SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: 1. CBS 7.8/12.5 rating/share; 2. Fox 7.3/11.4; 3. ABC 5.0/8.0; 4. NBC 3.8/6.1; 5. The CW 1.1/1.7
Total Viewers: 1. Fox 12.89 million; 2. CBS 12.77 million; 3. ABC 7.92 million; 4. NBC 6.24 million; 5. The CW 1.71 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. Fox 4.4/11.7 rating/share; 2. CBS 3.0/8.2; 3. ABC 2.6/7.0; 4. NBC 2.1/5.8; 5. The CW 0.7/2.0

Week 21 (Feb. 7-13) Analysis: Week 21 has CBS and Fox battling in HH/viewers with it being very close, but Fox has a commanding lead in 18-49. Through the first four nights CBS leads the way in HH, but in viewers Fox has the small edge. Fox is winning in 18-49. Fox is second in HH, while CBS is second in 18-49. ABC and NBC are in third and fourth across the board, respectively. CBS will likely win the week in HH/viewers after tonight's Gramy Awards, but 18-49 will be close as CBS will come back to make it close after tonight. Last week, week 20, had Fox win the week of course via the Super Bow. CBS was in second place across the board and NBC was third in HH/viewers, but fourth in 18-49. ABC was the opposite, fourth in HH/viewers but third in 18-49.

Monday saw CBS with the win, with Fox and ABC competitive. ABC started with The Bachelor doing 9.81 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up some in viewers and the same 18-49 as previous week. At 10pm ABC aired a new Castle and did 9.26 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, its best rating in a month. CBS was all-new with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a new How I Met Your Mother started it off with 10.0 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is nothing to complain about these days. At 8:30, a new Rules of Engagement did a solid 9.41 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. Two and a Half Men followed with a new airing of its own doing 15.15 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, which is excellent as always. At 9:30, Mike & Molly was new too and did 12.55 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is consistent. A new Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 11.01 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Fox was all-new with House doing 12.33 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, above average thanks to the Super Bowl the previous night. The series premiere of Chicago Code followed at 9pm with 9.43 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is a bit disappointing and the 18-49 rating is around what Lie to Me's recent airings. Fox should have used this post-Super Bowl and have episode two on this night the night after. NBC started its night with a new Chuck doing 5.41 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week. At 9pm, the struggling The Cape did 4.57 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, as it keeps going down every single week. At 10pm, week four of Harry's Law saw a drop with competition doing third place finishes with 9.22 million and just a 1.7 18-49 rating. It probably would flourish on Friday nights. The CW was new with 90210 doing 1.75 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. Gossip Girl followed with a new episode doing 1.62 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.

Tuesday had CBS dominate with its dramas in viewers but Fox had a small edge in 18-49. CBS started with a new NCIS and did 20.35 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, down from previous week. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new episode and did 17.16 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, also down from previous week. The Good Wife did well in total viewers with 11.86 million but only a 2.2 18-49 rating once again, on par with previous week. For ABC, No Ordinary Family was all-new in the 8pm hour doing 5.23 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is disappointing. I still hope it returns next season, perhaps on a revamped family-themed Friday? At 9, V was new and did 5.4 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week's season low. ABC has posted a screener for this week and critics are loving the episode, hopefully that translates to better ratings. Detroit 1-8-7 was new with 5.49 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Still low, but grew again. Fox finally had a new Glee on Tuesday and it did 11.58 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, which was up a lick from its last new episode in December but I was expecting at least a 5.0 since it aired after the Super Bowl on Sunday. Still great, but the Super Bowl airing wasn't needed. Next Fox also returned Raising Hope and did 6.58 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating...which is its normal rating. But the series premiere of new comedy Traffic Light saw a red light with only 4.59 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. It can't afford to go down more that this. NBC aired a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 8.44 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which was down from previous week thanks to the increased competition. Then at 10pm, Parenthood did a third place 5.22 million but a second place 1.9 18-49 rating, but still down from previous week. The CW was new with One Tree Hill doing 1.6 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down sharply from previous week's special wedding episode. Next at 9pm was a new episode of Hellcats and that did 1.72 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week.

Wednesday had American Idol win but ABC had solid ratings for its comedies. Idol did 24.05 million and a 8.4 18-49 rating, down from previous week. At 9pm Fox aired Human Target and Idol viewers fled elsewhere again, as the show did 8.13 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week. This means that Idol viewers went elsewhere and only the fans of this show were watching again. Like I said last week, that's not a bad thing, it's just that Fox should air something else at 9pm. Not good scheduling. CBS started the night off with the finale of Live to Dance doing just 4.71 million and a minuscule 0.9 18-49 rating again. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next with a new episode doing 13.67 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, seems higher than normal. At 10pm, the final special Wednesday airing of Blue Bloods did 11.8 million but only a 2.1 18-49 rating, still up from previous week. ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a new The Middle open the night with a solid 8.84 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, very solid opposite Idol. Then at 8:30, a new Better With You did 6.81 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is so-so but could certainly be worse. Then ABC aired a new Modern Family at 9pm doing a series best 13.16 million and tied a series best with a 5.1 18-49 rating. Viewers again turned to this show after Idol was over. It will be interesting to see what happens this week. Then at 9:30, Mr. Sunshine had a successful series premiere with 10.52 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, best numbers in this slot since episode two of Cougar Town. Very good start and hopefully stays close to this range in the coming weeks since Idol will be two-hours. Cougar Town will return Monday, April 18, and on Wednesdays starting April 20. At 10pm, a new episode of new drama Off the Map aired and did 5.61 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. NBC aired a two-hour all-new Minute to Win It and did 6.06 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down sharply from previous week, which saw 9pm do very well the previous week thanks to no competition. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was next with an all-new episode doing 7.89 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, winning the hour in 18-49 but down from previous week. The CW had repeats, this time with Nikita starting it off at 8pm doing 1.44 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating. At 9pm a repeat of Vampire Diaries did only 910,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating.

