CBS' Thursday Winning Streak Continues

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERFriday, November 21, 2008 Prime-Time Metered Market Thursday Ratings:CBS Dominates; Lackluster Fox Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air This Weekend:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time:First to Launch_______________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Thursday Ratings:CBS Dominates; Lackluster Fox Thursday 11/20/08 HH Rtg/Shr CBS 8.4/13ABC 7.1/11NBC 5.0/ 8Fox 3.1/ 5CW 2.6/ 4 ---------- Note: Year-to-year overnight comparisons were not available. ---------- Note: The fast affiliate results for Thursday will be posted at PIFeedback by 12 p.m. ET. Go to the website, click on Ratings Box (the first category), then Last Night’s Results, and Thursday, November 20, 2008. ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:Survivor: Gabon (CBS), CSI (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):My Name is Earl (NBC), Kath & Kim (NBC), Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), Life on Mars (ABC) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown: Chalk up another overnight Thursday victory for CBS with its combination of an amazing episode of Survivor: Gabon (#1: 6.9 rating/11 share), CSI (#1 show of the evening: 11.2/17) and Eleventh Hour (#1: 7.1/11), which continues to squander the lead-in support from CSI. Compared to the second half of CSI (11.4/17 at 9:30 p.m.), Eleventh Hour held only 62 percent, and it dipped by nine percent in the second half-hour (7.4/12 to 6.7/11). As for Survivor, Randy being totally duped last night was one of the greatest moments in the history of the show. Whoo hoo!!! ABC, as usual, finished second overall in the Thursday overnights care of Ugly Betty (#2: 6.3/10), Grey’s Anatomy (#2: 9.6/15), which will still likely win the 9 p.m. hour among adults 18-49, and Life on Mars (#3: 5.4/ 9), which is officially moving to Wednesday at 10 p.m. (out of Lost) on Jan. 28. For more on ABC’s midseason changes, see TV Tidbits below. Next was NBC with its line-up of tired My Name is Earl (#3: 4.2/ 7), inane Kath & Kim (#3: 3.7/ 6), always demographically reliable The Office (#3: 4.9/ 7), compatible 30 Rock (#3: 4.5/ 7), and soon-to-conclude ER (#2: 6.5/10). Considering NBC’s massive woes elsewhere, it’s really too bad veteran ER is ending this season. Fox had another uneventful Thursday as a result of two episodes (original and repeat) of Kitchen Nightmares, which averaged a 3.1/ 5 in the overnights from 8-10 p.m. And the CW capped off the evening with aging Smallville (#5: 3.1/ 5) and companion Supernatural (#5: 2.3/ 4). Although the future of Smallville beyond this season is a question mark, there is every reason to believe Supernatural will be back. As for Fox, don’t forget that relocated Bones and returning Hell’s Kitchen will populate Thursday effective in first quarter. Source: Nielsen Media Research data _______________________________________________________________________________ Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Nov. 2008 Ratings Update:Three weeks into the November 2008 sweeps, leadership is mixed between CBS and ABC. CBS remains the most-watched network, with 1.43 million more viewers than second-place ABC. And ABC and CBS are tied for No. 1 among adults 18-49, with losses for both networks in both categories from the comparable year-ago period. The five broadcast networks, in fact, are down from one year earlier, with an average loss of 3.63 million viewers (42.62 to 38.99 million) and 12 percent among adults 18-49 (14.5 to 12.7 rating). The biggest loser is Fox, with erosion of 1.30 million viewers (8.05 to 6.75 million) and 19 percent in the demo (3.2/ 8 to 2.6/ 7). Here are the final national results from Thursday, Oct. 30 through Wednesday, November 19 (with percent change versus the year-ago period in parentheses): Total Viewers: CBS: 11.74 million (- 3), ABC: 10.31 (- 8), NBC: 7.98 (- 5), Fox: 6.75 (-16), CW: 2.21 (-21) Adults 18-49:CBS: 3.1 rating/8 share (- 9), ABC: 3.1/ 8 (-14), NBC: 2.9/ 8 (- 9), Fox: 2.6/ 7 (-19), CW: 1.0/ 3 (- 9) ---------- -A Growing View on ABC:Speaking of the Nov. 2008 sweeps to-date, ABC chatfest The View has risen considerably, with gains of 23 percent in total viewers (3.56 to 4.39 million), 11 percent in women 18-34 (330,000 to 367,000) and 12 percent among women 18-49 (897,000 to 1.00 million) from one year earlier. Source: Nielsen Media Research data________________________________________________________________________________ EXTRA, EXTRA…READ ALL ABOUT IT Have a message you want to get out…quickly?Want to reach your target audience in network, cable, syndication and the buying community? Send the copy and we will tailor a colorful text advertisement suited to your needs. For more information, contact Jessica Ryan at 646/654-5502 or via email at Jryan@adweek.com. GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT NOW!!! On the Air This Weekend:Prime-Time Programming Options Friday 11/21/08Night 23 of the Nov. 2008 Sweep ABC: 8:00 p.m. Wife Swap 9:00 p.m. Supernanny 10:00 p.m. 20/20 CBS: 8:00 p.m. Ghost Whisperer 9:00 p.m. The Mentalist (R)10:00 p.m. Numb3rs NBC: 8:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal 9:00 p.m. Crusoe 10:00 p.m. Lipstick Jungle Fox: 8:00 p.m. