Sunday, August 07, 2011

TCA Summer 2011 Press Tour: Fox and ABC; Summer Week 10 Sitcom Ratings; New Episodes of Sitcoms On Basic Cable

Before we get into our regular Sunday ratings blog, we want to give you a recap of Fox at the TCA press tour on Friday and ABC's first day today. First up for Fox was the executive session with Kevin Reilly. New comedy Breaking In, which was kind of canceled, is still being considered for the previously announced two-hour Tuesday comedy block planned for Tuesdays in March and early April. "It still has a shot. They've agreed to extend an option so we've kept it alive. And you know what, stranger things have happened," Reilly said. So maybe Fox has their back, as the theme song goes, "we've got your back!" Stay tuned! He also noted that Bones will only have 13 episodes this season because it will share its timeslot will spin-off The Finder, which will also have 13 episodes.
Among the major announcements, Fox announced the schedule for The X Factor. Hosted by Steve Jones, the two-night series premiere of The X Factor will showcase the live auditions which took place in front of audiences of thousands, around the country Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT and Thursday, Sept. 22 also from 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT. Auditions from Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark and Seattle, as well as from YouTube and the nationwide MyStudio audition booths, will continue the following week on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29 for two full-hours each. Hopefuls who pass the initial auditions will travel to Los Angeles for "Boot Camp" beginning Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and continuing Thursday, Oct. 6 from 8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). Wednesday, Oct. 12 and Thursday, Oct. 13 will also feature 90-minute episodes. Then a special Tuesday airing will be held on Oct. 18 from 8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT. Glee and Raising Hope will be preempted on that date, but new comedy New Girl will air at a special time of 9:30pm. During a special extended Tuesday airing on Oct. 25 (8:00-10:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the judges will reveal who has earned one of the coveted spots among the season's finalists (all three regular Tuesday series will be preempted). It will then be up to America, as well as the judges, to decide who moves forward in the competition starting with the first performance show featuring the finalists from each category on Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). The season will conclude on December 21 and December 22. Reilly says the 90-minute editions of X Factor in October will be used as lead-ins for additional airings of its comedies as well as perhaps Mobbed specials.
Fox also announced that Dec. 5 will be the date for the second annual Great American Country Awards. Then it was off to panels with the casts and crew of Allen Gregory, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, MasterChef, Hell's Kitchen/Kitchen Nightmares, New Girl, Primetime Emmy Awards, Raising Hope, Terra Nova, and The X Factor.

