SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Households: #1. CBS 6.8 rating/11.1 share; #2. Fox 6.1/9.7; #3. ABC 5.1/8.3; #4. NBC 3.6/5.9; #5. The CW 0.9/1.5
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 10.79 million; #2. Fox 10.04 million; #3. ABC 7.9 million; #4. NBC 5.82 million; #5. The CW 1.37 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 3.1 rating/8.7 share; #2. CBS 2.8/7.8; #3. NBC 2.1/5.8; #4. ABC 1.8/5.0; #5. The CW 0.6/1.8

Week 27 (March 19-25) Analysis: Week 27 has Fox on top in 18-49 with all original programming, but CBS has the edge in HH/viewers as they were all new, too. NBC was all-new all week so far, too, but ABC had a mix of new and repeats--with mostly repeats. Through the first four nights, Fox and CBS are first place in 18-49 and HH/viewers, respectively. For second, Fox has that in HH/viewers, but CBS is in second in adults 18-49. ABC is third in HH/viewers, while NBC is third in 18-49. NBC is fourth in HH/viewers, while ABC is in fourth in 18-49 thanks to a lot of repeats. When the week is over by tonight, CBS will overtake Fox in 18-49 easily thanks to NCAA coverage on Friday and Saturday. ABC will also overtake NBC for third in 18-49 after decent Friday performance and tonight's likely first place finish. More on the prediction of week 27 below. As for last week, week 26, Fox and CBS tied for the crown in 18-49 but CBS took home the HH/total viewers crown. ABC was second in HH/viewers, edging out third place Fox. ABC was third in 18-49, but only two tenths behind CBS and Fox. NBC was fourth across the board.

On Monday, it was NBC with the win but the lead has definitely shrunk with more competition coming back. First, on ABC, Dancing with the Stars started it off from 8-10pm with its season premiere doing a first place 18.79 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, off five tenths from the season thirteen premiere in the fall. While down, still solid against the other major reality competition on the night. There was certainly plenty of buzz after the premiere aired, so perhaps it will maintain or grow tomorrow. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 11.52 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, for second place. Tomorrow's episode is a big one, so likely will go up. For CBS, How I Met Your Mother was new doing 8.15 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is solid. Then a new episode of breakout hit 2 Broke Girls followed doing a better 9.38 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, but that was a series low and didn't build on its lead-in for the first time (it did maintain though). At 9pm, a new Two and a Half Men did a below normal 11.47 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, but the best of the CBS block. A new Mike & Molly followed and did 9.71 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is below normal. A new Hawaii Five-0 was next doing a second place 9.31 million and a first place 2.5 18-49 rating, but was at a season low. Fox aired a a new House at 8pm and did 5.94 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which I believe was a series low for the veteran drama. At 9pm, a new Alcatraz did 5.04 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's series low. Chances are it will not be back, I think. NBC was in first place and started it off with a two-hour The Voice and did a second place 11.95 million and a first place 4.6 18-49 rating, which was down six tenths from previous week. In the last two weeks it has gone down 1.6 points. Then at 10pm week seven of critical darling Smash was next doing 6.56 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which was down two tenths from the previous week for third place. I knew it would be third place in 18-49 even with that large lead-in. It has been renewed for a second season, though. The CW was in repeats, at 8pm a special repeat of America's Next Top Model aired and did 750,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's repeat. At 9pm a repeat of Hart of Dixie did just 670,000 viewers and a 0.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week's embarrassing 0.1 rating!

On Tuesday, it was CBS with the win with its dramas. NCIS at 8 started it off with a new episode doing 19.05 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which is good but below normal. Then a new NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm did 16.17 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is solid but also below normal. At 10pm, a new Unforgettable did 11.32 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. ABC started with a new Last Man Standing with Tim Allen leading the night off doing 6.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is below normal and a low for the series. At 8:30pm, a new episode of the awesome Cougar Town did 4.38 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths from previous week's low. At 9pm, the finale of new horror/adventure series The River did 3.99 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week's series low. Hopefully it comes back on Netflix or anywhere else if ABC passes on it. Body of Proof was a repeat at 10 and did 4.79 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. Fox will bring back Glee in early April, but for now a four-show comedy block! At 8pm, Raising Hope was all-new doing 3.78 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week. As I expected, it went down with ABC's comedy being new. At 8:30pm a new episode of the horrid I Hate My Teenage Daughter did only 2.92 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, off another two tenths from previous week for a series low. Now Fox has pulled it. New Girl was new at 9 too and did 5.18 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, off a tenth from previous week for another series low. At 9:30pm Breaking In was new and did just 2.84 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, off two tenths from previous week. Wish it did better but it is not doing good. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.76 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths from previous week when it was 90-minutes. At 10pm, NBC's new reality series Fashion Star did just 4.76 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. Not good still, but up two tenths from previous week like its lead-in. The CW was new with 90210 doing 1.25 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Then at 9pm, Ringer was new and did 1.16 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, also up a tenth week-to-week.

