SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. Fox 8.0/13.2 rating/share; #2. CBS 5.5/9.2; #3. ABC 4.6/7.7; #4. NBC 3.3/5.5; #5. The CW 0.7/1.1.
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 13.78 million; #2. CBS 8.75 million; #3. ABC 7.28 million; #4. NBC 5.2 million; #5. The CW 970,000 viewers.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.5/13.2 rating/share; #2. ABC 2.3/6.7; #3. CBS 2.2/6.5; #4. NBC 1.6/4.8; #5. The CW 0.4/1.1.

Week 26 (March 14-20) Analysis: Week 25 has Fox once again winning across the board for the first four nights with all-new programming again, as the other networks had repeats mixed in. So, yes the first four nights network averages has Fox winning across the board. CBS is in second in HH/viewers, while ABC is second in 18-49. CBS is third in 18-49, but second in HH/viewers. NBC is way back in fourth across the board, as was the case that past few weeks. Fox should have no problem winning the week in 18-49 once again and CBS won't catch up in HH/viewers because the NCAA tournament is lower than previous years for them (due to Turner networks airing games also). Last week, week 25, had Fox win the week over CBS in viewers & 18-49 (but CBS did edge Fox in HH). CBS was second everywhere else, while ABC was third. And NBC was in fourth place in HH/viewers, but did tie ABC for third in 18-49.

Monday saw ABC clean up. ABC started with the season finale of The Bachelor doing 13.88 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, for obviously a season high. Great numbers, despite being down from last season's finale. At 10pm ABC aired The Bachelor: After the Final Rose special instead of the usual Castle and it did 13.96 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, one of the strongest non-sports 10pm showings of the season. CBS was almost all repeats with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. At 8pm, a repeat of How I Met Your Mother started it off with 5.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is down a bit from previous week. At 8:30, Mad Love was new and did 6.45 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down again from previous week. Honestly, it should be better, but let's see how it does tomorrow with a new lead-in. Two and a Half Men followed with a REPEAT again doing 9.93 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is down again from previous week. Still solid, but for how much longer? At 9:30, Mike & Molly was a repeat too and did 8.36 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is down from previous week and could be better. A repeat of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 7.45 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Fox was all-new with House doing 10.41 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. A new Chicago Code followed at 9pm with 7.3 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week again. NBC started with Chuck doing 4.92 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating for a season low. The Event was next and did just 4.26 million and another series low 1.2 18-49 rating. At 10pm, a new Harry's Law did 10.16 million but just a 1.8 18-49 rating for third place, on par with previous week but still even lower than the CBS repeat again in 18-49. The CW was in repeats with 90210 doing only 640,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, which was actually up a tenth from previous week. Gossip Girl followed and was even worse with a repeat doing 490,000 viewers and a non-existent 0.3 18-49 rating, also up a tenth week-to-week.

Tuesday had Fox win as CBS was in repeats again. CBS started with a repeat of NCIS and did 12.75 million but only a 2.2 18-49 rating despite the big total viewers, and down a bit from previous week. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a repeat and did 12.48 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, also down some from previous week. The Good Wife was a repeat and did 7.33 million but only a 1.2 18-49 rating, which was also down a bit from previous week. For ABC, No Ordinary Family was a repeat in the 8pm hour and did 3.4 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, which was down a bit from previous week. It will be new this Tuesday. At 9, V has its explosive season finale and did 5.51 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. What a season finale! I think it will return in some form next season. Detroit 1-8-7 was all-new and did 5.64 million but just a 1.2 18-49 rating, however both up some from previous week. Look for the season finale tonight at 10pm on a special night. Fox started off with Glee and did 11.15 million and a 4.2 18-49, down from the previous week. Perhaps DST affected? Next Fox disappointed with Raising Hope again and did 5.74 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which was down from the previous week by more than it should have been. New comedy Traffic Light was next and did only 3.6 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating only, but on par with previous week. NBC aired a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 8.0 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which was down some from previous week. Then at 10pm, Parenthood was preempted for a special repeat of America's Next Great Restaurant and did only 3.86 million but the 1.6 18-49 rating is an improvement in this slot from the previous week. The CW was a repeat with One Tree Hill doing 810,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week. Next at 9pm was a repeat of Hellcats and that did 740,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week's repeat. What happened?

Wednesday was all Fox again with a two-hour American Idol carrying it. Idol did 22.58 million and a 7.6 18-49 rating, but down from previous week by close to 2 million and a half a point in 18-49. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Redemption Island doing 10.73 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next with a new episode doing 13.73 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating. A good showing. At 10pm, week five of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior did 10.33 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up some from previous week's series lows. ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a repeat of The Middle opened the night with 4.68 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Then at 8:30, Better With You was preempted again for another repeat of The Middle doing 4.47 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a bit week-to-week. Then ABC aired a repeat of Modern Family at 9pm doing 5.89 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is off a tenth week-to-week. Then at 9:30, Mr. Sunshine was new with 4.54 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. It should go up a lot this week with a new lead-in. As I keep saying, 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 4.21 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week for its lowest numbers yet. NBC aired a new Minute to Win It and did just 3.31 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which it keeps doing now. Then two repeats of Law & Order: SVU closed the night off as 9pm did 3.24 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, while 10pm did 5.25 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. The CW had a new America's Next Top Model starting it off at 8pm doing 2.03 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, so it will move to 9pm in a few weeks. At 9pm, new reality series Shedding for the Wedding did only 980,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.

