SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. CBS 6.8/10.6 rating/share; #1. Fox 6.8/10.6; #3. ABC 6.3/10.0; #4. NBC 3.2/5.1; #5. The CW 0.9/1.4
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 11.76 million; #2. CBS 10.83 million; #3. ABC 9.93 million; #4. NBC 5.12 million; #5. The CW 1.35 million
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 3.7/10.5 rating/share; #2. CBS 2.5/7.0; #3. ABC 2.5/6.9; #4. NBC 1.8/5.0; #5. The CW 0.6/1.6

Week 30 (April 11-17) Analysis: Week 30 saw two new sitcoms launch with one seeing good numbers and the other at a historic low. Through the first four nights CBS and Fox are battling for first in HH/viewers with Fox a clear first in 18-49. ABC in a close third in HH/viewers and tied with CBS for second in 18-49. NBC is way back in fourth across the board. Fox should win the week in 18-49 and CBS will win the week in HH/viewers. Last week, week 29, had CBS win the week across the board thanks to the NCAA Final Four on Monday, as they nipped by Fox by a tenth in 18-49. ABC was second in HH but third in viewers, while Fox was third in HH but second in viewers. ABC was third in 18-49. And of course NBC was in a distant fourth place.

Monday saw ABC get the W. ABC started with a new Dancing with the Stars doing 20.93 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. At 10pm ABC aired Castle and did 12.33 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. CBS was next with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. How I Met Your Mother started it off with a below normal 6.87 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating. It can do better than this, but in a week of lower numbers, it is winner. Mad Love was not a winner as it did series lows with 5.48 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. I have a hunch this one will not be back next season. Two and a Half Men and Mike & Molly switched time periods for one week, and it wasn't a success, as Mike & Molly at 9pm did a series low of 7.9 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is lower than the usual Men repeats in this slot. Men followed with a repeat at a below normal 7.49 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which for a repeat is good. Hawaii Five-0 was all-new at 10pm and suffered with a series low of 9.54 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. Usually CBS's moves pay off, but not this time. Fox was all-new with House doing a season low 8.93 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, not good for this show. A new episode of Chicago Code followed at 9pm with still its normal showings of 5.94 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, as it will battle with other similar performing shows like Lie to Me for a renewal. NBC started with a new Chuck doing just 4.03 million and only a 1.3 18-49 rating. It doesn't look like this series will be back now...no more Subway campaigns to save it. The Event was preempted for a two-hour return of Law & Order: Los Angeles that did only 6.1 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. I don't think this one will be back next season either. The CW was in repeats with 90210 doing only 720,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week. Gossip Girl followed and was even worse with a repeat doing 570,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week.

Tuesday had CBS on top. CBS started with a new NCIS and did 19.87 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating which was up some from previous week. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new episode and did 15.46 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating. The Good Wife was new and did 11.05 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up some from previous week in viewers but the same 18-49 as previous week. For ABC the season premiere of the Emmy-winning Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution did an OK 5.36 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Probably would be better on Fridays, though. At 9, Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 15.96 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. At 10pm, week three of Body of Proof won its hour again with 11.06 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Renewal news to come? Fox started off with another repeat of Glee and did 4.2 million and a 1.4 18-49, which is up a tenth from previous week. Next Fox aired a repeat of comedy, Raising Hope and did only 3.11 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. New comedy Traffic Light was next but all-new and did only 2.24 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating only. NBC aired a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 7.4 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which was down a tad from previous week. Then at 10pm, Parenthood was new and did 5.22 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. The CW was in repeats with One Tree Hill doing 660,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, up a lick week-to-week. Next at 9pm was a repeat of Hellcats and that did 650,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week's repeat.

Wednesday it was all Fox with American Idol carrying it. A 90-minute Idol did 23.03 million and a 7.3 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. The 90-minute telecast was followed by week two of new comedy Breaking In that did 7.79 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, nearly down a full point in 18-49. Not good news. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Redemption Island doing 11.09 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which was up some in viewers but down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was next with a new episode doing 13.59 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, both down some from previous week. At 10pm, a new Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior did 9.96 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week with no new SVU. I think this is one of the most disappointing new series in terms of ratings this year as expectations were much higher since it was a spin-off of a big hit. ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a new The Middle open the night with a below normal 6.14 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. Then at 8:30, Better With You was finally airing and new doing 4.85 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, by far a series low. Then ABC aired a new Modern Family at 9pm doing 9.61 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is below normal but still great. Then at 9:30, Happy Endings premiered with two episodes as the special 9:30pm did a solid 7.3 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. The regular time period of 10pm airing did decent with 5.7 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is acceptable these days at 10pm. A repeat of Modern Family followed with 4.56 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is solid for a repeat and at 10:30. Cougar Town will return with a special airing tomorrow, and then return to Wednesdays at 9:30 starting this week! The return of the cul-de-sac crew AT LAST! NBC aired a new Minute to Win It and did only 3.27 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, for a series low. Then a repeat followed and did only 3.08 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. A repeat of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm did only 4.91 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. The CW had a new America's Next Top Model starting it off at 8pm doing a low 2.08 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which was up some from previous week. It will move to 9pm this week. At 9pm, the finale of Shedding for the Wedding did only 1.12 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week, though.

