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Week 19 (Jan. 28-Feb. 3) Analysis: February sweep started on Thursday but some repeats were airing Mon-Wed, so the first full week of sweep will be this coming week. Fox saw a good week two for a new series. We don't have final network averages through Thursday, but we can  project through the first four night averages, CBS has the lead in HH/total viewers, while Fox is on top in adults 18-49. CBS is distant second place in 18-49, followed very closely by ABC, then NBC a very distant fourth. Fox is a very close second in HH/viewers, followed by ABC. Then NBC is a distant fourth and it will be a long winter for them. This is all similar to previous week, so far. When the week is done, CBS will come back and take the week in 18-49 obviously thanks to the Super Bowl tonight. No question about it. The only question is will CBS continue the streak of the previous few Super Bowls and make this the most watched Super Bowl ever again? I am thinking no. Fox will have to settle for a distant second in adults 18-49, followed by ABC and NBC battling. More on that later. As for last week, week 18, Fox took home first in adults 18-49, crushing second place CBS. Then ABC and NBC tied but were just a tenth behind CBS for third. Among total viewers, CBS took that crown over a close by Fox. ABC was third and NBC was close behind in fourth.

Monday saw Fox take the night with CBS in repeats. Starting with ABC, a two-hour The Bachelor from 8-10pm did 7.9 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week but up some in total viewers. Like any good season for this series, it goes up weekly and it has not gone down all season. At 10pm, Castle was a repeat and did 6.0 million and a first place 1.4 18-49 rating.  For NBC, they had a two-hour The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.18 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It is steady but not going up like the competing ABC reality series. At 10pm, week four of new drama dud Deception didn't do much with 3.73 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down another tenth in 18-49 from previous week and losing to repeats on ABC and CBS. Not good news and doesn't have much of a future. CBS was all repeats  with its comedies, as a repeat of How I Met Your Mother did 5.78 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which seems below normal. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 8:30pm did 8.16 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is solid but down eight tenths in 18-49 from previous week when its lead-in was new. At 9pm, a repeat of 2 Broke Girls followed with 7.39 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, while solid not nearly as strong as a CBS Monday anchor should be in a repeat. Next, a repeat of Mike & Molly did 7.02 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, nearly retaining all of its lead-in. A repeat of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 6.26 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which was only good for second place. Fox aired an all-new episode of Bones at 8 and it did 9.25 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which was up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week, likely helped by CBS in repeats. At 9pm, week two of new drama The Following at 9pm did 10.1 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's series premiere. That's wonderful news, but keep in mind CBS was in repeats. If it can do a 3 tomorrow, then we have a big hit. The CW aired week three of The Carrie Diaries at 8 and did 1.38 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 from the previous week.  At 9, 90210 was new and did only 0.78 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, also on par with previous week in 18-49. Needs to be canceled.

On Tuesday, it was CBS with the win in 18-49  with its dramas. On CBS, a new NCIS aired at 8 and did 22.07 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, which is amazing but still old skewing. Next a new NCIS: Los Angeles at 9 did 17.3 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating. And finally at 10pm, a new episode of freshman Vegas did 11.23 million and only a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is up from usual but it faced repeats. Onto ABC, at 8pm week two of The Taste did 4.8 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week's two hour series premiere. Even so, ABC was second place at 8 behind CBS. At 9, ABC aired two new episodes of Happy Endings and did 2.92 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating for the first one and 2.85 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating for the second one. It beat the NBC comedy hour, though. At 10pm, a special encore of Jimmy Kimmel Live! with Matt Damon did a solid 3.15 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating for a repeat, better than most Private Practice airings since November. NBC aired new episodes of Betty White's Off Their Rockers from 8-9pm. At 8pm it did 5.15 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 8:30pm it did better with 5.23 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, but down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week, likely hurt by the competing ABC reality series. At 9pm, a new Go On did only 3.95 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week's series low. At 9:30pm, The New Normal was new and did 3.08 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week for yet another new series low. Without The Voice as a lead-in, they are tanking, as expected. At 10pm, a special Dateline did 4.92 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. Fox aired comedies as well as a new Raising Hope at 8pm did 3.84 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which on par in 18-49 with previous week. A second all-new episode followed and did 3.32 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, four tenths higher in 18-49 than previous week's Ben and Kate episode, as that series is canceled. A new episode of New Girl followed at 9 with 4.74 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is the best of the block and up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. As this series has rebounded some since a series low a few weeks ago. At 9:30pm, a new The Mindy Project did 3.2 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week as its lead-in went really up. The CW aired a new Hart of Dixie at 8 and did 1.32 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A new episode of new series Emily Owens MD at 9 did 1.33 million and only a 0.4 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week. New series Cult will take over soon.

