Prime-Time Ratings:
Thursday 10/23/08

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 14.91 million, Fox: 11.28, ABC: 10.31, NBC: 7.50, CW: 3.74

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.3 rating/11 share, ABC and Fox: 3.3/ 9 each, NBC: 3.2/ 8, CW: 1.5/ 4

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor: Gabon (CBS), CSI (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
The Office (NBC), SNL Weekend Update (NBC)

-Big Losses From One Year Earlier:
World Series, Game 2 (Fox)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
My Name is Earl (NBC), Kath & Kim (NBC), Life on Mars (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS led this fourth Thursday in October, with a first-place finish in total viewers and adults 18-49 care of Survivor: Gabon (Viewers: #1, 13.40 million; A18-49: #1, 4.4/12), CSI (Viewers: #1, 19.17 million; A18-49: #1, 5.4/13) and week three of Eleventh Hour (Viewers: #1, 12.16 million; A18-49: #3, 3.1/ 8 – on par from one week earlier). Unless I missed something, what was so special about Survivor last night? Didn’t the promos lead us to believe that the “biggest mistake in the history of Survivor” was about to be made? So, what was it?

As for Eleventh Hour, growth of 250,000 from one week earlier is a positive sign. But retention out of CSI of just 58 percent among adults 18-49 isn’t.

Game two of The World Series on Fox (Philadelphia versus Tampa Bay) averaged an approximate 11.73 million viewers and a 3.7/ 9 among adults 18-49 from 8:30-11 p.m. One year earlier, game two of Colorado versus Boston scored a considerably heftier 16.95 million viewers and a 5.3/15 in the demo on Oct. 25, 2007. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown:

World Series, Game 2 (Fox)
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 11.72 million (#2), A18-49: 3.4/ 9 (#2)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 11.70 million (#3), A18-49: 3.5/ 8 (#4)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 11.58 million (#3), A18-49: 3.6/ 8 (#4)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 12.16 million (#2), A18-49: 4.0/10 (#1)
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 11.50 million (#2), A18-49: 4.0/11 (#1)

The pre-game at 8 p.m. averaged 9.01 million viewers (#2) and a third-place 2.6/ 7 among adults 18-49. Keep in mind, of course, that results for any live sporting event are always approximate.

ABC ranked third overall with its line-up of Ugly Betty (Viewers: #3, 8.66 million; A18-49: #3, 2.8/ 8), Grey’s Anatomy (Viewers: #2, 14.21 million; A18-49: #2, 5.3/13) and week three of Life on Mars (Viewers: #4, 8.06 million; A18-49: #4, 2.5/ 7), which leveled off from one week earlier (but the losses remain significant out of Grey’s Anatomy). Take a look at three three-week track:

Life on Mars (ABC)
10/09/08 – Viewers: 11.33 million; A18-49: 3.7/10
10/16/08 – Viewers: 8.22 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 7
10/23/08 – Viewers: 8.06 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 7

Retention for Life on Mars out of the second half of Grey’s Anatomy (Viewers: 14.46 million; A18-49: 5.5/13 at 9:30 p.m.) was just 56 percent in total viewers and 45 percent in the demo.

NBC had atypical Thursday with its combination of My Name is Earl (Viewers: #4, 6.32 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 7), week three of deteriorating Kath & Kim (Viewers: #4, 4.98 million; A18-49: #4, 2.2/ 6), The Office (Viewers: #4, 7.74 million; A18-49: #3, 4.0/10), SNL Weekend Update (Viewers: #4, 8.55 million; A18-49: #3, 3.9/ 9) and ER (Viewers: #3, 8.69 million; A18-49: #2, 3.2/ 8). While The Office deserves accolades for building significantly out of Kath & Kim, the biggest loser, of course, was the Molly Shannon sitcom. Take a look at three three-week track for this new TV turkey:

Kath & Kim (NBC)
10/09/08 – Viewers: 7.52 million; A18-49: 3.2/ 9
10/16/08 – Viewers: 6.10 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 7
10/23/08 – Viewers: 4.98 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 6

Tick, tock…the cancellation clock is ticking. As for My Name is Earl, is anyone even watching anymore?

The CW capped off Thursday with veteran Smallville (Viewers: #5, 4.22 million; A18-49: #5, 1.7/ 5), which dipped by 430,000 viewers and 11 percent among adults from one year earlier, and Supernatural (Viewers: #5, 3.25 million; A18-49: #5, 1.3/ 3). Is Robin the Boy Wonder heading to the CW Thursday next season?

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

CSI beats GA in 18-49. Can't wait to read the ABC press release.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
As for My Name is Earl, is anyone even watching anymore?

I'm not, so to answer your question, no.

GA beaten in demos by CSI. I've told you so!

ABC is a sinking ship. If they don't take action they'll end up like NBC

Obviously the CSI beating GA in the demo is the WOW part of the ratings.

A show like GA does not have staying power.

CSI does.

I'm just gonna wait for finals but ABC is a mess right know.

The Office took a hit in ratings; I believe it got around 9 million viewers last week? Another hit like that and it could come close to loser territory. But that may just be the World Series affecting it. I guess we'll see how it does after the World Series. I missed this week's episode because of the Series though; I hope it was better than last week's.

The numbers for Life on Mars are bad!!!

It might not even live to see 13 episodes.

Is Smallville's drop really that significant considering the show lost 3-4 popular actors since last season? I think it's doing great, considering.

Comparatively, how much did Ugly Betty lose from this time last year? Why must SV get called out? It's performing better than the rest of the network.

In other news - too bad about Life On Mars. I really like it.

As long as it comes in with a demo above 3.5 and it follows the worst show on TV, it won't be labeled a loser.

quote:

Originally posted by PennNova:
The Office took a hit in ratings; I believe it got around 9 million viewers last week? Another hit like that and it could come close to loser territory. But that may just be the World Series affecting it. I guess we'll see how it does after the World Series. I missed this week's episode because of the Series though; I hope it was better than last week's.

ABC is dropping like a bomb on Thursdays. Just 3.6 in demos? Ouch, big ouch

Who is calling Smallville out? I just see a straightforward report on the numbers without any editorial. Geez! Wow, imagine if he actually said something negative about the show and called for it's cancellation. He'd have to move his office into a cave somewhere in Pakistan.

quote:

Originally posted by KryptonSite:
Why must SV get called out? It's performing better than the rest of the network.

LIFE ON MARS reminds me of two other quality dramas on ABC that died a quick death...

DAYBREAK and THE NINE.

I hate to say it but maybe ABC needs to take a page out of the CBS playbook and try more procedurals...I remember WAYYYY back before even CSI-they tried to launch a proceedural set in the LA CORONER's office with MELINDA KANAKANRADES from CSI NY...it was a great show but didn't last. It was ahead of its time I guess.

Anyway ABC might wish to try that tack again and forget about continuing storylines (which I personally enjoy) that for whatever reason ABC has a hard time hooking.

ELEVENTH HOUR is just killing it.

And what the heck is NBC going to put in KATH and KIMS place if they cancel it? Do they have something waiting in the wings?

This question doesn't make sense. Obviously, 6.32 million are watching. Or more viewers than Chuck, My Own Worst Enemy, Lipstick Jungle, Kath and Kim, Knight Rider, Life, and on par with Deal Or No Deal and Crusoe.

The question you wanted to ask is if anyone is watching NBC? The answer is no.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
As for My Name is Earl, is anyone even watching anymore?