Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings: Baseball on Fox Dominates; Lackluster Start for the CW’s Stylista
Wednesday 10/22/08
HH Rtg/Shr Fox 9.4/15 CBS 7.9/13 ABC 4.7/ 7 NBC 4.1/ 6 CW 2.7/ 4
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Note: Year-to-year overnight rating comparisons were not available.
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Note: The fast affiliate results for Wednesday will be posted at PIFeedback by 12 p.m. ET. Go to the website, click on Ratings Box (the first category), then Last Night’s Results, and Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
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-Yesterday’s Winners: World Series, Game 1 (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS)
-Patience Could Be a Virtue: The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), Gary Unmarried (CBS)
-Disappointing: Deal or No Deal (NBC), Private Practice (ABC)
-Ratings Breakdown: Fox led the Wednesday troops, with game one of The 2008 World Series (Philadelphia at Tampa Bay) at an approximate 9.4 rating/17 share in the overnights for the prime-time portion from 8:30-11 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown:
2008 World Series, Game One (Fox) 8:30 p.m.: 9.5/16 (#1) 9:00 p.m.: 10.5/17 (#1) 9:30 p.m.: 10.5/16 (#1) 10:00 p.m.: 10.9/17 (#1) 10:30 p.m.: 10.6/17 (#1)
Earlier in the evening on Fox was the half-hour baseball pre-game at an estimated (and dominant) 7.1/12 in the 8 p.m. half-hour. Keep in mind, of course, that results for any live sporting event are always approximate.
CBS finished second in every half hour with its very respectable combination of The New Adventures of Old Christine (5.0/ 8), Gary Unmarried (5.1/ 8), Criminal Minds (9.7/15) and CSI: NY (9.1/15). What remains particularly promising for the recently introduced Gary Unmarried was growth of two percent out of Old Christine despite competing with baseball (and continued increases for both sitcoms versus year-ago occupant Kid Nation). That full season pick-up should be coming any moment.
ABC remained out of the competitive loop with its line-up of Pushing Daisies (#4: 4.2/ 6), Private Practice (#3, 5.6/ 9) and Dirty Sexy Money (#3: 4.2/ 7). While overnight growth for Private Practice out of Pushing Daisies -- 33 percent -- warrants the recent back-nine episode order, a better idea is to move it to Thursday at 10 p.m. out of parent show Grey’s Anatomy (if ratings for current occupant Life on Mars keep plummeting). What could air on ABC smack in the middle of Wednesday is a whole other issue, of course. Any ideas out there?
NBC’s troubles continue, meanwhile, care of Knight Rider (#3: 4.3/ 7), Deal or No Deal (#4: season low 4.5/ 7) and Lipstick Jungle (#3: 3.4/ 6). That’s right…only a 4.5 rating for Deal or No Deal, but keep in mind that it did face game one of The World Series. Wasn’t it painful watching last night’s contestant squander his potential winnings? As for Knight Rider, if NBC was in better shape chances are it would not have seen a full season renewal.
In series-premiere news, CW reality/competition Stylista was left at the starting gate, with a distant fifth-place 1.9/ 3 in the overnights at 9 p.m. Comparably, retention out of lead-in America’s Next Top Model (#5: 3.4/ 6 at 8 p.m.) was just 56 percent. Considering this is a female driven hour, you can’t necessarily blame baseball for the slow start.
Source: Nielsen Media Research data ________________________________________________________________________________
Ratings Box: What’s Hot/What’s Not
-Rita Rocks on Lifetime: Episode two of new Lifetime sitcom Rita Rocks rose to a 1.1 household rating, with 1.2 million viewers at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Comparatively, that built by 37 percent in households and 200,000 viewers from its debut one day earlier. Rita Rocks also increased by 15 percent in key women 18-49 (.83 rating) versus the prior four-week time period average.
