SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. ABC 6.9/10.9 rating/share; #2. Fox 6.6/10.3; #3. CBS 5.8/9.1; #4. NBC 3.9/6.1; #5. The CW 1.1/1.7
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 11.31 million; #2. ABC 10.83 million; #3. CBS 9.28 million; #4. NBC 6.43 million; #5. The CW 1.71 million
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 3.6/9.7 rating/share; #2. ABC 2.6/6.8; #3. NBC 2.5/6.5; #4. CBS 2.2/5.8; #5. The CW 0.8/2.1

Week 32 (April 25-May 1) Analysis: Week 32 so far has NBC with some climbs thanks to the debut of The Voice and an above average The Office, but NBC will likely be in fourth place still. Through the first four nights ABC and Fox are battling in HH/viewers, with ABC with the edge in HH and Fox in viewers. Fox is a clear first in 18049, while ABC is in second. CBS is in third place in HH/viewers and a rare fourth place in 18-49, as NBC is in third in 18-49. NBC is still in fourth place though in HH/viewers despite the upswing. Fox will win the week in 18-49 and perhaps ABC will sneak out a win in HH/viewers. The question is will NBC remain in third in 18-49 or will CBS overtake them? We shall see. Last week, week 31, had CBS win the week in HH/viewers, but Fox took the important 18-49 crown again. ABC was second in HH but third in viewers again, while Fox was third in HH but second in viewers. ABC was second in 18-49, leaving CBS in third in 18-49. And of course NBC was in a distant fourth place. This was exactly the same as week 30.

Monday saw ABC get the win again. ABC started with a new Dancing with the Stars but in 90-minute form rather than two-hours again, as it did 22.38 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, up A LOT from previous week and #1 for the week in total viewers. At 9:30pm, a special airing of Better With You followed with 11.22 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which was above previous week's special Cougar Town episode, which isn't surprising since Better fits better out of Dancing and had Derek Hough guest starring. It wouldn't do this every week, so a special airing or two is the only way to go for comedies to air after Dancing. Not a regular thing. At 10pm ABC aired a repeat of Castle and did 7.43 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Look for a special Castle in L.A. episode tomorrow night that looks hot with Beckett in a swimsuit. Can't go wrong with that. CBS was next with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. How I Met Your Mother started it off with a repeat doing 5.22 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. Mad Love is still not a winner as it did 5.53 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, but on par with previous week when its lead-in was new, so that is a positive at least. Two and a Half Men repeat was preempted by a Big Bang Theory repeat doing 7.68 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, a bit higher than Men's numbers the previous week. A repeat of Mike & Molly at 9:30pm did 7.86 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is decent for a repeat. Hawaii Five-0 was a repeat at 10pm and did 7.19 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. Look for second place finishes for tomorrow's new episode. Fox was in repeats with House doing 4.89 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, as this show used to repeat better than this. A repeat of Chicago Code followed at 9pm with 4.07 million and only a 1.0 18-49 rating. NBC started with a repeat (gulp) of Chuck doing just 2.77 million and only a 0.9 18-49 rating. The Event was next and did 4.62 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up some actually week-to-week. Law & Order: Los Angeles did just as bad with 5.79 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, but also up some from previous week. The CW was all-new with 90210 doing 1.74 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, up some from previous week and Gossip Girl followed with 1.55 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week. Both series were actually renewed this past week for next season. How?

Tuesday had ABC and NBC battle, as NBC won the night in 18-49. But first, CBS started with a repeat of NCIS and did 11.21 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating which was old skewing given the amount of total viewers. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a repeat and did 10.29 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. A special repeat of The Mentalist followed instead of The Good Wife and did 7.94 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, lower than previous week's NCIS: LA repeat. For ABC, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution was preempted for a brand new special Dancing with the Stars: The Road to the Finals and it did 13.08 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which was done to boost the rest of the night because of the premiere on NBC. At 9, Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 18.28 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, up a lot from previous week. At 10pm, a new Body of Proof won its hour in total viewers with 11.86 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week in 18-49 but up in viewers. Fox had a new 90-minute Glee but disappointed with 8.62 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is good but down from previous week. Next Fox aired a new episode of comedy, Raising Hope at a special time of 9:30pm doing 4.53 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down from previous week when it was at 9pm. New comedy Traffic Light saw a red light and didn't air. NBC aired only a one-hour The Biggest Loser doing 7.45 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which was up from previous week's season low. Then from 9-11pm, NBC won the hours in 18-49 thanks to the young skewing premiere of The Voice doing 11.77 million and a strong 5.1 18-49 rating, saving NBC. It will be two-hours again this week, but after that it will be in the 10pm hour. It will be interesting to see if it can do high numbers like this at 10pm. It should be fine this week, probably in the 4s. The CW was all-new on Tuesday with a new One Tree Hill doing 1.44 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Next at 9pm was a new Hellcats and that did worse with just 998,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, down a tenth week-to-week. These two might not make it to next season.

