SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: 1. ABC 8.2/12.7 rating/share; 2. CBS 7.7/11.9; 3. Fox 5.0/7.5; 4. NBC 3.4/5.3; 5. The CW 1.2/1.8
Total Viewers: 1. ABC 12.68 million; 2. CBS 12.31 million; 3. Fox 8.4 million; 4. NBC 5.21 million; 5. The CW 1.76 million.
Adults 18-49: 1. CBS 3.3/8.6 rating/share; 2. ABC 3.2/8.3; 3. Fox 3.1/7.9; 4. NBC 1.7/4.5; 5. The CW 0.8/2.0

Week 8 (Nov. 7-13) Analysis: Week 8 has ABC on top in HH/viewers, with CBS edging out ABC in 18-49 so far. ABC had a good sweep special showing in 45th Annual CMA Awards, giving them the lead so far. Through the first four nights this week, ABC is on top in HH/viewers and a tenth off for first in 18-49, with CBS in the lead. CBS is a close second in HH/viewers, while Fox is third across the board. So that means NBC is still way behind in fourth in everything. It's hard to predict what will happen for this week, but I'm going to say ABC will win the week in HH/viewers, as their Saturday night Football game did well, too. Fox should prevail in 18-49 because of the NFL overrun is with them again. CBS should be second in HH/viewers and third in 18-49, while NBC is fourth in everything. It's hard to predict this week with specials and sports. As for last week, week 7, CBS was first in all categories, helped a lot by the primetime SEC game on Saturday (over 20 million tuned in), even with Fox having the NFL overrun. ABC was second in HH, but Fox edged them out in total viewers. Fox was second in 18-49 for the week thanks to the NFL overrun helping. NBC was fourth in HH/viewers, but edged ABC in 18-49 with a strong showing from Sunday Night NFL. This is only the second time this season NBC was out of fourth place in 18-49, in a forgettable fall for them.

Monday was a typical Monday, with CBS on top again in 18-49 and ABC on top in viewers. Starting with ABC, Dancing with the Stars won the total viewer race from 8-10pm with 18.16 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up a lot from previous week when it was 90-minutes. Best numbers since the premiere. A new Castle at 10pm was first place with 11.07 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's big hostage episode. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother started it off with 10.28 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, up some from previous week, it has certainly surprised this season. 2 Broke Girls followed with 11.43 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. It's probably the biggest hit of the season. At 9pm, a new Two and a Half Men, with new star Ashton Kutcher, did 14.71 million and a 5.2 18-49 rating, up a good number from previous week. This is similar to what the series did with Sheen, which is not bad at all. A new Mike & Molly followed the huge lead-in and did 11.93 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, up from the previous week. With increased competition coming in early 2012, it will be interesting if the sitcoms can keep it up, with The Voice, The Bachelor and I'm sure a more hyped Dancing in the spring coming. An all-new Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 10.32 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up a tenth from the previous week. Fox started with the expensive Terra Nova and it did 7.75 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week's lows. If it can stay around here, it has a shot of returning. But it is iffy with the cost. And at 9pm, House looks more and more like this will be its last season as it posted 7.75 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week. NBC followed with another two-hour The Sing-Off doing only 4.25 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. What a dud. At 10pm, NBC aired week two of Rock Center with Brian Williams and it did an embarrassing 3.46 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down in viewers from the premiere and on par in 18-49 from previous week. The CW was new with Gossip Girl doing 1.26 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, which is not good. At 9pm Hart of Dixie did 1.45 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating each, holding steady from the lead-in.

