Week 28 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Sunday, April 07, 2013

Week 28 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2012-13 Week 28 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: #1. CBS 6.0/9.6 (rating/share); #2. ABC 6.0/9.5; #3. Fox 4.7/7.2; #4. NBC 4.4/6.9; #5. The CW 0.7/1.2
Total Viewers: #1. CBS 9.49 million; #2. ABC 9.2 million; #3. Fox 7.54 million; #4. NBC 6.88 million; #5. The CW 1.18 million.
Adults 18-49: #1. Fox 2.3/6.6 (rating/share); #2. NBC 2.3/6.5; #3. ABC 2.1/6.0; #4. CBS 2.1/5.8; #5. The CW 0.4/1.2

Week 28 (April 1-7) Analysis: It's a really close race so far in 18-49 for this week. Only two tents separate from first to fourth, but that will change. Through the final first four night network averages, but CBS and ABC are neck and neck for first in HH/total viewers, while Fox and NBC is neck and neck in adults 18-49. ABC and CBS are right behind them though in 18-49. In HH/viewers, ABC and CBS have a bigger edge over Fox and NBC, but the latter two are close to each other. When the week is done, CBS should come back and take the week in 18-49 again, thanks to NCAA Final Four game last night. CBS will also take total viewers for sure. More on that later. As for the previous week, week 27, CBS was first in adults 18-49 with a 2.3 rating, compared to a 1.7 for second place ABC. Fox and NBC were right behind ABC tied for third with a 1.6. Among total viewers, it was of course CBS on top easily over second place ABC. NBC edged out Fox for third place.

Monday had NBC win for the second straight week. But first, ABC started with a two-hour Dancing with the Stars from 8-10pm and did 13.91 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Then Castle was all-new at 10 for its big 100th episode and did a big 11.79 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It was a season high in total viewers! For NBC, they had the two-hour The Voice from 8-10pm that did 13.31 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, which is down just a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's season premiere. A strong start. At 10pm, the second week of the Revolution return did 6.36 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week's return, and could only tie for first in 18-49 even with that large lead-in. CBS was all repeats with its comedies, as a repeat of How I Met Your Mother did 3.88 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which seems below normal. A repeat of Rules of Engagement at 8:30pm did 3.72 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is also low. At 9pm, a repeat of 2 Broke Girls followed with 5.01 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, as this series usually does better in repeats. Next, a repeat of Mike & Molly did 5.13 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, building on its lead-in in total viewers. A repeat of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 5.35 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. Fox aired a new Bones at 8 and it did 7.05 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9pm, week eleven of new drama The Following at 9pm did 6.57 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week for another series low. A little concerning, but still OK even with all of this live competition. The CW aired week twelve of The Carrie Diaries at 8 and did 0.87 million and a 0.3 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. The CW Mondays suck, where is 7th Heaven when you need it? At 9, 90210 was preempted for a Hart of Dixie repeat that did 0.6 million and a 0.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's horrible showing.