Wednesday it was all Fox with American Idol carrying it again. A 90-minute Idol did 22.32 million and a 7.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week and #1 for the week in 18-49. The 90-minute telecast was followed by week four of new comedy Breaking In that did 7.01 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down some again from previous week. It has only gone down a bit the past few weeks, but this is on an island on its own. Air it with Family Guy and it will be better. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Redemption Island doing 11.32 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was a repeat doing 9.11 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. At 10pm, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was also a repeat and did 7.45 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a repeat of The Middle open the night with 5.01 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. Then at 8:30, Better With You was new doing 4.64 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week when its lead-in was new. So not too bad, but not good either. Then ABC aired a repeat of Modern Family at 9pm doing 5.94 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is decent for a repeat. Then at 9:30, Cougar Town was all-new with 5.62 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down some from previous week but its lead-in was a repeat and it did grow by a tenth. At 10pm, new comedy Happy Endings did better with 5.17 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up from previous week at 10pm. Promising and the future looks bright I think. Last week I said, "keep it right here or even go up, and ABC will renew." And it did go up, so I think a renewal is likely given the state of 10pm. A special repeat of Modern Family was next doing 4.29 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. Look for Happy Endings to be doubled-up in the 10pm hour every week starting this week. That is happy news, indeed. NBC preempted Minute to Win It for an Inside the Royal Wedding special that did 5.17 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, improving the time period. Then NBC encored the previous night's premiere of The Voice and did decent with 6.15 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, once again skewing young. Law & Order: SVU returns this week. The CW had a repeat of America's Next Top Model start it off at 8pm doing 1.15 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. New episodes are at 9pm and it did 2.39 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, up a lot from previous week's low as it looks like people now know it airs at 9pm.

Thursday saw Fox win the night on the first night of May sweep. But first, ABC opened the night with a repeat of a A Special Edition of 20/20: A Modern Fairytale doing 7.01 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, skewing older. Wipeout returns this week. Then Grey's Anatomy was all-new at 9pm doing 10.67 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating. A new Private Practice at 10 closed the night with 6.68 million and a below normal 2.2 18-49 rating. Both shows will be higher this coming week with weddings, as ABC promoted them heavily during the Royal Wedding on Friday. CBS was all-new with The Big Bang Theory at 8pm doing 10.71 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, for a season low. Rules of Engagement was next with a new episode doing 7.86 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which could be better. At 9, a new CSI did 10.84 million and a series low 2.4 18-49 rating. Is this show on the move next season? And at 10pm The Mentalist was new too and jumped to 13.53 million and a a below normal 2.6 18-49 rating. Weird that the 10pm hour this week on both ABC and CBS were down a few tenths from normal. Onto #1 Fox, it was all American Idol as an one-hour airing did 19.6 million and a 5.7 18-49 rating, but down some from previous week. Fox then followed with a new Bones at 9pm doing 9.7 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down again from previous week. I think this is Friday bound next season and it will do well there. NBC comedies were all-new and supersized starting at 9. Community started it off with only 3.35 and a 1.4 18-49 rating, tying a series low again. Then a repeat of The Office did 3.08 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. A new The Office was next and expanded to 53 minutes doing 8.42 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, up a lot from previous week. It was Steve Carrell's last episode, many thought it would do much higher than that but with NFL Draft I knew it wouldn't be that high. Parks and Recreation was next and expanded from 9:53-10:30pm with 4.71 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down a tad from previous week despite getting a bigger lead-in. It did air in a later time period. 30 Rock followed at a special time of 10:30 doing 3.95 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down from previous week's one-hour episode. And the likely doomed Outsourced was preempted again. The CW was next with all-new episodes of Vampire Diaries doing 2.68 million and only a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Then a new Nikita did 1.72 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, down from previous week. The latter is on the bubble.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday had CBS win the night with its dramas and the 8pm special Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty, while ABC's two-hour 20/20: A Modern Fairy Tale did well from 9-11pm. Fringe on Fox and Friday Night Lights on NBC were low. Saturday had Fox win the night with NASCAR while ABC's movie Batman Begins was a distant second. CBS had a historic low at 8pm with Fight Camp 360 a prelim 1.19 million and only a prelim 0.3 18-49 rating.

