Prime Time Ratings:
Wednesday 4/04/07

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

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 14.89 million, CBS: 9.52, ABC: 7.60, NBC: 7.10, CW: 4.19

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.4 rating/15 share, ABC: 3.0/ 8, CBS: 2.7/ 8, NBC: 2.2/ 6, CW: 2.0/ 6

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Bones (Fox), America’s Next Top Model (CW), Lost (ABC)

-Honorable Mention:
Criminal Minds R (CBS), CSI: NY R (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Friday Night Lights (NBC), According to Jim (ABC), In Case of Emergency (ABC), Crossing Jordan (NBC)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
Led by the live American Idol results show (and opposite two-thirds of CBS’ schedule in repeats), Fox’s winning Wednesday streak continued. Tied for the No. 2 spot were CBS (in households) and ABC (among adults 18-49), followed by NBC and an above-average The CW.

Fox’s underrated Bones opened the evening first in the 8 p.m. hour, with 10.31 million viewers and a 3.4 rating/11 share among adults 18-49. Growth for Bones in the second half-hour (in anticipation of American Idol, perhaps) was a hefty 1.88 million viewers (9.37 to 11.25 million) and 19 percent among adults 18-49 (3.1/10 to 3.7/11). CBS’ on-the-fence Jericho was second in the time period in total viewers (7.91 million), but CW hit America’s Next Top Model took the runner-up spot among adults 18-49, with 2.5/ 8 in the demo. Jericho averaged a 2.1/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#4), while Top Model reached 5.17 million viewers (#5). For The CW, a show with over 5 million viewers is, no doubt, a bona fide hit.

Also in the 8 p.m. hour were ABC’s George Lopez as a last minute replacement for the canceled The Great American Dream Vote (Viewers: #3, avg. 6.25 million; A18-49: #3, avg. 2.2/ 7), and NBC’s struggling Friday Night Lights (Viewers: #4, 5.35 million; A18-49: #5, 1.8/ 5). If I had to predict, chances are we will not be seeing a second season of either Friday Night Lights or Jericho. While I personally give Friday Night Lights credit, the documentary style camera work has to be a turn-off to most viewers. As for veteran George Lopez, since ABC does need half-hour comedies I would say the prognosis is positive.

Fox, of course, led the 9 p.m. hour care of the live American Idol results show (Viewers: 25.29 million; A18-49: 9.5/26), followed by ‘Til Death at an also first-place finish in both categories (Viewers: 13.67 million; A18-49: 5.5/15). But what could thwart chances of renewal for ‘Til Death was retention out of American Idol of just 54 percent in households and 58 percent among adults 18-49. Although our predictions for the final three on American Idol -- Phil Stacey, Haley Scarnato and Gina Glocksen -- were spot on, it was more deserving Gina who got the boot. With Phil and Haley still in contention, you can count on teenage lounge lizard Sanjaya to hang around for at least another three weeks.

Also at 9 p.m. were a repeat of CBS’ Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 10.34 million; A18-49: #2, 2.9/ 8), the expected-to-be canceled Crossing Jordan on NBC (Viewers: #3, 7.58 million; A18-49: #4, 2.0/ 6), struggling ABC sitcoms According to Jim (Viewers: #4, 5.35 million; A18-49: #3, 2.1/ 6) and In Case of Emergency (Viewers: #4, 4.75 million; A18-49: #4, 1.9/ 5), and a repeat of Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll on The CW (Viewers: #5, 3.21 million; A18-49: #5, 1.5/ 4). Comparably, the Pussycat Dolls encore built from the original telecast one night earlier (Viewers: 2.29 million; A18-49: 1.0/2 on April 4, based on the final nationals) by 920,000 viewers and 50 percent among adults 18-49. As I say every week, that is unheard of for a reality/competition.

ABC’s Lost (a stellar episode, probably the best of the season) moved into the top spot, with 11.50 million viewers and a 4.8/14 among adults 18-49. But compared to a repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY (Viewers: #2, 10.31 million; A18-49: #2, 3.1/ 8), its advantage was only 1.19 million viewers. Comparatively, the final national performance for Lost at 9 p.m. on the year-ago evening (April 5, 2006) was a considerably heftier 16.38 million viewers with a 6.9/17 among adults 18-49. Even so, the double-digit growth out of waiting-to-be-axed In Case of Emergency keeps Lost in the winner’s circle.

Third at 10 p.m. was NBC’s Medium (Viewers: 8.38 million; A18-49: 2.7/ 8), which managed to build from lead-in Crossing Jordan by 800,000 viewers and 35 percent in the demo. Chances are Medium will be back at some point next season, but veteran Crossing Jordan won’t.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

How excited am I for Mushu that George Lopez was not on the losers list last night! I'm sure that having Barbara Eden & Jerry Springer on kept it up over the 6 mil mark (plus Mushu's national campaign tour too!) I wonder if they'll continue the B List stunt casting (like a poor man's Will & Grace).

Damn...I forgot Barbara Eden was on!

i think its safe to say ABC has killed Lost

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Damn...I forgot Barbara Eden was on!

