Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 5/21/08

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

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 30.60 million, CBS: 10.79, NBC: 6.29, ABC: 4.18, CW: 1.65

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 11.0 rating/29 share, CBS: 2.7/ 7, NBC: 1.7/ 4, ABC: 1.2/ 3, CW: 0.6/ 2

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Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 13 percent at this same point last year to approximately 23 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Opposite the Idol steamroller, we’ll give everyone a pass this time around.

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-Ratings Breakdown:
As expected, American Idol-ignited Fox roared past the competition on this final night of the May 2008 sweeps, beating the four competing networks combined. The two-hour season-finale of Idol averaged a significant 30.60 million viewers and an 11.0 rating/29 share among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m., building by half-hour as follows:

American Idol (Fox)
8:00 p.m. Viewers: 24.73 million, A18-49: 8.6/26
8:30 p.m. Viewers: 29.31 million, A18-49: 10.4/28
9:00 p.m. Viewers: 32.01 million, A18-49: 11.4/29
9:30 p.m. Viewers: 36.34 million, A18-49: 13.5/32

One year earlier, American Idol concluded with a very similar 30.73 million viewers and an 11.5/31 among adults 18-49. Congratulations, David Cook! The right contestant won.

Distant second-place CBS opened the evening with The Price Is Right (Viewers: #2, 7.69 million; A18-49: #2, 1.8/ 5), followed by the season-finales of Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 12.96 million; A18-49: #2, 3.3/ 8) and CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 11.71 million; A18-49: #1, 3.1/ 8) from 9-11 p.m. Criminal Minds, of course, deserves accolades for still standing tall opposite American Idol.

Next was NBC care of two repeat episodes of Law & Order from 8-10 p.m. (Viewers: #3, avg. 5.21 million; A18-49: #3, avg. 1.3/ 4 from 8-10 p.m.), followed by the season-finale at a second-place 8.45 million viewers and a 2.5/ 7 in the demo at 10 p.m. Look for the return of Law & Order (season No. 19) on NBC in 2008-09 in midseason.

Two enhanced repeat episodes of ABC’s Lost were not competitive, with an average fourth-place finish in both total viewers (3.09 million) and adults 18-49 (1.0/ 3) from 8-10 p.m. That led into the season-finale of Boston Legal, which disappointed at a last-place 6.37 million viewers and a 1.5/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Next season, Boston Legal moves to Monday at 10 p.m. (out of Samantha Who?) for its final 13 episodes.

Two repeat episodes of the CW’s Farmer Wants a Wife finished a distant fifth with an average 1.65 million viewers and a 0.6/ 2 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Please…it’s enough with these inane reality/competitions already!

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Marc, Boston Legal doubled its lead in and grew by 50% in 18-49s out of the Lost repeats. Isn't it time to cut the show some slack after ABC's chimp-like scheduling this year? Here's to the fans being able to find the final 13 episodes and no stinkin preemptions (although I'm sure ABC will throw in some last minute ones just to mess with us). In other areas, I don't think Anthony Anderson is the real deal for L&O. Perhaps they should consider someone else as ratings have really fallen lately. CBS's older skewers managed to hold despite Idol but man oh man is that CSI:NY becoming more and more lead in dependant. Significantly less competition yet loses viewers. Kudos however to Criminal Minds once again.

For all the talk about Idol's year-to-year erosion, it really found its way again in the last week. Counting a few very high-rated minutes of overrun, it should be ahead of last year's viewer total and pretty close in demo.

quote:

The Price Is Right (Viewers: #2, 7.69 million; A18-49: #2, 1.8/ 5)
Boston Legal (Viewers: #3, 6.37 million; A18-49: #3, 1.5/ 4)

Man oh man is that Boston Legal becoming more and more lead in dependant. Significantly less competition yet loses viewers. Kudos however to The Price Is Right once again.

It's still a monster hit.

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
For all the talk about Idol's year-to-year erosion, it really found its way again in the last week. Counting a few very high-rated minutes of overrun, it should be ahead of last year's viewer total and pretty close in demo.

the right person did win Idol, and it wasnt even close. The non-stop pimpimg of the over-rated David Archuleta could not even make it close.

As for the ratings, being that the best person won for the first time since Carrie Underwood, I think this means that the show might spike up a bit in ratings next year

I agree. For the first time since Season 4, the media is overwhelmingly in support of David Cook. He should cross over to radio well, much more than the past two winners, providing a good platform for the next season of Idol.

quote:

Originally posted by Milcus:
the right person did win Idol, and it wasnt even close. The non-stop pimpimg of the over-rated David Archuleta could not even make it close.

As for the ratings, being that the best person won for the first time since Carrie Underwood, I think this means that the show might spike up a bit in ratings next year

How many minutes did Idol overrun?

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
For all the talk about Idol's year-to-year erosion, it really found its way again in the last week. Counting a few very high-rated minutes of overrun, it should be ahead of last year's viewer total and pretty close in demo.

Oh please, it only did similar numbers to a year ago yesterday, and that's beacause the media instead of talking about quality shows prefered to talk about which of those two untalated "singers" will win.
Did anyone read something about BL or CM airing their season finales?

As long as the media keeps this type of crappy television in its sight and overpromotes it we won't get rid of AI. Sad but true

With IDOL now over and most all the finale's almost over looks like we'll be heading into the quiet time on the board with a few of us die hards weighing in on the few network summer shows like BB10, SWINGTOWN, GLADIATORS ect.

YAY for David Cook! I enjoyed this season of AI more than the previous one.

But now I'm sad, cause all my shows are on hiatus. It's gonna be a long summer!

Oh, wait, there's still Lost's finale!

Yes, I would expect that.

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
With IDOL now over and most all the finale's almost over looks like we'll be heading into the quiet time on the board with a few of us die hards weighing in on the few network summer shows like BB10, SWINGTOWN, GLADIATORS ect.

I'm sorry but 15 percent difference in votes is close (96 million votes, 12 million difference). It's too hard to be declared the front runner before the race even began (look at melinda doolittle last year)

Anyways, it doesn't matter -- they will both get record deals and both will be successful. I almost feel like cook winning is almost a curse because sometimes winning doesn't translate well to success -- both 3rd place Elliot Yamin and 4th place Daughtry are more successful at record sales than Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee -- and both of them had their record labels drop them.

BTW, both davids will be on larry king this Friday and will sing on the Today show next Thursday the 29th.

Idol's ratings prove that it is still a monster hit and the fact that they made had this matchup of the two best -- only made it for a must see event.

quote:

Originally posted by Milcus:
the right person did win Idol, and it wasnt even close. The non-stop pimpimg of the over-rated David Archuleta could not even make it close.

As for the ratings, being that the best person won for the first time since Carrie Underwood, I think this means that the show might spike up a bit in ratings next year

Being a fan of both dancing and Idol -- i'm kinda glad that they are over for the season because now I can go back to not watching as much tv. Other than the season finales of Lost and Grey's in a few weeks, I can finally take a break.

Although one show on ABC looked interesting -- wipeout. Why don't they just resurrect Battle of the network stars?

BTW -- did anyone see the hilarious commercials of guitar hero with the two davids doing tom cruise in risky business -- HILARIOUS, LOVED IT.

Thank God the best man won in AI. And did anyone else who watched (or was it just me) think that BL was written as a series finale?