Thursday saw once again Fox win the night, on a night of lower than usual ratings. ABC opened the night with an all-new Wipeout doing 6.95 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Then Grey's Anatomy was next with a new episode doing 10.47 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, also down from previous week. At 10pm, Private Practice was also new and did 7.26 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory and it did 12.78 million and a 3.9 A18-49 rating, down from previous week. Then a new $#*! My Dad Says followed with 10.34 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Next, CSI was new too and did 12.64 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, for a season low. A new The Mentalist did 14.86 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, on par with previous week in 18-49. OK so onto Fox, at 8pm a new American Idol did 21.94 million and a 7.3 18-49 rating, which is down a bit from previous week. A new episode of Bones followed at 9pm and did 9.94 million and 3.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. NBC was all-new new with its comedies but struggled, as Community did 3.81 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down a bit again from previous week. Then new comedy Perfect Couples did only 3.06 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, but up a tenth actually from previous week. At 9pm The Office was new and did 6.9 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is down some again from previous week. At 9:30pm, a new Parks and Recreation was at 5.03 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. At 10, NBC started with 30 Rock doing 4.59 million and a 2.3 18-49, down a tenth from previous week but still acceptable for 10pm. At 10:30, Outsourced did only 3.61 million and 1.7 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth from previous week and a series low. The CW was next with a new Vampire Diaries doing a 2.79 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Then a new Nikita did 1.89 million and just a 0.7 18-49 rating, down from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had lower ratings that usual, too. Kitchen Nightmares and Fringe were at season lows. NBC's Who Do You Think You Are did decent in total viewers but not in 18-49, and the same goes true for CBS drama The Defenders. ABC's 20/20 lead the night. Saturday had Fox win but with NASCAR rather than its crime reality series. Every other network was below a 1.0 rating.

Tonight ABC is all-new with its regular Sunday of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters with Valentine's themed episodes. NBC has repeats of Harry's Law (come on, for sweeps?) from 9-11pm following a two-hour Dateline from 7-9pm. CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by the 2011 Grammy Awards, which will easily win the night as Undercover Boss & CSI: Miami are preempted. Fox is all-new with Animation Domination starting at 7:30pm that should be good for second or third place in 18-49.

As for the week (week 21), CBS will win the week in HH/viewers but can they catch up to Fox in 18-49 after the Grammy's tonight? That is the only thing to watch, as everything else is about determined. Fox will be in second in HH/viewers, with ABC third everywhere and NBC in fourth I think. And for the coming week (week 22), has February sweeps continuing and it will be interesting to see how week two's of Chicago Code, Traffic Light and Mr. Sunshine do. I think only the latter will do well.

Week 21 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 20 -- Jan. 31-Feb. 6)

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

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 10.0 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is very good. The show is heavily DVRed the same day (that counts in the numbers you see here), so that helps its ratings.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 9.41 million for a new episode is solid and the 3.2 18-49 rating is solid. It is not much as DVRed as its lead-in, so the live ratings show a better retention than it looks. The series will move to Thursdays starting Feb. 24, so this was its last Monday airing, as of now.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.15 million for a new episode is outstanding, but 18-49 is what really counts and the show did a 4.4 18-49 rating, good for second among all sitcoms this week. Still great.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 12.55 million for a new episode and a 18-49 rating of 3.5 is great. It is consistent.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - The series returned with its normal ratings doing 6.58 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating out of a new Glee. No Super Bowl bump for that, so no bump here.
• Traffic Light (Fox) - The series premiere didn't do well at all with only 4.59 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Disappointing.

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode of this sitcom did 8.84 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating even against Idol. Great showing.
• Better with You (ABC) - A new episode of this series did 6.81 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which could be better but could be certainly worse against Idol.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did a series high 13.16 million and tied a series high of 5.1 18-49 rating for a third time. Great numbers!
• Mr. Sunshine (ABC) - The series premiere of this series followed with a very good 10.52 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, better than Cougar Town because it was a series premiere. But remember Cougar Town premiered to a 4.4 in Sept. 2009. I think this show will do fine though and the episodes are getting better in quality even. Ideally having this show stay in this slot next season with Cougar Town at 10 would be for the best.

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 12.78 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down from previous week but still good numbers. Oddly skewing older though, as How I Met Your Mother on Monday was close to it in 18-49 with much less total viewers.
• S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) - A new showing did 10.34 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down a tad from previous week.
• Community (NBC) - A new episode did only 3.81 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Again heavily DVRed on the same day as it only did a 1.2 rating for live numbers (gaining 0.6 from same day DVR).
• Perfect Couples (NBC) - A new episode did 3.06 million again and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth from previous week. Still terrible. No one likes this show, as its live rating was only a 1.3, again too.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 6.9 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is down once again from previous week...but still by far the best of this block on NBC.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new showing did 5.03 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating...up a bit from previous week.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - At 10pm, a new episode did 4.59 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.
• Outsourced (NBC) - At 10:30pm, a new episode of this show was lost again at 10:30 doing just 3.61 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is a series low.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

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

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Mr. Sunshine, The Office, Mike & Molly, Rules of Engagement, The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Raising Hope, Better With You) or just plain old terrible (such as Outsourced, Perfect Couples).