SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A.
Adults 18-49: N/A

Week 21 (Feb. 6-12) Analysis: Week 21 has the first full week of February sweep and NBC had a good showing the day after the Super Bowl, but then got back to its low ratings the rest of the week. The first four night network averages are not available but we can project CBS is in the lead in HH/viewers, with Fox first in 18-49. Both networks are first or second. It's very close for third right now with ABC and NBC, it looks to me ABC is on top in HH/viewers with NBC with the slight edge in 18-49. I think ABC will surpass NBC when the week ends. More on the prediction of week 21 below. As for last week, week 20, NBC obviously won the crown in all categories thanks to the Super Bowl, which rescued them out of fourth place. The big game did 111.35 million overall and a 40.5 18-49 rating...holy mother of God. CBS was second in HH/viewers, while Fox was second in 18-49. For third in 18-49 it was CBS and for third in HH/viewers it was Fox. ABC was fourth across the board in all categories.

On Monday, it was a rare victory for NBC. First, on ABC, The Bachelor started it off from 8-10pm with 8.35 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week despite the added competition from NBC. As I mentioned last Sunday, "I don't think it will be down much, if at all" - and I was right. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 8.7 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, tying its season low. It will go back up tomorrow with the special two-part event starting and the NBC Super Bowl halo-effect going down. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother was new doing 9.98 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, which great and was not hurt by NBC it seems. Then a new episode of breakout hit 2 Broke Girls followed doing a better 11.47 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, with nice builds from the lead-in like usual and it also was not hurt by the competition on NBC. At 9pm, a new showing of Two and a Half Men did 13.0 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, which is great but below normal and looks like it was affected a bit by NBC. A new Mike & Molly followed and did 10.95 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is solid but below normal. A new episode of Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 9.97 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, solid but a bit below average. Fox started with a new House at 8pm with 7.09 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week as this will be its last season. New drama Alcatraz was next at 9pm and did 6.91 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down from previous week and probably the most hurt by NBC. On to first place (for now?) NBC started it off with the timeslot premiere of The Voice and did 17.84 million and a 6.7 18-49 rating, which is by far the best NBC has done in years. I expect a drop tomorrow of about a point, but that should be still enough for a first place finish from 8-10pm. Then at 10pm the pilot episode of critical darling Smash was next at 10 and was sampled to 11.44 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is good but will it stay here? I don't think it will, as past NBC series on Mondays have started well and then just dropped (The Event, Studio 60, etc). Maybe not by tomorrow, but in a few weeks I think it will be in third place. It costs a lot of money to make, so it should be first place every week if it wants to survive. The CW was all-new, at 8pm the why-is-it-still-on Gossip Girl did 1.25 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth from previous week. At 9pm a new Hart of Dixie did 1.52 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week despite the added competition. Overall, only a few hiccups on the night but for the most part it was a night to remember on broadcast.

