Sunday, May 29, 2011

Final Week of 2010-2011 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2010-11 Week 36 TV Ratings (first four nights averages, Mon-Thu):

Households: #1. Fox 8.8/14.0 rating/share; #2. ABC 6.6./10.5; #3. CBS 4.7/7.6; #4. NBC 3.0/4.8; #5. The CW 0.5/0.8
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 15.94 million; #2. ABC 10.46 million; #3. CBS 7.39 million; #4. NBC 4.86 million; #5. The CW 740,000 viewers
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 5.2/14.7 rating/share; #2. ABC 2.6/7.2; #3. NBC 1.7/4.6; #4. CBS 1.7/4.5; #5. The CW 0.3/0.8

Week 36 (May 23-29) Analysis: Week 36 is the final week of the season, but it is only three days long, so there is actually 35 1/2 weeks to a TV season. We have the first four nights available, but they count night one of summer on Thursday. Through the first four nights. Fox is in a clear first place across the board. ABC is second across the board, as CBS is in third with repeats starting a week earlier for them. NBC is still in fourth despite CBS's repeats. That's a wrap for the 2010-11 season...we will give you the final network ratings as soon as we get them, but Fox won the season in 18-49 and CBS in total viewers. NBC remained fourth place across the board. Last week, week 35, had CBS win the final full week of the season in HH/viewers beating out second place ABC, but Fox took the important 18-49 crown again. Fox was third in HH but second in viewers nipping by ABC, while NBC was fourth again. ABC was second in 18-49, leaving CBS in third, while NBC was back in fourth again.

Monday saw ABC win the final Monday of the season. ABC started with the performance finale of Dancing with the Stars for an hour doing 22.86 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, up some from previous week when it was two-hours. From 9-11pm ABC aired the season premiere of The Bachelorette and did 9.02 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, consistent from last year's debut. Look for solid numbers this summer as usual. CBS was next with its comedies, but in repeats for the final Monday of the year. How I Met Your Mother started it off with a repeat doing 4.41 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. A second repeat was next preempting the canceled Mad Love, doing 4.03 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, as this comedy doesn't repeat as well as other CBS comedies. Two and a Half Men repeat was next doing 8.03 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up some week-to-week. A repeat of Mike & Molly at 9:30pm did 7.27 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is solid thanks to the lead-in's numbers. Hawaii Five-0 was preempted for a special called Clash of the Commercials - USA vs. the World and did 6.84 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Fox was all-new with the season finale of House doing 9.11 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. The finale episode of Chicago Code followed at 9pm with 7.11 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, again up some from previous week but it is canceled. NBC started with another airing of Minute to Win It doing 4.28 million and 1.5 18-49 rating. Is there any night where this show hasn't aired yet? The Event had its final episode and did 4.89 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is up week-to-week but still did nothing much. Law & Order: Los Angeles was all-new and did 5.91 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. It will continue through June and then it is gone forever. The CW was in repeats like CBS, as 90210 did 610,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, while a repeat of Gossip Girl followed and did worse with 480,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating. Why repeat these?

Tuesday had American Idol invade the night and win. First, CBS started with more repeats, this time of NCIS and it did 9.83 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating on the final Tuesday of the season. Did CBS think this couldn't compete with a new episode? I don't get it. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with what else, a repeat, and did 8.67 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, similar to the lead-in. At 10pm, another repeat of NCIS aired and did 7.91 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, as CBS took another backseat. For ABC, a repeat of Monday's Dancing with the Stars at 8pm did 10.36 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's all-new special...but for a repeat, this is good. At 9, the two-hour season finale of Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 21.42 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, up a ton from previous week, as Hines Ward took the trophy. Well deserved! Fox had part one of the season finale of American Idol air on a special night and did 20.57 million and a 6.4 18-49 rating, on its former night of many seasons. However, for part one of a fine, this was lower than normal. Raising Hope was preempted for the season finale of Glee at a special time of 9pm and it did 11.8 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, its best ratings in weeks but still lower than what it did in the fall. I thought it would be higher with an Idol lead-in. NBC started with the two-hour finale of The Biggest Loser doing 8.2 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which was up some from previous week as this season's ratings were lower. Then NBC had the young skewing The Voice at 10pm with just one hour again, doing 8.49 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, still great but a series low. Let's see if it can continue into the summer, as it will have competition from the NBA Finals the next few weeks. The CW was all repeats, like its sibling CBS, with One Tree Hill doing just 520,000 viewers and a dismal 0.2 18-49 rating. Next at 9pm was Hellcats and that did just as bad with 580,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating. I think The CW could do decent in summer if they air reality series instead of serialized drama repeats.

Wednesday it was the final night of the season and it of course belonged to American Idol which had its finale. The two-hour Idol finale did 29.29 million and a 9.2 18-49 rating, up a ton from previous week and by far the best showing since January. CBS was in repeats again with two repeats of The Big Bang Theory starting it off. The 8pm airing did 5.46 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, followed by the 8:30 repeat doing a bit better with 5.86 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. Then at 9pm, a repeat of Criminal Minds did 6.07 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. At 10pm, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was NEW but it doesn't matter as the series was canceled, so CBS didn't care. It did 7.25 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. ABC had seasons finale of its Laugh On comedy block and had the season finale of The Middle open the night with 7.33 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which was down some from previous week. Then at 8:30, a special repeat of Modern Family aired and did 5.89 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up a lick from previous week's The Middle repeat. Then ABC aired the season finale of Modern Family at 9pm doing 10.31 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week despite the Idol finale. Then at 9:30, Cougar Town was all-new with a one-hour season finale doing 5.01 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par with previous week despite going up against the finale half-hour of the Idol finale. At 10:30pm, new comedy Happy Endings did 4.02 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up from both airings the previous week. NBC was in repeat mode from 8-10pm with Minute to Win It doing 2.65 million and just a 0.8 18-49 rating at 8. Another repeat followed with just 3.1 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, but up a tenth actually week-to-week. Then NBC aired a new Law & Order: Los Angeles on a special night instead of SVU, doing 5.47 million and only a 1.3 18-49 rating. No wonder this is canceled. The CW had a repeat of America's Next Top Model start it off at 8pm doing 920,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, off some from previous week. Then at 9pm it was another repeat doing 950,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating. Sigh, The CW...