Thursday saw Fox win the night for the second night in a row, as Idol carried it--nothing new. But first, ABC opened the night with a new Spring episode of Wipeout doing a solid 6.19 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Then Grey's Anatomy was a repeat at 9pm doing 4.25 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week. A repeat of Private Practice at 10 closed the night with 2.78 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. CBS aired repeats, with The Big Bang Theory at 8pm doing 7.51 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, solid but it has done better. Rules of Engagement was next with a repeat doing 5.67 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, lower than usual. At 9, CSI repeat did 8.1 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. And at 10pm The Mentalist was a repeat too and jumped to 10.83 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Onto #1 Fox, it was all American Idol as an one-hour airing did 21.92 million and a 6.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Fox then followed with a new Bones at 9pm doing 11.45 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week. NBC comedies were all-new but low. Community started it off with only 3.48 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, for a series low. Then the premiere of burn-off The Paul Resier Show did only 3.37 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, for a historic low. The Office was next and did a good 7.87 million and a better 4.0 18-49 rating, saving NBC on this night. Parks and Recreation was next with 5.16 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. 30 Rock followed at 10 with just 4.45 million but an acceptable 2.2 18-49 rating. And the likely doomed Outsourced was all-new doing 3.5 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. The CW was next with all-new episodes of Vampire Diaries doing 2.8 million and only a 1.3 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week. Then a new Nikita did 2.21 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had ABC win the night in 18-49. Chaos bombed even more on CBS at 8pm, while Shark Tank won the 8pm hour going up 25% from previous week. Fringe returned with lower numbers. Saturday had ABC win by a tenth in 18-49, but only at a 1.0 rating.

Tonight ABC is all-new with AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, & Brothers & Sisters, as Desperate will be all-new for the rest of the season. NBC has a new episode of ratings challenged 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 The Amazing Race at 8 and Undercover Boss & CSI: Miami from 9-11pm. Fox is all-new with Animation Domination starting at 8:30pm.

As for the week (week 30), Fox will likely win the week in 18-49 but CBS should prevail in HH/viewers. ABC will likely battle Fox for second in HH/viewers. NBC is certain for fourth. And for the coming week (week 31), has the return of Cougar Town on ABC tomorrow and back to its normal night on Wednesday!

Week 30 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 29 -- April 4-10)

• American Dad! (Fox) - A new episode did 3.35 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating at 7:30pm, which was down some from previous week.
  
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - A new episode at 8pm did 5.06 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is way below normal.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A new episode did only 4.0 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, and it has been renewed for a season two despite OK showings like this.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode did 6.59 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is also below normal.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode airing did 4.93 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up from previous week's season low which was out of a repeat A special repeat at 7pm only did 2.06 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating.

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode came back to lower than usual ratings with 6.87 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating.
  
• Mad Love (CBS) - For a CBS Monday comedy, 5.48 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating is pretty low and this was a series low for this comedy.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat at a special time of 9:30pm did 7.49 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating which was lower than usual.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - Airing in an anchor time period of 9pm, a new episode of this sitcom on a special time didn't deliver with 7.9 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. While that is certainly not bad, it isn't good enough in this half-hour as Men repeats do better than this and it is very rare that the 8pm comedy did better in 18-49 than the 9pm comedy. This was by far a series low for this comedy.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A repeat only did 3.11 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's repeat. When this sitcom returns with new episodes, I can bet you that it will come lower than usual with all of these repeats in a row airing.
  
• Traffic Light (Fox) - A new episode did only 2.24 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, airing out of repeats. Not good.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode of this sitcom did a below normal 6.14 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating as either many didn't know it was new or the reality competition of Idol/Survivor was too much. Look for it be better this week, I think.
• Better with You (ABC) - Finally it aired but it came out lower than normal as well with 4.85 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. I don't see this comedy on Wednesdays next season...perhaps Fridays.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 9.61 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is good but once again below normal. All of this week's comedies seem to be going that way thus far. A repeat at 10:30pm did a solid 4.56 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, best in this half-hour in months--and it was a REPEAT.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) 2 episodes - The series premiere of this comedy got off to a promising start with 7.3 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. A second episode on its normal time of 10pm did decent as well with 5.7 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. The latter is good for 10pm and if it can stay in this area, ABC will be competitive in this troubling slot.
  
• Breaking In (Fox) - The new comedy aired following American Idol again and didn't hold too much again, doing 7.79 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, dropping quite a bit from the premiere. The premiere of Happy Endings did better in this slot, so the Idol lead-in doesn't help that much. Comedies work better with other comedies.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat did a good 7.51 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, but seems below what it usually does for repeats.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A repeat did 5.67 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
• Community (NBC) - A new episode did only 3.48 million and 1.4 18-49 rating, for a series low.
• The Paul Reiser Show (NBC) - The series premiere of this new comedy got off to a historic start...a historic low that is, with just 3.37 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. Ouch. Will this see more than two airings? Make your bets now.
• The Office (NBC) - Finally something higher than usual...a new episode did 7.87 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, its best ratings since January, as it had been dropping every single week since its season high back then.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode did 5.16 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is OK. Nothing to write home about, but decent enough out of that lead-in.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 10pm did just 4.45 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, the latter is acceptable in the half-hour though.
• Outsourced (NBC) - An all-new episode did 3.5 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up some from previous week out of repeats but this is still low, as a repeat of Modern Family on ABC Wednesday in this time period did better.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

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

Summing it up. The Office, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings (9:30) were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Parks & Recreation, Mike & Molly) or just plain old terrible (such as The Paul Reiser Show, Traffic Light, Community).