ABC started their first day of the press tour today. There were two announcements and some other tidbits. During the executive session, Paul Lee (President of ABC Entertainment) revealed a lot. Before we get to the major announcements, we learned an episode of Castle will feature a Marvel character this season. He also revealed ABC will air three Hallmark Hall-of-Fame movies this season, with the first being in late November/early December. And Lee had nothing but good feedback so far from nearly all of its new shows, except mid-season sitcom Work It, which he joked, knew nobody would like at TCA but will have a loyal following (maybe like According to Jim?). Lee also said no replacement voice has been found yet for the voice of Charlie for the new Charlie's Angels, but an announcement will come soon and that some of the original Charlie's Angels (Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, Chery Ladd) could guest star at some point.
On to the major announcement, ABC announced today that this season will be the final one for the landmark series Desperate Housewives. The decision was made jointly by series creator Marc Cherry and ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee. All good things eventually come to an end, and in the eighth and final season, the stakes for everyone on Wisteria Lane are at an all-time high. Season Eight of Desperate Housewives will roll out on Sunday, Sept. 25, in a way that is accessible even to viewers who may have lapsed in their viewing, and be all the richer and more rewarding to the series' loyal fans. For Season Eight, Carlos' murder of Gaby's evil stepfather and the cover up by Susan, Gaby, Bree and Lynette has far reaching effects. Feelings of guilt begin to overcome everyone in different ways. Susan starts to withdraw from her friends and family, and Gaby works to reach out to Carlos while his guilt weighs heavily upon him. As Lynette and Tom are grappling with their disintegrating marriage and impending separation, Lynette is having trouble making the right choices ever since she participated in the cover-up. And Bree must be especially careful around her new love, Detective Chuck Vance (Jonathan Cake). Meanwhile a new sexy neighbor moves to town, Ben Faulkner (Charles Mesure, V), and he's Renee's first order of business. Marc Cherry's pilot Hallelujah will be redeveloped and we could potentially see it in 2012-13 and Cherry said it is "a different animal" and would prefer something new than a spin-off of Desperate Housewives.
ABC also announced that the spectacular celebrity cast for the new season of Dancing with the Stars will be announced live on ABC, Monday, August 29 from 8-10 pm, during that evening's episode of Bachelor Pad. Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke once again host the live unveiling of the all-star cast. The stars, the drama, the glamour and the glitter are back on ABC, as Dancing with the Stars returns for Season 13 on Monday, Sept. 19 from 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET with a sensational two-hour season premiere. Then on Tuesday, Sept. 20, there will be two hours of original programming, beginning with the special Dancing with the Stars: Meet the Cast at 8:00 p.m., ET, followed by the premiere of Dancing with the Stars the Results Show at 9:00 p.m., ET.
Then it was panels with the cast and producers of Pan Am, Charlie's Angels, ABC Daytime Session and The Chew, followed by The Chew Lunch, an ABC Family Executive Session, then more show panels with Once Upon a Time, Man Up! and Revenge. Then it is off to the Disney-ABC Television Group All-Star Cocktail Reception!
Tomorrow during day two of the ABC portion, panels for Last Man Standing and Suburgatory will be held along with a set visit to sophomore drama Body of Proof. We'll recap that tomorrow along with the list of the winners from the TCA Awards from Saturday night.

It's now the dog days of summer, but not to fret we will be back with our normal weekly ratings report with the first four nights numbers and analysis in the fall, but we still continue to have our regular how the sitcoms did all for the rest of this summer! Here are our summer ratings:

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Summer Week 9, week of July 25-31)
  • American Dad! (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat at 7pm did 2.02 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which was up from the previous week. A repeat at 9:30pm did 3.77 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which was also up from previous week. Good numbers for the latter.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat at 8pm did 3.64 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down a lick from previous week but a decent summer showing in 18-49.
  • Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A repeat at 7:30pm did 2.11 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week but still could be better since 7:30 builds heavily usually from 7pm.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat at 9pm did 4.17 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up from previous week and the best summer showing for a comedy since early summer.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat at 8:30pm did 3.38 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which was up some week-to-week.

Summer Week 10 (August 1-7)

Monday Sitcoms
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 3.72 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating for a repeat at 8pm was on par with the previous week.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 5.24 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating for a repeat at 9pm is also on par week-to-week, but it was below normal.
  • Mike & Molly (CBS) 2 airings - 4.78 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating for a repeat in its normal 9:30pm slot was down some from previous week again. But an 8:30pm repeat earlier did 3.98 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which was the same as the previous week in 18-49.
Tuesday Sitcoms
  • Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted.
Wednesday Sitcoms
  • The Middle (ABC) - A repeat at 8pm did 4.34 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week's below normal performance for a repeat.
  • Modern Family (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 9pm did 4.34 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up a tad from the previous week. A repeat at 8:30pm also probably helped doing 4.36 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, also up some from the previous week.
  • Happy Endings (ABC) - A repeat at 9:30pm did 2.78 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up a tad from the previous week. If you have missed any episodes, keep watching! A new episode will air Aug. 24 to promote the new season and the upcoming season one DVD. ABC Family will air a marathon as well on Friday, Sept. 16 from 5-11pm. Get hooked!
Thursday Sitcoms
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat did 6.3 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which was down from the previous week.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A repeat of this comedy followed at 8:30pm with 5.29 million and 1.5 18-49 rating, which was down some from previous week.
  • Community (NBC) - A repeat only did 1.95 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week but way too low even if it is a repeat.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A repeat in its 8:30pm slot did only 1.86 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, again on par really with the previous week but who cares since it is so low.
  • The Office (NBC) - A repeat at 9pm did 2.33 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, best of the low rated block and up slightly from the previous week.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - A repeat at 9:30pm did 1.97 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. It's sad that 3 of the 4 comedies for NBC were under 2 million.

