Baseball Ignited Fox Sweeps Week of Oct. 26

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERWednesday, November 4, 2009 Prime-Time Metered Market Tuesday Ratings:CBS Wins; Strong Initial Sampling for ABC’s V National Ratings in Prime-Time:Week of October 26, 2009 Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time: A Familiar Building________________________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Tuesday Ratings:CBS Wins; Strong Initial Sampling for ABC’s V Tuesday 11/03/09 HH Rtg/Shr CBS 9.9/16ABC 7.8/12NBC 4.8/ 8Fox 3.6/ 5CW 1.2/ 2 ---------- -Note: Comparisons to the year-ago evening, which was Election Night Tuesday for the Presidential race, were not included. ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:NCIS (CBS), V (ABC), The Biggest Loser (NBC), Dancing With the Stars (ABC), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), The Good Wife (CBS) -Stick to The Summer, Please:So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) -Yesterday’s Losers:90210 (CW), Melrose Place (CW), The Forgotten (ABC), The Jay Leno Show (NBC) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:CBS led the Tuesday overnight troops as usual, but its dominance over No. 2 ABC, which included the series-premiere of V, was a less extensive 27 percent. Third overall was NBC, which is always on the map among adults 18-49 thanks to The Biggest Loser, followed by Fox and The CW. Highly promoted V got off to a positive start on ABC with a second-place 8.7 rating/14 share in the overnights from 8-9 p.m. Compared to the most recent performance of former time period occupant Shark Tank (3.8/ 6 on Oct. 20), that was an increase of a massive 129 percent. Normally dominant NCIS on CBS led the hour with an 11.2/17 in the overnights, but anything is possible once the adult 18-49 results arrive. Consider this a “winning” start for V. Too bad, however, that ABC has chosen to break up the season of V into two parts. For more, click here. http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/98010991/m/276104252?r=876107252#876107252 Leading out of V was the live Dancing With the Stars Results Show, with a first-place 9.8/15 in the overnights at 9 p.m., followed by questionable crime drama The Forgotten at a second-place 4.9/ 8 at 10 p.m. Comparably, retention for The Forgotten out of the second half of Dancing With the Stars (10.0/15 at 9:30 p.m.) was just 49 percent. As for the Dancing With the Stars, Michael Irvin and Mark Dacascos were, as predicted, sent packing. But the voters sure do not seem to like Aaron Carter. Leading out of NCIS on CBS, of course, was the successful combination of spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles (#2: 9.6/15) and older-skewing The Good Wife (#1: 8.9/15) from 9-11 p.m. NBC had a typical Wednesday care of two-hours of The Biggest Loser (5.1/ 8 from 8-10 p.m.), which built in every half-hour and always makes a positive impact among adults 18-49, followed by The Jay Leno Show (#3: 4.2/ 7 at 10 p.m.), which always generates its largest audience on Tuesday. Sadly, though, it is still not much. Here is the half-hour breakdown for The Biggest Loser: The Biggest Loser (NBC)8:00 p.m.: 4.5/ 7 (#3)8:30 p.m.: 5.0/ 8 (#3)9:00 p.m.: 5.4/ 8 (#3)9:30 p.m.: 5.6/ 9 (#3) Over at Fox, another two hours of So You Think You Can Dance took a major backseat to competing The Biggest Loser, with a 3.6/ 5 from 8-10 p.m. Comparably, that will probably translate into a disappointing mid-2 rating among adults 18-49. Here is the half-hour breakdown: So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)8:00 p.m.: 3.5/ 5 (#4)8:30 p.m.: 3.7/ 6 (#4)9:00 p.m.: 3.7/ 6 (#4)9:30 p.m.: 3.4/ 5 (#4) In the distant No. 5 spot was The CW’s combination of 90210 (1.4/ 2) and Melrose Place (1.1/ 2). Returning Heather Locklear, who will be reprising her role as Amanda Woodward in two weeks, sure has her work cut out “saving” Melrose Place again. