SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. Fox 7.7/12.1 rating/share; #2. ABC 7.4/11.7; #3. CBS 7.1/11.2; #4. NBC 3.4/5.3; #5. The CW 0.9/1.4
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 13.37 million; #2. ABC 11.7 million; #3. CBS 11.44 million; #4. NBC 5.57 million; #5. The CW 1.41 million
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.4/12.0 rating/share; #2. ABC 2.9/7.8; #3. CBS 2.7/7.3; #4. NBC 2.2/5.9; #5. The CW 0.6/1.7

Week 35 (May 16-22) Analysis: Week 35 so far has once again a three-way battle in HH/viewers (ABC, CBS, Fox) but Fox has a point and a half lead in the more important 18-49 race over ABC and CBS. Through the first four nights there is only a .6 difference in HH from first to third place and less than a two million difference in total viewers from first to third. Fox is a clear first in 18-49 over ABC. CBS is third in 18-49 and NBC is still in fourth place despite the new hit The Voice, which is doing well Tuesdays at 10pm. Fox will win the week in 18-49 and perhaps I think ABC will sneak out a win in HH/viewers due to tonight's Billboard Music Awards. Last week, week 34, had CBS win the week in HH/viewers beating out second place ABC, but Fox took the important 18-49 crown again. Fox was third in HH/viewers and NBC was fourth again. ABC and CBS were tied for second in 18-49, while NBC was back in fourth again.

Monday saw ABC get the win easily over CBS finales. ABC started with a new Dancing with the Stars for two-hours doing 21.96 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating for its semi-finals, up from previous week. At 10pm ABC aired the season finale of Castle and did a first place 12.93 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week and what a finale that was! Best season finale by far so far. CBS was next with its comedies and Hawaii Five-0. How I Met Your Mother started it off with the season finale doing 7.15 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up a good amount week-to-week. Mad Love followed with its finale doing 5.73 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week but it is not returning next season. Two and a Half Men repeat was next doing 6.83 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tad week-to-week. The season finale of Mike & Molly at 9:30pm did 8.64 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which was up from previous week. Hawaii Five-0 was new at 10pm for its season finale and did 10.41 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up from the series low the previous week. Look for CBS to be in repeats (in sweeps? really?) tomorrow from 8-10pm and a special at 10pm. Fox was all-new with House doing 8.96 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, up a good number from previous week. A new Chicago Code followed at 9pm with 5.86 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week but it is canceled. NBC started with the season finale of Chuck doing 4.53 million and 1.5 18-49 rating, up a tad from previous week. NBC for some reason will be bringing it back next season for a final season on Fridays. The Event was next and did 4.07 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up a bit week-to-week. The final episode ever is tomorrow. Law & Order: Los Angeles did just as bad with 4.36 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. The CW was all-new with the season finale of 90210 doing 1.64 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, up a lick from previous week and the season finale of Gossip Girl followed with 1.36million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week.

Tuesday had NBC winning the night in 18-49 again but the lead is much smaller now. First, CBS started with the season finale of NCIS and did 18.62 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating which was up from previous week. NCIS: Los Angeles followed with its season finale and did 15.61 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, like the lead-in, but a good 1/2 point in the demo from previous week. At 10pm, The Good Wife had its finale Tuesday episode, as its season finale did 12.58 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up from previous week. Look for REPEATS this Tuesday for the final Tuesday of the season, very strange CBS is giving up like that. For ABC, Dancing with the Stars LIVE: Freestyle Special at 8pm did 13.8 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week's all-new special. At 9, Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 18.11 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, up a tad from previous week, as Ralph Macchio came up short to being in the finals tomorrow night. At 10pm, the season finale of the consistent Body of Proof did a decent 10.33 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week in a tough time slot. Fox had a new Glee doing 8.96 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, which is off some from previous week. This week its finale will be at 9pm following Idol on a special night. Next Fox aired the season finale of comedy, Raising Hope doing 5.4 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. New comedy Traffic Light was preempted for a special night of Breaking In, as its final airing did no matter with 3.18 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser again doing 7.16 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which was up from previous week. Then NBC had the young skewing The Voice at 10pm with just one hour again, doing 10.01 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, still great but off some from previous week. Again...why isn't this two-hours and Loser is, is beyond me? It might suffer a bit this week with a ton of competition. The CW was all-new on Tuesday with the season finale of One Tree Hill doing 1.48 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, up a bit from previous week. Next at 9pm was the finale Hellcats and that did worse with 1.13 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, but it was on par week-to-week again.

