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Week 26 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

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Week 26 (March 15-21) Analysis: For week 26, 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, Fox is first in HH/viewers and 18-49, but with a bigger lead in 18-49. In second is CBS. NBC is in third actually and ABC is in fourth with lots of repeats. Last week, week 25, CBS took home first place in HH/viewers, but it did come short to Fox in 18-49. Fox was second in HH/viewers while CBS was second in 18-49. ABC was third across the board but NBC did manage to tie ABC for third in 18-49, but NBC was fourth in HH/viewers.

On Monday it was Fox with the win but CBS was in repeats primarily but still did decent. Before I get to that, ABC started it off with A Special Edition of 20/20: Inside the Bachelor - The Stories Behind the Rose special from 8-10pm doing a decent 7.99 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, with growth every half-hour. ABC will launch Dancing with the Stars tomorrow in this timeslot. At 10pm, ABC aired a repeat of Castle to decent repeat numbers doing 6.58 million, but the buzz is all about tomorrow's first part of the two-part episode event that guest stars Dana Delany! Series highs tomorrow I'm guessing. CBS was primarily in repeats with its comedies and a repeat of CSI: Miami closed the night. How I Met Your Mother repeat started it off with 5.97 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par really with recent repeat airings, while a new Rules of Engagement did 7.7 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, both down a lot from previous week but its lead-in was a repeat this week. Two and a Half Men followed with a repeat doing 12.7 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating and The Big Bang Theory followed with a repeat of its own doing 11.67 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating. Look for new airings tomorrow of the comedies then a few more weeks off. A repeat of CSI: Miami at 10pm did 8.96 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. Fox started off with a an all-new House doing a solid 11.37 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, but way down from previous week, especially in 18-49. Daylight Savings effect? 8pm hour is always slaughtered it seems. A new episode of 24 was next doing 9.01 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. NBC was of course in fourth with a new Chuck doing a season low 5.85 million and only a 1.9 18-49 rating, then Trauma followed and did 5.24 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, but actually up some from previous week's return of series lows. At 10pm a new Law & Order did only 6.95 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week but it just barely beat a Castle repeat on ABC. Looks like this show doesn't have any legs anymore after 20 seasons. The CW started with Life UneXpected at 8pm and it did 2.08 million, up from previous week actually even with DST in effect. Then at 9pm Gossip Girl was all-new and did 1.73 million, on par really from previous week in this slot, but still could be better.

On Tuesday, Fox and CBS battled. Fox aired an all-new American Idol with 22.91 million for two-hours, up a tad some from previous week when it was only an hour. Its 18-49 rating dropped a bit though going from a 8.2 to 8.1 this week though even with two-hours. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 18.0 million, down a lot from previous week. DST effect again. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a new episode of its own doing 15.1 million, down nearly two million from previous week, maybe because of Idol at 9pm this week. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife doing a solid 13.4 million, down some from previous week. ABC started off with a LOST enhanced encore doing 3.77 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, both off a bit from previous week and season lows for the enhanced encore. Again...DST effect. Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 8.87 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, both down from the previous week when it didn't face Idol head to head. Look for a 6 minute overrun for this week's episode (airing from 9-10:06pm). ABC aired a recap/clip show for FLASHFORWARD at 10pm and did 4.26 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating...not bad for a recap, but could have been a bit better. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 7.34 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, but both were off from previous week again as it seems this season the ratings haven't been as strong as before. The third episode of Parenthood was next and dropped a bit more from previous week doing 5.83 and 2.3 18-49 rating. It needs to do better and before the return of V on ABC next week (March 30). The CW aired new episodes of 90210 and Melrose Place but they were brushed off by everyone as usually, as they did only 1.84 and 1.13 million. The former was actually up a bit from previous week, but not the latter series.

On Wednesday Fox prevailed, with a slower than usual night. Fox started with a new Human Target and did 8.01 million, good for first place in its hour, and up some from previous week. American Idol Results were next at 9pm and did 20.51 million, down a tad from previous week. 18-49 rating was down too from a 7.5 to 6.8. CBS started at 8pm with a repeat Old Christine doing 5.23 million and only a 1.4 18-49 rating. Gary Unmarried was next and new for the last time this season doing 5.7 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. Not too good against ABC's repeat. Next CBS aired a repeat of Criminal Minds at 7.74 million and a repeat of CSI: NY at 10pm did 7.46 million, as both seem below normal for repeats. ABC comedies were next with the finale of [scrubs] instead of the normal Modern Family repeat at 8pm doing 3.44 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, both off from previous week, a repeat of The Middle was next doing building up to 4.07 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Modern Family was a repeat in its normal 9pm slot and did 4.92 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par with normal repeat numbers. Next Cougar Town was a repeat too and did 3.51 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, as this series doesn't repeat as well. Ugly Betty was next but it was all-new and only mustered 3.33 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating airing out of repeats for series lows. The series finale airs on April 14. NBC started with Mercy and only managed 5.55 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, both down some from previous week. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU was next and did 5.05 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week, but that was leading into an all-new episode at 10pm that did a solid 9.65 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both up from previous week but remember CSI: NY was a repeat for CBS. The CW aired aired another 90-minute America's Next Top Model doing a solid 3.78 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up some from previous week's premiere, but then a new High Society could only do 1.18 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, not good and down from the premiere even.