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)_____________________________________________________________________________ National Ratings in Prime-Time:Week of October 26, 2009 Led by games one through four of The Baseball World Series (New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies), it was a clean sweep for Fox, with a first-place finish in households, total viewers and the three key demos -- adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34. Compared to the year-ago week (when there was only the fifth -- and final -- game of Tampa Bay at Philadelphia in The World Series), Fox increased by as much as 54 percent in total viewers. Needless to say, the network is certainly hoping for a seven game series. Fox’s advantage above second-place ABC in adults 18-49 (+78 percent) was the largest over the No. 2 network in the demo for a fourth quarter week in five years. Other than The CW, which is still benefiting by low-rated Sunday being factored into the year-ago mix, erosion was the visible pattern. CBS, which was in full repeats from Monday through Wednesday, dipped by margins of 12 to 18 percent. The Eye net finished second in households and total viewers; third in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54; and fourth among adults 18-34. ABC, which lost steam as a result of the high-rated Texas at Texas Tech Saturday Night Football match-up one year earlier, finished second demographically and third in households and total viewers, with erosion of a less extensive six to 13 percent. Minus Sunday Night Football in the mix (which was replaced by a repeat of theatrical National Treasure), troubled NBC came tumbling down, with losses of 29 to 33 percent in the three surveyed demos. Excluding a third-place finish among adults 18-34, NBC finished fourth across the board with the latest results for struggling 10 p.m. weeknight occupant The Jay Leno Show as follows: The Jay Leno Show (NBC) – 10 p.m.Monday – Viewers: 4.70 million (#69), A18-49: 1.3/ 4 (#72t)Tuesday – Viewers: 6.06 million (#54), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#53t)Wednesday – Viewers: 5.03 million (#64), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#66t)Thursday – Viewers: 4.41 million (#73), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#66t)Friday – Viewers: 4.98 million (#66), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#75t)Grade: F Particularly depressing for NBC was Notre Dame Football: Washington State versus Notre Dame at a miniscule 2.34 million viewers and 0.6 rating/2 share among adults 18-49 on Saturday. In the original specials department was NBC’s Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space, which got some mileage in the Wednesday 8 p.m. half-hour with 6.96 million viewers and a 2.2/ 6 among adults 18-49. Here are the final national ratings for the week of October 26, 2009 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses), followed by the freshman series results, and the top 30 rated programs of the week. -Households:Fox: 8.8 rating/14 share (+52), CBS: 6.2/10 (-15), ABC: 6.0/10 (- 6), NBC: 3.5/ 6 (-27), CW: 1.4/ 2 (- 7) -Total Viewers: Fox: 14.68 million (+54), CBS: 9.84 (-14), ABC: 9.45 (- 7), NBC: 5.59 (-26), CW: 2.24 (- 1) -Adults 18-49:Fox: 4. 8 rating/13 share (+41), ABC: 2.7/ 8 (-13), CBS: 2.3/ 6 (-18), NBC: 1.9/ 5 (-32), CW: 1.1/ 3 (+10) -Adults 25-54:Fox: 5.3/13 (+39), ABC: 3.3/ 8 (-13), CBS: 3.1/ 8 (-18), NBC: 2.2/ 5 (-29), CW: 1.0/ 2 (+11) -Adults 18-34:Fox: 4.2/13 (+31), ABC: 2.2/ 7 (- 8), NBC: 1.6/ 5 (-33), CBS: 1.5/ 5 (-12), CW: 1.3/ 4 (no change) -------------------- Freshman Series Results (in order of total viewers)Note: Hank (ABC), Mercy (NBC), Glee (Fox), Brothers (Fox) and the Sunday telecast of The Cleveland Show were pre-empted, while CBS’ Accidentally on Purpose, NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife, and Melrose Place on The CW were all repeats. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – Tuesday 9 p.m. ET (repeat)Viewers: 11.09 million (#19), A18-49: 2.1/ 5 (#41t)No grade for repeats The Good Wife (CBS) – Tuesday 10 p.m. ET (repeat)Viewers: 9.34 million (#27), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#53t)No grade for repeats Modern Family (ABC) – Wednesday 9 p.m. ETViewers: 9.33 million (#28), A18-49: 3.7/ 9 (#11t)Grade: B+ FlashForward (ABC) – Thursday 8 p.m. ETViewers: 8.92 million (#31), A18-49: 2.7/ 7 (#29)Grade: B- The Forgotten (ABC) – Tuesday 10 p.m. ETViewers: 8.26 million (#34), A18-49: 2.0/ 5 (#45t)Grade: C Three Rivers (CBS) – Sunday 9 p.m. ET Viewers: 7.70 million (#41), A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#61t)Grade: D+ Cougar Town (ABC) – Wednesday 9:30 p.m. ETViewers: 7.54 million (#42), A18-49: 3.2/ 8 (#23)Grade: B The Middle (ABC) – Wednesday 8:30 p.m. ETViewers: 6.49 million (#49), A18-49: 