Sunday, February 06, 2011

Week 20 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2010-11 Week 20 TV Ratings (first four nights averages, Mon-Thu):

Households: 1. CBS 7.3/11.6 rating/share; 2. Fox 6.4/9.8; 3. ABC 4.5/7.2; 4. NBC 4.2/6.7; 5. The CW 1.2/1.8
Total Viewers: 1. CBS 12.02 million; 2. Fox 11.42 million; 3. ABC 7.23 million; 4. NBC 7.07 million; 5. The CW 1.89 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. Fox 3.8/9.9 rating/share; 2. CBS 2.7/7.1; 3. ABC 2.4/6.3; 4. NBC 2.4/6.3; 5. The CW 0.8/2.2

Week 20 (Jan. 31-Feb. 6) Analysis: Week 20 has CBS and Fox share leadership, as February sweeps started on Thursday. Through the first four nights CBS leads the way in HH/viewers but Fox is winning in 18-49. Fox is second in HH/viewers, while CBS is second in 18-49. ABC and NBC are in third and fourth, respectively. Fox will win the week big after tonight's Super Bowl. Last week, week 19, had Fox win big thanks to Idol of course but also CBS was in repeats mainly. CBS was in second place across the board and ABC was third everywhere again while NBC was still stuck in fourth.

Monday saw ABC with the win. ABC started with The Bachelor doing 9.66 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up again from previous week. It is starting to grow every week again since the BCS game. At 10pm ABC aired a repeat of Castle and did 6.22 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, its best repeat rating of the season so far. CBS was in repeats again with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a repeat of How I Met Your Mother started it off with 7.26 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is up some from previous week. At 8:30, a repeat of Rules of Engagement did 7.42 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week and build from its lead-in. Two and a Half Men followed with a repeat of its own doing 11.21 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is down a bit in viewers but up a bit in 18-49 from previous week. At 9:30, Mike & Molly was a repeat too and did 9.06 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down a lick from previous week. A repeat of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 6.94 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which was up a bit from previous week. Fox was all-new but House was preempted for a special all-new Human Target airing doing 7.75 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up some from its usual Wednesday at 8 numbers. Is there any night where this show has not aired yet? A new episode of Lie To Me followed at 9pm with 7.06 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Will Fox bring back these two and Fringe...which all seem to do around the same rating. NBC started its night with a new Chuck doing 5.57 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is down again a few tenths from previous week. At 9pm, the struggling The Cape did 5.34 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some again from previous week. At 10pm, week three of Harry's Law aired doing a solid 11.02 million but just a 2.1 18-49 rating. Still consistent. The CW was new with 90210 doing 1.67 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, off a bit from previous week. And ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars towers over it. Gossip Girl followed with a new episode doing 1.5 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, also down a bit from previous week.

Tuesday had CBS dominate with its dramas. CBS started with a new NCIS and did 22.85 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating. Wow. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new episode and did 17.7 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is above average. The Good Wife did well in total viewers with 12.14 million but only a 2.2 18-49 rating. For ABC, No Ordinary Family was a repeat in the 8pm hour doing 4.22 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. At 9, V was new and did 5.29 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, for a season low. Should perk back up this week with the lead-in being new. Detroit 1-8-7 returned with 5.49 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, up from its most recent episode. Fox again had a repeat of Glee and it did 4.97 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was up a bit from previous week's repeat. Next Million Dollar Money Drop had its last scheduled airing of the season do 5.15 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating...which is not bad, as it skews young. NBC aired a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 9.2 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which was up some from previous week's hour episode. Then at 10pm, Parenthood did 6.18 million and a decent 2.2 18-49 rating, which was tied for first actually. The CW was new with One Tree Hill doing 2.42 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week thanks to a special wedding episode. Next at 9pm was a new episode of Hellcats and that did 1.8 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.

