Friday 5/09/08

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 8.52 million, ABC: 6.42, NBC: 5.38, CW: 4.12, Fox: 3.39

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 2.0 rating/7 share, ABC: 1.7/ 6, NBC: 1.4/ 5, CW: 1.3/ 5, Fox: 1.1/ 4

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Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 13 percent at this same point last year to approximately 23 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

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-Friday’s Winners:
Ghost Whisperer (CBS), Numb3rs (CBS)

-Friday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Movie: Man of the House (Fox), Dateline (NBC), 20/20 (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS led this typically uneventful third Friday of the May 2008 sweeps with its combination of Ghost Whisperer (Viewers: #1, 8.74 million; A18-49: #1, 2.1 rating/8 share), Moonlight (Viewers: #1, 7.68 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 6) and Numb3rs (Viewers: #1, 9.13 million; A18-49: #1, 2.2/ 7). To the fans of Moonlight lighting up the boards at PIFeedback, renewal for a second season is still 50/50. What doesn’t help, of course, is the low rating among adults 18-49, which is no better than year-ago occupant Close to Home. And CBS canceled Close to Home because it skewed too old.

ABC finished second overall with two-hour special, TV’s All-Time Funniest at a so-so 6.50 million viewers (#2) and a 1.6/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#2) from 8-10 p.m., followed by 20/20 a 6.26 million viewers (#2t) and a 1.9/ 6 in the demo (#2) at 10 p.m. While I normally enjoy any special focusing on TV, the clips were awfully generic, weren’t they? And there was just too much of an emphasis on The Simpsons.

Next was NBC with its line-up of two repeat episodes of Most Outrageous Moments (Viewers: #3t, 4.21 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 5 from 8-9 p.m.), and a two-hour edition of Dateline at 5.96 million viewers and a 1.5/ 5 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m. The CW’s soon-to-relocate Friday Night Smackdown! was fourth for the night, with a typical 4.12 million viewers and a 1.3/ 5 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. And Fox finished last with theatrical Man of the House at a not-so-manly 3.39 million viewers and a 1.1/ 4 in the demo from 8-10 p.m. Although the CW is now focusing on its Monday to Friday slate now that Sunday is no longer part of the equation, programming Friday without Smackdown! will not be easy.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

Thanks, Marc. Down night overall...

Let the Moonlight squabble begin! *sigh*

First! woah!

Let me start that ML squabble. I really enjoy the series but - 1.9 in the demo for a NEW episode? Ouch!!

My honest opinion about Moonlight is it is not coming back. Why should it with a low demo rating like that?

To be honest GW ratings wasn't good either this week on 2,1 demo

quote:

Originally posted by John T. Folden:
Let me start that ML squabble. I really enjoy the series but - 1.9 in the demo for a NEW episode? Ouch!!

You're doing it all wrong, here is how it goes:

Those superb numbers for Moonlight are once again very consistent. CBS has to be happy with this gem. Add the internet buzz and People Choice Award, and a Lost-like renewal for 3 seasons is surely coming soon.

Abysmal Friday night, per usual.
Wow..when is the last time Ghost Whisperer had numbers that low for a new episode?

quote:

Originally posted by John T. Folden:
Let me start that ML squabble. I really enjoy the series but - 1.9 in the demo for a NEW episode? Ouch!!

At least ALL the shows on CBS were down together. Moonlight lost less viewers from week to week than GW & Numb3rs (1.08 mil drop for Numb3rs?). Not that that makes 1.9 any better...

I love the show and hope it survives, but it's definitely a 50/50 shot at this point.

WOW, I'll be shocked to see Moonlight renwed after such a poor performance. Just to make yourself an impression exactly a year ago C2H was pulling 10.45 millions and 2.6 (!!!!!) in demos.

I can't even comment on the huge mistake made by CBS

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
My honest opinion about Moonlight is it is not coming back. Why should it with a low demo rating like that?

