Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 5/13/09

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 16.17, CBS: 10.56, ABC: 8.31, NBC: 5.95, CW: 2.65

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.5 rating/15 share, ABC: 3.7/10, CBS: 2.8/ 8, NBC: 1.5/ 4, CW: 1.2/ 3

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

-Should Be Put Out to Pasture:
Law & Order (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Rules of Engagement (CBS), The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
Fox, of course, dominated Wednesday on the strength of the live American Idol Results Show, which stood head and shoulders above anything else with 23.99 million viewers and an 8.4 rating/21 share from 9-10 p.m. Thankfully, Adam is still in the competition, but the departure of overrated Danny Gokey was a surprise.

Earlier in the evening on Fox was just the season-finale of just renewed Lie To Me at a dominant 8.36 million viewers and a 2.6/ 8 in the demo at 8 p.m. Similar to last season, the Wednesday 8 p.m. hour remains one of the least competitive time periods on television.

Over at second-place CBS, an 8 p.m. edition of Rules of Engagement kicked-off the evening at an uneventful 6.38 million viewers (#2) and a 1.9/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#3). If this was a test to see if Rules can anchor an evening, it failed. Next on CBS was an 8:30 p.m. edition of The New Adventures of Old Christine (Viewers: #2, 6.54; A18-49: #3, 2.0/ 5), which will head to ABC if CBS cancels it, followed by potent Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 13.03 million; A18-49: #3, 3.4/ 8) and still dominant CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 12.18 million; A18-49: #2, 3.2/ 8) from 9-11 p.m. The season-finale of CSI: NY airs tonight at 10 p.m. out of CSI.

A night of Lost on ABC opened with the 8-9 p.m. clips show at 6.31 million viewers (#3) and a second-place 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49, followed by the two-hour fifth season-ender at 9.30 million viewers and a solid 4.3/11 in the demo from 9-11 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown:

Lost (ABC)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 9.16 million (#3), A18-49: 4.2/11 (#2)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 9.38 million (#3), A18-49: 4.4/11 (#2)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 9.19 million (#2), A18-49: 4.3/11 (#1)
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 9.49 million (#2), A18-49: 4.4/12 (#1)

NBC finished fourth overall with its line-up of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Viewers: #4, 5.47 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 4), a repeat of Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #4, 4.56 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 3) and Law & Order (Viewers: #3, 7.82 million; A18-49: #3, 2.2/ 6), which really should be calling it quits after 19 seasons.

America’s Next Top Model on the CW picked-up steam, with the season-finale at an above-average 4.23 million viewers (#5) and a 1.8/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#5) from 8-9 p.m., which should translate well among the young female demos. Top Model led into a repeat of 90210 at an almost invisible (and, of course, last place) 1.06 million viewers and a 0.5/ 1 in the demo at 9 p.m.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

I'm really glad "Lie to Me" was renewed. That show has potential. Especially if they make Jennifer Beals at least a semi-regular.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Earlier in the evening on Fox was just the season-finale of just renewed Lie To Me at a dominant 8.36 million viewers and a 2.6/ 8 in the demo at 8 p.m. Similar to last season, the Wednesday 8 p.m. hour remains one of the least competitive time periods on television.

Juliet's death scene: saddest moment ever on "Lost":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rBS0HTIsNY

Thank GAWD Gokey is gone. He should've left last week for mangling that "Dream On" scream instead of Allison, who at least was an exciting performer to watch with a very unique rock-blues voice.

The Adam / Kris finale is going to be interesting because both have been very good are reinterpreting the songs they're given (Adam in a fully theatrical or entirely stripped down way, Kris changing everything into an easy-listening singer-songwriter territory).

Also wondering if Mekhi Phifer from ER didn't move the needle a bit the last few weeks.

I think the answer for this show is to ramp up the intensity within the cast. Foster/Lightman,
Lightman/Torres, Torres/Foster are all relationships and conflicts that can be exploited, as well as the ex wife and perhaps an extended stay for Phifer's FBI character.