On Tuesday, CBS took both honors again, beating Fox in 18-49 and ABC in viewers. CBS had the juggernaut NCIS opening the night off with 20.38 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, up some from previous week and a season high in total viewers. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 15.66 million and 3.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. And a new Unforgettable did 11.72 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. ABC was next with new comedy Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 9.26 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, off a tenth from previous week. Solid. And the show is very funny since Halloween. Week four of Man Up! was next and it did 6.24 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. Not good again. Nine more to go? Then Dancing with the Stars: The Results followed at 9pm with 15.07 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week, as we said goodbye to Nancy Grace. Semi-finals tomorrow night! Go Hope Solo and Maks! At 10pm, Body of Proof was preempted for the sweep special In The Spotlight with Robin Roberts doing 8.46 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, lower than the usual timeslot rating. Fox aired a new Glee which has fallen faster than any major hit I could ever think of, doing 6.91 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, though up a tenth week-to-week. At 9pm, New Girl did 6.84 million and a solid 3.5 18-49 rating, but down a tenth from previous week for a second straight season low. Zooey is certainly good to look at. Next Raising Hope did just 4.51 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week and a season low. Close to a series low even. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 6.86 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth from the previous week. At 10pm, Parenthood did 5.3 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down a bit week-to-week, but sadly one of NBC's better performing series. The CW aired a new 90210 that did 1.55 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, up a tad week-to-week. Then the Sarah Michelle Gellar drama Ringer followed at 9pm with 1.75 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth. Sarah would do much better on ABC or Fox. She is too big for The CW (and too young for CBS and nothing works at NBC).

Wednesday it was all ABC with a sweep stunt. First, CBS started the night off with Survivor: South Pacific at 10.8 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, its lowest airing in weeks. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was all-new and did 11.36 million and a solid 3.4 18-49 rating, but down from previous week. At 10pm, CSI was new too and did 10.16 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, also down some week-to-week. ABC preempted its hot Laugh On comedy block of The Middle, Suburgatory, the mega hit Modern Family and Happy Endings along with buzzworthy drama Revenge for the 45th Annual CMA Awards that did a huge 16.4 million and a first place 4.8 18-49 rating. Look for the hot regular ABC Wednesday to return this week. Fox aired The X Factor doing 10.25 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating for two-hours, down some from previous week. NBC opened the night with a new Up All Night at 4.79 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's series lows. No comedy competition from ABC and it still didn't go up. At 8:30pm, a repeat followed and did just 3.49 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's repeat. At 9pm, Harry's Law was new and did nothing, doing just a 1.3 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week's series low and the total viewers of 7.11 million is its only thing of note, but that doesn't make the money as this series has lower ad-rated than The CW series at this time. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was new doing 6.7 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating for last place and series lows for the veteran series. The CW had a repeat of Ringer leading the night off with only 980,000 viewers 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 1.7 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, also on par with the previous week.

Thursday it was a three-way horse race between Fox, ABC and CBS in 18-49. First, ABC opened the night with Charlie's Angels doing 5.1 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week for a series low. One more episode left, if they are going to ever air it. Only option is a Saturday night. I liked this show, too bad the ratings sucked. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy followed with 11.29 million and a 4.1 A18-49 rating, up big from previous week and tied NCIS so far for #1 in drama (Once Upon a Time is in contention for that tonight). Great episode and cliffhanger for the fall finale. At 10pm, Private Practice did 7.51 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, best since the season premiere again. Look for the two-hour "intervention" episode this week that could do around the same as this. CBS opened with the red-hot The Big Bang Theory at 15.89 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating, off a tenth from previous week. Classic episode, too, with Leonard and Penny bonding and Sheldon and the blue jay. My favorite of the season. Then, a new Rules of Engagement was next doing 11.57 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, off some from previous week. Still solid, as CBS can't do any better unless they air a Bang repeat and that would be repetitive. A repeat (why in sweeps?) of Person of Interest followed with 9.11 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. A repeat (again, why?) episode of The Mentalist followed and did 10.08 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Fox aired a one-hour The X Factor doing 10.13 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, for a season low. Then at 9pm, week two of veteran Bones did 8.64 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous week. NBC was in the familiar fourth place with the should-be-not leading-off Community getting slaughtered with 3.49 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating only, down some from previous week. Then Parks and Recreation followed at only 3.66 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, also down some from previous week. Its only positive is the build from the lead-in, like usual. At 9pm The Office jumped to 5.96 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, also down some from previous week. A new episode of Whitney closed the comedy block with only 4.28 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. NBC's drama bust Prime Suspect closed the night with only 4.86 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, only up a tenth from previous week despite CBS being a repeat. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries did 3.17 million, and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's season high. The new The Secret Circle was next at 2.17 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, down a tenth from the previous week. Latter still needs to find itself.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won the night thanks to Blue Bloods at 10pm, even though it was down from previous. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for ABC was down from previous week, but it was a Veteran's Day telethon and NBC's Chuck did terrible ratings again, while week three of Grimm dropped again but still OK beating Fox's Fringe by a lot, as that was a series low.
Saturday numbers had ABC Saturday Night Football on top, while Fox was second with UFC helping them actually. CBS and NBC were way behind.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new (AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives, and Pan Am). Once is a big hit and the number one drama of the season. NBC will win the night with the NFL with the Jets and Pats doing big. CBS has its normal line-up of 60 Minutes, Amazing Race, The Good Wife and CSI: Miami, but that might be only good for fourth place without an NFL overrun boosting it. Fox has the animated comedies from 8-10pm following then NFL overrun that will boost them up, but the animated comedies will be hurt big time by NBC NFL action.

