The Programming Insider: Wednesday 4/20/11

Prime-Time Metered Market Tuesday Ratings: ABC Wins; Repeat Populated CBS Second Tuesday 4/19/11 Yesterday’s Winners: NCIS R (CBS), Glee (Fox), Dancing With the Stars (ABC), NCIS: Los Angeles R – 9 p.m. (CBS), Body of Proof (ABC) Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats): Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (ABC), One Tree Hill (CW), Traffic Light (Fox), Hellcats (CW) Ratings Breakdown: It was an overnight Tuesday victory for ABC thanks to the live Dancing With the Stars Results Show, which outdelivered a night of repeats on CBS by 10 percent. Third overall was Fox, which started out well but dipped significantly in the 9 p.m. hour, followed by NBC and lowly The CW. A repeat of CBS’ NCIS took top-rated overnight honors at 8 p.m., with a still healthy 8.7 rating/14 share, which only proves its value in off-network. Second in the time period was Fox’s Glee (7.1/11), which is a shoo-in for victory among adults 18-49, followed by the first hour of NBC’s The Biggest Loser (4.4/ 7), recent returnee Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution on ABC (3.4/ 5) and One Tree Hill on The CW (1.4/ 2), which really needs to conclude. No matter how ABC positions it, Jamie Oliver is not a hit. ABC moved into the overnight winner’s circle at 9 p.m. care of Dancing With the Stars, which scored an 11.9/19—easily the top-rated show of the evening (thanks, of course, to CBS being in repeats). So long, Petra Nemcova . . . you will be missed. Next was an encore telecast of NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS (7.0/11), followed by the second half of The Biggest Loser on NBC (4.7/ 7), sitcoms Raising Hope (3.6/ 6), which was already renewed, and sure-to-be axed Traffic Light on Fox (2.1/ 3), and Hellcats on The CW (0.9/ 1). Retention for Hellcats out of the 8:30 p.m. portion of One Tree Hill (1.3/ 2) was only 69 percent. Overall, The Biggest Loser on NBC averaged a typical 4.5/ 7 in the overnights from 8-10 p.m. At 10 p.m., recent ABC crime solver Body of Proof continues to benefit from the lead-in support from Dancing With the Stars, with a dominant 8.0/14 in the overnights at 10 p.m. Next was another repeat installment of NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS (5.5/ 9), followed by the season (or series) finale of Parenthood at an improved (but still last place) 4.6/ 7. Had NBC been in better shape I would presume Parenthood would not be returning. But given the network’s ongoing ratings woes, it is still a possibility. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) National Ratings in Prime Time: Week of April 11, 2011 CBS and Fox led the prime-time troops once again, with CBS first in households and total viewers and Fox dominant in the three key demos—adults 18-49, adults 25-54, and adults 18-34. But the common observation among the five broadcast networks for the week of April 11 was year-to-year erosion, with The CW suffering the steepest losses. Needless to say, this is not beneficial for the pending upfront selling season. In series-premiere news, the results were mixed for the two-episode launch of ABC sitcom Happy Endings. Previewing out of Modern Family (Viewers: #17 overall, 9.61 million; A18-49: #5t, 3.9/10), retention for Happy Endings in the Wednesday 9:30 p.m. half hour (Viewers: #34, 7.30 million; A18-49: #15, 2.8/ 7) was an acceptable 76 percent in total viewers and 72 percent among adults 18-49. But the Wednesday 10 p.m. time period premiere dipped to 5.70 million viewers (#44) with a 2.3/ 6 (#27t) in the demo. In season-premiere news, the final batch of 13 original episodes of NBC drama Friday Night Lights (which already aired on DirecTV) was barely on the Friday 8 p.m. map, with 3.57 million viewers (#74) and a 0.9 rating/ 3 share among adults 18-49 (#79t). In premature series-finale news, CBS swung the ax on three-week old spy drama Chaos, which dipped to 5.68 million viewers (#45) and a 1.0 rating/3 share among adults 18-49 (#72t) in the