SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. CBS 7.1 rating/11.0 share; #2. ABC 5.2/8.1; #3. NBC 2.7/4.2; #4. Fox 2.2/3.3; #5. The CW 0.9/1.3
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 11.44 million; #2. ABC 8.22 million; #3. NBC 4.3 million; #4. Fox 3.38 million; #5. The CW 1.3 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 2.8 rating/7.3 share; #2. ABC 2.8/7.0; #3. NBC 1.4/3.6; #4. Fox 1.1/2.7, #5. The CW 0.5/1.3

Week 16 (Jan. 2-8) Analysis: Week 16 brings in the first full week of 2012 and new episode returns for many series (though not all). The first four night network averages has CBS on top in all categories, but ABC did tie for first in 18-49. ABC follows in second in HH/viewers, and as mentioned is tied for first in 18-49 with CBS. And then NBC and Fox are neck-and-neck for third in all categories, with NBC with the edge right now. When the week is over with, can NBC win the week in all categories, as there was an NFL Wild Card Playoff game last night. I think it will be second place in viewers for the week, but should win 18-49. More on the prediction of week 16 below. As for last week, week 15, CBS won the week in HH/viewers, but NBC took the week in 18-49 thanks to the record breaking Sunday NFL game. CBS was second in 18-49, while NBC was second in HH/viewers. ABC was third in all categories, while Fox was fourth across the board.

On Monday, it was a CBS victory with original episodes. Starting first with ABC, the season premiere of The Bachelor started it off from 8-10pm with 7.78 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down from last season's premiere, but look for it to build as the weeks go on. At 10pm, a special preview episode of Celebrity Wife Swap did a solid 6.25 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, as Castle returns tomorrow night with new episodes. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother was all-new doing 10.14 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, as it was down a bit from usual this season. Then a new 2 Broke Girls followed doing a better 12.1 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, with nice builds like usual. At 9pm, a new Two and a Half Men did 13.94 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, which was below normal for this season. A new Mike & Molly followed and did 11.9 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, the lowest of the block in 18-49 but solid. A new Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 11.9 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating. Fox aired two repeats of House and did just 3.64 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating at 8pm, but up some from previous week. The the 9pm House repeat did 3.87 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, also up some from previous week. NBC started the night with new game show Who's Still Standing? and did only 5.56 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week. Then at 9pm a new Fear Factor did 6.01 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with its last new episode. At 10pm, NBC aired a new episode of Rock Center with Brian Williams and it did an embarrassing 3.78 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, but up from previous week's low. The CW preempted Gossip Girl and Hart of Dixie for a two episodes of Secret Circle and did only 840,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating at 8pm and 680,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating at 9pm.

On Tuesday, CBS made it two for two for the week. CBS had a new NCIS do 19.81 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating. Then NCIS: Los Angeles did 17.08 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which seems above normal. And at 10pm, a new Unforgettable did 11.88 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is solid for 10pm. ABC started with new comedy Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 7.93 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating for a new showing, which was up some from its last original airing. Look for it to do better this week. At 8:30pm the series premiere of Work It followed doing 6.16 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, could have been better but I think if it stays around a 2 rating or better it will be fine for its 13 weeks. Then at 9pm, ABC aired the timeslot premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap and did 5.96 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, almost near the premiere numbers from the previous night. This is reality filler until the new drama The River launches on Feb. 7. Body of Proof was next at 10pm and was also new doing 7.05million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which was below normal. Fox aired a repeat of Glee and did only 2.45 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, but up a tad from previous week's repeat. Then the comedies took the 9pm hour with a repeat of New Girl doing 3.03 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Then at 9:30pm a Raising Hope repeat did 2.29 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. NBC was next with the season premiere of The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.59 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is decent but not what it used to be. At 10pm, NBC aired a new Parenthood and did just 4.94 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is below normal. The CW preempted 90210 and Ringer for two more Secret Circle repeats and did 1.01 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating at 8pm and then dropped to 740,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating at 9pm.

Wednesday it was ABC with the win. First, CBS started the night off with the new special I Get That A Lot doing 8.32 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is decent for a special. Veteran drama Criminal Minds was a repeat and did 8.13 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down some from previous week's repeat. At 10pm, CSI was a repeat doing 8.13 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, also down from previous week. ABC was all-new for its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 9.99 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which is solid. Suburgatory followed at 8:30pm with 8.75 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, holding nearly all if its lead-in's ratings. Solid. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm and it did 14.03 million and 5.7 18-49 rating for a new episode, which will be the top TV series airing of the week by far. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was new and did 7.48 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, solid and consistent. At 10pm a new episode of the addicting Revenge did 8.06 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. What a GREAT episode and the buzz is on, so look for a possible uptick this week. Fox aired a repeat of Glee doing 2.27 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating at 8pm. Then at 9pm a new Mobbed special did just 3.06 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, barely doing better than comedy repeats from previous week. NBC opened the night with a repeat of Up All Night doing only 3.41 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, but on par with previous week. A repeat of Whitney followed with 3.05 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. At 9pm, Harry's Law was a repeat doing 4.39 million and only a 0.8 18-49 rating, but better than previous week's terrible ratings. And at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was a repeat and did 3.74 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. The CW had another two episode Secret Circle repeat stunt and did 920,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating at 8pm then at 9pm it did 820,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating. Will this help for a new episode on Thursday? Keep reading.

