Comments on: TV Ratings Thursday: 30 Rock Premieres Down Sharply, Vampire Diaries Hits Highs

By: Philosopher Jay

Philosopher Jay — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:16:12 +0000

I do not have much time for television watching. Boston Legal was the only program in the last five years that I tried to view regularly. In the last two years, I have watched two episodes of “Office” and two episodes of “Medium,” and one episode of “Ugly Betty.”
However, I do go to NBC.Com every few months and watch a bunch of episodes of “30 Rock”. I think I have seen every episode twice.
I assume that I am not alone in this and that NBC takes this into account along with the overnight ratings.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:54:22 +0000

I do not understand why Vampire Diaries has such good ratings. I tried watching it once and I thought the acting was awful and the storyline was completely trite. Maybe I’m too old for shows like that?

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:39:00 +0000

I’ve been out-nerded!

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:22:02 +0000

JR, on average 30 Rock beat the Yankees games, but 30 Rock needed to sustain those numbers for only 30 minutes. There were several 30 minute slices on Saturday night where the Yankees beat 30 Rock.

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:16:21 +0000

Suzie, you and your husband may be radioactive.

Local channels have been boosting their signals due to reports of bad reception.

Rebecca, 30 Rock received better ratings than the Yankees this week.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:06:33 +0000

“Charmed” was adapted from the film “Witches of Eastwick”. So really it’s “Eastwick” copying “Charmed” which copied “Witches of Eastwick”.

And with “30 Rock” I am hot & cold in liking it, and have always felt that it’s more of the critics darling – Emmy committee LOVES it – rather than with actual viewers. Tracey Morgan’s & Alec Baldwins’ characters do practically do the same script every week. The Leno “joke” at the end fell flat with me, because Leno is not what this person wants, and I changed to The Mentalist.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:59:02 +0000

I want to make a side note comment.
There is something that constantly happens for me and I wanted to post it here as I don’t know if since the switch to digital is causing truthful reflection about ratings. I have converter boxes on my TV’s and I got the good VHF/UHF antennas, not cheap ones, on each. I cannot tell you how many times…well take this past Wednesday, I wanted to watch the ABC from 8:00 on. I turn it on, adjust the antenna picture and audio is there, I go to sit on my couch, the signal goes off, I get up to go to my TV picture and audio back on, I adjust the antenna again, and go sit down, no good. I sit on my couch and ask my husband to come in and adjust antenna, he does and picture/audio is on, then he leaves the room and signal goes off. Not wanting to watch TV by me or my husband having to stand by the TV all evening, I gave up trying to watch ABC. Other nights it happens with CBS. So ratings now may not be a case of the show not being good, but rather frustrated converter box viewers giving up for loss of signals when trying to tune in the stations.

By: tvmegafan

tvmegafan — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:18:58 +0000

I LOVE FRINGE, FOX WTF ARE YOU DOING? Give it a better timeslot, it cannot compete with these shows, they’ve been around toooo long, fringe is still a baby, it needs care, your beating it up.

By: TV Addict

TV Addict — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:25:24 +0000

Eastwick–didn’t we have this show on the air a few years ago? By the name CHARMED?

By: Subtítulos 1×04: Black Swan | Flashforwardzilla

Subtítulos 1×04: Black Swan | Flashforwardzilla — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:41:03 +0000

[...] ? El 1×04 tuvo una audiencia de 9,2 millones de espectadores. [...]

By: Chucksmom

Chucksmom — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:03:19 +0000

Gosh-

I just now watch all the Community episodes on my DVR. It is such a good show. I don’t understand why NBC screwed about with it’s orignal time. Joel Mchale is awesome.

I just don’t understand NBC anymore…..

By: Dandudav

Dandudav — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:16:42 +0000

Miki
Why not Wednesday? or another day,I dont Know,but NOT THURSDAY!!or not at the same hour as csi and grey´s anatomy.

