Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 4/23/08

The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 14.67 million, NBC: 10.81, CBS: 7.82, ABC: 5.51, CW: 3.26

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.5 rating/15 share, NBC: 2.8/ 7, CBS: 2.2/ 6, ABC: 2.0/ 5, CW: 1.6/ 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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-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Law & Order (NBC)

-Honorable Mention:
Deal or No Deal (NBC), Back to You (Fox), Criminal Minds R (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Wife Swap (ABC), Supernanny (ABC), Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (CW), Men in Trees (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
Before I get into the Wednesday results, let me begin by talking about Carly Smithson’s exit on American Idol last night. While nothing at this point should ever be a surprise to any of us, Carly leaving before Brooke White and Jason Castro is just an abomination. While I can sort of understand the giggly teens voting for John Travolta in dreadlocks, who the heck is supporting this Carly Simon wannabe? Folks…I just don’t get it. Do you?

Fox, of course, led the Wednesday troops on the strength of American Idol, but the sharp year-to-year erosion stems from a two-hour edition of Idol airing on April 25, 2007. Second overall was an improved NBC, followed by CBS, ABC and the CW.

NBC opened the evening on a positive note with the first half of a two-hour edition of Deal or No Deal first in total viewers (10.02 million) and tied for second (with CBS’ Big Brother 9) among adults 18-49, with a 2.3 rating/7 share in the demo from 8-9 p.m. First overall among adults 18-49 were Fox’s combination of ‘Til Death (Viewers: #3, 6.16 million; A18-49: #2, 2.3/ 7) and Back to You (Viewers: #2, 7.27 million; A18-49: #1, 2.7/ 7). Worth noting for Back to You was growth of 17 percent out of ‘Til Death in the demo. And speaking as a fan of ‘Til Death, JB Smoove as Kenny Westchester is an absolute hoot. If Fox grants the worthy ‘Til Death a third season, we need to see JB on a regular basis.

Also in the 8 p.m. hour was CBS’ aforementioned Big Brother 9 (Viewers: #3, 6.70 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.3/ 7), ABC’s Wife Swap (Viewers: #4, 5.89 million; A18-49: #4, 2.2/ 7), and America’s Next Top Model on the CW (Viewers: #5, 4.23 million; A18-49: #5, 2.0/ 6). As for Big Brother, so long Sheila. I would say that the final two, Ryan and Adam, are equally matched at this point, wouldn’t you?

Naturally, Fox’s American Idol led the 9 p.m. hour (and the night overall), with 22.62 million viewers and an 8.4 rating/21 share among adults 18-49. Second was the concluding half of NBC’s expanded Deal or No Deal (Viewers: 9.77 million; A18-49: 2.4/ 6), which averaged a comfortable 9.89 million viewers and a 2.4/ 7 in the demo from 8-10 p.m. Now that The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors has voted to create a new Emmy award category for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, I think that Howie Mandel belongs on the ballot.

Also airing at 9 p.m. was a repeat of CBS’ Criminal Minds (Viewers: #3, 9.02 million; A18-49: #4, 2.1/ 5), ABC’s Supernanny (Viewers: #4, 5.42 million; A18-49: #3, 2.2/ 5), and Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious on the CW (Viewers: #5, 2.30 million; A18-49: #5, 1.2/ 3), which has completely squandered its Top Model lead-in.

NBC moved into the winner’s circle at 10 p.m., with veteran Law & Order at a healthy 12.63 million viewers and a 3.7/10 among adults 18-49. Next was a repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY (Viewers: 7.73 million; A18-49: 2.1/ 5), followed by ABC’s Men in Trees (Viewers: 5.21 million; A18-49: 1.5/ 4), which is now officially back on hiatus. Boston Legal moves into the Wednesday 10 p.m. hour on ABC next week.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

I hope NBC stops making DOND 2 hours because i think were starting to see it in the numbers.

