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The New Shows: Back To You (Fox): winner Kid Nation (CBS): modest Kitchen Nightmares (Fox): winner Gossip Girl (CW): disappointing
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-Ratings Breakdown: With four new series premiering last night, yes…there is finally something to really write about. Keep in mind that the daily listing of winners and losers will return next Tuesday, Sept. 25, one night after the official start of the new season. CBS won Wednesday in total viewers; Fox was No. 1 among adults 18-49 (and third in viewers). And a night of premieres on the CW lifted the network to fourth in the demo.
In the battle of the 8-9 p.m. premieres, Fox took the 8 p.m. half hour courtesy of the debut of sitcom Back To You (Viewers: 9.44 million; A18-49: 3.1 rating/10 share), while CBS’ Kid Nation opened with 9.07 million viewers (#2) and a 3.0/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#1 overall in the demo in the time period). One year earlier on CBS was the debut of drama Jericho at 11.66 million viewers and a 3.4/10 among adults 18-49, based on the final nationals. Given the hype (and the brewing controversy), you can consider this a modest start for Kid Nation.
Back To You led into the season two premiere of ‘Til Death, with 7.76 million viewers (#3) and a 2.7/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8:30 p.m. Comparably, retention for ‘Til Death out of Back To You was 82 percent in total viewers and 87 percent in the demo -- not bad by any means. Overall, Fox averaged 8.60 million viewers and a 2.9/ 9 among adults 18-49 in the 8 p.m. hour. One year earlier, an original installment of Bones delivered 7.55 million viewers and a 2.5/ 8 among adults 18-49, based on the final nationals. So, you can consider Back To You, in particular, a solid start.
Over at the CW was the season-premiere of its crown jewel, America’s Next Top Model, at a healthy 5.15 million viewers (#4) and a 2.5/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3t) from 8-9 p.m. One year earlier (the CW’s first official night), was the two-hour season opener of Top Model at a very similar 5.26 million viewers and a 2.6/ 7 in the demo. But disappointing for the CW was the premiere of lead-out Gossip Girl (a Mr. TV pick) at a last-place 3.65 million viewers and a 1.7/ 4 among adults 18-49 from 9-10 p.m. Comparably, that put retention for Gossip Girl out of Top Model at just 71 percent in total viewers and 68 percent among adults 18-49. As I always say, never judge any series by its first telecast. Was Beverly Hills, 90210 on Fox a hit from the get-go? No!
Also in the 8 p.m. hour was NBC’s Deal or No Deal (Viewers: #1, 9.74 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.5/ 8), and back-to-back repeats of ABC’s should-have-been canceled According To Jim (Viewers: #5, avg. 4.10 million; A18-49: #5, avg. 1.4/ 4). Interesting how these game shows skew older, isn’t it?
The last series debut of the evening, Fox’s non-scripted Kitchen Nightmares, won the 9 p.m. hour among adults 18-49 (3.1/ 8), with a fourth-place finish in total viewers (6.64 million). Comparably, that built from lead-in ‘Til Death by 15 percent in the demo. Airing in the time period one year earlier was drama Justice with 5.58 million viewers and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49. So, yes, Gordon Ramsey is back and people are indeed watching.
Also airing from 9-10 p.m. was a repeat of CBS’ Criminal Minds (Viewers: #1, 8.62 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 7), the first-hour of the season-finale of NBC’s The Last Comic Standing (Viewers: #2, 7.16 million; #2, 2.8/ 7), and ABC special Rain or Shine: From Grey’s Anatomy to Private Practice (Viewers: #3, 7.02 million; A18-49: #3, 2.5/ 7).
A repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY was first at 10 p.m. in total viewers (9.13 million), and second among adults 18-49 (2.4/ 7). Just the opposite was the second hour of NBC’s The Last Comic Standing (Viewers: #2, 7.11 million; A18-49: #1, 3.1/ 9). And last was ABC’s Primetime: Medical Mysteries (Viewers: 5.68 million; A18-49: 2.0/ 6). Overall, The Last Comic Standing averaged 7.13 million viewers and a 3.0/ 9 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m.
