Sunday, February 21, 2010

Week 22 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 22 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):
(We don't have the final network averages through Thursday AGAIN (sorry), 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 22 (Feb. 15-21) Analysis: For week 22, thus far through the first four nights it is atypical week because NBC is dominating all thanks to the Winter Olympics. So far through the first four days of the week I can project, NBC is first across the board, with Fox in second. CBS is third in HH/viewers, but fourth in 18-49, as ABC is the opposite of that, third in 18-49 but fourth in HH/viewers. Last week, week 21, NBC took home first place in every category obviously thanks to three nights of the Olympics (prior to those three nights they were 4th). CBS was second in HH/viewers, but third in 18-49. Fox was third in HH/viewers, but second in 18-49. ABC was in fourth across the board.
On Monday it was all Olympics as most programming was in repeats. NBC's coverage of the primetime portion of the Olympics did 25.54 million from 8-11pm and 25.22 million overall from 8pm-11:16pm. CBS was in repeats with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 5.75 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating for a repeat, while a repeat of Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 5.47 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Two and a Half Men followed with a repeat as well doing 10.61 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating and The Big Bang Theory followed with a repeat of its own doing 10.09 million and it built from the lead-in in 18-49 from a 3.3 to a 3.6. A 3.6 for a repeat is outstanding these days. A repeat of CSI: Miami at 10pm did 8.38 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, not too good. ABC started it off with an all-new The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love doing a solid 11.53 million, but it didn't go up from previous week for the first time this season in viewers, though it did do the same 4.1 18-49 rating for the third straight week--impressive since the Olympics were on! A repeat of Castle was next and did a 5.69 million, could be better but it was a third-run of an episode already. Castle returns with new episodes on March 8. Fox started off with a repeat of House doing 6.8 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. A new episode of 24 was next doing 8.58 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both down a lot from previous week due to no new House and the Olympics on opposite it. NBC will return Chuck on March 1, and the new night premiere of Law & Order also launches that night. The CW aired an all-new One Tree Hill doing a could be better 1.86 million, down from previous week, followed by an all-new episode of Life UneXpected at 1.8 million, down a bit from previous week again.
On Tuesday, Fox won and beat the Olympics on NBC. Fox of course started with an all-new American Idol with 23.92 million, down four million or so from previous week when it was an hour long episode, as this was a two-hour episode. It did a mammoth 9.2 18-49 rating, down a whole point from previous week. The Winter Olympics on NBC were next doing 20.46 million in primetime and 20.33 million from 8-11:24pm. 5.5 18-49 rating is good, but it got clobbered by Idol. CBS started with a repeat of NCIS doing 11.66 million, seems a bit below its usual repeat numbers. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a repeat of its own doing 9.13 million, but only a 1.8 18-49 rating...the lead-in was 2.4 And finally CBS aired a repeat of The Good Wife doing 7.74 million and only a 1.4 8-49 rating. ABC started off with a LOST enhanced encore doing 4.2 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 9.82 million, down a bit over a million from the previous week (as expected against Idol and the Olympics) but it still did an excellent 4.5 18-49 rating, off from previous week's 5.0. We found out about the numbers! What will we find out this week? ABC aired a new episode of the forgotten at 10pm and did a so-so 4.97 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating...down a million from previous week, like its lead-in. NBC will return two-hour The Biggest Loser episodes on March 2 and the premiere of Parenthood will follow it. The CW aired repeats of 90210 and Melrose Place doing only 760,000 and 620,000 viewers...down some from previous week's repeats. Did you know they are re-airing all the new episodes in order since its last new episode before they returns with new episodes in March?
