Prime-Time Ratings:
Monday 4/06/09

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 14.90 million, CBS: 13.74, Fox: 12.02, NBC: 6.40, CW: 1.11

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.9 rating/12 share, Fox: 4.4/11, ABC: 3.6/ 9, NBC: 2.3/ 6, CW: 0.5/ 1

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
Dancing With the Stars (ABC), House (Fox), NCAA Basketball Championship (CBS)

-Disappointing:
Castle (ABC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Chuck (NBC), Heroes (NBC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
It was a Monday of split leadership, with ABC the most-watched network and basketball-ignited CBS first among adults 18-49. Fox finished third in total viewers and second among adults 18-49, followed by fourth-place NBC and repeat-riddled the CW. By starting the season early last fall (and not ordering an extended number of episodes), fans of Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill are paying the price now.

In series-premiere news, ABC sitcom Surviving Suburbia was sampled at 12.16 million viewers (#2) and a 3.2 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 (#3) at 9:30 p.m. But before anyone at ABC gets overly optimistic, retention out of the last half of lead-in Dancing With the Stars (Viewers: 21.37 million; A18-49: 5.2/12 at 9 p.m.) was only 57 percent in total viewers and 62 percent in the demo. That’s similar to former occupant Samantha Who?, which has collapsed on Thursday out of In the Motherhood (and without the support of Dancing With the Stars). As for the show itself, while I have no problem with the sitcom being generic, Bob Saget is better when he’s “warm and fuzzy.” Acting like Jim Belushi just does not fit him.

Dancing With the Stars, of course, dominated the 8-9:30 p.m. block, with a rock-solid 19.59 million viewers and a 4.5/11 among adults 18-49 from 8-9:30 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown:

Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 17.51 million (#1), A18-49: 3.8/11 (#2)
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 19.89 million (#1), A18-49: 4.5/11 (#2)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 21.37 million (#1), A18-49: 5.2/12 (#1)

My picks for the dance-off tonight: Steve-O and Lawrence Taylor. Don’t worry, Edyta…it should be Steve-O leaving. Unfortunately, we are stuck with overrated Cheryl Burke all season.

Capping off the evening for ABC was recently introduced drama Castle at 9.24 million viewers and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49 (second in both categories) at 10 p.m. Retention out of Surviving Suburbia was a non-spectacular 76 percent in total viewers and 75 percent in the demo. In other words, Castle remains a disappointment for ABC.

CBS opened the evening with repeats of The Big Bang Theory (Viewers: 8.86 million; A18-49: 3.2/ 9) and How I Met Your Mother (Viewers: 8.45 million; A18-49: 3.3/ 9) finishing a respectable third from 8-9 p.m. The big draw on CBS was, of course, The Men’s Championship Game on the ongoing NCAA Basketball Tournament, which averaged an estimated16.29 million viewers and a 5.7/14 among adults 18-49 for the prime-time portion from 9-11 p.m. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown:

NCAA Basketball Championship (CBS)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 13.68 million (#2), A18-49: 4.7/11 (#2) – includes the Pre-Game
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 18.91 million (#1), A18-49: 6.5/15 (#1)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 17.51 million (#1), A18-49: 6.3/15 (#1)
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 15.06 million (#1), A18-49: 5.5/14 (#1)

Comparably, the year-ago basketball match-up averaged 19.50 million viewers and a 7.3/19 among adults 18-49 on April 7, 2008, based on the final nationals. Keep in mind, of course, that results for any live sporting event are always approximate.

Fox was on the Monday map, as usual, care of House (Viewers: #2, 13.01 million; A18-49: #1, 5.0/13) and 24 (Viewers: #2, 11.04 million; A18-49: #2, 3.8/ 9). But fading NBC remained out of the competitive loop with its combination of Chuck (Viewers: #4, 6.01 million; A18-49: #4, 2.1/ 6), Heroes (Viewers: #4, 6.05 million; A18-49: #4, 2.6/ 6) and Medium (Viewers: #3, 7.15 million; A18-49: #3, 2.2/ 5).

Last, and very least, were repeats of the CW’s Gossip Girl (Viewers: 1.14 million; A18-49: 0.5/ 1) and One Tree Hill (Viewers: 1.08 million; A18-49: 0.5/ 1). Sorry CW, but there are just way too many repeats on the network.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

quote:

The Men’s Championship Game on the ongoing NCAA Basketball Tournament, which averaged an estimated 16.29 million viewers and a 5.7/14 among adults 18-49 for the prime-time portion from 9-11 p.m.

The main reason for the big drop year-to-year is that the game was very boring last night. Michigan State played like crap last night IMO. Congrats North Carolina!

quote:

Capping off the evening for ABC was recently introduced drama Castle at 9.24 million viewers and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49 (second in both categories) at 10 p.m. Retention out of Surviving Suburbia was a non-spectacular 76 percent in total viewers and 75 percent in the demo. In other words, Castle remains a disappointment for ABC.

