SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. CBS 8.2/13.4 rating/share; #2. ABC 7.3/12.0; #3. Fox 4.5/7.2; #4. NBC 4.3/7.0; #5. The CW 1.5/2.4.
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 13.28 million; #2. ABC 11.41 million; #3. Fox 7.61 million; #4. NBC 6.89 million; #5. The CW 2.26 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.4/9.7 rating/share; #2. ABC 3.1/8.8; #3. Fox 3.0/8.3; #4. NBC 2.4/6.8; #5. The CW 1.1/2.9.

Week 2 (Sept. 27-Oct. 3) Analysis: We are already nearing the end of week two and the first four nights have the nets a bit down from week one, but that is understandable. Fox remains the the closest to premiere week levels for the first four nights. Through the first four days, CBS has the lead in all categories still, with ABC in second in all categories again, Fox is in third while NBC is back in the familiar fourth. This could change after tonight, due to NFL overrun on Fox, but I still expect CBS to take the week and ABC to remain second with possibly Fox and NBC moving up thanks to NFL action. Last week, week 1, had CBS in first in all categories and they hung on to 18-49 thanks to an NFL overrun on Sunday. ABC was second in all categories, with NBC coming back to tie ABC for second in 18-49 thanks to the Sunday Night NFL game. NBC was third in the other categories, with Fox in fourth, down big from last season's premiere week.

Monday still has ABC on top, just like the previous week. A two-hour Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 21.34 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, up some in viewers from previous week actually and down some in 18-49, though it was preempted in Green Bay and Milwaukee for Monday Night Football simulcast. An all-new Castle followed with a solid 11.08 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both up from the season premiere the previous week. Next up was CBS with its comedies and the new Hawaii Five-0. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 9.0 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, climbing from previous week's numbers and Rules of Engagement followed with 8.15 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which could be better but on par with previous week. Two and a Half Men followed with 13.91 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's season's premiere. Week two of Mike & Molly did 11.12 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, down from from previous week. A new Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 12.72 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, down from previous week and CSI: Miami last season. This should be better as it was a hyped-up show -- probably the most of any new show. Fox was next with House doing 10.18 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, down from previous week, but good yet still disappointing. A new episode of Lone Star followed and dropped each 15 minutes again doing just 3.23 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, ouch. After that, Fox pulled it after two episodes. As I predicted, Lie to Me will replace it starting tomorrow. NBC followed with the should have been canceled Chuck doing only at 5.37 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. The new series The Event was next and dropped nearly 2 million viewers doing 9.09 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down 7 tenths from premiere. I think it will go down to Heroes numbers from last year soon. A new Chase was next and did 6.33 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from the premiere and does anyone even know about this show? The CW on Mondays has been a struggle so far, with 90210 doing only 1.96 million, which is actually up week-to-week, and Gossip Girl at 1.78 million, which is off from previous week.