Wednesday this time the Olympics took revenge and beat Idol. The Winter Olympics did a mammoth 29.29 million in primetime and 29.42 million overall from 8pm-11:17pm. 8.9 rating in 18-49 was number one for the night. Fox started with Human Target at 8pm at just 7.21 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down over a million from previous week. American Idol was next at 9pm and it did its lowest ratings in quite a while doing 18.63 million, that's down nearly 7 million from previous week, ouch! But still good. 18-49 rating was down from 9.5 to 7.0 as well. Taking a hit to a 7.0 is hilarious, any other show would kill for that now. CBS started at 8pm with repeats of its comedies Old Christine and Gary Unmarried doing 4.74 million and 4.29 million, losing to the ABC comedies which were also repeats. Next CBS aired a repeat of Criminal Minds at 7.91 million and a repeat of CSI: NY at 10pm did 7.97 million. ABC comedies were next with a repeat of Modern Family at 8pm doing 5.03 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, followed by a repeat episode of The Middle doing 4.59 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. Modern Family was a repeat in its normal 9pm slot and did an 4.36 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. A special repeat of The Middle was next doing 3.19 million and only a 1.2 18-49 rating. Next Cougar Town was in repeats in the 10pm hour doing only 3.1 and 2.68 million. Ugly Betty was preempted, but a repeat of that would have done worse at 10pm. NBC will return Mercy and Law & Order: SVU on March 3. The CW aired more repeats as Life UneXpected did 1.25 million, down some from previous week, and then a repeat of Gossip Girl followed and only did 570,000 viewers, bad and down some from previous week.
Thursday it was the Olympics with the win again. NBC's coverage of the Olympics were down from the previous night, but still did 24.78 million and a 7.0 18-49 rating through 11:31pm ET. CBS started with a new Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains doing 11.97 million and 3.9 18-49 rating, down about 3 million from previous week. CBS aired The Mentalist at a special time of 9pm for a repeat doing 8.81 million, as a CSI repeat aired at 10pm doing 7.96 million. Why the switcharoo? Maybe CBS is mulling a change or they just didn't want the ratings to count in the season average, thus switching the timeslots. ABC started off with a new The Deep End at only 4.26 million, down from previous week and the 18-49 rating went from a 1.5 to 1.1...series lows. A new episode of Grey's Anatomy was next and perked up to 10.27 million, down two million from previous week, as it looks like the Olympics hurt it some, even the 18-49 rating went fro ma 4.4 to a 3.7. Thankfully it was pretty much a standalone episode. A new Private Practice was next doing 7.59 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both down some from previous week. Fox had a repeat of Bones doing 5.77 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week's repeat. A new Past Life did only 3.5 million, down nearly two million from previous week. Only a 1.1 18-49 rating, too. Fox has pulled the show after this airing, look for Kitchen Nightmares now starting this week. NBC will return Community , Parks & Recreation and The Office on March 4, while 30 Rock returns the week after. At 10pm NBC will launch reality series The Marriage Ref on March 4. The CW aired a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing 1.66 million and Supernatural was a repeat and did 1.55 million.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but NBC won Friday with the Winter Olympics, as the other networks aired repeats again.
Saturday numbers saw NBC win the night of course with more Winter Olympics coverage opposite repeats, though Fox did pretty close to normal numbers with its crime reality series.
Tonight it is more Winter Olympics coverage for NBC that will make them win the night. ABC's regular line-up of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters are all-new, but might take a bit of a hit thanks to the Olympics. Watch these shows! CBS has a new The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss. I hope the latter loses to Desperate Housewives. Fox has a mix of new and repeats of their animated comedies and new episodes of 'Til Death. NBC will win the week in all categories because of the Winter Olympics. Fox will be second across the board, with CBS in third but there will be a battle for third in 18-49 between CBS and ABC. ABC will likely have to settle for 4th in HH/viewers. As for this coming week, look for the last week of Winter Olympics on NBC causing more repeats on other nets, but there will be plenty of new airings of series such as LOST, Desperate Housewives, and American Idol opposite it!