-Season High Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency: The just concluded fourth season of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency rose to a record performance among key women 18-49 (194,000: up two percent from one year earlier) and adults 18-49 (277,000: up one percent). In total viewers, spicy Janice and company averaged 379,000 viewers, with the season-finale on Tuesday hitting a new high in women 18-49 (238,000) and adults 18-49 (322,000).
-Top 10 Rated Programs in Syndication – Week of Oct. 6: What follows is the top tier in syndication nationally for the week of Oct. 6 based on households (AA – average audience):
Wheel of Fortune (CBS Television Distribution): 6.7 rating Jeopardy (CBS): 5.8 Oprah (CBS): 5.3 Two and a Half Men (Warner Bros.): 5.1 Judge Judy (CBS): 4.3 Entertainment Tonight (CBS): 4.2 Family Guy (Twentieth Television): 3.9 CSI: NY (CBS): 3.4 Dr. Phil (CBS) and Seinfeld (Sony Pictures Television): 3.2 each
-Two and a Half Men led the off-network sitcom genre in households for the 51st consecutive week (without the benefit of a cable run). And it also dominated among adults 18-49 (2.6, tie), adults 25-54 (2.9), women 18-49 (2.7), women 25-54 (3.1) and men 25-54 (2.8).
-Judge Judy was the only court show to increase week-to-week, building by five percent in households.
-Warner Bros.’ underrated George Lopez averaged a 3.0 in households -- 20 percent above its comparable year-ago performance.
-Weekend leader Entertainment Tonight Weekend for CBS (2.1) is now the highest-rated weekly hour in first-run for 300 consecutive weeks.
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-Freshman Series Results in Syndication – Week of Oct. 6: Here are the household (AA – average audience) results for the new first-run strips in syndication.
Deal or No Deal (NBCU): 1.7 The Doctors (CBS): 1.3 Judge Karen (SPT): 1.0 Bonnie Hunt (Warner Bros.): 0.8 Family Court With Judge Penny (Program Partners): 0.6
Source: Nielsen Media Research data ________________________________________________________________________
On the Air Tonight: Prime-Time Programming Options
Thursday 10/23/08
ABC: 8:00 p.m. Ugly Betty 9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy 10:00 p.m. Life On Mars
-Freshman Series Update: Almost five full weeks into the 2008-09 season, here is an updated status report of the freshman entries:
ABC Life on Mars: double-digit percent losses in episode two Opportunity Knocks: pulled from the schedule and replaced with a Dancing With the Stars Recap Show
CBS The Ex List: soft three episode results; bleak future Eleventh Hour: growth in week two despite weaker CSI lead-in Gary Unmarried: slow growth after four episodes means CBS will likely order a full season The Mentalist: full season pick-up; the new hit of the season Worst Week: two more scripts have been ordered despite anemic ratings
NBC America’s Toughest Jobs: DOA in new Saturday 8 p.m. time period Crusoe: modest (and older skewing) two episode opening on Oct. 17 despite massive promotion Kath & Kim: double-digit percent losses in episode two Knight Rider: full season pick-up My Own Worst Enemy: double-digit percent losses in episode two
Fox Do Not Disturb: first cancellation Fringe: full season pick-up Hole in the Wall: burning off unaired episodes
CW Easy Money (MRC): production temporarily halted In Harm’s Way (MRC): just 620,000 viewers and a 0.2/ 1 among adults 18-49 in most recent telecast 90210: full season pick-up Privileged: two more scripts have been ordered despite anemic ratings Stylista: disappointing opening results Valentine (MRC): production temporarily halted
“The Osmonds began singing as a family pastime when their father, George Osmond, taught Alan, Jay, Wayne and Merrill how to sing "The Old Oaken Bucket" in a simple barbershop style. By 1960, the brothers had begun performing locally, at small parties, church events, and civic club dinners. Then, in the spring of 1962, they made their first appearance outside the state at a barbershop convention in Pasadena, California. Since Anaheim was nearby, the boys took in Disneyland, where they stopped to watch another barbershop quartet. The latter group, seeing the brothers' identical suits, asked them if they'd like to sing. The Osmonds did, and drew such strong applause that they were signed to sing regularly at the park. A few weeks later, the father of Andy Williams visited Disneyland and saw the four boys. Impressed by their clean-cut look and young talent, he offered them a five-year contract to co-star on Andy's new TV series. The Osmonds hesitated; they had never heard of Andy and were, in fact, dreaming of a spot on The Lawrence Welk Show. When Welk failed to come through, they went with Williams in November 1962. With a big smile, Andy introduced his "discovery" as "the Ogden Brothers,” from Osmond, Utah.”
