SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. CBS 7.9/12.9 rating/share; #2. ABC 6.8/11.1; #3. Fox 4.4/7.0; #4. NBC 3.8/6.2; #5. The CW 1.3/2.0.
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 12.94 million; #2. ABC 10.65 million; #3. Fox 7.47 million; #4. NBC 6.06 million; #5. The CW 1.97 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.4/9.2 rating/share; #2. ABC 2.9/8.0; #3. Fox 2.9/7.8; #4. NBC 2.1/5.9; #5. The CW 0.9/2.5.

Week 4 (Oct. 11-17) Analysis: The first month of the season is now already done...and the first four nights for week four have the nets consistent from previous week's first four nights. Through the first four days, CBS has the lead in all categories still, with ABC second everywhere, Fox is in third in HH/viewers, but tied with ABC in 18-49, while NBC is back in the familiar fourth with no NFL yet. This could change like usual after tonight, due to NFL again, but I still expect CBS to take the week but Fox could control second in 18-49 thanks to an NFL overrun tonight and MLB NLCS Game 2. ABC should hang on to second in HH/total viewers, though. So even with NFL, NBC is likely remaining in fourth in HH/viewers this week, but they have a chance to be close third or fourth in 18-49. Last week, week 3, had CBS in first in all categories once again, as it has all season, even though they are down a bit from last season. ABC was second across the board. NBC was third in all categories with the NFL once again saving it from being in fourth, so Fox had to settle for fourth since they didn't have an NFL overrun on Sunday, though Fox did tie NBC for third in 18-49 at a 2.4 rating. That shows you bad NBC is doing that even with NFL it couldn't beat CBS, ABC and Fox.

Monday still has ABC on top, just like the previous week. A two-hour Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 19.53 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week, though it was preempted in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN for Monday Night Football simulcast. The same thing happened to an all-new Castle which still did a solid 10.66 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, both on par really from the previous week, despite being preempted in Minneapolis. Next up was CBS with its comedies and the new Hawaii Five-0. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 8.48 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week's numbers and Rules of Engagement followed with 7.99 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down a bit in viewers but on par in 18-49 from the previous week. Two and a Half Men followed with 13.47 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, down a million in viewers but the same from previous week in 18-49. Week four of Mike & Molly did 10.72 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week's close to series highs. It needs to grow tomorrow from 10.72/3.5. A new Hawaii Five-0 was next and continues to drop, this time at 10.7 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week and CSI: Miami last season once again. It's disappointing. Fox was next with House doing only 9.69 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, down from previous week. What is wrong with this show in live+same day numbers? A new showing of Lie To Me followed and dropped to 5.44 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down some from the season premiere the previous week. NBC followed with the should have been canceled Chuck doing only at 5.32 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, on par with previous week again--at least it is consistent. The new series The Event isn't consistent. It dropped again and did only 6.5 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, lower than Heroes numbers from the same week last year. That is not good news AT ALL. A new Chase was next and did only 4.92 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down again from previous week and its time is running out. The CW on Mondays is bad, with 90210 doing only 1.81 million, up a bit week-to-week and Gossip Girl at 1.78 million, which is down a tad from previous week. Both did only a 0.9 18-49 rating.

Tuesday, Fox, CBS and ABC battled again. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 19.2 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down some in viewers a bit from previous week but up a tenth in 18-49. Another old skew for CBS but they will take it. A new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 16.05 million and 3.5 18-49 rating, like the lead-in, down a tad in viewers from previous week, but up a tenth in 18-49. And finally CBS had a new The Good Wife and did 11.81 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down in viewers from previous week, but the same 18-49. Maybe the older viewers went to cable to see the Chilean miners being rescued? ABC was next as a new No Ordinary Family was leading the night off doing 7.72 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. What a great episode it was, but it was off from previous week. It needs to go up this week, and I think it will. ABC has ordered four extra scripts, so they clearly see potential in ratings and the episodes are coming out good in quality. The live Dancing with the Stars Results Show followed at 9pm and did 16.08 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down a lick from previous week in viewers, but up some in 18-49, as we said goodbye to The Situation. Good riddance...he is so dumb and annoying! A new episode of the gritty Detroit 1-8-7 followed and did 6.98 million and only a 1.7 18-49 rating, off in viewers from previous week, but on par in 18-49. It seems older viewers went to cable tonight, as 18-49 was the same or higher for most CBS/ABC series. The 10pm shows are all down in live+same day ratings on this night, as nothing is above a 2.5 in 18-49...it's a heavy DVR usage night. Fox started off huge with a new showing of Glee doing 11.36 million but an even better 4.7 18-49 rating...both up some from previous week. Next were the two sitcoms Raising Hope and Running Wilde doing 6.02 million and 3.28 million and also a 2.5 and 1.4 18-49 rating. Both did bad again, not just the latter, yet the former was picked up for a full season already. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser 2-hour episode doing 7.04 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week, followed by an all-new Parenthood at just 4.66 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week. There are just too many options on Tuesdays, and people are watching the DVRed shows from earlier in the night at 10pm and saving the 10pm shows for the next night or so, as I keep saying. The CW aired One Tree Hill with just 1.9 million, down a bit from previous week, followed by an even worse Life UneXpected at just 1.59 million, but up some week-to-week. No real help from the cross-over on both shows on this night.