I still have it on my DVR if you want to stop over -

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Damn...I forgot Barbara Eden was on!

She looks amazing for 73. It was an enjoyable episode. The Jerry Springer episode that followed I could have lived without.

Marc, I think you ought to ease up on Sanjaya. Is he a great singer? No, at least not yet. However, it's evident that he's an extremely nice guy. That's why he caught on so fast, right?

In any case, this whole chapter makes for great television -- even if in a Sue Hawk (Survivor Season One) sort of way. And isn't that most important from your standpoint?

Ryan Seacrest calling Sanjaya "legendary" might not be too far off (for
one reason or another). Let's see how this plays out. Clearly it's
terrific fun for everyone.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Growth for Bones in the second half-hour (in anticipation of American Idol, perhaps) was a hefty 1.88 million viewers (9.37 to 11.25 million)

I wouldn't credit Idol for this growth. It seems like many, many hour long shows in the 8pm timeslot have a big uptick by 8:30. For whatever reason, people aren't home in front of the TV yet by 8pm and ARE willing to miss half of a show. I really don't get it. I can understand missing half of Deal or No Deal, but why do viewers allow themselves to miss half of a program with a storyline?

quote:

NBC’s struggling Friday Night Lights (Viewers: #4, 5.35 million; A18-49: #5, 1.8/ 5). If I had to predict, chances are we will not be seeing a second season of either Friday Night Lights or Jericho. While I personally give Friday Night Lights credit, the documentary style camera work has to be a turn-off to most viewers.

Both FNL and Jericho should be cancelled given their ratings. FNL will be in last place behind ANTM soon. As for the 'turn off' camera work, didn't NYPD Blue do the same thing with relative success? In other words, don't blame the cameraman, blame the writers. Not everyone wants to watch a soap opera about small town football. And yes, predictably, most of those that are watching it won't admit that that is what it is.

quote:

Even so, the double-digit growth out of waiting-to-be-axed In Case of Emergency keeps Lost in the winner’s circle.

If ICE followed Idol on Fox, would it get as many viewers as 'Til Death?

Fearing that I had judged George Lopez too harshly, I joined a very small number of people last night and actually tuned in.

I could barely hear the dialogue over the canned laughter but I heard enough to feel sorry for Barbara Eden. Yikes.

That is all.

quote:

Originally posted by xwiseguyx:
How excited am I for Mushu that George Lopez was not on the losers list last night! I'm sure that having Barbara Eden & Jerry Springer on kept it up over the 6 mil mark (plus Mushu's national campaign tour too!) I wonder if they'll continue the B List stunt casting (like a poor man's Will & Grace).

American Niceguy - new on FOX!

quote:

Originally posted by thewbrocks67:
i think its safe to say ABC has killed Lost

I think that's a little extreme. Yes, its certainly down from last year, but viewership has leveled off to between 11.5 - 12 million viewers the last few weeks as they are getting to their core audience of faithful viewers.

Viewership actually appears to be up from last week, and will probably go up even more after finals are released tonight.

Certainly the numbers this winter/spring are disappointing, but have they killed the show? No way. Any other network would kill to have a show with 12 million viewers and a 5.0 18-49 rating... esp. at 10pm.

I agree...this does make for good reality TV. But I am beginning to think that Sanjaya is very full of himself, particularly when he answers Simon back.

quote:

Originally posted by Programmer Wannabe:
Marc, I think you ought to ease up on Sanjaya. Is he a great singer? No, at least not yet. However, it's evident that he's an extremely nice guy. That's why he caught on so fast, right?

In any case, this whole chapter makes for great television -- even if in a Sue Hawk (Survivor Season One) sort of way. And isn't that most important from your standpoint?

Ryan Seacrest calling Sanjaya "legendary" might not be too far off (for
one reason or another). Let's see how this plays out. Clearly it's
terrific fun for everyone.

While I personally would like to see each show back, the ratings are bad and I would be okay with just one season of each. Although I am worried if they will be able to wrap things up for their finales.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
If I had to predict, chances are we will not be seeing a second season of either Friday Night Lights or Jericho. While I personally give Friday Night Lights credit, the documentary style camera work has to be a turn-off to most viewers.

quote:

i think its safe to say ABC has killed Lost

Lost is not really dead. The show still has a dedicated 11-12 million viewers each week and has bounced back creatively.

Plus consider all of the people who watch episodes off abc.com and especially itunes. Every Lost episode cracks the Top 5 downloaded episodes on itunes each week.

quote:

Originally posted by thewbrocks67:
i think its safe to say ABC has killed Lost

It's a slow downward spiral. A18-49 is a series low. Is overall viewership up a bit from last week though?

But why do they insist on isolating it as, pardon the pun, an island unto itself on Wednesdays with no credible lead-in support?

Ya know, I think if CBS cancels Jericho, ABC should snatch it and use it as a lead-in to LOST next season. A 6.5 rating is not bad at all, and pairing the two could increase both of their audiences...