The CMA Awards Dominate on ABC

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERThursday, November 11, 2010 Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings:The CMAs Lead ABC to Victory Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time: Murder, She Didn’t Write ________________________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings:The CMAs Lead ABC to Victory Wednesday 11/10/10 HH Rtg/Shr ABC 9.8/16CBS 6.8/11NBC 4.6/ 7Fox 4.0/ 6CW 2.0/ 3 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Wednesday, November 11, 2009):CW: +25, NBC: + 5, Fox: + 3, ABC: + 2, CBS: - 4 ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:The 44th Annual CMA Awards (ABC), Survivor: Nicaragua (CBS), Criminal Minds (CBS) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):Undercovers (NBC), Hellcats (CW) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:ABC led the Wednesday overnight troops care of The 44th Annual CMA Awards, which averaged a healthy 9.8 rating/16 share from 8-11 p.m. Comparably, this was virtually identical to the 9.6/15 on Nov. 11, 2009. Here is the half-hour breakdown: The 44th Annual CMA Awards (ABC) 8:00 p.m.: 9.8/16 (#1) 8:30 p.m.: 9.6/15 (#1) 9:00 p.m.: 10.1/15 (#1) 9:30 p.m.: 10.1/15 (#1)10:00 p.m.: 9.7/16 (#1)10:30 p.m.: 9.5/16 (#1) Keep in mind that The CMAs last year averaged 17.18 million viewers and a 5.3/14 among adults 18-49, based on the live plus same day ratings. Normally dominant CBS dipped to No. 2, with below-average performances for its line-up of Survivor: Nicaragua (#2: 6.7/11), Criminal Minds (#2: 8.4/13) and The Defenders (#2: 5.6/ 9). But this finally must see episode of Survivor still built by a significant 56 percent from year-ago occupants The New Adventures of Old Christine (4.2/ 7 on Nov. 11, 2009) and Gary Unmarried (4.4/ 7). While you cannot fault The Defenders for losing steam opposite The CMA Awards, retention out of the 9:30 p.m. portion of Criminal Minds (8.4/13) was still only 67 percent. Over at NBC, freshman spy drama Undercovers earned its cancellation stripes with a series-low (and fourth-place) 3.4/ 5 in the overnights at 8 p.m. With weaker lead-in support, and opposite The CMA Awards, Law & Order: SVU (#3: 5.4/ 8) and recent entry Law & Order: Los Angeles (#3: 5.0/ 8) both dipped to season lows. In the case of LOLA, that was a series-low.Elsewhere, two episodes of demo friendly Hell’s Kitchen on Fox finished fourth overall, with an average 4.0/ 6 in the overnights from 8-10 p.m. Although veteran America’s Next Top Model on The CW (#5: 2.6/ 4) was on par with recent overnight levels, freshman drama Hellcats sunk to a series-low (and very last-place) 1.4/ 2 at 9 p.m. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Conan Day Two:Conan O’Brien, as expected, took a hit on TBS in night two, but results are still considerably stronger than year-ago occupant Lopez Tonight. Tuesday night’s telecast of Conan averaged 2.81 million viewers, 2.13 million adults 18-49 and 1.41 million adults 18-34, with a median age of 30 at 11 p.m. Compared to season one ratings for year-ago occupant Lopez Tonight (Viewers: 910,000; A18-49: 558,000; A18-34: 315,000), this was an increase of 209 percent in total viewers, 282 percent in adults 18-49 and a mammoth 348 percent among adults 18-34. One day earlier, Conan launched with an inflated 4.16 million viewers, 3.28 million adults 18-49 and 2.45 million adults 18-34 on Nov. 8. -Above Average Oprah:One day following Oprah’s sit-down with the Jackson clan, the CBS Television Distribution talker scored a 6.6 rating/16 share in the overnights on Tuesday courtesy of a one-on-one with former President George W. Bush. Comparably, that was 37 percent higher than Matt Lauer’s one-hour primetime interview with Bush on NBC at 8 p.m. Monday (4.8/ 7). -Speaking of Oprah:Oprah boasted on-air yesterday to guests Phil Donahue, Ricki Lake, Sally Jessy Raphael, Geraldo Rivera and Montel Williams that her show has been the top-rated talker every season for the past 25 years. Not true! Once red-hot Jerry Springer bested Queen O in the 1997-98 season. Can’t fool Mr. TV, Oprah! -New Series Report Card:Based on live plus same day ratings, here are the results (in order of total viewers) for the freshman Tuesday class on Nov. 9: ABC’s No Ordinary Family and Detroit 1-8-7; and Fox’s Raising Hope and Running Wilde. No Ordinary Family (ABC) – Tues. 10- p.m.Viewers: 7.87 million (#3 in time period), A18-49: 2.2/ 6 (#4)Grade: C Given the severity of the competition – CBS’ NCIS (Viewers: 19.87 million; A18-49: 4.0/11) and Fox’s Glee (Viewers: 10.99 million; A18-49: 4.6/13) – this could be worse. Here is the six-episode track for No Ordinary Family. 