SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. CBS 7.8 rating/12.4 share; #2. Fox 7.1/11.0; #3. ABC 4.6/7.3; #4. NBC 4.1/6.5; #5. The CW 0.9/1.4
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 12.66 million; #2. Fox 12.15 million; #3. ABC 7.22 million; #4. NBC 6.56 million; #5. The CW 1.38 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 4.0 rating/10.6 share; #2. CBS 3.2/8.4; #3. NBC 2.4/6.3; #4. ABC 2.3/6.1; #5. The CW 0.6/1.6

Week 22 (Feb. 13-19) Analysis: Week 22 has seen most series decline week-to-week and there has been a lot of uproar about it. Is something wrong with Nielsen or does Valentine's Day or the big Grammy Awards last Sunday have to do with it? The Grammys because it looks like same day DVR viewers are a day behind on their shows thanks to the big showing for the Grammy's last Sunday. View this NY Times article. The first four night network averages have CBS in the lead in HH/viewers, with Fox is first in 18-49. Both networks are first or second again. It's very close for third right now with ABC and NBC, as ABC is on top in HH/viewers and NBC with a one tenth lead in 18-49 through Thursday. I think ABC will surpass NBC when the week ends as they have been higher rated on Friday, Saturday and will be tonight, too. More on the prediction of week 22 below. As for last week, week 21, CBS won the crown in all categories thanks to the huge Grammy Awards airings last Sunday. The ceremony did 39.91 million overall and a 14.1 18-49 rating. For HH/viewers, it was very close for second place between ABC, Fox and NBC. ABC and Fox tied for second in HH, but Fox had the edge in total viewers over ABC. NBC was fourth in HH/viewers. For 18-49, Fox had the edge for second place over ABC and NBC which were tied for third.

On Monday, it was a second straight Monday win for NBC. First, on ABC, The Bachelor started it off from 8-10pm with 8.09 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down just a tenth from previous week. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 8.86 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Both series not too bad considering all the drops this week. Second part of the two-part Castle event is tomorrow night. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother was new doing 9.01 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down sixth tenths from previous week for a season low. Then a new episode of breakout hit 2 Broke Girls followed doing a better 10.48 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, with nice builds from the lead-in like usual but down a half a point week-to-week. At 9pm, a new showing of Two and a Half Men did 12.45 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is a season low and down four tenths from previous week. A new Mike & Molly followed and did 10.91 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is below normal but on par with previous week. Strange that this show was on par while the others were down big. A new episode of Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 9.7 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, a bit below average but on par week-to-week. Fox started with a new House at 8pm with 7.16 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week as this will be its last season. New drama Alcatraz was next at 9pm and did 6.24 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down four tenths from previous week and a series low. On to first place (for now?) NBC started it off with a two-hour The Voice and did 16.28 million and a 6.0 18-49 rating, which is great but down seven tenths from previous week. If it settles here, it will be #1 for the rest of the season in this block. Then at 10pm week two of critical darling Smash was next at 10 doing a third place 8.06 million but a good for first place 2.8 18-49 rating, which is down a full point from the premiere. If it stays here, it will be fine, but I don't think it will stay here. I'm guessing in a few weeks it will be in third place in 18-49, too. 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 1.13 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, which is again down a tenth from previous week. At 9pm a new Hart of Dixie did 1.64 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week again.

On Tuesday, CBS took home the first place crown. At CBS, a new NCIS at 8 started it off with 19.59 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is down three tenths from previous week. Then a new NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm did 16.15 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth from previous week's below average performance. At 10pm, a new Unforgettable did 11.03 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is also up a tenth from previous week's low. ABC started with a new Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 7.64 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth from previous week. At 8:30pm, the season premiere of the awesome Cougar Town returned with 4.88 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is disappointing. This week has seen bad ratings for everyone really, so let's see what happens in the next few weeks. This show should start growing in the next few weeks, especially since the episodes are coming out top-notch. At 9pm, new horror/adventure series The River did 4.96 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down seven tenths from previous week's two-hour premiere. Should be better than this. Ratings need to rise this week, and it might with all the declines in week 22. Body of Proof was next at 10 and did a series low 6.26 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. Fox started with a new Glee and did 6.99 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which was down a half a point from previous week for a season low. Then at 9pm, new comedy New Girl was new and did a solid 6.47 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down four tenths from previous week for a series low. Then Raising Hope was new and low like usual with just 4.58 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, but up on par week-to-week. NBC was next in fourth with The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 5.86 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths from previous week for a series low. Parenthood was new and did just 4.48 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, tying the previous week's series low. The CW preempted 90210 for a repeat of Hart of Dixie doing just 730,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating. Then at 9pm, Ringer was new and did not benefit with the lead-in being a repeat so it did 1.1 million and a 0.4 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, as she would fit their demo.