Dear Marc,

We are all sitting in an important looking conference room trying to follow your advice regarding what we should do with 'Til Death. We find your advice below to be conflicting and confusing. Our people are at a stalemate here and want to know if we should renew or not. Your opinion is important to us here at the FOX Network.

Your Pal,
Kev

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Fox, which just can't seem to find a live-action comedy worth keeping, has two with 50/50 chances: 'Til Death and Back to You. While both, of course, were interrupted by the writers' strike, the two sophisticated adult comedies don't seem to fit Fox's trashy Family Guy-like personality. I would rethink renewing both half hours.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
And speaking as a fan of ‘Til Death, JB Smoove as Kenny Westchester is an absolute hoot. If Fox grants the worthy ‘Til Death a third season, we need to see JB on a regular basis.

I guess Til' Death and Back to You are not mass appeal hits... and never will be...

quote:

Before I get into the Wednesday results, let me begin by talking about Carly Smithson’s exit on American Idol last night. While nothing at this point should ever be a surprise to any of us, Carly leaving before Brooke White and Jason Castro is just an abomination. While I can sort of understand the giggly teens voting for John Travolta in dreadlocks, who the heck is supporting this Carly Simon wannabe? Folks…I just don’t get it. Do you?

I agree to a point, Marc. The elimination was before-her-time (Carly wasn't going to win, but based on vocal ability she should've been in the Top 4 at least with the Davids and Syesha... if not the Top 3 with the Davids), and especially surprising given the fact that she was one of the, if not the, best on Tuesday. The abominable thing about last night's elimination for me was that the Bottom Two was all wrong given the performances. When you have Jason and Brooke (both of whom have performed well at points this season, and were clearly way outside their comfort zone on Tuesday) doing abhorrent performances... you don't expect NEITHER of them to be in the bottom group. Because, often, the Idol viewers/voters get it right... we forget that the show is a popularity contest to many extents.

As for Brooke... the judges helped her stay on by getting her some sympathy votes after her performance. I really like Brooke when she's doing her thing (her "Let It Be" is a highlight of this season) and when she isn't saying "it's okay, it's okay" as the judges give her critiques (which she has largely stopped doing).

Carly Smithson was one of the weakest singers left and at times confused screaming with a vocal performance. She should have been off weeks ago if you look at her performances as a whole. She was lucky to have a reprieve for a couple of weeks. Carly, Brooke and Jason were the weakest of the six. I think the abomination here was that Syesha was in the bottom two over Jason and Brooke.

But I do have to say that ANTM is a head scratcher. Why the boost in numbers? And good for Back To You. I enjoy the show when I can watch it.

Thats where the shock really came in. Carly was easily the best Tuesday night and had her strongest performance in weeks. At least when Michael Johns went home he had an off week and went first so it was more understandable, even though he clearly went home way too early. I'm so over Jason and Brooke, their performances are the same every week and I really dont care to hear them sing anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by TravisYanan:

quote:

Before I get into the Wednesday results, let me begin by talking about Carly Smithson’s exit on American Idol last night. While nothing at this point should ever be a surprise to any of us, Carly leaving before Brooke White and Jason Castro is just an abomination. While I can sort of understand the giggly teens voting for John Travolta in dreadlocks, who the heck is supporting this Carly Simon wannabe? Folks…I just don’t get it. Do you?

I agree to a point, Marc. The elimination was before-her-time (Carly wasn't going to win, but based on vocal ability she should've been in the Top 4 at least with the Davids and Syesha... if not the Top 3 with the Davids), and especially surprising given the fact that she was one of the, if not the, best on Tuesday. The abominable thing about last night's elimination for me was that the Bottom Two was all wrong given the performances. When you have Jason and Brooke (both of whom have performed well at points this season, and were clearly way outside their comfort zone on Tuesday) doing abhorrent performances... you don't expect NEITHER of them to be in the bottom group. Because, often, the Idol viewers/voters get it right... we forget that the show is a popularity contest to many extents.

