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Week 5 (Oct. 17-23) Analysis: It was a week of sporting events like the World Series kicking in primetime. ABC premiered new comedy Man Up! to OK numbers only and they launch hyped-drama Once Upon a Time from the writers of LOST tonight. We don't have final network averages through the first four nights, but we can expect CBS is first in HH/viewers, followed by Fox thanks to the World Series, then ABC, and NBC still way behind in fourth. Among 18-49, Fox is probably on top in this, with CBS right behind, then ABC and NBC way back there in fourth. I expect CBS to take the week in HH/viewers and Fox to take 18-49 with an NFL overrun tonight and the World Series. As for last week, week 4, Fox took the 18-49 crown over second place CBS thanks to the NFL overrun on Sunday night. CBS however prevailed in HH/total viewers once again. ABC was tied for second in HH with Fox, but third in viewers, as was Fox second in viewers. ABC was third in 18-49, as NBC was fourth across the board even with an NFL Sunday night game.

Monday has CBS on top again in 18-49, but they went down again. Starting with ABC, Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race with 17.76 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up a million and up in 18-49 from previous week. A new Castle at 10pm was first place with 11.23 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week when ABC was preempted in Detroit for Monday Night Football. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother started it off with 9.81 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week's season low. 2 Broke Girls followed with 11.47 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Even with the 8pm hour up, a new Two and a Half Men, with new star Ashton Kutcher, was down again doing 15.14 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating, down another million or so and six tenths in 18-49 from previous week but still it is very good. Not the sitcom leader anymore, though. A new Mike & Molly followed the huge lead-in and did 11.51 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week even with the lead-in falling. An all-new Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 11.07 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up a good amount from previous week as there was no House competing. Fox was next with Terra Nova starting at its normal time this week, doing 8.31 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. It went up but is this rating still good as the series costs a lot to make? House was next and did 8.34 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. This could be its last season. NBC followed with another two-hour The Sing-Off doing only 4.34 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. At 10pm, NBC aired a repeat of Prime Suspect and it did an embarrassing 2.73 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Rock Center with Brian Williams launches on Oct. 31 The CW had a new Gossip Girl doing just 1.16 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, down some in viewers from previous week. At 9pm, Hart of Dixie did only 1.65 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, but up some in viewers from previous week. Gossip Girl could be gone next year I think.

On Tuesday, Fox was on top in 18-49, with CBS winning total viewers. CBS had the quiet leader NCIS opening the night off with 19.41 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 15.35 million and 3.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. And a new Unforgettable did 11.88 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up some from previous week's series low. ABC was next with new comedy Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 10.34 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, as it held up very well. The first half-hour the previous week was about a 3.4, so it was down just a bit. The premiere of Man Up! was next and it went down to 7.78 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating for an OK start. It could have been better but could have been worse, too. Then Dancing with the Stars: The Results followed at 9pm with 13.8 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down big from previous week, probably because of X Factor, as we said goodbye to Carson Kressly. He was a fan favorite. An all-new Body of Proof followed and did a decent 9.27 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week despite the lead-in down big. Fox preempted Glee and comedies New Girl & Raising Hope for The X Factor on a special night doing 10.39 million and a 3.9 18-49. About what it has done all season. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 5.17 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, again down some from the previous week and its lowest rating probably ever for the fall for the third straight week, followed by an all-new Parenthood at just 5.03 million but a better 2.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. The CW aired a new 90210 with just 1.41 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but on par with previous week. Then an all-new episode of the Sarah Michelle Gellar drama Ringer did 1.81 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. This proves 90210 needs to be ended.

Wednesday it was a face-off between ABC and CBS, but Fox had the win thanks to the World Series. CBS started the night off on top with Survivor: South Pacific at 11.24 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 13.15 million and a solid 3.9 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. At 10pm, CSI did a decent 10.79 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. ABC started off with its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 9.13 million and good 3.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week again. The new sitcom Suburgatory followed with a great 8.82 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week again. Its full season pick-up was very deserving. Now let's get Amy Davidson to guest star or recur--help us out with that! At 9pm, the mega hit Modern Family did 13.04 million and a huge 5.7 18-49 rating, but down some from the previous week. The 5.7 is by far the highest rated sitcom, or scripted series, of the week! A new Happy Endings was next with 6.81 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down some from the previous week. At 10pm week five of my favorite fall series Revenge did a solid 7.99 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week in 18-49. Wow, what an episode! We hear episode seven next Wednesday will be HUGE, but tune in for this week could be series best since the premiere . Mark my prediction! Fox preempted The X Factor as MLB World Series Game #1 did 14.17 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, but in primetime it did 13.98 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating. Good numbers but way below average for the World Series. NBC opened the night with a new Up All Night at 5.63 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. At 8:30pm, a repeat of Whitney did 4.06 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. At 9pm, Harry's Law did nothing, doing just a 1.3 18-49 rating, but actually up a tenth, but its 8.39 million viewers is OK, up some from previous week. This is Friday material yet they are launching new series Grimm on Friday nights this week? An all-new Law & Order: SVU at 10pm did 7.66 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating for last place, but up some previous week. The CW had a repeat of Ringer leading the night off with 1.14 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. The declining fast America's Next Top Model was next at 9pm with 1.94 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, up some from previous week.

