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Week 32 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 32 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):
(We don't have these, but we do have final program ratings in the analysis)

Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A
Adults 18-49: N/A

Week 32 (April 26-May 2) Analysis: For week 32, May sweeps has just started! With sweeps starting on Thursday (April 29), now the time is near for the season to end. And a fast season at that! Thus far through the first four nights since I don't have final network averages, I can predict Fox is first in HH/viewers, with CBS right behind. ABC is a close third, with NBC way back in fourth. Among A18-49, I can predict Fox is also first, with ABC edging CBS for second in 18-49. NBC is in fourth, lke usual. Last week, week 31, Fox won the week in all categories. CBS was second in HH/viewers, but ABC squeaked past CBS & NBC for second in 18-49. CBS and NBC were tied for third in 18-49, while ABC was third in HH/viewers. NBC was fourth in HH/viewers.

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 90-minute edition of Dancing with the Stars and it did 20.4 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, down from previous week in both measures. That 20.4 million still makes Dancing the top show of the week in viewers beating Idol again! Next ABC aired the second episode of Romantically Challenged at 9:30pm to decent numbers doing 9.06 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, viewers could be better (but the lead-in was down a million). If it can build up a bit tomorrow night on this, I think it will return next fall (maybe on Wednesdays?). At 10pm, ABC had a repeat of Castle doing a first place 8.0 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, not bad for a repeat. CBS started off the night with a repeat of How I Met Your Mother doing only 4.84 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, way below normal repeat numbers. What happened? A new Rules of Engagement was next doing 6.83 million and 2.5 18-49, both down from the previous week but nice builds from the lead-in. Then at 9pm a repeat of Two and a Half Men sparked up to 9.97 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, way below previous week's repeat. Then a repeat of The Big Bang Theory built on the lead-in again and did 10.83 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, great numbers for a repeat as it built from the lead-in but it was down from previous week. Look for a new episode tomorrow at a special time of 9pm. CBS closed the night with a repeat of CSI: Miami at 7.83 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, way below normal repeat levels. Fox started the night with a brand new House doing 10.85 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which was both up a lick from previous week. At 9pm a new 24 did 9.12 million and a 2.8 18-49, on par from previous week again. NBC was of course in fourth with a new Chuck at 5.78 million and a 2.1 18-49. An all-new Trauma followed an needed some trauma at only 5.0 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, but up from the previous week when its lead-in was a repeat. At 10pm a Law & Order repeat did only 4.73 million and 1.4 18-49 rating, up some from previous week's repeat. Over at The CW, they started with the return of new episodes of One Tree Hill at 8pm and did 2.01 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. Good, but could be better. Then at 9pm a new Gossip Girl did 2.05 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating.

On Tuesday, Fox just beat CBS in viewers. Fox aired an all-new American Idol doing 19.42 million and a 6.9 18-49 rating in the 8pm hour, on par really from previous week. Then Glee aired from 9:02-10:02pm (why does Idol always run late without notice?) and did 12.18 million and a 5.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. CBS was finally new. They started with a new NCIS doing 16.29 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating against heavy competition. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new showing doing 15.62 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, I have a feeling it will be tried in another timeslot (like 8pm) or another night (Wednesday at 8?) next fall. And finally The Good Wife closed the night with a new episode doing 12.07 million but only a 2.2 18-49 rating, skewing very old. ABC started off the night with Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 12.39 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down some in viewers from previous week as Jake Pavelka was sent home. Then a repeat of the final season of LOST was next with 5.58 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. New episodes of course return this week...just 5 hours left including this week! V finished the night with 4.87 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down from previous week when its lead-in was new. Even with a repeat as its lead-in, it grew and remained steady in the entire hour (unlike CBS and NBC's 10pm shows). I think that just about makes it ready to return next season and this show benefits a ton in DVR/online/iTunes. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 7.54 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down a lot from the previous week. A new Parenthood was next doing 5.81 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down sharply from previous week. The CW aired a new 90210 and a repeat of Life UneXpected as 90210 did only 1.54 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, while Life UneXpected repeat did 890,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating...this show should come back instead of Melrose Place.