Friday Sitcoms

  • Friends with Benefits (NBC) 2 episodes - Finally this series has made it on air, but in burn-off mode on Friday nights in the summer. Preliminary ratings show the comedy did very low ratings coming in 4th place, losing to repeats. The first airing did a prelim 2.37 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, while a second episode followed with only 1.99 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating. Final ratings might even have it go more down...stay tuned.
Saturday Sitcoms
  • Family Guy (Fox) - ratings not available at publishing time.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - ratings not available at publishing time.
Tonight you can catch encores of Fox's animated comedies from 7-8pm only tonight due to the Teen Choice Awards.

Summing it up. Repeats of The Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement, and both Modern Family repeats were impressive for the week, along with week 9's The Simpsons, Family Guy & American Dad 9:30p. Everything else was OK (such as repeats of Two and a Half Men, The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as Friends with Benefits, and the very low rated NBC Thursday repeats especially, Community).

Feeling the repeat blues? Look for original sitcoms on cable all this summer, with the great Hot in Cleveland on Wednesday at 10pm, followed by the penultimate week of the first season of Happily Divorced starring Fran Drescher this Wednesday at 10:30pm only on TV Land. Also catch the new Comedy Wednesday on ABC Family this Wednesday with an all-new Melissa & Joey at 8pm guest starring Christine Lakin, who we just interviewed, followed by week seven of new comedy State of Georgia starring Raven Symone at 8:30pm (last week we get FOUR ALL-NEW episodes from 9-11pm). Loretta Devine is very sassy in this series and makes Mrs. Roper look tame! Also of course House of Payne and Meet the Browns are on TBS Wednesdays. New sitcom airings is the perfect way to beat the summer repeat blues! Watch them! And on premium cable, it is of course Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, and Entourage among the entrees.

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


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 6

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Pomp and Circumstance" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tina and Gemma plan a joint graduation party for Malcolm and Grover.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Venice" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Butlers and Johnsons help Malcolm start a new chapter in a new city that, while just across town, is worlds away from the neighborhood.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Monday, October 6

  • Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) and Aziz Ansari (Master of None/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Seth and Aziz on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - Tony stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Adam Ferrara (The Job) and Harland Williams (The Geena Davis Show/Simon) - Adam is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS. Harland appears on a repeat at 1:07am.
  • Eli Manning (Executive Producer of Chad Powers) and Glen Powell (Chad Powers/Scream Queens) - Eli talks about Chad Powers on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. Linsey Davis is joined by executive producer Eli Manning and actor Glen Powell for a deep dive on their new Hulu series Chad Powers on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Jennifer Lopez (South Central) - Jennifer talks about Kiss of the Spider Woman on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Loot) - Michaela chats about Loot on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel talks about Flip Side on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - NBC's Today catches up with Rose in the 9am hour.
  • William H. Macy (Sports Night) - William talks about Soul on Fire on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Phoebe Robinson (Everything's Trash) - Phoebe talks about I Don’t Want to Work Anymore on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa tells Sherri about the new season of Finding Mr. Christmas on the Hallmark Channel on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is sharing fast and frugal meals that anyone can make at home on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Max Minghella (The Mindy Project) - Max talks about his film Shell on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original 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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/06 - Dancing with the Stars Surging in Viewership, Especially Among Younger Viewers; Remembering Kimberly Hébert Gregory of Vice Principals
10/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 6, 2025)
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10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
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09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
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09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air
09/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 8, 2025)
09/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Shifting Gears Picked Up for Three Additional Episodes; The Paper Renewed for Season Two