Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 10/21/09

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 11.12 million, NBC: 7.24, Fox: 7.01, ABC: 6.34, CW: 2.09

-Adults 18-49:
CBS and Fox: 2.9 rating/8 share each, ABC: 2.2/ 6, NBC: 2.1/ 6, CW: 1.0/ 3

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

-Honorable Mention:
Modern Family (ABC), Glee (Fox)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Hank (ABC), The Middle (ABC), Eastwick (ABC), The Jay Leno Show (NBC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
It was a Wednesday of mixed leadership, with CBS the most-watched network (with 3.88 million more viewers overall than second-place NBC) and CBS and Fox tied for No. 1 among adults 18-49.

As I have been saying in recent weeks, Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. is one of the softest hours in primetime, and CBS, NBC and Fox shared the top spot as follows:

The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) – 8 p.m.
Viewers: 7.00 million (#1), A18-49: 2.1 rating/6 share (#2)

Gary Unmarried (CBS) – 8:30 p.m.
Viewers: 7.12 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/ 6 (#2)

Mercy (NBC)
Viewers: 7.28 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#3)

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Viewers: 6.77 million (#3), A18-49: 2.7/ 8 (#1)

Also airing in the time period were ABC sitcoms Hank (Viewers: #4, 5.84 million; A18-49: #4, 1.5/ 5) and The Middle (Viewers: #4, 6.42 million; A18-49: #4, 2.0. 6), which each dipped to series lows, and aging America’s Next Top Model on The CW (Viewers: #5, 3.13 million; A18-49: #5, 1.5/ 4), which remains down year-to-year.

At 9 p.m., CBS’ underrated Criminal Minds stood well above the competition, with 13.72 million viewers and a 3.7/ 9 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that beat NBC’s competing Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #2, 9.27 million; A18-49: #4, 2.9/ 8) by 4.45 million viewers and 28 percent among adults 18-49. Also airing in the time period, and on the map among adults 18049 were ABC sitcoms Modern Family (Viewers: #3, 8.57 million; A18-49: #2t, 3.3/ 9) and Cougar Town (Viewers: #3, 7.35 million; A18-49: #3, 3.0/ 8) and Fox’s Glee (Viewers: #4, 7.24 million; A18-49: #2, 3.3/ 8). Both Modern Family and Glee deserve accolades from building from their lead-ins.

Leading the 10 p.m. hour was, of course, CBS’ CSI: NY, this week with 12.56 million viewers and a 3.1/ 8 among adults 18-49. Tied for the No. 2 and 3 spots were failing hours The Jay Leno Show on NBC (Viewers: #2, 5.18 million; A18-49: #3, 1.5/ 4) and ABC scripted drama Eastwick (Viewers: #3, 4.93 million; A18-49: #2, 1.7/ 5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

So now Criminal Minds is underrated, Marc? Well, I guess you can't say that about NCIS anymore. And come to think of it, you've been pretty amply vindicated about that.

The previews for Minds last night during Gary Unmarried looked like slasher porn heaven. I'm sure the serial killer lovers were salivating!

quote:

Originally posted by pisher:
So now Criminal Minds is underrated, Marc? Well, I guess you can't say that about NCIS anymore. And come to think of it, you've been pretty amply vindicated about that.

Hank and The Middle are both on their way out. It really seems like Grammer and Heaton are bad luck for each other. Failed on the same boring derivative sitcom, then on back-to-back boring derivative sitcoms.

Both talented people, but in both cases their success is tied up with a role that has ended. I really question why they felt they had to keep coming back to this--they haven't made enough money already? Why not wait for something worth doing? Actors are addicts, that's why. They can't just be themselves. They need to keep being somebody else.

Nice to see that Criminal Minds is still doing well. Last nights episode was really creepy. But then again, so are some of the other episodes they develop. But I have to say that I did not see the twist at the end of the episode coming. Great show!

ABC: Okay, its time to pull Hank. Scrubs would be doing better demographically than this and I hate Scrubs. Marc, I think the Middle deserves accolades for growing at 8:30 out of the lead in by a healthy margin. ABC obviously has been noticing too, given all the promotion for it. Nice to see Modern Family and Cougar Town holding steady. I just hope they get a lead in by Idol time. Eastwick, please just die already. Last night's episode was downright stupid. I'm no longer wasting viewing time and will instead begin watching comedies at 9pm local time from earlier in the evening.

CBS: Their comedies would be doing better away from the competition. I'll keep preaching Sunday for now. Solid results for the crime duo. Nothing outstanding, but solid.

