Prime-Time Ratings:
Tuesday 10/09/07

The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 13.02 million, CBS: 12.11, ABC: 11.42, NBC: 8.47, CW: 2.91

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.2 rating/14 share, NBC: 3.3/ 9, ABC: 3.2/ 9, CBS: 2.9/ 8, CW: 1.4/ 4

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Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Also, since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 9 percent in early 2006-07 to approximately 20 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
NCIS (CBS), House (Fox), Dancing With the Stars (ABC), Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

-Honorable Mention:
The Unit (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats)
Cavemen (ABC), Carpoolers (ABC), The Singing Bee (NBC), Beauty and the Geek (CW)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
Fox dominated this third Tuesday of the new season in both total viewers and adults 18-49 thanks to the top-rated series of the evening, House. Tied for second was CBS (in total viewers) and NBC (adults 18-49), with ABC third and the CW a typical fifth.

As predicted, week two of idiotic ABC sitcom Cavemen came tumbling down, finishing third at 8 p.m. with just 7.00 million viewers and a 2.5 rating/8 share among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was down by a significant 2.19 million viewers and 29 percent in the demo from it’s week-ago debut (Viewers: 9.19 million; A18-49: 3.5/10 on Oct. 2, 2007). When a show loses this much steam in the second week you know the viewers did not like what they saw. Can you blame them?

Without the benefit of any lead-in support, week two of ABC’s Carpoolers also lost steam with 7.36 million viewers (#3) and a 2.8/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8:30 p.m. Comparably, that was down by 1.70 million viewers and 20 percent from its week-ago premiere (Viewers: 9.06 million; A18-49: 3.5/ 9 on Oct. 2).

First in the 8 p.m. hour was CBS’ underrated NCIS, at a healthy 16.09 million viewers and a 3.4/10 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was right on track from one year earlier. Second was Fox’s Bones, at 8.32 million viewers and a 3.1/ 9 among adults 18-49, followed by NBC’s combination of The Singing Bee (Viewers: #4, 6.72 million; A18-49: #4, 2.1/ 6) and the first half-hour of The Biggest Loser (Viewers: #4, 6.04 million; A18-49: #4, 2.3/ 7). Overall, The Biggest Loser scored a typically lackluster 6.65 million viewers and a 2.7/ 7 among adults 18-49 from 8:30-10 p.m. But since the feel-good reality/competition built from lead-in The Singing Bee by 29 percent in the demo, it avoids being labeled a loser. As for The Singing Bee, this seems more like just a summer show, doesn’t it?

Capping off the 8 p.m. hour was the CW’s uneventful Beauty and the Geek at 3.16 million viewers and a 1.5/ 4 among adults 18-49. One year earlier, then declining occupant Gilmore Girls averaged a considerably heftier 4.71 million viewers and a 2.7/ 8 in the demo.

Moving to 9 p.m., Fox mega-hit dominated with a rock-solid 17.73 million viewers and a 7.3/19 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that built from lead-in Bones by 9.41 million viewers and 135 percent among adults 18-49. Also firmly on the map was ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, at 16.04 million viewers and a 4.0/10 in the demo. Although it is sad to see Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton, depart I can’t say I will miss his dance partner, Cheryl Burke. Listen to today’s podcast (www.marcberman.tv) if you want to find out why.

Also airing in the 9-10 p.m. time period was CBS’ The Unit (Viewers: #3, 11.13 million; A18-49: #3, 3.0/ 7), which remains a compatible fit out of NCIS, NBC’s aforementioned The Biggest Loser, and week three of the CW’s Reaper (Viewers: 2.65 million; A18-49: 1.3/ 3). While Reaper is no better than year-ago failed occupant Veronica Mars (Viewers: 2.96 million; A18-49: 1.3/ 3 on Oct. 10, 2006), the compatibility out of Beauty and the Geek keeps it off the loser’s list. But if it drops any further, move over Cavemen.

First at 10 p.m. was NBC’s Law & Order: SVU at 12.19 million viewers and a 4.9/14 among adults 18-49. Second was ABC’s Boston Legal (Viewers: 11.04 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8), followed by week three of CBS’ Cane at 9.10 million viewers and a 2.4/ 7 in the demo. Comparably, Cane was on par with its second telecast one week earlier, so this could be a positive sign. Be patient, CBS,

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

quote:

Also airing in the 9-10 p.m. time period was CBS’ The Unit (Viewers: #3, 11.13 million; A18-49: #3, 3.0/ 7), which remains a compatible fit out of NCIS, NBC’s aforementioned The Biggest Loser, and week three of the CW’s Reaper (Viewers: 2.65 million; A18-49: 1.3/ 3). While Reaper is no better than year-ago failed occupant Veronica Mars (Viewers: 2.96 million; A18-49: 1.3/ 3 on Oct. 10, 2006), the compatibility out of Beauty and the Geek keeps it off the loser’s list. But if it drops any further, move over Cavemen.

Yep--though it won't be canceled nearly as fast as Cavemen.

I'll repeat what I said on the previous thread--there are people praising Cavemen on the internet, and saying us plebes are just too humorless and square to get it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0981216/usercomments
And most of them can even spell and use proper grammar. Huh. I thought those people still scrawled pictures on cave walls with pointed rocks.

