Sunday, February 14, 2010

Week 21 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 21 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):
(We don't have the final network averages through Thursday, but we do have final program averages through Thursday in the analysis below)

Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A
Adults 18-49: N/A

Week 21 (Feb. 8-14) Analysis: For week 21, thus far through the first four nights it is a typical week, but the week will drastically change from Fri-Sun when the Winter Olympic ratings are added in. So far through the first four days of the week I can project, CBS and Fox are battling in HH/viewers with CBS having the edge, but Fox has the lead in 18-49 over CBS. ABC is a solid across the board, with NBC fourth in every category as usual (but that will change thanks to the Olympics). Last week, week 20, CBS took home first place in every category obviously thanks to the Super Bowl which did a TV record 106.48 million. Fox was a distant second in all categories. ABC was in third in all categories and NBC of course in fourth.
On Monday it was a three-way race again between CBS, ABC and Fox. CBS started with new episodes of its comedies and ended with a new CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 10.0 million for a new episode up some from previous week, while a new Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 9.1 million, also up from previous week, as it prepares a move to Wednesdays in March. Two and a Half Men followed with a new episode as well doing 17.66 million, up over a million from previous week for a season high, and The Big Bang Theory followed with a new episode of its own doing 16.26 million and it built from the lead-in in 18-49 from a 5.7 to a 6.0, to a series high in all categories. A new CSI: Miami at 10pm did 13.53 million, on par with previous week...so no big spike here. ABC keeps on growing with the The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love doing a solid 12.35 million, up once again from previous week and has gone up every week, and it also did a 4.1 18-49 rating for the two-hours, same as previous week. A new Castle was next and did a solid 9.54 million. Castle is in repeats the next few weeks, but even in repeats it is fun to watch again. Fox started off with an all-new House doing a 13.6 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week. A new episode of 24 was next doing 10.27 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week's season lows. NBC started off with a new Chuck at a decent 6.6 million, though off some from previous week and a 2.2 18-49 rating was also off some. Next Heroes finale did only 4.43 million and a 2.0 A18-49 rating, but both on par really from the previous week. Hopefully this was a series finale. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 4.31 million, up actually up some from previous week. The CW aired an all-new One Tree Hill doing a decent but could be better 2.17 million, but up a notch from previous week, followed by an all-new episode of Life UneXpected at 2.0 million, down a bit from previous week.
On Tuesday, Fox won but CBS did great as well and ABC and CBS had a lot to tell, too. Fox of course started with an all-new American Idol with 27.89 million, up three million from previous week as maybe it was helped by the first night with Ellen DeGeneres as a new judge. It did a mammoth 10.1 18-49 rating, up a whole point from previous week. Next a special preview of new series Past Life on a special night did only 8.32 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, losing a TON of the lead-in's audience...not a good start. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 19.75 million, up some from previous week. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a new showing of its own doing a way above average 17.91 million, up nearly two million from previous week. As I say with the parent series, how? And finally CBS aired a new episode of The Good Wife doing am above average 14.75 million, up two million week-to-week. ABC started off with a LOST enhanced encore doing a decent 4.81 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 11.05 million, down only a million from the big premiere and still did an excellent 5.0 18-49 rating, off from previous week's 5.5. There is nothing like this show on TV. What a show! ABC re-launched the forgotten at 10pm with Elisha Cuthbert joining the cast and did a so-so 5.92 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating...could be better. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 8.89 million, off a bit from previous week when it aired 9-11pm. The Jay Leno Show FINALE was next and only did 5.64 million...good riddance to you Jay in primetime. The CW aired repeats of 90210 and Melrose Place doing only 849,000 and 717,000 viewers...but up some from previous week's repeats. Will they ever return with new episodes??? (I hear they will in March after a 3 month break.)