On Tuesday, CBS was in repeats for its but two guns, so Voice-fueled NBC took the night. On CBS, NCIS was a repeat and did 11.15 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is below normal. At 9pm, a repeat of NCIS: Los Angeles did 10.16 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, building on its lead-in in 18-49. At 10pm, week six of Golden Boy did 7.83 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week for another Tuesday low. On ABC, at 8pm the third week of Splash did 5.75 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Kendra, the drama queen! At 9pm, Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 13.98 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's premiere. And it also beat the ratings for previous night's performance show, so obviously Dancing is affected by The Voice. A new Body of Proof aired at 10pm and did 8.56 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which was down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's season high (and best episode of the season). This episode wasn't as good. NBC aired the Tuesday The Voice from 8-9pm and did 13.93 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, easily #1 in the time period and up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week's premiere. Wow. At 9pm, The New Normal was new and aired at a special time and only did 4.46 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's Go On in the time slot... both did bad. At 9:30pm, it was more bad news as the season finale of The New Normal did a horrible 3.39 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, a new Smash did 2.98 million and an embarrassing 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It is now airing Saturdays at 9. Fox started with Hell's Kitchen at 8 and did 4.91 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week as this is a good option against the NBC juggernaut. At 9pm, New Girl was a repeat and did 2.59 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which seems better than usual for a repeat. At 9:30pm, a new The Mindy Project did 2.47 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week when it's lead-in was new. The CW aired a repeat of Hart of Dixie and did 0.69 million and a 0.3 18-49 rating, ouch. A repeat of Beauty & the Beast at 9 did 0.67 million and a 0.2 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win over ABC and CBS 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 9.25 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. Criminal Minds was all-new at 9 and did 10.79 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is below normal. At 10pm, a new CSI did 9.89 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, good enough to win the hour. ABC kicked off the night with a new The Middle doing 7.22 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 8:30pm the new time for Suburgatory did 5.83 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up three tenth in 18-49 from previous week's The Neighbors finale and only down a tenth in 18-49 when it aired at 9:30pm previous week. Not bad. At 9pm, a hilarious Modern Family did the best of the block with 10.88 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which was up a full point in 18-49 from previous week's season low. Told you previous week was low because it was the first new airing in a month. You can't have big gaps like that for comedies, I think. The series premiere of How To Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) followed at 9:30pm with a solid 8.44 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, up a full point in 18-49 from previous week's Suburgatory in the time period. Solid start and if it can stay in the 2.5-2.9 range or higher, it will be back. At 10pm, Nashville was new and did 5.54 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week and good for second in the hour. On Fox, a two-hour American Idol did a solid 11.76 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, but down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week, as it slowly is going down every week as I keep saying. Onto NBC a new Dateline series started it off at 8pm with 5.88 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which was four tenths better in 18-49 than previous week's Whitney finale. Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm with a new episode that did 6.34 million and only a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, a new Chicago Fire did 6.37 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is also down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week, but had to settle for third place in the hour. The CW aired a new episode of new hit Arrow and did 2.92 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, below normal but on par in 18-49 with previous week. At 9pm, a new Supernatural did 1.9 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, skewing very young and younger than its lead-in but down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a season low.

On Thursday, CBS was back with its top gun and won the night. Starting with ABC, a new Wife Swap aired and did 4.01 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was all-new and did 8.58 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, down just a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Great episode and ending. At 10pm, ABC aired a new showing of TV's #1 show at 10pm Scandal doing 8.04 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. #WhosIsTheMole? I am still not sure, but what an episode! CBS returned it comedies, as at 8pm The Big Bang Theory did the best of course with 17.24 million and a 5.2 18-49 rating, which will be good enough to win the week (excluding the Final Four game in prime last night). Two and a Half Men followed at 8:30pm with a good outing with 13.71 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating. At 9, Person of Interest was new and did 14.57 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, losing to the competing ABC drama. Elementary rounded out the night with 10.48 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, also losing to the competing ABC drama. The strength of the comedies lifted CBS to the win. Fox had American Idol from 8-9pm and did 11.72 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Glee was preempted again, this time for a new episode of New Girl on a special night doing 4.77 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, seven tenths better in 18-49 than previous week's Raising Hope in the timeslot. At 9:30pm, a special The Mindy Project bombed with just 3.24 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, only a tenth better in 18-49 than previous week's Raising Hope finale. Hey, at least Fox's comedies beat the regular NBC comedies. NBC aired new episodes of its comedies, as a new Community did 2.32 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is very bad. Parks & Recreation was new too and did 2.93 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, but it showed it can build nicely from its lead-in among adults 18-49. A new The Office was next and did only 3.44 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is not good and that's why this show is ending. At 9:30pm, a special airing of Go On did only 2.45 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. Not good for Matthew Perry and company. At 10pm, NBC launched new drama Hannibal doing just 4.36 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, as that is not good for a series premiere. NBC should have premiered it on a Tuesday as 10pm already has 2 hits here on ABC and CBS. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries aired at 8 and was a repeat doing 1.01 million and a 0.3 18-49 rating. At 9, Beauty and the Beast was also a repeat and did 0.74 million and a 0.2 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but ABC was #1 in 18-49 with its strong line-up. CBS won 8pm with a new Undercover Boss though, beating second place Happy Endings on ABC, which grew nicely from its timeslot premiere the previous week. Kitchen Nightmares was a repeat for Fox but still was in third beating NBC's Fashion Star which was in fourth place. ABC was way back up at 9pm with a new Shark Tank easily beating a new Grimm on NBC. Vegas launched on Fridays and bombed badly, with a distant third place finish. At 10, Rock Center was last place again for NBC, losing to 20/20 on ABC and second place Blue Bloods on CBS. Fox again struggled badly with Touch at 9, with a distant fourth place finish.
Saturday had CBS do huge with NCAA Basketball coverage, as the primetime game of the final four featuring Louisville/Michigan doing big. ABC, NBC, and Fox were all tied for second but a very very distant second. Fox did OK in the 8pm hour with Cops, but struggled at 9 again with a repeat of The Following. NBC settled for a repeat of The Voice at 8pm. At 9pm, the Saturday premiere of Smash did a series low, as expected and a repeat of SNL at 10 actually grew from it, ouch. ABC aired repeats of comedies The Middle and How To Live with Your Parents that came in fourth, but 20/20 from 9-11pm moved them into a distant second..