I think it has a very good chance at renewal. It's not like the other networks are trying to compete with CBS on Friday nights.
If CBS can win the night with this current line up when there is no competition...why change?

quote:

Originally posted by robert:
WOW, I'll be shocked to see Moonlight renwed after such a poor performance. Just to make yourself an impression exactly a year ago C2H was pulling 10.45 millions and 2.6 (!!!!!) in demos.

I can't even comment on the huge mistake made by CBS

It was a HUGE mistake on their part.

quote:

Originally posted by Crimson:

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
My honest opinion about Moonlight is it is not coming back. Why should it with a low demo rating like that?

I think it has a very good chance at renewal. It's not like the other networks are trying to compete with CBS on Friday nights.
If CBS can win the night with this current line up when there is no competition...why change?

Yeah, tell that to those who worked on C2H. A year ago was the number one show in viewers and demos (on the whole day)

quote:

Originally posted by robert:
WOW, I'll be shocked to see Moonlight renwed after such a poor performance. Just to make yourself an impression exactly a year ago C2H was pulling 10.45 millions and 2.6 (!!!!!) in demos.

I can't even comment on the huge mistake made by CBS

And Grey's Anatomy was averaging 3 million more viewers last year. Almost every television show has dropped a considerable amount since last year. How do you know C2H wouldn't be averaging 7 million with a 1.5 demo?

Over the last few weeks, there have been so many references to "Close to Home" that I'd like to bring up a few thoughts and questions I've been harboring for a year.

This I understand: By January 2007, CBS felt it was getting overly heavy on procedurals and it needed to free up some space for shows that might skew younger. It was only natural that "Close to Home," which aired on Friday and had marginally lower 18-49 ratings than "Ghost Whisperer" and "Numbers," might be the logical candidate to dump. That feeling seemed to intensify when a "Super Bowl Commercials" special aired in that time slot and got higher 18-49 ratings.

What I don't understand is why CBS ignored the ratings of "Close to Home" for the remainder of the year. The April and May ratings were excellent, both among all viewers and 18-49. On some Fridays, it was the highest-rated show, and the three CBS shows provided an incredibly stable Friday lineup. I fully expected "Close to Home" to get at least a 13-week pickup, probably as a midseason replacement to give new shows a chance.

But it seemed as though CBS had made up its mind in February. Even more strange, I never heard a peep from the producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, or from the cast for that matter in an effort to save the show. It was if it were a fait accompli. Yet, as I understand it, the show was doing well in several international markets. I was also surprised there didn't seem to be any overtures from ABC or cable networks. Did Bruckheimer try to sell the show, or was there simply a tacit agreement to shut down production?

Frankly, I think one thing that hurt the 18-49 ratings of "Close to Home" early in the season was that it aired opposite "Las Vegas." Ask yourself: If a younger person happens to be home on Friday night and is scanning the listings, is he or she more likely to watch a show named "Las Vegas" or one called "Close to Home"? CBS might have helped the ratings by changing the name to "Close to Danger," which certainly was true for Annabeth in many of the episodes.

If CBS had picked up the show for midseason return, it would have been a perfect fit for almost any weak spot on the CBS schedule. In addition to the 9 p.m. Friday slot, it would have worked nicely at 8 p.m. Sunday bridging "60 Minutes" to "Cold Case"; or at 8 p.m. Wednesday, leading into "Criminal Minds" and "CSI:NY." And I'm sure it would have done better than "Cane" in the old time slot of 10 p.m. Tuesday (though "The Unit" would not have the right lead-in).

If there's someone out there with firsthand knowledge of the "Close to Home" situation, I'd like to get answers to these questions:

1) Did CBS ever give serious consideration to renewing "Close to Home" after February?

2) Why did the show's producers and stars not speak up for the show?

3) Has any consideration been given to resurrecting the show?

I would be particularly interested in what David Poltrack, who has watched ratings for CBS for years, has to say. I'd also like to hear from Bruckheimer and the stars, Jennifer Finnigan and David James Elliott.

Oddly enough, our CBS affiliate continues to air CBS-produced public service announcements about mentoring, featuring Finnigan from "Close to Home."