Comments on: Monday Final Ratings: Castle Ticks Down; HIMYM, 2.5 Men, BBT Tick Up

By: Pat89

Pat89 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:53:53 +0000

Castle is the only non-rerun TV show I watch nowadays and I don’t even watch it on TV. I watch it on Hulu. Do these rating numbers reflect web views? Why do people watch TV on TV when there are so many commercials on it?

I watch Castle for the chemistry, for Katic’s hotness and eye-rolling, and for the snazzy lines that the writers dump (almost solely on) Fillion. The series is nowhere near realistic (how many NYPD detectives get to work only on one case at a time? how many cop stations have pristine bathrooms?) but it makes me laugh out loud and relax. It’s fun.

And the murder scenarios are crazier (read: surprising, less cliche, more omigodthatssocontrivedbutbrilliant) than they were in the first season – someone broadcasting from the Arctic from his apartment – LOL!

I do wish some of the minor actors – usually those playing suspects or family of the deceased – could act better sometimes. Can’t they hire them all from Vancouver or something like the X Files did?

Castle deserves a third season, though not a fourth.

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:16:18 +0000

I hope ABC is looking at the upward trend for Castle. It’s baby steps and might not be enough to save it but at least it’s building slowly while the other shows have dropped off some.

By: AO

AO — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:41:23 +0000

lainey,

Imo, you’re absolutely right about how some shows can build an increase in their audience over time. Seinfeld was by no means a hit when it began. It looks like TBBT is continuing to build in the same way that NCIS has. Unfortunately, oftentimes it seems that the Networks don’t feel that they can afford to patiently allow shows to build. Obviously there are many that wouldn’t benefit from longer runs, but I’m sure that at least a few would.

By: lainey

lainey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:01:28 +0000

I am rooting for Castle. I hope that ABC will not be so chop happy and give it some more time. I hope that they give it at least until the end of the whole season. Then, if it doesn’t meet their needs, then they will have had enough time to figure out what the best program is to put there for the summer and the next season, which I would think would be better than to have to shift everything around and make do to get through the end of the year.
On CBS, their monster show, NCIS, was not a runaway hit when it first premiered, but it was decent enough that CBS kept it around, and they have profited from letting it develop, which is a miracle.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:22:48 +0000

Gerry, Julia is correct, Castle has been stable while ABC’s overall numbers have slid.

But make no mistake, that is good news for Castle. If Castle stays where it is and ABC continues to slide, it will continue to look better.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:07:17 +0000

Maybe “V” will come in on a white horse and save the day

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:03:46 +0000

Gerry, it’s the rest of ABC falling apart around them.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:58:28 +0000

Check out the Renew/Cancel index for Castle.

.69 to .73 to .77 latest.

Is it a trend or a mirage?

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:42:43 +0000

Diane, god help ABC if their *press release* wasn’t positive on Castle.

As for zap2it, everyone’s allowed their opinion.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:19:42 +0000

Today’s ABC Press Release was positive for “Castle.” Zap2It was also positive.

Why is this website so down on “Castle?”

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:46:18 +0000

Budo, I agree with your post.

While Castle is not bringing in the numbers in the key demo it’s a shame when a show bringing a consistent 10 million viewers isn’t enough to save it. Yet a show that gets a 2.7 and only 7 and 1/2 million viewers is considered a hit. Makes no sense.

We just have to hope that word of mouth from last nights episode and the surge in book sales help the show.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:24:12 +0000

Wow. TBBT at 5.0 and 13 million viewers in finals! WOW! I wonder what it will be once 7 day DVR viewings are factored in.

By: Budo

Budo — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:22:02 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong, but (re: Castle) – in this day and age, isn’t it a bit silly for any network to dismiss a show that keeps bringing in at least a rock solid 10 million viewers every week? The tie-in novel “Heat Wave” went straight to #26 of the NYT bestseller list, making the fictional character of Richard Castle an actual bestselling author. It was a novel idea, and it has shown potential – I don’t know how much they can actually make from that but it can’t be nothing. Of course, only the almighty Demo makes any difference, but with audience loyalty at a really low point, is taking a risk with something out of the blue worth losing what you DO have, which is a chance to improve?

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:13:13 +0000

I suggest reading the FAQ and Numbers 101 and 102 which are linked there.

