Comments on: TV Ratings Tuesday: Fox, American Idol Win As Most Shows Fall; NCIS:LA Bounces Back

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:47:44 +0000

I don’t know how NBC, ABC, and CW havn’t figured out that its best for them to just clear out of the Tuesday 8:00 timeslot. You’ve got two of the highest rated TV shows today in that slot and there’s no chance your going to push them away. Why would anybody want to screw themslves over by putting there shows in there?

Oh well once Simon leaves Idol the show will lose a few million veiwers I think. NCIS is so much better.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:19:45 +0000

I will be glad when Lost returns next week and I have something worth watching as a live viewer for the entire 8pm. hour. Sorry but NCIS and Idol are definitely not good enough to make me want to sit through 20 minutes of commercials as a live viewer!

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:11:50 +0000

Travis Yanan posted the final ratings for this night here: http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=32410241&f=63310451&m=550103172&r=855103172#855103172

Human Target’s final is 3.1 and 9.26 million viewers, so it’s down 9-10% instead of 6%. American Idol’s final is unchanged, 9.0, 24.45 million viewers. The two NCIS shows also lost 0.1 points in the 18-49 demo. That’s about it.

By: pumps

pumps — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:14:34 +0000

The quality and intelligence of television has drastically fallen to the point that many shows are embarrassing and incredibly formulaic and fungible.

By: jrt

jrt — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:15:37 +0000

I’m not a LOST fan but it would be nice to see it knock IDOL down

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:57:38 +0000

20 Million Viewers is most definatley impressive today, especially when there are only two shows that can do it(NCIS and AI).

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:56:16 +0000

It is shocking how well The Good Wife does in repeats. Usually a show with a continuing storyline does lousy in repeats(Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy always do lousy in repeats).

The Good Wife has alot of buzz surrounding it with Julianne Marguiles winning a Golden Globe and SAG Award and it seems that new people are catching the repeats.

I predict that the next new episode of The Good Wife will be its highest rated episode to date

By: vsaint

vsaint — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:42:25 +0000

It is old skewing, i think even by CBS standards.

By: Acey

Acey — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:51:38 +0000

LMFAO. 20 million viewers is not impressive. Give me a god damn break.

By: Derrick

Derrick — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:20:53 +0000

LOL ” 20 million total viewers number is not impressive”

since when has 20 million not been impressive(ever)

By: Kozy

Kozy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:45:12 +0000

NCIS’ 20 million total viewers number is not impressive, not when its A18-49 ratings is in the low 4s. It must be really frustrating for CBS. Millions are watching NCIS for free. Needless to say, AI is still a monster. Biggest Loser is impressive. Human Target is weak after the humongous lead-in. I like the show. It’s pretty much all action from start to finish, with just enough plot to thread an intriguing story. It’s good vege-out entertainment.

By: Acey

Acey — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:59:10 +0000

20,150,000 makes it seem much more impressive. They shouldn’t abbreviate it.

By: Holly

Holly — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:11:16 +0000

Like for NCIS on some episode guide site they say that NCIS got 20.15 million viewers, but what does that “15? after the “20? million means?

That means there were 20,150,000 viewers. It’s just shorter than saying 20 million 150 thousand.

By: forg

forg — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:58:39 +0000

jimmcaff: I don’t think ABC will put Modern Family to lead off the night after it performed reasonably well against AI two weeks back.

In fairness to ABC, they gave the post Rose Bowl slot to Ted this year and it received a 1.7 only after a huge lead in , I don’t think even placing it on Wednesdays would produce better results. But of course I hope ABC would still try air the last two episodes just to see how it performs

By: Mel

Mel — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:46:35 +0000

The CW picked up two pilots – Nikita and The Wyoming Project — Nikita is the same producers — McG and Peter Johnson — as Human Target (and they also had producing credits on Supernatural)

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/446250-The_CW_Picks_Up_Two_Pilots.php

By: jimmcaf

jimmcaf — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:30:59 +0000

What will it take to get people to watch Better off Ted? The only show that has more laugh out loud moments is 30 Rock. Why not lead off Wednesdays with Modern Family (first run), followed by the Middle, Cougar Town, and then BOT?

