SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: 1. CBS 6.6/10.6 rating/share; 2. ABC 5.1/8.1; 3. NBC 3.1/5.0; 4. Fox 3.1/4.7; 5. The CW 0.8/1.2
Total Viewers: 1. CBS 10.61 million; 2. ABC 8.13 million; 3. NBC 5.03 million; 4. Fox 4.97 million; 5. The CW 1.26 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. ABC 2.6/6.8 rating/share; 2. CBS 2.4/6.3; 3. NBC 1.7/4.7; Fox 1.6/4.1; 5. The CW 0.4/1.2

Week 17 (Jan. 10-16) Analysis: Week 17 will see NFL playoffs determine the winner, like previous week. Last week NBC had the primetime NFL game on Saturday and Fox had an overrun on Sunday, this week it was Fox with a primetime game on Saturday and CBS with an NFL overrun tonight. But for now, through the first four nights CBS has the lead in HH/viewers, with ABC in second. ABC leads the 18-49 race over CBS. NBC is in third everywhere and Fox is back in fourth. Last week, week 16, had CBS edge NFL-driven NBC for first in HH/viewers. CBS was however tied for third in 18-49 with ABC. NBC took home the 18-49 crown thanks to the Saturday NFL playoff game. Fox had a big NFL playoff overrun on Sunday, thus they were second in 18-49 for the week. Fox was third in HH/viewers, while ABC was fourth in HH/viewers but tied for third in 18-49.

Monday saw the broadcast networks take a back seat as ESPN had the College Football Championship game. ABC aired week two of The Bachelor and did 8.46 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is off a tick from previous week's premiere. Surprised it didn't grow week-to-week but a tenth or two could have been lost due to the college football game. At 10pm ABC aired a new Castle and did 9.05 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Perhaps more affected by the game than its lead-in. CBS was back to repeats with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a repeat of How I Met Your Mother started it off with 7.29 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is pretty good for a repeat these days. At 8:30, a repeat of Rules of Engagement did 6.63 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, good but usually it holds more from the lead-in. Two and a Half Men followed with a repeat of its own doing 10.27 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, good but lower than usual thanks to the game. At 9:30, Mike & Molly was a repeat too and did 8.59 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, solid but could have been a bit better. A repeat of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 6.63 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is somewhat low for a CBS repeat. Fox preempted House for two new episodes of Lie To Me as 8pm did 5.48 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, while the regular 9pm airing did similar with 5.43 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. NBC was out of business with a repeat of Chuck doing 3.02 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but up a tick with previous week's repeat. From 9-11pm, NBC aired a repeat of The Cape premiere doing 3.57 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. The question will be will it do better than The Event tomorrow night? The CW was next with a repeat of 90210 doing 880,000 total viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, on par from previous week in 18-49. Gossip Girl followed with a repeat registering just 800,00 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, but up a lick from previous week.

Tuesday had CBS win big. CBS started with an all-new episode of NCIS and did a series best 21.93 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating. Unbelievable. NCIS: Los Angeles was next and new and did a great 18.13 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating. At 10pm, The Good Wife aired and did a solid 12.29 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which still could be better. For ABC, No Ordinary Family was all-new in the 8pm hour doing 5.33 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. I guess NCIS caused that. At 9pm, a new V aired doing 5.77 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is off some from previous week. At 10, Detroit 1-8-7 was new too and did 5.05 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating for series lows again, which is a shame since it was probably its best episode yet. Fox had a repeat of Glee do 4.69 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week's repeat. Next Raising Hope and Running Wilde were preempted for a new episode of Million Dollar Money Drop again doing 5.12 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which built from previous week by quite a lot. NBC did decent with The Biggest Loser doing 8.79 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, basically on par with the season premiere the previous week. Parenthood was next and new doing 5.58 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down a tad from previous week. The CW was in repeats with One Tree Hill doing 1.02 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week, but Life UneXpected was worse at just 810,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, but also on par with previous week.

Wednesday had an interruption in primetime by President Obama from 8:40pm-9:20pm ET that caused some havoc for the networks. In most markets, CBS started the night off with repeats of The Big Bang Theory and Rules of Engagement due to the Presidential Address from 8:40-9:20pm ET. The sitcoms did 5.8 million/1.5 18-49 rating and 5.33 million/1.4 18-49 rating, respectively. Live to Dance aired from 9:20-10:20pm ET doing just 6.71 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was preempted but The Defenders was all-new from 10:20-11:20pm ET doing only 6.81 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, for series lows. This was its last Wednesday airing. ABC was all-new with its Laugh On comedy block and had The Middle open the night with series highs of 10.09 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. Better With You was preempted due to the Presidential Address from 8:40-9:20, but am abbreviated repeat of The Middle aired for 10 minutes doing 8.85 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which is awesome for a repeat. ABC aired Modern Family with a new episode from 9:20-9:51pm doing 11.12 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, down from previous week due to the delayed start in East/Central. Cougar Town was also preempted, but a Modern Family repeat that was joined in progress did solid with 9.26 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating. At 10pm, the premiere of new drama Off the Map aired and did 7.57 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is OK but better than what ABC had been doing in this slot. NBC started off with an abbreviated repeat of Minute to Win It at 8pm doing 5.07 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which was then followed by the Presidential Address. After that a new episode was joined-in-progress from 9:20-10pm, and did 4.85 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, clearly affected by the address. Law & Order: SVU was next at 10pm and was all-new doing 8.39 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which was down from previous week. Fox had to preempt the scheduled two episodes of Human Target for a repeat of Raising Hope doing only 3.0 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. That was followed by an abbreviated Kitchen Nightmares repeat, which continued after the Presidential Address after 9:20pm. The CW had more repeats, this time with Nikita starting it off at 8pm doing 2.03 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating. Wow, that is good! At 9pm a repeat of Hellcats did 1.44 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, which was up a bit from previous week.

