Ratings

[RakuMon]

Prime-Time Ratings:
Thursday 3/15/07

The following results are based on the fast national ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 15.83 million, CBS: 9.59, Fox: 8.97, NBC: 7.69, CW: 4.06

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 6.0 rating/16 share, CBS and Fox: 3.5/ 9 each, NBC: 2.7/ 7, CW: 1.7/ 5

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (Fox), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), October Road (ABC)

-Honorable Mention:
Raines (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Scrubs (NBC), Andy Barker, P.I. (NBC)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
On a night with three series premieres, the First Round, day one of NCAA Basketball and the 8 p.m. time period premiere of Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, ABC reigned supreme, beating distant No. 2 basketball-fueled CBS by a hefty 6.24 million viewers, and CBS and Fox by 71 percent among adults 18-49. NBC was fourth and the CW fifth.

The time period premiere of Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader opened the evening on a winning note, with a comfortable 12.18 million viewers and a 4.5 rating/13 share among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. Comparably, that beat ABC’s competing Ugly Betty (Viewers: #2, 10.77 million; A18-49: 3.4/10) by 1.41 million viewers and 32 percent among adults 18-49. According to my estimations, this is the strongest show Fox has had in the Thursday 8 p.m. hour since sitcoms Martin and Living Single in 1996-97. Now all Fox needs to do is find something compatible for Thursday at 9 p.m. It should be interesting on March 29 when 5th Grader faces CBS’ Survivor: Fiji for the first time.

Over at CBS, the First Round, day one of the NCAA Basketball Tournament scored an expected 9.59 million viewers and a 3.5/ 9 among adults 18-49 in prime time. This was comparable to its day one performance on the year-ago evening.

Also in the 8 p.m. hour were two repeat episodes of NBC’s The Office (Viewers: #4, avg. 6.63 million; A18-49: #4, avg. 2.8/ 8) and the CW’s Smallville (Viewers: 4.58 million; A18-49: 2.0/ 6).

ABC’s dominance, of course, extended to 9 p.m., with the rock-solid Grey’s Anatomy at 22.38 million viewers and an 8.8/22 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was the highest rated show of the evening. Second in the hour was the middle portion of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at 10.68 million viewers and a 3.8/ 9 in the demo. In series-premiere news, NBC Andy Richter sitcom Andy Barker, P.I. debuted with a lackluster 5.84 million viewers and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49 at 9:30 p.m., which was similar to recent levels for former occupant 30 Rock. Comparably, that was down from lead-in Scrubs (Viewers: #3, 6.37 million; A18-49: #3, 2.8/ 7 at 9 p.m.) by 530,000 viewers and 14 percent among adults 18-49. Why most of the critics praised Andy Barker, P.I. is beyond me.

Also in the 9 p.m. hour were back-to-back repeats of Fox’s animated Family Guy (Viewers: #4, avg. 5.76 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.6/ 7) and Supernatural on the CW (Viewers: #5, 3.54 million; A18-49: #5, 1.4/ 4).

In the battle of the two new Thursday 10 p.m. dramas opposite the third hour of the NCAA Basketball Tournament on CBS (Viewers: #3, 8.43 million; A18-49: #2, 3.3/ 9), ABC’s October Road took the hour with a solid 14.34 million viewers and a 5.8/16 among adults 18-49. But the also good news for NBC’s Raines (Viewers: #2, 10.34 million; A18-49: #3, 2.9/ 8) was growth of a healthy 4.50 million viewers and 21 percent among adults 18-49 over lead-in Andy Barker, P.I. October Road was down by 8.04 million viewers and 34 percent in the demo from lead-in Grey’s Anatomy, with a loss of 1.88 million viewers (15.28 to 13.40 million) and 15 percent among adults 18-49 (6.2/17 to 5.3/15) at 10:30 p.m. Raines only slipped by 360,000 viewers (10.52 to 10.16 million) and seven percent among adults 18-49 (3.0/ 8 to 2.8/ 8).

As a basis of comparison for October Road and Raines, take a look at the two versus the most recent performances of ER and Men In Trees.

Thursday 10 p.m.
ABC
October Road – Viewers: 14.34 million; A18-49: 5.8/16
Men in Trees (Feb. 15) – Viewers: 10.87 million; A18-49: 4.0/11

NBC
Raines – Viewers: 10.34 million; A18-49: 2.9/ 8
ER (Feb. 22) – Viewers: 10.00 million, A18-49: 4.1/11

Since no one should have expected October Road to hold more of the Grey’s Anatomy lead-in, we’ll consider both dramas – October Road and Raines – off to positive starts.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

 

[Kaboom]

SV was not a repeat.........the CW needs a better marketing department.