Tonight ABC Sunday is in repeats from 7-11pm. AFV, then an enhanced repeats of Once Upon a Time, and Revenge and a repeat of the pilot of Red Widow, so we get some facts in repeats at least. I think it will be a fourth place finish for ABC, as it is in repeats. NBC devotes the night to The Voice repeats from 7-10pm, which could do OK then a new Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars at 10. NBC will likely finish in second. CBS has 60 Minutes at 7, but Amazing Race, The Good Wife & The Mentalist are preempted for the ACM Awards, which will likely take this slow night. Fox's animation block is in repeats from 7-9:30pm, but Cleveland Show is new. Should be a third place place.

As for the week (week 28), CBS will come back and take the week in 18-49 over Fox because of the great Final Four NCAA showing last night. Fox will in second in 18-49, followed by ABC and NBC close behind. For total viewers, CBS will remain first. ABC should be second again, followed by Fox. And NBC in a more competitive fourth. As for the coming week (week 29), the NCAA Championship Game is tomorrow night, so look for CBS to win the night over NBC easily. If anyone cares, the finale of The Carrie Diaries is tomorrow, too. NBC will premiere the Eva Longoria-produced reality series Ready for Love on Tuesday following The Voice, that could be a wildcard sleeper. I'm thinking it will do OK, but not big. The season finale of Go On on a special night/time is this Thursday on NBC.

Week 28 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 27 -- March 25-31)

The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat episode at 8 did 3.1 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating on Easter Sunday, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.
The Cleveland Show (Fox) - Its normal time of 7:30pm was a repeat and did 2.11 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.
Bob's Burgers (Fox) - The 8:30 airing was a repeat and did 2.58 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. A repeat at 7pm did only 1.6 million and just a 0.6 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week, as it faced the last half-hour of the NCAA game on CBS in the eat/central time zones.
Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat at 9 did 3.03 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which wasn't the best of the block.
American Dad! (Fox) - An encore episode at 9:30pm did 3.07 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, holding on 100% to its lead-in's ratings.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat episode at 8 did 3.88 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, as that is lower than usual for a repeat.
Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A repeat at 8:30pm did 3.72 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, also low. Could this be the last season?
2 Broke Girls (CBS) - An encore episode at 9 did 5.01 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, even a repeat is slumping for this series.
Mike & Molly (CBS) - A repeat showing at 9:30pm did 5.13 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, low but at least it built from its lead-in in total viewers.

