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Week 25 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

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Week 25 (March 8-14) Analysis: For week 25, thus far through the first four nights it is a battle between CBS and Fox. So far through the first four days of the week I can project, CBS is first in HH/viewers, but Fox is first with a bigger lead in 18-49. In second for HH/viewers it is Fox and CBS is second in 18-49. ABC is in third and NBC is of course in fourth. Last week, week 24, ABC took home first place in HH/viewers thanks to the 41.7 million from the Oscars, but it did come a bit short to Fox in 18-49 who were powered by 3 nights/5 hours of Idol. Fox was second in HH/viewers while CBS was third across the board and NBC was in a distant fourth.
On Monday it was CBS with the win with big showings from the comedies. Before I get to that, ABC started it off with The Bachelor: Jason and Molly's Wedding special from 8-10pm doing a solid 9.3 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, with growth every half-hour. While it wasn't as good as a wedding from 2002, it was still solid and this was just a two-hour special while that wedding from 2002 was a three-part series. At 10pm, ABC aired an all-new Castle to solid numbers doing 9.11 million, but the buzz is all about the upcoming two-part episode event that looks like event television! CBS was all-new with its comedies and CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with a solid 10.06 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for an all-new episode, on par really from previous week, while a new Rules of Engagement did even better at 10.07 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, both up from previous week and actually gained a bit from the lead-in in total viewers. Two and a Half Men followed with a new showing as well doing 17.61 million and a 5.8 18-49 rating for season highs and The Big Bang Theory followed with a new episode of its own doing 16.32 million and a 5.9 18-49 rating, as the viewers went up from previous week. Look for repeats tomorrow of the comedies. A new CSI: Miami at 10pm did a below normal 11.93 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, off some from previous week. Fox started off with a an all-new House doing a solid 12.82 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating. A new episode of 24 was next doing 8.86 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both up a bit from previous week when there was no new House. NBC was in fourth with a new Chuck doing 6.37 million, off some from previous week while the return of Trauma brought in series lows of 4.76 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, ouch. At 10pm a new Law & Order did only 5.21 million and just a 1.5 18-49 rating, down well over 2 million from previous week's two-hour episode. The CW moved Life UneXpected to 8pm and it did 1.94 million, up from previous week's new episode from 9pm, followed by the return of Gossip Girl at 1.74 million, down a bit from what Life UneXpected did the previous week in this slot, not good for Gossip.
On Tuesday, Fox and CBS battled. Fox started with an all-new American Idol with 22.75 million for a season low on a Tuesday, as it was down some from previous week when it was a two-hour show. Its 18-49 rating went from 8.6 to 8.2 this week for the hour show. A repeat of Glee aired at 9pm and it did decent for a repeat doing 7.55 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 19.58 million, which was off a tad from previous week. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a new episode of its own doing 16.99 million, up over two million from previous week as there was no Idol at 9pm this week. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife doing a solid 13.95 million, up some from previous week. ABC started off with a LOST enhanced encore doing 4.16 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, both off a bit from previous week. Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 9.49 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, both up a tad from the previous week. ABC aired the season finale of the forgotten at 10pm and did only 4.85 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating...I doubt we see this show back unless it goes to Fridays next season. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 7.91 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, but both were off from previous week, which is odd because the previous week there was a two-hour Idol. The second episode of Parenthood was next and dropped 2 million from previous week doing 6.09 and 2.6 18-49 rating. That is disappointing news. Could the return of V on ABC in a few weeks cause Parenthood to drop to third place by then?. The CW aired FINALLY aired new episodes of 90210 and Melrose Place but they were brushed off by everyone, as they did only 1.7 and 1.16 million. Ouch!
On Wednesday Fox prevailed, but it wasn't two-hours. Fox started with the return of Human Target and did 7.83 million, good for first place in its hour, but could be better. There was no two-hour American Idol this Wednesday, so an hour version at 9pm did 20.70 million, down three million or so from previous week's two-hour show. 18-49 rating was down a a full point, too from a 8.5 to 7.5. CBS started at 8pm with new episodes of its comedies Old Christine and Gary Unmarried doing 7.67 million and 6.68 million, both up from previous week, the 18-49 rating was OK as they did a 2.2 each. Next CBS aired a new Criminal Minds at 13.29 million and a new CSI: NY at 10pm did 11.07 million, as the latter took a big hit from previous week...why? Keep reading. ABC comedies were next with a new Scrubs instead of the normal Modern Family repeat at 8pm doing 4.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, both off from normal in this half-hour, a new episode of The Middle was next doing building up to 6.3 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week, too. Modern Family was all-new in its normal 9pm slot and did 9.02 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, also up from previous week. Next Cougar Town was all-new and did 6.1 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, and yes also up from previous week. Ugly Betty was next and only mustered 4.01 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Hopefully it starts picking up a bit before the series finale on April 14. NBC started with Mercy and only managed 6.31 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, as 18-49 was down a tick but viewers were up some from previous. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU was next and did 5.4 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating -- but that was leading into an all-new episode at 10pm that did a solid 8.53 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, tying CSI: NY, so that is why that dropped. It looks like these two will battle for the rest of the season. The CW aired aired the season premiere of America's Next Top Model doing a solid 3.65 million for a 90-minute premiere but then the premiere of the half-hour reality series High Society could only do 1.26 million, not good.
Moving on to Thursday it was a battle with CBS and Fox because of a third night of Idol. CBS started with a new Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains doing 12.12 million and 3.6 18-49 rating, both off from previous week. CBS aired a new CSI doing 15.25 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, both off from previous week and at 10pm a new The Mentalist aired doing an excellent 16.02 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up from previous week. ABC started with a repeat of Grey's Anatomy at 8pm and did 4.28 million, off from previous week's repeat. A new episode of Grey's Anatomy was next and did 10.94 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down from previous week and should be better. A new Private Practice was also a bit below normal doing 7.66 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, BUT both were up from previous week still. Fox preempted Bones but they were gladly to do so as the results show for American Idol aired instead again! It did 19.34 million, down just a tad from previous week and a 6.3 18-49 rating was down two tenths from previous week for a season low. A new Kitchen Nightmares on a special night did 7.19 million, also down some from previous week. NBC aired new episodes of their comedies as Community did 4.6 million and Parks & Recreation did 4.55 million, both down from previous week. Next The Office was back to a half-hour and back to normal as it did 7.43 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating compared to previous week's one-hour episode doing 9.02 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating. So that meant, 30 Rock returned and back to its same numbers doing 5.77 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating. At 10pm NBC aired the crazy The Marriage Ref and did 6.01 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week. This and Parenthood were down more than 25% each, not good. The CW aired a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing 1.28 million and Supernatural was a repeat and did 1.3 million, both down some from previous week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday with their dramas as NUMB3RS had its season (or series?) finale.
Saturday numbers saw Fox win as usual, as Fox did normal numbers with its crime reality series once again. They are the only ones new so what do you expect?
Tonight ABC's regular line-up of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters returns with new episodes. CBS has a new The Amazing Race and the fake Undercover Boss at 9pm. NBC has two-hour premieres of new game show A Minute to Win It followed by season premiere of Celebrity Apprentice and I think they will bomb big. Fox has new episodes of their animated comedies and new episodes of 'Til Death, but they also have the series premiere of new sitcom Sons of Tucson, but I don't think you want to watch that (see our review yesterday). Will Fox or CBS win the week? It will be close, but CBS will win in HH/viewers and Fox in 18-49. The loser of each will be second place. ABC will be in third and NBC will likely have to settle for a familiar 4th again. As for this coming week, ABC returns FLASHFORWARD with a two-hour return on Thursday, but before that happens catch yourself up with a clip show on Tuesday after LOST. Watch the show, it is good!