Starting from Thursday on, the summer season started! So we won't do an analysis, but stay tuned all summer to see how your favorite network sitcoms are doing--repeat or not!

Week 36 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 35 -- May 16-22)

  • American Dad! (Fox) - The season finale at 7:30pm did 3.57 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - The season finale at 8pm did 5.25 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is basically on par with previous week again. A repeat earlier at 7pm did only 2.52 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down week-to-week.
  • Bob's Burgers (Fox) - The season finale of how-did-this-get-renewed-comedy did 4.25 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - The one-hour season finale at 9pm did 5.84 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, but off a bit week-to-week when it was a half-hour.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 2 episodes - Summer started a week early for CBS, as repeats aired all week for CBS. A repeat at 8pm did 4.41 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, followed by a second repeat at 8:30 doing a similar 4.03 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. It makes no sense why they aired repeats on the final Monday of the TV season.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Another repeat of this show did 8.03 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating which was up from previous week.
  • Mike & Molly (CBS) - A repeat of this sitcom did 7.27 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating.

Tuesday Sitcoms

  • Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted.
  • Traffic Light (Fox) - The finale is this Tuesday.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • The Middle (ABC) - The season finale of this sitcom did 7.33 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, off some from previous week, opposite the Idol finale.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 2 episodes - Two special repeats in the 8pm hour aired. The first repeat did 5.46 million and only a 1.3 18-49 rating, but the second one improved to 5.86 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, but still losing to the ABC sitcom repeat at 8:30.
  • Modern Family (ABC) 2 episodes - The season finale at 9pm did 10.31 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tick from previous week, which is remarkable up against the Idol finale! A repeat at 8:30pm did a decent 5.89 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - The one-hour season finale from 9:30-10:30pm did 5.01 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, still on par with previous week as it faced Idol's last half-hour of the finale. All things considered, that is not bad.
  • Happy Endings (ABC) - The season finale at 10:30pm did 4.02 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up a good number from previous week at 10:30. Look for every episode to repeat at 9:30pm this summer following Modern Family starting June 22! If you haven't watched yet, now is your chance!

Thursday Sitcoms

  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Summer has OFFICIALLY started, as a repeat of this comedy did a good 8.28 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. Great for a repeat!
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A repeat did 6.82 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is also good for a repeat these days.
  • Community (NBC) - A repeat at 8pm did 2.67 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. Low as usual for a repeat.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) 2 episodes - A repeat at 8:30pm only did 2.38 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. A second repeat aired at 10pm and did only 2.21 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. It's going to be a long summer for NBC comedy repeats.
  • The Office (NBC) 2 episodes - A repeat at 9pm did 2.76 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, the best of this low block. A second repeat at 10:30pm did only 2.0 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A repeat at 9:30pm only did 2.24 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no comedies.

Summing it up. Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory Thurs, The Middle, Rules of Engagement, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Cougar Town, Happy Endings) or just plain old terrible (such as NBC Thursday repeats).

[Source: Nielsen NTI Ratings. View Travis Yanan's Ratings Website].


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, October 16

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 12)

Friday, October 16

  • William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - Watch William on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Cara Delevingne (Only Murders in the Building) - Cara appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Ms. Pat (The Ms. Pat Show) - Ms. Pat is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Natasha and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Busy Philipps (Girls5eva/Vice Principals/Cougar Town/Love, Inc.) - Busy talks about Cupertino with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Bradley talks about The Diplomat on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Jason Priestley (Call Me Fitz/Sister Kate) - Jason talks about Private Eyes West Coast on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Yvette Nicole Brown (Act Your Age/The Odd Couple/Community/The Big House) - Yvette opens up about caring for her father with Alzheimer's on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Domhnall Gleeson (The Paper) - NBC's Today catches up with Domhnall in the 9am hour.
  • Sharon Horgan (Youth/Bad Sisters/HouseBroken/Catastrophe) - NBC's Today catches up with Sharon in the 10am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie hits the headlines with Drew and Ross in an all-new Drew's News on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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10/01 - Ted: The Animated Series Premieres December 17 on Peacock; Trailer for Apple TV's Small Prophets
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09/29 - Michael Che's Third Netflix Special; Remembering Dennis Haskins of Saved by the Bell
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09/23 - Disney+ Orders New Darkwing Duck Series; Great American Christmas 2026 with 18 New Holiday Movies
09/22 - Who Is Martin Mull? Netflix Documentary; Dancing with the Stars 2-Night Premiere Scores Big
09/21 - JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Join New Netflix Series; AMC Announces New Family Drama for 2027
09/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 21, 2026)
09/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: David Hyde Pierce Set to Star in Untitled NBC Sitcom; American Idol Moves to Atlanta
09/18 - South "America" Season 29 After 16th Emmy Win; HBO Max Orders Drama Series with Ray Romano and Kaley Cuoco
09/17 - They're Back on Call! Scrubs Season 2 Trailer; HBO's Kate Berlant Comedy Special
09/16 - AMC+ Half-Hour Drama Series Yaga Premieres October 23; Roku's Comedy Film with Kristin Cavallari