Moving on to Thursday it was CBS with the win thanks to the first day of NCAA Basketball. CBS preempted its regular line-up of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at 8pm, CSI at 9pm, and The Mentalist at 10pm for NCAA coverage from 7-9:59pm doing 8.9 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. Ratings for 9:59pm and on were not available just yet, but coverage from 9:59pm-10:10pm did a solid 10.11 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating. ABC started with the two-hour return of FLASHFORWARD from 8-10pm and did 6.5 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, but the latter grew in the half-hour marks. It was a great return so hopefully the positive message spread and most viewers know about it and return. It needs to do at least 8 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating I think. Grey's Anatomy was preempted this week, but returns with a new showing this week. A repeat of Private Practice was next doing 4.1 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. Fox aired a repeat of Bones and did 6.41 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. A repeat of Fringe was next and did 4.32 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. NBC aired new episodes of their comedies as Community did 5.07 million and Parks & Recreation did 4.63 million, both up a tad from previous week. Next The Office did 7.67 million but a season low 3.6 18-49 rating, as the total viewers was up some from previous though. Next 30 Rock was new and did 6.8 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, both up from previous week. At 10pm NBC aired a new episode of the crazy The Marriage Ref and did 7.6 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, up from previous week but there was lighter competition this week. The CW aired a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing 1.38 million and Supernatural was a repeat and did 1.4 million, both up some from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday with coverage of the NCAA Basketball tournament.
Saturday numbers saw Fox take a back seat with their crime reality series as CBS won thanks to NCAA Basketball again.
Tonight ABC airs two new series as the normal line-up of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters doesn't fully happen, as the special Thin Ice airs at 7 and a preview of new series Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution airs at 10. 8pm and 9pm are normal though and all-new. CBS has a new The Amazing Race and the fake Undercover Boss at 9pm, but will there be an overrun for CBS tonight with NCAA into the 7pm hour? NBC has new game show A Minute to Win It followed by a new Celebrity Apprentice starting at 8pm. Fox has new episodes of their animated comedies and new episodes of live action sitcoms 'Til Death and Sons of Tucson, but both of those are doing bad. Will Fox or CBS win the week? It will be close, but I think Fox might hang on. The loser will be second place for sure though. NBC will be in a distant third and ABC will likely have to settle for 4th since it aired lots of repeats. As for this coming week, ABC returns megahit Dancing with the Stars tomorrow, and it looks to be a big season!

Week 26 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 25-- March 8-14)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - Two all-new episodes were barely on the map in the 7pm hour doing only 2.01 and 1.98 million...not good and both were lower than the previous week. Daylight savings time or not, these are not good numbers.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - A new episode only managed 5.18 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating...on a very slow night it seems across the board. There was also a special repeat at 8:30pm that did better, doing 5.44 million and 2.5 18-49 rating, a bit higher than previous week's repeat.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted again.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new showing did 6.66 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating. Viewers seems lower than normal and 18-49 is a bit off as well, but still solid.
• American Dad (Fox) - on hiatus.
• Sons of Tucson (Fox) - The series premiere did TERRIBLE. Only 4.47 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, lower than the average repeat airing even in this half-hour this season. Fox needs to learn scripted comedies do not work with Animation Domination. Will it be pulled after tonight's airing? I don't think Fox can muster 12 more weeks out of this.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 5.97 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating...on par it seems with its normal repeat numbers.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 7.7 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating for a new episode, but it was obviously down from previous week since its lead-in was a repeat. Not bad numbers, but could have been better.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 12.7 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for a repeat. Excellent.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 11.67 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for a repeat. Even better since it skewed younger than its lead-in.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

• Old Christine (CBS) - 5.23 million for a repeat is OK but 1.4 18-49 rating could be better.
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 5.7 million for a new episode was down a million from previous week when its lead-in was new.
• [scrubs] [Med School] (ABC) - The final airing of the season only did 3.45 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating...much lower than the usual Modern repeat in this slot. I don't think we will see this series again next season.
• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat did 4.07 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but could have done better with the normal Modern repeat as its lead-in. New episode this week!
• Modern Family (ABC) - The regular 9pm airing was a repeat and did 4.92 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par with normal repeat numbers. New episode this week!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A repeat did 3.51 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. And yes, new airing this week!

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - 5.07 million for a new episode and a 2.0 18-49 rating. Not good but up a tad from previous week at least.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - 4.63 million for a new episode and a 2.0 18-49 rating. Needs to do better.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 7.67 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating. Viewers was up some from previous week, but 18-49 was down a tad for a season low.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.8 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating seems above average. I guess this series skews more female than male?

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 sitcom Sons of Tucson.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Office were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Rules of Engagement, 30 Rock) or just plain old terrible (such as [scrubs], Sons of Tucson & 'Til Death from week 25).

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 5:30 PM

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Labels: Weekly Ratings