9/28/10 – Viewers: 10.69 million; A18-49: 3.2/ 910/05/10 – Viewers: 8.99 million; A18-49: 2.7/ 810/12/10 – Viewers: 7.72 million; A18-49: 2.3/ 610/19/10 – Viewers: 7.41 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 6 10/26/10 – Viewers: 7.38 million; A18-49: 2.0/ 511/09-10 - Viewers: 7.87 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 6----- Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC) – Tues. 10- p.m.Viewers: 7.55 million (#2), A18-49: 1.7 rating/ 5 share (#3) Grade: F The third-place time period finish in adults 18-49 and retention out of Dancing with the Stars (Viewers: 16.96 million, A18-49: 3.4/ 9 at 9 p.m.) of just 45 percent in total viewers and 50 percent in the demo are two reasons why ABC should reconsider the additional episode order. Here is the seven-episode track for Detroit 1-8-7. 9/21/10 – Viewers: 9.34 million; A18-49: 2.3/ 79/28/10 – Viewers: 8.71 million; A18-49: 2.1/ 610/05/10 – Viewers: 7.83 million; A18-49: 1.7/ 510/12/10 – Viewers: 6.98 million; A18-49: 1.7/ 510/19/10 – Viewers: 7.94 million; A18-49: 1.8/ 510/26/10 – Viewers: 8.45 million; A18-49: 1.9/ 611/09/10 – Viewers: 7.55 million; A18-49: 1.7/ 5----- Raising Hope (Fox) – Tues. 9 p.m.Viewers: 5.77 million (#4), A18-49: 2.5/ 7 (#3)Grade: C- Yes, the retention out of Glee this week was only 53 percent in total viewers and 54 percent among adults 18-49. But considering Raising Hope faces Dancing with the Stars, NCIS: Los Angeles and The Biggest Loser, Fox was wise to grant the Malcolm in the Middle-like charmer a full season renewal. Here is the six episode track: 9/21/10 – Viewers: 7.31 million; A18-49: 3.1/ 89/28/10 – Viewers: 7.08 million; A18-49: 3.1/ 810/05/10 – Viewers: 6.18 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 710/12/10 – Viewers: 6.02 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 6 10/26/10 – Viewers: 6.00 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 711/09/10 – Viewers: 5.77 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 7 ----- Running Wilde (Fox) – Tues. 9:30 p.m.Viewers: 2.83 million (#5), A18-49: 1.3/ 3 (#4) Grade: F Retention of just 49 percent in total viewers and 52 percent among adults 18-49 out of Raising Hope is the worst I have personally ever seen for a 9:30 p.m. sitcom. Tick, tock…the cancellation clock is ticking.Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options Thursday 11/11/10 ABC: 8:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy (R) 9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy10:00 p.m. Private Practice CBS: 8:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory 8:30 p.m. $#*! My Dad Says 9:00 p.m. CSI 10:00 p.m. The Mentalist NBC: 8:00 p.m. Community 8:30 p.m. 30 Rock 9:00 p.m. The Office 9:30 p.m. Outsourced 10:00 p.m. The Apprentice Fox: 8:00 p.m. Bones 9:00 p.m. Fringe CW 8:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries 9:00 p.m. Nikita ______________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest-Mark Your Calendars:The 65th Annual Tony Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from the famed Beacon Theatre in New York City on Sunday, June 12 from 8-11 p.m. ET. The Tonys have aired on CBS since 1978. No host has been announced yet.-Another Sitcom in Contention at TV Land:TV Land has ordered a pilot for a sitcom called Ex Men, which focuses on three divorced men who share an apartment run by a young and sexy female divorce attorney. No cast has been announced yet. The cable net’s first original comedy, Hot in Cleveland, will return for season two on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 10 p.m. ET. And the launch date for its second, Retired at 35, headlined by George Segal and Jessica Walter, is expected to be unveiled at a later time.-Ellen Heads to TNT:Ellen DeGeneres has been named host of upcoming TNT holiday special Christmas in Washington, which features guests Mariah Carey, Miranda Cosgrove, Annie Lennox, Maxwell and Matthew Morrison, and airs on Friday, Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. ET._____________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:Murder, She Didn’t Write We all remember Angela Lansbury as kindly sleuth Jessica Fletcher on long-running detective drama Murder, She Wrote. But who was the first choice for the role? a) Jean Stapletonb) Loretta Swit c) Brenda Vaccaro d) Nancy Walker e) Jessica Walter The answer to yesterday’s question: Which one of the following Norman Lear comedies was the first to launch after All in the Family? a) Good Timesb) The Hot L Baltimore c) Mary Hartman, Mart Hartmand) Maude e) Sanford and Son Is: e) Sanford and Son, which debuted on Jan. 14, 1972. As for the others…-Good Times: Feb. 1, 1974-The Hot L Baltimore: Jan. 24, 1975-Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman: January 1976-Maude: Sept. 12, 1972 -Current kudos goes to:Mark Amato, Gerry Bixenspan, Barbara Bloomfield, Michael Bobble, Larry Collins, Tom Condosta, Sylvia Davis, John Ferlazzo, Julie Friedlander, Maureen Goldman, Carolyn Becker Hayes, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Steven Kurtzer, Valerie Langan, Rick Locke, Melinda Lujan, Aaron Paquette, Alan Perris (2x), Gordon Purcell, Anthony Salerno, Maxine Shulman, Michelle Stanton, Tom Weber, Abbott Wool

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