Wednesday it was all Fox with American Idol carrying it again. An expanded two-hour Idol did 23.56 million and a 7.4 18-49 rating, up some from previous week's 90-minute show. Breaking In was preempted, as it had its finale the previous night. CBS started the night off with a repeat of Criminal Minds doing 6.36 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Then the season finale at 9pm of Criminal Minds did 12.84 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, on par really week-to-week. Yep a repeat this week on the final night of the season. Very weird. At 10pm, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was new and did 8.46 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. This show will have its final airing ever this week. The last scripted new airing remaining for CBS. ABC had its Laugh On comedy block and had a new The Middle open the night with 7.68 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which was once again up some from previous week. Then at 8:30, a special repeat did 5.85 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, near Better With You numbers. Then ABC aired a new Modern Family at 9pm doing 10.3 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, the highest rated scripted TV show so far this week. Then at 9:30, Cougar Town was all-new with 5.23 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, below normal as it went up against the last half-hour of Idol this week. This week will be the season finale and it will be one-hour from 9:30-10:30pm in Hawaii! At 10pm, new comedy Happy Endings did 3.7 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, off some from previous week. A second new episode was next doing 3.1 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Season finale at 10:30pm this week. NBC started with a new Minute to Win It doing 3.49 million and just a 1.1 18-49 rating, up some week-to-week. A repeat followed with just 2.9 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. NBC uses this on any night. It's on tonight and tomorrow, too. Really? Then NBC aired a new Law & Order: SVU doing a solid 8.98 million and a first place 2.9 18-49 rating, its best ratings in a while. The CW had a repeat of America's Next Top Model start it off at 8pm doing 1.07 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. The season finale at 9pm did only 1.81 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a bit from previous week. Sad for a finale and usually this show gets two-hours for a finale.

Thursday saw Fox win the night again. But first, ABC opened the night with the spring finale of Wipeout doing 5.6 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Then Grey's Anatomy had its season finale at 9pm doing 9.89 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week's season low. Weird to see a one-hour finale for this show. The season finale of Private Practice at 10 closed the night with 7.45 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. CBS was all-new with the season finale of The Big Bang Theory at 8pm doing 11.3 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Rules of Engagement was next with its season finale doing 8.83 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week and is now Saturday-bound for the fall. At 9, the two-hour season finale of The Mentalist did 14.11 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up a tad from previous week's 10pm airing. Onto #1 Fox, it was all American Idol as an one-hour airing did 21.76 million and a 6.3 18-49 rating, but off some from previous week. Fox then followed with the season finale of Bones at 9pm doing 9.83 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week in 18-49. NBC comedies were all-new starting at 9pm. The Office had two repeats start it off. At 8pm, the repeat did only 2.81 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. At 8:30pm, the repeat did 3.03 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, but up some week-to-week. The one-hour season finale of The Office was next and did 7.29million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, up a good amount from previous week. Parks and Recreation was next at 10 and did 4.27 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. A second episode followed, as that was its season finale, doing 3.72 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, also on par with previous week. The CW was next with an encore of the two-hour Smallville series finale doing 1.39 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, as Vampire Diaries and Nikita had their season finales the previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but Friday was lower than normal with a lot of repeats. Flashpoint did terrible at 8pm losing to a repeat of ABC's Shark Tank. Kitchen Nightmares won the night for Fox as Friday Night Lights on NBC was barely visible. Saturday was also lower than normal, with Fox winning in 18-49 with a low 1.2 rating for MLB action.

