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Week 30 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 30 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):

Households: #1. Fox 7.6/12.5 rating/share; #2. CBS 6.7/11.3; #3. ABC 6.2/10.4; #4. NBC 3.6/6.1; #5. The CW 1.2/2.1
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 12.76 million; #2. CBS 10.59 million; #3. ABC 9.57 million; #4. NBC 5.59 million; #5. The CW 1.94 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.4/12.7 rating/share; #2. CBS 2.7/8.0; #3. ABC 2.7/7.9; #4. NBC 2.1/6.0; #5. The CW 0.9/2.7

Week 30 (April 12-April 18) Analysis: For week 30, thus far through the first four nights it is a three-network race once again with Fox having the edge. So far through the first four night, Fox is first across the board, with CBS second in HH/viewers. 2nd in 18-49 is a tie between CBS and ABC. ABC is third in HH/viewers, though. NBC is in fourth across the board. Last week, week 29, CBS took home first place in HH/viewers, but couldn't squeak by Fox in 18-49. Fox second in HH/viewers. ABC was third in every category and 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 pull in big ratings. ABC aired a two-hour Dancing with the Stars doing 20.56 million and an excellent 4.9 18-49 rating, but both down a bit from previous week. At 10pm, the surging Castle had 12.68 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up from previous week as Tom Bergeron was among the guest stars. CBS started off the night with a new episode of How I Met Your Mother doing a below normal 6.8 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, not much above a repeat of Big Bang in the same slot the previous week. A new Rules of Engagement was next doing 7.36 million and 2.8 18-49, both up a bit from the previous week. Then at 9pm a new episode of Two and a Half Men sparked up to 13.71 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating. Great, but down from normal. Then an all-new The Big Bang Theory did 13.39 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, both below normal but solid retention in viewers and solid gains from the lead-in in 18-49. CBS closed the night with a new CSI: Miami at below normal and second place 10.78 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. Fox started the night with a brand new House doing 10.8 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, which is both below normal. At 9pm a new 24 did 8.33 million and a 2.5 18-49, both up from previous week when it was two-hours. NBC was of course in fourth with a repeat of Chuck barely registering at 2.75 million and a 0.9 18-49. An all-new Trauma followed an needed some trauma at only 4.43 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, both down from the previous week. At 10pm a Law & Order repeat did only 4.07 million and 1.2 rating, both down from previous week's repeat. Over at The CW, they started with an all-new Life UneXpected at 8pm and did 1.8 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. Then at 9pm an all-new Gossip Girl did 1.86 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, also up a bit from previous week.

On Tuesday, Fox took the night by a wide margin. Fox aired an all-new American Idol doing 20.64 million and a 7.3 18-49 rating for 90 minutes, down a tad from previous week when it was two-hours. From 9:28-10:30pm Glee returned at a special time to series highs (thanks to Idol) at 13.66 million and a 5.6 18-49 rating. The show particularly did well in W18-34 and A18-34. Like High School Musical, I don't understand the Glee craze. CBS had all repeats. They started with a NCIS repeat doing 11.1 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a repeat doing 10.43 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. I think these shows should switch time slots next fall. And finally The Good Wife closed the night with a repeat doing 7.8 million and only a 1.4 18-49 rating. ABC started off the night with Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 13.6 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both up from previous week as Aiden Turner was sent home. Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 9.48 million and a 3.9 rating, down just a tad in viewers from week-to-week. V finished the night with 5.61 million and a 2.2 rating, down ever so slightly from previous week with the added competition from Fox. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 8.37 million and a 3.3 rating, up from the previous week and highest in a while it seems. A new Parenthood was next doing 6.27 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, both down just slightly from previous week. The CW aired new episodes of 90210 and Melrose Place but they continue to struggle to find viewers. The already renewed 90210 did 1.45 million and a 0.7 18-49, while Melrose Place did only 1.09 million and 0.5 18-49 rating, both terrible, but up some from previous week.

