Prime-Time Ratings:
Tuesday 11/28/06

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

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 12.77 million, Fox: 11.47, NBC: 10.17, ABC: 9.70, CW: 4.16

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 4.6 rating/12 share, NBC: 3.6/ 9, ABC: 3.4/ 9, CBS: 3.3/ 9, CW: 1.9/ 5

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
A Charlie Brown Christmas R (ABC), NCIS (CBS), House (Fox), Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

-Honorable Mention:
Boston Legal (ABC)

-Inching Closer to a Fourth-Season Renewal:
Veronica Mars (CW)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
Friday Night Lights (NBC), Standoff (Fox), Big Day (ABC), Help Me Help You (ABC), 3 Lbs. (CBS)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
First, and foremost, I missed the boat earlier this morning by labeling the CW’s Veronica Mars a loser, and will get to that momentarily. Without Dancing With the Stars in the mix, ABC went from first to fourth in total viewers and first to third among adults 18-49. CBS and Fox shared the top spot, with CBS the most-watched network and Fox No. 1 among adults 18-49. The CW was up week to week.

In series-premiere news, long-delayed ABC sitcom Big Day did not have such a big day, with a mere (and fourth-place) 7.57 million viewers and a 2.8 rating/7 share among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. Comparably, that was about one-third the size of former occupant Dancing With the Stars in total viewers, with retention out of repeat lead-in A Charlie Brown Christmas (Viewers: #2, 13.00 million; A18-49: #1, 4.8/13 at 8 p.m.) of just 58 percent in both total viewers and adults 18-49. If you think that was bad, lead-out Help Me Help You sunk to a miniscule (and series-low) 5.01 million viewers with a 1.8/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 9:30 p.m. Comparably, Big Day and Help Me Help You were off, on average, by 7.37 million viewers and 32 percent among adults 18-49 from year-ago occupant Commander in Chief (Viewers: 13.66 million; A18-49: 3.4/ 8 on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005).

Despite the lack of lead-in support, ABC’s Boston Legal at 10 p.m. (opposite CBS’ sinking 3 Lbs.) perked up to a respectable 9.81 million viewers and a 3.0/ 9 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. That’s worthy of honorable mention, don’t you think?

The absence of Dancing With the Stars is proving beneficial for CBS’ underrated NCIS with 17.91 million viewers (#1) and a 4.1/11 among adults 18-49 (#2) from 8-9 p.m. Second was ABC’s aforementioned repeat of A Charlie Brown Christmas, followed by NBC’s Friday Night Lights (Viewers: #3, 6.17 million; A18-49: #3, 2.4/ 6), Fox’s Standoff (Viewers: #4, 5.79 million; A18-49: #4, 2.3/ 6) and the CW’s Gilmore Girls (Viewers: #5, 4.83 million; A18-49: #5, 2.2/ 6). Although even a diluted Gilmore Girls is still passable on the CW, Friday Night Lights and Standoff need to find new time periods (with ample lead-in support) pronto.

At 9 p.m., Fox’s House stood head and shoulders above the rest, with a hefty 17.16 million viewers and a 6.8/17 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that built from lead-in Standoff by a mammoth 11.37 million viewers and 196 percent among adults 18-49. Second was CBS’ The Unit (Viewers: 12.46 million; A18-49: 3.4/ 8), followed by NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Viewers: 9.73 million; A18-49: 3.1/ 8), ABC’s aforementioned Big Day and Help Me Help You, and the CW’s Veronica Mars (Viewers: 3.49 million; A18-49: 1.6/ 4). Not only did Veronica Mars hit a season high, it posted its best rating ever among adults 18-34 (2.0/ 6), it tied its best rating ever among adults 18-49, and had its second biggest audience ever. Retention out of Gilmore Girls was also improved at 72 percent in total viewers, 80 percent in adults 18-34 and 73 percent among adults 18-49.

Sorry, folks...I blew it earlier this morning!

At 10 p.m., NBC’s dominant Law & Order: SVU remained just that, with 14.61 million viewers and a 5.2/14 among adults 18-49. Second was ABC’s aforementioned Boston Legal, followed by week three of CBS’ 3 Lbs. at a series low 7.95 million viewers and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49. Considering that former failed occupant Smith averaged 8.38 million viewers and a 2.8/ 8 among adults 18-49 in its third, and final, telecast (on Oct. 3), the axe could be swinging at any given moment on the lightweight 3 Lbs.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Big Day was so bad. I don't see that lasting as these initial viewers were just checking it out, and like me, probably checking out for other shows.

My kids enjoyed watching Charlie Brown though, he's a true winner!

Marc-
Any insights to why 3LBs is failing? Too derivative from HOUSE maybe?

Perhaps it really is just an unwinnable hour for CBS...even THE AMAZING RACE faired poorly there a while back.

CBS should focus on creating a DATELINE like news mag to plug this sort of hole.

Im more than excited for Veronica Mars!!! And last night's episode was awesome... i knew it would have good ratings (i mean, in comparison with the past weeks) but i never expected that much!!... i think those mini finales always catch more audience than "normal" episodes.

And i didn't expected ABC to sunk that much!!

Well, that sucks about 3 lbs, but really what do you expect?? CBS only showed one commercial for it last night, and that was at the end of The Unit. Launching a new show during sweeps with no major promotional campaign is just dooming it to failure.