By: porky

porky — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:37:38 +0000

I like Flashforward and it seems to be stabilizing at the 9M and 3.2 in the demos. I think that’s good enough for a 2nd season or at least I hope. The show reminds me of 24 in it’s early stages. Perhaps it’s a show that can see it’s ratings improve after a strong lead-in like 24 did.

FOX has to be happy with Bones/Fringe. Why move Fringe now anyways? 24 will be the 9PM Monday show in the winter so Fringe could move for one month and then just move back when 24 is back on. It makes no sense and moving it to Friday would end the show. Keep it where it is for now IMO.

By: gene

gene — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:31:58 +0000

I keep waiting for Supernatural to crash, but damn that’s some great television writing. Each week I can’t help thinking, it’s got to wash out this week, they’ve used the best storyline twists and character angles up already this season… the monster hunting’s gotta get tired sometimes soon… and once again, another quality hour that totally entertains me. You find yourself laughing out loud, then being pensive, then utterly shocked- the writing just takes you all over the place, and it never loses its hold. Somehow they mix apocalyptic elements with complex brother/family issues, and flashes of such bloke-y humour you can’t stop laughing! I definitely take my hat off to the whole lot of them.

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:32:53 +0000

So glad FLASHFORWARD is doing so well AND that it already got picked up for a FULL SEASON!!! This is by far my favorite new show this season and I can’t wait every week to see an episode! I like Community also, but I Hulu it when I have some time.

By: Drea

Drea — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:36:30 +0000

All CSI Vegas needs to do is kill off Langston.

By: daniel patrick

daniel patrick — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:32:14 +0000

yeah parks and rec should have gone a long time ago, didn’t nbc sign a contract to do a show with hillary duff or something

By: brendan

brendan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:44:23 +0000

i prefer community over flashforward but they should still put community back into it’s original time slot and just cancel parks and rec

By: vsaint

vsaint — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:43:04 +0000

It’s going to be tough to move NCIS out of the Tues 8pm slot, It does well against IDOL.PLus it’s up against 3 reality tv shows.
Last year it averaged 3.6 demo, so i would like to see what it’s numbers are once IDOL and V or whatever ABC puts there are.
Look what happened to Fringe and The Mentalist, both are down and disappointing in there 2nd year. Traditionally the year were things take off, because of the 1st year buzz.

By: Dandudav

Dandudav — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:39:54 +0000

Supernatural is the best show of ever and I´m very,very disappointed with CW because thursday night is not good for the show,isnt benifiting.
Unfortunately CW dont care about Supernatural.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:20:44 +0000

I’m glad the Vampire Diaries is doing well. I think if the CW did a little bit of promo for Supernatural during TVD, they might get more of the audience to stick around — the uptick in the female demo’s from last year would seem to indicate ‘new’ audience for SN.
Otherwise, the erosion is modest compared to other shows.

The Mentalist at 10 — just doesn’t work for me. its a 9 o’clock show — my 14 year old loved it last year. We DVR it.

By: Wilma

Wilma — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:20:25 +0000

CSI – LV – way more interesting this season – really liking the whole nerd aspect of Hodges. Think Langston is going to come into his own as a character people want to follow.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:26:44 +0000

As a fan of Robin Tunney and Amanda Rhigetti I am disappointed in the lack of development in their characters. With renewal likely maybe the
scriptwriters can find plot lines that give them something more meaningful to do than act as foils for Patrick Jane’s passive aggressive
conduct. The car/motorcycle chase was a start.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:56:23 +0000

Personally 30 rock was not funny the first season and now is borderline annoying to even watch. Tina Fey is a great writer but I could never get into that show. Just not for me I suppose.

However Foxs thursday night lineup is perfect for me as I am a Bones fan since day one love David in just about anything he does. Fringe I have yet to miss an episode it is an amazing show with really cool storylines I wish more people would watch it. That said I would have to say Fox is very happy because once AI comes back they are basically competiting every night minus Friday and does anyone actually compete on Fridays.

