SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: 1. CBS 6.9/11.2 rating/share; 2. ABC 5.1/8.4; 3. NBC 3.5/5.8; 4. Fox 3.0/4.7; 5. The CW 0.7/1.1
Total Viewers: 1. CBS 11.16 million; 2. ABC 8.28 million; 3. NBC 5.69 million; 4. Fox 4.73 million; 5. The CW 1.03 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. CBS 2.9/8.0 rating/share; 2. ABC 2.7/7.4; 3. NBC 1.9/5.4; Fox 1.4/3.9; 5. The CW 0.4/1.0

Week 16 (Jan. 3-9) Analysis: Week 16 sees the return of original episodes for the most part. Happy new year, indeed. Through the first four nights CBS has the lead across the board, with ABC close behind. NBC is in third and Fox back in fourth. Last week, week 15, had NBC edge CBS first in viewers (with CBS having more households) in the slowest week of the season. NBC also took home a first place 18-49 finish with two primetime NFL games. ABC was third in HH/viewers but fourth in in 18-49, while Fox was fourth in HH/viewers but third in 18-49.

Monday it was back to business with the start of the new year. ABC aired the season premiere of The Bachelor to solid numbers doing 9.04 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which is off some from last season's premiere but still solid. Keep in mind this series grows week-to-week every week. At 10pm ABC aired a new Castle did 9.61 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, solid and up from its most recent episode but down from its fall average. CBS was new with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a new How I Met Your Mother started it off with 10.19 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is great. At 8:30, a new Rules of Engagement did 9.76 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, better than usual. Two and a Half Men followed with a new showing of its own doing 15.36 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, which is great still. At 9:30, Mike & Molly was new too and did 12.39 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, both solid. A new Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 11.0 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which is what it is consistently doing now after the falling in the first half of fall. Fox started with a repeat of House doing 4.79 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which was up some from previous week's repeat, while a repeat of Lie To Me followed with 3.87 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week. NBC had a terrible Monday with a repeat of Chuck doing 2.54 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's repeat. From 9-11pm, NBC aired a repeat of The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now? to just 2.74 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. The CW was next with a repeat of 90210 doing 1.06 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. Gossip Girl followed with a repeat registering just 770,00 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, basically on par with previous week.

Tuesday had NBC win in 18-49, but CBS overall. CBS started with the two-hour premiere of Live to Dance at 10.22 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is OK. A repeat of NCIS closed the night with 10.34 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife were preempted. For ABC, No Ordinary Family was all-new back in its original 8pm hour doing 6.75 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is normal in recent weeks. At 9pm, the return of V was up from its spring finale (which was after a new LOST) doing 6.59 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. It could be better, but this show is certainly being watched (even if it is other ways). At 10, Detroit 1-8-7 was new too and did 5.2 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating for series lows. Not a good sign after an OK fall. Fox had a repeat of Glee do 4.74 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was up from previous week's repeat. Next Raising Hope and Running Wilde were preempted for a new episode of Million Dollar Money Drop doing 3.82 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which isn't good. NBC was on top for the night in 18-49 thanks to the season premiere of The Biggest Loser doing 8.79 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, down a lot from the premiere last year, though. Parenthood returned for its final few weeks on Tuesdays with 5.98 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, up from its normal fall showings. The CW was in repeats with One Tree Hill below a million at 970,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, which was up a bit from previous week, but Life UneXpected was worse at just 830,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, up a tad though from previous week.

Wednesday had ABC and NBC battle, with CBS still a player in total viewers. CBS started the night off with the regular time period of Live to Dance at 7.65 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down from previous night and not a good sign for the coming weeks. Veteran drama Criminal Minds and newbie The Defenders were preempted for the 37th Annual People's Choice Awards which did 9.52 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, solid but second lowest of all-time. ABC was all-new with its Laugh On comedy block and had The Middle open the night with 9.31 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is great. Better With You was next with a new episode of its own doing 7.44 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, sooner or later it will go untie its series high of 2.5 18-49 rating. At 9pm, ABC has Modern Family of course with a new episode doing 11.83 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, which is superb and best among scripted series for the week. Cougar Town was next and did 6.57 million and a 2.8 rating, skewing very young as usual. At 10pm, the special Primetime: Extreme Weight Loss - What Really Happens? aired and did 4.39 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. NBC aired a new Minute to Win It at 8pm doing 6.69 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is OK. Then NBC aired two new episodes of Law & Order: SVU doing 10.6 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating from 9-11pm, which was its best showing in a while. As a reminder, Law & Order: Los Angeles will not return until February on NBC, but on Tuesdays at 10 now. Fox started off with a new Human Target at 6.18 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, followed by another new episode doing 6.49 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. The show is OK at best, maybe a Friday move would have been better. The CW had more repeats, this time with Hellcats, with 8pm doing 1.03 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, while 9pm did 810,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating. Both airings were down from previous week.

