Week 26 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Week 26 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2012-13 Week 26 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: #1. CBS 6.1/9.8 (rating/share); #2. ABC 5.8/9.3; #3. Fox 5.1/8.0; #4. NBC 2.8/4.4; #5. The CW 1.0/1.5
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 9.72 million; #2. ABC 8.97 million; #3. Fox 8.41 million; #4. NBC 4.25 million; #5. The CW 1.57 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 2.6/7.3 (rating/share); #2. CBS 2.3.6.6; #3. ABC 2.1/6.0; #4. NBC 1.4/3.9; #5. The CW 0.6/1.8

Week 26 (March 18-24) Analysis: CBS, ABC and Fox are really close to each other, as ABC was helped by Dancing and the premiere of Splash. Through the first four night network averages, CBS has the lead in HH/total viewers, while Fox is on top in adults 18-49. CBS is a close second place in 18-49, followed very closely by ABC, then NBC is a very distant fourth like every week this winter. In HH/viewers, ABC is a close second behind CBS, while Fox is a close third. And NBC is a distant fourth which is a given without SNF and The Voice. When the week is done, Fox should hang on and take the week in 18-49 once again (but CBS could make it close since it had a good showing from NCAA on Saturday night) and CBS will take total viewers. More on that later. As for the previous week, week 25, Fox took home first in adults 18-49 with only a 1.9 rating. CBS and ABC were tied for second only two tenths behind Fox. NBC was way back there once again in fourth with just a 1.1 18-49 rating again. Among total viewers, it was of course CBS on top easily over Fox and ABC (ABC had the edge over Fox in HH rtg). And NBC was way back behind in fourth, like every week since January. Saving grace coming week 27 with The Voice?

Monday saw a win for ABC again, this time from another reality staple. ABC started with the two-hour Dancing with the Stars season premiere from 8-10pm and did 17.06 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is up five tenths in 18-49 from previous season's debut on September 24. It's going to be a good season. Then Castle was all-new at 10 and did a big 11.26 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, a season high in total viewers. For NBC, they had the two-hour The Biggest Loser season finale from 8-10pm do 7.39 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, which up a big seven tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The Voice launches tomorrow night with new judges Shakira and Usher. At 10pm, the finale of new drama dud Deception didn't do much with 3.41 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. No chance of a return. CBS was almost all-new with its comedies, as a new How I Met Your Mother did 7.44 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which was the best of the CBS block actually. A new Rules of Engagement at 8:30pm did 6.78 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week when its lead-in was a repeat. I think that's low and could be better. At 9pm, a new 2 Broke Girls followed with 8.56 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, for a series low. Wow, it might be downhill the rest of the season now with Dancing back and The Voice returning tomorrow. Next, a new Mike & Molly did 8.38 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, also a series low. A new Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 8.99 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, both second to ABC. Fox aired a news Bones at 8 and it did 7.58 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. At 9pm, week nine of new drama The Following at 9pm didn't miss a beat really with 7.34 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which down just two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The CW aired week ten of The Carrie Diaries at 8 and did 0.99 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, which is again on par in 18-49 with previous week. Should do better. At 9, 90210 was preempted for a Hart of Dixie repeat that did 0.5 million and a 0.2 18-49 rating, on par with 90210 from previous week in 18-49 - OUCH!

