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Week 33 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 33 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):

Households: 1. CBS 7.4/12.1 rating/share; 2. Fox 6.5/10.7; 3. ABC 6.1/10.2; 4. NBC 3.8/6.4; 5. The CW 1.3/2.1
Total Viewers: 1. CBS 11.76 million; 2. Fox 10.89 million; 3. ABC 9.48 million; 4. NBC 6.03 million; 5. The CW 2.03 million
Adults 18-49: 1. Fox 3.8/10.1 rating/share; 2. CBS 3.0/8.7; 3. ABC 2.7/7.9; 4. NBC 2.2/6.4; 5. The CW 1.0/2.8

Week 33 (May 3-9) Analysis: For week 33, it's a three network race really but CBS has the edge in total viewers and Fox in 18-49! Thus far through the first four nights CBS is first in HH/viewers, with Fox in second. ABC is a close third, with NBC way back in fourth. Among A18-49, Fox is on top by nearly a full point. CBS and ABC are trail and NBC is in fourth, like usual. Last week, week 32, CBS won the week in HH/viewers, and Fox won the week in 18-49. ABC and Fox battled for second in HH/viewers, with ABC having the edge in HH and Fox in viewers. ABC and CBS were tied for second in 18-49. And NBC was fourth across the board. How many times have we said that in recent years?

On Monday it was ABC with the win 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 19.64 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week in both measures and a season low. But still the 19.64 million still makes Dancing the top show of the week in viewers beating Idol once again! Next ABC aired the third episode of Romantically Challenged at 9:30pm to decent numbers doing 9.64 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up week-to-week in viewers despite a lower lead-in. I think it will return next fall (maybe on Wednesdays?). At 10pm, ABC had an all-new episode of Castle doing a first place 10.69 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. CBS started off the night with a new How I Met Your Mother doing 7.37 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, not bad but could be better in viewers especially. A new Rules of Engagement was next doing 7.21 million and 2.8 18-49, both up from the previous week. Then at 9pm a special all-new episode of The Big Bang Theory at a special time did 11.63 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, lower than the usual Two and a Half Men in viewers, though. Then a repeat of The Big Bang Theory was next on its normal time and did 10.3 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. CBS closed the night with a new CSI: Miami at 9.62 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, way below usual numbers for a new episode, could be series lows. Fox started the night with a brand new House doing 9.98 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, both down from previous week. At 9pm a new 24 did 9.0 million and a 2.8 18-49, on par from previous week again. NBC was of course in fourth with a new Chuck at 5.34 million and a 1.9 18-49, both down week-to-week. A repeat of Law & Order was next and did 5.06 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, that is on par with a new Trauma so you know where that show is headed. At 10pm a new Law & Order did only 6.18 million and 1.7 18-49 rating. Over at The CW, they started with the a new episode of One Tree Hill at 8pm and did 1.94 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. Then at 9pm a new Gossip Girl did 1.74 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down from previous week.

On Tuesday, Fox just beat CBS in viewers but had a comfortable lead in 18-49. Fox aired an all-new American Idol doing 17.5 million and a 6.2 18-49 rating in the 8pm hour, way down from previous week and lowest numbers since season one. Then Glee aired and did 11.62 million and a 4.9 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. CBS was all-new and started with a new NCIS doing 15.1 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating against heavy competition, down from previous week and season lows. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new showing doing 14.34 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, for series lows. And finally The Good Wife closed the night with a new episode doing 12.88 million but only a 2.3 18-49 rating, skewing very old, but the only show on CBS on this night to go up week-to-week. ABC started off the night with Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 12.04 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down some in viewers from previous week as Pamela Anderson was sent home (why America?). Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 9.59 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, up from its previous new episode two weeks ago. Just 4 1/2 hours left including this week! V finished the night with 5.37 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up from previous week. I think it will return next season and this show benefits a ton in DVR/online/iTunes. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 8.44 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up a million from the previous week. A new Parenthood was next doing 5.88 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up slightly only from previous week. The CW aired a new 90210 and a repeat of Life UneXpected as 90210 did only 1.43 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week, while Life UneXpected repeat did 900,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating...also on par from previous week.