Tonight ABC is all-new with AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, & Brothers & Sisters, which will win the night likely among 18-49. 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 then Undercover Boss & CSI: Miami from 9-11pm. Fox is in repeats with Animation Domination starting at 8:30pm because they had to pull the "Hurricane" crossover event because of the recent tornadoes in the south.

As for the week (week 32), Fox will win the week in 18-49 and ABC should prevail in HH/viewers. ABC will likely be in second in 18-49, with CBS or Fox in second in HH/viewers. NBC is certain for fourth in HH/viewers, but could beat CBS in 18-49. And for the coming week (week 33), has week two of reality competition series The Voice on NBC Tuesday from 9-11pm. Can it retain most of its premiere ratings before settling into 10pm starting next week? First full week of sweeps starts this week, as we wind down the 2010-2011 season.

Week 32 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 31 -- April 18-24)

• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.
  
• The Simpsons (Fox) - Fox gave the whole night to this family with two repeats in the 7pm hour doing 2.08 million/2.54 million and a 0.8 & 1.0 18-49 rating only. That lead into the big screen movie repeat from 8-10pm doing 3.63 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - preempted.
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 5.22 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is OK for a repeat.
  
• Mad Love (CBS) - A new episode out of a repeat did 5.53 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is basically on par with previous week when its lead-in was new.
  
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special repeat of this show instead of the regular Men did 7.68 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating which was a bit higher than previous week's Men repeat.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A repeat of this sitcom did 7.86 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is a good repeat number.
• Better With You (ABC) - A special all-new episode on a special night did a series high 11.22 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, better than previous week's Cougar Town because of special guest star Derek Hough from Dancing. It also helps when the lead-in was up big from previous week.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did 4.53 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating at a special time of 9:30pm as it seemed to have gotten lost in the battles going on this night. It was lower than previous week's 9pm airing.
  
• Traffic Light (Fox) - preempted, thankfully.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat episode of this sitcom did 5.01 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, as the latter seems a bit lower than normal.
• Better with You (ABC) - A new episode did 4.64 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week when its lead-in was new. Not bad to be down just a tenth, but ABC can do "better" here next season. Think this sitcom would do decently on Fridays.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) 2 episodes - A repeat episode did 5.94 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is good numbers for a repeat, especially single-camera. A special repeat at 10:30pm did decent as well with 4.29 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating.
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A hilarious new episode of this comedy did 5.62 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down some from previous week when its lead-in was new...but it did build a tenth from its lead-in, which I don't think has ever happened.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode at 10pm did 5.17 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up some from previous week at 10pm. This is promising news for this comedy, as it improved the time period for ABC from just about anything this season in this slot.
  
• Breaking In (Fox) - The new comedy aired following American Idol again and didn't hold too much again, doing 7.01 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down some again from previous week. This comedy can do better not airing after the juggernaut.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - May sweeps starts, but a new episode of this comedy was below normal with 10.71 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating. Still good.
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A new episode did 7.86 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, really $#*! My Dad Says was doing similar retention even.
• Community (NBC) - A new episode did only 3.35 million and 1.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week in 18-49 again. It's been stuck at a 1.4 for a few weeks now.
• The Office (NBC) 2 episodes - Before a new episode, a repeat aired at 8:30pm doing 3.08 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. A new expanded episode from 9-9:53pm did 8.42 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, up quite a bit from previous week as Steve Carrell said goodbye. Ratings could have been better, but good enough.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode from 9:53pm-10:30pm did 4.71 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down a lick from previous week despite its lead-in being higher.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at a special time of 10:30pm did 3.95 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's one-hour episode.
• 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. The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly (R), Modern Family (R), Better With You (Mon), Happy Endings were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Mad Love, Breaking In) or just plain old terrible (such as Better With You (Wed), Community).