Week 22 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 21-- Feb. 8-14)

  • 'Til Death (Fox) - preempted because of NASCAR overrun.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 5.85 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating opposite the Olympics.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - Just 4.87 million for a new episode but the competition was high thanks to the Olympics. 2.4 18-49 rating is OK.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - Jumped to 6.44 million for a new episode, but below normal of course. Even the 18-49 rating of 3.3 is below normal, but still the best of the block.
  • American Dad (Fox) - 5.25 million for a new episode, retention is still the same as usual. 2.5 18-49 rating could be better out of a 3.3.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 5.75 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating for a repeat opposite the Olympics. Good.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 5.47 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating for a repeat. Good retention from the lead-in.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 10.61 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating for a repeat. That is good for a new episode even.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 10.09 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating for a repeat. I wonder if it could build on the viewers for tomorrow's repeat? 18-49 building is a given now.

Tuesday Sitcoms

  • None.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - 4.74 million for a repeat and only a 1.3 18-49 rating, both losing to the competing ABC comedy repeat.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 4.29 million for a repeat and a 1.4 18-49 rating, both losing to the competing ABC comedy repeat.
  • The Middle (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 8:30pm following a repeat of Modern Family did 4.59 million and a decent (for a repeat) 1.7 18-49 rating. A special 9:30pm repeat did not do as well doing only 3.19 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating.
  • Modern Family (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 8pm did 5.03 million and a 1.8 14-49 rating, not bad at all. The regular 9pm airing was also a repeat this time and did 4.36 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating...not bad.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) 2 airings - Two repeats aired at a special time of 10pm & 10:30pm doing 3.1 and 2.68 million. Not good, but it is only repeats.

Thursday Sitcoms

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

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

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

Summing it up. All repeats. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family 8pm, How I Met Your Mother, Accidentally on Purpose repeats were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Modern Family 9pm, The Middle 8:30 repeats) or just plain old terrible (such as The Middle 9:30, Cougar Town 10pm hour repeats).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, May 18

The Simpsons - "Estranger Things" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Bart and Lisa stop watching Itchy and Scratchy together, Marge fears that they'll start to drift apart.

Family Guy - "The Fat Lotus" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Peter suspects Lois of betraying his trust with Quagmire at a swanky vacation resort.

Krapopolis - "Ty Died" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ty is tired of his family thinking he's not important enough to be assassinated.

Bob's Burgers - "Mr. Fischoeder's Opus" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tina becomes the new advice columnist for the school newspaper; Teddy takes on more than he can handle when he volunteers to build a float for the Bounty of the Bay Parade.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 12)

Friday, May 16

  • Lunell (Lopez) - Watch Luenell on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:39am.
  • Benito Skinner (Overcompensating) - Benito appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) and Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Mayan and Jerry are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Luke Kirby (Étoile) and Gideon Glick (Étoile/The Other Two) - Luke and Gideon talk about Étoile on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about his new series Tucci in Italy with GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. He will also be on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie talks about America's Got Talent on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your lcoal listings.
  • Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa talks about her latest project Mama I'm a Big Girl Now on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - 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

05/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Picks Up New Dan Levy Comedy; First Look at King of the Hill Reboot Artwork
05/16 - Michael J. Fox to Guest Star on Shrinking; The CW Picks Up Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent
05/15 - 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront; 2025 Netflix Upfront
05/14 - Chad Powers Premieres September 30 on Hulu; Upfront Premiere Dates for FX on Hulu
05/13 - ABC Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule; Ted: The Animated Series Coming to Peacock
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule; Fox Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule
05/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 12, 2025)
05/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Cancels Night Court and Lopez vs. Lopez; ABC Renews Duo of Game Shows
05/09 - Peacock Orders Dig from Amy Poehler; Apple TV+ Comedy Stick Premieres June 4; Remembering Ruth Buzzi
05/08 - CBS 2025-26 Schedule; Animal Control and Going Dutch Renewed by Fox
05/07 - Netflix's A Man on the Inside Bulks Up Cast for Season 2; The Studio Renewed by Apple TV+
05/06 - Netflix's Long Story Short Announces Cast; NBC Renews All Chicago Series for 2025-26
05/05 - Antenna TV's The Partridge Family Mother's Day Marathon; Rewind TV's 227 40th Anniversary Marathon
05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July