Thursday it was Fox with the win again with the World Series. But first, ABC opened the night with Charlie's Angels doing 5.57 million but only a 1.2 18-49 rating, down a tad from previous week, but ABC has canceled the series. This week ABC will air another Charlie, Charlie Brown! At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy followed with 9.54 million and a 3.6 A18-49 rating, on par with previous week. As much as it has been down, it is still near the top among scripted dramas. At 10pm, Private Practice, with Benjamin Bratt, did 6.38 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. Could be higher. CBS opened with The Big Bang Theory at 14.93 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, up a lot from previous week. Can it beat Men this week for the sitcom lead, as Modern is a repeat? The season premiere of Rules of Engagement was next doing 11.45 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, solid but lower than previous week's Big Bang repeat. A new Person of Interest followed with 12.42 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down some from the previous week. It is solid, but not big as it could be, nevertheless, CBS will pick-up a full season soon, I think. A new episode of The Mentalist followed and did 12.54 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week. Fox aired preempted The X Factor for MLB World Series Game #3 doing 14.28 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating overall. Primetime ratings weren't available to us yet. NBC was in the familiar fourth place (well sixth, but who's is counting?) with repeats as the should-be-not leading-off Community getting slaughtered with 2.39 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating only for a repeat, followed by Parks and Recreation at only 2.47 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating for a repeat. At 9pm The Office jumped to 3.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, for a repeat. A repeat episode of Whitney closed the comedy block with only 2.61 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. NBC has another drama bust with a repeat episode Prime Suspect closed the night with only 2.84 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries did 3.03 million, and a 1.4 18-49 rating, up some in viewers from previous week and third place beating ABC and NBC! The new The Secret Circle was next at 2.12 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS and ABC tied for the win as A Gifted Man was up for CBS and ABC launched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Fridays with good numbers. ABC had the highest rated show of the night in 20/20 at 10pm. Fox had a good showing from Kitchen Nightmares but Fringe was a repeat.
Saturday numbers was a battle of sports, but MLB World Series Game #3 was the clear winner over college football on ABC and NBC. ABC's game was delayed though due to weather.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new (with AFV, series premiere of Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives, and Pan Am). Once should open big for ABC and be a sleeping giant. NBC will battle to win the night with the NFL with the Colts and Saints, but it could be below normal like the previous week was. CBS has its normal line-up of 60 Minutes, Amazing Race, The Good Wife and CSI: Miami, with no delays expected as they don't have the national NFL game. Fox has the NFL overrun this week leading into World Series Game #4, as the animated comedies are preempted again. Overall Fox could beat NBC NFL tonight. We'll see.

As for the week (week 5), Fox could overtake CBS for the win in HH/viewers. Fox has 18-49 sealed over CBS. ABC will be third in all categories, leaving NBC back in fourth. Once Upon a Time on ABC could be big tonight. As for the coming week (week 6), we have some repeats mixed in Mon-Wed, but sweeps starts on Thursday. November sweeps already? Looks like another fast TV season is on the horizon.

Week 5 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 4 -- Oct. 10-16)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - An all-new episode did 9.81 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Still doing above average from last season.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new airing did 11.47 million a 4.4 18-49 rating, also up some from the previous week. I guess it won't go below a 4 this fall. Great start!
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.14 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating is excellent, but once again down from previous week. The bleeding hasn't stopped yet. Will it go under a 5 tomorrow? Modern Family is back to being the top rated sitcom! Hey hey!
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - With the strong lead-in, a new episode did 11.51 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Its best showing I think because the lead-in went down yet this series remained stable.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - An all-new episode in the 8pm half-hour did 10.34 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating. Not down that much from previous week's first airing. If it stays around here this week, I can assure you ABC will pick-up the back nine by Wednesday morning.
  
• Man Up! (ABC) - The series premiere had an OK start doing 7.78 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating. If it goes down below a 2 this week, this will be pulled quickly I think. If it stays around a 2.4 (like 2.2-2.4), it will be doing OK enough to stick around for 13 episodes but nothing more. And if it builds this week, well that is a good sign.
  
• New Girl (Fox) - preempted, will air next on Nov. 1.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted, will air next on Nov. 1.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode did 9.13 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating. Great showing and the 18-49 was near a series high.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - The fourth week did a very good 8.82 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, building from its lead-in again and on par with previous week! Consistent!
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did 5.63 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but still good for NBC.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A repeat did 4.04 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down some from the previous week. How many times will NBC repeat this show?
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - An all-new episode did 13.04 million and a 5.7 18-49 rating, but down some from the previous week. Modern beat Men to be the sitcom leader of the week, though, as I predicted! Repeat of last year's classic Halloween episode is this week! Still tune in!
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode did 6.81 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down some from the previous week's series high. Hopefully it builds back up this week with the Halloween episode.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 14.93 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, up a good number from previous week. This was its best 18-49 rating ever in this time period, though it did get a 5.1 for its first week this season at 8:30.
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - The season premiere did 11.45 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating. Solid numbers.
  
• Community (NBC) - A repeat did just 2.39 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. This show should never ever be repeated during the season.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A repeat of this show did 2.47 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, likewise for this series.
• The Office (NBC) - A repeat did 3.28 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, for the best of the block like usual.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A repeat did 2.61 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating as NBC must have aired more repeats of this show on their schedule than first-run episodes. Seriously.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• The Office (NBC) - A repeat did a prelim 2.11 million and a prelim 0.6 A18-49 rating, lower than previous week's prelim ratings.
  
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A repeat of this sitcom did no better with a prelim 1.68 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week's prelim ratings.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat on Saturday did a prelim 4.08 million and a prelim 0.9 18-49 rating on the new Comedytime Saturday hour, on par with previous week.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A repeat did a prelim 3.91 million and a prelim 1.0 18-49 rating, netter than previous week's all-new How To Be A Gentleman, ouch.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no comedies, as Fox's animated comedies are preempted for The World Series.

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, Last Man Standing, Suburgatory, The Middle were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Up All Night, Man Up!) or just plain old terrible (such as NBC comedy repeats like Community, Whitney).