Comments on: Updated: Thursday Ratings, CSI Most-Watched, Best Ratings Ever for 30 Rock

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:04:13 +0000

That huge ratings advantage Grey’s Anatomy has over CSI in the demo category must be an eye opener as the CSI total viewer lead shrinks. The Grey’s Anatomy ratings increase is a two fold phenomena. First, you have the addition of the army doctor already shaking things up. More importantly, the actual medical stories are so amazingly well thought out this season. Now, if Shondaland Productions infuses the same energetic writing into Private Practice, they could make Wednesdays at 9pm a major battle zone and give its lead out show, Dirty Sexy Money, an even bigger boost.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:06:28 +0000

Quite surprised at ER – wonder if Angela Bassett is having an effect on the ratings?

By: Nick C

Nick C — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:05:33 +0000

Robert, it was all in jest. Of course the show was picked up, because awful can do that when you’re the Peacock. It is sad that NBC is being run so poorly.

By: Poody

Poody — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:43:49 +0000

Well, I always like to root for the underdog and in this case it’s Survivor. Love that their ratings are increasing little by little this season and I love that they destroyed Fox’s dreams of crushing it.

It’s kinda the little engine that could, constantly dumped on by everyone for being another “cheesy reality show”, never getting any credit for being the one to start the entire phenominon.

By: ryan

ryan — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:23:15 +0000

there’s an office spin off?? whats it about??
great news for 30 rock, probaly the 3rd best sitcom on tv at the moment

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:18:14 +0000

Nick, as much fun as it would be to simply chalk it up to Silverman slimyness/nepotism, there's actually a bit of numerical data to support it. But the Reveille connection can't hurt.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:02:28 +0000

S, not a big surprise considering Reveille produces the show…

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:34:26 +0000

Interesting. CBS is really killing all the other networks lately…

By: S.

S. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:29:51 +0000

OK, Brace yourselves:

Kath and Kim got a full season pickup!

News from The Hollywood Reporter.
I haven’t stopped laughing. How bad are things on NBC for that to happen?

By: Nick C

Nick C — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:09:00 +0000

Gabriela, the CW doesn’t know what it is doing. A “Green Arrow,” show is a possibility. The “Super Girl,” show is obviously not going to happen. Smallville for 9th season? I’m not sure Welling wants to do that. They’re leaving the door open, but I believe all involved would like another course of action.

Supernatural on the other hand is in it’s 4th season and the show is supposed to only last 5.

By: byeu

byeu — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:51:06 +0000

It’s nice to see the CW showing some appreciation for the two genre shows. I know that guys are the main demo, but I have seen alot of posts on other forums where many a young lady think that the two young men on Supernatural are definitely “hot.” The comic fomula is apparently not lost on the CW, since, according to a MediaWeek article, they are considering following the Smallville
formula and applying it to the characer Dick Grayson, better know as Robin, Batman’s young ward, showing him in his formative years before the death of his parents and his mentor/student relationship with Bruce Wayne/Batman.

By: ABCFanatic

ABCFanatic — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:54:07 +0000

I think 30 Rock’s ratings will go low in the next few weeks

YAY for Grey’s Anatomy – 15 million – a huge gap in the demos against CSI

not bad for Life on Mars too

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:50:39 +0000

I agree Julia, even NBC is strong Thursdays especially in the demos — at least starting at 9pm.

FCP, my first impulse would be to make as much money as possible — Fox currently best optimized for that w/Idol on Tue/Wed.

By: FCP

FCP — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:40:43 +0000

Yes, you’re probably right, Robert. Which, like I said, is why I don’t run a network. My first impulse would be to win (even if it’s by a smaller margin than usual) over as many nights as possible, but if that’s not their goal, so be it. Good luck programming Thursdays, FOX!

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:34:04 +0000

I agree, Robert. Right now, Tuesday and Wednesdays are dead zones. Every other network lives in fear of trying to program those days in the spring. Thursday is very strong for all three nets other than FOX, so while Idol may deplete them somewhat, the nets would not dread the day Idol starts on Thursdays. All FOX would be left with was killing Wednesdays.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:15:37 +0000

if the goal is simply to WIN, Wednesday/Thursday might work. But if the goal is to CRUSH THE SOUL of your competitors (and I’m pretty sure it is) there’s ZERO chance of this.

I don’t know what the crossover is between Survivor and Idol, but Fox does. And even if it’s only 10%, it doesn’t make any sense to put Idol on Thursday at 8. At 9p it would have to compete with CSI and Greys at the same time. AI would likely still “win”, but its margin of victory would be reduced (as would the total number of viewers). Why would you screw with your franchise show like that?

By: Jonathan B.