Tonight ABC is all-new with the season finale of AFV and The Billboard Music Awards, which should win the night. NBC has a two-hour Celebrity Apprentice finale starting at 9 following, what else, Minute to Win It & Dateline starting at 7. CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by a second episode at 8pm and a Jesse Stone movie from 9-11pm which will skew ancient. Fox is all-new with season finales of its animated comedies starting at 7:30pm. ABC will win the night. Fox and NBC will likely battle for second, but Fox should prevail .

As for the week (week 35), 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 in third in 18-49 and Fox third in HH/viewers. NBC is certain for fourth across the board. And for the coming week (week 36), has the final three days of the season, as Fox and ABC will be battling only it seems. CBS is in repeats and NBC will even put up a fight on Tuesday. Where has this season gone? Enjoy the final three nights of the 2010-11 season!

Week 35 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 34 -- May 9-15)

• American Dad! (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did 3.93 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week which was pretty low.
  
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - A new episode at 8pm did 5.99 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week and below normal. A repeat earlier at 7pm did only 3.18 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, but up some week-to-week.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A new episode did 4.68 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. I was shocked to see this return next season, especially since Fox has two new animated half-hours coming next season.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode at 9pm airing did 6.44 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, but off a bit week-to-week.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 4.9 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, another below normal performance and down a lick week-to-week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - The season finale did 7.15 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, a nice up tick from recent airings. Just why did CBS have the final a week earlier than normal? Repeats tomorrow in May sweeps? Makes no sense.
  
• Mad Love (CBS) - The season finale, well series since it was canned, did 5.73 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up some from previous week thanks to the lead-in going up.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Another repeat of this show did 6.83 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating which was up a bit from previous week's lowest rating of the season.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - The season finale of this sitcom did 8.64 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which was up from previous week.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Raising Hope (Fox) - The season finale did 5.4 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up some from previous week again.
  
• Breaking In (Fox) - The season finale on a special night did just 3.18 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is just on par with Traffic Light, which will have its finale on May 31. Both shows are canned.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode of this sitcom did 7.68 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up some once again from previous week. This comedy has gone up each week in the past few weeks against heavy reality competition.
  
• Better with You (ABC) - season finale was previous week. But it was announced it was canceled, so it is unlikely we will see repeats in summer.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 10.3 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, which is down a bit in 18-49 but up some in viewers from previous week. Once again the top scripted series of the week!
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode of this comedy did 5.23 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down from previous week as it faced Idol's last half-hour. Look for the one-hour Hawaiian season finale this week!
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) 2 episodes - A new episode at 10pm did 3.7 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, off a bit from previous week at 10pm. A second episode did 3.1 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating at 10:30pm, also off a bit from previous week with previous week. The season finale this week will be only 10:30pm, as Cougar Town has a one-hour finale..
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - The season finale did 11.3 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, up some week-to-week and better than recent weeks.
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - The season finale did 8.83 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. Surprisingly it will be airing on Saturdays next fall at 8pm on its own. Good luck to it.
  
• Community (NBC) - season finale was previous week.
  
• The Office (NBC) 3 episodes - Before a new episode, two repeats aired. At 8pm, a repeat only did 2.81 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. At 8:30pm it did 3.03 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, though up a bit from previous week's encore. A new episode at 9pm did 7.29 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for a special one-hour episode...nice up tick from previous week. I don't think it will be this high ever again now with no Carrell.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) 2 episodes - A new episode at 10pm did 4.27 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's first airing. A second episode at 10:30pm was the season finale and did 3.72 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, also on par with previous week's second airing. Wonder if it can do a 2 at least at 8:30 next fall?
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - season finale aired two weeks ago.
  
• Outsourced (NBC) - canceled.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.

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

Summing it up. Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Mad Love, Parks & Recreation) or just plain old terrible (such as Breaking In, The Office repeats).