Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 2/10/10

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 16.97 million, CBS: 12.15, ABC: 6.99, NBC: 5.73, CW: 1.14

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 6.0 rating/15 share, CBS: 3.3/ 9, ABC: 2.6/ 7, NBC: 1.6/ 4, CW: 0.6/ 1

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
The Middle (ABC), American Idol (Fox), Modern Family (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Mercy (NBC), Cougar Town (ABC), Ugly Betty (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
Fox got over the Wednesday “hump” in typical winning fashion, beating No. 2 CBS by 4.82 million viewers and 2.7 rating points among adults 18-49. In the distant No. 3 spot was ABC, following by NBC and yet another night of repeats on The CW.

Recently introduced Fox drama Human Target was the most-watched show in the 8 p.m. hour, with a very respectable 8.92 million viewers. But it finished second among adults 18-49 (2.5/ 5) behind ABC’s combination of holiday repeat A Charlie Brown Valentine (Viewers: #3, 7.51 million; A18-49: #1, 2.5/ 7) and growing The Middle (Viewers: #2, 8.25 million; A18-49: #1, 3.0/ 8), which is clearly earning its renewal stripes. The Middle beat CBS’ competing Gary Unmarried (Viewers: #3, 7.67 million; A18-49: #3, 2.4/ 7 – above average in both categories) by 580,000 viewers and 25 percent in the demo.

Earlier in the evening on CBS was The New Adventures of Old Christine at an above-average 8.30 million viewers (#2) and a third-place 2.3/ 7 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m.

Rounding off the 8 p.m. hour was NBC’s on-the-fence medical drama Mercy (Viewers: #4, 6.77 million; A18-49: #4, 1.8/ 5) and a repeat of The CW’s critically acclaimed Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.63 million; A18-49: #5, 0.8/ 2).

Top-rated 9 p.m. honors fell in Fox’s corner, of course, with blockbuster American Idol at 25.02 million viewers and a 9.5/23 among adults 18-49. For my thoughts on Ellen DeGeneres as the new judge, listen to today’s PIPodcast at http://www.marcberman.tv. Next was CBS’ Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 14.77 million; A18-49: #2, 3.8/ 9), which could potentially have a spin-off on the air next season, followed by ABC sitcoms Modern Family (Viewers: #3, 10.11 million; A18-49: #2, 4.2/10) and Cougar Town (Viewers: #3, 6.66 million; A18-49: #3, 2.8/ 7). The good news for ABC was growth for Modern Family out of growing The Middle of a hefty 1.86 million viewers and 40 percent in the demo. But on the flipside was retention for Cougar Town out of Modern Family of only 66 percent in total viewers and 67 percent among adults 18-49. The erosion is too steep.

Also airing at 9 p.m. was a repeat of NBC’s veteran Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #4, 4.45 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 3) and a repeat of The CW’s Gossip Girl (Viewers: #5, 655,000; A18-49: #5, 0.3/ 1), which returns to the Monday 9 p.m. hour on March 8.

CBS remained in the winners circle at 10 p.m. care of CSI: NY, which averaged a healthy 13.69 million viewers and a 3.6/10 among adults 18-49. Next was another repeat telecast of Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: 5.98 million; A18-49: 1.8/ 5), which is stepping in for canceled The Jay Leno Show on Wednesday, followed by ABC’s also axed Ugly Betty at a no so pretty 4.71 million viewers and a 1.7/ 5 in the demo.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

A lot of these shows appear to have been helped out by the big Northeast Blizzard yesterday. The sitcoms all look to be up.

and a repeat of The CW’s critically acclaimed Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.63 million; A18-49: #5, 0.8/ 2).


wow at lux's repeate numbers once again. lots of people seem to be watching this show on its repeate night instead of mondays. i really think this helps the shows prospects for season 2

I think LUX will be back next season.

quote:

Originally posted by TheOCFan:
and a repeat of The CW’s critically acclaimed Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.63 million; A18-49: #5, 0.8/ 2).


