Prime-Time Ratings:
Thursday 11/16/06

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

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 18.21 million, ABC: 15.67, NBC: 9.15, Fox: 4.17, CW: 3.98

-Adults 18-49:
ABC and CBS: 5.9 rating/15 share each, NBC: 4.2/11, Fox: 1.7/ 4, CW: 1.4/ 4

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
Ugly Betty (ABC), Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), CSI (CBS), Barbara Walters: 30 Mistakes in 30 Years (ABC), ER (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
‘Til Death (Fox), 30 Rock (NBC), The O.C. (Fox)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
ABC and CBS remained in the winner’s circle on this third Thursday of the Nov. 2006 sweeps, with CBS the most-watched and the two networks tied for No. 1 among adults 18-49. The Thursday debut of NBC’s 30 Rock, meanwhile, was a huge disappointment, while Fox was buried in the distant No. 4 spot. Last and least was the CW.

CBS’ Survivor: Cook Islands (which really heated up last night courtesy of the two contestants getting their walking papers) opened the evening on a winning note, with 15.47 million viewers and a 5.4 rating/15 share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. Although ABC’s solid Ugly Betty finished second in total viewers (12.96 million), NBC’s combination of My Name is Earl and the first half-hour of a 45-minute installment of The Office (don’t you just hate these expanded episodes?) inched past the ABC beauty among adults 18-49 (4.0/11 vs. 3.9/11). The NBC comedies were third in total viewers with a distant 8.90 million. What does NBC really think it is accomplishing by expanding a half-hour show by 15 minutes?

Also at 8 p.m. was the CW’s Smallville at a fourth-place 4.76 million viewers and a 2.0/ 5 among adults 18-49, followed by two episodes (original and repeat) of Fox’s just full season-renewed ‘Til Death at an average 4.56 million viewers and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49. Now that Fox has given ‘Til Death a vote of confidence, how about axing Sunday’s sophomore The War at Home and positioning the more worthy ‘Til Death out of Family Guy?

CBS’ CSI and ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy remained locked in leadership from 9-10 p.m., with CSI at 23.83 million viewers (#1) and a 7.9/19 among adults 18-49 (#2); and Grey’s Anatomy just the opposite at 20.96 million viewers (#2) and a first-place 8.8/21 in the demo. But the good news for CSI was expanding its lead over Grey’s by 2.87 million viewers and narrowing the gap among adults 18-49.

Over at NBC, the Thursday debut of sitcom 30 Rock (a 45-minute installment) fell considerably flat. Since the first 15-minutes of 30 Rock shared the 9 p.m. half-hour with the last 15-minutes of The Office, the only “clean” results was a lackluster 4.96 million viewers and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49 (a distant third in both categories) from 9:30-10 p.m.

Although Fox’s The O.C. managed to move past the CW’s Supernatural in the fast nationals, a distant fourth-place 3.78 million viewers and a 1.7/ 4 among adults 18-49 is nothing to boast about. Year-ago failed time period occupant Reunion was even stronger at 3.88 million viewers and a 1.8/ 4 in the demo. Supernatural capped off the hour with a not-so-super 3.20 million viewers and a 1.3/ 3 among adults 18-49. As a reminder, any prior results are based on the final nationals.

At 10 p.m., CBS’ Shark was the most-watched show (8.52 million viewers below lead-in CSI), followed by ABC special Barbara Walters: 30 Mistakes in 30 Years (part one) and NBC’s veteran ER. Results among adults 18-49 had ER first, followed by the Barbara Walters special and Shark. Take a look:

Thursday 10 p.m.
Shark (CBS)
Viewers: 15.31 million (#1), A18-49: 4.4/12 (#3)

Barbara Walters: 30 Mistakes in 30 Years (ABC)
Viewers: 13.08 million (#2), A18-49: 4.9/13 (#2)

ER (NBC)
Viewers: 12.41 million (#3), A18-49: 5.5/15 (#1)

Growth for ER out of the 9:30-10 p.m. portion of 30 Rock of 7.45 million viewers and 139 percent among adults 18-49 is worthy of positive accolades. The Barbara Walters special, meanwhile, built from year-ago occupant Primetime Live (Viewers: 7.24 million, A18-49: 2.5/ 6) by a hefty 5.84 million viewers and 96 percent among adults 18-49. Don’t forget: part two of the Barbara Walters special airs tonight at 10 p.m.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Mark--Is there any way you can get the ratings for yesterday's episode of General Hospital? It was Luke and Laura's 25th anniversary and it was written up in the press a lot. I'm wondering what ratings it generated, since as a whole the show is doing pretty lousy now.