Friday 8 p.m. hour. Coming up in the time period will be the return of Canadian drama Flashpoint on May 6. Also concluding was CW reality/competition Shedding for the Wedding with just 1.12 million viewers (#92) and a 0.5/ 1 in the demo (#91t) out of fading America’s Next Top Model on Wednesday. Sadly, this was The CW’s only new midseason entry. Fox, meanwhile, hit a road block on Saturday minus perennial occupants Cops and America’s Most Wanted, with original made-for Truth Be Told at a paltry 2.31 million viewers (#87) and a 0.6/ 2 in the demo (#90). What follows are the live plus same day ratings for the week of April 11, 2011 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses), followed by the freshman midseason series report card, the top-30 rated programs for the week, and the top-rated networks on basic cable. -Households: CBS: 5.8 rating/10 share (no change), ABC: 4.9/ 8 (- 2), Fox: 4.6/ 7 (-12), NBC: 3.3/ 5 (-11), CW: 1.0/ 2 (-17) -Total Viewers: CBS: 9.23 million (no change), Fox: 7.91 (- 9), ABC: 7.84 (+ 1), NBC: 5.17 (- 9), CW: 1.54 (-16) -Adults 18-49: Fox: 2.6 rating/8 share (-13), ABC: 2.1/ 6 (- 5), CBS: 2.0/ 6 (-13), NBC: 1.6/ 5 (-11), CW: 0.7/ 2 (-22) -Adults 25-54: Fox: 3.1/ 8 (-11), CBS: 2.8/ 7 (-10), ABC: 2.7/ 7 (- 4), NBC: 2.0/ 5 (- 9), CW: 0.6/ 2 (-25) -Adults 18-34: Fox: 2.1/ 7 (-16), ABC: 1.5/ 5 (-12), NBC: 1.3/ 4 (no change), CBS: 1.2/ 4 (-20), CW: 0.7/ 2 (-30) For the Midseason Report Card, click HERE. Top 30 Rankings Total Viewers: American Idol – Wednesday (Fox): 23.03 million, American Idol – Thursday (Fox): 21.92, Dancing With the Stars – Monday (ABC): 20.93, NCIS (CBS): 19.87, Dancing With the Stars – Tuesday (ABC): 15.96, NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS): 15.46, Criminal Minds (CBS): 13.59, Castle (ABC): 12.33, Bones (Fox): 11.45, Survivor: Redemption Island (CBS): 11.09, Body of Proof (ABC): 11.06, The Good Wife (CBS): 11.05, 60 Minutes (CBS): 10.89, The Mentalist R (CBS): 10.83, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (CBS) and CSI: Miami (CBS): 9.96 each, Modern Family (ABC): 9.61, Hawaii Five-O (CBS): 9.54, Desperate Housewives (ABC): 9.10, Undercover Boss (CBS): 8.95, House (Fox): 8.93, The Amazing Race (CBS): 8.78, CSI R (CBS): 8.10, Blue Bloods R (CBS): 7.94, Mike & Molly (CBS): 7.90, The Office (NBC): 7.87, Breaking In (Fox): 7.79, Celebrity Apprentice (NBC): 7.66, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC): 7.64, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 7.51 Adults 18-49: American Idol – Wednesday (Fox): 7.3 rating/21 share, American Idol – Thursday (Fox): 6.4/20, Dancing With the Stars – Monday (ABC): 4.5/12, The Office (NBC): 4.0/11, NCIS (CBS): 3.9.12, Modern Family (ABC): 3.9/10, Bones (Fox): 3.5/10, Criminal Minds (CBS): 3.5/ 9, NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS): 3.3/ 9, House (Fox): 3.2/ 9, Survivor: Redemption Island (CBS): 3.1/ 9, Castle (ABC) and Family Guy (Fox): 3.0/ 8 each, Happy Endings (ABC, Wednesday 9:30 p.m. preview): 2.8/ 7, How I Met Your Mother (CBS) and The Biggest Loser (NBC): 2.7/ 8 each, Desperate Housewives (ABC): 2.7/ 7, Breaking In (Fox), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (CBS) and Celebrity Apprentice (NBC): 2.6/ 7 each, Body of Proof (ABC) and Parks and Recreation (NBC): 2.5/ 7 each, Mike & Molly (CBS): 2.5/ 6, The Amazing Race (CBS): 2.4/ 7, Happy Endings (ABC, Wednesday 10 p.m. time period premiere) and The Cleveland Show (Fox): 2.3/ 6 each, 30 Rock (NBC), CSI: Miami (CBS) and American Dad (Fox): 2.2/ 6 each CABLE What follows are the top-10 rated networks on cable in prime time for the week of April 11 based on total viewers and the three key demos. Total Viewers: Disney Channel: 2.89 million, USA: 2.86, TNT: 2.18, History: 2.14, Fox News: 1.89, ESPN: 1.63, A&E: 1.54, Nick at Nite: 1.45, Discovery and TBS: 1.37 each Adults 18-49: TNT: 1.07 million, USA: 1.05 million, History: 975,000, ESPN: 863,000, TBS: 774,000, A&E: 735,000, Discovery: 692,000, FX: 615,000, Disney: 599,000, Adult Swim: 539,00 