-Ratings Breakdown: Ignited by American Idol, Fox led this first Tuesday in April, but its lead over second–place CBS was only by 1.47 million total viewers. ABC and NBC tied for the No. 3 spot in total viewers, while the home of The Biggest Loser, NBC was third in adults 18-49 -- just one-tenth of a rating point behind second-place CBS.
American Idol opened the evening for Fox with a healthy 21.99 million viewers and a 7.8 rating/22 share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. But as good as that is, last year it averaged a beefier 22.67 million viewers and a 9.2/14 in the demo (on Tuesday, April 8, 2008). Since about eight additional minutes of American Idol bled into the 9 p.m. half-hour, results for the return of Fringe at 9 p.m. (Viewers: #3, 11.48 million; A18-49: #1, 4.5/11) are approximate. As for American Idol, here are my picks for the bottom three: Lil Rounds (its time overrated Lil), Scott MacIntyre and 16 going on 50 Allison Iraheta. Although Allison was much better than deadly dull Kris, past triumphs will likely keep Kris safe for at least one more week. Most likely to bid adieu: Scott.
Second-place CBS was on the map with its combination of NCIS (Viewers: #2, 17.55 million; A18-49: #2, 3.6/10), bona fide freshman hit The Mentalist (Viewers: #1, 16.75 million; A18-49: #3, 3.6/ 9) and on-the-fence Without a Trace (Viewers: #1, 12.20 million; A18-49: #2, 2.7/ 7), which could be facing extinction because it skews…um…too old. What a shame that is, isn’t it?
ABC got off to a sluggish start last night care of animated holiday repeats It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (Viewers: #4, 4.43 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 3) and Charlie Brown All-Stars (Viewers: #4, 4.70 million; A18-49: #4, 1.3/ 3) from 8-9 p.m. But the live Dancing With the Stars Results Show (so long, David Alan Grier) perked up to 14.34 million viewers (#2) and a 3.3/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#4) from 9-10 p.m. Even so, week two of Cupid sunk to 6.22 million viewers and a 1.7/ 5 among adults 18-49 in the 10 p.m. hour (Last in both categories), dipping by 1.93 million viewers (7.19 to 5.26 million) and 16 percent among adults 18-49 (1.9/ 5 to 1.6/ 4) at 10:30 p.m. One week earlier, Cupid opened with 7.22 million viewers and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49 on March 31, based on the final nationals. Why ABC needed to remake this loser to begin with is beyond me.
NBC was on the map care of another two-hour edition of The Biggest Loser (Viewers: 8.02 million; A18-49: 3.1/ 8 from 8-10 p.m.), which always manages to score among adults 18-49, and deteriorating Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #2, 9.08 million; A18-49: #1, 3.2/ 9), which will need to find a new time period next season with five nights a week of Jay Leno on the horizon at 10 p.m. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown for The Biggest Loser:
The Biggest Loser (NBC) 8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.75 million (#3), A18-49: 2.4/ 7 (#3) 8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.26 million (#3), A18-49: 2.8/ 7 (#3) 9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 8.33 million (#4), A18-49: 3.3/ 8 (#4) 9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 9.75 million (#3), A18-49: 4.0/10 (#1)
The CW capped off the evening with lackluster performances for Reaper (Viewers: #5, 2.28 million; A18-49: #5, 0.9/ 2) and 90210 (Viewers: #5, 2.13 million; A18-49: #5, 1.1/ 3). Both dramas finished last in their time periods as well among target women 18-34, with Reaper at a 0.7/ 2 in the demo and 90210 a 2.0/ 5.
Even so, week two of Cupid sunk to 6.22 million viewers and a 1.7/ 5 among adults 18-49 in the 10 p.m. hour (Last in both categories), dipping by 1.93 million viewers (7.19 to 5.26 million) and 16 percent among adults 18-49 (1.9/ 5 to 1.6/ 4) at 10:30 p.m. One week earlier, Cupid opened with 7.22 million viewers and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49 on March 31, based on the final nationals. Why ABC needed to remake this loser to begin with is beyond me.
The first Cupid wasn't a loser--it was a genuine victim of The Worst Timeslot Imaginable. I still remember it fondly.
Which of course makes me hate this show without even seeing it. Why would anyone who liked the original series want to see it redone?
The loser here is Rob Thomas, who should never run another show. He just doesn't have the skills, and what inspiration he may have had once has clearly dried up.
I wouldn't call women 18-34 the target demo for Reaper. Men 18-34 maybe, but not women.
But it's CW, and that is their target demo. So Reaper makes even less sense for them. They can't use it to promote most of their shows, which Reaper's audience isn't remotely interested in watching. It really isn't helping them at all.
It is truly a shame that CBS is considering canceling Without A Trace. I've written them about my displeasure regarding this and hope others will do the same.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: American Idol opened the evening for Fox with a healthy 21.99 million viewers and a 7.8 rating/22 share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. But as good as that is, last year it averaged a beefier 22.67 million viewers and a 9.2/14 in the demo (on Tuesday, April 8, 2008).
I find it simply amazing that American Idol can lose 1.4demo points while only losing less than 3/4million viewers.
Really wish Idol would figure out a way to stuff itself within its timeslot. I mean... running over by 8 minutes? C'mon. That's a total failure by Ryan Seacrest and the producers to manage the show, and the judges (at this point, to be honest, I'd send Randy home before either Paula or Kara). Once the overrun is averaged in, I wonder how close to last year's numbers the show will be.
As to Fringe, that was one of the strongest episodes the show has run yet--we'll see in the next five weeks if it picked up any new viewers from the AI overrun.
No question whatsoever this is going to a full second season, so the question before us is whether FOX keeps it after AI, and whether it can make it to season three.
It probably lost some DVR viewers, due to the schedule change, but who cares?
And look how they rushed the end of the show. Terrible planning on their part.
quote:
Originally posted by TravisYanan: Well, ain't no spinning that Cupid result.
Really wish Idol would figure out a way to stuff itself within its timeslot. I mean... running over by 8 minutes? C'mon. That's a total failure by Ryan Seacrest and the producers to manage the show, and the judges (at this point, to be honest, I'd send Randy home before either Paula or Kara). Once the overrun is averaged in, I wonder how close to last year's numbers the show will be.
Originally posted by artzylady: It is truly a shame that CBS is considering canceling Without A Trace. I've written them about my displeasure regarding this and hope others will do the same.
Did you write the studio, producers, writers, and cast to tell them that they need to take paycuts so that you can keep watching your show?
From the look of the ratings a lot of new shows will be needed by the networks on Tuesday next season. Which got me wondering what night will need the most replacements and deciding I'm not interested enough to look back and find out. Anyone willing to take a guess?
I wouldn't call women 18-34 the target demo for Reaper. Men 18-34 maybe, but not women.
But it's CW, and that is their target demo. So Reaper makes even less sense for them. They can't use it to promote most of their shows, which Reaper's audience isn't remotely interested in watching. It really isn't helping them at all.
There are plenty of men watching Smallville and Supernatural.