Thursday it was ABC with the win again. ABC opened the night with the season premiere of Winter Wipeout doing a solid 8.39 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down from last season but up from its special last month. At 9pm, a new Grey's Anatomy aired doing 12.12 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating for a season high. Great episode! At 10pm, Private Practice was next and did a solid 7.71 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating. CBS opened with a repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 11.7 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, great for a repeat and up big from previous week. Then, a repeat of Rules of Engagement was next doing 8.5 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, also up from previous week. A repeat of Person of Interest followed with 8.68 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. A repeat of The Mentalist followed and did 9.12 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Fox aired a repeat of Bones at 8pm doing 4.8 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week really. Another repeat at 9pm did 4.33 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, also on par with previous week. NBC aired repeats, with Community up first doing just 2.63 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. New episodes will return sometime in spring. A Parks and Recreation repeat was next doing 2.36 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, ouch. The Office was next at 9pm doing only 2.61 and a 1.1 18-49 rating for a repeat, up a tenth from previous week. At 9:30pm Whitney was a repeat (yes another repeat of this) with only 2.24 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week, though. At 10pm, it was more repeats, with a special The Office repeat doing just 1.85 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating. At 10:30pm, a repeat of Up All Night did only 1.86 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was all-new and did 3.32 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. At 9pm, new drama The Secret Circle was new and did 2.05 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. Not sure if those Mon-Wed repeats helped.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS and ABC did decent on Friday night, but Fox won the night with the Cotton Bowl. ABC aired a two-hour Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which did its best numbers in weeks and CBS aired new episodes of its dramas lead by Blue Bloods at 10. NBC's Chuck was new but of course low at 8pm, while Grimm was a repeat again.
Saturday numbers have NBC of course winning the night by a huge margin with the NFL Playoff Wild Card Game. ABC's debate was a distant second.

Tonight ABC's regular Sunday of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and Pan Am returns! I just saw Desperate Housewives screener and the episode is amazing. The run for its final episodes starts right now, so start your tune in. NBC has no NFL anymore on Sundays until next fall, but they premiere new drama The Firm tonight from 9-11pm, which to me will be another bust and similar to Prime Suspect. CBS has an all-new 60 Minutes at around 8pm following NFL Wild Card action, then new episodes of The Good Wife and CSI: Miami. Fox has new episodes of the animated comedies from 8-10pm following repeats from 7-8pm. Look for CBS to win the night likely with the NFL Wild Card game going into 8pm. ABC should be a solid second.

As for the week (week 16), it should be NBC with the win after the game last night. CBS will be second since they have an hour overrun tonight from NFL playoffs. ABC will be third in and Fox will be fourth in everything. As for the coming week (week 17), more returns with new episodes and new comedy premieres of Are You There, Chelsea and Rob. Look for our reviews of those this week along with new animated comedy Napoleon Dynamite, which premieres next Sunday on Fox.

Week 16 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 15 -- Dec. 26-Jan. 2)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat did only 3.62 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating following NFL action.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat at 8:30pm did 2.88 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - preempted.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 3.57 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, the best of the Fox block again and up from previous week.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A repeat at 9:30pm did 3.03 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new showing did 10.14 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, great but a bit below normal for this season.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode did 12.1 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, the break out hit of the season.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.94 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating for a new episode is great but below normal for this series.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new episode did 11.9 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, solid.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - A new episode in its 8pm half-hour did 7.93 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is good and up some from its last original. It will grow this week I think.
  
• Work It (ABC) - The series premiere did 6.16 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. While not great, it is not bad either. It is an OK premiere but the question is can it stay in this area? If it can, it will survive its 13 episodes at the very least.
  
• New Girl (Fox) - A repeat did 3.03 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is not good but up some week-to-week.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - A repeat did 2.29 million and only a 0.9 18-49 rating, which is on par with the previous week.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new showing did 9.99 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, another solid showing.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A new episode did 8.75 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, up some from its last original airing.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A repeat did just 3.41 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A repeat of this comedy did just 3.05 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up a tad from previous week. New episodes start this week on its new night and time.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 14.03 million and a monster 5.7 18-49 rating, the best of the week by far.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode did 7.48 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, solid. Retention isn't great, but this is what the show does and it isn't bad.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A repeat did 11.7 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, great for a repeat and up big from previous week. New episodes return this week.
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A repeat did 8.5 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. New episodes will return sometime in spring.
  
• Community (NBC) - A repeat did just 2.63 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but actually up some from previous week.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A repeat of this followed with only 2.36 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, but also up some from previous week.
  
• The Office (NBC) 2 airings - A repeat at 9pm did 2.61 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, not good but up a tenth from previous week. A special repeat at 10 just did 1.85 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A repeat did only 2.24 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but on par with previous week.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A special repeat at 10:30pm did only 1.86 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Will move to Thurs at 9:30pm this week with new episodes.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• Rules of Engagement (CBS) 2 airings - repeat ratings not available to us at press time.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of Fox's animated comedies from 8-10pm, but repeats air from 7-8pm.

Summing it up. Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, Rules of Engagement, Mike & Molly, The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, Suburgatory were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Rules of Engagement, Work It) or just plain old terrible (such as all the Fox and NBC sitcom repeats like Raising Hope, Parks & Recreation, Community).