As for the week (week 8), ABC could win the week in HH/viewers. CBS will be second, with Fox and NBC battling for third. Why NBC? Tonight's game could be huge. As for 18-49, think Fox will seal it. ABC, CBS and even NBC will be close to each other, but I think the order will be: Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC. As for the coming week (week 9), the Gabby Giffords interview will likely be a big draw tomorrow night for ABC. A classic sweep stunt. So far only ABC has capitalized in sweep stunts. Week 9 is also the last full week of November sweep. How crazy is that?

Week 8 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 7 -- Oct. 31-Nov. 6)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 8.0 million and a 3.7 18-49 following NFL action (for the east and central time zones), off some from previous week but still solid.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.
  
• Allen Gregory (Fox) - The second episode did 4.32 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from its premiere even. Still terrible and lost a good chuck of its lead-in's ratings. That's superbad, Jonah Hill (sorry for the pun).
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - An all-new episode was way below normal again doing 5.82 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, off a bit week-to-week. Solid, but not the big force it can be.
• American Dad! (Fox) - The return did 4.85 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating at 9:30pm. Nothing to write home about, but it's always up and down.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - An all-new episode did 10.28 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. One of the surprises in this TV season for its growth.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new airing did 11.43 million a 4.6 18-49 rating, up some as well from the previous week. Quietly the number one new series now, as New Girl has faltered thanks to Fox's scheduling.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.71 million and a 5.2 18-49 rating is excellent and up from previous week.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - With the strong lead-in, a new episode did 11.93 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, also up a half a point from previous week.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - An all-new episode in the 8pm half-hour did 9.26 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, off a tenth from previous week but still very solid. This show has been consistently in the 2.6-3.0 range since week two. Not bad for a self-starter.
  
• Man Up! (ABC) - Week four of this comedy did 6.24 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. I think we will see the series through next month only and then ABC will bring in another sitcom in January (the multi-camera Work It).
  
• New Girl (Fox) - A new episode did 6.84 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating for a series low again, down a tenth week-to-week. Still building from its lead-in, however. So a winner still.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did 4.51 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week and lower even than the same night last season. Ouch.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - preempted.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - preempted.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) 2 episodes - A new episode tied a series low 4.79 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. This show is slowly dying on this night. A repeat followed with 3.49 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - preempted.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - preempted.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 15.89 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth from the previous week. With no Modern Family, the #1 sitcom (and scripted show) of the week!
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A new episode did 11.57 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week but still solid numbers.
  
• Community (NBC) - A new episode did just 3.49 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some week-to-week.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new showing of this show did 3.66 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, likewise for this series, down some week-to-week. The only thing positive is it builds from the lead-in, or it would be a loser, too.
  
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 5.96 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, for the best of the block like usual, but still down some from previous week.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did 4.28 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. This whole NBC line-up just sucks in the ratings. Move them to USA Network and I bet they will become big hits.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 8-10pm, following NFL action, including the dud Allen Gregory at 8:30pm.

Summing it up. The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, New Girl, Rules of Engagement, Last Man Standing were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Parks & Recreation, Man Up!) or just plain old terrible (such as Community, Raising Hope).