SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. ABC 7.4/11.9 rating/share; #2. CBS 7.0/11.3; #3. Fox 4.8/7.7; #4. NBC 3.9/6.2; #5. The CW 1.5/2.3
Total Viewers: #1. ABC 11.53 million; #2. CBS 11.48 million; #3. Fox 8.07 million; #4. NBC 6.1 million; #5. The CW 2.26 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.1/8.4 rating/share; #2. ABC 3.0/8.2; #3. Fox 2.5/6.8; #4. NBC 2.1/5.7; #5. The CW 1.0/2.8.

Week 7 (Nov. 1-7) Analysis: The first full week of sweeps has ABC and CBS battling in all categories, with ABC first in HH/viewers and CBS by a tenth in 18-49 through the first four nights. So, through the first four days, ABC has the lead in HH/viewers, but second in 18-49. CBS has to settle for second in HH/viewers, but first in 18-49 by a hair. Fox is third across the board, thanks to no baseball. NBC is back in the familiar fourth across the board with no NFL until tonight. This could change like usual after tonight, due to NFL overrun on CBS, so expect CBS to take the week in all categories. Last week, week 6, had Fox in first in all categories thanks to the World Series and an NFL overrun on Sunday, beating CBS who had won the first five weeks. CBS was second in HH/viewers but tied for second in 18-49 with ABC. ABC was third in HH/viewers, while NBC was fourth across the board.

Monday still has ABC on top, like all season but Fox won in 18-49 because of World Seres Game 5. The game did 14.74 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating in primetime (14.95 and a 4.2 18-49 rating overall). For ABC, a two-hour Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 19.93 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Next an all-new Castle did a solid 11.27 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down a bit from the previous week's season highs. Next up was CBS with its comedies and the new Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother started it off with 8.88 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, up sharply from previous week's 18-49 numbers. At 8:30, Rules of Engagement did 8.69 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up from the previous week and to season highs. Two and a Half Men followed with 13.64 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, down some in viewers but up in 18-49 from previous week. At 9:30, Mike & Molly did 10.75 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, both down a lick from previous week. A new Hawaii Five-0 was next and did 10.86 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week, and for the first time it went up in 18-49 from previous week. Fox preempted House and Lie To Me for Game 5 clincher of the World Series as the Giants beat the Rangers. NBC followed with the consistent Chuck doing only at 5.47 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. From 9-11pm The Event and Chase were preempted for the sweeps special Women of SNL which did 5.42 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, only a bit up from the normal schedule in 18-49 for the two-hours. The CW was next, with 90210 doing 2.0 million and Gossip Girl at 1.82 million...both are under performing and down a bit from previous week. CW was preempted though in Houston for MNF simulcast.

Tuesday had ABC win the night on this Election night. CBS had a repeat of NCIS opening the night off with 11.52 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which are still good numbers, especially total viewers. A repeat of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 10.72 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, like the lead-in. And finally CBS preempted The Good Wife for Election coverage and CBS News coverage failed to deliver with only 5.86 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. ABC was first on this night. No Ordinary Family was preempted on this night as Dancing with the Stars Results Show aired from 8pm-9:30pm due to Election night and did 16.93 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, both up from previous week, as we shockingly said goodbye to Rick Fox. Come on America, Bristol Palin was clearly the one to go. ABC had to preempt Detroit 1-8-7 for ABC News Vote 2010 coverage from 9:30pm-10:55pm doing 6.79 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Fox had a repeat of Glee on Election night doing 5.15 million and a 1.9 18-49. Next Raising Hope and Running Wilde were preempted for Election coverage from Fox doing only 2.81 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. NBC was next with a shortened The Biggest Loser episode in the 8pm hour doing 6.64 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's season lows. A Next was NBC News coverage of the Election from 9pm-10:36pm doing 6.36 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, as Parenthood was preempted. The CW was all-new with the only new scripted programming of the night, as One Tree Hill did just 1.82 million, followed by an even worse Life UneXpected at just 1.5 million.

Wednesday it was CBS on top. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Nicaragua at 12.3 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 14.58 million and a 3.9 A18-49 rating, sharply up from previous week. At 10pm, The Defenders aired and did 9.94 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week. CBS was up because of no baseball this week. ABC started off with its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 9.42 million and tying a series best again with a 2.9 18-49 rating. The new sitcom Better With You was next and did 7.73 million and tied a series best again with a 2.5 18-49 rating, up in viewers from previous week for its second best numbers ever beating the previous week. The mammoth Modern Family was next and did 12.24 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, both off from previous week. A new episode of Cougar Town did 7.43 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week, but still solid. At 10pm, ABC aired the special In The Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville doing 6.13 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up from previous week's The Whole Truth by a lot. NBC opened the night with the recently canceled Undercovers doing 5.91 million and only a 1.3 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week in viewers but a series low in 18-49. At 9, Law & Order: SVU was next doing 8.14 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, below normal. A new Law & Order: Los Angeles was next and did 7.83 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, also below normal. Maybe the repeat from previous week messed them up? Fox aired two repeats of Hell's Kitchen at 3.28 million/3.13 million and a 1.4/1.3 18-49 rating, as a Game 6 of the World Series wasn't necessary. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at 2.96 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, and a new episode of Hellcats followed with a could-be better 1.94 million.

