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Week 29 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 29 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):
We finally have the first four nights in time for the first time in weeks. Pavan is away for a few days, so I'm getting a chance at doing them for my first opportunity. This should be fun!

Households: #1. CBS 8.5/13.9; #2. Fox 7.4/11.9; #3. ABC 5.9/9.6; #4. NBC 3.6/6.0; #5. The CW 1.3/2.1
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 13.6 million; #2. Fox 12.61 million; #3. ABC 9.12 million; #4. NBC 5.69 million; #5. The CW 1.99 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.1/11.8; #2. CBS 3.6/10.4; #3. ABC 2.6/7.3; #4. NBC 2.0/5.8; #5. The CW 0.9/2.7
Adults 25-54: #1. Fox 5.0/12.9; #2. CBS 4.6/12.0; #3. ABC 3.2/8.2; #4. NBC 2.4/6.2; #5. The CW 0.8/2.1

Week 29 (April 5-April 11) Analysis: For week 29, thus far through the first four nights it is a three-network race. So far through the first four days of the week I can project, CBS is first in HH/viewers and second in 18-49, Fox is first in 18-49 and second in HH/viewers, and ABC in third across the board. NBC is in fourth across the board. Last week, week 28, CBS took home first place in HH/viewers, and squeaked by ABC for third in 18-49. ABC took second in HH and tied Fox for second in viewers with 8.47 million. Fox placed third in HH and won in 18-49. NBC was a clear fourth in all categories.

On Monday it was ABC with a big win again with Dancing with the Stars season ten continuing to shine. The changes they have made this season have led to a lot of buzz and a big increase in ratings. ABC aired a two-hour Dancing with the Stars doing 21.21 million and an excellent 5.1 18-49 rating, down a bit from last week's best ever rated non-premiere/finale. It was still ABC's strongest-ever performance against the NCAA title game. At 10pm, the surging Castle had 11.7 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down over 2 million from last week's series high but that was to be expected airing against the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. Tom Bergeron is among the guests tomorrow. CBS started off the night with a repeat of The Big Bang Theory doing 6.61 million and a 2.2 18-49 followed by a new Rules of Engagement doing 7.04 million and 2.6 18-49, down a bit from the previous week. The thrilling NCAA Championship Game between Butler and Duke started at 9:15pm and had 23.94 million and an impressive 8.2 18-49. Ratings for the title game were up over 31% from last year. It was the highest rated game since 2005. 48.1 million watched at least some of the game. For the entire tournament, CBS averaged a 6.0 rating, up 5% from last year. March Madness indeed! Fox ran 2 hours of 24 and did 7.42 million and a 2.3 18-49, down over a million from last week. NBC was of course in fourth with a new Chuck doing 5.79 million and a 2.1 18-49. It hit a 3 week high in total viewers. Will they save the critically acclaimed show? Trauma followed an did 5.02 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up slightly in viewers from the previous week. At 10pm a Law & Order repeat did only 4.69 million and 1.3 rating, down quite a bit due to the basketball game. Over at The CW, they started with Life UneXpected at 8pm and did 1.73 million, down a tad from the previous week. Then at 9pm Gossip Girl did 1.74 million, up a bit from last week. This is a show that doesn't get many viewers but seems popular on DVD and iTunes.

On Tuesday, Fox took the night. Fox aired an all-new American Idol doing 20.84 million for two-hours, down a million from last week. Its 18-49 rating continued to slide down to a 7.3 this week. CBS had all new episodes. They started with NCIS doing 16.45 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating. Not bad against some stiff competition. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles followed with 13.78 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. And finally The Good Wife closed the night with 12.06 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating - a series low. They have many viewers who are 50+. ABC started off the night with Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 12.43 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating as Buzz Aldrin was sent home, down nearly 2 million in viewers. Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 9.55 million and a 3.9 rating, both down from the previous week. V finished the night with 5.79 million and a 2.4 rating, down quite a bit in viewers and finishing second in 18-49 for the timeslot. This is a show that needed to air at 8pm with no repeats. Any momentum they had built in November was lost with such a long break between new episodes. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 7.69 million and a 3.0 rating, up a bit from the previous week. A new Parenthood was next doing 6.28 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up slightly from last week. This is a show that I could see NBC bringing back if it continues to hold steady. The CW aired new episodes of 90210 and Melrose Place but they continue to struggle to find viewers. The already renewed 90210 does well with women 18-34 and did 1.33 million and a 0.7 18-49, while Melrose Place did only 0.86 million and 0.4 18-49 rating.

