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Households: 1. CBS 6.9/11.3 (rating/share); 2. ABC 4.7/7.7; 3. NBC 4.2/6.8; 4. Fox 3.9/6.8; 5. The CW 1.4/2.2
Total Viewers: 1. CBS 11.25 million; 2. ABC 7.5 million; 3. NBC 6.9 million. 4. Fox 6.58 million; 5. The CW 2.11 million
Adults 18-49: 1. CBS 2.7/7.7 (rating/share); 2. NBC 2.5/6.8; 3. Fox 2.2/6.0; 4. ABC 2.1/5.8; 5. The CW 0.9/2.5

Week 12 (Dec. 6-12) Analysis: Week 12 has more repeats with some originals mixed in for the start of the holiday season. Through the first four days, CBS has the lead in all categories, as ABC is second in HH/viewers, but NBC is second in 18-49. NBC is third in HH/viewers, with Fox third in 18-49. Fox is fourth in HH/viewers and ABC is fourth in 18-49. This could change like usual after tonight, due to a NFL overrun on CBS and the NBC Sunday Night Football Game. I'll let you know at the end of this anlaysis on what I think will happen. Last week, week 11, had CBS take first in HH/viewers but they were third in 18-49 again. Fox took home the 18-49 crown for the second straight week, but was fourth in HH/viewers. ABC was third in HH/viewers and fourth in 18-49, while NBC jumped to second in all categories.

Monday was slow but more competitive than previous week. ABC is off the map on this night without Dancing with the Stars as the third episode of Skating with the Stars did terrible with 3.94 million and an even worse 0.8 18-49 rating. That was even more of a drop from previous week. Though, note ABC was preempted in the Boston market for MNF simulcast, but still it is low. Next ABC aired a special repeat of Modern Family at 9:30pm that did 3.34 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. At 10pm Castle was all-new and jumped big to 7.63 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, those are season lows but kudos for building on the terrible lead-in (and wasn't on in Boston). CBS was all-new with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a new How I Met Your Mother started it off with 9.26 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, the usual business. At 8:30, a new Rules of Engagement did 8.78 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, also normal. Two and a Half Men followed with a new episode doing 13.41 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is great but below its normal rating. At 9:30, Mike & Molly was all-new and did 11.04 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, dropping a lot from its previous new episode two weeks prior. Odd. A new Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 10.51 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which seems to be its average. Fox preempted House and Lie To Me for the first airing of the American Country Awards and did only 5.98 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, the first and last time maybe? NBC had its best Monday in months from 8-10pm because Chuck and The Event didn't air, as the 5 night event The Sing Off returned with 8.57 million and 2.8 18-49 rating, making NBC second for the night. Then at 10pm, Chase did its usual garbage with only 4.99 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week even with a better lead-in. The CW was next with an all-new 90210 doing 2.18 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating for season highs and a new Gossip Girl doing 2.05 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating to tie a season high.

Tuesday had Fox and CBS battle, even with CBS in repeats. Starting with CBS, they had a repeat of NCIS open the night off with 11.81 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, much lower than its repeat from previous week at 9pm. At 9pm, NCIS: Los Angeles was a repeat doing 10.3 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which was no where near the NCIS repeat from the previous week in this slot...but decent retention from the lead-in. And finally CBS aired a repeat of The Good Wife and did 6.89 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, not your usual CBS style show, so it doesn't repeat well. For ABC, the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas with an all-new seven minute short Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa mixed did a solid 8.1 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, but down a lot from last season. Not sure why most holiday specials are down a lot this year, especially on ABC. At 9pm, No Ordinary Family was new again at a special extraordinary time doing 6.35 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, similar to previous week. The cliffhanger at the end was great, so hopefully more viewers find this show in 2011. At 10, Detroit 1-8-7 was all-new and did 6.83 million and just a 1.4 18-49 rating, after doing decent previous week, it went to series lows for this airing which is too bad. Fox had a new Glee doing 11.07 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Next Raising Hope did 6.91 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week despite the lead-in being down some. Good sign, but still could be better. A burn-off episode of Running Wilde followed with 4.07 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is up from previous week. Not too bad for a canceled show, but still terrible that Fox just pulled it. NBC started off well with a holiday episode of Minute to Win It doing an OK 6.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. The Biggest Loser was next at a special time again from 9-11pm doing 8.23 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week n 18-49 with limited competition and a later timeslot. NBC's Parenthood was preempted again. The CW was all-new as One Tree Hill did a season high 2.2 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, followed by Life UneXpected at 1.73 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. Limited competition helps I guess, but it proves most CW shows are not a priority.