Wednesday had American Idol win but then viewers fled elsewhere at 9. It did 25.14 million and a 9.0 18-49 rating, down a tad from previous week, which was two hours. At 9pm Fox aired Human Target and viewers fled elsewhere, as the show did 9.22 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating. Above average for that show, but the 9:30pm half-hour ratings were similar to its Monday airing. This means that Idol viewers went elsewhere and only the fans of this show were watching. That's not a bad thing, it's just that Fox should air something else at 9pm. CBS started the night off with dud Live to Dance doing just 4.75 million and a minuscule 0.9 18-49 rating again. CBS would usually pull a show that low, but this might be different since it is near the end anyway. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next but it was a repeat doing 9.66 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. At 10pm, the third special Wednesday airing of Blue Bloods did 11.31 million but only a 1.6 18-49 rating, down from previous week. It is Friday material only. ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a repeat of The Middle open the night with a solid 6.77 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, but down some from previous week. A second repeat aired instead of Better With You and did 6.53 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, also down some from previous week. Then ABC aired Modern Family with a repeat at 9pm doing 9.2 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, its best repeat ratings ever again and the best for any show this season! Viewers turned to this show after Idol was over. Then at 9:30, Cougar Town was the only new airing in the block and did better this week doing 6.51 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up sharply week-to-week. It seems to have trouble every time it faces Idol but every other week it is always at least a 2.7 or more when it is new. The show will return April 18, as ABC tries Mr. Sunshine starting this week. At 10pm, a new episode of new drama Off the Map aired and did 5.37 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. NBC aired a two-hour all-new Minute to Win It and did well with 7.67 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, after Idol finished, the 9pm hour jumped big time. NBC has pulled Chase for good. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was next with an all-new episode doing 8.81 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, easily winning the hour. The CW had repeats, this time with Smallville starting it off at 8pm doing 1.11 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating. At 9pm a repeat of Supernatural did only 1.0 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating.

Thursday saw once again Fox win the night, though ABC and CBS did well, too. ABC opened the night with an all-new Wipeout doing 7.95 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week and still solid against Idol. Then Grey's Anatomy was next with a new episode doing 11.18 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, on par with its previous new episode a few weeks ago. At 10pm, Private Practice was also new and did 7.05 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, lower than usual. This coming week's episode will be big as Nicholas Brendan returns. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory and it did 13.83 million and a 4.3 A18-49 rating, which is excellent. Then a new $#*! My Dad Says followed with 10.45 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up from previous week when its lead-in was a repeat. Next, CSI was new too and did 13.98 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, for fourth place behind ABC, NBC and Fox. A new The Mentalist did 15.18 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, winning its hour (on broadcast at least, as some MTV junk keeps doing big here at 10pm). OK so onto Fox, at 8pm a new American Idol did 21.89 million and a 7.5 18-49 rating, which is down a few tenths from previous week. A new episode of Bones followed at 9pm and did 10.2 million and 3.3 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week. NBC was all-new new with its comedies, as Community did 4.37 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Still surprised it can do a 2 with all the competition when in the fall most weeks it was below a 2. Then new comedy Perfect Couples did only 3.06 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down again from previous week. If it can't go up this week, it will be pulled I bet. At 9pm The Office was new and did 7.28 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is down some from previous week. At 9:30pm, a new Parks and Recreation was at 4.95 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down from previous week after two weeks of promising numbers against repeats. At 10, NBC started with 30 Rock doing 4.78 million and a 2.4 18-49, on par with previous week and still good for 10pm. At 10:30, Outsourced did only 3.74 million and 1.8 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth from previous week, though. The CW was next with a new Vampire Diaries doing a 3.22 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. Then a new Nikita did 2.38 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had good showings by the CBS special Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials and an above average Dateline on NBC. Kitchen Nightmares remained steady but Fringe dropped a few tenths. Season premiere of NBC's Who Do You Think You Are did decent in total viewers but not in 18-49, and the same goes true for the Friday premiere of CBS drama The Defenders. Saturday had Fox win again with its crime reality series doing a prelim a 1.9 18-49 rating, with CBS winning total viewers but only a prelim 0.8 18-49 rating.

Tonight ABC has two repeats of AFV, as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters are preempted. ABC is airing the network television premiere of Knocked Up from 9-11pm. NBC has repeats of Who Do You Think You Are from 7-9 followed by a two-hour Dateline from 9-11pm. CBS has a new 60 Minutes Presents special, followed by repeats of Undercover Boss, CSI: Miami and Hawaii Five-0. But who cares about all that as the 100 million+ event Super Bowl will air tonight from 6-10pm ET on Fox followed by a post-Super Bowl 66-minute airing of Glee at approx. 10:30pm-11:36pm ET.