Wednesday it was Fox on top again. Fox started with Human Target at 8pm at just 8.91 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up a million from previous week and a tenth in 18-49. Not bad, but could be better. American Idol was next at 9pm and it did 25.17 million, up about 4 million from previous week's lowest viewership since 2005! 18-49 rating was up from 7.8 to 9.5 as well. CBS started at 8pm with new episodes of its comedies Old Christine and Gary Unmarried doing 8.1 million and 7.5 million, but 18-49 rating was still low at 2.3 and 2.4 rating. Next CBS aired a new Criminal Minds at 14.33 million, down some from previous week and a new CSI: NY at 10pm did 12.98 million..down over a million from previous week. ABC comedies were next with a showing of A Charlie Brown Valentine at 8pm doing 7.19 million, followed by an all-new episode of The Middle doing a solid 7.83 million and a series best 2.9 18-49 rating, up again to best ever numbers. Modern Family was all-new at 9pm and did an excellent 9.84 million and an even more impressive 4.1 18-49 rating, up again even opposite Idol. Next Cougar Town was all-new and faced Idol for the second time and did 6.41 million, up slightly from previous week and the 18-49 rating was just off a bit doing a 2.7 18-49 rating. Ugly Betty was all-new and did 4.68 million, up from previous week. NBC was next with a new Mercy 6.78 million and only a 1.8 18-49 rating, but both up from previous week. Law & Order: SVU was a repeat again and only managed 4.4 million, but up a tad week-to-week. Another Law & Order: SVU repeat was next and did 5.29 million, possibly hurting CBS a bit. The CW aired more repeats as Life UneXpected did 1.55 million, up from previous week, and then a repeat of Gossip Girl followed and only did 613,000 viewers, bad but up some from previous week actually.
Thursday it was CBS and ABC battling. CBS opened with the two-hour season premiere of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains doing an impressive 14.15 million and 4.5 18-49 rating. CSI was preempted but will return with new episodes in March, repeats will air the next two weeks. At 10pm The Mentalist was new and did a better than usual 15.86 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, both up week-to-week. ABC started off with week four of The Deep End at 5.7 million, up from previous week as it stopped the bleeding, and the 18-49 rating went from a 1.3 to 1.5. A new episode of Grey's Anatomy was next and perked up to 12.74 million, up some from previous week but a 4.4 18-49 rating is still below normal. A new Private Practice was next doing 9.04 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, both off a bit from previous week. Fox had a repeat of Bones doing 8.05 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, that is decent. A new Past Life on its normal night did only 5.31 million, down from even what Fringe does normally. Only a 1.4 18-49 rating, too. NBC had new showings of its comedies with Community doing an OK 5.15 million, off a bit week-to-week, Parks & Recreation was next and did a slightly improved 4.98 million, The Office was next with doing 7.44 million and a below normal 3.7 18-49 rating, and finally a new 30 Rock was next doing 6.0 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Two repeats of The Office closed the night with only 3.35 and 2.78 million, lower than Leno even. The CW aired a new Vampire Diaries at a solid 3.51 million, but down some from previous week, and Supernatural was new and did 2.51 million, up from previous week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but NBC won Friday with big numbers for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, as the other networks aired repeats.
Saturday numbers saw NBC win the night of course with more Winter Olympics coverage opposite repeats.
Tonight it is more Winter Olympics coverage for NBC that should help them win the night. ABC's regular line-up of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters are not all on, but we get two-hour episodes of the unscripted half of the night. CBS has the season premiere of The Amazing Race, followed by the timeslot premiere of Undercover Boss. I hope that mess bombs as it is so fake (come on a camera crew following a "newbie?"). Fox has new episodes of their animated comedies and new episodes of 'Til Death. Winter Olympics gets a big test tonight as everything is all-new opposite it tonight. NBC should win the week in all categories because of the Winter Olympics...three nights should be enough from going 4th to 1st. If not, NBC needs to call it quits. CBS will be second across the board likely, with Fox in third and ABC in fourth across the board. As for this coming week, look for the more Winter Olympics on NBC causing lots of repeats on other nets, but there will be plenty of new airings of series such as LOST, Grey's Anatomy, and American Idol opposite it!

