Week 29 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Sunday, April 08, 2012

Week 29 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2011-12 Week 29 TV Ratings (first four nights final ratings, Mon-Thu):

Households: #1. CBS 7.3 rating/11.9 share; #2. ABC 6.4/10.3; #3. Fox 5.9/9.4; #4. NBC 3.4/5.6; #5. The CW 0.7/1.1
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 11.85 million; #2. Fox 9.75 million; #3. ABC 9.64 million; #4. NBC 5.45 million; #5. The CW 1.01 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.1 rating/8.9 share; #2. Fox 3.0/8.6; #3. ABC 2.0/5.8; #3. NBC 2.0/5.5; #5. The CW 0.5/1.4

Week 29 (April 2-8) Analysis: Week 29 has CBS on top in all categories thus far helped by the NCAA Championship Game. Through the first four nights, as mentioned CBS is on top, with ABC neck and neck with Fox in HH/viewers for second. In 18-49, Fox is only a tenth behind CBS for first. ABC is third in 18-49, basically tied with NBC. NBC is fourth in HH/viewers. When the week is over by tonight, it could be as it is right now with lots of repeats this weekend. More on the prediction of week 29 below. As for last week, week 28, CBS took home both HH/total viewers crown and the 18-49 crown. ABC was second in HH/viewers, while Fox was second in 18-49. ABC was third in 18-49, while Fox was third in HH/viewers. NBC was fourth across the board. All of this was just like the previous week.

On Monday, it was CBS with the win thanks to the NCAA Basketball Championship game between Kentucky and Kansas. First, on ABC, Dancing with the Stars started it off from 8-10pm doing a first place 16.87 million and a 2.9 rating, down over a million in viewers and three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 11.69 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down slightly in both categories from previous week. For CBS, a repeat of the breakout hit 2 Broke Girls did 5.7 million and a 1.6 rating, which is down from previous week when it aired at its regular time. A repeat of Two and a Half Men followed with 5.75 million and a 1.7 rating. The NCAA Championship Basketball game between Kansas and Kentucky netted 20.87 million and a 7.6 rating. Fox started off the night with Bones doing 8.39 million and a 2.5 rating. House returned with 6.67 million and a 2.3 rating, for soft ratings for this once juggernaut. NBC started it off with a two-hour The Voice and did a second place 10.83 million and a first place 4.1 rating, which was down over a million in viewers and four tenths in 18.49 from previous week. Then at 10pm week nine of critical darling Smash was next doing 6.03 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week. The CW aired an all-new Gossip Girl and did just 970,000 viewers and 0.5 18-49 rating. A repeat of Hart of Dixie followed with just 720,000 viewers and a 0.3 rating.

On Tuesday, it was ABC and NBC tying for first on a slow night. First on CBS, NCIS at 8 started it off with a repeat doing 11.45 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. Then a repeat of NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm did 8.72 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Both were below normal. At 10pm, a repeat of Unforgettable did 6.79 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. ABC preempted Last Man Standing and Cougar Town for Dancing with the Stars: The Encore Performance and did 9.66 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is off only two tenths from previous week's encore special. At 9pm, the live Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 15.61 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down just three tenths from previous week, as we said goodbye to Jack Wagner. This season is so competitive. Body of Proof was all-new at 10 as part two of its special two-part event did 10.51 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but higher total viewers. I think this show will be back, perhaps Fridays in the fall for 13 weeks. Fox will bring back Glee this Tuesday, but for now a four-show comedy block! At 8pm, Raising Hope was all-new doing 3.93 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. At 8:30pm a repeat followed doing just 3.14 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but a tenth better than previous week. New Girl was new at 9 too and did 4.59 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, off three tenths from previous week for yet another series low. At 9:30pm Breaking In was new and did just 2.55 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. Wish it did better but it is not doing good. NBC was next with The Biggest Loser cut to the 8pm hour only doing 6.41 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week when it was two-hours. At 9, NBC launched the live The Voice results show doing 8.45 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. Solid, but not as great as Monday's show. At 10pm, NBC's new reality series Fashion Star did just 4.11 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week but it had The Voice Results lead-in this time and that didn't help at all it seems. The CW was a repeat with 90210 doing 600,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating. Then at 9pm, Ringer was new and did 1.05 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, down a tenth week-to-week.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win another two-hour Idol leading the way of course. First, CBS started the night off with a new Survivor: One World doing 10.36 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth from the previous week. Then at 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did 11.34 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which is below normal. And at 10pm a new CSI did 12.06 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, solid. ABC was 75% in repeats for its Laugh On comedy block again with a repeat of The Middle doing 3.76 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, off a tenth week-to-week. It's new this week! Suburgatory followed with a repeat at 8:30pm doing 3.62 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which built on its lead-in again and on par with previous week. The mega hit Modern Family was next at 9pm with a repeat though and it did 4.91 million and 1.8 18-49 rating, which was below normal ans also down a tenth from previous week. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was ALL-NEW for its season finale and did 3.67 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down two tenths from the previous week. Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 starts this Wednesday! It's hilarious! At 10pm the addicting Revenge will return this Wednesday with a special and then next Wednesday (April 18) with the last six episodes of the season, but ABC aired an encore of Missing and did 3.54 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth from previous week. Fox aired American Idol from 8-10pm doing 17.09 million and a 4.9 18-49 rating, down four tenths from previous week but still good for #1 for the week again. Take that again The Voice, says Fox. NBC opened the night with the premiere of Betty White's Off Their Rockers doing 7.4 million but just a 1.9 18-49 rating, skewing old. The series premiere of new comedy Best Friends Forever followed with only 3.94 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's Chelsea, ouch. Not good. But it gets worse for NBC, at 9pm, NBC aired back-to-back episodes of new sitcom Bent and did only 2.27 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating at 9, off a tenth from previous week but the 9:30pm doing even worse with 1.93 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, also off a tenth from previous week. Good news is, that is it. All six episodes have aired. And at 10pm, Rock Center with Brian Williams was new in its temporary new time period and did 2.97 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Still, yank this already, too. The CW had the two-hour series finale of One Tree Hill from 8-10pm doing 1.43 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, only up a tenth from previous week. Thought it would do a bit better. America's Next Top Model was preempted.