On Wednesday Fox prevailed again with Idol. But Fox first started very slow with a repeat of Lie to Me doing only 4.44 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Why a repeat Fox? Then Fox aired of course American Idol Results and did 19.58 million and a 6.5 18-49 rating, both down some from previous week in both categories. Funny the results show did better than performance. CBS started with a new The New Adventures of Old Christine doing 6.29 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. A special repeat of The Big Bang Theory was next and did 6.01 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's Two and a Half Men repeat which had a repeat as its lead-in. Next CBS aired a new Criminal Minds and did 12.39 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, solid. CSI: NY closed the night with a new episode at 10pm with 10.3 million and only a 2.3 18-49 rating, looks like a series low. ABC did solid with their comedies. In the 8pm hour a repeat of The Middle did 4.78 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, but down from previous week's repeat. At 8:30, an all-new episode spiked up to 6.75 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, nice jump, but down a bit week-to-week. In the 9pm hour, an all-new Modern Family did an excellent 9.48 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down some from previous week! Fun episode! Look for part 2 this week as the family heads to Hawaii! Cougar Town was next at 9:30 and was also all-new doing 5.94 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. ABC aired week two of new mystery drama happy town at 10pm to a disappointing 3.79 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, not good at all. ABC should air comedy repeats or new Romantically Challenged here instead. NBC started with a repeat of Minute to Win It doing 5.48 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week in viewers. At 9pm an all-new Mercy only did 3.92 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. NBC is saying mercy after that. A new Law & Order: SVU was next and jumped to 8.43 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, but down from previous week. The CW aired America's Next Top Model at 8pm doing 3.41 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week in viewers. Fly Girls followed with 1.11 million and it also did only a 0.5 18-49 rating...actually up some from previous week. High Society closed the night with 860,000 viewers and 0.4 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week.

Moving on to Thursday, CBS won the night. CBS started with the durable Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at 8pm doing 13.06 million and a 4.1 rating in 18-49, up from previous week in viewers. A new CSI at 9pm did 14.15 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. The Mentalist finished the night with a new showing doing 14.85 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, on par in viewers and up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. ABC began the night with FLASHFORWARD at 8pm doing only 4.77 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, looks like the fate is sealed unfortunately (it is a good show, too). ABC aired an all-new Grey's Anatomy doing a 11.03 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating for first place, up from previous week in viewers. At 10pm a new Private Practice did 8.15 million viewers and a 2.8 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week in viewers. Fox aired a new Bones and did 9.05 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. A new Fringe garnered 5.82 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, both up from previous week. NBC started off with a new Community doing only 4.36 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, but on par really from previous week. Next Parks and Recreation was new and did only 4.03 and a 1.9 18-49 rating, exactly the same from previous week. At 9pm a new The Office did 6.83 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. A new 30 Rock was next doing 5.42 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down a tad from previous week. At 10pm the falling The Marriage Ref was next doing only 4.88 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, but up from previous week. The CW aired a new Vampire Diaries doing 3.31 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. Supernatural followed with 2.53 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, both up a bit from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday in viewers with their dramas. ABC had the highest rated show of the night in 18-49 with the season premiere of Primetime: What Would You Do? at 9pm. Fox won on Saturday thanks to NASCAR, with ABC's NBA Playoff game coming in second in 18-49.
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 the season finale of The Amazing Race followed by the TV movie Jesse Stone: No Remorse 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, look for a special two-hour Dancing with the Stars tomorrow as each couple dances twice for the first time this season and the return of Two and a Half Men on CBS. ABC's Private Practice has its season finale on Thursday. That means the TV season is about to end. What a fast season. I have never seen a season go by this fast!

Week 33 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 32-- April 26-May 2)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - An all-new episode only mustered 1.96 million, down from the previous week. At this point Fox doesn't care since they are burning episodes off. Blossom reunion tonight.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat episode at 7:30pm did only 2.4 million, down some from previous week's repeat. A new episode at 8pm did 6.03 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating...seems below normal but it was on par really from previous week again.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode did 5.78 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, good retention from the lead-in.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A special all-new one-hour episode did 7.4 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating. Down from numbers from earlier in the year, but so are all other shows.
• American Dad (Fox) - preempted.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 7.37 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, good but seems below normal.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 7.21 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating for a new episode, up from previous week but its lead-in was a repeat that week.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - preempted.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 2 airings - A new episode at a special time of 9pm did 11.63 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, below normal for this show, and below what Two and a Half Men does in this slot. A repeat at 9:30pm (its normal time slot) did 10.3 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, on par from previous week.
• Romantically Challenged (ABC) - 9.64 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating for episode three. It went up week-to-week in viewers despite its lead-in going down by almost a million. I think ABC has something here and they need to be patient and place it on Comedy Wednesday next fall.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did 6.29 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, not bad, but could be better.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special repeat did 6.01 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. A repeat of Two and a Half Men was a bit more impressive the previous week.
• The Middle (ABC) 2 airings - ABC aired a repeat and a new episode. A repeat at 8 did 4.78 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week's repeat. A new episode followed and did 6.75 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating...but down a bit week-to-week.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm of the hilarious comedy did 9.48 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down from previous week. This week's Hawaii episode could be its highest rated episode yet in 18-49 (will need to do a 4.3+). I'm calling it!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 5.94 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. It was a good episode, though.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - A new episode did only 4.36 million, ouch...2.0 18-49 rating is not too good either, but it was up a tenth from previous week.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - 4.03 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating is not good...and it did that two weeks in a row.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode at 9 did 6.83 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Below 7 million almost has it not being impressive.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - At 9:30pm a new episode did 5.42 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down 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. The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Office, How I Met Your Mother were impressive this week. Everything was OK (such as The Middle and Romantically Challenged) or just plain old terrible (such as a new Parks and Recreation, 'Til Death from week 32).