Week 1 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Week 1 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2012-13 Week 1 TV Ratings (first four nights of the season, Mon-Thu):

Households: #1. CBS 7.9/12.5 rating/share (-13% in rating from first four nights week 1 in 2011); #2. ABC 6.7/10.6 (-18%); #3. NBC 4.6/7.3 (+24%); #4. Fox 4.2/6.5 (-29%); #5. The CW 0.4/0.7 (-60%).
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 12.69 million (-14%); #2. ABC 10.25 million (-18%); #3. NBC 7.2 million (+22%); #4. Fox 6.95 million (-30%); #5. The CW 620,000 viewers (-61%).
Adults 18-49: #1. CBS 3.1/8.7 rating/share (-24%); #2. Fox 2.6/7.3 (-32%); #3. ABC 2.6/7.2 (-24%); #4. NBC 2.5/7.1 (+19%); #5. The CW 0.3/0.7 (-57%).

Week 1 (Sept. 23-30) Analysis: Summer's over! We're back with another all-new TV season but we're off to a slow start, minus NBC (thanks to The Voice). And The CW launches its new shows this coming week, so that's why they are down big year-to-year through the first four nights. The 2012-13 season has begun and most of the shows debuted this past week, with still a few shows debuting or having their season premieres in the coming weeks. Through the first four nights, CBS has the lead in all categories but it is very close and they are down big from last season. ABC is in second in HH/viewers and tied with Fox for second in 18-49. NBC is actually in third in HH/viewers, but still fourth in 18-49, but that will change after tonight's NFL game. I expect CBS to take the week in HH/viewers for sure. ABC will likely remain second in HH/viewers, with NBC third and Fox in fourth. Among adults 18-49, we can see some big changes after tonight. Right now only a half a point separates #1 from #4, so if NBC has a big NFL game they could move up to second place or even first place. It will be interesting, especially if ABC's new Sunday line-up does big tonight, too. CBS, ABC and Fox are all down a good amount from last season's premiere week, with only NBC showing gains through the first four nights...because of The Voice (which has helped new drama Revolution).

Monday was the first night of the 2012-13 season and it was NBC on top in 18-49 and ABC in total viewers. Starting with ABC, the two-hour season premiere of Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars won the total viewer race with 14.11 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from last fall's premiere by five million and 1.5 18-49 rating points. Competing against The Voice has hurt it. The season premiere of Castle followed with a first place 10.45 million but a second place 2.1 18-49 rating, down 1.1 points in 18-49 from last season's premiere. For NBC, a two-hour The Voice, which is in week 3, did 12.18 million and a night best 4.4 18-49 rating. At 10pm, week two of Revolution did well for NBC with 9.21 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down seven tenths from its premiere but still solid. Next up was CBS with its comedies and the season premiere of Hawaii Five-0. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 8.84 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, down 1.1 points in 18-49 from last year's premiere in the same time period. The series premiere of Partners followed with just 6.56 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down a dramatic 2.8 points in 18-49 from last season's How I Met Your Mother in the same time period. Not a good start! Then it was the season premiere of 2 Broke Girls at its new time of 9pm doing 10.14 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which of course was no where near the Men premiere from last season but it was down.3.4 18-49 rating points from last season's series premiere at 9:30pm. That was inflated though. Even so, Broke was down from its average from last season. The season premiere of Mike & Molly followed with 9.45 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down 4 18-49 rating points from last season's 2 Broke Girls premiere in the time period, obviously. Mike & Molly was down 1.8 18-49 rating points from last season's premiere in week 2. The season premiere of Hawaii Five-0 was next doing 8.06 million and a third place 1.8 18-49 rating, off 1.6 18-49 rating points from the season premiere last season. Not good! Fox was next with week two of Bones doing 7.61 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating at 8pm, followed by the second episode of The Mob Doctor doing only 3.85 million and 1.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from a very weak premiere. It will likely be pulled soon unless it starts going up. The CW was airing its summer programming still. Look for season premieres of 90120 and Gossip Girl starting Oct. 8.