Thursday it was Fox again for the win, just nipping by CBS. Starting with ABC, they opened the night with week four of Missing doing 7.24 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. Total viewers is good but the 18-49 needs to be better. Perhaps a good Friday destination in the fall, if it were to come back. At 9pm, a new Grey's Anatomy aired doing 8.19 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, below normal on a slow night thanks to Easter weekend. At 10pm, Private Practice is now moving to Tuesdays starting next Tuesday, but now Scandal airs in this slot and the series premiere did 7.33 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. Not great, but good considering all the drops on this night. ABC will encore the premiere tomorrow night at 10. CBS aired new episodes, starting with The Big Bang Theory doing a great but below normal 13.29 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, down three tenths from previous week for a season low. A new Rules of Engagement did 8.58 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week even with the lead-in dropping. Person of Interest was new at 9 and did 13.69 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down three tenths from previous week. And The Mentalist was new at 10 and did 12.59 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, also down three tenths from previous week. Perhaps this show will be on the move next season. Fox aired American Idol at 8 doing 14.34 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, down five tenths from previous week. Fox aired a new episode of Touch, doing 7.15 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which was down four tenths from previous week as some more competition returned. NBC was almost all-new with a new Community up first doing 3.0 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which was down three tenths from previous week. I think it will return though, but it sucks in the ratings. At 8:30pm, 30 Rock was new at 8:30pm and did 2.79 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, like its lead-in, down three tenths from previous week. As I keep saying, time to end it after six seasons. A repeat of The Office was next and did just 2.51 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week. At 9:30pm Up All Night was new and did just 2.58 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. I don't think this will be back next season. At 10pm, week six of Awake is not awake in the ratings as it did 2.56 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth week-to-week for another series low. Another series that won't be back, I think. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries was a repeat and did 1.06 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating. Then at 9pm, drama The Secret Circle was a repeat too and did 840,oo0 viewers and a 0.4 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS edged ABC on Friday with its dramas. ABC was a repeat though for Shark Tank at 8pm as Undercover Boss won the 8pm hour. At 9pm What Would You Do? did solid for ABC, with NBC's Grimm doing a tenth better than previous week, and CSI: NY edged out a win over ABC. CBS' Blue Bloods was first at 10pm as ABC's 20/20 was #2 at 10 this week. Fox's Fringe was down at 9pm and still low.
Saturday numbers have ABC winning the night with the classic The Ten Commandments, but NBC struggled big time with Escape Routes but at least The Firm was preempted for repeats. Fox's Cops did OK.

Tonight ABC's line-up is AFV, Once Upon a Time, and a two-hour GCB. Only GCB is new and should do decent but not great. NBC has Dateline at 7, with Celebrity Apprentice from 9-11pm, and Harry's Law leading in. Maybe a second place finish. CBS has new airings of 60 Minutes then Amazing Race, but The Good Wife is a repeat and CSI: Miami has its season finale. A third place finish I think behind ABC and NBC. Fox is in repeats for Animation Domination starting at 7pm, so maybe they are fourth.

As for the week (week 29), CBS will likely win the week in 18-49 thanks to the big NCAA Final Four Championship on Monday. But Fox could make it close, but don't think they will win due to weak a Friday and Saturday. CBS will easily win HH/viewers. Fox will be second in 18-49, while ABC will hang on to HH/viewers. ABC will go beat NBC in 18-49 for third, leaving NBC fourth across the board. As for the coming week, week 30(!), the best new comedy of the season Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 premieres Wednesday at 9:30/8:30c on ABC. Look for our review on Tuesday.

Week 29 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 28 -- March 26-April 1)

The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat at 8pm did 3.89 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was off some from previous week. A repeat at 7pm earlier in the night did 2.23 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week.
The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did just 2.87 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, off three tenths from previous week.
Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A new episode aired at 8:30pm and did 3.66 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is down three tenths from previous week. Still not good, but always good to see 100% retention when its lead-in isn't new.
Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode at 9 did a below normal 5.05 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating. This show usually does that for repeats. It's been in a slump this season.
American Dad! (Fox) - A new airing at 9:30pm did 4.18 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - preempted
2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A repeat at a special time of 8pm did 5.7 million and a 1.6 rating, which was on par with last week's repeat of How I Met Your Mother in viewers but down three tenths in 18.49.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat at a special time of 8:30pm did 5.75 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is a bit below last week's repeat of 2 Broke Girls.
Mike & Molly (CBS) - preempted.