Jonathan B. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:06:59 +0000

A Wednesday/Thursday move would’ve worked best for Idol when it was at its peak, but I’m sure it could still pull it off. It’ll still be the only show this season to consistently pull in an audience of over 20 million viewers. But if FOX didn’t do it when it was rumored to a couple seasons ago, it probably won’t now.

By: JT

JT — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:00:22 +0000

Fox moving Idol to Wed/Thurs? Could work, but they won’t do it. Too risky of a move I think.

By: Rhuw Morgan

Rhuw Morgan — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:08:45 +0000

I doubt very much Zip will be on the air at NBC, according to Jossips article on Ben Silverman “He’s brought more controversy than ratings to the network. Hiring his Reveille partner Teri Weinberg, he also brought Weinberg’s live-in boyfriend inside NBC. Though Weinberg promised not to get involved, she ended up pushing her boyfriend’s project — “a comedy called Zip, about a down-on-his-luck con artist” — inside the network. Eventually, NBC paid $1.75 million to buy out the boyfriend’s contract and make him disappear.” Full article at http://www.jossip.com/making-the-case-to-fire-ben-silverman-or-let-him-stay-20080917/

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:07:06 +0000

i think nbc failed in the ramke of kath and kim… the australian show is far best.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:58:20 +0000

Jim, the 9p-10p airing was new. I think your TWC program guide just doesn’t update regularly. In the original scheduling, had the world series gone seven games, I believe Thursday would’ve been game 7.

Kitchen Nightmares hasn’t done great this year, but I believe last night’s numbers were the worst for an original episode. perhaps, because like you, a lot o people were not even aware it was on.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:28:20 +0000

There was a new “Kitchen Nightmares” last night? Huh. My TWC DVR said that “MLB Baseball” would be on from 8-11. I know the World Series is over, but I just figured that Fox would run repeats of “House” or something.

Does “Kitchen Nightmares” always have such bad numbers?

By: Gabriela

Gabriela — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:25:54 +0000

Nick C. if something hasn’t been claimed is the this is Smallville last season on the contrary the producers keep talking about a 9th and Dawn shut down the rumors also that this was the last season. And with the results they are getting this year…I don’t think they will let Smallville go that easily

All its in Tom Welling’s hands it seems, and at this tage I think the CW and the producers might be offering him the world for a 9th season

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:13:10 +0000

If we could determine the way the brain of a network head-honcho worked, FCP, we could probably solve global warming, the Middle East problems and cure the common cold. LOL!

But I aggree with you, things we see as “obvious choices” for networks to do, seems to never happen.

Plus, American Idol just screws up a whole LOT of things on the TV menu. I dread when its time rolls around each year.

By: Iggy

Iggy — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:12:09 +0000

Has Eleventh Hour been picked up yet? It’s stronger than any new show except Mentalist, and it seems to have leveled out at the 11 to 12 million range, about the same as Without A Trace.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:08:15 +0000

Julia, by “actual” numbers I meant, people who “actually” had a Nielsen box to punch their information into. I know they haven’t handed out 5.6 or 9 million boxes, so that’s why I wondered if after counting the numbers of people who actually had boxes, if everything else (the other few million people) was estimated.

And true, technically everything with ratings is pretty much an estimation. But how they divide up the demos (even if they are estimating) intrigues me.

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:08:06 +0000

Harry, unless Zip is going to get a very late pick up, it looks like it’s dead. The only comedy that NBC seems to have for midseason is the Office spin off.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:03:11 +0000

Next week we see the power of Raimi for Supernatural. That episode should be fun, hopefully 3.5M or more watch it as well.

By: FCP

FCP — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:02:11 +0000

Justin, I am surprised Fox hasn’t moved Idol to Wednesday/Thursday. To me, it’s clear that they’ve got a fairly good thing going on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but need to shore up their Thursday lineup. That would mean fewer shake-ups once January rolled around: no need to move “Bones” or “House.” Are they afraid viewers won’t follow them? I know Thursdays are crowded (although less so anymore), but Fox could really strengthen their schedule.

It seems to be a rather obvious move to me, but maybe that’s why I don’t run a network.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:01:35 +0000

Bill, Smallville is in its last season (so they claim). Supernatural is building up for its last season. I don’t see Supernatural getting canceled. That show may just be the best quality show the network has.

By: stacy

stacy — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:01:01 +0000

More good news for Supernatural, it only went down 4.55% for total views at the half hour and it didn’t go down at all in the demos. That better then the last two weeks. I guess more people prefer the mythology episodes.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:58:52 +0000

Kathy, and other Supernatural & Smallville fans, regardless of the “we want the young women” meme at the CW, I see absolutely no chance they let go of those two shows with the numbers they’ve been getting this year.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:55:53 +0000

Good to see Supernatural starting off the sweeps strong. And congrats to the CW. While I don’t agree with Dawn’s strategy for the network, I’d hate to lose SPN, Smallville and Reaper.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:55:16 +0000

Harry, sorry but I’m more of a straight numbers and watch TV guy than a follow the intricacies of show development guy… but perhaps one of our readers has heard something.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:51:47 +0000

ABC is starting to notify people of being picked up or not. Samantha Who has been picked up, and as mentioned before Pushing Daisies was told to wrap it up. Eli Stone hasn’t been picked up (still 5 shows left to pick up).