Tuesday, Fox, CBS and ABC battled again. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 19.15 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, down in viewers a bit from previous week but up a tenth in 18-49. A new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 16.5 million and 3.7 18-49 rating, up from previous week actually. And finally CBS had the season premiere of The Good Wife and did 12.84 million but only a 2.5 18-49 rating. DVR is hurting 10pm on Tuesdays with all the shows from 8-10pm on the networks being watched after 10pm. ABC was next with the series premiere of No Ordinary Family leading the night off doing 10.69 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. That is a solid start and not bad against two top shows at 8pm. The live Dancing with the Stars Results Show followed at 9pm and did 17.34 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, down from previous week as we said goodbye to Michael Bolton. A new episode of the gritty Detroit 1-8-7 followed and did a decent 8.71 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Could be better though, but the lead-in was down a lot, so it held more of it this week. It did better than week two of the forgotten last year, so promising. Fox started off huge with the hyped Britney Spears episode of Glee doing series highs of 13.51 million but an even better 5.9 18-49 rating. That led into the two sitcoms Raising Hope and Running Wilde doing 7.08 million and 4.47 million and also a 3.1 and 1.9 18-49 rating. The jury is still out on these, but the latter is doing bad. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser 2-hour episode doing 7.19 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down a bit from its season premiere, followed by an all-new Parenthood at just 4.83 million and a last place 2.0 18-49 rating. There are just too many options on Tuesdays, and people are watching the DVRed shows at 10pm. The CW aired One Tree Hill with just 1.83 million, followed by an even worse Life UneXpected at just 1.51 million, but it was actually up week-to-week. CW needs help on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Wednesday again it was CBS on top, but everyone was down. CBS started the night off on top with week two of Survivor: Nicaragua at 12.26 million and a series low of 3.5 18-49 rating, the series on CBS and ABC seemed to be not off much in viewers on this night but in 18-49 it is a half point or more...strange. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 14.57 million and a 3.6 A18-49 rating, up some in viewers from previous week but down in 18-49. At 10pm, The Defenders aired and did 10.41 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week and finished 2nd place in its slot, which CBS is not used to for this slot. ABC started off with its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing a solid 8.35 million and 2.5 18-49 rating, both off some from previous week. The new sitcom Better With You was next and did a decent 6.99 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. It needs to go up this week for ABC to have a future with this show. The mammoth Modern Family was next and did 11.92 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating. A new episode of Cougar Town did 6.97 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down from previous week and needs to do a bit better this week (like it did for the season premiere). At 10pm The Whole Truth did just 4.58 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down from previous week. It will get likely its final chance this week to go up. NBC opened the night with disappointing Undercovers doing 7.24 million and only a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is really bad especially since the target for this show was 18-49. It will have to go up big for it to return. Law & Order: SVU was next doing 9.48 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Decent, but down some from the two episodes the previous week. The premiere of Law & Order: Los Angeles was next and sampled with 10.64 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, not bad but the test is this week. I think it will drop but remain first place. Fox quietly did solid with Hell's Kitchen at 6.08 million and 6.58 million and a 2.8 and 3.0 A18-49 rating. Basically the only thing not down from previous week. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at only 2.91 million, and a new episode of Hellcats followed with 2.22 million. Not too bad and on par with previous week.

Thursday it was CBS on top again, but ABC had the top show again. ABC opened the night with the decent show My Generation doing only 3.81 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, both down big from previous week even. In fact, ABC pulled it on Friday, so it has been canceled already. The second canceled series of the season. Then Grey's Anatomy followed with 12.53 million and a 4.6 A18-49 rating, down from previous week but still on top. A new episode of Private Practice was next doing 7.93 million and a 2.8 18-48 rating, solid but could be a bit better. CBS opened with The Big Bang Theory at 13.06 million and a 4.4 A18-49 rating, down from previous week. The new comedy (or lack of comedy) $!*# My Dad Says followed with 10.43 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating. Big drop from previous week, but still OK. Will it go more down, though? A new CSI followed and showed its age with 13.41 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down from the season premiere, while a new episode of The Mentalist did 14.65 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, winning its hour still but down from previous week. Fox started off well with Bones at a solid 9.75 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down just a bit from previous week, but Fringe followed and only did 5.24 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down the season premiere even. NBC was in the familiar fourth place with Community doing just 4.53 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating only, followed by 30 Rock at 5.68 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. At 9pm The Office jumped to 7.36 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, but down from the season premiere. A new Outsourced closed the comedy block with 5.85 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week but still not a train wreck. The Apprentice closed the night with only 3.61 million and a 1.3 18-49...the third straight week of drops. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries did 3.18 million, and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week, followed by a new Nikita at series lows of 2.68 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won a quiet Friday with their dramas with Blue Bloods on top. Fox's Good Guys and NBC's Outlaw continue to bomb and do terrible, and could be pulled soon
Saturday numbers had CBS win with College Football beating ABC's Saturday Night Football. Everything else was at normal levels.

Tonight are new episodes for ABC Sunday (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters). Look for Teri Hatcher in lingerie on Desperate Housewives tonight. NBC should do well with the NFL as usual. CBS its normal line-up from 7-10pm and the season premiere of CSI: Miami at 10pm on its new night. How will it do? Fox has its animation block from 8-10pm, including the season premiere of American Dad!