Thank you ABC, for keeping it on this long. But you have not PROMOTED it, but buried it. Sad…

By: forg

forg — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:24:05 +0000

I hope ABC will still air the remaining eps of Scrubs and Ted. Sad to see both shows with ratings like this

By: ohiogirl

ohiogirl — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:03:57 +0000

I have to agree with Nemo,that TV seems to cater to the lowest common denominator. I, too, find little I feel comfortable watching…especially the crime dramas. I like a mystery or who-done-it as much as the next person, but am weary of the grotesque or shocking openings, the sex strewn dialogue that has little to do with the story, sick story lines that appear ‘acceptable’ simply because they are after the ‘bad guy’. Women and children are most often the victims with appaling crime facts spewed as though they were reciting the phone book. I don’t need garbage in my home, so why should I invite it via the television?

By: Terry (with a G)

Terry (with a G) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:48:54 +0000

@theoacme
the Josshouse would be a big hit,
but man, no one is going to watch pish posh.

Wait, there were some real on-air shows.
AI continues to roll on (and I remain clueless as to why).
NCSI also draws a crowd.
Look at all those people tuning in.

Of course, Bill is right, we need to let Human Target settle into it’s new time before we judge, but I got a bad feeling about it.

By: Tara

Tara — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:47:39 +0000

I am a huge NCIS fan Good job NCIS, keep up the very good work!!
Can someone tell me what the last two digits after the first two digits means? Like for NCIS on some episode guide site they say that NCIS got 20.15 million viewers, but what does that “15″ after the “20″ million means?
Anyways, NCIS, again, good job and keep it up, continue to make your fans proud; oh, and NCIS had a really good plot and storyline last night, one of the best episodes ever!!! Tiva and NCIS ROCKSSSSSSSS!!

By: Gleebo

Gleebo — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:27:42 +0000

Agree with the 10/10 for the Season 5 Lost finale but I still think it wasn’t quite as good as the ones for S4 and S5. But it did leave the best cliffhanger and chance for absolute chaos…which is what I expect Season 6 to be from start to finish.

I honestly don’t know what I am going to do when this show is over. Never has anything completely captivated and puzzled me as much as Lost has.

By: zeker

zeker — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:22:55 +0000

@Theoacme

That lineup would do far better than what NBC has right now

By: Mark D.

Mark D. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:40:08 +0000

My reviews for last nights shows:

Scrubs–8/10
Better Off Ted–9/10
American Idol–7/10 (Katy Perry is awesome!)
LOST–10/10! (Still one of the best finales of all time!)

CANT WAIT FOR LOST NEXT WEEK!!! It will brighten up my tuesdays!

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:33:18 +0000

People who post fantasy network schedules should be banned…

No, what everyone posts are network fantasy schedules…

…here is a fantasy network schedule – MyTV Network – “Get Your Zwork Yin”: tonight!

8:00 – The Josshouse – hosted by Joss’ Biggest Fan, sixty minutes of fan Flashes and doll flashes, all honouring Joss Whedon, the best thing to happen to TV since the Bass-O-Matic ’75…

9:00 – Pish-Posh – Pisher hosts a half hour of snarky reasons why you should get on Santa’s naughty list now, and hate Castle, Glee, Chuck, TBBT, and more!

9:30 – Extreme Makeover: TV Edition – revamping TV networks, one night at a time. This week, Garry Marshall and Candace Bergen try to revamp the CW’s Tuesday night schedule without Melrose Place…

10:00 – Clutch Cargo / Worker & Parasite Show – two of the worst cartoons in television history (the Gene Deitch Tom and Jerry cartoons were theatrically released, so don’t count here), hosted by the TV star from the worst show in FOX history, Brad Garrett.

10:30 – The SeiGordman Group – Bill and Robert, with three rotating panelists, review everything Nielsen. Today’s rotation includes Julia, themayorofsimpleton, and George Segal, and covers Nielsen’s 339th network server failure…

By: Shem

Shem — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:59:15 +0000

I think Idol’s problem was Avril Lavinge. She was very obnoxious. There was this one guy who sounded really great but Avril scorned him cuz he was a Christian married guy with three kids. Plus she wore a demon horns hood. What a weirdo!

By: Lester's Fan

Lester's Fan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:33:12 +0000

“People who post fantasy network schedules should be banned”

eh, I just don’t bother reading them
(but I agree with you)

By: Nemo

Nemo — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:16:29 +0000

“The quality and intelligence of television has drastically fallen to the point that many shows are embarrassing and incredibly formulaic and fungible.”

Television, books, movies, music… the formula for success is to appeal to the lowest common denominator. If anything is truly popular in this country anymore – bestselling novels, platinum albums, blockbuster movies, TV shows with more than about a 5 demo – I try to avoid it on principle, as it’s basically guaranteed to be crap. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve bought a region-free DVD player, just so I can watch box sets of reasonably decent (foreign) television – Sea Patrol (AU), Rescue:Special Ops (AU), Corner Gas (CA), the UK productions of Robin Hood and Merlin… hell, I’ve started buying *anime* just so I have something to watch that doesn’t insult my intelligence or make me cringe.