 

[Cmill216]

SV was not a repeat.........the CW needs a better marketing department.

It doesn't say it was a repeat. It says there were two repeats of The Office.

 

[AgentPat]

Half hour breakdowns from Berman:

Smallville
8:00 p.m. - V: 4.17 million, A18-49: 1.8/ 5
8:30 p.m. - V: 5.00 million, A18-49: 2.1/ 6

Supernatural
9:00 p.m. - V: 3.60 million, A18-49: 1.5/ 4
9:30 p.m. - V: 3.47 million, A18-49: 1.4/ 3


That's a pretty HUGE difference for SV. Over 800,000 viewers!

What the heck were people watching in the 8:00 - 8:30p slot?

 

[AgentPat]

Snip from Variety:

CW was above average with original episodes of "Smallville" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) and "Supernatural" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall).​

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117961286

 

[Brainiac 8]

I have a bad feeling for Supernatural...and I hope it sticks around...mostly for Jensen Ackles...since he got such a bad rap on Smallville it's nice he headlines what seems a well written show.

But those numbers drop so much from Smallville.

 

[triplet]

Half hour breakdowns from Berman:

Smallville
8:00 p.m. - V: 4.17 million, A18-49: 1.8/ 5
8:30 p.m. - V: 5.00 million, A18-49: 2.1/ 6

Supernatural
9:00 p.m. - V: 3.60 million, A18-49: 1.5/ 4
9:30 p.m. - V: 3.47 million, A18-49: 1.4/ 3


That's a pretty HUGE difference for SV. Over 800,000 viewers!

What the heck were people watching in the 8:00 - 8:30p slot?

Isn't that when "My Name is Earl" is on?

*shrug*

 

[RakuMon]

Isn't that when "My Name is Earl" is on?

*shrug*

Normally. Though last night NBC aired back to back repeats of "The Office."

I think last night at 8PM was stacked and I was actually surprised to see SV keep up consistent numbers considering the big guns aiming for the same hour. And the fact that it actually built an audience as the hour went on? Good job guys!

 

[TKodami]

Hmmm... well, it's not SV-related, but it's an interesting tidbit nonetheless:

From E! Online, Watch with Kristin (3/5/07):

Q: Have you heard anything about Supernatural's chances for a third season?
A: Sadly, it's not looking good. Ditto for Gilmore Girls. And The Class.

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/blog/index.jsp


Is CW *that* stupid? Wow! I've never watched GG, but I do know it's second in ratings only to SV for scripted programming on their network. Why don't they dump 7th Heaven (again) and all those comedies that are consistently found at the bottom of the ratings every week?

Jeeze. What a dumb network.

Nooooo.....why CW, why?!

 

[RakuMon]

E! was also reporting that Veronica Mars is either getting canceled or getting a completely different format.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31917

 

[KalKai]

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=255049&affid=100053&mpc=2

The CW: The new CW network is struggling on other nights, but Thursdays are stellar once again. This is the strongest season of "Smallville" in years, with real treachery, betrayal, heartbreak, loss and deadly ambition (and you thought that was all so high school). "Supernatural" has had a decent season, too, though not as stellar as that of "Smallville".

 

[Cmill216]

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=255049&affid=100053&mpc=2

This is the strongest season of "Smallville" in years

I honestly can't say I agree. Having re-watched Season 5 in its entirety this past week, I think Season 6 has a ways to go in order to surpass that season in my mind. Season 5 started better, the arcs (Milton Fine, the election, the Clark/Lana romance, the drastic deterioration of Clark and Lex's relationship) were better, and I much preferred how issues brought up in episodes were usually immediately dealt with in the succeeding episode (ex: Milton Fine's revelation in "Splinter" being immediately dealt with in "Solitude", unlike this season with things like the complete bizarreness of the Martian Manhunter storyline).

"Supernatural" has had a decent season, too, though not as stellar as that of "Smallville".

Supernatural has been a bit of disappointment for me this season. Hopefully it'll pickup in the final handful of episodes.

 

[Syncos]

I honestly can't say I agree. Having re-watched Season 5 in its entirety this past week, I think Season 6 has a ways to go in order to surpass that season in my mind. Season 5 started better, the arcs (Milton Fine, the election, the Clark/Lana romance, the drastic deterioration of Clark and Lex's relationship) were better, and I much preferred how issues brought up in episodes were usually immediately dealt with in the succeeding episode (ex: Milton Fine's revelation in "Splinter" being immediately dealt with in "Solitude", unlike this season with things like the complete bizarreness of the Martian Manhunter storyline).