As for the week (week 2), CBS will win in HH, viewers and 18-49 most likely, though Fox could overtake both CBS and ABC with a big overrun of NFL tonight, but probably not. ABC will be second in HH/viewers and possibly in 18-49. NBC's ratings depend on NFL tonight they could jump and stay in 3rd, unless Fox's NFL overrun does big. As for the coming week (week 3), look for a few new series to gain from this week, that is a sign of a show that will return. I think Better With You and Mike & Molly have the best chance of going up this week. Maybe No Ordinary Family, too, but look for drops to continue for shows like Chase, Shat My Dad Says, Undercovers and Whole Truth.

Week 2 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 1 -- September 20-26)

• The Simpsons (Fox) 3 episodes - Two repeats starting at 7pm did 4.16 and 5.26 million, but the former didn't start nationally until 7:23 due to NFL action in other markets. The season premiere at 8pm did solid with 7.82 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - The season premiere did 6.61 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, good but seems down from normal.
• Family Guy (Fox) 2 episodes - Fox aired a one-hour season premiere doing 9.13 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, great but also down from last season's premiere.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 9.0 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating. Great and also up from the season premiere the previous week.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 8.15 million for a new episode is a it below previous week, but the 3.2 18-49 rating is up a tick from previous week. Maybe people are used to having this in mid-season only.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.91 million for a new episode is down from week-to-week and its 4.8 18-49 rating was down a tick as well but still excellent and quietly does very well.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 11.12 million for a new episode is down over a million from the series premiere the previous week, but still solid. 18-49 rating of 3.7 was off a few tenths but also nothing to worry about still. We were mentioned in the promo this week! Our quote was in the promo!

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - An all-new episode aired after Glee, which did a series best 5.9 18-49 rating, so this show should have went up a bit, too. But it didn't. It did a decent 7.08 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, it maintained the premiere numbers but the lead-in was up. Jury is still out on this show.
• Running Wilde (Fox) - This show is not doing well. A new episode did 4.47 million, down over a million from the premiere and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is down half a point from previous week. Not good folks!
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8pm did good with 8.35 million and a solid 2.5 18-49 rating. Nice numbers, but down some from previous week.
• Better with You (ABC) - The new comedy did 6.99 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. Not much of a drop, but it needs to go up this week.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did a great 11.92 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating. This entire night on all networks was strange, especially CBS and ABC, with viewership not much down but 18-49 was down by more.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 6.97 million, down the most of this block from previous week and a 2.8 18-49 rating, solid, but could be better.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did a solid 13.06 million, off a million from previous week and a 4.4 18-49 rating, down a half point from previous week. Modern Family continues to be the top sitcom in 18-49 after two weeks. But the 8pm slot is hurting Bang. I predicted it would be 3.8-4.3 in general, so it should be in that range soon.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - Following the big lead-in again, a new episode did 10.43 million, down 2 million from premiere and a 3.3 18-49 rating. Concerning but still solid. Wait and see approach with this show, especially after bad reviews for both episodes so far.
• Community (NBC) - A new episode only did 4.53 million and 1.9 A18-49 rating. Down from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 8:30 did 5.68 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, relatively the same from previous week, which is a good sign.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 7.36 million, down over a million from previous week and a 3.7 18-49 rating. It already went below a 4, as last week I said it would take a few weeks, but that was fast. Not good, but still the best anything NBC has to offer minus NFL.
• Outsourced (NBC) - A new episode dropped close to two million doing 5.85 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Still hard to judge this show's ratings, it will take a few weeks, but it is doing better than I thought it would. Still it is more bad than good.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• Modern Family (ABC) - A special encore of this week's episode did OK for a repeat with a prelim 3.98 million and a prelim 1.0 18-49 rating in a weak 8pm slot. It shouldn't be repeating anymore on Fridays as they only have 3 plays per episode. It's not worth it.
• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat of the season premiere did prelim 3.18 million and a prelim 0.8 A18-49 rating at 8:30.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 8-10PM.

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Middle, Raising Hope, Cougar Town, Outsourced) or just plain old terrible (such as Running Wilde, Community).