-Current kudos goes to: Mark Amato, Anthony Arena, Brian Armistead, Mary Bancroft, Mikki Beno, Gerry Bixenspan, Kimay Bloch, Michael Cascio, Paul Certo, Larry Collins, Shelia Collins, Kay Copeland, Mark Cosenza, Audrey Davis, Reid Davis, Sue Doron, Phyllis Epstein, Jim Forkan, Julie Friedlander, Bob Goldman, Maureen Goldman, Geoffrey Gordon, Kerry Hughes, Pat Hylkema, Marie Lefevre Karp, Kathryn Kieser, Mary Kinoshita, Synda Kollman, Charmaine Leary, Audrey Lewin, Ken Jobe, Rick Locke, Michele McAleer, Beverly Morris, Michael Murphy, Jim O’Heir, Greg Phelan, Francine Purcell, Gordon Purcell, Andrea Regusters, Lisa Tatum-Roehrig, Deanna Rosolen, Colleen Roth, David Ruckman, Neal Sabin, Greg Salerno, Michelle Stanton, Kristin Strauss, Elizabeth Warner, Myndi Weinraub, Larry Weinstock, Ged Young, Ted Zawislak
2008 World Series, Game One (Fox) 8:30 p.m.: 9.5/16 (#1) 9:00 p.m.: 10.5/17 (#1) 9:30 p.m.: 10.5/16 (#1) 10:00 p.m.: 10.9/17 (#1) 10:30 p.m.: 10.6/17 (#1)
Sounds like the World Series will average about 15 million for the night. Hopefully all the games will be as close and competitive as last night's was.
Marc, Last week, someone posted that Rite Rocks was an MRC production and could/would be used in one of their CW Sunday Slots.
Any truth to this???
quote:
-Rita Rocks on Lifetime: Episode two of new Lifetime sitcom Rita Rocks rose to a 1.1 household rating, with 1.2 million viewers at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Comparatively, that built by 37 percent in households and 200,000 viewers from its debut one day earlier. Rita Rocks also increased by 15 percent in key women 18-49 (.83 rating) versus the prior four-week time period average.
ABC may need to take a step backwards in order to become stronger down the road. Moving PP to after Grey's On Thursdays would help accomplish that.
Yes, they may be completely sacraficing Wednesdays, but keeping one of their better performing series in the middle of all that dead weight is only going to kill it sooner, rather than later.
Then when things do start turning around for ABC, then thay can move PP to another night to spead out some of their "Wealth", so to speak.
quote:
While overnight growth for Private Practice out of Pushing Daisies -- 33 percent -- warrants the recent back-nine episode order, a better idea is to move it to Thursday at 10 p.m. out of parent show Grey’s Anatomy (if ratings for current occupant Life on Mars keep plummeting). What could air on ABC smack in the middle of Wednesday is a whole other issue, of course. Any ideas out there?
Originally posted by TV-aholic: Marc, Last week, someone posted that Rite Rocks was an MRC production and could/would be used in one of their CW Sunday Slots.
Rita Rocks is an MRC production (likely increase for the Tuesday episode because Tuesday is the 'regular timeslot' that is being promoted), but when did anyone post that MRC could move the show to CW?
Nope...I have not heard anything about RR moving to the CW.
quote:
Originally posted by TV-aholic: Marc, Last week, someone posted that Rite Rocks was an MRC production and could/would be used in one of their CW Sunday Slots.
