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Week 23 (Feb. 20-26) Analysis: Week 23 saw more below normal ratings, but not as harsh as week 22. It still seems something is wrong and fishy. We don't have final network averages though the first four nights, but we can project who is on top. CBS is in the lead in HH/viewers, with Fox is first in 18-49. That is a given. Both networks are first or second again. ABC has the edge over NBC in all categories, as NBC has nothing but The Voice, which is the #1 show in 18-49. More on the prediction of week 23 below. As for last week, week 22, CBS took top honors in HH/viewers over Fox, but it was Fox with the edge over CBS in 18-49. ABC was third across the board and that means NBC was fourth in all categories, even with The Voice.

On Monday, it was another Monday win for NBC. First, on ABC, The Bachelor started it off from 8-10pm with 8.18 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. It has held up well against new competition. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 9.73 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. What a finish to the two-part event. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother was new doing 9.68 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, up four tenths from previous week's season low. Then a new episode of breakout hit 2 Broke Girls followed doing a better 11.37 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, with nice builds from the lead-in like usual and up two tenths week-to-week. At 9pm, a new showing of Two and a Half Men did 13.33 million and a 4.218-49 rating, which is up three tenths from previous week's season low. A new Mike & Molly followed and did 11.33 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week again. 3.4 for a few weeks now. A new episode of Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 10.4 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, up two tenths week-to-week. Fox started with a new House at 8pm with 7.08 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week as this will be its last season. New drama Alcatraz was next at 9pm and did 5.98 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week and another series low. It really needs to improve. On to first place NBC started it off with a two-hour The Voice and did 16.04 million and a 6.0 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week. It looks like it has settled to a 6.0, which right now is good enough for top honors. Then at 10pm week three of critical darling Smash was next at 10 doing a third place 6.47 million and a second place 2.3 18-49 rating, which is down a half point from the previous week. Not good, as soon it will likely be 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, especially since it has a huge lead-in. The CW was all-new, at 8pm the why-is-it-still-on Gossip Girl did 1.0 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week but it almost is below a million total viewers--ouch. At 9pm a new Hart of Dixie did 1.57 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week again.

On Tuesday, CBS and Fox shared the 18-49 crown. At CBS, a new NCIS at 8 started it off with 19.29 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, which is down another three tenths from previous week. Then a new NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm did 15.47 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which is down a half a point from previous week for a season low (maybe a series low?). At 10pm, a new Unforgettable did 10.7 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is also down three tenths from previous week for a series low. ABC started with a new Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 7.46 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week. At 8:30pm, a new episode of the awesome Cougar Town did 4.49 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is disappointing and down a tenth from previous week's season premiere. This week it'll face Idol, but then it will be better I think with Glee on hiatus, so let's see what happens in the next few weeks. The episodes are coming out top-notch, especially the upcoming March 6 and 13 episodes. At 9pm, new horror/adventure series The River did 4.8 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Should be better than this. Body of Proof was next at 10 and did 6.64 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week's series low. I think ABC should bring this show back next season, but not in this slot...maybe for 13 episodes on Fridays. Fox started with a new Glee and did 7.46 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths from previous week's season (series?) low. Then at 9pm, new comedy New Girl was new and did a solid 6.27 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week for a series low again. Then Raising Hope was new and low like usual with just 4.73 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, but up on par week-to-week again. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.63 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths from previous week's series low. Parenthood was new and did just 4.91 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week's series low. The CW preempted 90210 for a repeat of Hart of Dixie doing just 840,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week though. Then at 9pm, Ringer was new and did not benefit with the lead-in being a repeat so it did 1.25 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, not good, but up a tenth week-to-week from its series low.

Wednesday it was Fox with the easy win again with a two-hour expanded Idol leading the way of course. First, CBS started the night off with a new Survivor: One World doing 10.29 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is down three tenths from the premiere for a series low. Then at 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did 12.78 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. And at 10pm a new CSI did 11.91 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week with limited competition. ABC was all-new for its Laugh On comedy block with The Middle doing 7.48 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week again for a season low. Suburgatory followed at 8:30pm with 6.76 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth from previous week for a series low. Still solid, but they should go up this week. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm and it did 11.54 million and 4.8 18-49 rating for a new showing, up a tenth from previous week and perhaps Idol hurt it a bit airing head-to-head. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was new and did 5.45 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Spring Smackdown! At 10pm the addicting Revenge was preempted for an Oscars 20/20: Before They Were Stars special that did only 4.82 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is down a full point from previous week's Revenge. The juicy drama returns this Wednesday with the conclusion from the previous episode. Fox aired American Idol from 8-10pm doing 16.1 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, down a full point from previous week. Wow, not good for this show but it still was tops for the night. The Voice has won this week for top series. NBC opened the night with a new episode of the terrible series Whitney doing 4.11 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week. Week seven of Are You There, Chelsea followed with only 3.38 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week for another series low. At 9pm, Rock Center with Brian Williams did only 2.7 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, which is atrocious and down a tenth from previous week for another series low. This is not needed in primetime. And at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was new and did 5.99 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week and another series low. NBC is in bad shape, besides The Voice. The CW had a new One Tree Hill at 8pm doing 1.43 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. This show is ending and its one of the best performing series. Sad. Then at 9pm a new Remodeled did only 710,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Still terrible.