Source: Nielsen Media Research data
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marc Berman,
GG did worse than it appeared from the overnights. It had the exact numbers as OTH had last season. I was pessimistic about the results (some were predicting around 6 million for the premiere) but even i i'm shocked.
No, I'm not going to judge Gossip Girl eclusively by its pilot ratings...but after the COPIOUS advertising the last 2 months on the CW (daytime and primetime) for this show...I'm extremely disappointed. And considering this aired out of ANTM with little competition, I'm viewing this as more of a loss for the CW overall than for the show. This network has an uphill battle trying to bring its numbers up this year and there's really no defending otherwise at this point.
I can only imagine how Life is Wild, Reaper, and Aliens will do now that the network's most buzzed show didn't deliever. I was actually expecting 5 million GG but oh well.
Then again...Top Model does perk up as the cycle progresses. Hopefully that can aid GG in the coming weeks.
Marc, might you be willing to share the half-hour breakdowns for Top Model and Gossip Girl? I've heard the latter was very "turn-it-off-halfway-through"-worthy ...
Well could it be the CW put too much promotion behind Gossip Girl? I understand the networks pushing their new shows for the upcoming season, but I wonder in this case, if the marketing and promotion by the CW was too much and ended up back-firing on them. Only time will tell for GG.
God forgive me but I'll admit I was wrong. It actually was pretty entertaining and I no longer wish for its quick cancellation.
Sure as I said in my TWOP post on the subject it betrays its original intent as a summer program from the tacky and almost extinct in prime time use of videotape and a host that no one outside of his immediate family has ever heard of...but it was a solid effort heads and shoulders above PIRATE MASTER.
It was LOST like in that it centered on a core group of LOSTIES and the others kids were reduced to nameless background extras. The potential reward of a color TV was a WTF moment as they may have had telphones by the closing of the frontier but they sure didn't have TV's.
Sophia's cool, Greg is a tool. Look for them to hook up in a teen type showmance. Michael is a great speaker, Mike and Jimmy crybabies, the indian kid weird and Lauren kind of grating. The rest were as I said namless cyphers.
Sorry it got beat by BACK to YOU. I'm still holding out for the death of the sitcom as a form of TV entertainment.
GG had way more promotion than OTH ever had, and OTH was in its fourth season and considered on its last legs. Of course, OTH went onto have one of its better ratings seasons and break the 4 million mark a few times... I can't see Gossip Girl going anywhere but down when the stronger competition arrives.
Enjoyed Back to you. I'm glad I stuck around through the whole thing for the twist. I hate to say it but I acually watched and enjoyed Kid Nation. Now I tried to tune into GG twice but had to turn it off twice. just wasn't for me.
Honestly, I'd be very surprised if GG doesn't increase as we go thru October and November, what with word-of-mouth.
But I think the CW had no choice but to heavily promote this show over the summer. Otherwise, there's next-to-no other way to get the word out, given the net's 06-07 performance.
I woulb be very intrested in GG's half hour breakdown as well As for Back to you (it was bad by the way) we'll have to wait for next week's result to see if it has a chance
Kitchen Nightmares seems to be following the Hell's Kitchen model: modest viewer numbers, but solid in the demo.
If the CW can't get more than this for such a hyped series premiere with a built-in audience from the books, maybe they should just give up. I'm baffled. Will be interesting to see what happens with Reaper, but my expectations shoot down after this.
Definitely a decent start for October Road: Sitcom Edition, which I was disappointed with but will try again (lots of forced exposition in the pilot, but I think there may be some OK pieces in place). 'Til Death, which I saw for the first time, was surprisingly amusing, though not something I'm going to feel like I have to watch every week.
I actually thought Kid Nation was OK. Unless Back to You improves fast, this may get my #2 viewing priority in the slot behind Pushing Daisies. "Modest" is definitely the right word for the ratings though.
Would you happen to have a half-hour breakdown for both Kid Nation and Top Model? I'm curious if ratings for KN increased or decreased as the show went on.
Given all the promotion and controversy surrounding KN, I have to think CBS has to be slightly disappointed with the final ratings. I thought the premiere would garner 10-11 million viewers, at least.
As I mentioned in the show's message board here, I thought Back to You needs some work, but I would watch it again. Not surprised at the number of viewers it got.