On Tuesday, it was CBS with the victory in both measures. CBS had the always reliable NCIS opening the night off with 20.48 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, down only two tenths from last year's premiere. Amazing. The season premiere of NCIS: Los Angeles was next and did 16.74 million and 3.4 18-49 rating, also down only two tenths from last year's premiere. And finally CBS premiered new series Vegas and did 14.85 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, but down four tenths from the premiere of Unforgettable last season. An OK start, but it needs to do better, as the series it replaced did better. ABC was next with the a special Dancing with the Stars All-Stars: The Results leading the night off which was from 8-10pm doing 11.79 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down eight tenths from last fall's premiere, but that was just the 9pm hour. If you compare just the 9pm hour (which was the hour that had the results), it was down four tenths from last year's premiere. We sadly said goodbye to Pamela Anderson. The season premiere of Private Practice followed and did 6.45 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which was down three tenths from the season premiere of Body of Proof from last year in the same time period. Could be better though and I think it will be consistent, even going up from time to time. NBC started off solidly with week 3 of The Voice in the 8pm hour doing 11.57 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, just getting by CBS. New comedy Go On followed with 6.92 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, but it lost to the competing Fox comedy. And week three of The New Normal did 5.09 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which concerning. A new Parenthood at 10pm did 4.89 million and a third place 1.8 18-49 rating. After starting off great at 8pm, NBC went down each half-hour from 9-11pm. Fox started it off with a special New Girl at a special time of 8pm doing 5.35 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, followed by the series premiere of Ben & Kate doing doing only 4.21 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, as the hour was down 1.6 18-49 rating points from last fall's Glee premiere in the time period. At 9pm, we had a second episode of New Girl at its normal time doing 5.18 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down a big 2 18-49 rating points from last season's premiere. It is still solid, though. The series premiere of The Mindy Project at 9:30pm did 4.67 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down seven tenths from Raising Hope's season premiere in the time period last year. Not a good start, if you ask me. The CW aired repeats, look for Hart of Dixie launching this week at 8pm and new series Emily Owens MD starting Oct. 16 at 9pm.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win though ABC was very solid in 18-49. First, CBS started the night off on top with week two of Survivor: Philippines at 10.31 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from week two last fall. Veteran drama Criminal Minds did 11.73 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, down a full 18-49 point from last season's premiere. At 10pm, the season premiere of CSI did a decent 10.76 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down seven tenths in 18-49 from last year's season premiere. ABC started off with its Comedy Wednesday comedy block with a one-hour premiere of The Middle doing a big 9.16 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down just two tenths from last year's one-hour premiere. At 9pm, the season premiere of Modern Family was next and opened huge with 14.44 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating, down six tenths from last year's two-episode premiere. Counting just the first half-hour from last year, it was down less and basically on par. The series premiere of The Neighbors was next at a special time of 9:30pm and did solid with 9.22 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. It will move to 8:30pm this coming week, so if it does close to those numbers there, ABC will have a nice hit. At 10pm a clip show for Revenge did 5.2 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Look for the season premiere tonight at a new night and time! We critics got the first 17 minutes for review and it is amazing, and I can't wait to watch the rest of the episode! Fox aired week three of The X Factor doing 9.63 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, solid but not near its numbers from last year on this date, with was a 4.4 18-49 rating. NBC opened the night with the time period premiere of Animal Practice, which is awful by the way, dropping to 5.19 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is down a full 18-49 rating point from Up All Night on the first week last year. At 8:30pm, the news wasn't good either, with the time period premiere of new comedy Guys with Kids doing only 4.84 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, but it was up three tenths from Free Agents on the same week last year. Who scheduled this hour on NBC? One of these will be gone very soon, I'm guessing. At 9pm, the two-hour season premiere of Law & Order: SVU was tired, doing 7.19 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down three tenths from last year's one-hour season premiere. The CW had a mix of summer series and a repeat. Look for Supernatural season premiere this Wednesday at 9pm and new series Arrow premiering Oct. 10 at 10pm.