Tuesday Sitcoms

New Girl (Fox) - A repeat episode did 2.59 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is actually better than what this show usually does in repeats.
Go On (NBC) - preempted.
The Mindy Project (Fox) - A new episode did 2.47 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week, but its lead-in was a repeat.
The New Normal (NBC) 2 airings - A new episode at a special time of 9pm following The Voice did 4.46 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's Go On in the time period. The season finale at 9:30pm was clobbered with just 3.39 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A new airing at 8 did 7.22 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.
Suburgatory (ABC) - The move to 8:30pm did 5.83 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down just a tenth in 18-49 from previous week when it aired at 9:30. And up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's The Neighbors.
Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9 did 10.88 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is up a gigantic full point in 18-49 from previous week. Easily #1 for the night.
How To Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) (ABC) - The series premiere at 9:30pm did 8.44 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which is also up a full point in 18-49 from previous week's Suburgatory in the slot.

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode posted 17.24 million and a 5.2 18-49 rating, after being preempted the previous two weeks because of NCAA March Madness.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A new episode followed with 13.74 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is good (sadly).
Community (NBC) - A new episode did just 2.32 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. I don't think NBC will bring it back. Perhaps Comedy Central?
Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A new episode built greatly from its lead-in with 2.93 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating. Still not good, but better than its lead-in.
The Office (NBC) - A new airing at 9 did just 3.44 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, one of its lowest numbers ever. Not good.
New Girl (Fox) - A special Thursday airing was new and did 4.77 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating at 9, which was seven tenths better in 18-49 than previous week's Raising Hope airing. Still below normal for this series but it beat The Office head-to-head.
Go On (NBC) - The first of its Thursday airings did only 2.45 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is similar to what 1600 Penn was doing after The Office. Not a good sign.
The Mindy Project (Fox) - A special airing of this series at 9:30pm did 3.24 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, a tenth better in 18-49 than previous week's Raising Hope finale. And still not good for this show.

Friday Sitcoms

Happy Endings (ABC) 2 airings - Week two in this hour did a prelim 3.30 million and a prelim 1.1 18-49 rating at 8, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The second airing at 8:30 did a prelim 2.67 million and a prelim 1.0 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Good sign.

Saturday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A special repeat on Saturday did a prelim 2.12 million and a prelim 0.4 18-49 rating.
How to Live with Your Parents (ABC) - A special encore of the pilot did a prelim 2.28 million and a prelim 0.5 18-49 rating for more sampling.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are repeat episodes of Fox Animation Domination comedies from 7-10pm, but Cleveland Show is new at 9:30.

Summing it up. The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, How To Live With Your Parents, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as 2 Broke Girls, New Girl) or just plain terrible (such as Go On, Community).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 22

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Diet Crap" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tensions rise when Georgie intrudes on Mandy’s new sales gig. Meanwhile, Audrey’s conflicted when Jim makes it a point not to coddle Connor.

Ghosts - "Sad Farnsby" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Sam accidentally creates a rift between Sam and Jay’s neighbors, the Farnsbys, Henry Farnsby moves into Woodstone B&B. Also, Isaac and Nigel battle over a belated wedding present.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 19)

Thursday, May 22

Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Catch Miley on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Chloe Fineman (Big Mouth/Search Party) - Chloe appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm. Featured host Vlad Duthiers sits down with Ronny on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock/Scrubs) and Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Elizabeth and Amanda are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia talks about ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Hugh Jackman (Human Resources) - Hugh chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Bill Bellamy (Mr. Box Office/Men, Women & Dogs/Cousin Skeeter) - Bill brings the laughs to the third annual cookout on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Finola Hughes (Blossom) - Finola dishes on General Hospital on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Jason Schwartzman (Blunt Talk/Mozart in the Jungle/Bored to Death) - Jason talks about Mountainhead on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling is telling Drew all about playing a secret service agent in the thrilling new show Paradise on a repaet of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Midori Francis (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - Midori is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.