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Week 24 (Feb. 28-March 6) Analysis: Week 24 has again Fox winning across the board for the first four night and why wouldn't they as they had 3 nights (5 hours) of Idol. The first four nights network averages were not made available again to us in time for this post, but we can once again project Fox is winning across the board. CBS is in second, while ABC is in third and NBC is way back in fourth across the board. Fox should have no problem winning the week as the lead is too big to overcome. Everyone else should remain as is, too. Last week, week 23, had ABC win the week over CBS in HH/viewers thanks to the Oscars but it was Fox who edged ABC in 18-49 even with the Oscars. CBS was third in 18-49, while Fox was third in HH/viewers. And NBC had a terrible week again in fourth place.

Monday saw ABC with the win beating Fox. ABC started with The Bachelor doing 11.33 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, for another season high. Season finale is next week, as tomorrow will be The Women Tell All special. Dancing with the Stars Season 12 starts March 21. At 10pm ABC concluded the special two-part Castle with part two doing 10.11 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up from previous week again. This show is a must watch. CBS was almost all-new with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a new How I Met Your Mother started it off with 9.24 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week. At 8:30, new series Mad Love did 7.9 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down some again from previous week and still means lower than any Rules of Engagement airing in the slot this season. Two and a Half Men followed with a REPEAT again, as it will be repeats for the rest of the season now thanks to Charlie Sheen's antics, doing 11.63 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is up some from previous week. Amazing, but won't keep it up much longer. At 9:30, Mike & Molly was new and did 11.54 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which was up a bit from previous week, A REPEAT of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm, yes a repeat in sweeps (HUH?) did 7.31 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. CBS foolishly wasted some airings earlier this season (second December airing, post-AFC Championship airing) and now was forced to air a repeat in sweeps. Fox was all-new with House doing 11.01 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, up from previous week. A new Chicago Code followed at 9pm with 8.04 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Fox will take these numbers if it remains here, but it is doing similar to Lie to Me--which will return? NBC started its night with a new Chuck doing 5.35 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week once again. At 9pm, the struggling The Cape did 4.1 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par also from previous week. At 10pm, a new Harry's Law did 9.2 million but just a 1.8 18-49 rating for third place, even lower than the CBS repeat. The CW was new with 90210 doing 1.45 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Gossip Girl followed with a new episode doing 1.39 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week.

Tuesday had Fox come in and win with a special Tuesday airing of you know what. But first CBS started with a new NCIS and did 19.21 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, sharply down from previous week. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new episode and did 15.67 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, also down big from previous week. The Good Wife did well in total viewers with 11.38 million but only a 2.2 18-49 rating, but oddly up a bit from previous week. It seems it is not a match for the 8-10pm dramas and could be better fit on another night. For ABC, No Ordinary Family was all-new in the 8pm hour and suffered with Idol on doing 4.26 million and only a 1.2 18-49 rating, for a series low. At 9, V was new and the first half faced the juggernaut and did 5.04 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Detroit 1-8-7 was preempted for A Special Edition of 20/20 - Charlie Sheen: In His Own Words and did a solid 9.32 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, winning its hour quite easily. Could have been higher even if Sheen didn't ramble on everywhere. Fox preempted Glee and aired a special Tuesday edition of Idol and it did 21.39 million and a 7.6 18-49 rating for 90-minutes, which is way better than Glee. Next Fox disappointed with Raising Hope at a special time of 9:30pm and did 8.68 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is a series high but coming out of the big lead-in, it could have been better. New comedy Traffic Light was preempted but aired Wednesday instead. NBC aired a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 7.06 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which was down from previous week thanks to Idol. Then at 10pm, Parenthood did 5.03 million and a third place 1.9 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week when it was first place. It's a weak hour with a big boost from Sheen to win it. That's winning! The CW was new with One Tree Hill doing 1.59 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Next at 9pm was a new episode of Hellcats and that did 1.46 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.

Wednesday was the last night of February sweeps and had American Idol cut to 90-minutes but still easily won the night. Idol did 22.77 million and a 7.8 18-49 rating, basically on par with previous week. A special airing of Traffic Light followed with series best 7.32 million and a 2.8 18-49, but wasn't that expected since it was so low already? Still could have been way better than this. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Redemption Island doing 11.32 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which was up some actually from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next with a new episode doing 14.37 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, jumping from previous week and especially in the 9:30pm half-hour. At 10pm, week three of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior did 10.36 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week, but SVU was a repeat...yes for the last night of February sweeps. What is this? ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a new The Middle open the night with a solid 7.86 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Then at 8:30, a new Better With You did 5.67 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth previous week, but could be better. It's preempted the next few weeks as repeats will be on a lot in March. Then ABC aired a new Modern Family at 9pm doing 10.11 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week as it faced Idol head-to-head again this week and this time the final half-hour. Then at 9:30, Mr. Sunshine was new with 6.87 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week as it didn't face Idol this week. Was expecting a bit more, but didn't bomb. Once again, Cougar Town will return with a special airing on Monday, April 18, and then return to Wednesdays starting April 20. Let the countdown begin for the cul-de-sac crew! At 10pm, a new episode of new drama Off the Map aired and did 4.96 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. NBC aired a repeat of Minute to Win It and did just 3.31 million and 0.9 18-49 rating followed by a new episode at just 3.49 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was next but was a repeat (during sweeps??) doing 5.36 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. Might have helped the competing CBS crime drama a bit there. The CW had a new America's Next Top Model starting it off at 8pm doing only 1.96 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, which was down some from previous week. This show is getting killed by Fox and CBS' reality series. At 9pm, new reality series Shedding for the Wedding did only 1.07 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week.