2.2/ 6 (#37t)Grade: C Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) – Monday 8:30 p.m. ET (repeat)Viewers: 5.89 million (#56), A18-49: 2.1/ 5 (#41t)No grade for repeats Trauma (NBC) – Monday 9 p.m. ETViewers: 5.77 million (#59), A18-49: 1.9/ 4 (#51t)Grade: F Community (NBC) – Thursday 8 p.m. ETViewers: 5.32 million (#62), A18-49: 2.1/ 6 (#41t)Grade: D Eastwick (ABC) – Wednesday 10 p.m. ETViewers: 5.02 million (#65), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#53t)Grade: F The Vampire Diaries (CW) – Wednesday 10 p.m. ETViewers: 4.18 million (#75), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#45t)Grade: A- Melrose Place (CW) – Tuesday 9 p.m. ET (repeat)Viewers: 770,000 (#86), A18-49: 0.4/ 1 (#85t)Grade: no grade for repeats --------------- Top 30 Rankings -Total Viewers:Baseball World Series, Game 4: Yankees vs. Phillies (Fox): 22.76 million, Baseball World Series, Game 1 (Fox): 19.51, Baseball World Series, Game 2 (Fox): 18.90, Baseball World Series Game 4 Pre-Game (Fox): 17.81, Dancing With the Stars – Monday (ABC): 17.38, NCIS R (CBS): 16.70, The OT (Fox): 16.61, The Mentalist (CBS): 15.53, Baseball World Series, Game 3 (Fox): 15.40, CSI (CBS): 15.24, Dancing With the Stars – Tuesday (ABC): 15.20, Desperate Housewives (ABC): 14.08, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): 13.74, 60 Minutes (CBS): 12.94, Survivor: Samoa (CBS): 12.19, CSI: Miami R (CBS): 11.52, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 11.41, The Amazing Race (CBS): 11.22, NCIS: Los Angeles R (CBS): 11.09, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 10.85, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC): 10.75, Castle (ABC): 9.99, Criminal Minds R (CBS): 9.89, The Biggest Loser (NBC): 9.67, Brothers & Sisters (ABC): 9.47, CSI: NY R (CBS): 9.46, The Good Wife R (CBS): 9.34, Modern Family (ABC): 9.33, Private Practice (ABC): 9.16, Cold Case (CBS): 9.02 -Adults 18-49:Baseball World Series, Game 4: Yankees vs. Phillies (Fox): 7.8 rating/20 share, Baseball World Series, Game 1 (Fox): 6.3/17, The OT (Fox): 6.2/17, Baseball World Series Game 4 Pre-Game (Fox): 6.0/16, Baseball World Series, Game 2 (Fox): 5.8/16, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): 5.2/13, Desperate Housewives (ABC): 5.0/12, Baseball World Series, Game 3 (Fox): 4.7/16, The Office (NBC): 4.2/10, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 3.8/ 9, The Biggest Loser (NBC) and Survivor: Samoa (CBS): 3.7/10 each, Modern Family (ABC): 3.7/ 9, Dancing With the Stars – Monday (ABC), The Mentalist (CBS) and Private Practice (ABC): 3.6/ 9 each, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 3.5/ 8, CSI (CBS): 3.4/ 8, Saturday Night Football (ABC): 3.3/12, NCIS R (CBS) and Brothers & Sisters (ABC): 3.3/ 9 each, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) and The Amazing Race (CBS): 3.3/ 8 each, Cougar Town (ABC): 3.2/ 8, CSI: Miami R (CBS) and 30 Rock (NBC): 3.1/ 8 each, Dancing With the Stars – Tuesday (ABC): 3.0/ 7, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown R (ABC): 2.8/ 8, Law & Order: SVU (NBC): 2.8/ 7, FlashForward (ABC): 2.7/ 7, How I Met Your Mother R (CBS) and So You Think You Can Dance – Top 20 (Fox): 2.6/ 6 Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -NBC’s Nightly News Dominates:Based on final national ratings for the week of Oct. 26, The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams finished first in total viewers, with 8.50 million. Next was ABC World News with Charles Gibson (7.95 million), followed by the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric (5.88 million). NBC also extended its winning streak among key adults 25-54 to 49 consecutive weeks (2.0), followed by ABC (1.9) and distant CBS (1.4). -National Ratings in Syndication – Week of October 19:What follows are the top 20 rated programs in syndication for the week of October 19 based on households, including any individual program highlights worth noting. Once again, ratings for the stripped version of Two and a Half Men from Warner Bros. are being reprocessed for the second consecutive week. Wheel of Fortune (CBS Television Distribution): 7.1 rating, Jeopardy (CBS): 5.8, Oprah (CBS): 5.1, Entertainment Tonight (CBS): 4.3, Judge Judy (CBS): 4.1, CSI: NY (CBS): 3.3, Inside Edition (CBS): 3.1, Family Guy (Twentieth): 3.0, Dr. Phil (CBS), The Office (NBC Universal) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Weekend (NBCU): 2.8 each, Dr. Oz (Sony Pictures Television) and George Lopez (Warner Bros.): 2.6 each, Live With Regis & Kelly (Disney-ABC) and Two and a Half Men – Weekend (Warner Bros.): 2.5 each, Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), Seinfeld (SPT) and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC): 2.4 each, CSI: Miami (CBS): 2.3, Seinfeld – Weekend (SPT): 2.2 -Inside Edition posted growth from one year earlier for the sixth consecutive week, with the largest yearly increase (+ 7 percent) of any newsmagazine.