Thursday it was CBS with the win, but ABC and Fox were close. ABC opened the night with the series premiere of Last Resort doing 9.31 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth from Charlie's Angels' premiere last year. This was what I expected in total viewers, but it skewed older than I thought. However, the series has a lot of buzz and could grow in coming weeks, especially if some of the younger viewers saw the pilot online on Yahoo/iTunes/Hulu before the premiere. At 9pm, the Grey's Anatomy season premiere followed with 11.73 million and a 4.5 A18-49 rating, up three tenths from last season's premiere despite that premiere being two-hours. Nine seasons and still going strong and the top drama in 18-49! The season premiere of Scandal followed with 6.74 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, for its second highest ratings so far. This is a growing series and was very consistent last spring. It could be a solid 10pm option this season. CBS opened with The Big Bang Theory at 15.66 million and a 5.0 A18-49 rating, up one tenth from last season's premiere. #2 comedy in 18-49 and #1 in total viewers. The season premiere of Two and a Half Men on a new night and time followed with 12.54 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, down 1.6 18-49 rating point from last season's second Big Bang in the time period. Was it a mistake to move this show for an unproven anchor like 2 Broke Girls? Time will tell, but as of now both Monday and Thursday comedies are down. The season premiere of Person of Interest followed with 14.28 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, down two tenths from last season's series premiere. It did have more total viewers than the premiere last year, so it skewed older. The series premiere of Elementary followed and did 13.41 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 from last year's Mentalist premiere. Good start and did better than Vegas. Fox aired week three of The X Factor and it was nearly identical to the previous night, doing a solid 9.39 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, down a point in 18-49 from the same week last year. A new Glee followed at 9pm and was pretty low with 5.79 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating. After that very strong first and early part of the second season, this show has faded. NBC was in the familiar fourth place with the second and finale SNL Election Special doing 4.67 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating only, down two tenths from Community on the same time period in week one last year. The second week of Up All Night on its new time did only 3.26 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down an alarming seven tenths from Parks in the same time period in week one last year. At 9pm, the very tired The Office did just 4.13 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down 1.8 points in 18-49 from last season's premiere. Ouch. At 9:30pm, Parks Recreation closed the comedy block with 3.27 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, but it was down 1.7 points from Whitney in the same time period last year--ouch, while also being down four tenths from the same night last year when it aired at 8:30. NBC aired the whytheheckisthisstillinprimetime Rock Center with Brian Williams at 10pm closing the night with only 3.13 million and a 0.8 18-49, down a full point from the bust that was Prime Suspect on the same night last year. Can't say anything positive about that. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries and new series Beauty & the Beast launch on Oct. 11

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC and CBS were tied for the top spot on Friday, despite ABC airing a repeat at 9pm. ABC won the 8pm hour with week three of Shark Tank, while the series premiere of Made In Jersey bombed for CBS at 9pm. NBC won 9pm with Grimm, while CBS won 10pm with Blue Bloods. Fox had a poor night with the season premiere Fringe down from last year's premiere.
Saturday numbers had ABC win the night with Saturday Night Football, just getting by Fox's game. CBS and NBC encores didn't do much.

Tonight are the season premieres for ABC Sunday (Once Upon a Time, Revenge, and the premiere of 666 Park Avenue). Look for a big night and I think Revenge will be up good amount giving ABC a second place finish for the night. NBC should do well with the NFL as it is the Giants vs. Eagles, which will win them the night and maybe come to winning the week. CBS has the season premiere of Amazing Race following 60 Minutes, and The Good Wife at 9pm leading into The Mentalist on its new night. CBS should be fourth place in 18-49 as they don't have the NFL overrun tonight. Fox launches its animation block with season premieres from 8-10pm, following NFL action, so they should do well and likely a solid third place.

As for the week (week 1), CBS will win in HH, viewers but 18-49 is anyone's game depending on tonight. Can CBS hang on? Or will NBC make a run thanks to NFL? ABC or Fox will be solid tonight in 18-49, so perhaps NBC won't be able to overtake both for the week. Maybe just one. Look for 666 Park Avenue to do well tonight, it was in my top 5 new series to do well in the ratings (with Go On, Elementary, Nashville and Revolution). As for the coming week (week 2), look for the season premieres of Raising Hope on Fox Tuesday at 8pm and 30 Rock on NBC Thursday at 8, along with a few CW season premieres. Wednesday from 9-11pm ET we have a Presidential Debate that will preempt primetime for two-hours, as the 8pm ET hour will still have new programming...so make a note of that!