Thursday saw once again Fox win the night, as Idol dominated with everything in repeats (except Rules of Engagement on CBS), as sweeps just ended. ABC opened the night with a repeat of Winter Wipeout doing 5.0 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Then Grey's Anatomy was next with a repeat doing 3.98 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. At 10pm, Private Practice was also a repeat and did 3.03 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. CBS opened with a repeat of The Big Bang Theory and it did 9.12 million and a 2.5 A18-49 rating, decent for a repeat. Then an all-new Rules of Engagement was lower than $#*! My Dad Says doing 8.24 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down obviously from previous week. Next, CSI was a repeat and did 8.77 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. A repeat of The Mentalist did 10.43 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, skewing older than the lead-in even. OK so onto Fox, it was all American Idol as a two-hour airing did 25.26 million and a 8.2 18-49 rating, sharply up from previous week with no competition at all. No surprise. Fox preempted Bones again this week. NBC comedies were preempted for just one comedy all night...The Office repeats. The 8pm airing did 2.88 million/1.1 18-49 rating, followed by 2.9 million/1.3 18-49 rating, 3.13 million/1.5 18-49 rating, 3.09 million/1.5 18-49 rating, 2.98 million/1.4 18-49 rating and 2.63 million/1.2 18-49 rating. This show doesn't repeat well, so not sure what was the point. Community, Perfect Couples, The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock and Outsourced were not on as normal. The CW was next with a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing 1.13 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating. Then a repeat of Nikita did 1.11 million and just a 0.3 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had NBC with a rare win with Charlie Sheen-fueled Dateline winning at 10pm. Kitchen Nightmares and Fringe were preempted for Fox for the NAACP Awards which was dead last. Saturday had Fox easily win with its normal crime reality series with everyone else way behind in 18-49.

Tonight ABC is all-new with AFV, Secret Millionaire, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters as Secret Millionaire makes its ABC premiere for six straight weeks. NBC has the premiere of America's Next Great Restaurant & two-hour Celebrity Apprentice starting at 8 following Dateline at 7. CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by a new The Amazing Race at 8 and new episodes of Undercover Boss & CSI: Miami from 9-11pm. Fox is all-new too with Animation Domination starting at 7:30pm. All-new night!

As for the week (week 24), Fox will win the week everywhere. Idol secured that for three nights, plus repeats on the other networks on Thursday. Everyone else will remain as they are through the first four nights, pending any huge surprises. And for the coming week (week 25), has mix of new and repeats, as NBC returns The Event tomorrow (will it be low still?).

Week 24 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 23 -- Feb. 21-27)

• American Dad! (Fox) - A repeat did 3.46 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which isn't too far off from an original the previous week.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - A repeat in its normal 8pm slot did 4.85 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. Earlier, a repeat at 7pm did 4.03 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A repeat did 3.81 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A one-hour repeat did 4.32 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which seems below normal for a repeat but it faced the Oscars.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 9.24 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, basically on par with previous week. Seems a bit below normal though, but still good.
• Mad Love (CBS) - 7.9 million for week three and a 2.7 18-49 rating is down again some from previous week and yes still lower than any Rules of Engagement airing in this slot.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.63 million for a repeat and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. I expect these ratings to ware off soon, especially come next month and May, if it is still airing.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 11.35 million for a new episode and a 18-49 rating of 3.4 is decent, up a bit from previous week, like its lead-in.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at a special time of 9:30pm did 8.68 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating for series best, but it was after Idol and held only like 30% of its ratings. Not good.
• Traffic Light (Fox) - preempted and aired Wednesday.

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode of this sitcom did 7.86 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week, again vs. Idol.
• Better with You (ABC) - A new episode of this series did 5.67 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth from previous week. It is the weak link of the block right now with Idol airing against it.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 10.11 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week as it went face-to-face with Idol again, this time the final half-hour.
• Mr. Sunshine (ABC) - A new episode did 6.87 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating up a bit from previous week as it was NOT against the final half-hour of Idol this week. Could have been better, but next two weeks will be a test to see how it does with repeats as its lead-ins.
• Traffic Light (Fox) - Obviously a series high after Idol doing 7.32 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, on a special night. Not good retention , but what can you do?

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat did 9.12 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, solid for a second run.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A NEW episode did 8.24 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, for a season low and honestly $#*! My Dad Says was even better.
• Community (NBC) - preempted.
• Perfect Couples (NBC) - preempted.
• The Office (NBC) - A repeat marathon did bad: The 8pm airing did 2.88 million/1.1 18-49 rating, followed by 2.9 million/1.3 18-49 rating, 3.13 million/1.5 18-49 rating, 3.09 million/1.5 18-49 rating, 2.98 million/1.4 18-49 rating and 2.63 million/1.2 18-49 rating.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - preempted.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - preempted.
• Outsourced (NBC) - preempted.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10pm, but in repeats.

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