On Tuesday, it was CBS with the win but ABC was close behind. On CBS, NCIS was new and did 19.79 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is good but little below normal. At 9pm, a new NCIS: Los Angeles (which was a backdoor pilot for a potential spin-off) did 16.84 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, holding more of its lead-in that usual. At 10pm, week four of Golden Boy did 9.26 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week when its lead-in was a repeat. Onto ABC, at 8pm the series premiere of Splash was sampled well (like I predicted) with 9.02 million and a 2.6 18-48 rating, up a full point in 18-49 from previous week's Celebrity Wife Swap airing. Very good! At 9pm, a special recap of the previous night's Dancing with the Stars did 9.76 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up nine tenths in 18-49 from previous week's finale of The Taste. Look for The Results Show premiere this Tuesday, so if a recap can do that well, look for the Results to do better. A new Body of Proof aired at 10pm and did 8.42 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which was up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a new season high. Like I predicted, it would do better once compatible Dancing comes as a lead-in. NBC aired Betty White's Off Their Rockers from 8-9pm as the first half-hour did 3.66 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 week-to-week, but that was an encore. Another new episode followed at 8:30pm and did 3.7 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, also up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 9pm, Go On was new and it only did 2.87 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, for another series low. At 9:30pm, it was more bad news as a new The New Normal did a horrible 2.11 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating. At 10pm, a new Smash did 2.66 million and an embarrassing 0.7 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a new series low. It is moving to Saturdays at 9 beginning April 6. I bet they wished they had more Parenthood episodes now right? Fox started with Hell's Kitchen at 8 and did 4.95 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's 8pm airing. At 9pm, New Girl returned and did 4.26 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is OK at best. It certainly could do better. At 9:30pm, a new The Mindy Project did 3.07 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, as that skewed young but this will never be a big hit. The CW preempted Hart of Dixie for a Justin Timberlake special and did 1.01 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating. A repeat of Beauty & the Beast at 9 did 0.52 million and a 0.2 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win thanks to American Idol, as it airs two-hours every Wednesday and Fox only programs 2 hours a night. But first, CBS started the night off with a new Survivor: Caramoan at 8 doing 9.79 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's season high. Criminal Minds was new at 9 and did 11.58 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, which is higher than it did the past few airings. At 10pm, a new CSI did 10.53 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, good for an easily first place at 10. ABC kicked off the night with a repeat of The Middle doing 4.78 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's repeat but still beat a new airing of NBC's comedy, ouch. New episodes return this Wednesday. At 8:30pm a new episode of The Neighbors did 4.76 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. Season finale is this week. At 9pm, a repeat of Modern Family did the best of the block with 5.42 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which was also on par in 18-49 with previous week. New episode this week! Suburgatory followed at 9:30pm with new episode doing 4.19 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating for a season low. At 10pm, Nashville was a repeat and did 2.46 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. New episodes return this Wednesday! On Fox, a two-hour American Idol did a solid 12.94 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, but down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week, as it slowly is going down. Onto NBC a new episode of Whitney started it off at 8pm with 3.12 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week and still couldn't top an ABC comedy repeat. At 8:30pm, a repeat followed and did 2.52 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm with a new episode that did only 5.51 million and only a 1.6 18-49 rating, this show is not strong at all anyway. At 10pm, a new Chicago Fire did 6.39 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was not close this time for first. The CW aired a new episode of new hit Arrow and did 3.02 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. At 9pm, a new Supernatural did 2.16 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, skewing very young and younger than its lead-in.