Week 25 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 24-- March 1-7)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - Two all-new episodes were barely on the map in the 7pm hour doing only 2.33 and 2.77 million...not good and both were lower than the previous week.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - A repeat did 4.61 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating...lower than previous week's repeat. There was also a special repeat at 8:30pm that did better, doing 5.02 million and 2.2 18-49 rating.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.
• Family Guy (Fox) 2 episodes - A repeat did 5.6 million, off a bit from previous week's repeat again. The 18-49 rating dropped from a 2.8 to 2.6, as well. A special repeat at 9:30pm however built on this and did a 2.8 18-49 rating and 5.57 million.
• American Dad (Fox) - preempted.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did a good 10.06 million and a great 3.9 18-49 rating again. Viewers was a bit off from previous week, but 18-49 was right on par.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 10.07 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating for a new episode and both were up from previous week's season premiere. That's how it is done Accidentally on Purpose! Built a bit from the lead-in in viewers, too.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 17.61 million and a 5.8 18-49 rating for a new episode for season highs across the board.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 16.32 million and a 5.9 18-49 rating for a new episode. This episode was up from previous week in viewers and right on par in 18-49.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

• Old Christine (CBS) - 7.67 million for a new episode is two million more than previous week. No Idol and no Modern Family repeat to compete with was the reason.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 6.67 million for a new episode was a million more than previous week. Even so, it still lost to the competing ABC comedy in 18-49.
• [scrubs] [Med School] (ABC) - The first of the final two episodes of the season only did 4.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating...lower than the usual Modern repeat in this slot. At least the series did better than its usual Tuesday airings this season.
• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode following did a solid 6.3 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, both up from previous week and jumping big from its lead-in. Could have even done better with the normal Modern repeat as its lead-in.
• Modern Family (ABC) - The regular 9pm airing was new and did 9.02 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, both very good and up from previous week.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did a better 6.13 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week. Idol is affecting this show but it is still doing decent.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - Only 4.6 million for a new episode and a series low of 1.9 18-49 rating. Not good!
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - 4.55 million for a new episode is not good, but the 2.1 18-49 rating is better but still off from previous week.
• The Office (NBC) - Back to normal, as the previous week's one-hour show did 9.02 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, but this week it was back to a half-hour and normal business doing 7.43 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - Series returned from the Olympic break and did 5.77 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of 'Til Death at 7 on Fox followed by new episodes of the Fox animated comedies starting at 8 and the series premiere of sitcom Sons of Tucson, which is terrible (see our review yesterday).

Summing it up. New episodes of Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, Modern Family, The Office were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as 30 Rock, Cougar Town) or just plain old terrible (such as [scrubs], Community).

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 5:00 PM

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Labels: Weekly Ratings