SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. Fox 7.1 rating/10.9 share; #2. CBS 6.5/10.3; #3. ABC 3.7/5.8; #4. NBC 3.3/5.1; #5. The CW 0.8/1.2
Total Viewers: #1. Fox 12.1 million; #2. CBS 10.33 million; #3. ABC 5.62 million; #4. NBC 5.04 million; #5. The CW 1.14 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.0 rating/10.5 share; #2. CBS 2.5/6.6; #3. ABC 1.7/4.4; #4. NBC 1.5/4.0, #5. The CW 0.5/1.4

Week 19 (Jan. 23-29) Analysis: Week 19 had more repeats than new episodes, but Fox was headlined by American Idol of course, even with big drops from last season it was more than enough for the lead through the first four nights. The first four night network averages has Fox on top in all categories over CBS. ABC follows in third everywhere. And then NBC is back in fourth place, where it deserves to be. When the week is over with, it will likely remain like this but NBC will likely surpass repeat driven ABC due to the NFL Pro Bowl tonight. More on the prediction of week 19 below. As for last week, week 18, Fox won the week big in all key categories thanks to the primetime NFL NFC Championship Game on Sunday that did 57.63 million. CBS was a distant second everywhere, but ABC tied them for second in 18-49. ABC was third in HH/viewers, while NBC was fourth across the board with no NFL to help them at all.

On Monday, it was a Fox victory as usual Monday leader CBS was in repeats. First, on ABC, The Bachelor started it off from 8-10pm with 8.3 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up from previous week and a season high. Like I predicted, it will likely go higher and higher now until the finale. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did a solid 10.05 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth from its previous week but up in viewers. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother was a repeat doing 6.94 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is a solid repeat number. Then a repeat of the breakout hit 2 Broke Girls followed doing a better 7.76 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, with nice builds from the lead-in like usual. At 9pm, a repeat of Two and a Half Men did 9.78 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which is great and the standout of the block for this night. A repeat of Mike & Molly followed and did 8.25 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is solid for a repeat. A repeat of Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 6.88 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, as it doesn't repeat nearly as well as the comedy lead-ins. Fox premiered House on its new time of 8pm with 8.76 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is solid and up some from its usual ratings this season. Will it last though? New drama Alcatraz was next at 9pm and did 9.03 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, only off some from its two-hour premiere the previous week. That's solid and it needs to stay around here or it will be like Terra Nova and likely not return. NBC started it off with game show Who's Still Standing? and did 6.44 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is OK. Fear Factor was preempted, as NBC aired a two-hour Rock Center with Brian Williams featuring the GOP debate and did 7.13 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week and better than usual. The CW was all-new, at 8pm a new Gossip Girl did 1.11 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, which is not good but on par with previous week. At 9pm a new Hart of Dixie did 1.23 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating. Not good.