wow at lux's repeate numbers once again. lots of people seem to be watching this show on its repeate night instead of mondays. i really think this helps the shows prospects for season 2

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
I think LUX will be back next season.

quote:

Originally posted by TheOCFan:
and a repeat of The CW’s critically acclaimed Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.63 million; A18-49: #5, 0.8/ 2).


wow at lux's repeate numbers once again. lots of people seem to be watching this show on its repeate night instead of mondays. i really think this helps the shows prospects for season 2

me too marc

CT's numbers are quite terrible given the lead-in. These two shows were quite compatible in the beginning of the season. Has CT completely lost its appeal or something?

quote:

Originally posted by TheOCFan:
and a repeat of The CW’s critically acclaimed Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.63 million; A18-49: #5, 0.8/ 2).


wow at lux's repeate numbers once again. lots of people seem to be watching this show on its repeate night instead of mondays. i really think this helps the shows prospects for season 2

People are watching LUX on Wednesdays instead of Mondays. CW needs to find a new time slot. Mondays are just too crowded for LUX.

American Idol is taking its toll.

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
CT's numbers are quite terrible given the lead-in. These two shows were quite compatible in the beginning of the season. Has CT completely lost its appeal or something?

quote:

American Idol is taking its toll.

This decline started before AI, and Modern Family is holding up fine.

Yeah I'm not sure what happened there. Seems like people are tuning into MF despite heavy competition and then leaving in droves.

Nice to see the Middle going up, the show is really hitting its stride.

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
CT's numbers are quite terrible given the lead-in. These two shows were quite compatible in the beginning of the season. Has CT completely lost its appeal or something?

I really don't understand why Cougar Town drops so much from Modern Family. I really like both shows. Sure, they're different. But, CT has certainly has family and relationship elements similar to MF. CT also throws in more sex & adult themes, though.

the Middle is also very good. The cast melds together very nicely & I'm enjoying it more & more each week.

I also watched Gary Unmarried. I DVR the new episodes, but I think I'm going to stop. The acting is not great. I'm no expert, but Paula Marshall is awful. It annoys me to no end to watch her flip her hair back when it's not in her face in the first place. Everything she says on the show seems forced to me. I'm not surprised that the Middle is beating it.

I didn't see Christine, even though I usually like it very much.

Anyway, I'm glad that the 3 ABC Comedies have already earned pickups for next season. They've changed my Wednesday viewing habits. I didn't watch Idol last night. I like Ellen, but I wish Paula was still on. I'll probably watch more as they narrow the contestants to 12.

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
CT's numbers are quite terrible given the lead-in. These two shows were quite compatible in the beginning of the season. Has CT completely lost its appeal or something?

I think ABC jumped too quickly to renew CT. It numbers are really starting to droop compared to the other two. Even with the help of the Blizzard this show went down. CT is really starting to be a failure for ABC.

I guess so, but it's weird that Modern Family is actually rising in the ratings while CT is sinking.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
American Idol is taking its toll.

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
CT's numbers are quite terrible given the lead-in. These two shows were quite compatible in the beginning of the season. Has CT completely lost its appeal or something?

ABC can always reverse its decision on Cougar Town.

quote:

Originally posted by Twins12:

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
CT's numbers are quite terrible given the lead-in. These two shows were quite compatible in the beginning of the season. Has CT completely lost its appeal or something?

I think ABC jumped too quickly to renew CT. It numbers are really starting to droop compared to the other two. Even with the help of the Blizzard this show went down. CT is really starting to be a failure for ABC.

quote:

Originally posted by TheOCFan:
and a repeat of The CW’s critically acclaimed Life Unexpected (Viewers: #5, 1.63 million; A18-49: #5, 0.8/ 2).


wow at lux's repeate numbers once again. lots of people seem to be watching this show on its repeate night instead of mondays. i really think this helps the shows prospects for season 2

I am curious how the show would do if it only was on once a week. That being said the Wednesday night slot looks way better then Monday for the show.