As for Brooke... the judges helped her stay on by getting her some sympathy votes after her performance. I really like Brooke when she's doing her thing (her "Let It Be" is a highlight of this season) and when she isn't saying "it's okay, it's okay" as the judges give her critiques (which she has largely stopped doing).

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 4/23/08

As for Big Brother, so long Sheila. I would say that the final two, Ryan and Adam, are equally matched at this point, wouldn’t you?

I think that Ryan is going to win...though I really don't want him to since for the early part of the game he was a lump of clay attached to Allison and his girl friend Jen. He was mute back then and did nothing as things played out around him. I hope at the reunion show they play the footage of Jen throwing him under the bus portraying him as a racist just to see Jen squirm. Yeah I'm cruel.

quote:

Originally posted by Legends:
I guess Til' Death and Back to You are not mass appeal hits... and never will be...

Perhaps they could be on ABC or CBS, but not on Fox. CBS just seems like the natural home of both.

Monday:
Til Death
Rules of Engagement
2.5 Men
new comedy
CSI:Miami

Sundays:
60 Minutes
Big Bang Theory
HIMYM
Back to You
Old Christine
Cold Case

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Now that The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors has voted to create a new Emmy award category for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, I think that Howie Mandel belongs on the ballot.

Well, he at least deserves an award for being on TV the most. The number of original hours that show's going to churn out this year is pretty amazing for primetime.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
NBC moved into the winner’s circle at 10 p.m., with veteran Law & Order at a healthy 12.63 million viewers and a 3.7/10 among adults 18-49.

Great numbers for another really strong episode. Nice to send Jesse Martin out with a well above-average performance.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors has voted to create a new Emmy award category for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, I think that Howie Mandel belongs on the ballot.

Will gameshow hosts be eligible, or just Reality show hosts?

quote:

America’s Next Top Model on the CW (Viewers: #5, 4.23 million; A18-49: #5, 2.0/ 6).

Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious on the CW (Viewers: #5, 2.30 million; A18-49: #5, 1.2/ 3), which has completely squandered its Top Model lead-in.

Both CW shows had season highs last night. All it took was ANTM going to Italy and PCD having a season/series finale. Hopefully, the numbers hold in finals. Does anyone know of any major sports preemptions on CW last night?

ABC: Expected performances. Boston Legal likely in 7 to 8 million viewer range and low 2 demo next week. Goodbye Men in Trees.

CBS: Solid Criminal Minds. Big Brother average. CSI:NY fell quite a bit from the lead in. Could Law and Order be an upcoming problem for this weakening CSI spinoff?

NBC: Modest DOND. Strong Law and Order. Unlike ER, which has been sinking like a stone lately, this show has held steady and improved this year in its return to Wednesdays. NBC should just throw the towel in on likely failure Lipstick Jungle or move that elsewhere and go with this on Wednesdays at 10 all next year.

Fox: Sad to see Til Death and B2Y continue to struggle but hey, week to week gains so we'll hold out hope viewers return.

CW: Strong Top Model. The highest I believe this season if numbers hold. Above average Puddy Catt Dolls but its time for that to end already.

DOND skews old

NBC: L&O did really well last night. I know a lot of it was having NY out of the way, but still solid, solid numbers.

FOX: Both 'TD and BTY needed those slight bumps from last week... desperately. FOX must be happy with that, but i wonder if it's enough for a renewal. Perhaps if they can rebound a *little* bit more in the coming weeks, they can secure a 3rd/2nd season.

ABC: RENEW MIT FOR A THIRD SEASON!!!

...just kidding.

quote:

Originally posted by Walter:
I hope NBC stops making DOND 2 hours because i think were starting to see it in the numbers.

Actually, the Wed edition always had pretty low numbers compared to the Mon edition. I think these numbers are pretty in line with the overall dip in tv ratings across the board. The Monday numbers, however, are a lot more disturbing. They are not much better than these, yet used to be a LOT bigger.