Any truth to this???
quote:
-Rita Rocks on Lifetime: Episode two of new Lifetime sitcom Rita Rocks rose to a 1.1 household rating, with 1.2 million viewers at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Comparatively, that built by 37 percent in households and 200,000 viewers from its debut one day earlier. Rita Rocks also increased by 15 percent in key women 18-49 (.83 rating) versus the prior four-week time period average.
I wrote before that Stylista was really boring. So I'm not surprised it didn't do well in the ratings. My guess is there was a huge drop at the half. The good news that it is really cheap and right now is doing better than Privileged.
ABC Wednesdays and NBC Wednesdays are a mess. For NBC, KR is the strongest show, but that isn't saying much. DOND bombed in its timeslot. For hyping up the million dollar winner, it didn't do much. Those are about the same numbers it performed on Friday. LJ needs to be pushed off schedule. It continually performs at a level that is too low. For a quick fix, two hour DONDs could work but I'd look into bumping up the date of Medium or Law and Order and putting it there.
For ABC Wednesdays, if LOM can stabilize I'd put it at 9 PM and Border Security at 10 PM to create a law enforcement night. I might even consider The Unusuals at 8 seeing that it is more of a dramedy. Right now, PD and DSM, like LJ, are performing at too low of a level and need to be pushed off schedule.
ABC could form their comedy block on Wednesdays for two hours and get rid of Pushing Daisies (or relocate it for those who don't want it to leave) while moving Private Practice to Thursdays. I would suppose they would kill Dirty Sexy Money as well which is pretty much dead as well. I suppose you could move both PD and DSM to Fridays for a bit in place of the non scripted fare.
But then again, what comedies do they have? I only know of Scrubs and According to Jim.
---------------------- Geeksix - The Gestalt of Geekdom...check it out http://www.geeksix.com
Posts: 912 | Location: Utah | Registered: 21 February 2007
Looks like they also have "Better Off Ted" and the Alyssa Milano-led "Single with Parents."
Of course, one of them needs to be paired with Samantha Who?, or SW? needs to move once DWTS goes back to 60 minutes. (If it ever does. I'm sur ethey could stretch if need be.)
Posts: 214 | Location: Indianapolis IN | Registered: 04 October 2006
ABC remained out of the competitive loop with its line-up of Pushing Daisies (#4: 4.2/ 6), Private Practice (#3, 5.6/ 9) and Dirty Sexy Money (#3: 4.2/ 7). What could air on ABC smack in the middle of Wednesday is a whole other issue, of course. Any ideas out there?
I'll do a short answer for now:
two options:
option #1: build Wednesdays around LOST again, returning it in midseason at either 8pm or 9pm on Wednesday and building the night around a show that can truly anchor the night (and has shown it can do it in the past). There are several midseason shows that would pair up with LOST, as well as the possibility of relocating Life on Mars as well.
option #2: return Dancing With the Stars to its original cycle of Wednesday performances and Thursday results. That kills 2 or 3 birds with one stone. bird 1: it brings a strong anchor to Wednesdays. bird 2: its results show would replace weakening Ugly Betty on Thursdays and strengthen that night as well, providing a better/stronger lead-in for Grey's. bird 3: it could allow ABC to keep Private Practice on Wednesdays, push it back to 10pm, and pair it up with DWTS as its lead-in, which could resurrect the strongest of ABC's newbie Wednesday shows.
Originally posted by xwiseguyx: At least DSM beat out LJ! Before yanking, it deserves a Sunday post DH try.
Both 'Lipstick Jungle' and 'Dirty Sexy Money' are excellent shows. It is too bad that they are skedded against one another.
I think a one-off behind 'Desperate Housewives' as part of a timeslot change to Mondays (moving 'Boston Legal' to Wednesday, where it did OK last May) might be what is needed to save 'Dirty Sexy Money'.