Wednesday it was Fox with the easy win again with Idol leading the way of course. First, CBS started the night off with the season premiere of Survivor: One World doing 10.79 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is decent. Then at 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did 12.19 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, solid but down two tenths from previous week. And at 10pm a new CSI did 11.09 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a tenth actually from previous week, a rare upswing for a series this week. ABC was all-new for its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 8.04 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week. Suburgatory followed at 8:30pm with 6.92 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is also down two tenths from previous week. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm and it did 11.23 million and 4.7 18-49 rating for a new showing, which is great but perhaps Idol hurt it a bit as it was down eight tenths from previous week. Or it was a victim of the low ratings across the board for this week. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was new and did 5.44 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down a half a point from previous week. At 10pm a new episode of addicting Revenge did 7.69 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is off a tenth from previous week. Why did the ratings have to be screwy this week for this series' big episode? Everyone is talking about this excellent episode. Fox aired American Idol from 8-10pm doing 18.89 million and a 6.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's one-hour airing. So it tied The Voice this week, as both shows were two-hours. NBC opened the night with a new episode of the terrible series Whitney doing 4.48 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up two tenths from previous week. Did some viewers think it was a Whitney Houston tribute special instead? Why else would this show have gone up in a week when everything is down? Week six of Are You There, Chelsea followed with only 3.42 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week for a series low. At 9pm, Rock Center with Brian Williams did only 2.99 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, which is not good and down four tenths from previous week and a series low. This is not needed in primetime. And at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was new and did 5.9 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down three tenths from previous week and a series low. The CW had a new One Tree Hill at 8pm doing 1.4 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Then at 9pm a new Remodeled did only 460,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. Just terrible.

Thursday it was Fox over CBS once again. Starting with ABC, they opened the night with a new episode of Winter Wipeout doing 5.12 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. At 9pm, a new Grey's Anatomy aired doing 8.31 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, down eight tenths from previous week and a season low. There has to be something wrong with ratings this week as this show did a 4.0 the previous week. At 10pm, Private Practice was next and did 7.08 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up four tenths and the best climb of the week. Because it was a cross-over episode with Grey's, but it would have been better if not for the ratings problem this week. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory at 15.65 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, great and but down a half a point from previous week. All the big shows have seen this this week. Then week six of Rob was next doing 10.65 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, down just a tenth from previous week. Season finale will be March 1. A new episode of Person of Interest did 13.16 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is down a half a point from previous week. A new episode of The Mentalist followed and did 13.55 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down three tenths from previous week. Fox aired American Idol from 8-10pm this week doing 16.71 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, a season low and down seven tenths from previous week when it was just an hour. Fox preempted The Finder at 9pm. NBC was all-new with a new 30 Rock up first doing just 3.59 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week when it was one-hour. At 8:30pm, Parks and Recreation did just 3.45 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. The Office was next and did just 4.38 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths week-to-week for a series 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 2.98 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, as it was down two tenths week-to-week. At 10pm, a repeat of Grimm did nothing with 1.85 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, down nine tenths from previous week's encore of The Voice...ouch. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was new and did 2.9 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, still below normal but up a tenth from previous week again. Then at 9pm, drama The Secret Circle did just 1.71 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth week-to-week

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC and CBS had something to talk about with ABC with the edge. ABC was solid with Shark Tank at 8pm, but CBS premiered Undercover Boss with a big Friday rating of a prelim 2.4 18-49 rating, the best in about two years. At 9pm What Would You Do? was was preempted for a two-hour Whitney Houston special on 20/20 winning the night from 9-11pm for ABC. CBS' Blue Bloods was solid at 10. NBC did nothing for the NAACP Awards. Fox had Fringe do terrible at 9pm and it doesn't look like another season is coming.
Saturday numbers have Fox winning the night with NASCAR. ABC was a distant second, led by the 9-11pm movie Wild Hogs which did OK.