Wednesday it was CBS on top with most of the networks down from normal. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Nicaragua at 12.13 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, on par previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was all-new next and did 14.23 million and a 3.5 A18-49 rating. At 10pm, The Defenders was new and did 10.54 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. ABC was was new with its Laugh On comedy block and did decent with The Middle doing 8.68 million and 2.4 18-49 rating, but lower than usual. Better With You was next with a new episode doing 7.15 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, not bad retention at all. And the show is getting better. Modern Family was all-new at 9pm and did 11.08 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is great despite being down from normal. Cougar Town was all-new as well and did 6.44 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, also down from normal. At 10pm, ABC pulled The Whole Truth and aired repeats of Modern Family & Cougar Town doing 4.54 & 3.39 million and a 1.9 & 1.3 18-49 rating, which is better than normal in this slot. Sad, because they were repeats! NBC aired episode two of five of The Sing Off with 7.64 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, also improving its usual average from 8-10pm on this night. Sad! Then a repeat of Law & Order: SVU at 10 did 6.09 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is good for a repeat and better than what a new Chase did on Monday. Law & Order: Los Angeles will not return until February on NBC, but on Tuesdays now. Fox started off with a new episode of Human Target at 5.64 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Hell's Kitchen aired at 9 and did 5.33 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week. The CW had its first Wednesday without Top Model and aired an encore of Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and did 2.4 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, which is similar to its Monday and Tuesdays drama. Sad! How many times have I said that this week? At 9 Hellcats was preempted for a new special Fashion Forward and did terrible with just 840,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating.

Thursday it was CBS and ABC battling. ABC opened the night with the animated special Shrek the Halls doing 6.94 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating for its second airing of the season. At 8:30pm, last year's hit Prep & Landing repeated with 7.58 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. Then from 9-11pm Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice were preempted for two ABC News specials. At 9pm, The ABC News Barbara Walters Special: Oprah, The Next Chapter did solid with 13.27 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. Best total viewers in weeks, but 18-49 is no where near what ABC usually does here. At 10pm, ABC ruled with the annual special Barbara Walters Presents The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010 doing 12.22 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up some from last season. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory at 12.03 million and a 3.9 A18-49 rating, which is great but below its normal ratings. Then a new $#*! My Dad Says followed with 9.4 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which is not bad...could be a bit better. Next, CSI was all-new and did a second place 13.17 million but only a third place 3.0 18-49 rating. A new The Mentalist did 13.41 million but its 2.4 18-49 rating was a series low. December blues? Fox aired a new Bones and did solid with 8.36 million but a could-be-better 2.2 18-49 rating, both down a bit from previous week. At 9pm Fringe was new and did only 4.74 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, also down some from previous week. Fox was preempted in Indianapolis for NFL, though. NBC was still in the familiar fourth as Community did just 4.29 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, then 30 Rock did 4.76 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, off from previous week. At 9pm The Office had a one-hour Christmas episode do 7.18 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is good and similar to previous week but no jump despite an hour episode. Outsourced was preempted. At 10, The Apprentice closed the night and its season with only 4.12 million and a 1.6 18-49, not good. NBC was preempted in Nashville for NFL action. The CW was next with a new episode of Vampire Diaries doing 3.16 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is off week-to-week, followed by Nikita at 2.29 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, which should be better. Maybe it is a mismatch with Vampire?