Wednesday it was Fox with win with another two-hour Idol leading the way of course. First, CBS started the night off with a new Survivor: One World doing 10.47 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is again down two tenths from the previous week. Then at 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did 12.09 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up four tenths from previous week's series low. And at 10pm a new CSI did 11.38 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, but down two tenths from previous week. ABC was 75% in repeats for its Laugh On comedy block with a repeat of The Middle doing 4.75 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. Suburgatory followed with a repeat at 8:30pm doing 4.27 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which built on its lead-in again. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm with a repeat though and it did 5.63 million and 2.0 18-49 rating, which was below normal. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was new and did 4.1 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down two tenths from the previous week when its lead-in was new. Not to worry, the show has been renewed for a third season! At 10pm the addicting Revenge will return in April 11 with a special and then April 18 with the last six episodes of the season, but ABC aired an encore of Missing and did 5.04 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which was actually up a tenth from previous week's ABC News special. Fox aired American Idol from 8-10pm doing 17.21 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating, down another three tenths from previous week but still good for #1 for the week. Take that The Voice, says Fox. NBC opened the night with a new episode of the terrible series Whitney doing 4.18 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, but up two tenths from the previous week. Week 11 (God help us) of Are You There, Chelsea followed with only 3.47 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but up three tenths from previous week's series low. At 9pm, NBC is airing back-to-back episodes of new sitcom Bent and it is not off to a pretty start. In fact, the premiere was a historic low for a premiere (on the big four networks) did only 2.75 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, with episode two at 9:30pm doing even worse with 2.38 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. Ouch. And at 10pm, Rock Center with Brian Williams was new in its temporary new time period and did 3.02 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, but up a tenth from previous week's series low. Still, yank this already, too. The CW had a new One Tree Hill at 8pm doing 1.5 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. This show is ending and its one of their best performing series. Sad. Then at 9pm, week four of America's Next Top Model did 1.25 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week.

Thursday it was Fox again for the win. Starting with ABC, they opened the night with week two of Missing doing 8.81 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a half a point from the premiere. Total viewers is good but the 18-49 needs to be better. At 9pm, a repeat of Grey's Anatomy aired doing 4.53 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. At 10pm, Private Practice was a repeat, too doing 3.29 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. It moves to Tuesdays at 10 for five airings starting April 17. CBS preempted The Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest and The Mentalist for the round of 16 coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The primetime block averaged 6.75 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, up six tenths from previous week. Fox aired American Idol at 8 doing 15.58 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, down four tenths from previous week. Fox aired a new episode of Touch, doing 11.81 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is solid. NBC was all-new with a new Community up first doing 3.87 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was down five tenths from previous week's surprising 2.2 rating. Knew it wouldn't last. It might be a good show but it has no mass appeal. At 8:30pm, 30 Rock was new at 8:30pm and did 3.31 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, like its lead-in, down five tenths from previous week. As I keep saying, time to end it after six seasons. A second episode followed, as The Office was preempted, and did just 3.42 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, eight tenths lower than a lower The Office from previous week. At 9:30pm Up All Night was new and did just 3.25 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week. At 10pm, week four of Awake did not do much with 4.73 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down four tenths week-to-week for a series low. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was new and did 2.69 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week but below normal. Then at 9pm, drama The Secret Circle was new and did 1.72 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS beat ABC with coverage of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight week. ABC was #1 with regular programming with Shark Tank at 8pm as Undercover Boss was preempted on CBS. At 9pm What Would You Do? did solid for ABC, with NBC's Grimm a repeat. CBS' Blue Bloods preempted so ABC's 20/20 was #1 at 10 among regular shows with an interview with an exclusive interview with Dharun Ravi. Fox's Fringe returned with a series low at 9pm.
Saturday numbers have CBS winning the night for a second straight week with NCAA coverage doing the best it has done thus far. ABC did decent for Saturday, but Fox continued to struggle with Q'Viva. ABC preempted its limited news series 20/20: My Extreme Affliction for an encore of Dancing with the Stars premiere that did OK. NBC did poorly with an encore of USA's Fairly Legal and a burn-off episode of The Firm did nothing.