On Tuesday, the State of the Union aired so everything was atypical. CBS had a repeat of NCIS do 12.55 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which was off a tenth from previous week. Then they aired the State of the Union, preempting NCIS: Los Angeles and Unforgettable. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory started at about 10:40pm and was joined in progress. ABC started with a repeat of comedy Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 5.42 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. At 8:30pm a repeat followed, doing a similar 5.12 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Then Celebrity Wife Swap and Body of Proof were preempted for the State of the Union. The River premieres with a two-hour premiere next Tuesday (Feb. 7). Back to this night, a repeat of Modern Family was joined in progress after the speech at 10:40pm. Fox preempted Glee for a repeat of Sunday's special American Idol and did 9.64 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which was a good move as it is higher than a new Glee episode. Ouch. Then the comedies New Girl and Raising Hope were preempted for the State of the Union. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser only from 8-9pm doing 6.42 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is down some from the previous week when it was two-hours. Parenthood was preempted as NBC aired the State of the Union. The CW started it off with a new 90210 and did 1.24 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, not good but up a tenth from previous week. Then at 9pm, Ringer was preempted for a new episode of new reality series Remodeled and did only 890,000 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating, not good but up a tenth from the premiere the previous week.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win even though Idol is much lower than last season. First, CBS started the night off with a repeat of Criminal Minds doing 7.85 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is solid. Then at 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did 13.81 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, up solidly from previous week. And at 10pm a new CSI did 14.26 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is above normal for the final episode of Marg Helgenberger and by far a season high. ABC was in repeats for its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 5.25 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is OK for a repeat and beat competing NBC which was new. Suburgatory followed at 8:30pm with 4.22 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which also beat NBC's competing new comedy. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm and it did 6.5 million and 2.5 18-49 rating for a repeat, which is solid. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was a repeat and did 3.95 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. At 10pm a repeat of the addicting Revenge did 3.13 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, which doesn't repeat well but the next two new episodes on Feb. 8 and 15 will be big. ABC Wednesday returns with new episodes on Feb. 8, as this week are also repeats. Fox aired American Idol in the 8pm hour doing 19.67 million and a 6.5 18-49 rating, down nearly a full point from previous week (as I predicted!) when it was two-hours. Fox then previewed new drama Touch starring Kiefer Sutherland and did solid 12.01 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating. Great, but this show won't air a second episode until late March on Mondays. Will viewers return and it won't have an Idol lead-in normally. NBC opened the night with a new episode of the terrible series Whitney doing 4.4 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, for another series low. Week three of Are You There, Chelsea followed with only 3.8 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down again from previous week. Not good for both sitcoms. At 9pm, Harry's Law was preempted for a repeat of Law & Order: SVU doing 3.64 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth from a new Harry's Law the previous week. Ouch Kathy Bates. And at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was a repeat at its normal time and did 4.05 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. The CW had a new One Tree Hill at 8pm doing 1.46 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Then at 9pm a repeat of Remodeled did only 570,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating, off a tenth from previous week.

Thursday it was Fox over CBS. Starting with ABC, they opened the night with a repeat of Winter Wipeout doing 4.81 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, not bad and down just a few tenths from a new episode the previous week. At 9pm, a repeat of Grey's Anatomy aired doing 4.05 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. At 10pm, Private Practice was next and did just 2.75 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating for a repeat. ABC Thursday is new this week, as February sweep starts! Can you believe that? CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory at 16.13 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating, great and better than the previous week even with Idol airing opposite it again. In fact, it beat that show in its first half-hour for the second straight week and did a Thursday high! Wow. Then week three of Rob was next doing 11.5 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but its lead-in did go up some, so it had a better lead-in. Still decent. A repeat of Person of Interest did 10.54 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is solid but older skewing. A repeat of The Mentalist followed and did 9.64 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, good for first place on broadcast. Fox aired American Idol at 8pm doing 17.14 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating, great but off some from previous week. Then a new episode of The Finder at 9pm did a better 8.44 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, up from previous week but this is "fool's gold" as ABC, CBS were repeats and NBC didn't air The Office. Look for back to around a 2.2 18-49 rating this Thursday. NBC was all-new with a new 30 Rock up first doing just 3.82 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, tying a series low and looks on par with Community maybe. Then Parks and Recreation was next doing only 3.49 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, for a series low. The Office was preempted at 9pm for another new 30 Rock and did just 3.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, as it is time for this show to finally end. It never had any good ratings. At 9:30pm Up All Night was a repeat and did just 2.97 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but it tied a new Whitney on Wednesday at least. What a mess NBC is into. At 10pm, a new episode of new drama The Firm did only 3.8 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth from previous week. Still Prime Suspect style. Total mismatch out of these comedies. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries and new drama The Secret Circle were preempted for the movie Covenant and did just 1.31 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC won Friday night again with CBS dramas in repeats. ABC was #1 at 8pm with Shark Tank besting usual timeslot leader Kitchen Nightmares on Fox again. At 9pm What Would You Do? was #1 for the night and and 20/20 won the hour at 10pm. NBC's Chuck had its two-hour series finale which was up some but no where near good numbers, while Grimm was preempted. Fox had Fringe do terrible at 9pm and it doesn't look like another season is coming.
Saturday numbers have Fox win the night with UFC on Fox doing very well beating a distant second place ABC's movie Blades of Glory. CBS was close behind, with 48 Hours the highest rated program for CBS and NBC was dead last with U.S. Figure Skating.