Wednesday again it was CBS on top, with Fox and ABC close by in 18-49. CBS started the night off on top with week two of Survivor: Nicaragua at 12.32 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, up some in viewers but the same 18-49 from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 14.0 million and a 3.5 A18-49 rating, up some in viewers from previous week, but the same 18-49 as previous week. At 10pm, The Defenders aired and did 9.9 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, both up from previous week and the first time it didn't drop. Is it because ABC didn't have a competing drama in the hour? ABC started off with its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing a solid 7.98 million and 2.5 18-49 rating, on par from previous week again. The new sitcom Better With You was next and did a 6.38 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, both down from previous week, which is too bad because it was the funniest episode since the pilot. The mammoth Modern Family was next and did 11.45 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week in viewers but up some in 18-49. A new episode of Cougar Town did 7.23 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, both up from previous week again. At 10pm The Whole Truth was preempted for A Special Edition of 20/20: Miracle at the Mine doing 6.08 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, better than the 4.4 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating of The Whole Truth the previous week. NBC opened the night with disappointing Undercovers doing 5.93 million and only a 1.4 18-49 rating, down again from previous week. It has not once gone up. Law & Order: SVU was next doing 8.13 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week and seems way too low. A new episode of Law & Order: Los Angeles was next and did 7.26 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down a lot again from previous. This is another NBC bust so far. Fox quietly did solid with Hell's Kitchen at 6.3 million and 7.36 million and a 2.8 and 3.4 A18-49 rating. So consistent! The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at only 2.99 million, and a new episode of Hellcats followed with 2.01 million. Not too bad but former was up while the latter was down from previous week.

Thursday it was CBS on top again, but ABC had the top show again. ABC opened the night with a previous week repeat of Grey's Anatomy doing 4.08 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, both off some from previous week's encore. Then the all-new Grey's Anatomy followed with 12.11 million and a 4.6 A18-49 rating, down some in viewers from previous week but maintained the 18-49 rating again. A new episode of Private Practice was next doing 8.07 million and a 3.0 18-48 rating, up a tenth from previous week again. CBS opened with The Big Bang Theory at 12.56 million and a 4.3 A18-49 rating, on par in viewers but up a few tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The new comedy (or lack of comedy) $#*! My Dad Says followed with 10.16 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. Finally didn't drop, so a good sign. Let's see this week. A new CSI followed and did 14.45 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, both up sharply from previous week, while a new episode of The Mentalist did 15.13 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, winning its hour and also up previous week. Fox started off well with Bones at a solid 9.58 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, on par from previous week, but Fringe followed and only did 5.22 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par really though from previous week, too. NBC was in the familiar fourth place with Community doing just 4.81 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating but both up from previous week (still not good, though), followed by 30 Rock doing a special LIVE episode boosting its ratings to 6.7 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, way better than last week's series lows. At 9pm The Office jumped to 7.36 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, up from previous week, but given the better lead-in, thought it would go up more. A new Outsourced closed the comedy block with 5.4 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. It should have gone up more with the lead-ins all up. The Apprentice closed the night with only 3.7 million and a 1.3 18-49...just plain bad, but on par with previous week. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was a repeat with 1.95 million, and a 0.9 18-49 rating, followed by a repeat of Nikita at 1.71 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating. Even in repeats these two are just as good as the Monday and Tuesday schedule...so sad.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won a quiet Friday with their dramas with CSI: NY on top of the night. Fox's Good Guys and NBC's premiere of School Pride did terrible. ABC had an OK showing from 20/20 at 9 & 10, on par with NBC's Dateline in the same hours.
Saturday numbers had Fox win with MLB NLCS Game #1 nipping by ABC's NASCAR coverage. Everything else was repeats and low or a burn-off (Outlaw).