The polarizing aspects of Lightman's personality should be exploited. We've already seen how this "lying" content drips over into the characters. It makes it an easy play then to turn the team dynamic into a focal point. The "case of the week" approach will only carry this show so far.

quote:

Originally posted by heighteye:
I'm really glad "Lie to Me" was renewed. That show has potential. Especially if they make Jennifer Beals at least a semi-regular.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Earlier in the evening on Fox was just the season-finale of just renewed Lie To Me at a dominant 8.36 million viewers and a 2.6/ 8 in the demo at 8 p.m. Similar to last season, the Wednesday 8 p.m. hour remains one of the least competitive time periods on television.

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

I say it every chance I get: why the CW feels it must squander the post "America's Next Top Model" timeslot with a measley encore of "90210" is beyond me.

I'm surprised and disappointed with "Lost" numbers. That is extremely low for this finale. However, ABC did not hype this finale or the entire season for that matter as much as they have previous seasons. For good reason, this was by far the worst season of "Lost" and hopefully the final season will be an improvement. If not that is going to be another long 17 hours to watch!!!!!!!!!!!

William, its a matter of opinion. Me, included many others thought this season was the best one yet. Plus, the finale was definitely a highlight. My favorite episode of any TV, ever.

And the ratings are great. Last year's finale only got 9% higher ratings in the demo, and that was up against virtually nothing(strike), whereas the first half of the S5 finale was against AI.

quote:

Originally posted by William:
I say it every chance I get: why the CW feels it must squander the post "America's Next Top Model" timeslot with a measley encore of "90210" is beyond me.

I'm surprised and disappointed with "Lost" numbers. That is extremely low for this finale. However, ABC did not hype this finale or the entire season for that matter as much as they have previous seasons. For good reason, this was by far the worst season of "Lost" and hopefully the final season will be an improvement. If not that is going to be another long 17 hours to watch!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by SayWhat12:
Juliet's death scene: saddest moment ever on "Lost":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rBS0HTIsNY

Both actors should get nominated for an Emmy -- I was surprised by how gut-wrenching it was for Sawyer!!

I will not bash ROE so I do not get accused of bashing a CBS sitcom. I will let the Hollywood Reporters take on ROE speak for me :

CBS opened the night with a special airing of Monday's midseason hit Rules of Engagement (6.4 million, 1.9) and demonstrated the power of a time period. The comedy, which typically shows great retention of its Two and a Half Men lead-in, pulled about half its usual number here.

I had expected Lost's numbers to go up in the 2nd hour after Idol was over.

The Daily Games for May 3 - 6 are completed.
Waiting on FINAL numbers for Saturday, May 2

Top 5 standings for the 2009 Spring Session are:

• WlcmLAPD - 1626
  
• Obveeus - 1344
  
• vlis - 1282
  
• CaseyM - 944
  
• lopez - 900

Today's Daily Games features CSI: NY, The Office, Hells Kitchen, Supernatural. How well will they do in the 18-49 demo and how many total viewers will they get?




For complete final 2008 Medal count and winners, visit the PIFC Daily Game Medal Site. There, you will view all-time winners, current medal standings and Daily Game milestones.

Kind of off topic in a way, but while watching Lost and its bazillion commercials, does anyone else get really annoyed that ABC always promotes their shows as "ABC's [show here] [day here] on ABC" its like the most redundant name dropping I've seen in a long time, and if I have to watch another promo for Wipeout I think I might hurt someone.

Was L&O: CI a repeat or an original episode? 1.2 is really low for an original.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:

NBC finished fourth overall with its line-up of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Viewers: #4, 5.47 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 4),

Demos vs. year-ago evening

Criminal Minds +13%
CSI: NY +3%
American Idol -7%
Law & Order -19%
ANTM -22%

Lost clips vs. year-ago Wife Swap -4%
Lost 9pm vs. year-ago Supernanny +79%
Lost 10pm vs. year-ago Boston Legal +91%
Rules/Christine vs. year-ago Price is Right +43%
Lie to Me vs. year-ago 'Til Death/Back to You +8%

This year's LOST finale is down 12% from last year's 4.9, which was on a Thursday two weeks after sweeps.

So did I. Those are some really average viewership numbers for Lost, considering it was a season finale.

quote:

Originally posted by KSO:
I had expected Lost's numbers to go up in the 2nd hour after Idol was over.