Wednesday had American Idol take the night of course since its two-hours every week and Fox only programs 2 hours a night. But first, CBS started the night off with the annual Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials at 8pm doing 9.65 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up five tenths in 18-49 from previous week's Criminal Minds repeat. At 9pm, a repeat of Criminal Minds did 6.95 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, as this series doesn't repeat as well anymore. At 10pm, a repeat of CSI did 7.72 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating.  ABC kicked off the night with a repeat of The Middle doing 5.51 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is below normal it seems. At 8:30pm a new episode of The Neighbors did 5.27 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week when its lead-in was new, though. Such a good show now. At 9pm, a repeat of Modern Family did the best of the block with 6.14 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is great for a repeat. Suburgatory followed at 9:30pm with a new episode doing 4.73 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, Nashville was a repeat and did 3.01 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, as it doesn't repeat well. It should be over a 2 this week with a big episode. On Fox, a two-hour American Idol did a solid 15.78 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week and STILL higher than The Voice from this fall. Still the reality king, folks. Onto NBC a new episode of Whitney started it off at 8pm with 3.64 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, and it couldn't even beat an ABC comedy repeat. At 8:30pm, a new Guys with Kids did 2.93 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which outright lost to ABC's new comedy airing by a lot.  Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm with a new airing as well that did 6.42 million and only a 1.7 18-49 rating, only getting by a tenth for a CBS competing drama repeat. Not good. At 10pm, a new Chicago Fire did 7.31 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is solid and quietly doing well, but keep in mind it hasn't faced its CBS drama competition in many weeks. It will this week and let's see how it does then. The CW aired a new airing of its new hit Arrow and did 2.97 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths from previous week in 18-49 for a series low. At 9pm, a new Supernatural did 2.12 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 week-to-week and holding on to 100% of its lead-in's ratings.

On Thursday, saw CBS and Fox battle but it was CBS with the win in both 18-49 and total viewers. Starting with ABC, a repeat of durable Shark Tank did 4.56 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down only a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's all-new Last Resort. Not bad for a repeat in sweeps. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was new and did a solid 8.93 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, but down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The surging Scandal at 10pm was all-new doing 8.09 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, its second best performance ever. Look for a series high this Thursday with a BIG episode again. It might even build on its lead-in this week for the first time ever. Now the #1 10pm drama on TV! CBS had a night of new episodes and opened with a new The Big Bang Theory doing 17.76 million and a 5.4 18-49 rating, which is great but down a full point in 18-49 with its last new airing three weeks prior.  Though, this was the first time it faced Idol, so there is your reason. I knew it wouldn't be over a 6.0 18-49 again. A new Two and a Half Men was up next and benefited with 13.7 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating. At 9pm, a new showing of older-skewing Person of Interest followed with 15.71 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, #1 in its slot for the second time. Still, should CBS opt for younger-skewing comedies next season, this series would be perfect on Tuesdays at 9 or 10 following older NCIS. They would make a better match. At 10pm, a new showing of freshman Elementary closed the night with 10.9 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating.  I don't think a post-Super Bowl episode will give this show much of a bump this Thursday and it will still lose to the more buzzy Scandal. Fox had a one-hour American Idol at 8 that did 13.8 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, which was down seven tenths in 18-49 from previous week, as it got beat by Big Bang at 8. Glee had a new episode at 9 and did 5.48 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week and still couldn't hang on to #1 with a large lead-in. In fact, it barely beat NBC. NBC aired new episodes of its comedies, as the one-hour series finale of 30 Rock did just 4.88 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week when it was a half-hour. A season high but sums up the show's run well that it just was never a ratings hit. Parks & Recreation was preempted. At 9, The Office was new and did 4.45 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A second new episode followed with just 3.97 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, but still better than previous week's 1600 Penn by six tenths in 18-49, as that series was preempted. And it got worse at 10pm with the series premiere of new drama Do No Harm doing a horrible 3.12 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, as that was just a tenth better in 18-49 than previous week's Rock Center with Brian Williams which is on the move to Fridays. NBC is in for a long winter, indeed. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries aired at 8 and did 2.56 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is great and on par in 18-49 with previous week. At 9, Beauty and the Beast was new and did 1.72 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, losing nearly half of its lead-in's 18-49 rating but still on par in 18-49 with previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, as CBS edged ABC in 18-49 by a tenth in the preliminaries. CBS easily took the 8pm hour with a new Undercover Boss, besting a new Kitchen Nightmares on Fox by a lot and ABC opted for second with Last Man Standing and Malibu Country. ABC was first at 9pm by a lot with a new Shark Tank easily beating a new CSI: NY at 9. From 8-10pm NAACP Awards didn't do much for NBC, as Dateline was dead last at 10pm.  CBS was tied for first at 10pm with a new Blue Bloods and ABC 20/20. The Following encore at 9 for Fox was fourth place.
Saturday had Fox take the night with lead by an hour of Cops, while CBS aired 48 Hours at 8 because of the NFL Honors from 9-11pm, which didn't do much. NBC settled for repeats of American Ninja Warrior, Chicago Fire and Law & Order: SVU which battled for last with ABC's movie.

Week 19 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 18 -- Jan. 21-27)

Monday Sitcoms

Tuesday Sitcoms

Thursday Sitcoms