-Yesterday’s Winners: Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials (CBS), American Idol (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS), Modern Family (ABC), CSI: NY (CBS)
-Honorable Mention: The Middle (ABC), Human Target (Fox)
-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats): Mercy (NBC), Cougar Town (ABC), Ugly Betty (ABC), The Jay Leno Show (NBC)
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-Ratings Breakdown: Led by American Idol, Fox dominated the Wednesday in both total viewers and adults 18-49. Next was CBS, followed by ABC, NBC and another night of repeats on The CW.
CBS opened the night on a winning note care of 8 p.m. special Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials at 11.18 million viewers and a 2.9 rating/9 share among adults 18-49. But what was also particularly impressive was growth for ABC’s The Middle at 8:30 p.m. (Viewers: #3, 7.31 million; A18-49: #2, 2.7/ 8) out of a repeat of Modern Family (Viewers: #3, 6.84 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.4/ 7 at 8 p.m.) of 470,000 viewers and 12 percent in the demo.
In time period premiere news, Fox’s recently introduced Human Target got off to a respectable start as the Wednesday anchor, with 7.72 million viewers (#2) and a 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#2t) at 8 p.m. Rounding off the hour were on-the-fence NBC medical drama Mercy (Viewers: #4, 6.25 million; A18-49: #4, 1.6/ 5) and a repeat of The CW’s Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.36 million; A18-49: #5, 0.6/ 2).
Fox took control of the 9 p.m. hour, of course, with the final night of auditions on American Idol notching a very healthy 20.83 million viewers and a 7.7/20 among adults 18-49. Also worth positively noting were CBS’ Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 14.78 million; A18-49: #2, 3.8/10) and ABC’s demo friendly Modern Family (Viewers: #3, 9.07 million; A18-49: #2, 3.9/10), which built by out of improved The Middle by 1.76 million viewers and a hefty 44 percent in the demo. Far less significant on ABC was lead-out Cougar Town at a third-place finish in both total viewers (6.19 million) and adults 18-49 (2.9/ 7) at 9:30 p.m. Comparably, that put retention for Cougar Town out of Modern Family of 68 percent in total viewers and 74 percent in the demo. That is clearly disappointing.
Rounding off the 9 p.m. hour were repeats of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #4, 4.14 million; A18-49: #4, 0.9/ 2), which will air in originals in the Wednesday 10 p.m. hour effective on March 3, and The CW’s Gossip Girl (Viewers: #5, 496,000; A18-49: #5, 0.2/ 1).
CBS moved into the winner’s circle at 10 p.m. care of CSI: NY (Viewers: 14.16 million; A18-49: 3.4/10), with NBC’s canceled The Jay Leno Show (Viewers: #2, 4.16 million; A18-49: #3, 1.2/ 3) and ABC’s canceled Ugly Betty (Viewers: #3, 4.06 million; A18-49: #2, 1.5/ 4) in search of the leftovers. Considering ABC has officially swung the axe on four-year old Ugly Betty, you have to wonder why it is spending so much money promoting it.
Source: Nielsen Media Research data
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marc Berman,
Originally posted by College Basketball Fan: That's a pretty low number for Idol as well. Still good, but for Idol it looks down considerably from this time last year.
Modern Family beating Criminal Minds in demo, while AI suffers its worst demo and viewers performance of the season going against MF?
If HT could barely get 9-10 million viewers with AI as its lead-in, there's no way its getting 8 million on its own as the night's anchor show. I wonder how many people tuned into FOX at 8 out of habit, expecting American Idol and just left HT on. Marc can you post the half hour breakdowns for HT?
I think "loser" is a bit strong for a show that gets a 2.9 against Idol. Not many can do that, even if Cougar Town is kind of a 30 Rock-esque show at this point that is leaning on Modern Family. Great to see Modern Fam holding up so well against the Death Star, though.
I also think honorable mention is a bit strong for Human Target. If it keeps getting a 2.4 there it'll probably be a bubble show at best... and that's IF it keeps getting a 2.4. And no loser for Mercy pulling a 1.6? I know you like total viewers more than I do, but that's pretty low.
Life Unexpected repeats continue to be a very interesting and hopefully important part of the story of this show.
Agreeing with spotupj that Human Target needed a stronger number. I canned the ep for a basketball game but I'm wondering how it went over with viewers. It looked a bit too strange of an ep for a show still trying to hook an audience.
Posts: 2829 | Location: Western Pennsylvania | Registered: 13 December 2006
Life Unexpected repeats continue to be a very interesting and hopefully important part of the story of this show.
Looks like lots of people are watching Lux on Wednesdays, because Mondays are simply too crowded. The CW should look to move this show to a less competitive time slot than it has on Mondays.
I agree about Human Target. The last 2 episodes were better than the first two, but the show will never get "Bones" type numbers (unless it airs right after Idol).
Wow at SVU's rerun number. That's what it usually gets on a Saturday. This show needs to return to 10 pm pronto.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: Facing Idol, no doubt, hurt.
quote:
Originally posted by College Basketball Fan: Bummer about Cougar Town. That show keeps getting better and better.
Having watched most of the episodes of CT i feel that it has changed its original set up of seeing dating from the female perspective.It is now including the male guys in the show view and i think it is losing something- its no longer Courtney's show.
The Winners/Losers list has be COMPLETELY baffled today.
The demo is what makes money and Human Target's demo was lousy. Also? Viewers not so great either. This is definitely a Loser, nowhere NEAR deserving of an Honorable Mention.
Also, Mercy not a loser? 1.6 demo? 6.25 viewers? The demo is AWFUL and the viewership is pretty bad too, this is as clear a loser as you can get! And Cougar Town is "Disappointing" at best. The demo still remained fairly strong, especially against AI. Far better than Human Target or Mercy at any rate...
I won't say that Marc shouldn't count in the total viewer numbers in the Winners/Losers listings, but I do think that the demo should have a stronger vote in there. Because it's simply more important.
On a less whiny note, GOOD for The Middle and Modern Family! These are some happy success stories. And what's up with L&O:SVU airing a new episode once every month? CRAZY. Also, The CW should get more programming or call it a day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays have been all-repeats for MONTHS. It's insane.
Human Target should have performed better after American Idol. However, if it can keep a steady audience, this seems like the type of show FOX would send to Fridays at 8 PM to try to anchor the night.
quote:
Originally posted by mrpotato531: If HT could barely get 9-10 million viewers with AI as its lead-in, there's no way its getting 8 million on its own as the night's anchor show. I wonder how many people tuned into FOX at 8 out of habit, expecting American Idol and just left HT on. Marc can you post the half hour breakdowns for HT?