Thursday it was Fox and CBS battling, as Fox continues to dwindle down. Starting with ABC, they opened the night with a new episode of Winter Wipeout doing 5.03 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, again on par with previous week. At 9pm, a new Grey's Anatomy aired doing 9.06 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week and a season low. Great episode and a great season. This show will be on for some more seasons. At 10pm, Private Practice was next and did 6.32 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down a half a point from previous week's Grey's cross-over. CBS opened with a new The Big Bang Theory at 16.2 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating, great and up two tenths from previous week. Good enough for second among all TV series for the week thus far. Then week seven of Rob was next doing 10.33 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down three tenth from previous week for a series low. Season finale will be this Thursday following a Bang repeat. A new episode of Person of Interest did 14.56 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is up three tenths from previous week. A new episode of The Mentalist followed and did 13.36 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. Fox aired American Idol at 8pm this week doing 15.64 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, another season low and down six tenths from previous week when it was two-hours. Fox aired a new episode of The Finder at 9pm and did awful with 6.18 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. NBC was all-new with a new 30 Rock up first doing just 3.7 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. At 8:30pm, Parks and Recreation did just 3.43 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, but also on par with previous week. The Office was next and did just 5.02 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week's series low. At 9:30pm Up All Night was new and did just 3.42 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, as it was up two tenths week-to-week. At 10pm, a repeat of Grimm did nothing with 2.17 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week. New drama Awake starts this week but to me it doesn't look to have mass appeal, so it won't do well. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was a repeat for some reason in sweeps and did 1.32 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, matching new episodes of many new episodes of dramas on The CW this week. Then at 9pm, drama The Secret Circle was preempted for a repeat of Supernatural and did just 930,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC and CBS had something to talk about with CBS with the edge this week. ABC was strong with Shark Tank at 8pm going up 20% from previous week, as CBS tumbled with week two of Undercover Boss but still had won by a tenth. At 9pm What Would You Do? was solid for ABC, but NBC's Grimm won by a tenth. CBS' Blue Bloods was solid at 10 and won the hour. Fox had Fringe do terrible at 9pm and it doesn't look like another season is coming.
Saturday numbers have Fox winning the night by a tenth over ABC with Cops. ABC was led by the 9-11pm movie The Devil Wears Prada which did OK.

Tonight ABC's regular Sunday of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and Pan Am is preempted for the Annual Academy Awards, which will easily win the night with big numbers. Second best of the year following the Super Bowl, but the Grammy's did very well this season. NBC has Dateline at 7 followed by three-hours of Celebrity Apprentice, but the 8pm hour is a repeat. CBS has new airing of 60 Minutes then a new Amazing Race, followed by encores of The Mentalist and CSI: Miami. Fox has repeat episodes of Animation Domination starting at 7pm.

As for the week (week 23), ABC will likely win the week in all categories thanks to the Oscars. But Fox should hang on in second in 18-49, with CBS second in HH/viewers. NBC will be settling for fourth place like usual. As for the coming week (week 24), American Idol has a three-night/six-hour event, that could help them back on track. NBC will premiere new drama Awake on Thursday at 10pm but I don't think it will have mass appeal as it seems very cabley. So that means critically acclaimed and no ratings. And February sweeps ends on Wednesday--that was fast!

Week 23 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 22 -- Feb. 13-19)

• The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 5.77 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a good amount from previous week against the Grammy's.
  
• Napoleon Dynamite (Fox) - A new showing did 4.41 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up some week-to-week. Could be better.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did just 2.61 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but 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 1.74 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, not good and down a tenth from previous week.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode did 5.47 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, below normal again but up some from previous week. I remember when it was getting 4s regularly.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 4.43 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up some from previous week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 9.68 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is up from its season low the previous week. Still a bit below normal for this season, but nothing to complain about.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode did 11.37 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, which is great and up a couple tenths from its series low the previous week. Still don't get the appeal of this show. Is a Thursday move in the cards for next season?
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.33 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating for this show is still below but it is up some from its season low the previous week.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new airing did 11.33 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, exactly the same as previous week.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - A new airing in its 8pm half-hour did 7.46 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week but below normal. This week it looks very good and a classic style episode, so it could improve ratings a but but Idol is also airing this week so maybe not.
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - Week two 4.49 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth from its season premiere. This week could be a bit rough against Idol, but good things are coming in March with no Glee and hilarious must-see episodes coming starting March 6.
  
• New Girl (Fox) - A new episode did 6.27 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week and a series low again. Still good and on par with its lead-in.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode did just 4.73 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but it is not catching on as it does these ratings every week.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode did 7.48 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths from previous week for a season low. It should be better and will be this week.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A new airing did 6.76 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, as it nearly always retains or builds from the lead-in in 18-49. It has safely has secured a season season, I think, but it hopefully goes up this week.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did just 4.11 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is down some from previous week. Whitney Houston (confused viewers though this series was a Whitney Houston special I bet last week!) effect gone now!
  
• Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC) - Week seven did only 3.38 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, not good folks and another series low. Go back to E! Ms. Handler.
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode did 11.54 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Hopefully back to 5's this week?
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode did 5.45 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. It's coming back next season for sure I think, so no need to worry.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 16.2 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. It beat both Idol airings this week for second place to The Voice.
  
• Rob (CBS) - Week seven of eight did 10.33 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down three tenths from previous week. Finale is this week and it will have to prove itself out of a repeat lead-in.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 8 did just 3.7 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. It's time for this show to end after this season. It's not going to get any better as syndication hasn't helped it.
  
• Parks and Recreation (NBC) - A new episode did just 3.43 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. NBC should bring this back for one more season, then that's it.
  
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode did just 5.02 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week's series low.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did just 3.42 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up some from its series low. I don't think it deserves a second year. One and out?
  

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are Fox's animated comedies from 7-10pm with repeat episodes.

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 The Office, The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as Are You There Chelsea, Whitney).