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:51:17 +0000

30 Rock’s numbers are probably the best news since the fall season started. Anything in the 3.something region among A19-49 will keep NBC very happy considering their dire straits.

What needs changing, which I suspect they might try, is to give one of their comedies in development the 8pm slot to try it out maybe during December when all major players are in repeats.

Robert – have you heard anything about the status of production for ZIP with Steve Weber?

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:49:08 +0000

Dollhouse would be a good pair with Bones on Wednesdays but I think they’re already planning on pairing it with 24 in January. What if Fox put American Idol on a Wednesday/Thursday schedule instead of the usual Tuesday/Wednesday?

By: Nick C

Nick C — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:45:13 +0000

Chris, DOLLHOUSE is going to stay on Monday Night.

By: Johnthemon

Johnthemon — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:44:40 +0000

good for the CW, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Kitchen Nightmares had nightmarish ratings and Smallville and Supernatural are two of the CW’s biggest shows.

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:41:14 +0000

Mel, I’m not sure what you mean by everything beyond the actual numbers being estimated. Technically, everything is estimated.

By: Chris the TV sage

Chris the TV sage — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:29:02 +0000

tim: nothing they’ve announced.

Terminator/Dollhouse, perhaps? or (one of them)/Hell’s Kitchen ?

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:28:44 +0000

YAY. Tis working. My gravetar’s rating was too high. Oops!

Thanks Julia. I’d wondered if it had something to do with the boxes, since that’s the only way they would know for sure who was watching what. So everything beyond the “actual” numbers they have is estimated, right?

I think Petersen leaving will show a significant drop in numbers fro CSI at first, then when his replacment comes in, people will tune in to see who that turns out. But honestly, after however-many seasons (what are they on now, 7 or 8?) a decline in ratings is to be expected. People lose interest, like I did. And when the cast becomes unrecognizable (ER) then people start finding new shows to get hooked on.

By: Vech

Vech — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:27:15 +0000

Grey’s is slowly going up again…It will go up to its 17-18 of last year soon with all that drama coming up

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:23:43 +0000

Mel, I can see your avatars, and I seem to remember thinking I had similar problems when I started with the Gravatars too. Try clearing your browser cache and/or restarting your browser.

By: Jonathan B.

Jonathan B. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:20:08 +0000

I think 30 Rock will remain level next week, mostly because of Oprah and nonstop ads on Election Day (I remember a lot of shows saw increases in the days after Election Day ’04). After that it’ll probably fall into a 7-8 million viewers range, but so long as it maintains 80% retention from The Office in total viewers, that should be enough for NBC to keep it around (Outside of the fact that it has, y’know, 138 Emmys).

What’ll also be interesting is how it and The Office do after The Office’s post-Super Bowl airing next year, and after William Petersen leaves CSI (Which should somewhat help its competition, right?).

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:19:44 +0000

Mel, if my memory serves, it took several minutes or longer for the gravatar thing to update when I did it. But as long as you used the same e-mail address for your comments here that you registered with there, it should work…

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:17:40 +0000

I’m convinced if we gave Robert an hour timeslot to talk about primetime TV numbers and shows he likes, it would’ve done better!

Uh, zero percent chance of that! I think I could pull 72,000 on FX though

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:17:19 +0000

Mel, the Nielsen boxes require you to punch in codes that include information about sex, age and ethnicity.

By: Vader

Vader — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:12:21 +0000

Ok, I’ll put this very bluntly. FOX needs to get rid of Kitchen Nightmares immediately. Those numbers are absolutely pathetic and remind me of another show that got cancelled immediately last season (Quarterlife). Hole in the Wall could’ve done better! Hell, I’m convinced if we gave Robert an hour timeslot to talk about primetime TV numbers and shows he likes, it would’ve done better! Hell’s Kitchen wouldn’t do too well either considering it’s dependent on the American Idol leadin and then airing in the summer with little competition compared to this. But good heavens, those numbers are a whole ‘nother kind of terrible.

By: melgirl

melgirl — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:11:53 +0000

Mel here again, I guess this gravatar doohicky is smarter than me. Can’t get the avatar to work.

Also, I’m curious as to HOW the male-female demos are accumulated? I understand the aggregate numbers in the 18-34, but how do they determine which sex is dominating the numbers?