-Yesterday’s Winners: American Idol (Fox), House (Fox), Boston Legal (ABC)
-Honorable Mention: NCIS R (CBS)
-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats): Dateline (NBC), Big Day (ABC), Veronica Mars (CW)
-Ratings Breakdown: Led by the combination of American Idol and House, Fox beat the four competing networks combined by an average of 3.88 million viewers and 48 percent among adults 18-49. American Idol opened the evening with a typically mammoth 33.29 million viewers and a 13.3 rating/33 share among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m., followed by bona fide sensation House at 27.75 million viewers and an 11.2/27 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. For anyone who thinks House is just riding on the coattails of American Idol, note the retention of a solid 83 percent in total viewers and 84 percent in the demo.
Competitively, the networks chose an over-abundance of repeats to battle the Fox steamroller. A repeat of CBS’ NCIS was second at 8 p.m. with 12.19 million viewers and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49 -- certainly not shabby considering it was not an original telecast. Also in the hour was NBC’s Dateline (Viewers: #4, 5.61 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.1/ 5), a repeat of the already renewed America’s Funniest Home Videos on ABC (Viewers: #3, 5.74 million; A18-49: #4, 1.7/ 4), and the CW’s veteran Gilmore Girls (Viewers: #5, 4.26 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.1/ 5). Given that Gilmore Girls scored a heftier 5.22 million viewers with a 2.3/ 6 on the WB on the year-ago evening, should the CW really be going out of its way to try to renew it?
At 9 p.m., not only did Fox’s aforementioned House dominate, it also beat the four competing networks combined. In the battle of the scripted drama repeats, CBS’ The Unit ranked at distant second in the hour with 8.97 million viewers and a 2.3/ 5 among adults 18-49, followed by NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent at 6.58 million viewers and a 2.0/ 5 in the demo. Over at ABC, the series-finale of Big Day was not so big at 4.29 million viewers (#4) and a 1.4/ 3 among adults 18-49 (#4). Come on now – did anyone really think that a whole season of episodes based on one wedding day would be worth watching? That led into a repeat of The Knights of Prosperity at a barely visible (and also fourth-place) 3.51 million viewers and a 1.4/ 3 among adults 18-49 at 9:30 p.m. Even worse was an original installment of the CW’s Veronica Mars with a mere 2.74 million viewers and a 1.2/ 3 in the demo. Retention for Veronica Mars out of lead-in Gilmore Girls remained disappointing at 64 percent in total viewers and 57 percent among adults 18-49.
At 10 p.m., ABC’s Boston Legal and a repeat of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU shared the No. 1 spot. Boston Legal was the most-watched at 9.41 million viewers, while tied with a Tuesday edition of CBS’ 48 Hours Mystery for second among adults 18-49 (2.7/ 7). Worth positively noting for Boston Legal was growth out of the repeat of The Knights of Prosperity of a whopping 5.90 million viewers and 93 percent among adults 18-49. For that alone Boston Legal moves up into the winner’s circle. The Law & Order: SVU second-run won the hour among adults 18-49 (2.9/ 8) despite tumbling to third in total viewers, with 8.27 million. CBS’ 48 Hours Mystery was second in total viewers, meanwhile, with 8.76 million.
No, CW shouldn't go out of its way to renew GG, but given that along with Smallville, it's the closest thing to a scripted hit franchise they've got, they might decide to do so anyway, even though its hit days are far behind it.
Even with BOTH leads gone, it'd still outperform Veronica Mars.
Sheesh, VM actually had WORSE retention in the demo?
interesting BL has the same demo #'s as WAB on Monday nite. One is a winner and one a loser. Bottom line is both reached the same number of the targeted demo.
...the CW’s veteran Gilmore Girls (Viewers: #5, 4.26 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.1/ 5). Given that Gilmore Girls scored a heftier 5.22 million viewers with a 2.3/ 6 on the WB on the year-ago evening, should the CW really be going out of its way to try to renew it?
Marc, are you really saying that you think it's in The CW's best interest to cancel Gilmore Girls, but, based on some of your recent postings, renew 7th Heaven, which just two days ago pulled in a mere 3.1 million viewers and 1.2/3 A18-49 rating? And 7th Heaven didn't have to compete with American Idol.
Plus you're so quick to dismiss Veronica Mars based on last night's ratings (viewers 2.74 million; A18-49 1.2/3), but I'd be willing to wager that VM outperformed 7th Heaven in The CW's target demo of A18-34.
Now, believe me, I'm not defending Veronica Mars. I think it should have been cancelled after the 1st season, but I'd like to hear your justification for suggesting The CW cancel GG and VM, but renew the older, lower rated (A18-34 demo) 7th Heaven.
Originally posted by Gee: Could it be that Veronica Mars fans are too busy posting about it on the internet to actually watch the show?
Stop insulting Veronica Mars fans Gee... you are so mean and condescending. What.... oh ouch .... I'm sorry Gee, I was temporarily possessed by one of the Zealots.
About Big Day--my sister loves it, but she's actually in the process of planning her wedding now. That's apparently the show's demo, and I guess there's not enough nuptials in the offing right now.
Yes, but Boston Legal has no lead-in support, and What About Brian loses a significant chunk of the Supernanny audience.
quote:
Originally posted by vlis: interesting BL has the same demo #'s as WAB on Monday nite. One is a winner and one a loser. Bottom line is both reached the same number of the targeted demo.
Now, believe me, I'm not defending Veronica Mars. I think it should have been cancelled after the 1st season, but I'd like to hear your justification for suggesting The CW cancel GG and VM, but renew the older, lower rated (A18-34 demo) 7th Heaven.
I think a network that depends on 18-34's is a doomed network. Yeah, they're more desirable to sponsors, but they're also more inclined to go out at night. If you can get a LOT of them, fantastic. If you only get a tiny number of them, who cares about percentages?
Not that I'm defending 7H. I think that should have been canceled before its first season. But not because of ratings.
You know what...the CW has a ton of aging shows it needs to decide what to do with. My initial thought for 7th Heaven was moving it to Sunday at 7 p.m. (a la ABC's Life Goes On) to give the evening some anchor support. But if the ratings continue to dip, I'm not so sure. Personally, I think Gilmore Girls has just lost it creatively.
quote:
Originally posted by LuckyLady:
quote:
...the CW’s veteran Gilmore Girls (Viewers: #5, 4.26 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.1/ 5). Given that Gilmore Girls scored a heftier 5.22 million viewers with a 2.3/ 6 on the WB on the year-ago evening, should the CW really be going out of its way to try to renew it?
Marc, are you really saying that you think it's in The CW's best interest to cancel Gilmore Girls, but, based on some of your recent postings, renew 7th Heaven, which just two days ago pulled in a mere 3.1 million viewers and 1.2/3 A18-49 rating? And 7th Heaven didn't have to compete with American Idol.
Plus you're so quick to dismiss Veronica Mars based on last night's ratings (viewers 2.74 million; A18-49 1.2/3), but I'd be willing to wager that VM outperformed 7th Heaven in The CW's target demo of A18-34.
Now, believe me, I'm not defending Veronica Mars. I think it should have been cancelled after the 1st season, but I'd like to hear your justification for suggesting The CW cancel GG and VM, but renew the older, lower rated (A18-34 demo) 7th Heaven.