Tonight ABC's regular Sunday of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and Pan Am is new and should do better with no Grammy's in the picture. Look for Once to do big as it did decent against the Grammy's even! NBC has two-hours each of Dateline and the season premiere of Celebrity Apprentice. Looks like a fourth place finish still. CBS has new airing of 60 Minutes then the season premiere of Amazing Race, followed by new episodes of Good Wife and CSI: Miami. Fox has new episodes of Animation Domination starting at 7:30pm.

As for the week (week 22), it will be CBS with win in HH/viewers for sure and Fox will win 18-49. Fox will be second in HH/viewers and CBS perhaps second in 18-49. ABC will be third everywhere, with NBC settling for fourth place. As for the coming week (week 23), will ratings be back to where they should be? I think it will be, at least I hope so. It was a depressing week 22. The Oscars are next Sunday.

Week 22 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 21 -- Feb. 6-12)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did just 4.26 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating against one of the all-time best Grammy Awards showing (helped by the passing of Whitney Houston).
  
• Napoleon Dynamite (Fox) - A new showing did 3.81 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, as this is not good enough but it did face the big Grammy's. More telling will be tonight.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did just 2.72 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, as it is being wasted in this time period where only 60 Minutes and AFV do well.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A repeat at 7pm did 1.87 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, not good but more than doubled its last airing against the Super Bowl.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode did 5.03 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, below normal but not bad against a big Grammy showing.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 3.59 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, yes Grammy Awards were against it but given the lead-in, it should have been a bit better.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 9.01 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is solid but a season low.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode did 10.48 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is great but down a half a point for a series low. Still don't get the appeal of this show.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 12.45 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for this show is below normal again and a season low. Tough week for live+same day ratings.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new airing did 10.91 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, nearly exactly the same as previous week but below average.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - A new airing in its 8pm half-hour did 7.64 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth from previous week and below normal.
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - The season premiere did a disappointing 4.88 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, but this week has been on tough on nearly everyone. I think it will go up this week and for sure in March when everyone knows it is on with Glee on hiatus.
  
• New Girl (Fox) - A new episode did 6.47 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down four tenths from previous week and a series low. Still good, but the tough week continues.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did just 4.58 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode did 8.04 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is down a few from previous week. Not bad considering many shows were down big this week.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A new airing did 6.92 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, as it nearly always retains or builds from the lead-in in 18-49. Safely has secured a season season, I think.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did just 4.48 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is up some from previous week. Whitney Houston fans probably thought it was a special on her life, but found this bad show instead.
  
• Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC) - Week six did only 3.42 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, not good folks.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 11.23 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, a season low yet still #2 for the week in scripted series. Should be back in the 5's this week unless the across the board ratings problem continues on network TV.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode did 5.44 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down to a season low.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 15.65 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, down a half a point from previous week, as most big shows have dropped 0.4-0.8 this week.
  
• Rob (CBS) - Week six of eight did 10.65 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, down just a tenth from previous week. This is proof that the same day DVR viewing is down this week thanks to Valentine's Day or Grammy's as this show was just down a tenth while the lead-in was down bigger.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 8 did just 3.59 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week when it was an hour.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode did just 3.45 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating.
  
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did just 4.38 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week to a series low I believe. Even those first season Tuesday airings were better than this.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did just 2.98 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, for a series low. I was more impressed by the 8pm hour NBC comedies this week than the 9pm hour.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

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, Mike & Molly, New Girl, Rob were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Happy Endings, Last Man Standing) or just plain old terrible (such as The Office, Up All Night).