Week 1 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for summer week 17 -- September 17-23)

The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat at 8pm did 3.35 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Season premiere tonight!
The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat at 7:30pm posted 2.37 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down two tenths in the latter from previous week.
Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A repeat at 8:30pm did 3.13 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, holding to 100% of its lead-in's 18-49 rating. Good.
Family Guy (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat at 9pm did 4.03 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. A second repeat followed with a similar 4.2 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, also down a tenth week-to-week.
American Dad! (Fox) - A repeat at 7pm did only 1.35 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, down five tenths from previous week in 18-49.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - The season premiere did 8.84 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating is good, but down over a point in 18-49 from last year's premiere.
Partners (CBS) - The series premiere aired at 8:30pm, but did just 6.56 million a 2.4 18-49 rating. Very concerning.
2 Broke Girls (CBS) - 10.14 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating is solid but is it good enough to anchor CBS Monday? It should be a bit higher.
Mike & Molly (CBS) - Season premiere delivered 9.45 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating. Solid like usual.

Tuesday Sitcoms

Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted, airs this week.
Ben & Kate (Fox) - Series premiere did only 4.21 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. Not good.
New Girl (Fox) 2 episodes - The season premiere at 8pm and 5.35 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating. Solid but down from last year. A second episode at its normal time did a similar 5.18 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, just getting by NBC's competing comedy in 18-49.
Go On (NBC) - Week three of this comedy on NBC did 6.92 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which is solid but it has gone down each week. Will it have a tough time vs. New Girl?
The Mindy Project (Fox) - The series premiere was sampled but to me it underperformed with just 4.67 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating. Needs to do better.
The New Normal (NBC) - Week three of this comedy lost to the competing new Fox comedy, as this show did 5.09 million and only a 2.0 18-49 rating. Will be concerning if it goes under a 2.

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - The one-hour season premiere from 8-9pm did 9.16 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, basically on par with last year. Excellent start to the season!
Animal Practice (NBC) - After premiering after the Olympic closing ceremony last month, the second episode dropped to 5.19 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Terrible. It's a bad show, too. Too bad cause Joanna Garcia-Swisher deserves better.
Guys with Kids (NBC) - Week two of this comedy did terrible with only 4.84 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, also a drop from its preview after AGT on Sept. 12.
Modern Family (ABC) - The season premiere did a massive 14.44 million and a gigantic 5.5 18-49 rating. This show continues to be a top draw for sitcoms and scripted series in 18-49. It is liked by critics and the mass audience. A well deserved Emmy win!
The Neighbors (ABC) - The series premiere of this sitcom at a special time of 9:30 was sampled to 9.22 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating. If it can take most of that to 8:30pm this week, then ABC has a nice option at 8:30.
Suburgatory (ABC) - Season premiere is Oct. 17 at a new time of 9:30!

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - The season premiere did 15.66 million and a 5.0 18-49 rating, basically on par with last year's premiere but higher total viewers. Second best for comedy and scripted so far.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - The season premiere on a new night and time underperformed with 12.54 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating. That's no better than what CBS was doing with series like Rules.
30 Rock (NBC) - The season premiere is this week.
Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did only 3.26 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. It is going to be 13 and out this season.
The Office (NBC) - A new episode of this series did 4.13 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, as no one cares anyone about this show. It has ended at the right time.
Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A new episode did 3.27 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, as this series will just never draw in ratings.

Friday Sitcoms

None.

Saturday Sitcoms

None

Airing tonight (Sunday) are season premieres of Fox's animated comedies from 8-10PM.

Summing it up. Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, Two and a Half Men, New Girl, The Middle, Go On, The Neighbors were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Mindy Project, Partners) or just plain old terrible (such as Animal Practice, Ben & Kate, Up All Night, Parks & Recreation).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, December 20

Happy's Place - "Ho-Ho-Howey" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the tavern's health insurance is threatened to be canceled, Gabby has a plan; she'll persuade her friend Danny to host his company party at Happy's, but the catch is everyone must call Bobbie "Gabby" and Gabby "Bobbie."

Bob Hearts Abishola - "The Canadians of Africa" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abishola doesn't appreciate it when Bob gives her unsolicited parenting advice about her "unhappy son."

The Conners - "The Dog Days of Christmas" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dan meets his in-laws for the first time when Louise's family comes to visit; Darlene helps Becky with a parenting problem.

Children Ruin Everything - "Ego" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After Felix gets in trouble for defacing school property, Felix's teacher Mr. Dongall makes James feel like a parent.

Children Ruin Everything - "Memories" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
In a mockumentary style episode, Astrid realizes how hard she was on Nisha during her teenage years and tries to make up for it by arranging something special for Nisha's surprise birthday party; James misses the good old days of work.

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.