I have to disagree on this one bud. Obviously it's all opinions, but I've felt that season 6, (with the exception of some episodes) has been one of the strongest seasons we've had. Season 5 was good, but I'm diggin this season much more.

With episodes like "Arrow", "Hydro", "Justice", "Labyrinth"(Minus MM which is getting kinda ridicules), "Crimson", and "Freak" It's building up to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest season.

Supernatural has been a bit of disappointment for me this season. Hopefully it'll pickup in the final handful of episodes.

This is where my opinion vastly seems to differ, I've thought of this season of Supernatural to be much better than the first. It's true that the first season ended on a great note, but the first 2 thirds were throwaway episodes basically. Hit or miss, for the most parts.

 

[Cmill216]

I have to disagree on this one bud. Obviously it's all opinions, but I've felt that season 6, (with the exception of some episodes) has been one of the strongest seasons we've had. Season 5 was good, but I'm diggin this season much more.

With episodes like "Arrow", "Hydro", "Justice", "Labyrinth"(Minus MM which is getting kinda ridicules), "Crimson", and "Freak" It's building up to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest season.

I definitely think when it's all said and done this'll be a top 3 season for me with Seasons 2 and 5, but I just haven't been too fond (looking back at it now) of how the storylines have developed to this point in comparison with Season 5. I just really loved the election arc, the Brainiac storyline, and the lot.

Plus, I'm not sure how I feel about the placement of this 33.1 storyline with Lex. What's odd about it is that meteor freaks on Smallville have been a near rarity in the past two years, so why the heck are we now just starting to focus on Lex and his experiments on them? I don't know, but it'll be interesting to see how it comes to a head in the coming episodes. I think Season 6, though, has had some tremendous individual episodes.

I certainly loved Season 5 a few months ago, but now having watched it all again in a very short period of time, I have an even greater appreciation for it. It's really friggin' fantastic.

This is where my opinion vastly seems to differ, I've thought of this season of Supernatural to be much better than the first. It's true that the first season ended on a great note, but the first 2 thirds were throwaway episodes basically. Hit or miss, for the most parts.

They weren't necessarily throwaway in the sense that they were, for me, wonderfully executed legend-of-the-week episodes that both developed the lead characters and also created the entire atmosphere of the show. Eventually the series began creating its own mythology (which has been developed further this season), but the individual episodes this season have been far more hit-or-miss than the last, to me.

 

[KalKai]

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070316cw01

"SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" TAKE IT TO THE RACK
Released by The CW

[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

"SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" TAKE IT TO THE RACK

Best Thursday of Season For The CW's Dramas in Women 18-34
"Smallville" Hits Season High in Women 18-34
"Supernatural" Scores Largest Audience Since October
March 16, 2007 (Burbank, California) - Against NCAA Basketball coverage, "Smallville" and "Supernatural" combined for The CW's best Thursday of the season among women 18-34 (2.1/6-tie) and its second best Thursday in women 18-49 (1.8/4-tie), according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Thursday, March 15.
"Smallville," which featured the wedding of Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), hit a new high for the season in women 18-34 (2.5/7).
"Supernatural," with guest star Tricia Helfer ("Battlestar Galactica"), scored its largest audience (3.5mil) since Oct. 26, 2006.

 

[Cmill216]

^ Ha. A wedding episode for one and a hot Sci-Fi Channel chick for the other will do that to you.

 

[Serene]

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070316cw01

"SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" TAKE IT TO THE RACK

Hee! Thanks for posting that KalK. I reposted it in SDKs blog.. just 'cause.

I was doing SO good at avoiding that place too.

 

[avidreader]

Hee! Thanks for posting that KalK. I reposted it in SDKs blog.. just 'cause.

I was doing SO good at avoiding that place too.

Way to go Rene! I love where you placed it.

Okay, I cant help myself, but did you see that post a few above yours. It was paragraph after paragraph of Clark bashing, and it ended with "When is Chloe going to get the guy that she deserves".

Huh!!!

Ah, the amusement of it all.

 

[Serene]

Way to go Rene! I love where you placed it.

Heh. Subtext? I can do subtext.

Okay, I cant help myself, but did you see that post a few above yours. It was paragraph after paragraph of Clark bashing, and it ended with "When is Chloe going to get the guy that she deserves".

Huh!!!

I didn't. I refuse to read any posts that focus on Clark-bashing simply out of spite.

Ah, the amusement of it all.

Yeah, but I've had my quota of that place, for a while at least. It really is ridiculous, but I do like reading the comments from a few of the regulars there who seem to be more level-headed. I give them credit for being more tolerant than I am.

 

[triplet]

Heh. Subtext? I can do subtext.

Huh?

 

[AgentPat]

Hee! Thanks for posting that KalK. I reposted it in SDKs blog.. just 'cause.