Adults 25-54: USA: 1.17 million, History: 1.07 million, TNT: 996,000, ESPN: 787,000, A&E: 784,000, Discovery: 739,000, TBS: 668,000, FX: 572,000, AMC: 525,000, Syfy: 514,000 Adults 18-34: TNT: 570,000, ESPN: 500,000, USA: 456,000, TBS: 449,000, History: 436,000, MTV: 400,000, Comedy Central: 357,000, Adult Swim: 354,000, Disney: 322,000, A&E: 317,000 Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat; t = tie) Ratings Box: What’s Hot/What’s Not Top-20 Rated Programs in Syndication: What follows are the top-20 rated programs in syndication (first run and off-network) for the week of April 4 based on household rating. Of note among the freshman class was CBS court strip Swift Justice With Nancy Grace at a series high 1.9 rating -- its 30th consecutive week of leading the newcomers. Wheel of Fortune (CBS Television Distribution) and Two and a Half Men (Warner Bros.): 6.9 rating each, Judge Judy (CBS): 6.6, Jeopardy (CBS): 5.9, Family Guy (Twentieth): 4.9, Oprah (CBS): 3.9, Entertainment Tonight (CBS): 3.8, Criminal Minds (CBS) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Weekend (NBC Universal): 3.4 each, My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) and Wheel of Fortune – Weekend (CBS): 3.2 each, Inside Edition (CBS) and George Lopez (Warner Bros.): 3.0 each, How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth): 2.0, Seinfeld (Sony Pictures Television), Monk (NBCU) and Two and a Half Men – Weekend B (Warner Bros.): 2.8 each, Dr. Phil (CBS) and Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS): 2.7 each, Live With Regis & Kelly (Disney-ABC): 2.7 each Source: Nielsen Media Research data On the Air Tonight: Prime-Time Programming Options for Wednesday 4/20/11 ABC: 8:00 p.m. The Middle, 8:30 p.m. The Middle, 9:00 p.m. Modern Family, 9:30 p.m. Cougar Town, 10:00 p.m. Happy Endings, 10:30 p.m. Happy Endings CBS: 8:00 p.m. Survivor: Redemption Island, 9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds (R), 10:00 p.m. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (R) NBC: 8:00 p.m. Minute to Win It, 9:00 p.m. Minute to Win it (R), 10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (R) Fox: 8:00 p.m. American Idol (90 minutes), 9:30 p.m. Breaking In (series premiere) CW: 8:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (R), 9:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (time period premiere) TV Tidbits: Notes of Interest More Games of Throne: HBO has renewed drama Game of Thrones for a second season, with an order for an unconfirmed number of new episodes for 2012. Flashpoint Returns on CBS: Canadian drama Flashpoint will return on CBS on Friday, May 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT in place of canceled recent entry Chaos. A repeat of CSI: NY will populate the time period this week, with coverage of the Royal Wedding scheduled for Friday, April 29. TV Trivia Time: Fighting Crime in San Francisco Note: To respond to the trivia, please click HERE. Do not click Reply Who replaced Michael Douglas after he exited crime solver The Streets of San Francisco is 1976? a) Edward Albert, b) Desi Arnaz, Jr. , c) Gregory Harrison, d) Richard Hatch, e) Barry Van Dyke The answer to yesterday’s question… Which one of the following options was not the real title of a TV series? a) The Fall Guy, b) Raines, c) The Shelley Winters Show, d) Summerland, e) Thunder Alley Is: c) The Shelley Winters Show. Roseanne’s grandmother never headlined her own show. As for the others: The Fall Guy (ABC): 1981-86, Raines (NBC): 2007, Summerland (WB): 2004-05, Thunder Alley (ABC): 1994-95 Current kudos goes to: Gerry Bixenspan, Larry Collins, John Ferlazzo, Maureen Goldman, Deb Kainer, Gordon Purcell, Bob Ingersoll, Jay Rossi (my apologies yesterday for the link on my email address not working on the new template)

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The Programming Insider: Wednesday 4/20/11

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Marc Berman

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