Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 4/02/09

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 16.34 million, CBS: 10.09, ABC: 6.69, NBC: 5.65, CW: 2.59

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.4 rating/15 share, ABC: 2.7/ 7, CBS: 2.6/ 7, NBC: 1.5/ 4, CW: 1.1/ 3

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
I Get That a Lot (CBS), American Idol (Fox), CSI: NY R (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
Criminal Minds R (CBS), Lost (ABC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Scrubs (ABC), Better Off Ted (ABC), Life (NBC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
American Idol led Fox to victory, with an advantage over the No. 2 network (CBS in total viewers; ABC among adults 18-49) of 6.25 million viewers and 100 percent in the demo. But CBS had an unexpected winner care of 8 p.m. special I Get That a Lot at a time period-winning 10.34 million viewers and a 3.4 rating/11 share among adults 18-49. Comparably, this was a double-digit improvement over regularly scheduled occupants The New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried. Needless to say, this won’t be the last you will see of I Get That a Lot.

Second at 8 p.m. was Fox drama Lie to Me at a respectable (but below average) 8.98 million viewers and a 2.6/ 8 among adults 18-49. Also populating the time period were struggling ABC comedies Scrubs (Viewers: #3, 5.04 million; A18-49: #3, 1.9/ 6) and Better Off Ted (Viewers: #4, 4.71 million; A18-49: #3t, 1.8/ 5), a repeat of NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Viewers: #3, 5.06 million; A18-49: #5, 1.3/ 4), which is filling in for yanked The Chopping Block, and veteran America’s Next Top Model on the CW (Viewers: #5, #5, 3.94 million; A18-49: #4, 1.7/ 5). Worth repeating: why ABC needed Scrubs this late into its run is beyond me.

Fox stood well above the competition at 9 p.m., of course, with the live American Idol Results Show at a solid 23.71 million viewers and a 8.1/21 among adults 18-49. Yes, I was right on the mark this week. Megan Joy, Allison Iraheta and Anoop Desai were in the bottom three, and Megan was sent packing. But what was up with Megan’s creepy clucking?

A repeat of CBS’ Criminal Minds and ABC’s Lost shared the No. 2 and 3 spots in the 9 p.m. hour as follows:

Wednesday 9 p.m.
Criminal Minds R (CBS)
Viewers: 9.95 million (#2), A18-49: 2.4/ 6 (#3)

Lost (ABC)
Viewers: 9.35 million (#3), A18-49: 4.2/11 (#2)

And capping off the time period was NBC’s waiting-to-be axed Life (Viewers: #4, 5.57 million; A18-49: #4, 1.5/ 4) and a repeat of 90210 on the CW (Viewers: #5, 1.23 million; A18-49: #5, 0.6/ 2).

In series-finale news, ABC’s Life on Mars concluded with 5.86 million viewers (#3) and a second-place 2.1/ 6 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Any fans of Life on Mars angry for the early exit should keep in mind that ABC aired this drama out of two high profile dramas (Grey’s Anatomy and Lost) and it did not hold enough of the audience to warrant renewal. The network tried, but it just did not work.

First at 10 p.m. was a repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY at 9.98 million viewers and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49. NBC granddaddy Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 6.32 million; A18-49: #3, 1.7/ 5) was also a repeat.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

ABC just as well get rid of Ted right now, double up Scrubs and end it a few weeks earlier. Then give us a few Lost enhance encores for sweeps, which do about as well and are more compatible for a lead in. Lost didn't do too badly, but ultimately, the ratings really don't matter anymore. Life bumped up slightly this week with a much improved lead in. Amazing how Law and Order repeats are so close to originals in terms of viewership. Perhaps a better lead in NBC?!

CBS got good results from their special, which wasn't half bad and should come back as a series of specials, perhaps to replace Survivor in January.

Lie to Me looks like its losing its shine. I expect poor results come this fall. Fringe, on the other hand, will likely fall but hold onto a good chunk of its demo crowd. If I were Fox, I'd consider Lie to Me for Fridays.

I think it's safe to say America won't be making their own version of Life on Mars spin off Ashes to Ashes.

Good call by NBC to axe chopping block.I know Lie To Me moved to avoid facing other procedurals but it seems a waste to not use AI as a lead in to something.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
CBS had an unexpected winner care of 8 p.m. special I Get That a Lot at a time period-winning 10.34 million viewers and a 3.4 rating/11 share among adults 18-49. Comparably, this was a double-digit improvement over regularly scheduled occupants The New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried.

This should be a hint to CBS that while a second night of comedy might be the way to go, they probably need to choose a different pair of comedies for next Fall.