Cane, Carpoolers, and Cavemen are done for. All three are lacking in the ratings. Biggest Loser is getting horrible ratings also. Same with the Singing Bee. Beauty in the Geek actually went up in the ratings abou 200K. So that's at least something positive.

quote:

As predicted, week two of idiotic ABC sitcom Cavemen came tumbling down, finishing third at 8 p.m. with just 7.00 million viewers and a 2.5 rating/8 share among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was down by a significant 2.19 million viewers and 29 percent in the demo from it’s week-ago debut (Viewers: 9.19 million; A18-49: 3.5/10 on Oct. 2, 2007). When a show loses this much steam in the second week you know the viewers did not like what they saw. Can you blame them?

Not very good numbers, but not as bad as the over nights mad it sound. Its only about a 20% drop, not the 30%+ the over nights were saying.

Again not good, but good enough to buy it some more time.

I'm not sure CBS should remain patient with Cane (with the exception of what may show up in the DVR ratings, of course). It lost 2 million viewers from its lead-in, lost 20% in the demo, and in fact had a lower demo rating than that dog of Caveman...staying stable at *that* level may mean 13 episodes, but I don't think it bodes well for the future.

As with K-Ville, Cane is "stable," but I don't know how important "stable" is when you're stable at an unacceptable number. Both of them may have bought one more (relatively undeserved) airing in their original slots, but they need to start going up.

Fox and Boston Legal look fine, and that's increasingly becoming all that matters to me on Tuesday. BL will drop below the 11 mil mark with the 2-minute Dancing overrun, though.

Gotta say the ratings this season have been surprising. The new shows are really struggling. I don't know has mentioned this, but there's a trend that's occurring. It seems like most the shows that skew older are not losing as much of their audiences like the shows that cater to the 18-49 crowd. Take NCIS for instance. It seems that show is running on all cylinders. I think this is due to DVR.
I have to admit the new shows this season are not that good. I do like Back To You as my favorite so far. Bionic Woman got a little bored, Journeyman is interesting but looks like it's losing viewers, Pushing Daisies looks great but looks look at the ratings for the 2nd episode tomorrow, and I do like Kicthen Nightmares (eventhough it looks like little rigged at times). I'm wondering where these shows rating are going to be in the spring. If last spring was any indication of being being tired of network television, things could get interesting when we show pulling 10 mil+ on network TV, a hit.

Reaper turns out to be another disaster for CW.
As for Cane this show skews old and we know that such shows are very stable, so expect Cane to remain at the 9 million mark. If that's enough for a full season i don't know, although CBS should take into account that the vast majority of the new shows are doing even worse

Huh...this is the first time that Reaper did not grow out Beauty and the Geek. Marc do you have the half-hour breakdowns for Reaper and Geek?

Also, Quick question...does anyone know about contract rules and stipulations for a TV show? I was wondering if someone contracted to a show for a certain amount of time, say 13 episodes, but end up being used for all that time, the actors still get paid and the show is covered, correct? Or am I totally wrong about this? Thanks.

Peace!!

House's number isn't that much bigger than NCIS's.

quote:

Second was ABC’s Boston Legal (Viewers: 11.04 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8),

Will be interesting to see how much of a drop BL has. DWtS did run over to 10:02pm, per my DVR/Cable online menu.

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
As with K-Ville, Cane is "stable," but I don't know how important "stable" is when you're stable at an unacceptable number. Both of them may have bought one more (relatively undeserved) airing in their original slots, but they need to start going up.

Fox and Boston Legal look fine, and that's increasingly becoming all that matters to me on Tuesday. BL will drop below the 11 mil mark with the 2-minute Dancing overrun, though.

These days 9 million should be an accaptable number.

quote:

Originally posted by TV-aholic:

quote:

Second was ABC’s Boston Legal (Viewers: 11.04 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8),

Will be interesting to see how much of a drop BL has. DWtS did run over to 10:02pm, per my DVR/Cable online menu.

Last week it dropped about 500,000 viewers... so expect it to come close to around 10.5 mil/ 2.7 in the demo when finals are released.

Unfortunately, due to it's time slot, network expectations, competition, and relative standing, Cane is in a lot more trouble than most new shows. They were expecting a competitor in it's timeslot and they didn't get it. Either Cane or Kid Nation is going this week. It depends on which one does worse relative to the competition.

quote:

Originally posted by robert:

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
As with K-Ville, Cane is "stable," but I don't know how important "stable" is when you're stable at an unacceptable number. Both of them may have bought one more (relatively undeserved) airing in their original slots, but they need to start going up.

Fox and Boston Legal look fine, and that's increasingly becoming all that matters to me on Tuesday. BL will drop below the 11 mil mark with the 2-minute Dancing overrun, though.

These days 9 million should be an accaptable number.

quote:

Without the benefit of any lead-in support, week two of ABC’s Carpoolers also lost steam with 7.36 million viewers (#3) and a 2.8/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8:30 p.m. Comparably, that was down by 1.70 million viewers and 20 percent from its week-ago premiere (Viewers: 9.06 million; A18-49: 3.5/ 9 on Oct. 2).

I think ABC has to be happy with Carpoolers and it just might get a reprieve. It gained in viewers and demo from its leadin. The week to week drop is high but considering all the hoopla surrounding Caveman last week, it may be acceptable for this week. I think the show is improving. It's been awhile since ABC has had a sitcom grow from its leadin.