Tonight are new episodes for ABC Sunday (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters). Look for the Dancing with the Stars pros on Home Edition tonight! NBC should do well with the NFL. CBS has its normal Sunday line-up (includes Undercover Boss), with no NFL overrun this time to help it. Fox's animation block is preempted by an NFL overrun and MLB NLCS Game #2. Look for all four nets to do well. Everyone does well on Sunday in the fall (until NBC's NFL season is over and bombs in January)!

As for the week (week 4), CBS will win in HH, viewers and maybe 18-49, I say maybe because Fox has an NFL ovrrun that will either put them in first in 18-49 or second. ABC will remain second in HH/viewers, but Fox or even NBC could take second in 18-49. Fox should be third in HH/viewers, with NBC likely fourth. As for the coming week (week 5), we look for more climbs and declines of new shows and will some shows (Chase, The Whole Truth, Running Wilde, Good Guys) have their last outings this week? The event of the week is, will The Event drop more? Enjoy the week!

Week 4 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 3 -- Oct. 4-10)

• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - An all-new episode at 8pm did 6.74 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down big from previous week due to no direct NFL lead-in. A repeat leading in at 7:30pm did 3.86 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is not bad.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) 2 episodes - A new showing in its regular 8:30pm time did just 5.63 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down from previous week. This season has been disappointing so far for this show in the ratings. A repeat at 7pm did just 2.44 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating.
• Family Guy (Fox) - Fox aired a new episode doing 6.97 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, great but down from previous week thanks to no NFL leading into the block.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A new showing did 5.36 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, like the rest of the shows, down from previous week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 8.48 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, on par from the previous week.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 7.99 million for a new episode is a bit down from previous week, but the 3.0 18-49 rating is the same from previous week. Still disappointing, though.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.47 million for a new episode is down a million from week-to-week but its 4.5 18-49 rating was the same from previous week. Weird. It skewed older the previous week, but younger this week.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 10.72 million for a new episode is down from the previous week and so far the lowest yet. 18-49 rating of 3.5 was also down from previous week. What happened? Previous week it tied series best numbers, now down to series lows? It should climb back up tomorrow, if not, CBS needs to take a look at its performance the next few weeks.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - An all-new episode aired after Glee, which did a 4.7 18-49 rating, so this show should be better. But it still isn't and yet Fox ordered a full season...a little too quick, I think. It did 6.02 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. Needs to do better, but it has the back nine to prove itself. Will it be one season and done? Or will it improve once Idol comes?
• Running Wilde (Fox) - This show is on cancelation watch. A new episode did only 3.28 million, down again from previous week and a 1.4 18-49 rating, is just terrible. It is being preempted soon for a few weeks...so after this week, we might have seen the last of the show. You know Fox doesn't care when Glee/Raising Hope are repeats this Tuesday, but this show is all-new. Can it even get a 1.0 18-49 this week?
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8pm did good with 7.98 million and a solid 2.5 18-49 rating. Nice numbers, and on par with previous week again. I'd like to see it grow in the coming weeks, as the nights get colder.
• Better with You (ABC) - The new comedy did 6.38 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Down from previous week, and lowest yet. Not good, but it hasn't bombed. I think it will go up this week.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did a great 11.45 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating. On par in viewers with the previous week and up a few tenths in 18-49. The sitcom leader in 18-49!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 7.23 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up again from previous week and solid. What a funy episode, too, as the buzz is very positive on this show quality wise. I think this show would help ABC win Wednesdays at 10 in 18-49 (or even 8:30?), I think, with a new sitcom airing at 9:30 (like the upcoming Happy Endings?).
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did a solid 12.56 million, on par really from previous week and a 4.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. This show could do better than this, especially at 9pm.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - Following the big lead-in again, a new episode did 10.16 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. First time it went up from previous week. If it can maintain this, it will get the back nine. Sad right?
• Community (NBC) - A new episode only did 4.81 million and 2.2 A18-49 rating, but that is up from previous week's terrible ratings.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 8:30, was a special LIVE episode and it did 6.7 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, Up nearly two million from previous week and a full point in 18-49. Best numbers since like December. Nice, but look for a tumble this week. I think it was a fluke because of the live episode.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 7.36 million, up some from previous week and a 3.8 18-49 rating, also up some. Did the lead-in boost it? We shall soon know...
• Outsourced (NBC) - A new episode dropped to 5.4 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating. Only up a tenth in 18-49, despite the lead-in going up. Oddly this is NBC's highest rated new show, beating The Event, Chase, Law & Order: LA and Undercovers this week. Sad!
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no comedies, as Fox's animated comedies are preempted for the MLB NLCS.

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, The Office, How I Met Your Mother, $#*! My Dad Says, Cougar Town were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as 30 Rock, Outsourced) or just plain old terrible (such as Running Wilde, Community).