On Thursday, Idol plummeted even more and ABC tied Fox for first. Starting with ABC, the season premiere of the regular people version of Wife Swap aired and did 4.97 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, it's decent enough for this tough hour. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was all-new and did 9.39 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week's season low. Good! At 10pm, ABC aired a new showing of TV's #1 show at 10pm Scandal doing 8.51 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, this show just doesn't miss a beat, people! CBS preempted comedies The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, along with dramas Person of Interest and Elementary for day one coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In primetime, CBS only averaged 4.71 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating for its mix of S. Dakota/Michigan and VCU/Akron. Fox had American Idol from 8-9pm and did 11.93 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which was down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week and that wasn't #1 for the night even without Big Bang. Glee aired at 9pm and did 5.91 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. NBC aired a mix of new and repeat episodes of its comedies, as week seven of Community did 2.95 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. I still find it odd that this show airs at 8pm in the first place. Parks & Recreation was preempted for a new episode of the dud 1600 Penn at a special time of 8:30pm and did 2.49 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, seven tenths below Parks from previous week in 18-49. A repeat of The Office was next and did only 2.27 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating. At 9:30m a new 1600 Penn, at its normal time, did only 2.32 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week and tying its series low. NBC will burn the final two episode off the next two Thursday again. At 10pm, NBC had a repeat of Law & Order: SVU doing 4.24 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, as that was up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries aired at 8 and was new and did 2.65 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 9, Beauty and the Beast was also new and did 1.72 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC easily was #1 in 18-49, even when its top show was a repeat. CBS preempted Undercover Boss and the rest of its line-up for more NCAA Basketball coverage. Kitchen Nightmares was a repeat for Fox but still was in third as ABC's Last Man Standing and Malibu Country season finales were easily first place. NBC's Fashion Star was again in fourth place. ABC was still in first at 9pm even when Shark Tank is a repeat, tying a new Grimm on NBC. CBS was third with NCAA Basketball. At 10, Rock Center was last place again for NBC, losing to first place 20/20 on ABC and second place NCAA on CBS. Fox again struggled badly with Touch at 9, with distant fourth place finish.
Saturday had CBS win with NCAA Basketball coverage, by far doing its best on day three. Fox did OK in the 8pm hour with Cops, but struggled at 9 again with a repeat of The Following. CBS preempted 48 Hours, while ABC went with 20/20 Saturday from 9-11pm. NBC settled for repeats of American Ninja Warrior, Chicago Fire and SNL which all struggled but the latter was second place at 10. ABC aired a repeat of Splash premiere at 8pm and did decent with more sampling.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new from 7-11pm. A new AFV starts it off, then new episodes of Once Upon a Time, Revenue and Red Widow, as Revenge episode delivers a bombshell! I think it will be a first or second place finish for ABC, as it again depends on how low Red Widow is. NBC devotes the night to Dateline from 7-9pm then Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars from 9-11pm. NBC will likely finish in third or fourth place. CBS has 60 Minutes at 7, followed by a new Amazing Race, then new episodes of struggling The Good Wife & The Mentalist from 9-11pm. I'm thinking a third finish for CBS in 18-49. Fox's animation block is all new from 8:30-10pm and should be second place in 18-49.

As for the week (week 26), CBS could come back and take the week in 18-49 over Fox because of yesterday's good NCAA showing. It'll be close. ABC will be a close third in 18-49. NBC will be way behind and of course in fourth. For total viewers, CBS will remain first. ABC should be second this time, followed by Fox. And NBC in a distant fourth. As for the coming week (week 27), NBC has the season premiere of The Voice tomorrow that I think will debut lower than the fall season. It will of course beat Dancing in 18-49, but not even close in total viewers. And Dancing shouldn't be down much. NBC also returns Revolution at 10, but I think it might be tough sell to bring back everyone from fall. Should be first in 18-49 at 10, but not by much. ABC also premieres Dancing Results this Tuesday at 9 following Splash, which should be down but not as much as you think, even with The Voice opposite it. Go Nicole Eggert...her first dive is this week! Sitcom season finales on Wednesday: The Neighbors on ABC vs. Whitney on NBC, as the latter will be crushed. CBS will still have the NCAA Tournament in primetime Thursday through Saturday, while Raising Hope has a two-episode finale on Fox Thursday on a special night at 9. And on Friday, Happy Endings returns on ABC at a new night and time, Fri 8|7c!

Week 26 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 25 -- March 11-17)

The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode at 8 did 4.89 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is on par again with previous week in 18-49.
The Cleveland Show (Fox) 2 airings - Its normal time of 7:30pm was new and did 2.83 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which could be higher. Another new episode at a special time of 8:30pm did 4.05 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's special.
Bob's Burgers (Fox) 2 airings - The normal 8:30 airing was preempted again, but a new episode aired at a special time of 9:30pm again and did 3.62 million and 1.7 18-49 rating, back down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A repeat at 7pm did 1.8 million and just a 0.7 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.
Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode at 9 did 4.92 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week but still the best of the block and #1 for the night.
American Dad! (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode at 8 did 7.44 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, solid and the best of the CBS block. Wow...and it wasn't anything big for this show either.
Rules of Engagement (CBS) - Week seven at 8:30pm did 6.78 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from the previous week when lead-in was a repeat. This is not impressive as previous week.
2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode at 9 did 8.56 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, for a series low. Still doing decent, but this is not good news and it could get lower in April/May.
Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new showing at 9:30pm did 8.38 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, also a low. Lately this show was building from its lead-in in total viewers, but couldn't this time.