On Wednesday Fox prevailed again with Idol. But Fox first started slow with a repeat of Lie to Me doing only 5.28 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. Why a repeat? Then Fox aired of course American Idol Results and did 20.06 million and a 6.7 18-49 rating, up sharply from previous week in both categories when it was nearly 2 1/2 hours. CBS started with a repeat of The New Adventures of Old Christine doing only 5.21 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but both on par really from previous week, and that was all-new. A special repeat of Two and a Half Men was next and did a solid 6.26 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up from previous week's Accidentally on Purpose season finale. Next CBS aired a repeat of Criminal Minds and did 8.98 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week's repeat. CSI: NY closed the night with a repeat at 10pm with 7.68 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week's repeat. ABC did solid with their comedies. In the 8pm hour a repeat of The Middle did 5.21 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, beating the competing CBS comedy repeat. At 8:30, an all-new episode spiked up to 7.1 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, nice jump. In the 9pm hour, an all-new Modern Family did an excellent 10.01 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating! Cougar Town was next at 9:30 and was also all-new doing 6.49 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, not bad going up against the conclusion of Idol, though. I still think it should air at 10pm in the fall, though. ABC launched the new mystery drama happy town at 10pm to a disappointing 5.25 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, better than Betty but it needs to maintain this and seems unlikely that it will. Sad but true. NBC started with a repeat of Minute to Win It doing 5.2 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, that was higher than an all-new episode of Mercy from previous week. Sad right? At 9pm an all-new Mercy only did 4.92 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. A new Law & Order: SVU was next and jumped to first place at 9.49 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating. The CW aired America's Next Top Model at 8pm doing 3.29 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, both up from previous week. Fly Girls followed with 920,000 viewers and it also did only a 0.4 18-49 rating...on par really from previous week. High Society closed the night with 800,000 viewers and 0.3 18-49 rating, on par from previous week.

Moving on to Thursday, CBS won the first night of May sweep. CBS started with the durable Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at 8pm doing 12.74 million and a 4.1 rating in 18-49, up sharply in 18-49 from previous week. A new CSI at 9pm did 13.63 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up a tad from the previous week. The Mentalist finished the night with a new showing doing 14.84 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, on par in viewers but up a tad in 18-49 from previous week. ABC began the night with FLASHFORWARD at 8pm doing 5.17 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. ABC aired an all-new Grey's Anatomy doing a decent 10.47 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating for first place. At 10pm a new Private Practice did 7.78 million viewers a 2.9 18-49 rating. Fox aired a new Bones and did 9.28 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. A new Fringe garnered 5.55 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, both down from previous week a bit. NBC started off with a new Community doing only 4.36 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week. Next Parks and Recreation was new and did only 4.03 and a 1.9 18-49 rating. At 9pm a new The Office did 7.01 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week's season lows. A new 30 Rock was next doing 5.44 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. At 10pm the falling The Marriage Ref was next doing only 4.37 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. Series is tiring already. The CW aired a new Vampire Diaries doing 3.39 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. Supernatural followed with 2.38 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, both down from previous week as competition heated up.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won a slow Friday with their dramas in viewers and was .1 off in 18-49, as NBC won that. Fox won on Saturday thanks to NASCAR.
Tonight ABC airs new episodes of their Sunday line-up of America's Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters -- tune in! CBS airs a new The Amazing Race followed by a two-hour Cold Case season (or series?) finale from 9-11pm. NBC has A Minute to Win It at 8 followed by a new Celebrity Apprentice starting at 9pm. Fox has new episodes of Animation Domination and 'Til Death. As for the coming week, it's the first full week of May sweeps. What will happen?

Week 32 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 31-- April 19-25)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - An all-new episode only mustered 2.24 million, but up from the previous week when it was UNDER 2 million.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat episode at 7:30pm did only 2.69 million, up some from previous week's repeat. A new episode at 8pm did 5.92 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating...seems below normal but it was on par really from previous week.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat did 5.06 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 6.33 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week. Impressive.
• American Dad (Fox) - An all-new episode did 5.33 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating. That is up from previous week as the lead-in went up this week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did only 4.84 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, below normal for a repeat.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 6.83 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating for a new episode, down from previous week but still built from the lead-in.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat did 9.97 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating. Nice repeat numbers but down a lot from previous week's repeat. This show doesn't return until next Monday. Thank Charlie Sheen for that.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat at 9:30pm did 10.83 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Outstanding as it built from the lead-in for the second straight week when it didn't have to face Dancing on ABC as its lead-in had to.
• Romantically Challenged (ABC) - 9.06 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating for episode two. Could be better, but the key is to build some type of audience. So tomorrow's episode has to do a bit better than this. If it does, we will see a second season (hopefully on Comedy Wednesday). Watch it folks! It is traditional!

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - A repeat did 5.21 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, that was actually on par from previous week when it was new...but Idol was on opposite it that week.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A special repeat did better than the finale of Accidentally on Purpose doing 6.26 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating.
• The Middle (ABC) 2 airings - ABC aired a repeat and a new episode. A repeat at 8 did a decent 5.21 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, with a new episode following and doing a solid 7.1 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm of the hilarious comedy did 10.01 million and an excellent 4.2 18-49 rating. I think the show will be even bigger next fall with repeats airing this summer.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did a solid 6.49 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Yes, it was doing 8 million and a 3.2+ 18-49 rating, but it is facing the conclusion of Idol every week.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - A new episode did only 4.36 million, ouch...1.9 18-49 rating is not too good either, but both up from the series lows from previous week.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - 4.03 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating is not good.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode at 9 did 7.01 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, beating the season lows from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - At 9:30pm a new episode did 5.44 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up some from previous week.

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, The Office were impressive this week. Everything was OK (such as Rules of Engagement and 30 Rock) or just plain old terrible (such as a new Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother repeat).