On Wednesday Fox prevailed again. Fox started with a new Human Target and did 7.72 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down a bit from the previous week. Renewal chances are up in the air. American Idol Results were next at 9pm and did 20.17 million and a 6.7 18-49 rating, down a bit in both categories The 6.7 matched the lowest in 2002. What will happen when Simon Cowell leaves the show? CBS started with The New Adventures of Old Christine doing 5.97 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, tying a series low in 18-49. Accidentally on Purpose followed with 6.03 million and 1.9 18-49 rating, a series low and down from the last original episode of Gary Unmarried. Wednesday nights seem to be where reasonably successful sitcoms on Mondays like Out of Practice and Courting Alex go to die. Next CBS aired a new backdoor pilot episode of Criminal Minds and did 12.7 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, up a bit from the previous last original episode. CSI: NY closed the night at 10pm with 10.64 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, a series low in 18-49. ABC had a night of comedy repeats and the second to last new episode of Ugly Betty. Modern Family opened the night with 4.81 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. The Middle followed with 5.08 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. The always hilarious Modern Family was up next with 5.06 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Next Cougar Town collected 3.6 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Ugly Betty closed the night with 3.99 million and a 1.4 rating, both down a bit from previous week. ABC should have never moved the show from Thursdays where it was pretty dependable, but 4 seasons is a pretty decent run these days. Betty and company say goodbye in the series finale on April 14. NBC started with A Minute to Win It doing 5.96 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par with its Sunday episode. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU was next and had only 4.86 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. An all-new episode of Law & Order: SVU did 8.36 million and a 2.5 rating, down from previous week. The CW aired America's Next Top Model at 8pm doing a solid 3.17 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, nearly identical to the previous week. Fly Girls followed with 1.02 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, down some from last week. High Society closed the night with 690,000 viewers, even lower than the previous week.

Moving on to Thursday ABC and NBC were mostly repeats and CBS and Fox had new episodes across the board. CBS started with the durable Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at 8pm doing 12.38 million and a 3.8 rating in 18-49, up over a million in viewers and a higher 18-49. CSI returned to its regular timeslot of 9pm and did 14.97 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up over a million and a half in viewers and up from the series low of a 2.8 rating from the previous week. The Mentalist finished the night with 16.32 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating. It was an interesting test of timeslot switches. Maybe they could try it on a night not affected by a holiday. ABC began the night with FLASHFORWARD at 8pm doing 5.42 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up a bit in total viewers and from the series low in 18-49. A repeat of Grey's Anatomy followed with only 4.79 million viewers and a 1.4 18-49 rating. At 10pm a repeat of Private Practice could only muster 3.56 million viewers a 1.1 18-49 rating. I'm surprised that these two shows don't repeat better, since they are mostly standalone episodes. Fox aired a new Bones and did 9.99 million and a 2.8 rating, up over 1.3 million viewers and way up from the season low i8-49 from last week. A new Fringe garnered 6.33 million and a 2.3 rating, both up thanks to a better Bones lead-in. NBC offered comedy repeats and a new episode of The Marriage Ref. Community started it off only doing 3.28 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. Parks and Recreation followed with a repeat doing 3.14 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. The Office at 9pm managed 4.16 million viewers and a 1.9 rating. A repeat of 30 Rock was next at 3.7 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. An all-new episode of the crazy The Marriage Ref did 4.79 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, both series lows once again. The CW aired a new Vampire Diaries doing 3.48 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, both up from last week. Supernatural followed with 2.78 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, both up slightly from last week. These shows were both up in their targeted 18-34 demo.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won in viewers and 18-49 on Friday. Fox both on Saturday thanks to NASCAR. Ghost Whisperer and Medium both rebounded a bit, while the new Miami Medical dropped in total viewers and a preliminary 1.4 18-49 from last week's premiere. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution topped a Kitchen Nightmares recap special at 9pm in total viewers and a slight edge in the 18-49 rating. Saturday was either a movie or repeat on ABC, CBS and NBC. Fox aired NASCAR racing.
Tonight ABC airs all-new episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with Jeff Gordon and a two-hour movie of the heartwarming Brothers & Sisters. CBS has a new The Amazing Race, the surprise hit Undercover Boss and Cold Case. NBC offers a repeat of A Minute to Win It followed by a new Celebrity Apprentice starting at 9pm. Fox has repeats of The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show and new episodes of Family Guy and American Dad.

Week 29 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 28-- March 29-April 4)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - Two all-new episodes were barely on the map again in the 7pm hour doing only 1.53 and 1.84 million...down from previous week. These are just burn-off episodes as the series has been canned finally.
• The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat episode did 3.39 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat episode did 3.67 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 4.64 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating.
• American Dad (Fox) - on hiatus - returns this week with new episode.
• Sons of Tucson (Fox) - New episode did 3.13 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, both down from last week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - preempted
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 7.04 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating for a new episode, down from previous week.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - preempted
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat aired at 8:00pm and did 6.61 million and a 2.2 18-49, well below what it repeats at 9:30pm.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did 5.97 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, tying a series low.
• Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - A new episode did 6.03 million and 1.9 18-49 rating, both series lows as they had a new episode on Wednesdays for the first time.
• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat did 5.08 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 4.81 million and 1.5 18-49 rating at 8pm and 5.06 million and 1.9 18-49 at 9pm.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A repeat did 3.63 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - A repeat did only 3.28 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - 3.14 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating for a repeat, not too good.
• The Office (NBC) - A repeat did 4.16 million viewers and a 1.9 rating.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A repeat did 3.7 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are repeats of The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show and new episodes of Family Guy and American Dad at 9pm and 9:30pm.

Summing it up. Nothing was impressive this week. Everything was OK (such as a new episode of Rules of Engagement and repeats of The Middle, Modern Family, The Office) or just plain old terrible (such as new episodes of Accidentally on Purpose & The New Adventures of Old Christine).