Tonight ABC's regular Sunday of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and Pan Am is half new. The latter two programs are preempted for a Hallmark movie, while Once Upon a Time is new and should be number one for the night among TV series. NBC has the NFL Pro Bowl which should do decent and be good enough for a win for the night. CBS has an all-new 60 Minutes at 7pm followed by a new Undercover Boss, The Good Wife and CSI: Miami. CBS will likely be fourth place though. Fox has new episodes of Animation Domination, but no NFL lead-ins to help them. They should be second or third place, depending how the ABC movie does.

As for the week (week 19), it should be Fox with the win and close to what we have right now through the first four nights final averages. CBS will be second, followed by ABC, then NBC fourth for the week. Though, NBC could surpass ABC if the Pro Bowl does very well. As for the coming week (week 20), lots of repeats until Thursday then it is the start of February sweeps on Feb. 2. Then game is on all month with new episodes everywhere. Down with Idol!

Week 19 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 18 -- Jan. 16-22)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted.
• Napoleon Dynamite (Fox) - preempted.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - preempted.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat did 6.94 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is solid for a repeat these days.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A repeat did 7.76 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is good and like usual built on its lead-in.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 9.78 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating for a repeat is great and higher than lead-in 2 Broke Girls this time.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A repeat did 8.25 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, solid but I still think it is the weak link of this block now. I think if it were moved elsewhere it wouldn't do as well, but it is a solid performer.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat in its 8pm half-hour did 5.42 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, lower than usual but in some places it aired out of its normal slot due to the State of the Union. A second repeat at 8:30pm did a similar 5.12 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating.
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - Returns Feb. 14 at 8:30/7:30c! Tune in and spread the word. Penny Can!
• Modern Family (ABC) - ABC aired a repeat after the State of the Union which was joined in progress at 10:40pm in the East and Central time zones doing 3.62 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Like ABC, a repeat of this aired after the State of the Union, and was JIP doing 5.25 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
  
• New Girl (Fox) - preempted.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat did 5.25 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, beating a new Whitney on NBC. All you can say is, wow.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A repeat did 4.22 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did just 4.4 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is another series low.
  
• Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC) - Week three did only 3.8 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down again from previous week and 'Are You There, TV Ratings?'
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 6.5 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, just as good as the CBS Monday sitcom repeats.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A repeat did 3.97 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, as I hope more and more find this show. It is too good.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 16.13 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating, great and it beat Idol head-to-head again. Up some from previous week and a Thursday high. I guess syndication is bringing in new fans?
  
• Rob (CBS) - Week three did 11.5 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is solid against Idol and on par with previous week, though its lead-in was higher this week.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode at 8pm did just 3.82 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, for a series low. A second episode at a special time of 9pm proved it can't anchor an hour doing just 3.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Time for it to pack its bags finally. It never was a hit.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode at 8:30pm did only 3.49 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, for a series low. Not a good night at all for NBC.
  
• The Office (NBC) - preempted.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A repeat did 2.97 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Yes, a repeat but all momentum this show gad earlier in the fall is completely gone.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A Saturday repeat did a prelim 2.6 million and a prelim 0.6 18-49 rating. Not too good even for a Saturday.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A Saturday repeat did a prelim 3.01 million and a prelim 0.7 18-49 rating.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10pm, with new episodes airing from 7:30-10pm.

Summing it up. The Big Bang Theory, Rob, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Happy Endings, The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as all NBC comedy airings like Are You There Chelsea, Parks & Recreation).