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 9:00 p.m. Don’t Forget the Lyrics CW: 8:00 p.m. Everybody Hates Chris 8:30 p.m. The Game 9:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (R) MNTV 8:00 p.m. Friday Night Smackdown! ION 8:00 p.m. Movie: Love’s Long Journey (R, from 7 p.m.) 9:00 p.m. Movie: Love’s Abiding Joy (R) --------------- Saturday 11/22/08Night 24 of the Nov. 2008 Sweep ABC:8:00 p.m. Saturday Night Football CBS: 8:00 p.m. CSI (R) 9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds (R)10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery NBC: 8:00 p.m. Knight Rider (R) 9:00 p.m. The Office (R) 9:30 p.m. Saturday Night Live (R) Fox: 8:00 p.m. Cops 9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted MNT 8:00 p.m. Movie: Great Expectations (R) ION 8:00 p.m. Movie – Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (R) --------------- Sunday 11/23/08Night 25 of the Nov. 2008 Sweep ABC: 7:00 p.m. 2008 American Music Awards Red Carpet 8:00 p.m. 2008 American Music Awards CBS: 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes 8:00 p.m. The Amazing Race 9:00 p.m. Cold Case 10:00 p.m. The Unit NBC: 7:00 p.m. Football Night in America 8:25 p.m. Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis at San Diego Fox: 7:00 p.m. NFL Football Overrun 7:30 p.m. The OT 8:00 p.m. 24: Redemption (two hours) CW: 7:00 p.m. In Harm’s Way (R) 8:00 p.m. Valentine (R) 9:00 p.m. Easy Money (R) ION7:00 p.m. Supernova (part one) 9:00 p.m. Supernova (conclusion) ________________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -ABC Midseason Changes:What has been rumored for weeks is now officially confirmed, with ABC’s sophomore Private Practice and recently introduced Life on Mars heading into new time periods. Private Practice will move into the Thursday 10 p.m. hour (out of parent Grey’s Anatomy) on Dec. 11, with repeats scheduled until Jan. 8. Life on Mars, which has been picked-up for four additional episodes, will debut Wednesday at 10 p.m. (out of Lost) on Jan. 28, one week after the two-hour season-premiere of Lost. Former NBC sitcom Scrubs, meanwhile, will premiere on ABC on Tuesday, Jan. 6 with back-to-back episodes from 9-10 p.m. One week later, it airs Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. out of a yet-to-be determined series. In other ABC news, the network has decided against ordering any additional episodes of sophomore dramas Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone. While not officially canceled, it is presumed they will not be returning in 2009-10. ---------- -The CW to Resume Programming on Sunday:Just two months after unsuccessfully leasing is Sunday line-up to Media Rights Capital, the CW will regain control of the evening beginning on Nov. 30. Effective on that night, the network will air season one repeats of sitcoms Everybody Hates Chris and The Game in the 5 p.m. hour, followed by two repeat episodes of season two of The Drew Carey Show from 6-7 p.m., a repeat of CBS’ recently concluded Jericho at 7 p.m., and a movie airing in the 8-10 p.m. block. The three current hours from Media Rights Capital -- In Harm’s Way, Valentine and Easy Money -- have been canceled. -THS in Off-Net Syndication:Debmar-Mercury, home of South Park and recent entry Trivial Pursuit: America Plays, has acquired the off-network rights to former E! Entertainment staple, The True Hollywood Story (THS). The distributor will offer an unspecified number of episodes from the 500 episode series to stations for use as a one-hour daily strip effective in fall 2009. Each installment of THS follows Hollywood’s biggest names, with an exclusive look at their lives. -A&E Announces Launch Date for The Beast:A&E will premiere upcoming new drama The Beast, starring Patrick Swayze, on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. ET. The Beast will feature the former Dirty Dancing star as an unusual FBI agent who has to train his rookie partner. _______________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:First to Launch Which one of the following sitcoms aired first? a) Cheersb) The Facts of Lifec) Family Tiesd) Kate & Alliee) Night Court The answer to yesterday’s trivia question… Who played Consuela, Suzanne’s housekeeper on Designing Women? a) Alice Ghostleyb) Shelley Morrisonc) Betsy Palmerd) Tessie Santiagoe) No one did. She was never seen. Is: e) No one did. She was never seen. And she sure put up with a lot from fancy Suzanne Sugarbaker and her pet pig, Noelle! -Current kudos goes to:Barbara Berman, Sheila Berman, Gerry Bixenspan, Lisa Brause, Michelle Butler, Dave Carfolite, Cory Chapman, Harold Cooper, Audrey Davis, Sue Doron, John Ferlazzo, Harold Goetz, Maureen Goldman, Geoffrey Gordon, Sherrie Hentschel, Kerry Hughes, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Cara Jacobs, Deb Kainer, Mary Kalnin, Synda Kollman, Charmaine Leary, Valeri Marquart, Tricia McKee, Marc Miller, Jim O’Heir, Aaron Paquette, Francine Purcell, Gordon Purcell, Anthony Salerno, Adam Schmidt, Lisa Tatum-Roehrig, DeWayne Snype, Michelle Stanton, Kristen Strauss, Michelle Yarborough, Ted Zawislak

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CBS' Thursday Winning Streak Continues

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