Tonight ABC's line-up is all-new with AFV, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and GCB. Look for a first place finish once again, as Once Upon a Time will be #1 for the night. NBC has Dateline at 7 followed by a new episode of old skewing Harry's Law, then a two-hour Celebrity Apprentice, from 9-11pm. Maybe a fourth place finish again. CBS has new airing of 60 Minutes then a new Amazing Race, followed by new episodes of The Good Wife and CSI: Miami. I think that is a second place finish because NCAA will lead-in to boost them. Fox has all-new episodes of Animation Domination starting at 7:30pm, but they have been below normal nearly all-season. It'll battle with CBS for second but will come up in third.

As for the week (week 27), CBS will likely win the week in 18-49 thanks to coverage of the NCAA Tournament. CBS will easily win HH/viewers. Fox will be second across the board. ABC will go pass NBC in 18-49 and will remain in third in HH/viewers, leaving NBC fourth across the board. As for the coming week (week 28), ABC has its first Dancing with the Stars: The Results Tuesday at 9pm bringing life back to that night for ABC. NBC premieres a one-hour commercial for Ford Escape with a new series called Escape Routes airing Saturdays at 8pm. And Fox has the two-hour finale of Alcatraz tomorrow, but it won't do much.

Week 27 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 26 -- March 12-18)

• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A new episode did 5.25 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth from the previous week. A repeat at 7pm earlier in the night did 2.48 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating against the end of the Creighton/UNC game on CBS, down three tenths from previous week.
  
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did just 3.22 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week.
  
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A new episode aired at 8:30pm and did 4.4 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths from previous week. Still a toss-up on what show comes back--this or Napoleon. Or better yet, neither.
  
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new showing at 9 did 5.61 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, the best of the block like usual and again on par with previous week.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A new airing at 9:30pm did 4.61 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 8.15 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is below normal for it this season.
  
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode maybe got hurt by the competition as it did 9.38 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which is a series low but still solid numbers.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 11.47 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating is not that great for this show, but number one for the CBS block still after all these years.
  
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new episode did 9.71 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, as this was below normal and lower than the 8-9pm comedies. Could be better.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - A new episode in its 8pm half-hour did 6.98 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is below normal for this show. Perhaps because of all the repeats the last few weeks? It is preempted this Tuesday for a planned Dancing special.
  
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 4.38 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up two tenths from previous week, as it finally broke the strong of dropping a tenth each week. Next airing is a week from Tuesday on April 3.
  
• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at 8 did 3.78 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week as perhaps Last Man took some of its ratings.
  
• I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox) - A new episode at 8:30pm did just 2.92 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week and a series low. So bad that Fox has pulled it from the schedule now.
  
• New Girl (Fox) - A new episode at 9pm did 5.18 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week for another series low. When The Voice Results and Dancing Results air in this slot in the next few weeks, will this show get lost (to DVR, at least)?
  
• Breaking In (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30 did just 2.84 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week for a series low. Not good.
  

• The Middle (ABC) - A repeat did 4.75 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is below normal for a repeat. It won't be new again until April 11, along with the rest of the Wednesday comedies besides Happy Endings.
  
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A repeat did 4.27 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, building from its lead-in though.
  
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode did just 4.18 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths from previous week. I'll be sickened if they bring this back, but I don't think they will.
  
• Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC) - Week eleven did only 3.47 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, up three tenths from previous week's series low. Maybe only because ABC was in repeats with its comedies?
  
• Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat did 5.63 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is decent for a repeat but below normal for this show.
  
• Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode did 4.1 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down some from previous week when its lead-in was new. It'll be new this week, too, while the other Wednesday comedies are repeats. So make a note to watch because that is one reason it is down because everyone thinks its a repeat cause the three shows leading in are.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - preempted.
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - Returns March 29!
  
• Community (NBC) - A new episode did 3.87 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down a half a point from previous week's surprising 2.2 rating. Back to mid 1's it goes. Still think NBC brings it back for possibly one last season.
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode did 3.31 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, also down five tenths from previous week. It's time for this show to go, as it has already aired for many seasons. A special new episode at 9pm did no better with 3.42 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, much lower than the usual The Office, and that show is doing nothing anymore.
  
• The Office (NBC) - preempted.
  
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did just 3.25 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week thanks to a weaker lead-in.
  

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. Airings of Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, New Girl were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Last Man Standing, Community) or just plain old terrible (such as I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Bent, Breaking In).