Are people still under the impression that Old Christine's anaemic ratings in this slot are acceptable? If this kind of stuff does that much better, almost anything could be stronger than Old Christine. Tic toc.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
But CBS had an unexpected winner care of 8 p.m. special I Get That a Lot at a time period-winning 10.34 million viewers and a 3.4 rating/11 share among adults 18-49. Comparably, this was a double-digit improvement over regularly scheduled occupants The New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Worth repeating: why ABC needed Scrubs this late into its run is beyond me.

Worth repeating: the studio is making big bucks off of each additional episode of Scrubs made for syndication. That is why another season was ordered up. Same thing applies to According to Jim.

That was a pretty good episode of Lost--for a Kate-centric.

Congrats to the producers of Lost for their show winning the Peabody (it hadn't already?).

Nice to see Lost rebound from last week slightly... although I'm sure a CM repeat and AI being results (not performances) certainly helped.

I had a feeling I Get That A Lot would do well- it was perfect for the day, and had enough decent celebs to be interesting. They probably could make a series of specials and do well with it, but again, it depends on the celebs they get to do it.

as to the Life on Mars ending...I've read fanfic that was better than that claptrap. I don't know if it tops the Seinfeld ending for worst final episode ever, but it's close...

quote:

Worth repeating: the studio is making big bucks off of each additional episode of Scrubs made for syndication. That is why another season was ordered up. Same thing applies to According to Jim.

And I'm thrilled that Scrubs survived another year. One of the best comedies out there - I wish more people had watched over the 8 years, they would realize they missed something good. I know, Marc, you're not the biggest fan!

quote:

Originally posted by Fifty:
I know Lie To Me moved to avoid facing other procedurals but it seems a waste to not use AI as a lead in to something.

I think that this decision was mostly based upon trying to get American Idol into the higher HUT timeslot so they could maximize its ratings. FOX is sacrificing their ability to nurture new shows in an effort to prop up current ratings.

quote:

In series-finale news, ABC’s Life on Mars concluded with 5.86 million viewers (#3) and a second-place 2.1/ 6 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Any fans of Life on Mars angry for the early exit should keep in mind that ABC aired this drama out of two high profile dramas (Grey’s Anatomy and Lost) and it did not hold enough of the audience to warrant renewal. The network tried, but it just did not work.

Yup--the fact there were some interesting pieces doesn't mean they fit together the right way. And actually, the original UK series only ran 16 eps in its entirety. Why they thought this concept was well-suited to an indefinite run on network primetime is really one for the books.

I rarely watched it (quite honestly, the only thing that grabbed me was Gretchen Mol in that uniform), but I'm still peeved to read about the Bobby-in-the-shower ending they gave this show. Even allowing for the fact that there wasn't much time to wrap up, if that was the best idea they could come up with on short notice, they should have just let it end without ANY attempt at a finale--Twin Peaks ended on a cliffhanger, and that will always be the most creative and original series network primetime ever presented.

There must have been some people who really did enjoy the early 70's world they created, and now they've been cheated.

The viewers should ask for their time back.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pisher,

quote:

Originally posted by weaklink75:
as to the Life on Mars ending...I've read fanfic that was better than that claptrap. I don't know if it tops the Seinfeld ending for worst final episode ever, but it's close...

It was a wonderful ending. Much better than the UK version, which also ended with the whole thing being a 'dream'. The whole series hinted very strongly that we were simply inside of Sam's head. What sort of ending is it that you think would have been best?

quote:

Originally posted by Obveeus:

quote:

Originally posted by Fifty:
I know Lie To Me moved to avoid facing other procedurals but it seems a waste to not use AI as a lead in to something.

I think that this decision was mostly based upon trying to get American Idol into the higher HUT timeslot so they could maximize its ratings. FOX is sacrificing their ability to nurture new shows in an effort to prop up current ratings.

Fox has never been one to nurture programs. Even before American Idol.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:

Lie to Me looks like its losing its shine. I expect poor results come this fall. Fringe, on the other hand, will likely fall but hold onto a good chunk of its demo crowd. If I were Fox, I'd consider Lie to Me for Fridays.

I felt a few people declared victory a bit too soon for this. CBS's unusual hour has to taken into account, but here is the 3 week track for the 8pm hour for LTM:

11.25, 3.4 (finals)
10.26, 3.1 (finals)
8.98, 2.6

I've kept track of this a bit and I thought last nite was easily the best ep I'd seen of it. They've got a halfway decent show on their hands here, but I still say it's going to be a tough make. They'll have to be patient.