On Wednesday Fox prevailed again with Idol. Fox started with a new Human Target and did 7.24 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down from the previous week. I don't think it deserves to come back. American Idol Results were next at 9pm and did 21.02 million and a 6.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week in both categories CBS started with a new The New Adventures of Old Christine doing 6.17 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, both categories were up slightly from previous week but still not good. Accidentally on Purpose followed with a new episode doing 5.9 million and 1.9 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week, but not good. Next CBS aired a new Criminal Minds and did 12.44 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, down from previous week. CSI: NY closed the night with a new episode at 10pm with 10.85 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week, but still low. ABC had a night new episodes of Comedy Wednesday including the series finale of Ugly Betty. Modern Family repeat opened the night with 5.1 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. A new The Middle followed with 6.7 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. The always hilarious Modern Family was all-new at 9 with a solid 8.88 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating. Next Cougar Town was also new and did 5.8 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, yes it could be better, but I think the second half of Idol is the reason why it is lower since January. Ugly Betty closed the night with the series finale doing 5.41 million and a 1.7 rating, both season highs, but no where near the ratings caliber it once had. Anyway, it was a great finale and was open-ended, so maybe ABC will air a two-hour movie at some point? NBC started with A Minute to Win It repeat doing 5.74 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, that is on par with a repeat from previous week. Sad that this cheap filler does better than scripted shows for the network. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU was next and had only 4.09 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, both down from previous week's 9pm repeat. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm did 5.6 million and a 1.8 rating. The CW aired America's Next Top Model at 8pm doing 2.85 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, both down from previous week. Fly Girls followed with 900,000 viewers as viewers flew away and it also did only a 0.4 18-49 rating. High Society closed the night with 770,000 viewers, but up a tad from previous week.

Moving on to Thursday, ABC was mostly in repeats so CBS and Fox was in control. CBS started with the durable Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at 8pm doing 12.31 million and a 3.8 rating in 18-49, on par really from previous week. A new CSI at 9pm did 13.19 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, both down quite a bit from the previous week. The Mentalist finished the night with a repeat doing 11.45 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating. Not bad for a repeat. ABC began the night with FLASHFORWARD at 8pm doing 4.98 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, both down from previous week. It is too bad, this show is good. A repeat of Grey's Anatomy followed with only 4.65 million viewers and a 1.4 18-49 rating, on par from previous week's repeat. At 10pm a repeat of Private Practice could only muster 3.67 million viewers a 1.1 18-49 rating, up a tick in viewers from previous week. Fox aired a new Bones and did 9.92 million and a 2.9 rating, on par from previous week. A new Fringe garnered 6.62 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, both up from previous week. NBC preempted Community and Parks and Recreation but they did air two repeats of The Office in the 8pm hour doing only 3.83 and 3.81 million. 18-49 rating was a 1.4 and 1.7, a bit better. 30 Rock and the crazy The Marriage Ref were preempted, as NBC aired the special SNL: In the 2000s from 9-11pm doing 6.75 million and a good 2.9 18-49 rating. The CW aired a new Vampire Diaries doing 3.15 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down in viewers from previous week. Supernatural followed with 2.45 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, also down in viewers from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but NBC won Friday in viewers and 18-49 on Friday actually as CBS was in repeats. Fox won on Saturday thanks to a primetime overrun of MLB action between the Mets/Cards that lasted nearly 7 hours and 20 innings!
Tonight ABC airs repeats of America's Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition BUT Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters are all-new! CBS preempts its usual line-up which includes The Amazing Race and Cold Case for The Academy of Country Music Awards from 8-11. NBC has A Minute to Win It at 8 followed by a new Celebrity Apprentice starting at 9pm. Fox has repeats of The Cleveland Show & Family Guy and new episodes of 'Til Death, The Simpsons and American Dad. As for the coming week, ABC launches new sitcom Romantically Challenged starring Alyssa Milano tomorrow at 9:30!!! PLEASE WATCH!

Week 30 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 29-- April 5-11)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - An all-new episode only mustered 1.93 million, but that was actually up from the previous week.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat episode at 7:30pm did only 2.48 million, but much better than 'Til Death. A new episode at 8pm did 5.64 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating...seems below normal.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode did 5.5 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating. Good retention.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode did 6.96 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating. Best of the block of course.
• American Dad (Fox) - The series returned to 5.13 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating. Could be better, but it is way better than Sons of Tucson.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did a below normal 6.8 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Hmm...
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 7.36 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating for a new episode, up from previous week.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A new airing did 13.71 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating. Great, but below what it usually does.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 13.39 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating. Solid! But now in repeats for a few weeks again...

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did 6.17 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, could be better.
• Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - A new episode did 5.9 million and 1.9 18-49 rating. It might be in danger now.
• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode did 6.7 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. Solid out of a repeat!
• Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat at 8pm did 5.1 million and 1.6 18-49 rating, nearly beating a new Old Christine on CBS. The normal 9pm airing was NEW and did 8.88 million and 3.7 18-49 at 9pm. Grrrreat!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 5.8 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - preempted.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - preempted.
• The Office (NBC) - Two repeats in the 8pm hour only did 3.83 and 3.81 million.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - preempted.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are a mix of new and repeats of Animation Domination.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and Rules of Engagement were impressive this week. Everything was OK (such as How I Met Your Mother and The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as repeats of The Office & 'Til Death).