-Recent off-net entry Everybody Hates Chris from CBS Television Distribution rose to a 1.8 in households -- up 29 percent from one week earlier.-The Doctors, also from CBS, broke the 2.0 rating mark with the largest year-to-year growth (33 percent) of any strip in syndication. -Sophomore The Bonnie Hunt Show from Warner Bros. (a Mr. TV favorite) rose 13 percent in households from one week earlier (0.8 to 0.9), with across the board growth in key women. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options Wednesday 11/04/09Night 7 of the Nov. 2009 Sweeps ABC: 8:00 p.m. Hank 8:30 p.m. The Middle 9:00 p.m. Modern Family 9:30 p.m. Cougar Town 10:00 p.m. Eastwick CBS: 8:00 p.m. The New Adventures of Old Christine 8:30 p.m. Gary Unmarried 9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds10:00 p.m. CSI: NY NBC: 8:00 p.m. Mercy 9:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU 10:00 p.m. The Jay Leno Show Fox: 8:00 p.m. 2009 World Series, Game 6 CW 8:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model 9:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (R) ______________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -More Accidentally on Purpose on CBS:No, it is not a full season renewal. But freshman Eye net sitcom Accidentally on Purpose, created by former Knots Landing star Claudia Lonow, has been picked up for five additional episodes. That brings the order for season one up to 18. -Three Cable Net Premiere of Lopez Tonight:Lopez Tonight, the new late night TBS talker hosted by comedian and former sitcom star George Lopez, will debut on Monday, Nov. 9 at 11 p.m. ET with simultaneous telecasts on sister networks TNT and truTV. The first night guests will be Ellen DeGeneres, Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria-Parker and NBA great Kobe Bryant. -Dual Oscar Hosts:Upcoming The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will feature two hosts: Steve Martin, who has already emceed the festivities twice, and newbie Alec Baldwin, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 for his supporting role in The Cooler. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards airs on ABC on Sunday, March 7. _________________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:A Familiar Building Robert Young played kindly Dr. Marcus Welby, who made house calls, on 1969-76 medical drama Marcus Welby, M.D. If the exterior of Dr. Welby’s office looked familiar, it was already used as the home on a classic TV sitcom. What comedy was it? a) The Adventures of Ozzie & Harrietb) Dennis the Menacec) Father Knows Bestd) Hazele) Leave it to Beaver The answer to yesterday’s question… Remember when the Ricardos and Mertzes traveled to Europe? What was their first destination after getting off the cruise ship? a) Italyb) Londonc) Parisd) Scotlande) Switzerland Is: b) London. Lucy, of course, is thrilled at being in London and desperate to see the Queen. But she misses the Queen at Buckingham Palace, where she gets involved in the changing of the guard. When Ricky is invited to meet the Royal Family alone at a special performance at the Palladium, the wacky redhead will do whatever it takes to be included. For a blast from the past, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk63sBqFaBQ -Current kudos goes to:Gerry Bixenspan, Barbara Bloomfield, Tom Condosta, Reid Davis, Darlene Dorman, John Ferlazzo, Arleen Fong, Maureen Goldman, Geoffrey Gordon, Bob Ingersoll, Deb Kainer, Patty Karstein, Mary Kinoshita, Synda Kollman, Mark Krause, Steven Kurtzer, Patty Lynch, Debbie Mirr, Michael Murphy, Jim Negri, Gordon Purcell, Ron Salmon, Harold Schulman, Ronnie Tallant

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Baseball Ignited Fox Sweeps Week of Oct. 26

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