Going to 2.3 from 2.2 isn’t really worth much, but the fact that Castle is impressively consistent, especially compared to Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 is worth noting. A couple of weeks ago I figured there was no way ABC keeps Castle for midseason. Now it looks like they may order at least a few more episodes. But I would not bet on a third season.

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:06:45 +0000

Julia, thank you once again. You always explain things so I can understand them.

Does this site have one of those guides for dummies? I think I need one.

Anyway, isn’t it worth noting that Castle improved at least?

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:57:02 +0000

2.9 doesn’t help, but the 2.3 it got last night does include anyone who watched it before 3 am last night on DVR. But when they add in 7 days of DVR, that doesn’t help.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:55:10 +0000

I’m confused then. I keep hearing the DVR numbers don’t matter even though networks on keeping track of them.

Does the 2.9 Castle posted in the DVR numbers help or not?

Sorry, I’ve never paid attention to numbers like this and it seems I hear one thing and read another.

By: forg

forg — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:55:07 +0000

TBBT indeed went to 5.0 demo and up to 13 million viewers yay! HIMYM at 3.6 is great as well, I hope they keep it up especially for HIMYM I was really worried for it when it was announced it will anchor the night

And wow also at House at 5.2

AOP is doing decent so it might get a full season pick up as long as it maintains the 3.0 level I guess

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Lee, to be picky, DVR viewing *does* count in every Nielsen rating you see on our site. All our posts contain Live+Same Day DVR viewing (until 3am the following day).

Our posts specifically about DVR viewing also contain Live + 7 day DVR viewing numbers.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:41:34 +0000

MichyGeary, the DVR numbers don’t count in the Nielsen ratings. Networks are keeping an eye on those DVR numbers but who knows if that’ll help a show like Castle. It’s my hope but I don’t trust ABC with all the shows they’ve cancelled in the last few years.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:40:04 +0000

Unfair to Castle. It actually ticked up from it’s previous weeks. I understand a 2.3 isn’t anything to write home about but it’s the first sign of improving instead of staying stable.

It’s always going to tick down because of the DWTS overrun. Not to mention football if a big game is on.

By: MichyGeary

MichyGeary — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:37:52 +0000

What about Castle’s 2.9 in the premiere with DVR views?

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:18:55 +0000

“For what it’s worth, that’s a season high for Castle.”

Not true. The premiere had the same rating.

By: Dingo

Dingo — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:57:21 +0000

George, CW’s Miami affiliate aired the Monday Night Football game between the Jets and the Dolphins last night. The ratings for the game have to be subtracted from the ratings for the CW primetime lineup since Miami didn’t air the primetime lineup. The early ratings meter the timeslot, not the programming.

By: Mumbo

Mumbo — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:56:26 +0000

“For what it’s worth, that’s a season high for Castle.”

The fact that 2.3 is a season high makes it even worse though.

By: j

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:52:33 +0000

ABC good & mediocre
CBS good & great (Bang outstanding)
NBC Leno & Heroes about as helpful
Fox outstanding & mediocre
CW GG down while OTH up vs. seasonal avgs

Last week had 3 outstanding shows. I’m guessing this week will have just one more. How weird that the day with two isn’t Thursday which may or may not even have 2 4+’s vs. 4 on Monday.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:37:34 +0000

Anyone with a BlackBerry who loves TV by the Numbers, join the TVBTN BBM group…lets get a good mobile forum going! Pin me (30B6A0A6) for the invite.

By: Hudson

Hudson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:36:06 +0000

What were Friday’s Final numbers? Were they posted and I just missed it?

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:20:10 +0000

For what it’s worth, that’s a season high for Castle.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:19:41 +0000

Castle up from 2.2 last week. YAY!

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:15:08 +0000

So it’s a 0.1 ratings increase. The same as statistical noise, in other words.

By: GEORGE 11

GEORGE 11 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:08:12 +0000

why cw shows always(or almost always) go down on final ratings??

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:07:01 +0000

Good to see How I Met Your Mother tick up. I’m not loving this season so far, but I can’t wait for that 100th episode. Congrats to The Big Bag Theory for getting a 5.0! We’ll be seeing this comedy around for many, many more seasons. I really should catch up on TBBT, too. I loved the S1 episodes I saw.