Thursday had ABC win the night thanks to a nice showing at 8pm. ABC opened the night with the season premiere of the Wipeout doing 11.69 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, its best ever ratings in total viewers and second best in 18-49. Good move by airing a short winter edition! Then a new Grey's Anatomy was next with 11.64 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, among the best in 18-49. At 10pm, Private Practice was also new doing 7.67 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which is solid. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory doing 13.98 million and a 4.4 A18-49 rating, which is excellent. Then a new $#*! My Dad Says followed with 10.79 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which could be better but still decent. Next, CSI was new and did 14.22 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up from usual. A new The Mentalist did 14.88 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is great at 10pm. Fox aired a new Million Dollar Money Drop at 8pm doing only 4.59 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is up a bit from Tuesday. A repeat of Bones at 9pm did only 3.37 million and 1.0 18-49 rating, lower than previous week. NBC was in repeats as Community did just 2.95 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week's prelim ratings. Then a repeat of 30 Rock did 3.16 million and 1.2 18-49 rating, also up a lick from previous week's prelim ratings. At 9pm The Office was also a repeat and did 4.0 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week's prelim ratings. Outsourced was next with a repeat as well doing 3.14 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, with the same trend as its lead-in. At 10, NBC went with more repeats, first another repeat of The Office did only 2.19 million and a 1.0 18-49. Then at 10:30pm a repeat of The Office did 2.3 million and 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's prelim ratings. The CW was next with a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing a 1.41 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, up a bit with previous week's prelim ratings... followed by a repeat of Nikita doing 1.39 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, also up a bit from previous week's prelim ratings.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday has Fox win with the Cotton Bowl with ABC second thanks to Primetime: What Would You Do? and 20/20. Saturday had NBC win big with the NFL Wildcard Playoffs.

Tonight ABC's regular Sunday of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters is all-new from 7-11pm. They will do well and could challenge for at least second place. NBC will have no more NFL and will premiere the drama The Cape from 9-11pm, which should do OK at best. CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by new episodes of CSI: Miami and Undercover Boss. Fox has an NFL Wildcard overrun leading into new episodes of animation from 8-10pm, which includes the premiere of Bob's Burgers. Fox will win the night, no doubt as a result. ABC could be second in 18-49, but ABC and CBS will battle. Look for NBC possibly in fourth again with no NFL.

As for the week (week 16), with the NFL wildcard game last night, NBC could challenge to win the week. I think CBS could still prevail, though. It will be close.ABC will probably be third with Fox in fourth, but it depends on the overrun tonight. And for the coming week (week 17), more shows return with all-new episodes and the series premiere of Off the Map.

Week 16 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 15 -- Dec. 27-Jan. 2)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat at its normal time of 8pm did 6.24 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week thanks to a direct NFL overrun lead-in again.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat did 4.93 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, also on par with previous week.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A one-hour repeat at 9pm did 5.73 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which was up some from previous week thanks to the added half-hour.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 10.15 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is excellent and up from the fall.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 9.76 million for a new episode and a 3.4 18-49 rating was also above its norm from fall.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.36 million for a new showing is excellent as is its 4.7 18-49 rating.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 12.39 million for a new episode and a 18-49 rating of 3.7 is great. Not a series high in 18-49 though.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted.
• Running Wilde (Fox) - preempted.

• The Middle (ABC) - ABC Laugh on Wednesday was all-new. A new episode of this sitcom did 9.31 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which was close to series best numbers.
• Better with You (ABC) - A new episode did 7.44 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, the latter ties a series high again.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm did 11.83 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating! The best among scripted series in 18-49 for the week.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new showing did 6.57 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Solid, but could be better still. Like I keep saying, this show is still doing fine.

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 13.98 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, which is great and third among scripted series for the week so far.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - A new showing did 10.79 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, decent but could be better.
• Community (NBC) - A repeat only mustered 2.95 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, but that is actually up a bit from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A repeat did just 3.16 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, bad but also up a tad from previous week.
• The Office (NBC) 3 episodes - A repeat of this show at 9pm did 4.0 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Then later a repeat at 10pm did just 2.19 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, while a repeat at 10:30pm did 2.3 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.
• Outsourced (NBC) - A repeat in its 9:30 slot did 3.14 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

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

Summing it up. New episodes of Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, Rules of Engagement, The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as $#*! My Dad Says, Cougar Town) or just plain old terrible (such as repeats of The Office 10p, Community).