Thursday had ABC win the night again. ABC opened the night with an all-new Wipeout doing 10.64 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week but still good! Winter wonderland! Then a new Grey's Anatomy was next with 12.15 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. At 10pm, Private Practice was preempted to give Off the Map some more sampling as the pilot encore did good with 5.87 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. CBS opened with a repeat of The Big Bang Theory do great with 10.42 million and a 3.0 A18-49 rating. Then a new $#*! My Dad Says followed with 10.14 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which is a winner this week due to its lead-in being a repeat and performed similar ratings to previous week (when the lead-in was NEW). Next, CSI was a repeat and did 9.71 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is OK. A repeat of The Mentalist did 10.32 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is good but old skewing. Fox aired a new Million Dollar Money Drop at 8pm doing 5.64 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is up from previous week. A repeat of Bones at 9pm did 4.42 million and 1.3 18-49 rating, a bit higher than previous week. NBC was in repeats as Community did just 2.8 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Then another episode did 2.44 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. At 9pm The Office was also a repeat and did 3.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is down some from previous week. Another episode did 3.63 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, building nicely from lead-in. At 10, NBC went with 30 Rock doing only 2.81 million and a 1.3 18-49. Then another repeat did 2.48 million and 1.1 18-49 rating, typical low repeat ratings. The CW was next with a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing a 1.61 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, up a bit with previous week... followed by a repeat of Nikita doing 1.5 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, basically on par with previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had CBS win with their dramas. Saturday had Fox win big with the NFL Divisional Playoffs, but ABC did OK with Miss America.

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 but perhaps lower than normal as NBC has the Golden Globes from 8-11. CBS has an NFL playoff overrun through 8pm leading into a new 60 Minutes at a special time of 8pm, followed by new episodes of Undercover Boss & CSI: Miami. Fox has new episodes of animation from 7:30-10pm, which includes the new timeslot for American Dad! at 7:30pm. CBS will win the night likely thanks to the NFL playoff overrun. NBC could be second in 18-49.

As for the week (week 17), with the NFL playoff game last night, Fox could challenge to win the week over CBS. I think CBS could still prevail in total viewers, though. It will be close. ABC and NBC will probably battle for third as NBC will get a Golden Globe boost. And for the coming week (week 18), has the return of you know what, American Idol.

Week 17 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 16 -- Jan. 3-9)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode at 8pm did 12.55 million and a huge 5.7 18-49 rating thanks to a HUGE direct NFL playoff overrun lead-in. Great numbers, but this is not normal for the show.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - The series premiered at 8:30pm and did 9.38 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, which is great, but not telling what it will do since it had an NFL inflated lead-in. If it can hold most of the lead-in tonight, it should be OK.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode at 9pm did 9.33 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, which is solid and built from the lead-in, but that is because of the heavy DVR this show has. In live ratings the series dropped a tick from the lead-in.
• American Dad (Fox) - preempted
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - The series now airs at 9:30pm and it did a solid 7.39 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, not suffering from sophomore blues that it has had all season.

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 7.29 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is solid.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 6.63 million for a repeat and a 2.0 18-49 rating is good but usually the retention is better.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 10.27 million for a repeat is excellent but its 2.4 18-49 rating is not a stand-out as that was lower than normal repeat ratings it does.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 8.59 million for a repeat and a 18-49 rating of 2.0, seems normal but could be better.

Tuesday Sitcoms

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

• The Middle (ABC) 2 episodes - A new episode of this sitcom did series best 10.09 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, amazing. An abbreviated repeat from 8:30-8:40pm ET followed with 8.85 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating. That is still good.
• Better with You (ABC) - preempted.
• Modern Family (ABC) 2 episodes - A new episode from 9:20-9:51pm ET did 11.12 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, it could have been better had it aired in its normal time. A repeat was joined-in-progress from 9:51-10pm and did very good with 9.26 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating.
• Cougar Town (ABC) - preempted.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - This was scheduled due to the Presidential Address and did 5.8 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Nothing really to make of this.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - Same as above, doing 5.33 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
• Raising Hope (Fox) - Just like the previous two entries, did 3.0 million and only a 0.9 18-49 rating. It was just filler.

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat did 10.42 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which is great.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - A new showing did 10.14 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, on par with previous week even though its lead-in was a repeat. Good job.
• Community (NBC) 2 episodes - A repeat only mustered 2.8 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. A second repeat at 8:30 did 2.44 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating.
• 30 Rock (NBC) 2 episodes - Two repeats aired in the 10pm hour, with the first doing 2.81 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating and the second doing 2.48 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. Not good.
• The Office (NBC) 2 episodes - A repeat of this show at 9pm did 3.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, off some from previous week. Then a repeat at 9:30pm did just 3.63 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, nice build from the lead-in at least.
• Outsourced (NBC) - preempted.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7:30-10 with new episodes.

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