On Tuesday, CBS went by Fox by a hair for the win as NBC went back down to its usual 4th place. At CBS, they had the special 200th episode of NCIS do 20.98 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is excellent, but mostly in total viewers. 18-49 rating should be higher given that many total viewers. In other words, it skews old. Then a new NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm did 16.27 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is solid but below normal. At 10pm, a new Unforgettable did 11.86 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is below normal and second place. ABC started with a new Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 7.78 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which was below normal. At 8:30pm another new episode followed, doing a better 8.02 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, as Kim Kardashian guest starred. Cougar Town returns this Tuesday on its new night and time of Tuesdays at 8:30pm! Tune in! It's a funny show! From 9-11pm, ABC premiered the new horror/adventure series The River and did 7.59 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which was a disappointing start, unfortunately. I never wanted a two-hour premiere, since the second episode was way better (and scarier), so I felt that should be aired in week two instead of the later 10pm hour. There has been positive feedback from viewers who watched, so perhaps it can stay in this rating range and ABC will take it. Body of Proof was was preempted and will return this week. Fox started with a new Glee and did 7.81 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which was down from previous week's Michael Jack-themed episode. Then at 9pm, new comedy New Girl was new and did a solid 6.83 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but skewing even younger this week. Then Raising Hope was new and low like usual with just 4.47 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, but up a tenth week-to-week. It will be moving to 8pm for 7 weeks after February sweeps is over, which will probably break the series. NBC was next in fourth with The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.41 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is up some from previous week though. Parenthood was new and did just 4.63 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, for a series low. The CW started it off with a new 90210 and did 1.34 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, not good but on par with previous week again. Then at 9pm, Ringer was new and did 1.18 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, not good, and down a tenth week-to-week. A disappointment for The CW. Gellar needs to go to ABC or Fox for a show.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win again with Idol leading the way of course. First, CBS started the night off with the news revival of Person to Person doing only 5.9 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is not good and making 60 Minutes II look good. Then at 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did 13.31 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, solid but seems below normal. And at 10pm a new CSI did 10.88 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, as looks like the loss of Marg Helgenberger huts. ABC was all-new for its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 8.44 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, on par with its last new episode. Suburgatory followed at 8:30pm with 7.27 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is a quiet hit and doing it against Idol now. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm and it did 12.9 million and 5.5 18-49 rating for a new showing, which is great and Idol viewers fled here when it was over. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was new and did 6.7 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, solid. It is always consistent. Next season I can see it airing in another timeslot, perhaps with Cougar Town. At 10pm a new episode of addicting Revenge did 7.7 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is solid but this week will be big with the big reveal. Fox aired American Idol in the 8pm hour doing 19.32 million and a 6.1 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. So The Voice beat it this week, but that show was two-hours and helped by the Super Bowl the previous night. It's game on now this week when both series are two-hours. Fox then aired another Mobbed special and did 8.47 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating out of the big lead-in and was up some from previous week, but still looks like viewers fled to Modern Family. NBC opened the night with a new episode of the terrible series Whitney doing 4.06 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. In honor of the late Whitney Houston, please drop this NBC! Week five of Are You There, Chelsea followed with only 3.63 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, also down some from previous week. At 9pm, NBC premiered the timeslot debut of Rock Center with Brian Williams doing 5.1 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is not good and Harry's Law style. And at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was new and did 6.55 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, not good but seems a bit above its performances this season. The CW had a new One Tree Hill at 8pm doing 1.35 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week again. Then at 9pm a new Remodeled did only 620,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. What works on The CW these days?

Thursday it was Fox over CBS once again. Starting with ABC, they opened the night with a new episode of Winter Wipeout doing 5.22 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Should be better and might do better this week. At 9pm, a new Grey's Anatomy aired doing 10.27 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, up from previous week and this show is still a top drama on TV in its eighth season. It will be on for a while! At 10pm, Private Practice was next and did 6.52 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth. It will have a cross-over episode this week with Grey's, so look for both hours to be solid and first place. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory at 16.21 million and a 5.6 18-49 rating, great and up a tenth from previous week even with Idol airing opposite it again. In fact, it beat that show in its first half-hour for the fourth straight week and did a Thursday at 8pm high in 18-49! Then week five of Rob was next doing 10.74 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Season finale will be March 1. A new episode of Person of Interest did 15.14 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is solid and tying a series best from previous week. A new episode of The Mentalist followed and did 14.68 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Fox aired American Idol at 8pm doing 18.13 million and a 5.8 18-49 rating, great and up some from previous week. It's just not a juggernaut anymore but number one for the night still. Then a new episode of The Finder at 9pm did 6.22 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week again. NBC was all-new with a new 30 Rock up first doing just 3.88 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating for an hour long episode, so it was up some from previous week, as Parks and Recreation was preempted. The Office was next and did just 5.19 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, for a Thursday low. I predicted this series will be in low-mid 2's in 2012, and it is already here. At 9:30pm Up All Night was new and did just 3.65 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, as was down a tenth week-to-week. At 10pm, a repeat of the post-Super Bowl airing of The Voice did 3.54 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, third place but nearly doubling the previous week's new airing of The Firm...ouch. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was new and did 3.08 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, still below normal but up a tenth from previous week. Then at 9pm, drama The Secret Circle did just 1.82 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but up a tenth week-to-week

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC and CBS had something to talk about. ABC was solid with Shark Tank doing a Friday high with a prelim 1.8 18-49 rating. At 9pm What Would You Do? was up some, but not out. CBS' Blue Bloods won 10pm with a prelim 1.8 18-49 rating. NBC's Who Do You Think You Are was low while Grimm was up some. Fox had Fringe do terrible at 9pm and it doesn't look like another season is coming.
Saturday numbers have NBC winning the night with repeats, As The Voice repeat did well. Cops was preempted as Fox aired a two-hour AMW special. ABC was dead last, as the 9-11pm repeat airings of Cougar Town did nothing.