I long for the good old days when “Married With Children” was the most appalling programming on network television, and MTV still played nothing but music videos…

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:09:16 +0000

J – No not yet, the two remaining Scrubs eps, have also yet to be rescheduled. They were gonna air on 1/27 and 2/3 but ABC opted not to air them their. Its likely the two series will burn off their eps Wed at 8 in March in place of Modern Family repeats. Or maybe in an hour long block in another slot.

By: Really Tired

Really Tired — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:04:28 +0000

You mean there is other news today besides the iPud being announced?

By: J

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:56:47 +0000

Have the 2 remaining Better Off Ted episodes been scheduled yet ?

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:53:21 +0000

Better off Ted is more than certain to be axed, yet fans believe that a move to wednesday could be better so ABC could always test the series at 8:00 Wednesdays. ABC has 2 remaining BOT episodes as well as 2 remaining Scrubs episodes. Instead of Modern Family repeats, ABC could air the last eps in the 8pm slot in March. Both Scrubs and Ted’s renewals last May were a shock. Scrubs was set to end and Ted didnt do that great airing after it. Yet ABC had no other comedy series so both were renewed. Now ABC has The Middle, Modern Family, and Cougar Town all renewed for 2010-2011 so Scrubs and Ted seem expendable. In December, my guess would have been that at least 1 of the duo would see additional episodes ordered but both seem to be done.

By: KSandbergFL

KSandbergFL — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:49:49 +0000

I like the new Scrubs. I’ve watched every Scrubs episode since the beginning, 9 years ago… It’s not “what it was”, and the show might be “long in the tooth” but it’s still funnier than most other sitcoms. John C. McGinley’s “Dr Cox” character has the funniest lines on TV.

Better Off Ted is too inconsistent for me… when I watch, I often do LOL at several of the jokes, but the stuff in between the jokes bores me.

By: USC

USC — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:41:17 +0000

Too bad about Better off Ted, it really is one of the best shows on television. However, its humor is exceptionally esoteric, which, along with its absolute terrible marketing is why the numbers are down.

I expect it to generate a quasi Arrested Development like cult following in about three years. Unfortunately, smart, witty sitcoms very rarely make it in the US where the sex jokes have become the norm. I’ve gone on record saying that had Frasier been piloted this year, it would have failed.

The quality and intelligence of television has drastically fallen to the point that many shows are embarrassing and incredibly formulaic and fungible.

I really hope Better off Ted is given one more shot on a better night, with better marketing, and a better overall strategy to generate interest and loyalty. However, I do accept its likely demise, despite my best efforts to save the show. For a major corporation, ABC does a very poor job of branding their product, and it has truly started to show and catch up with them.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:34:54 +0000

Don J – I agree, consistency in the best. Though its airing before Idol, Atleast Human Target has limited competition. The ABC and CBS comedies as well as Mercy. That should help it. Even without the ratings, I still think Human Target has a good chance to return, better than Past Life atleast.

By: Don J

Don J — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:27:56 +0000

Once Human Target finally gets settled in the Wednesday at 8pm timeslot for a few weeks, then I think we can make a much better assessment on it getting a season 2 or not.

By: Jackson

Jackson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:26:33 +0000

Please, somebody take AI out back and shoot it. Just God awful, “quality” if ever there was any is diminishing. Same for TBL which is aptly titled. Biased, of course about reality shows which, of course are not reality.

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:13:26 +0000

The TVBTN guys have a point on Human Target. We don’t know how it will fare on its own yet and THAT is the acid test for its survival.

I can understand why some are crowing though, given it does have poor retention out of American Idol. But it premiered on a Sunday to decent ratings and now it’s gotten a good look from a very big audience. We’ll see if they follow it or not.

I do think it there is enough to make the suits at FOX and WB uncomfortable. FOX was VERY high on this show when they screened the pilot, they were very enthusiastic, and besides Glee this is their premiere new show of the season. They don’t want it to tank. But it doesn’t look like a big hit so far. For a new show with a lot of fanfare, that’s a problem.

By: Don J

Don J — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:50:33 +0000

Human Target will be fine…why the pessimism? It’s had 3 different timeslots for it’s 1st 3 episodes so I can understand why some viewers may have gotten lost when it was airing. It only has 9 more episodes left this season.