Tuesday Sitcoms

Raising Hope (Fox) - preempted.
New Girl (Fox) - A new episode (with guest Odette Annable) did 4.26 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which could be better.
Go On (NBC) - A new episode of this series did just 2.87 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating for a series low. Not good at all.
The Mindy Project (Fox) - A new episode did 3.07 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is OK. It skews very young.
The New Normal (NBC) - A new at 9:30pm was clobbered with just 2.11 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week's repeat airing. Eeck.

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A repeat at 8 did 4.78 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. FINALLY new episodes return this Wednesday.
Whitney (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode at 8 did 3.12 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a series low. At 8:30pm, a repeat followed with only 2.52 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 week-to-week.
The Neighbors (ABC) - A new showing of this new comedy did 4.76 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. This show deserves to return and shouldn't be judged on the past 3 weeks when its lead-in was a repeat. It would work well on Fridays.
Modern Family (ABC) - A repeat at 9 did 5.42 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week and #1 for the block as usual even when it is a repeat. Sign of a strong anchor. New episodes of this series returns this Wednesday as well. Hey hey!
Suburgatory (ABC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 4.19 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is not fair to judge since the lead-in was a repeat. Its tougher for a show that starts in the second half-hour of an hour to do decent ratings when the first half-hour are repeats.

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - preempted.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - preempted.
Community (NBC) - Week seven did 2.95 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week. No comedy competition this time...
Parks & Recreation (NBC) - preempted.
The Office (NBC) - A repeat at 9 did 2.27 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating.
1600 Penn (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode at 9:30pm did only 2.32 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from the previous week but its lead-in was a repeat. Still not too good. A special new episode aired earlier in the night at 8:30pm and did only 2.49 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating.

Friday Sitcoms

Last Man Standing (ABC) - The season finale did a prelim 7.85 million and a prelim 1.6 18-49 rating, which was up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's preliminaries. Great season ender with JTT! A lock to return next season.
Malibu Country (ABC) - The season finale of this new comedy did a prelim 7.0 million and a prelim 1.4 18-49 rating, up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week's prelim ratings. I also think this will return next season. Good potential to grow even more.

Saturday Sitcoms

None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are a mix of new and repeat episodes of Fox Animation Domination comedies from 7-10pm.

Summing it up. How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Mike & Molly, Last Man Standing, Modern Family, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Rules of Engagement, The Mindy Project) or just plain terrible (such as Whitney, New Normal, 1600 Penn).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 23

Abbott Elementary - "Class Pet" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Janine gets a budget for class pets, but Melissa is resistant to taking on the added work and responsibility for her room’s guinea pig. An IT rep from the school district arrives to set up new computers.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Bullies" (Comedy Central, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Chris gets a gig DJ-ing at a drag ball and develops drag queen eyes.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Career Tests" (Comedy Central, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Chris and Greg tape over a porno rented from Caruso and must replace it.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 21)

Wednesday, October 23

Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Watch Billy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Bernadette Peters (High Desert/Mozart in the Jungle/All's Fair) - Bernadette is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - NBC's Today catches up with Olivia some time between 7-9am.
Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) - Bridget talks about Somebody Somewhere on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) - David discusses Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings. One or two Wizards Beyond Waverly Place cast members will be on New York Living at 10:05am.
Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - Judith talks about Before on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Mariska talks about the greatest thing sheâ€™s learned since turning 60 on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Dexter Darden (Saved by the Bell) - Dexter talks about Peacock's Fight Night; The Million Dollar Heist on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Essence Atkins (Poppa's House/Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy/Under One Roof) - Essence talks about Poppa's House on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.