Weekend Rating Update

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERMonday, February 8, 2010 Primetime Ratings:Weekend Highlights Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time:Don’t Be a Meathead_______________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Ratings:Weekend Highlights Friday 2/05/10Note: The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data). HH Rtg/Shr CBS 5.6/10ABC 4.1/ 7NBC 3.7/ 6Fox 2.4/ 4CW 1.8/ 3 -Total Viewers:CBS: 9.01 million, ABC: 6.23, NBC: 5.53, Fox: 3.99, CW: 2.77 -Adults 18-49:CBS: 2.1 rating/7 share, ABC: 1.6/ 5, Fox: 1.5/ 5, NBC: 1.3/ 4, CW: 1.2/ 4 -------------------- Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 27 percent at this same point last year to approximately 33 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted. ---------- -Friday’s Winners (keeping in mind the expectations are lower):Ghost Whisperer (CBS), Medium (CBS), Numb3rs (CBS), 20/20 (ABC) -Season High:Smallville (CW) -Friday’s Losers (excluding repeats):Supernanny (ABC), Shark Tank (ABC), The Jay Leno Show (NBC) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:It was a clean, albeit non-spectacular Friday victory for CBS with its combination of Ghost Whisperer (Viewers: 8.77 million; A18-49: 2.2 rating/7 share), compatible Medium (Viewers: 9.10 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 6) and Numb3rs (Viewers: 9.18 million; A18-49: 2.0/ 6), which will be replaced in early April with upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer drama Miami Medical. CBS finished first in both total viewers and adults 18-49 in each of the six half-hours. Second overall in both categories was ABC with its line-up of Supernanny (Viewers: #3, 5.39 million; A18-49: #3, 1.5/ 5), the season (or, more likely, series) finale of Shark Tank (Viewers: #3, 4.66 million; A18-49: #4, 1.4/ 4) and 20/20 (Viewers: #2, 8.66 million; A18-49: #2, 1.8/ 6), which built by a hefty 4-million viewers and 29 percent among adults 18-49 out of Shark Tank. As a reminder, Wife Swap will be returning in place of Supernanny on March 26. Elsewhere, NBC finished third overall in total viewers and fourth in the demo with its combination of a repeat of Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 5.64 million; A18-49: #4t, 1.1/ 3), Dateline (Viewers: #2, 6.49 million; A18-49: #3, 1.5/ 5) and canceled The Jay Leno Show (Viewers: #3, 4.46 million; A18-49: #3, 1.2/ 4), which officially concludes this coming Tuesday, Feb. 9 after 95 monotonous episodes. Look for the debut of reality series Who Do You Think You Are? on NBC on March 5 at 8 p.m., followed by a two-hour edition of Dateline. Fox was just the opposite of NBC -- fourth in total viewers and third among adults 18-49 -- care of a repeat of House (Viewers: #4, 3.85 million; A18-49: #3, 1.3/ 4) and Kitchen Nightmares (Viewers: #4, 4.13 million; A18-49: #2, 1.8/ 5), which built out of the House encore by 38 percent in the demo. Capping off the evening for The CW was a two-hour edition of veteran Smallville at 2.77 million viewers and a 1.2/ 4 in the demo from 8-10 p.m., the network’s highest rated Friday since Sept. 2008. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown: Smallville (CW)8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 2.64 million (#5), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#4)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 2.56 million (#5), A18-49: 1.1/ 3 (#4t)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 2.86 million (#5), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#5)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.02 million (#5), A18-49: 1.3/ 4 (#5) Comparably, this is the highest-rated Smallville of the season in total viewers, adults 18-49 (tie) and men 18-49. Source: Nielsen Media Research data -------------------- Saturday 2/06/10Note: The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data). HH Rtg/Shr Fox 4.0/ 7CBS 3.8/ 7NBC 2.9/ 5ABC 2.2/ 4 -Total Viewers:Fox: 7.51 million, CBS: 5.83, NBC: 4.17, ABC: 3.75 -Adults 18-49:Fox: 2.5 rating/8n share, ABC: 1.2/ 4, CBS: 1.1/ 3, NBC: 1.0/ 3 --------------- -Saturday’s Winners: Nothing -Saturday’s Losers (excluding repeats):The night overall. ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:A night of NASCAR Racing led Fox to Saturday victory with an above-average 7.51 million viewers and a 2.5 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m., and a first-place finish in every half-hour as follows: NASCAR 20108:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.74 million (#1), A18-49: 2.1/ 7 (#1)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.89 million (#1), A18-49: 2.6/ 8 (#1)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 7.48 million (#1), A18-49: 2.4/ 7 (#1)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.93 million (#1), A18-49: 2.6/ 8 (#1) Second overall in total viewers (but third among adults 18-49) was CBS with its combination of repeat made-for movie Front of the Class (Viewers: 5.65 million; A18-49: 1.1/ 4 from 8-10 p.m.), which built in every half hour, and 48 Hours Mystery (Viewers: #1, 6.18 million; A18-49: #3, 1.2/ 4 at 10 p.m.). Take a look at the half-hour breakdown for Front of the Class: Movie: Front of the Class (R)8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.91 million (#2), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#2t)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 5.27 million (#2), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#3)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.01 million (#2), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#2t)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 6.42 million (#2), A18-49: 1.3/ 4 (#2t) Elsewhere, NBC aired repeats of dramas Mercy (Viewers: #4, 2.52 million; A18-49: #4, 0.5/ 2), Law & Order (Viewers: #3, 4.28 million; A18-49: #4, 0.9/ 3) and Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #2, 5.71 million; A18-49: #1, 1.4/ 4). And ABC capped off the low-rated evening with a repeat of theatrical Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at an average 3.75 million viewers (#4) and a 1.2/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#2) from 8-11 p.m. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) ------------------------- Sunday 2/07/10 HH Rtg/Shr CBS 41.1/61ABC 2.1/ 3Fox 1.5/ 2NBC 1.2/ 2 ---------- -Note: Since the Super Bowl did not air on the year-ago evening, year-to-year Sunday overnight comparisons are excluded. ---------- Note: The fast affiliate results for Sunday will be posted at PIFeedback.com by 12 p.m. ET. Go to the website, click on Ratings Box (the first category), then Last Night’s Results, and Sunday, January 31, 2010. ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:Super Bowl XLIV (CBS), Super Bowl XLIV Post Game (CBS), Undercover Boss (CBS) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats): ‘Til Death (Fox) -----------Ratings Breakdown:It was all about the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New Orleans Saints last night, with Super Bowl XLIV at a mammoth (and estimated) 46.4 rating/68 share in the overnights from 6:30-9:45 p.m. The half-hour breakdown is as follows: Super Bowl XLIV (CBS) 7:00 p.m. 45.0/69 7:30 p.m. 46.3/69 8:00 p.m. 45.3/67 8:30 p.m. 48.0/69 9:00 p.m. 49.8/70 9:30 p.m. 50.6/71 As a reminder, results for any live sporting event are always approximate. Compared to Arizona vs. Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII on NBC (45.3/67 on Feb. 1, 2009), this was an increase of an approximate 2 percent. Since that game averaged 98.73 million viewers based on the Live Plus Same Day rating results, chances are Indianapolis vs. New Orleans will break the 100 million mark. Leading out of Super Bowl XLIV was the post game at an estimated 42.8/62 in the overnights, followed by the series premiere/preview of non-scripted Undercover Boss at an approximate 22.5/36 from 10:15-11 p.m. Last year’s Super Bowl lead-out, NBC’s The Office, averaged a 14.4/24 in the overnights (which translated into 22.91 million viewers). Needless to say, results for Undercover Boss will be considerably higher. Undercover Boss airs in its regularly scheduled time period, Sunday at 8 p.m. out of The Amazing Race, effective this week. It was slim pickings elsewhere, of course. ABC filled the evening with the following rotation of non-originals: ABC/Sunday7:00 p.m. – America’s Funniest Home Videos (R): 2.2/ 3 (#2)8:00 p.m. – Modern Family (R): 1.9/ 3 (#2)8:30 p.m. – The Middle (R): 1.7/ 2 (#3)9:00 p.m. – Modern Family (R): 1.9/ 3 (#2t)9:30 p.m. – Cougar Town (R): 1.9/ 3 (#2)10:00 p.m. – Modern Family (R): 2.6/ 4 (#2)10:30 p.m. – Modern Family (R): 2.5/ 4 (#2) Fox aired two more burn-off episodes of sitcom ‘Til Death from 7-8 p.m. (#3, avg. 1.0/ 1), followed by repeats of The Simpsons (#3: 1.7/ 2), The Cleveland Show (#3: 1.5/ 2), Family Guy (#2t, 1.9/ 3) and American Dad (#3: 1.8/ 3). You know a show is a burn-off when original telecasts are scheduled opposite The Super Bowl! Last were two repeat episodes of NBC’s The Biggest Loser at an average 1.2/ 2 in the overnights from 7-11 p.m. Source: Nielsen Media Research data____________________________________________________________________________ Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Split Leadership for Night One of the February 2010 Sweeps:Not that it seems to matter anymore, but Thursday marked the first night of the Feb. 2010 sweeps. With that in mind, CBS finished as the most-watched network (with 2.55 million more viewers than second-place ABC), while the home of Grey’s Anatomy, ABC, inched past CBS and Fox by one-tenth of a rating point for dominance among adults 18-49. Keep in mind that the season-premiere of CBS’ Survivor (themed “Heroes vs. Villains”) begins this week. The CW, meanwhile, was on the map as a result of freshman hit The Vampire Diaries. Here are the final Live plus same day national ratings for Thursday, Feb. 5: -Total Viewers:CBS: 12.43 million, Fox: 9.88, ABC: 8.98, NBC: 5.20, CW: 3.14 -Adults 18-49:ABC: 3.1 rating/8 share, CBS and NBC: 3.0/ 8 each, NBC: 2.3/ 6, CW: 1.5/ 4 Source: Nielsen Media Research data____________________________________________________________________________ On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options Monday 2/08/10Night 5 of the Feb. 2010 Sweeps ABC: 8:00 p.m. The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love10:00 p.m. Castle CBS: 8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother 8:30 p.m. Accidentally on Purpose 