Tuesday Sitcoms

Last Man Standing (ABC) - preempted, new episodes return this week.
Cougar Town (ABC) - preempted, returns this week.
Raising Hope (Fox) 2 airings - A new episode at 8 did 3.93 million and a 1.6 rating, up slightly from previous week. Still not good. A repeat followed at 8:30pm with 3.14 million and a 1.4 rating, up a bit from the previous week.
New Girl (Fox) - A new episode at 9pm did 4.59 million and a 2.3 rating, down three tenths for another series low. The Voice Results and Dancing Results both hurt them.
Breaking In (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30 did just 2.55 million and a 1.3 rating, both down from last week for a series low. We got your back, but will Fox?

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A repeat did 3.76 million and a 1.0 18-rating, which is below normal and down again from previous week. It's new this week, along with the rest of the Wednesday comedies and the series premiere of Apt. 23.
Suburgatory (ABC) - A repeat did 3.62 million and a 1.2 rating, on par with previous week's repeat.
Best Friends Forever (NBC) - The season premiere did just 3.94 million and a very low 1.2 18-49 rating. NBC has struggled here this season. Viewers of Betty White's Off Their Rockers did not stick around for it.
Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat of this mega hit did 4.91 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating. Off a tenth from previous week. New this week with Claire's election!
Happy Endings (ABC) - The season finale did 3.67 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was off two tenths from previous week. It was surrounded by repeats, so probably as good as it could have done the last few weeks. I'm sure many thought it was a repeat since everything else was.
Bent (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode at 9 did 2.27 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, off a tenth from previous week. The 9:30pm airing did a worse 1.93 million and a 0.7 rating, down even further from previous week. No more episodes left though!

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 13.29 million and a 4.4 18-49 rating, which is excellent but below normal and down from previous week.
Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A new episode did 8.58 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which is par on with previous week.
Community (NBC) - A new episode did 3.0 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down four tenths from previous week. Ouch.
30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode did 2.79 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, also down three tenths from previous week for a series low.
The Office (NBC) - A repeat did 2.51 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, off two tenths from previous week.
Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did just 2.58 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week thanks to the repeat lead-in and a series low.

Friday Sitcoms

None.

Saturday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat at 8pm did a prelim 2.03 million and a prelim 0.5 18-49 rating. Seems low.
Mike & Molly (CBS) - A repeat of this at 8:30pm did just as bad with 2.5 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating.
Best Friends Forever (NBC) - A special encore of the pilot did not do much either doing only 1.6 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating.

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

Summing it up. Airings of The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, Rules of Engagement were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as New Girl, Happy Endings) or just plain old terrible (such as Best Friends Forever, Bent, Breaking In).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, December 22

Bob's Burgers - "The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the power goes out two days before Christmas, The Belchers must spend the holiday at Mr. Fischoeder's family's old hunting lodge.

Krapopolis - "Krapocalypse" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis is stuck in a time loop trying to save the city.

The Simpsons - "The Man Who Flew Too Much" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The new and improved Pin Pals travel to Capital City for their first ever state bowling championship.

Universal Basic Guys - "The Devil You Know" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Mark insists on teaching his son Darren how to throw a handmade boomerang that was gifted to Darren by his father; the two soon find themselves on a trek deep into the Jersey woods; David is the recipient of a sex doll that he swears he didn't order.

The Great North - "The Lies Aquatic Adventure" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
While Beef is away, the Tobin fishing boat goes missing; the Tobin siblings wildly speculate on what could have happened.

Krapopolis - "National Lampoon's The Odyssey!" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The family takes a vacation to Storgos for Shlub's mother's birthday.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Full-Frontal Dottie" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Excited by her physical therapy progress, Dottie insists she is ready to return to MaxDot, much to Bob, Douglas and Christina's dismay.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 16)

Friday, December 20

Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Watch Jason on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters/HouseBroken/Catastrophe) - Sharon is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) - Dwayne appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Colton Dunn (Superstore) and Diona Reasonover (Clipped) - Colton and Diona are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Zachary Quinto (Big Mouth/So Notorious) - NBC's Today catches up with Zachary in the 9am hour.
Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Billy talks about Mufasa: The Lion King on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. He can also be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry talks about The Six Triple Eight on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on Sherri, so check your local listings.
James Marsden (30 Rock) and Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty/Space Force/Parks and Recreation) - James and Ben talk about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Sticky/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney talks about Max's Fast Friends on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Access Daily with Mario & Kit has the best of Henry and Kit Hoover, so check your local listings.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - The Talk celebrates 15 seasons with a special finale episode; friend of the show Howie Mandel makes his 21st appearance on the show when he stops by one last time with a surprise for the hosts on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.