Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 4/22/09

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 15.59 million, CBS: 9.55, NBC: 5.79, ABC: 5.35, CW: 2.60

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.2 rating/15 share, CBS: 2.5/ 7, ABC: 2.1/ 6, NBC: 1.5/ 4, CW: 1.2/ 3

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Scrubs (ABC), Better Off Ted (ABC), The Unusuals (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
Led by American Idol it was another midweek victory for Fox, which outdelivered second-place CBS by a hefty 6.04 million viewers and 2.7 rating points among adults 18-49. Fox finished first, in fact, in each of the four half-hours from 8-10 p.m. with its combination of Lie to Me (Viewers: 7.87 million; A18-49: 2.3 rating/7 share) and the aforementioned American Idol (Viewers: 23.30 million; A18-49: 8.1/21). But, let’s be honest, Lie to Me could certainly be better.

As for the American Idol last night, so long Lil and Anoop. The only surprise was seeing 16-going on-50 Allison in the bottom two opposite Anoop (and after Lil was voted off). My prediction to win it all: Adam Lambert, who stands head-and-shoulders above sentimental favorite Danny Gokey.

CBS, which seems to be testing the waters for some potential time period changes next season, opened the evening with repeats of The New Adventures of Old Christine (Viewers: #3, 5.19 million; A18-49: #3, 1.4/ 5) and Gary Unmarried (Viewers: #3, 5.54 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.7/ 5) from 8-9 p.m. Next on the Eye net was a repeat of Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 9.75 million; A18-49: #3, 2.3/ 6) at 9 p.m., followed by an original installment of Criminal Minds (in place of the regularly scheduled CSI: NY) at a dominant 13.55 million viewers and a 3.5/10 in the demo at 10 p.m.

NBC was in all repeats once again with its encore line-up of Law & Order (Viewers: #3, 5.71 million; A18-49: #5, 1.3/ 4), Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #4, 5.56 million; A18-49: #4, 1.5/ 4) and another installment of the overused Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 6.11 million; A18-49: #2, 1.8/ 5). As logical spot for recent entry Southland next season (which is losing the Thursday 10 p.m. time period to Jay Leno) could be Wednesday at 9 p.m.

Next up was ABC care of waiting-to-be-axed comedies Scrubs (Viewers: #4, 4.66 million; A18-49: #2, 1.8/ 6) and Better Off Ted (Viewers: #5, 4.20 million; A18-49: #3t, 1.7/ 5), a clips edition of Lost (Viewers: #3, 6.99 million; A18-49: #2, 2.9/ 7), which was subtitled The Story of the Oceanic 6, and struggling The Unusuals, which was nothing unusual with a last-place 4.97 million viewers and a 1.6/ 5 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Particularly discouraging for The Unusuals was a loss of 22 percent in the demo at 10:30 p.m. (1.8/ 5 to 1.4/ 4).

Capping off this fourth Wednesday in April was the CW with the veteran America’s Next Top Model (Viewers: #5, 3.97 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 6), which remains a viable option, and a repeat of 90210 (Viewers: #5, 1.24 million; A18-49: #5, 0.6/ 2), which should only be airing once per week.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

ABC set to announce 12 early renewals:

America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Supernanny, Ugly Betty and Wife Swap.


http://www.sitcomsonline.com/b...180981&postcount=992

Given how weak ABC was tonight, I find it interesting that The Unusuals got a 1.6 in the demo--only three tenths of a percentage point less than the 1.9 Castle got last week on a night ABC owned (granted, The Unusuals may go down a little in the finals).

I watched a bit last night, and it's not as bad as I thought--not GOOD, but not as glaringly awful as Castle and Cupid. I'm not sure I'll ever become a regular viewer, but if they're going to take a chance on one of their new shows, this is the one--if only because it is unusual enough for viewers to take some time to get used to it.

Also, as an ensemble show, they can tweak the cast quite a lot--whereas with Castle & Cupid, they're stuck with the lousy casting they've got.