And it still hasn't ONCE been aired without a strong lead-in.

I could see this one coming back next season--like What About Brian came back. In exactly the same way as What About Brian.

Since five comedies air on Monday nights, here is an interesting article:
33 Comedies Are In Development For Next Season, 19 Are Multi-Camera <--- LINK

quote:

Capping off the evening for ABC was recently introduced drama Castle at 9.24 million viewers and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49 (second in both categories) at 10 p.m. Retention out of Surviving Suburbia was a non-spectacular 76 percent in total viewers and 75 percent in the demo. In other words, Castle remains a disappointment for ABC.

that retention really isnt that bad. if u compare to what it had with dwts as a lead-in.

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But fading NBC remained out of the competitive loop with its combination of Chuck (Viewers: #4, 6.01 million

they should have moved chuck to wednesdays at 8:00, considering theres not much competition and nbc is airing encores....

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Surviving Suburbia was sampled at 12.16 million viewers (#2) and a 3.2 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 (#3) at 9:30 p.m. But before anyone at ABC gets overly optimistic, retention out of the last half of lead-in Dancing With the Stars (Viewers: 21.37 million; A18-49: 5.2/12 at 9 p.m.) was only 57 percent in total viewers and 62 percent in the demo.

Not all that bad and it could have been much worse. I can't wait until next weeks ratings to see the battle between Rules of Engagement and Surviving Suburbia. (Which most likely Rules of Engagement will win with a 4.0 demo)

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that retention really isnt that bad. if u compare to what it had with dwts as a lead-in.

It's not horrible, but it's far from good, and definitely disappointing, given how much effort ABC has put into promoting Castle--you'd expect a higher retention from a lower-rated lead-in. 85% out of Surviving Suburbia would have just been respectable.

A strong number for 24 going against the best portion of the game. I think 3.8 is its highest demo since the early part of the year.

Though not a loser, MEDIUM needed to show more strength. It had in the past cashed in on MIAMI being gone for the nite. And it's not like CASTLE is burning it up, either.

If you look at lead-ins, Medium is doing much better than Castle.

Let's see how Medium does against Castle when the latter doesn't have either DWTS or a heavily hyped series premiere as a lead-in.

Not that I'm watching either, but let's see anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by pisher:

quote:

that retention really isnt that bad. if u compare to what it had with dwts as a lead-in.

It's not horrible, but it's far from good, and definitely disappointing, given how much effort ABC has put into promoting Castle--you'd expect a higher retention from a lower-rated lead-in. 85% out of Surviving Suburbia would have just been respectable.

yea, you make a good point. but i see it staying around 8mil viewers and like a 2.2-2.5 demo. at least its finding its audience....

I think HIMYM and BBT deserve Honorable Mention this week for having repeat numbers that just about any other sitcom (other than Men and ROE out of the Men lead-in) would be happy with for a first run episode. These two shows repeat really well, and should have a long shelf life ahead in syndication.

The article is correct when it says there is room for both types of sitcoms. And either form can be very, very good (The Office, Big Bang) or atrocious (Kath and Kim, Surviving Suburbia). Just make'em good and we will watch.

quote:

Originally posted by yankeesrj12:
Since five comedies air on Monday nights, here is an interesting article:
33 Comedies Are In Development For Next Season, 19 Are Multi-Camera <--- LINK

2.6 in demos for Heroes. WOW

SS will get good numbers as longs as it has DWTS as a lead-in. It did OK last night against the basketball, but i was expecting more

Castle looks like it has strong chances of coming back

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Originally posted by PaulC:
The article is correct when it says there is room for both types of sitcoms. And either form can be very, very good (The Office, Big Bang) or atrocious (Kath and Kim, Surviving Suburbia). Just make'em good and we will watch.

quote:

Originally posted by yankeesrj12:
Since five comedies air on Monday nights, here is an interesting article:
33 Comedies Are In Development For Next Season, 19 Are Multi-Camera <--- LINK

BBT is a multi cam

quote:

Originally posted by PaulC:
The article is correct when it says there is room for both types of sitcoms. And either form can be very, very good (The Office, Big Bang) or atrocious (Kath and Kim, Surviving Suburbia). Just make'em good and we will watch.

quote:

Originally posted by yankeesrj12:
Since five comedies air on Monday nights, here is an interesting article:
33 Comedies Are In Development For Next Season, 19 Are Multi-Camera <--- LINK

the reason we want multi-cam so bad, is because the recent single cams have either died or are currently dieing. and like u said paulc, people dont care they just want to laugh. find me a funny single or multi cam comedy and ill watch it!