Thanks.

Yikes - I thought moving 30 Rock to Thursday might save it. Apparently not...

And wow, Shark is still losing 8 million viewers from CSI. I wonder if Shark and Without a Trace may swap time periods in the future...?

Hi Lisa. I'm sure ABC will put out a release so I'll post it when I get them.

Wow, what was so special about CSI last night? Usually, Grey's and CSI are neck and neck, and CSI just kicked into top-speed!

Hi Mark....Im surprise..CSI..win 23.83 Millons...CSI in top.

I cant Believe ...how much damage 30 Rock to ER.

CSI was the clear beneficiary of DEAL OR NO DEAL leaving the timeslot. GREY'S ANATOMY didn't lose viewers, it's ratings are pretty consistent.

I guess the buzz of the supersized NBC shows in the 8pm hour sucked viewers away from UGLY BETTY. This is the first time the show's 18-49 fell below 4.0

I know a lot of viewers have been expressing disinterest in Grey's Anatomy... nothing has been happening! It looks like things are going to explode next week, though. I'm not sure why ABC is putting such an important episode on Thanksgiving night (it's event extended past the usual 61 minutes).

I take an evil delight in the failure of 30 Rock at 9PM. For the life of me I could not understand why NBC needed a dramatic take (STUDIO 60) and a comedy take (30 Rock) on the same concept of "behind the scenes."

Plus I generally dislike the whole "show within a show" concept-I skipped the BEWITCHED movie and now I hear the DALLAS movie is going for the same comedy "show within a show" take. UGH.

Glad to see SURVIVOR beating UGLY BETTY-I'd miss the ol' reality show if it road off into the sunset by getting trumped in the ratings.

Would it be possible to see the half-hour breakdown for Supernatural? Thanks very much.

Mark, who said comedy is only good for half an hour? Personally I love the Office and I was excited about an extra 15 minutes for Jim's return to Scranton plus it draws attention as being a special episode.(Kind of like having 2hour opener for 24)
Plus the business end is having Earl and Office fans pushed into the 9:00 o'clock hour attempting to convince them to stick around for 30 Rock, being that everything else already started. Apperantly all it did is flip Deal or No Deals audience to watch CSI.

30 Rock REALLY hurt ER. How embarrassing for NBC. They need to fix that situation ASAP.

I am surprised Ugly Betty has slipped, losing the 18-49's to NBC. I thought for sure it would stay on top. It is my favorite new show of the season. I wonder if it would work better AFTER Grey's Anatomy. Or are they hoping it is a "family" show and that is why they are airing it at 7:00 p.m. (Central)?

I too would be interested to see the General Hospital ratings from yesterday.

How is The View doing in the ratings now that the initial tune in to see Rosie has worn off. Have the numbers stayed up? I think that is the best daytime talk show on right now. They have moved past Ellen in quality.

Yes...CSI definitely inherited more of the Deal or No Deal audience than Grey's did.

quote:

Originally posted by Frazier:
CSI was the clear beneficiary of DEAL OR NO DEAL leaving the timeslot. GREY'S ANATOMY didn't lose viewers, it's ratings are pretty consistent.

I guess the buzz of the supersized NBC shows in the 8pm hour sucked viewers away from UGLY BETTY. This is the first time the show's 18-49 fell below 4.0

Marc ¿you think that it is possible that DEAL OR NO DEAL returns to Thursday fast?

because the 30 rock is a danger for all Thursday of NBC

Why such low ratings for ER? It had been doing pretty well up until this week.