NBC: One bright spot on their schedule is now this night. Mercy seems to have stabilized and SVU is growing. I still think come midseason a tough decision should be made and SVU should become a midseason series airing on Sundays at 10pm. This way less eps ordered each year, keeping it cheaper. They can throw in cast members from the other Law and Orders then and just cancel the other two.

Usually I never comment on the labels, but if Modern Family and Glee are honorable mentions for building on their lead ins, wouldn't Law and Order: Special Victims Unit also fit? It's growing a lot from Mercy and within its timeslot.

quote:

Both Modern Family and Glee deserve accolades from building from their lead-ins.

Why is ABC launching V on Tuesday into established hit DWTS and against one of TV's top shows (NCIS)? Why not launch it on Wednesday in a currently very weak time slot and into MF and CT, which really need the lead-in support right now?

I'll be surprised if NBC changes their Wednesday schedule mid-season. Right now, it's one of the few nights producing decent results. Mercy going up against American Idol will show NBC if it's really a player on the schedule or just a show that is benefitting from a very weak timeslot and the L&O: SVU lead in.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:

NBC: One bright spot on their schedule is now this night. Mercy seems to have stabilized and SVU is growing. I still think come midseason a tough decision should be made and SVU should become a midseason series airing on Sundays at 10pm. This way less eps ordered each year, keeping it cheaper. They can throw in cast members from the other Law and Orders then and just cancel the other two.

SVU is still down significantly from one year earlier when it aired Tuesday at 10 p.m.

quote:

Originally posted by WlcmZapataTexas:
Usually I never comment on the labels, but if Modern Family and Glee are honorable mentions for building on their lead ins, wouldn't Law and Order: Special Victims Unit also fit? It's growing a lot from Mercy and within its timeslot.

quote:

Both Modern Family and Glee deserve accolades from building from their lead-ins.

I think Idol will eat the night though. NBC should consider Parenthood into Mercy on Mondays, leaving Tuesdays, and Chuck into reality on Wednesday or reality into Chuck (either way). SVU after 2 hour Apprentice on Sundays. I'd do some shuffling with the Thursday comedies too, trying out 100 Questions at 8pm and going with Community then at 8:30. Fridays don't get messed with unless Lie to Me goes at 8pm and then I'd move Law and Order to 9.

quote:

Originally posted by WlcmZapataTexas:
I'll be surprised if NBC changes their Wednesday schedule mid-season. Right now, it's one of the few nights producing decent results. Mercy going up against American Idol will show NBC if it's really a player on the schedule or just a show that is benefitting from a very weak timeslot and the L&O: SVU lead in.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:

NBC: One bright spot on their schedule is now this night. Mercy seems to have stabilized and SVU is growing. I still think come midseason a tough decision should be made and SVU should become a midseason series airing on Sundays at 10pm. This way less eps ordered each year, keeping it cheaper. They can throw in cast members from the other Law and Orders then and just cancel the other two.

I doubt ABC would bbreak up its two-hour Wednesday sitcom block this soon.

quote:

Originally posted by College Basketball Fan:
Why is ABC launching V on Tuesday into established hit DWTS and against one of TV's top shows (NCIS)? Why not launch it on Wednesday in a currently very weak time slot and into MF and CT, which really need the lead-in support right now?

quote:

Originally posted by WlcmZapataTexas:
Usually I never comment on the labels, but if Modern Family and Glee are honorable mentions for building on their lead ins, wouldn't Law and Order: Special Victims Unit also fit? It's growing a lot from Mercy and within its timeslot.

quote:

Both Modern Family and Glee deserve accolades from building from their lead-ins.

NBC shows are not eligible for Honorable Mention. It does not matter that SVU has grown every week, and this week jumped almost 50% in the demo from its lead in and by over 2 million viewers.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
SVU is still down significantly from one year earlier when it aired Tuesday at 10 p.m.

quote:

Originally posted by WlcmZapataTexas:
Usually I never comment on the labels, but if Modern Family and Glee are honorable mentions for building on their lead ins, wouldn't Law and Order: Special Victims Unit also fit? It's growing a lot from Mercy and within its timeslot.

quote:

Both Modern Family and Glee deserve accolades from building from their lead-ins.

CSI is way down from last year. Has that stopped it from being a "winner" every week?

Missing the boat again Mushu!

It was actually a really good episode. Plus we had a guest spot from Barney Miller Show alumn, Max Gail.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:
The previews for Minds last night during Gary Unmarried looked like slasher porn heaven. I'm sure the serial killer lovers were salivating!

quote:

Originally posted by pisher:
So now Criminal Minds is underrated, Marc? Well, I guess you can't say that about NCIS anymore. And come to think of it, you've been pretty amply vindicated about that.