and a Half Men followed with a repeat showing doing 11.95 million, up almost a million from previous week, and The Big Bang Theory followed with a repeat of its own doing 10.87 million, also up nearly a million from previous week. The 3.5 18-49 rating is excellent for a repeat. A repeat of CSI: Miami did 10.01 million, not bad. ABC got good mileage out of the season premiere of The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love doing a solid 9.54 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating for the two-hours. A special called Conveyor Belt of Love followed and did decent doing 6.34 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, this would do decent in summer I think. New episodes of Castle return tomorrow as ALYSSA MILANO guest stars!! NBC started off with a two-hour episode of Heroes doing only 4.92 million and a 2.2 A18-49 rating. It moves to 9pm tomorrow following Chuck. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 4.76 million, but what else is new? The CW aired repeats of One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl for doing 1.21 million and 720,000 viewers, terrible.
On Tuesday, CBS dominated with its dramas. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 21.37 million, second best ratings ever. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a new showing of its own doing 18.07 million, up from usual. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife doing a solid 13.98 million. Fox was next with coverage of the Orange Bowl doing 10.88 million and 10.23 million in primetime. NBC was next the two-hour premiere of The Biggest Loser doing a solid 11.74 million and an even more impressive 4.6 18-49 rating. It is NBC's saving grace. Then The Jay Leno Show tanked as usual to 6.3 million, but its best night by far. ABC started off with a new Scrubs [Med School] doing 3.81 million only and a 1.5 18-49 rating, followed by a new showing of Better off Ted doing only 2.97 million. Two more all-new episodes of each followed doing only 3.05 and 2.6 million, ouch. At 10pm, the forgotten was new and did only 4.38 million and just a 1.2 18-49 rating, but at least it built back up from the lead-in. The CW aired repeats of 90210 and Melrose Place doing only 900,000 and 770,000 viewers...worse than Monday even overall.
Wednesday it was CBS on top again but not by much. CBS started with a second special of I Get That A Lot doing a solid 8.31 million and a 2.9 18-49 ratin, but down from the first special last April. Because of this airing, Old Christine and Gary Unmarried were preempted. Next CBS also preempted Criminal Minds and CSI: NY for the 2010 People's Choice Awards doing 10.81 million, a bit better than what it has done in recent years. ABC comedies returned strong in 2010, two all-new episode of The Middle started it off with 7.37 and 8.07 million and a 2.1 and 2.6 18-49 ratings, nice builds. Modern Family was also new and did 10.22 million, best showing since the pilot. 4.1 18-49 rating, too! Cougar Town was also new and did its best showing in two months doing 7.88 million and a solid 3.3 8-49 rating. Watch the comedies this week again instead of you know what. Ugly Betty moved to Comedy Wednesday at 10pm and did an OK 5.02 million...it needs to do better and let's hope it grows in its new night and time. NBC was next with a new episode of Mercy doing 7.1 million, followed by a new Law & Order: SVU doing 10.58 million...its best showing in a long time. I guess it plays second fiddle to Criminal Minds on CBS. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at 5.11 million. The CW aired more repeats as more One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl did only 810,000 and 500,000 viewers. Ouch.
Thursday it was ABC on top by a wide margin thanks to the BCS National Championship Game doing an impressive 30.78 million and 29.23 million in primetime. A 10.5 18-49 rating for the game is mammoth style. CBS opened with a repeat of CSI at a solid 9.25 million, the regular timeslot of CSI followed with a solid 10.33 million for a repeat. At 10pm The Mentalist was also a repeat and did 11.01 million. ABC will return Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice this Thursday with a crossover event. Fox was in repeats as well with Bones doing a below normal 5.98 million for a repeat and a Fringe repeat only did 3.05 million. NBC had repeats of its comedies as well with Community, doing the best of the bunch at 4.49 million, Parks & Recreation, was next and did only 3.18 million, The Office followed with only 3.92 million and 30 Rock did 3.75 million. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only4.59 million, its worst Thursday episode ever. The CW aired more repeats as Vampire Diaries did 1.74 million and Supernatural did 1.54 million...their best night by far of the week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday with their dramas. ABC won 10pm in 18-49 with 20/20, and NBC did decent with a two-hour Dateline from 8-10pm.
Saturday numbers saw NBC dominate with coverage of the NFL Wild Card game doing about 28 million in prelim numbers. Fox was a distant second with its regular shows, as CBS and ABC were well back.
Tonight ABC has its guns of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters, which all came off big numbers last Sunday. NBC has no NFL and will premiere Chuck from 9-11, which will probably not do well. CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7 and Cold Case at 9 and repeats filling the rest of the night. Fox has a NFL Wild Card overrun and 450th episode of The Simpsons at 8, followed by a 20th Anniversary special from 8:30-9:30pm. Look for a close finish for 1st place this week as sporting events are changing the numbers everyday. I think CBS will prevail in HH/viewers and ABC in 18-49. NBC will likely be second in 18-49, unless Fox has a huge overrun tonight. Tough to predict this week even after we have finals for the first four nights. As for this coming week, look for the return of you know what this week...American Idol on Fox.

Week 16 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 15 -- Dec. 28-Jan. 3)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - 8.55 million for an all-new episode following NFL coverage in the east/central for above average numbers. Did even a 4.0 rating in 18-49.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - 6.94 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, a normal showing despite the lead-in being inflated.
• Family Guy (Fox) - 8.16 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating for a new episode...nice builds from the lead-in.
• American Dad (Fox) - 5.9 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating for a new episode is decent, but needs to hold the numbers better from its lead-in than this. Weakest link of Animation Domination.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did a solid 6.87 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. Not bad for a repeat.
• Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 6.61 million for a repeat. A 2.1 18-49 rating as well. Decent retention from lead-in.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.95 million for a repeat...still the best of the week in viewers for sitcoms.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat did 10.87 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, building on the lead-in's 3.3. Very good as usual, especially for a repeat!

Tuesday Sitcoms

• [scrubs] (ABC) 2 episodes - Two all-new episodes of the [med school] edition did 3.81 million and 3.05 million. The second airing seemed hurt by Better off Ted.
• Better off Ted (ABC) 2 episodes - Only 2.97 million and 2.6 million. Ouch. Please watch!

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - preempted.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - preempted.
• The Middle (ABC) 2 episodes - Two all-new episodes did very good. 7.37 and 8.07 million. That is great!
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 10.22 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, building from the lead-in's 2.6 by 1 1/2 points!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episodes with guest star Lisa Kudrow mustered 7.88 million, good showing. But could have been a bit better, but still best showing in 2 months. 3.3 18-49 rating is decent.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - A repeat did 4.49 million, not bad really. But I think people were thinking the comedies were new tonight as the rest of the night dropped...
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - Only 3.18 million for a repeat. My point exactly from above.
• The Office (NBC) - 3.92 million for a repeat. The show returns Jan. 21, while the other comedies return this Thursday.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A repeat did 3.75 million, good retention from the lead-in at least. Two new episodes this week, let's see what it can do.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) on Fox is The Simpsons 450th episode and 20th anniversary special, and an all new The Cleveland Show at a special time tonight following NFL action.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Cougar Town & The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Accidentally on Purpose, How I Met Your Mother) or just plain old terrible (such as Better off Ted, Scrubs).