By: ibright05

ibright05 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:26:09 +0000

I know the ratings are horrible but I actually like the new scrubs. The first few episodes were cringe worthy but the new cast really got into a groove and find the show enjoyable now, I DVR every week and try to watch it later on Tuesday night. I’ll be sad when it goes.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:16:38 +0000

I don’t see where a lead-in should matter that much. I can understand when you had to get up out of your chair and go switch the TV channel dial (yes I’m showing my age here) but now with remotes who actually bothers with what a lead in is or the show after the show you’re watching? For me, I have the shows I’m interested in picked out and I only watch those.

By: thirdsaint

thirdsaint — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:15:48 +0000

Anyone else find it funny that a repeat of Lost did better than Scrubs and BOT?

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:14:41 +0000

Scrubs & BOT’s ratings are terrible. I’m surprised that ABC is still airing them.

By: thirdsaint

thirdsaint — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:12:00 +0000

I have a feeling Human Target’s future will be determined by whether or not 24 has another season unless it completely bombs soon. Say what you want about retention but I don’t think HT is a show that many AI viewers would enjoy. We’ll see what happens once it settles in its timeslot though.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:06:05 +0000

mayorofsmpleton, I typically don't try and predict future ratings, particularly in a different time slot, so I will just wait and see how HT does next Wednesday. However, I am all too willing to predict show futures based on past ratings. But until HT moves to Wednesday, I think its past ratings are not meaningful.

By: mayorofsmpleton

mayorofsmpleton — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:03:52 +0000

Bill,
While it’s hard to factor in the renewal chances — the large dip in the half hour and the large loss of lead-in does give us a strong indication that it’s not likely to set the 8pm timeslot on fire when it is lacking such support. If it pulled 2.7+ demos that might be something, but it’s a safe bet that it’s going to drop — and drop — and drop.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:00:02 +0000

It will be a test to see how Human Target performs before Idol but my guess is probably around the same as Lie to Me, so it has a pretty good chance of being renewed. Its still early numbers wise but it seems like a series that FOX could stick with.

By: mayorofsmpleton

mayorofsmpleton — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:00:00 +0000

CWwatch2,
You’re insane if you think CW will drop OTH or Gossip Girl. Both perform well in the demos CW targets. It would make no sense. I personally can’t stand either of them, but from a business perspective they’d be bigger morons than I suspect they are.

CW –
MP will be dumped. LUX will be renewed unless it crashes in the Spring. SPN should/may be shipped off to Fridays w/ Smallville (both have stable male audiences and work well together. They’ll likely launch new shows on T/W or Th and will greenlight some cheap reality show to fill in the Top Model cycle gaps.

CW doesn’t have the resources to launch 4 new dramas in the fall. MP has taught them that name recognition doesn’t create a hit and with everything dipping across the board they’re gonna be conservative with the schedule and probably focus on stability rather than being aggressive. Mark my words. Here’s more likely what will happen…

M – OTH/LUX
T – GG/90210
W – ANTM/New Series
T – TVD/New Series
F – Smallville/SPN

* 1 Drama to debut at midseason and share a slot on M/T/W (much like they are doing right now with GG/OTH/LUX.

FOX —
Human Target is bottoming out. If this is how it does retention-wise FOX will surely dump it. Glee was pulling better demos without any of that lead-in support and when it returns in April it will be the final nail in HT’s coffin. It’s only going to get worse when it moves to 8pm…

CBS –
Continues to stand strong. Even a GW repeat won the hour. Bravo.

ABC —
Needs to develop a new drama to replace LOST. V/FF aren’t going to cut it.

NBC —
Still don’t understand why NBC doesn’t split TBL across two nights. Seems that demo/viewer lead-in would be mighty helpful in providing two strong lead-ins as opposed to just one. With all their trouble you’d think they would try this… Sure it seems drastic, but isn’t that pretty much how they operate these days?

Here’s hoping Parenthood is A) Good and B) A ratings success.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:54:00 +0000

Human Target half hour A18-49 ratings, 3.7/2.7.

First half hour likely to be restated downward in the final ratings.

By: e

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:51:58 +0000

OK. So if “Lost” premiere isn’t against “American Idol”, then I’m going to rise my prediction: 13.2 million viewers and 6.1 demo 18-49. Hell YEAH!

By: UKD

UKD — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:51:21 +0000

Actually is Human Target held a 2.7 that wouldn’t be completely awful right? Can we get the official half hour breakdown?