I was doing SO good at avoiding that place too.

I dunno. I think Cmill called it with the whole wedding emphasis and Tricia Helfer's stunt casting in SN. I'm just hoping if people - women or otherwise - were disappointed by Promise they don't tune out for Combat. That's usually what happens. Popular episodes usually contribute to good ratings for subsequent eps, but when people drone on for 20+ pages (reference DeKnight's blog) and most seem to be negative, I start wondering how that will reflect the following week.

Olea posted final viewer ratings through the whole season. I don't have the time to verify these numbers, but I thought it was an interesting summation:

6.01 Zod -- 5.0 million viewers.
6.02 Sneeze -- 4.5 million viewers.
6.03 Wither -- 4.9 million viewers.
6.44 Arrow -- 4.7 million viewers.
6.05 Reunion -- 4.8 million viewers.
6.06 Fallout -- 5.0 million viewers.
6.07 Rage -- 4.5 million viewers.
6.08 Static -- 4.7 million viewers.
6.09 Subterranean -- 4.3 million viewers.
6.10 Hydro -- 4.7 million viewers.
6.11 Justice -- 5.3 million viewers.
6.12 Labyrinth -- 5.0 million viewers.
6.13 Crimson -- 5.0 million viewers.
6.14 Trespass -- 4.7 million viewers.
6.15 Freak -- 4.8 million viewers.
6.16 Promise -- 4.69 million viewers.

Zod and Justice are special cases because the former was a season premiere and the latter was overly hyped due to subject matter. That said, look at the lowest rated ep this season: Subterranean. What episode aired the week before? You guessed it, Static. LOL And here we are again, 10 thousand viewers shy for Promise that watched Static, followed by an episode that is similarly themed and cast as Static, and an episode that a LOT of people loathed. IF Combat does poorly, we'll have some indication as to why.

 

[Serene]

Popular episodes usually contribute to good ratings for subsequent eps, but when people drone on for 20+ pages (reference DeKnight's blog) and most seem to be negative, I start wondering how that will reflect the following week.

Since when have you considered SDK's blog as a barometer for anything but crazed shipper extremists? Do you not notice that it's the SAME handful of people doing all that droning on? And I'm talking about the TWOP regulars as well as the Clana fans. I'm surprised you give it that much credence.

Regarding my "subtext" post, I was specific for a reason.

I'm just hoping if people - women or otherwise - were disappointed by Promise they don't tune out for Combat.

Well, you could blame Promise if Combat does indeed pull low numbers (and I'm sure people will), but it's just as logical to assume that a lot of viewers simply don't care about an episode featuring wrestlers. If this wasn't my show.. there's no way I'd watch a show that was using wrestlers for stunt-casting. Not my cuppa...

That said, looking at the Fallout numbers, I think it's reasonable to assume that they are doing the wrestling casting again because it successfully drew in big numbers of wrestling fans the last time. So, Combat could very well do big numbers on that alone.

 

[Cmill216]

But not only did "Static" blow (and boy did it ever), wasn't there a week between the episodes as well? I don't know, but there just wasn't a whole lot going for "Subterranean" to begin with.

 

[AgentPat]

Since when have you considered SDK's blog as a barometer for anything but crazed shipper extremists? Do you not notice that it's the SAME handful of people doing all that droning on? And I'm talking about the TWOP regulars as well as the Clana fans. I'm surprised you give it that much credence.

I didn't give it that much credence. If anything, I was looking at the actual ratings and wondering out loud what Combat was going to do based on what *some* people's opinions have been. Also, depending upon where you go, it's usually the "same" people that hold the floor on the message boards they frequent the most. Some even post to multiple boards. *cough* LOL

Regarding my "subtext" post, I was specific for a reason.

I have no clue what you're talking about. LOL No, really. "Subtext?" What subtext? Where?

 

[triplet]

I dunno if it was Static that gave Sub. it's low numbers, didn't it air a few weeks before Christmas?

I think that is probably a low point in the season, why else would they have shifted it there? They had thought (wrongly) it was the weakest episode of the season and had wanted it left out on the snow to die....

Wasn't Lexmas in the same spot? Damn TV.com won't load so I can't check, but wasn't that the lowest rated episode last season?

Personally, I was perplexed by that. Lexmas was a terrific episode, it was at times romantic and chilling and was very well written and beautifully shot. It was mythic to boot.

It might be important to note that it was a far superior episode to Subterranean and followed a far superior episode than Static in Solitude. So, I'm not sure that ratings dips can be entirely blamed on the previous ep being crappy.... Following Static might not have helped Subeterranean, but I'm not sure anything does well in the holiday shoppiong season.