So, what does CBS do now?? With no other midseason shows, their options are limited. Do they just can 3 lbs, or do they try to work out some of the kinks and give it a major relaunch later??

It this point, CBS' best option may be program this timeslot very similar to how TBS/TNT programs such shows as Into the West, The Grid, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. In other words, air limited series with definite beginnings and conclusions over a specified period. CBS has two Stone movies and that Comanche Moon miniseries on tap, so they should just put both of them back into the editing room and make two four or five week limited series. They can air the Stone series in January/February and Comanche Moon in February/March. Then, if they think 3 lbs can be improved, it can get a major relaunch in March when SVU and BL are in repeat mode. Otherwise, the spot can be used for crime repeats and other specials.

NCIS' almost 18M viewers. That's amazing! CSI, WAT, Survivor might be down, but NCIS, CSI: NY and Criminal Minds are coming to the rescue.

Oh Marc, don't tease us with the thoughts of a possible fourth season of Veronica Mars! I'm elated to see the ratings for this episodes, but I'm not so optimistic as to think these numbers will have staying power, unfortunately...

You said it, A.C. It is too much of a rip-off of House. Why do we need another House...on CBS?

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
Marc-
Any insights to why 3LBs is failing? Too derivative from HOUSE maybe?

Perhaps it really is just an unwinnable hour for CBS...even THE AMAZING RACE faired poorly there a while back.

CBS should focus on creating a DATELINE like news mag to plug this sort of hole.

OMG!!! I almost cried when I saw the Veronica numbers!!! Keep it Up!

Think POSITIVE Wayne.

quote:

Originally posted by wayne:
Oh Marc, don't tease us with the thoughts of a possible fourth season of Veronica Mars! I'm elated to see the ratings for this episodes, but I'm not so optimistic as to think these numbers will have staying power, unfortunately...

See, CW? This is what happens to VM when you actually air the promo you've painstakingly created...

I don't know about inching towards a fourth season renewal, though. I honestly would prefer to be pleasantly surprised that disappointed on the more likely chance it isn't back next year. And. for whatever reason CW is airing a new Gilmore Girls next week and repeating the VM season premiere... that's gonna kill any momentum.

Any word what CW is doing with the post-Beauty and the Geek slot in January and February? If it's airing eight episodes... maybe Hidden Palms?

I am reminded that "48 Hours Mystery" did reasonably well in that slot one summer.

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
Marc-
Any insights to why 3LBs is failing? Too derivative from HOUSE maybe?

Perhaps it really is just an unwinnable hour for CBS...even THE AMAZING RACE faired poorly there a while back.

CBS should focus on creating a DATELINE like news mag to plug this sort of hole.

All I can say is that ABC was way to hasty canceling Commander in Chief and Invasion. Considering the number of slots they knew they had to fill they should have ran with at least one of them this season (certainly CiC would be the best possible lead out show for the semi-older skewing Dancing!). While I have enjoyed all of ABC's new shows this season I would add Help Me to the mounting scrap heap that is ABC's lineup (along with Six Degrees and The Nine). A plus though is that this will mean that Men in Trees, Brother & Sisters and Ugly Betty will almost certainly return next season along with the rest of ABC's "usual suspects".

As for CBS' dreaded Tuesday at 10pm (should have kept Judging Amy - a rare whoops for CBS) I say flip Shark and 3Lbs if they're in favour of saving the latter. However, considering BL and SVU occupy the slot Shark may be crowded out a little. This is the slot that CBS is failing in and apart from that they are the golden net at the moment.

And VERONICA MARS! All I can say is yay! As this was the last episode of this arc hopefully new people hopped on board and caught on. I haven't seen the ep yet but I bet it was a mind blower given that the rapist was revealed and the next arc kicked off (I assume). Anyway if GG really is bowing out this season then I think VM has just as much a chance as OTH (if not more) of getting picked up next season. [Especially considering that OTH has all the eps it needs for syndication]

Ya i was dissapointed with Big Day, I only watched it because of a good review i read on Yahoo. It had a few funny moments, but i dont think it was good enough to pull me away from House.

I'm not surprised at all about 3lbs' preformance, with the massive success of House and Grey's Anatomy, we were bound to see less-quality medical dramas appearing.

I will try, I will try!

As for the ABC comedies....it really seems like no one wants to watch sitcoms anymore. If Two and a Half Men wasn't around, don't think there is ANY comedy that could pull any weight these days. HIMYM and Christine depend on people watching 2.5 to tune in for the whole night, and My Name is Earl and The Office are only modest performers. The sitcom may TRULY be dead!

Also, it looks like CBS will always have the one "death slot" in Tuesdays at 10PM. With loyal viewers tuning into either Law & Order: SVU or Boston Legal, it seems like nothing will stick in that slot for CBS. But, that doesn't make me too sad. CBS should have at least SOME problems in its schedule! Plus, I'm glad that Boston Legal is able to be competitive even with the non-existant lead-ins it usually gets.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Think POSITIVE Wayne.

quote:

Originally posted by wayne:
Oh Marc, don't tease us with the thoughts of a possible fourth season of Veronica Mars! I'm elated to see the ratings for this episodes, but I'm not so optimistic as to think these numbers will have staying power, unfortunately...