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but ABC nipped by NBC in 18-49 with as CBS was in repeats. ABC's What Would You Do? and 20/20 both led the night.
Saturday numbers had Fox win with its normal ratings, as NBC's It's A Wonderful Life beat AC competing movie The Chronicles of Narnia.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new with Christmas episodes of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters. NBC has the Eagles/Cowboys NFL game that will likely do big, unless it is a blowout. CBS has its normal Sunday line-up of 60 Minutes/Amazing Race/Undercover Boss/CSI: Miami but look for an NFL overrun to delay the times (and boost those shows). Fox's animation block is new from 8-10pm, (except Cleveland Show is preempted for a Family Guy one-hour episode) following animated repeats at 7. NBC will win the night, thanks to NFL, CBS will be second thanks to an NFL overrun, with ABC and Fox following. All four nets will be a factor, like usual.

As for the week (week 12), since CBS has the overrun tonight, they should win the week in 18-49 over NBC. NBC could win it though, if the NFL game tonight is very big, which I think it will be. CBS should remain supreme in total viewers, with second place up for grabs--could be NBC or ABC. Fox and ABC will battle for third in 18-49. And for the coming week (week 13), we have more repeats, specials and some new showings of course. It'll be a slow week and will get only slower as the month progresses. Waiting for January for some action!

Week 12 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 11 -- Nov. 29-Dec. 5)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - An all-new episode at 8pm did 9.54 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tad week-to-week as it had a direct NFL lead-in AGAIN. Look for way lower ratings tonight since there is no NFL lead-in.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new one-hour episode at 8:30pm did 6.97 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating...down some from previous week when it was 30 minutes. Could be better, as Fox lost a lot at 9pm with no Family Guy.
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A new episode did 5.31 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down week-to-week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new showing did 9.26 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, normal stuff. Total viewers might be a bit higher than normal, though.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 8.78 million for a new episode is a bit higher than normal but its 3.1 18-49 rating is normal. Could be better, but still solid.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.41 million is great as is its 4.2 18-49 rating for a new episode, but these are lower than usual, especially with no Dancing with the Stars.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 11.04 million for a new showing and a 18-49 rating of 3.4 is good, but down from its last airing two weeks ago. December hasn't been too kind to scripted originals this week, though.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - The new sitcom was new at 9pm with 6.91 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, both up some from previous week despite Glee being off some from previous week. Another improved showing, but once again the competition wasn't harsh.
• Running Wilde (Fox) - A burn-off episode only did 4.07 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating but actually up nicely from previous week. Still bad, though.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - ABC Laugh on Wednesday was all-new after a week of repeats. A new episode did 8.68 million and 2.4 18-49 rating, which is below normal this season.
• Better with You (ABC) - A new episode did 7.15 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is good retention from lead-in. Say what you will, this show is solid in this block of talked about ABC comedies. No Hank here folks.
• Modern Family (ABC) 2 episodes - A new episode did 11.08 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is great but below its normal ratings this season. The top 3 sitcoms and Glee, were all below normal this week. December is to blame? A special 10pm repeat did solid with 4.54 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating.
• Cougar Town (ABC) 2 episodes - A new episode did 6.44 million and 2.6 18-49 rating, and this is also below normal. A repeat at 10:30pm only did 3.39 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, but that 18-49 rating is better than what ABC usually does in this slot this season!
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode at 8pm did a 12.03 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is below its normal ratings.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - A new episode did 9.4 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating...which is acceptable. Question is what will it do vs. Idol?
• Community (NBC) - A new episode only mustered 4.29 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, even with a special Christmas episode.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new showing did just 4.76 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is down from previous week. I don't think this show has much left. We'll see what it can do at 10 in January.
• The Office (NBC) - The standout of the night for NBC of course with 7.18 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is normal but should have been better because this episode was 1-hour.
• Outsourced (NBC) - preempted.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

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

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