And not a single freshman series in the bunch...

quote:

Originally posted by lopez:
ABC set to announce 12 early renewals:

America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Supernanny, Ugly Betty and Wife Swap.


http://www.sitcomsonline.com/b...180981&postcount=992

Are we surprised...?

quote:

Originally posted by xwiseguyx:
And not a single freshman series in the bunch...

quote:

Originally posted by lopez:
ABC set to announce 12 early renewals:

America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Supernanny, Ugly Betty and Wife Swap.


http://www.sitcomsonline.com/b...180981&postcount=992

Ugly Betty needs to go. ABC should announce this as the last season. Practice is no better but compared to ABC's alternatives (DOA Unusuals) they have no choice but to renew.

quote:

My prediction to win it all: Adam Lambert, who stands head-and-shoulders above sentimental favorite Danny Gokey.

They might as well crown him the winner now. He will clearly win.

Marc, don't overlook dark horse Kris Allen. He's going to give Adam a run for his money.

LTM's total audience is good considering it's on FOX, but the demo just isn't good enough to warrant a renewal. A few weeks ago it looked like it could be the new Bones, but this week, against virtually no competition, it just did too bad. If the demo keeps falling like this it wouldn't be a surprise if FOX would cancel it. I mean it's almost doing as bad as New Amsterdam last year.

Congratulation to America's Next Top Model for a 2nd place finish in the 18-49 demo.

Star power: Clay Aiken, Ciara, and now Helo Pinheiro.

Good numbers for CM at 10pm. Good to see that since with CSI keeping getting worse, CM is the only quality procedural on network TV. Plenty on cable though

LTM is in deep troble, poor numbers

LIE TO ME - I wish this were doing better, but there are some negative signs. Yes, it has been jerked on and off the air. So I'm going to see how things play out over the next 3 weeks. But it continues to leak oil, and probably some people making decisions on the margins still prefer a rerun of L&O. Not the first time that has happened, but not good.

The quality of this show is ok with me but it doesn't seem to be clicking with the large crime drama audience at this time.

Only 20 Hours Left to Play the 2009 May Sweep Prediction Game

This years May Sweep starts up tonight, and tomorrow morning so begins the second annual May Sweep Prediction Game. Everyone who is a registered member of pifeedback.com is eligible to play the game. All are welcome.

This year, the May Sweep runs from Thursday April 23rd to Wednesday May 20th, and all the networks have loaded up their schedules with fresh episodes, guest stars and specials. In the boldest Sweep stunt, the CBS Television Network has brought back star Miss Barbra Streisand to star in a 'Streisand: Live in Concert' special that has been skedded for the first Saturday night of the Sweep. Will Miss Barbra Streisand's devoted followers deliver big Nielsens to CBS on the first Saturday of the Sweep? We'll know courtesy of Mr. Marc Berman on Sunday afternoon!


Miss Barbra Streisand stars in one of the most anticipated specials of the 2009 May Sweep

So who do you think will win the 2009 May Sweep? Will Miss Streisand’s special help a re-surgent CBS establish an early lead ahead of FOX? Who will take third place...ABC or NBC? Will a come-from-behind-story MyNetworkTV give The CW another run for 6th place Sweep glory?

Just go to the following link below and submit your entry.

LINK TO: The 2009 May Sweep Prediction Game

Good luck to all contestants who enter. Good luck to the networks. Good luck to Miss Streisand! This Sweep just might surprise a few broadcast naysayers with some impressive year-over-year gains for the broadcast networks.

Thank you,

Dumont
Sweepmaster
May 2008
dumont

The deadline for final entries will be 8:00 AM TOMORROW MORNING on Friday April 24th just before the very first overnight metered market reports are being relayed across the country.

Not surprising. The freshman series' performance for ABC overall has been poor.

quote:

Originally posted by xwiseguyx:
And not a single freshman series in the bunch...

quote:

Originally posted by lopez:
ABC set to announce 12 early renewals:

America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Supernanny, Ugly Betty and Wife Swap.


http://www.sitcomsonline.com/b...180981&postcount=992

I wonder if CBS being forced by ABC once again to renew Old Christine for 22 episodes will have an effect on Gary Unmarried. I always thought they would renew both shows for about 13 episodes, and share a time slot next season. If Christine gets 22 episodes it could squeeze Gary out. I think Gary deserves a renewal, but it may be at the mercy of how quality the pilots turn out for next year.

ABC tried The Unusuals in two spots and it couldn't find an audience. The demo drop at the half is terrible.

quote:

struggling The Unusuals, which was nothing unusual with a last-place 4.97 million viewers and a 1.6/ 5 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Particularly discouraging for The Unusuals was a loss of 22 percent in the demo at 10:30 p.m. (1.8/ 5 to 1.4/ 4).