Tonight ABC's regular Sunday of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and Pan Am is back. Look for Lost's Emilie deRavin on Once! NBC has two-hours each of Dateline and Fear Factor. Looks like fourth place. CBS has new airing of 60 Minutes then the Grammy Awards which will be big and easily win the night, as Good Wife and CSI: Miami are preempted. Fox has new episodes of Animation Domination starting at 7:30pm but they will be below normal.

As for the week (week 21), it will be CBS with win in HH/viewers for sure and even 18-49 I think with since the Grammy's are tonight. Fox will be second in HH/viewers and perhaps 18-49 as well. ABC will be third everywhere, with NBC settling for fourth place. As for the coming week (week 22), ABC has the season premiere of Cougar Town on Tuesday and I hope it does well because it is a great premiere and a great show. Watch it! Look for downward ratings for Smash on NBC and The Voice could be down but still first place on Monday.

Week 21 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 20 -- Jan. 30-Feb. 5)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat did 1.94 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating against the Super Bowl which is not good but what more can you expect?
  
• Napoleon Dynamite (Fox) - A repeat at a special time of 7:30pm did 1.52 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, as this show hasn't even aired many new episodes yet.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat at 8:30pm did just 1.8 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but held nearly all of the lead-in's ratings.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A repeat at 7pm did only 910,000 viewers and as 0.3 18-49 rating, yes against the Super Bowl but when has the big four ever gone under a million? Ouch.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 2.41 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, below normal but not bad against the Super Bowl.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A repeat at 9:30pm did 2.22 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, nearly retaining its lead-in's ratings.
• The Middle (ABC) - A special one-hour repeat at 9pm did just 1.77 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating.
• Modern Family (ABC) 2 airings - Two repeats aired in the 10pm hour doing 2.87 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating at 10pm and 3.0 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating at 10:30pm. Most impressive showing of the night against the Super Bowl.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 9.98 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, which is solid and it doesn't seem affected by NBC's added competition.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode did 11.47 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, which is great but still don't get the appeal of this show.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.0 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating for this show is below normal and it couldn't build from its lead-in. It retained, but didn't build. Solid, but could have been better.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new airing did 10.95 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, solid but below average.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) 2 airings - A new airing in its 8pm half-hour did 7.78 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is solid but below normal. A special second new episode at 8:30pm did better with 8.02 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating with special guest Kim Kardashian. Look for it to be higher this week with just one airing.
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - Returns THIS TUESDAY at 8:30/7:30c! Tune in and spread the word. It's a GREAT premiere. Something for everyone!
  
• New Girl (Fox) - A new episode did 6.83 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week despite its lead-in going down. This is a solid hit.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did just 4.47 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Not good but up a tenth from previous week.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat did 4.9 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is below normal for a repeat.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A repeat did 4.23 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did just 4.33 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is at least better than its series low the previous week.
  
• Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC) - Week four did only 4.04 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up for the first time...but still not good.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 7.64 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up from previous week and very solid for a repeat.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A repeat did 5.14 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up some from previous week and not bad at all for a repeat.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 16.21 million and a 5.6 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week and it beat Idol head-to-head again. It was a Thursday high in 18-49.
  
• Rob (CBS) - Week five did 10.74 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is solid against Idol and on par with previous week. I think Rules of Engagement will return after the NCAA Tournament is over, as this show has its finale on March 1.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode from 8-9pm did just 3.88 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week's series low in the 8pm half-hour.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - preempted.
  
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did just 5.19 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, a Thursday low. More downward ratings to come? What will NBC do in comedy next season? No real hits at all.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did just 3.65 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth from previous week and still isn't good and still Whitney style in this time period.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A Saturday repeat did a prelim 3.08 million and a prelim 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's comedy encore.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A Saturday repeat did a prelim 3.47 million and a prelim 0.8 18-49 rating, up some with previous week's comedy encore.
• Cougar Town (ABC) 3 airings - A special marathon from 9-11pm aired, with the first episode doing a prelim 1.47 million and a prelim 0.5 18-49 rating only. A second airing at 9:30pm did just a prelim 1.23 million and a prelim 0.4 18-49 rating. Not good. The one-hour second season finale repeat did better with a prelim 1.56 million and a prelim 0.5 18-49 rating.
  

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

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