Week 21 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 20-- Feb. 1-7)

  • 'Til Death (Fox) 2 episodes - The series aired new episodes opposite the Super Bowl and did 1.58 and 1.85 million, down some from previous week.
  • ABC Comedy Wednesday repeats (ABC) - ABC aired special repeats of their Comedy Wednesday comedies. Modern Family started it off with 2.84 million, followed by The Middle at only 2.3 million, more Modern Family did 2.49 million, a Cougar Town repeat at 9:30pm perked up to 2.59 million, as the Super Bowl winded down by then. And finally two more repeats of Modern Family in the 10pm hour did decent doing 3.87 and 3.53 million.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat did only 2.91 million opposite the Super Bowl.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - Just 2.46 million for a repeat.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - 3.07 million for a repeat, best of the bunch.
  • American Dad (Fox) - 3.05 million for a repeat, must have been seen a spike in the ratings when the Super Bowl ended at around 9:45.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - An all-new episode did 10.0 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Maybe Super Bowl the night before helped.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 9.1 million for a new episode, also up from previous week. This was its last new airing in this slot, as the series will move to Wednesdays at 8:30pm n March.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 17.66 million for a new episode and a great 5.7 18-49 rating...up a ton from previous week. Super Bowl effect?
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 16.26 million for a new episode and a scripted series best 6.0 18-49 rating. Just wow. Nothing more to say. Series highs again. Sheldon invaded the Super Bowl well I guess.

Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - 8.1 million for a new episode is decent, but still only a 2.3 18-49 rating.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 7.5 million for a new episode, losing some of the audience from its lead-in, but did build a bit in 18-49 from a 2.3 to 2.4 rating. ABC's competing comedy won the half-hour in both measures.
  • The Middle (ABC) - A new airing at 8:30pm following A Charlie Brown Valentine did a solid 7.83 million and a series best 2.9 18-49 rating. Keeps on growing still!
  • Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode 9pm airing was opposite Idol for the third time ever thus far and once again it did very well doing 9.84 million and an impressive 4.1 18-49 rating. Great episode!
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - It faced Idol for the second time and it did OK but below normal again. It did 6.41 million, up some from previous week but the 18-49 rating went down a notch from 2.9 to 2.7.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Community (NBC) - A new episode did 5.15 million and an OK 2.3 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - Only 4.98 million for a new episode, but held 100% of its lead-in's 18-49 rating for the second straight week.
  • The Office (NBC) 3 airings - A new episode did 7.44 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating...both below normal again, but still solid -- especially for NBC. Two repeats in the 10pm hour did terrible only 3.35 and 2.78 million.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode did 6.0 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Viewership was up some but 18-49 was down a notch from previous week.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of 'Til Death at 7 on Fox followed by repeats of the Fox animated comedies starting at 8.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Office, How I Met Your Mother, Accidentally on Purpose, The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Gary Unmarried, Community) or just plain old terrible (such as 'Til Death from Sun, The Office Thurs 10pm repeats).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 28

The Conners - "Keep On Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners are dealing with the pandemic and life's financial troubles.

The Conners - "Halloween and the Election vs the Pandemic" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Halloween has been canceled, so the family works to create an unforgettable experience.

Son of a Critch - "Airing Out" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Critches are doing their annual airing-out-the-house ritual; some family secrets are uncovered.

Son of a Critch - "Cabaret" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Mark finally gets the chance to take the stage as a stand-up comedian.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 25)

Thursday, March 28

  • Joey King (Bent) - Joey talks about We Were the Lucky Ones on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo discusses his starring role in the AMC crime-thriller series Parish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy stops by to talk about her upcoming starring turn in Ryan Murphy's horror drama Grotesquerie on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks about Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Lorraine Toussaint (Where I Live) - Lorraine is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)

Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Father Knows Best - The Complete Series The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)

That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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