Thursday saw once again Fox win the night for the third night in a row, as Idol aired but was down a lot. Looks like St. Patrick's Day and NCAA coverage on CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV affected everyone. ABC opened the night with the premiere of the short spring edition of Wipeout doing a solid 7.16 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Then Grey's Anatomy was preempted for a special airing of Private Practice at a special time of 9pm doing 5.97 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Could have been better, but the holiday was a factor. A repeat of Off the Map on a special night closed the night with 3.86 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. Not sure why a new airing wasn't used. CBS preempted its regular line-up of The Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement, CSI and The Mentalist for NCAA Basketball coverage doing 4.95 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating in primetime. That is really low, but this year there were games also on TNT, TBS, and truTV. Add those ratings, and coverage is up a bit from last year. Onto Fox, it was all American Idol as an one-hour airing did 19.57 million and a 5.7 18-49 rating, down sharply from previous week again and a season low. St. Patrick's Day or DST affect? Or NCAA? Maybe a bit of everything. Fox aired Bones at 9pm and did 11.61 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, actually up from previous week. NBC comedies were mostly all-new. Community started it off with 4.15 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, for a season low. But it gets worse as a new Perfect Couples did only 2.88 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating...ouch! How much longer will this be on the air? The Office was the only repeat of the night for NBC and did just 3.77 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week's repeat. Parks and Recreation was next with a new airing doing 4.08 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, for a series low but it did manage to build from the lead-in, even in if it was a repeat. 30 Rock followed at 10 with a new episode doing just 4.19 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, for a series low. And Outsourced was even worse for a new airing doing 3.59 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. The CW was next with a repeat of Vampire Diaries doing only 860,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Then a repeat of Nikita did 1.26 million and just a 0.4 18-49 rating, but up a tenth week-to-week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had CBS win barely NCAA coverage doing lower than the normal drama line-up. The games on cable have taken a bite from CBS, even though this deal is good financially for them. What Would You Do? lead for ABC, while Fringe did a series low. Saturday had Fox easily win with its normal crime reality series over CBS, which had terrible games last night in NCAA. All the good games were on TNT or TBS.

Tonight ABC is all-new with one-time0only line-up of AFV, Secret Millionaire, Shark Tank and Detroit 1-8-7 the latter two are filling in for repeats. NBC has a new episode of dead on arrival America's Next Great Restaurant & another two-hour Celebrity Apprentice, all 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 half all-new with Animation Domination starting at 8:30pm.

As for the week (week 26), Fox will likely win the week everywhere again, especially 18-49. Repeats on other nets secured that and CBS having lower NCAA ratings because of the games on cable this year as well. Every other network will remain as they are through the first four nights, pending any huge surprises, I think. I'm thinking Shark Tank does a series high tonight in 18-49 for its season two premiere. And for the coming week (week 27), has the return of Dancing with the Stars tomorrow starting at 8/7c. ABC should have a good week as they are mostly new.

Week 26 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 25 -- March 7-13)

• American Dad! (Fox) - A repeat did 2.61 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which was down a lot from previous week. Daylight savings time could be a factor.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - A new episode in its normal 8pm slot did 5.42 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. Earlier, a repeat at 7pm did only 2.28 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down considerably from previous week. Daylight savings time seemed to hurt Fox the most on this night.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A new episode did 4.1 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat airing did 4.9 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which was still tied for the best for Fox for the night.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode did 4.64 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is up a bit from previous week actually, as everything else was down. Good showing out of a repeat.

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 5.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week.
• Mad Love (CBS) - 6.45 million for a new episode and a 2.1 18-49 rating is down from previous week thanks to the lead-in being a repeat again. Can it finally go up for once tomorrow?
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 9.93 million for a repeat and a 2.6 18-49 rating, is down for the third straight week from previous week.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - 8.26 million for a repeat and a 18-49 rating of 2.2 is decent, but down from previous week and not in the impressive category this time.

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did 5.74 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down a half a point in 18-49 from previous week...that is not good.
• Traffic Light (Fox) - New airing did only 3.6 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, actually on par with previous week despite the lead-in being down. But still not good.

• The Middle (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat of this sitcom did 4.68 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, then a second repeat at a special time of 8:30pm did 4.47 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating... both were lower than normal. DST might have had something to do with it. Look for a new episode this week at 8.
• Better with You (ABC) - preempted.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 5.89 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week but still good for a repeat.
• Mr. Sunshine (ABC) - A new episode did 4.54 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Should be better this week with its lead-in brand new.

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - preempted.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - preempted.
• Community (NBC) - A new episode did 4.15 million and 1.7 18-49 rating, for a series low.
• Perfect Couples (NBC) - This show should never be in new episodes either as it did a historic low for NBC in the time period with only 2.88 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. Where is Kath & Kim when you need it?
• The Office (NBC) - A repeat did 3.77 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week in the time period.
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode only did 4.08 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, for series lows. Only upside is the build from the lead-in...but that was a repeat.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 10pm did just 4.19 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating for a series low.
• Outsourced (NBC) - NBC's non-existent night concluded with a new episode doing just 3.59 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10pm, with repeats from 7pm-8:30pm.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men (R), Modern Family (R), Mike & Molly (R) were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Mad Love, Parks and Recreation) or just plain old terrible (such as Perfect Couples, Outsourced, Traffic Light).