Thursday it was a battle between CBS and ABC. ABC opened the night with a previous week encore of Grey's Anatomy doing its usual business at 4.29 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. Then an all-new Grey's Anatomy followed with 11.92 million and a 4.3 A18-49 rating, both up from previous week. Another fantastic episode, I think. A new episode of Private Practice was next doing 10.18 million and a 3.9 18-48 rating, WAY up from previous week with a very special episode. Its highest ratings since January and its highest margin of victory in the 10pm hour ever. This was by far the highest rated 10pm hour for a regular series since week one (Hawaii Five-0 premiere did a 3.9). CBS opened with The Big Bang Theory at 14.0 million and a 4.6 A18-49 rating, up from previous week and best showings since the season premiere. Eliza Dushku factor? Then $#*! My Dad Says followed with 11.02 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, also up from previous week, but a lower retention rate than previous week from the lead-in. A new CSI followed and did 13.96 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week in viewers but the same 18-49. A new episode of The Mentalist did 14.42 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Fox started with a new Bones doing 9.26 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, solid, but Fringe dropped the ball with only 4.8 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. NBC was in the familiar fourth place in viewers, as Community did 4.61 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, lower than previous week's special 8:30pm airing. At 8:30, 30 Rock was back after a week off doing an OK 5.31 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating. At 9pm The Office jumped to 7.65 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. A new Outsourced closed the comedy block with 5.74 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. At 10, The Apprentice closed the night with only 4.04 million and a 1.4 18-49...just plain bad, but up some in viewers from previous week. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries did great with 3.63 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, followed by Nikita at 2.41 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. The latter could be better.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS nipped by ABC again in 18-49 on Friday with their dramas. Fox's Good Guys and NBC's School Pride did terrible again with under a 1 ratings...just how long can these keep airing? ABC had a great showing from Primetime: What Would You Do again at 9, beating NBC's Dateline from 9-11.
Saturday numbers had Fox win its normal crime reality line-up, besting ABC's Saturday Night College Football coverage which was below normal. Everything else was repeats or burn-offs (Outlaw).

Tonight are new episodes for ABC Sunday (AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters). NBC has the Packers/Cowboys NFL game which should be higher than previous week's game. CBS has the NFL overrun tonight followed by its normal Sunday line-up, which includes Undercover Boss, airing on a delay in E/C time zones. Fox's animation block is back from 7-10pm, with new episodes from 8-10. Look for all four nets to do well again on Sunday. CBS or NBC will win the night, thanks to NFL.

As for the week (week 7), CBS will win across the board. An NFL overrun tonight in the 7pm ET hour will seal that. ABC will be second in HH/viewers, but it will be close in 18-49 but they should hang on. Fox and NBC will battle for third in HH/viewers, but I think NBC will pass them in 18-49 after tonight's NFL game. As for the coming week (week 8), w have more specials such as the 44th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday at 8pm on ABC, which will have ABC win Wednesday despite TV's highest rated scripted series among 18-49 (Modern Family) being preempted.

Week 7 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 6 -- Oct. 25-31)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted for MLB World Series Game 4.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted for MLB World Series Game 4.
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted for MLB World Series Game 4.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted for MLB World Series Game 4.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 8.88 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, up from the previous week. 18-49 rating went up .5 from previous week. The best of the night.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 8.69 million for a new episode is up from previous week, as is the 3.4 18-49 rating, as both were season highs. Deserves an impressive label this week.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.64 million for a new episode is down some week-to-week but its 4.7 18-49 rating was up from previous week. Still not that much up from all this Charlie Sheen hoopla...Mother and Rules were up more.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 10.75 million for a new episode is down just a bit from the previous week again. 18-49 rating of 3.6 was down a tenth from previous week.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted for Election coverage.
• Running Wilde (Fox) - preempted for Election coverage.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8pm did 9.42 million, down a tad from its series highs the previous week but it tied a series high with a 2.9 18-49 rating again. Great job!
• Better with You (ABC) - The new comedy did 7.73 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. Up a bit in viewers and the same 18-49 rating from previous week, tying series highs in 18-49 again.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 12.24 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, both off some from previous week's series highs. It is still the top scripted series in 18-49 for the week even with the small drop.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 7.43 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did a solid 14.0 million, up a million from previous week and a 4.7 18-49 rating, up five tenths from previous week.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - Following the big lead-in again, a new episode did 11.02 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up week-to-week.
• Community (NBC) - A new episode at its normal 8pm time did only 4.61 million and a 1.9 A18-49 rating, down from previous week at 8:30.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode did only 5.31 million but a better 2.4 18-49 rating.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 7.65 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, both off some from previous week.
• Outsourced (NBC) - A new episode dropped to 5.74 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, but both were on par really week-to-week. This and S#*! are still alive actually.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10, with new showings from 8-10.

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, Mike & Molly, $#*! My Dad Says, The Middle, Rules of Engagement were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as 30 Rock, Outsourced) or just plain old terrible (such as Community).