As for the week (week 20), Fox will win the week...anyone can tell you that with the Super Bowl airing. CBS will be in second, with ABC following and NBC in fourth I think. And for the coming week (week 21), has February sweeps continuing and we have series debuts the next few nights with drama Chicago Code on Fox on Monday, the comedy Traffic Light on Fox Tuesday and the comedy Mr. Sunshine starring Matthew Perry on ABC Wednesday.

Week 20 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 19 -- Jan. 24-30)

  • American Dad! (Fox) - preempted for the Pro Bowl.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted for the Pro Bowl.
  • Bob's Burgers (Fox) - preempted for the Pro Bowl.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - preempted for the Pro Bowl.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted for the Pro Bowl.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 7.26 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which was up some from previous week.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 7.42 million for a repeat is solid and the 2.6 18-49 rating gained from the lead-in...both up from previous week.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.21 million for a repeat is great, but down some from previous week. A 3.2 18-49 rating is impressive as well and up some from previous week. Skewed younger this week...Sheen rehab turning some older viewers off?
  • Mike & Molly (CBS) - 9.06 million for a repeat and a 18-49 rating of 2.5, is good but down a bit from previous week.

Tuesday Sitcoms

  • Raising Hope (Fox) - Returns this Tuesday (Feb. 8).
  • Traffic Light (Fox) - Premieres this Tuesday (Feb. 8).

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • The Middle (ABC) 2 episodes - A repeat of this sitcom did 6.77 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, off a bit from previous week. Another repeat followed and did a similar 6.53 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, also off a bit from previous week. There were a few preemptions, maybe that's why.
  • Better with You (ABC) - preempted.
  • Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 9.2 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is outstanding for a repeat and that 3.5 is the best for any show repeat this season! Wow!
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode of this series followed repeats again and did a better 6.51 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, sharply up from previous week. This will be its last airing until April 18, but it went on a high note.

Thursday Sitcoms

  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 13.83 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, outstanding against Idol.
  • S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - A new showing did 10.45 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, u sharply from previous week when its lead-in was a repeat. Season finale is coming up in a few weeks.
  • Community (NBC) - A new episode did 4.37 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. It skews very young and is consistent. Heavily DVRed, too, as it only did a 1.3 rating for live numbers (gaining 0.7 from same day DVR).
  • Perfect Couples (NBC) - A new episode did 3.06 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is down again from previous week. Terrible. No one likes this show, as its live rating was only a 1.3, too. Only gained a tenth from same day DVR. It will be pulled soon I bet.
  • The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 7.28 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is down again from previous week...but by far the best of this block on NBC.
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new showing did 4.95 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating..after potential the past two weeks, it disappoints this week.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - At 10pm, a new episode did 4.78 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par really with previous week.
  • Outsourced (NBC) - At 10:30pm, a new episode of this show was lost at 10:30 doing 3.74 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, off a bit from previous week.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no comedies.

Summing it up. A mix of new and repeat this week with The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Office, Mike & Molly, Rules of Engagement, Cougar Town were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as a new Parks and Recreation, The Middle repeat) or just plain old terrible (such as Outsourced, Perfect Couples).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Saturday, June 3

iCarly - "iBuckled" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Carly, Spencer and Freddie are back, navigating the next chapters in their lives and facing the uncertainties of life in their 20s.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Saturday, June 3

  • Ronald Gladden (Jury Duty) - Ronald can be heard on SiriusXM's Ben +1 at 9am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

06/02 - HBO Renews Somebody Somewhere for a Third Season; Remembering Marlene Clark of Sanford and Son and Other Sitcom Stars We Recently Lost
06/01 - MeTV's Marry Me Block on June 4; TBS Sets Miracle Workers: End Times Premiere Date for July 10
05/31 - Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty Gets Special Release; Stars on Mars Fan Experience
05/30 - 75th Emmy Awards Nominations on July 12; Final Season of HBO's How to with John Wilson
05/29 - Memorial Day 2023 TV Sitcom Marathons
05/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 29, 2023)
05/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Wins 2022-2023 Ratings Game; Netflix Ends Sharing of Passwords
05/26 - Prime Video Renews Priyanka Chopra Series; Sex and the City 25th Anniversary Event in NYC
05/25 - Brady Bunch House on the Market; The Family Stallone Gets 2nd Season
05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
05/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Showtime Looking to Bring Back Two Old Favorites; Disney+ Removing Content
05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
05/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Week of Writers' Strike Already Sees Early Casualties; Fox Cancels Call Me Kat
05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix