CBS Leads Thursday Overnights

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERFriday, August 21, 2009 Prime-Time Metered Market Thursday Ratings:CBS Wins; Respectable Pre-Season Football on 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:Richie’s Major_______________________________________________________________________ Note: The Programming Insider will be on hiatus the week of August 24, but the fast affiliate rating results will be available at PIFeedback.com. See you back on Monday, August 31. ______________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Thursday Ratings:CBS Wins; Respectable Pre-Season Football on Fox Thursday 8/20/09 HH Rtg/Shr CBS 4.9/ 9Fox 4.5/ 8ABC 2.8/ 5NBC 2.5/ 4CW 1.3/ 2 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Thursday, August 21, 2008):Note: NBC aired The Summer Olympics on the year-ago evening. Fox: +22, ABC: +12, CBS: +11, CW: no change, NBC: -85 ---------- -Countdown to the Start of the 2009-10 Season:31 days ---------- -Ratings Breakdown: CBS led the overnight Thursday troops, but second-place Fox was on the map (and above average) care of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts on NFL Pre-Season Football. In the distant No. 3 spot was ABC, followed by NBC and The CW. Don’t forget that the steep year-to-year declines for NBC is a reflection of the Summer Olympics airing on the year-ago evening. ABC kicked-off the evening first in the overnights, with ongoing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire at a dominant 4.7 rating/9 share at 8 p.m. But that does not mean, of course, that older-skewing Millionaire will win the hour among adults 18-49 (keep an eye on CBS’ competing Big Brother), and it was downhill for ABC from 9-11 p.m. as a result of repeats of Grey’s Anatomy (#3t, 2.2/ 4) and Private Practice (#3: 1.6/ 3). Watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire makes me pine for another game show from 10 years ago: Greed. I still feel the need for Greed! CBS’ Big Brother finished third in the 8 p.m. hour, with a 3.7/ 7 in the overnights, but as I mentioned above this is a show that delivers among adults 18-49. So long, Lydia! Next on CBS was a repeat of CSI (#1: 5.2/ 9 at 9 p.m.), followed by a repeat of The Mentalist at an also first-place 5.8/10 at 10 p.m. The aforementioned Pre-Season Football on Fox averaged an approximate 4.5/ 8 in the overnights in primetime. Remember: results for any live sporting event are always estimated. Elsewhere, NBC had nothing of note with its encore combination of 30 Rock (#4: 2.4/ 4), Parks and Recreation (#4: 1.9/ 3), The Office (#3t: 2.3/ 4), another episode of 30 Rock (#3: 2.2/ 4) and Law & Order (#2: 3.0/ 6), which moves into the Friday 8 p.m. hour this fall. Although upcoming sitcom Community could be a welcome edition next season, struggling (and not funny) Parks and Recreation should have been put out of its misery. The CW closed this third Thursday in August with two repeat episodes of Supernatural at an average 1.3/ 2 in the overnights from 8-10 p.m. As a reminder, here is what you will be seeing on Thursday next fall. ABC 8:00 p.m. FlashForward (new) 9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy10:00 p.m. Private Practice CBS 8:00 p.m. Survivor: Samoa 9:00 p.m. CSI10:00 p.m. The Mentalist (new day and time) NBC 8:00 p.m. SNL Weekend Update / Community (new) 8:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation 9:00 p.m. The Office 9:30 p.m. 30 Rock (Community debuts here)10:00 p.m. The Jay Leno Show (new) Fox 8:00 p.m. Bones 9:00 p.m. Fringe (new day) CW 8:00 p.m. Vampire Diaries (new) 9:00 p.m. Supernatural Source: Nielsen Media Research data_______________________________________________________________________________ Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -MTV’s Real World Cancun Winning Streak Continues:Based on ratings for Wednesday, August 19, MTV’s Real World: Cancun extended its streak to eight consecutive weeks as the night’s top-rated series among adults 12-34. The veteran reality series scored a 1.7 rating in the demo. -Record Yo Soy Betty, La Fea on TeleFutura:Based on ratings for the week of August 10, TeleFutura’s Yo Soy Betty, La Fea rose to a record 1.64 million viewers, 993,000 adults 18-49 and 575,000 adults 18-34. Comparably, that outdelivered Telemundo’s entire weekly prime-time block. -Late Night Ratings Update:Even in repeats, CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman still delivered more viewers than original episodes of NBC’s The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Based on ratings for the week of August 10, the Letterman repeats averaged 2.95 million viewers -- up by 310,000 viewers from the comparable year-ago week (also repeats). The Tonight Show was second with 2.67 million viewers and has now trailed Letterman for six consecutive weeks in this category. Conan remained first among key adults 18-49, however, with a 1.0 rating/5 share in the demo (versus a 0.7/ 3 for the encore Letterman telecasts). Source: Nielsen Media Research data________________________________________________________________________________ On the Air This Weekend:Prime-Time Programming Options Friday 8/21/09 ABC: 8:00 p.m. Supernanny (R) 9:00 p.m. Ugly Betty (R)10:00 p.m. 20/20 CBS: 8:00 p.m. Ghost Whisperer (R) 9:00 p.m. Medium (R)10:00 p.m. Numbers (R) NBC: 8:00 p.m. Southland (R) 9:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours) Fox: 8:00 p.m. NFL Pre-Season Football: Tennessee Titans vs. Dallas Cowboys CW: 8:00 p.m. Smallville (R) 9:00 p.m. Everybody Hates Chris (R) 9:30 p.m. The Game (R) MNTV 8:00 p.m. Friday Night Smackdown! --------------- Saturday 8/22/09 ABC: 8:00 p.m. According to Jim (R) 8:30 p.m. Movie: War of the Worlds (R) CBS: 8:00 p.m. Without a Trace (R) 9:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery (R, two hours) NBC: 8:00 p.m. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R) 9:00 p.m. Law & Order (R)10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (R) Fox: 8:00 p.m. Cops 9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted --------------- Sunday 8/23/09 ABC: 7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos (R) 8:00 p.m. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 9:00 p.m. Shark Tank10:00 p.m. Defying Gravity CBS: 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes 8:00 p.m. Big Brother 9:00 p.m. There Goes the Neighborhood 10:00 p.m. Cold Case (R) NBC: 7:00 p.m. Merlin 8:00 p.m. Merlin (series finale) 9:00 p.m. 2009 Miss Universe Pageant Fox: 7:00 p.m. ‘Til Death (R) 7:30 p.m. American Dad (R) 8:00 p.m. The Simpsons (R) 8:30 p.m. The Simpsons (R) 9:00 p.m. Family Guy (R) 9:30 p.m. American Dad (R) CW: 7:00 p.m. Reaper (R, from 6:30 p.m.) 7:30 p.m. Sunday Movie: The Silence of the Lambs (R)________________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -Cable Series Renewals:Syfy has renewed hit drama Warehouse 13 for a second season, with an order for 13 new episodes. The freshman season finale will air on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. ET. Lifetime Television, meanwhile, has re-upped dramedy Drop Dead Diva also for a second season, and also for 13 additional episodes. -Disney Family Movies Free Preview:Disney Family Movies, a subscription video-on-demand service, will offer a special free preview nationwide from Thursday, Sept. 3 though Monday, Sept. 7. Hosted by former Cosby Show Mom Phylicia Rashad, the preview will feature a variety of classic and contemporary Disney films including Mary Poppins, animated Tarzan, 101 Dalmatians and animated short Rescue Squad Mater. To sign up for the free preview weekend, contact your local content provider. -Welcome Back, Tony Danza:Former sitcom star and talk show host Tony Danza will be featured in a reality series on A&E where he will co-teach a 10th grade English class at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. Thirteen episodes have been ordered for an expected spring 2010 premiere. -FX Announces Two New Comedies:FX, the home of quality dramas, is looking to strike it equally rich in the comedy department. With that in mind, the network will introduce two new half-hours: The League and Louie, which will join returning It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and upcoming animated series Archer. The League, which premieres in November, focuses on marriage, male friendship and parenting in a suburban setting. Louie, which launches in early 2010, centers on comedian Louis C.K. and his life as a single father raising his two daughters in New York City. Louis C.K.’s first sitcom, Lucky Louie, came and went after 13 episodes on HBO in the 2006-07 season. -Whitney Houston on Oprah:The season-premiere installment of CBS Television Distribution talker Oprah, which airs on Monday, Sept. 14, will feature a rare interview with Whitney Houston. -New Location for Scrubs:ABC’s veteran Scrubs, which is returning in midseason for a ninth season (and should have been canceled three years ago) has a new location: a medical school where Cox (John C. McGinley) and Turk (Donald Faison) will now be teaching. Hospital Sacred Heart, the primary location, will be visited on occasion with Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes and Ken Jenkins expected to make guest appearances. ___________________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:Richie’s Major What was Richie Cunningham’s major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Happy Days? Accounting Business and Finance Communication arts JournalismPhilosophy The answer to yesterday’s trivia question… Lost rebel Sawyer commonly refers to Kate as “Freckles,” but he has other nicknames for her as well. Which one of the following has not been one of them? Jungle ChickThe Mighty Huntress SassafrassShortcakeSweet Cheeks Is: a) Jungle Chick. Check out this listing of some of Sawyer’s other classic nicknames. Ana Lucia: Ana Lulu, Cupcake, Hot Lips, Little Red Riding Hood, Little Amiga, Lucy, Muchacha, Ponce De Leone, Rambina Ben Linus: Artist Formerly Known as Henry Gale, The Big Kahuna, Bug-Eyed Bastard, Gizmo, Yoda Charlie: Amigo, Baby ‘Napper, Chucky, Has-Been Pop Star, Jiminy Crickett, Limey Runt, Munchkin, Oliver Twist, Reject for VH1 Has-Beens, Sport Claire: Barb, Mamacita, Missy Claire Hurley: Avalanche, Chicken Little, Deep Dish, Grape Ape, Grimace, Hambone, Hoss, Jabba, Jethro, Jumbotron, Lardo, Mongo, Montezuma, Muttonchops, Pillsbury, Pork Pie, Snuffy, Stay-Puft Jack: Amarillo Slim, Brother, Chico, Cool Hand, Cowboy, Daniel Boone, Dr. Do-Right, Dr. Giggles, Dr. Quinn, Doc, El Jacko, The Hero, Hoss, Jackass, Metro, Jacko, Saint Jack, Sheriff, Sundance Jin: Boy, Bruce, Chewie, Chief, Crouching Tiger, Daddy-0 Jin Senior, Kato, Mr. Miyagi, Papa-san, Zulu Kate: Baby, Belle of the Ball, Freckles, Girl, Magellan, The Mighty Huntress, The Lady, Pippi Longstocking, Puddin, Sassafrass, Sheena, Shortcake, Sweet Cheeks, Sweetheart Libby: Moonbeam Locke: Bald Bastard, Brutus, Daniel Boone, Historic Frontiersman, Gimpy McCrutch, Hoss, John Boy, Johnny Locke, Mr. Clean, Mount Vesuvius, Tarzan, Tom Sawyer Michael: Bluebeard, Boss, Chief, Daddy, Han, Mickey Miles: Genghis Mr. Eko: Mr. Ed, ShaftSayid: Ali, That Damn Arab, Boss, Boy, Buddy, Captain Arab, Captain Falafel, Chief, Genius, Mohammed, Omar, Red Beret, Resident Iraqui, The Terrorist Shannon: Sticks, Sweet CheeksSun: Betty, Hidden Dragon, Sunshine, Sweetheart, Tokyo RoseWalt: Kazoo, Kid, Short Round, Taller Ghost Walt, Tattoo -Current kudos goes to:Suzanne Ackley, Michelle Yarborough-Bauer, Gerry Bixenspan, Larry Collins, Harold Cooper, Annie Courtney, Audrey Davis, Arleen Fong (2x), Maureen Goldman, Bob Ingersoll, Kevin Keefe, Mary Kinoshita, Stephen LaRue, Catherine Lord, Gordon Purcell, Mary Ryan (1/2), Neal Sabin, Ron Salmon, Robyn Swart

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CBS Leads Thursday Overnights

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