All in all I think Fox has to be pretty happy. I think on another night Fringe would go back to its last season numbers just because the intrictate storylines. I was never a Fox fan but I have to say I watch Fox a lot more than any other network right now.

By: Dante

Dante — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:53:32 +0000

Can a good show that airs on a bad network make it? In regards to Community, is it good enough to overcome NBC’s dismal disposition?

By: jj

jj — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:45:06 +0000

as much i love 30 rock, thursday is not the best timeslot for the show. thursday has been always the place for shows with mainstream appeal, unfortunately 30 rock doesn’t really have that attention grabber feel

30 rock should be sneak in after the biggest loser at 9:30 pm, there it can perform better and it’s not too crowded.

nbc can put 100 questions after the office, a show with a laugh track that made nbc must see lineup so popular in the first place,before 2005.

and csi is so 2000! and the mentalist isn’t really benifiting from csi.

By: usedtolovecoco

usedtolovecoco — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:38:53 +0000

I didn’t know 30 Rock was premiering until I saw Tina Fey on Letterman Wednesday night. I can’t remember seeing a single promo.

I’m a huge fan of the show and even *I* almost missed the premiere. That’s just awful promotion.

By: Carpe

Carpe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:27:21 +0000

Lu, I totally agree. Although I think EH started rocky, it found itself creatively before the end, and I think it would have been stronger this year.

By: OzzieTdoggie

OzzieTdoggie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:23:48 +0000

I’m probably in the minority, but 30 Rock is just too smug for me, but then again, it’s the same reason I haven’t watched Saturday Night Live or MadTV in years.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:23:19 +0000

I feel like at 8:30 some 300,000 people stopped watching Flash Forward and made the channel jump to Bones. I don’t blame them.

By: Terrence

Terrence — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:21:02 +0000

It may not longer be invincible, but with 15 million viewers its tenth season, “CSI” deserves more credit than it is getting.

By: Carpe

Carpe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:17:37 +0000

Although I’m still watching, I understand what you mean, Philip. It’s funny to watch all the CBI agents continually disrespect Patrick when they couldn’t solve a crossword puzzle without him.

By: Tar

Tar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:13:13 +0000

ryan vampire got additional 9 scripts not episode orders yet

By: Lu

Lu — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:06:50 +0000

@CARPE,

Probably right but unfortunately we will never know since it seemed that CBS never liked that show despite ordering 5 more episodes.

They never gave it a chance.

By: james

james — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:00:19 +0000

Last year Smallville 4.18 million and a 1.7 in the demo. Let’s not blow this VD crap out of proportion.

By: Philip

Philip — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:49:08 +0000

I was a steady viewer of The Mentalist last year but I’ve given up on this season – nothing to do with the time slot or the lead-in, it’s just a much weaker show now.

By: DW

DW — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:35:09 +0000

I’m also surprised by the success of The Vampire Diaries considering how terrible the show is, but I guess vampires are an unstoppable force at the moment. It’s nice to see the CW have some sort of hit, though I wish I could snap my fingers and swap the ratings between VD and Melrose Place.

By: the128boy

the128boy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:32:36 +0000

Ted, id be willing to bet cash money that Community is bringing in bigger numbers than Earl would. And even if Earl was slightly higher in the ratings, Community has to be cheaper, right?

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:05:47 +0000

For the love of God bring back “My Name is Earl!”

By: Joe R

Joe R — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:53:30 +0000

CBS needs some major schedule changes after this Thursday.
8pm Amazing Race
9pm NCIS
10pm CSI

I know that will be impossible for CBS but if NCIS goes on Thursday at 9pm this could either make it or loose it for NCIS and CSI will get more viewers with that lead in. Switch Amazing Race and Survivor because Amazing Race gets much better ratings

Put The Mentalist back to Tuesday at 9pm

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:50:27 +0000

128 — ah, indeed the spreadsheet I have is comparing last nights preliminary to last year’s finals. Thanks for the clarification.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:49:05 +0000

Ryan as has now been said, over and over and over AND OVER AND OVER, the order was for nine more scripts not nine more episodes. But the full season pickup isn’t in doubt. And the announcement of a full season pickup is probably just waiting for November sweeps for perceived maximum bang for PR buck.