9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men 9:30 p.m. The Big Bang Theory 10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami NBC: 8:00 p.m. Chuck 9:00 p.m. Heroes (season or series finale)10:00 p.m. The Jay Leno Show Fox: 8:00 p.m. House 9:00 p.m. 24 CW: 8:00 p.m. One Tree Hill 9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl _____________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -Kirstie Alley’s Big Life on A&E:Former Cheers and Fat Actress star Kirstie Alley will be featured in a new docudrama on A&E called Kirstie Alley’s Big Life, which will focus on Allie’s ongoing battle with the bulge and life as a single mother trying to raise two teenagers will be the focus. It premieres with back-to-back episodes on Sunday, March 21 at 10 p.m. ET -Barbara Walters Meets the Jersey Shore:Well, I do not know for sure if Barbara Walters will be participating that day. But the cast of MTV’s red-hot Jersey Shore (“Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Angelina “Jolie” Pivarnick, Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola and Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio) will appear on ABC’s The View on Tuesday, Feb. 23 to promote the release of Jersey Shore: Season 1 on DVD. Note to Brandon Berman…set the DVR! -Henry Winkler Returns to the Small Screen:Henry Winkler will appear in the upcoming season of USA drama Royal Pains in the recurring role as the long-lost father of Hank (Mark Feuerstein) and Evan (Paulo Costanzo). -Should Howard Stern Replace Simon Cowell on American Idol?:Click here for Mr. TV’s opinion. -The Who Halftime Show:My review for MediaFreak: The biggest event of the year, the Saints vs. the Colts on Super Bowl XLIV, had no shortage of robust musical talent entertaining at halftime: legendary British rockers The Who, who (excuse the pun) might be criticized for being a musical infomercial for CBS. Airing on the Eye net, Roger Daltrey, Peter Townshend and company (including Ringo Starr’s on Zak) took us through bits and pieces of the trio CSI theme songs: CSI - “Who Are You,” CSI: Miami – “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and CSI: NY – “Baba O’Riley.” If anything, this reminds us of the importance of opening a TV show with some kick-ass lyrics. The adrenalin gets pumping before any word of dialogue is spoken thanks to any catchy TV show theme. With only 12 or so minutes to perform, we also got parts of “Pinball Wizard” and the close of “Tommy” amid an orange and green toned halftime show, which according to one Twitter blogger was “insanely cool.” But not everyone was impressed. “The halftime show is supposed to leave you with wanting more,” said one blogger. “The Who are always great to hear but tonight I hoped for more.” “The Who halftime show was brought to you by Geritol and Depends,” barked another. “They needed to leave early to get home to watch Matlock.” Regardless of the reviews, CBS was not disappointed. Fortunately, there was no wardrobe malfunction a la the Janet Jackson debacle six years ago. Not a nipple in sight, or any member of The Who sliding on his knees groin first into the camera. While The Who was not necessarily at the top of their game, anyone with some “snow on the roof” (myself included) watched and remembered the good old musical days of yesteryear. Too bad, though, that we are the not the audience advertisers necessarily want to reach. _______________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:Don’t Be a Meathead What was Mike Stivic’s favorite soft drink on All in the family? A&W Root BeerRC Cola7 UpShastaSunkist The answer to Friday’s question… Which one of the following TV teens was able to pick-up radio signals on her braces? Marcia BradyKim CarterLaurie PartridgeClaudia SalingerD.J. Tanner Is: c) Laurie Partridge, who was played by Susan Dey on The Partridge Family. Legendary rockers The Rolling Stones actually came through on Laurie’s braces! All together now: Hello, world, here’s the song that we're singin' C'mon get happy! A whole lot of lovin' is what we'll be bringin' We'll make you happy! We had a dream, we'd go travelin' together, We'd spread a little lovin' then we'd keep movin' on. Somethin' always happens whenever we're together We get a happy feelin' when we're singing a song. Trav'lin' along there's a song that we're singin' C'mon get happy! A whole lot of lovin' is what we'll be bringin' We'll make you happy! We'll make you happy! We'll make you happppy! -Current kudos goes to:Steve Albright, Mark Amato, Michelle Amundson, Mary Bancroft, Kimay Bloch, Barbara Bloomfield, Brian Carney, Larry Collins, Tom Condosta, Audrey Davis, Reid Davis, Sue Doron, John Ferlazzo, Arleen Fong, Maureen Goldman, Geoffrey Gordon, Ken Hommel, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Deb Kainer, Mark Krause, Joel Kunkel, Steven Kurtzer, Howard Lieboff, Charlene Maville, Tricia McKee, Anne Moynihan, Michael Murphy, Laurie Partridge, Greg Phelan, Gordon Purcell, Arthur Reinstein, Tina Rolon, Joe Rubi, David Ruckman, Paul Rule, Ron Salmon, Maxine Schulman, Kim Smith, Nate Strictland, Joe Swaney, Margaret Thomas, Evan Weinstein

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Weekend Rating Update

Marc Berman

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