By: the128boy

the128boy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:47:49 +0000

Robert, I am going by overnight numbers from last year, not finals.

Last year the Office ticked up 2 points in finals. The hour longs also may be due to different rounding.

By: the128boy

the128boy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:45:08 +0000

All the talk about how poorly Parks And Rec is doing vs Kath & Kim last year is off base.

First off, Parks has been fairly steady this season, with last nights episode down 0.1 from the premiere (2.0 vs 2.1).

Kath & Kim, on the other hand, premiered with a 3.2, then dropped over 20% to a 2.5 (last night a year ago) and was down to a 2.2 by week 3.

If you subtract Kath & Kim’s series premiere from its numbers, the show’s 18-49 average last year was a 2.1.

In a world of diminishing returns, you can bet Parks And Rec is an improvement.

By: ryan

ryan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:40:51 +0000

Vampire Diaries was already givin another 9 episodes bringing there total to 22, anymore then 22 is still unknown

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:38:30 +0000

@the128boy,not sure how you’re doing your calculations, but The Office was down 7% but Grey’s ~18% and CSI 30% with adults 18-49. But I agree, versus the others “down only 7% is the new up”

By: the128boy

the128boy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:30:25 +0000

Congratulations to The Office for being down 2% from a year ago.

Grey’s down 15%.

CSI down 27%.

By: Tory

Tory — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:07:05 +0000

30 Rock already signed a syndication deal. I believe it begins airing in two seasons. So that does come into play, and the episode number will only grow. And the ratings are still good, just not as good as The Office. But then, its never gotten that kind of promotion. And no one is talking about Emmy wins in mid October, they needed to have the show on a week or two after to try to benefit from that. And Community got an amazing amount of promo from NBC. They had NBC, E!, the NBC Preview that aired on all the NBCU channels was hosted by Joel. Community promos were really all over the place. I expected higher ratings because of this. Its a shame the pilot wasn’t better.

Promotion on network for NBC isn’t enough to remind people of anything. Who is watching NBC regularly right now? Almost no one. So you can’t let people know a show is coming back by just promoting on network. If this is the plan for Chuck, good luck with those ratings, that is not what the show needs to bring in new viewers.

By: Carpe

Carpe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:55:32 +0000

Lu, if EH only got a 3.2 when CSI was getting a 5.2 last year, how much lower would it be now that CSI is only doing a 3.6? And I say that as someone who liked EH and was disappointed it was canceled.

I do agree that EH was a much better fit with CSI since its crime solving MO was real science. TM is my favorite show, and its hook is Patrick’s elaborate mind games, which is about as supernatural as you can get without crossing into Medium and Ghost Whisperer territory.

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:40:57 +0000

I agree with some comments about The Mentalist and not others. It is on too late but it has an extremely loyal audience (of at least 14 million) who have followed it from Tuesday at 9.00 to Thursday at 10.00. I have to say I do think its core audience is mainly women who like Simon Baker (he is the reason I watch it) as the show itself is pretty light.

Looking back over last years figures it seems it didn’t soar in the ratings until November/December time so will be interesting to see how it does then. Any show which is at No.6 in the final Nielsen ratings (last week) really isn’t in any kind of trouble. It has also sold around the world making a lot of money for CBS.

Another show which has sold around the world is FlashForward. Its really all style and no substance. I like the show and will stick with it but it really needs more to happen in each episode. It wont get cancelled in a hurry either due to worldwide sales. Look at Heroes – its still going even though its ratings are terrible.

The comments on this board are really interesting but I think worldwide sales need to be taken into consideration more when you talk about shows about to be cancelled. If they make money they wont be.