As has been the pattern lately, the big awards shows continue to impress. At least, where the numbers are concerned. We’ll leave the discussion of the Oscar dancefest for another time. Looking at just the numbers, the show was a huge win for ABC. Or, the complete opposite of what the return of Scrubs meant for the network. Scrubs joined the big Wednesday comedy block and was quickly put on life support. Perhaps they’ll bump into the folks from Trauma while they recover. That one also took a jack-boot to the crotch in returning to the NBC fold. In happier news, if that really was the last episode we’ll ever see from Numb3rs, the show went out on top.
ABC - The Academy Awards (41.7m/13.3) were huge, and easily the number 1 show of the week. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to use that success to boost any of the other nights. Things were a little slow on Monday. The Bachelor special for Jason and Molly’s wedding (9.3m/2.8) did all right, but was well off the pace for where the regular series has been lately. Without the full Bachelor lead-in, Castle (9.11m/2.4) is back to its early season pace.
Lost (9.49m/4.2) seems to have found its number, and looks to dominate its hour in the demo for the remainder of the season. The Forgotten (4.85m/1.5), meanwhile, is just waiting to disappear. The big news on Wednesday was the addition of Scrubs (4.28m/1.5) to the comedy block. I’m tempted to say that those sub-Hank numbers put the final nail in the coffin, but you have to consider the According To Jim angle. Syndication money could make it worth foisting another crappy Scrubs season on viewers. The Middle (6.3m/2.3) and Cougar Town (6.1m/2.5) were also off the pace on Wednesday, but Modern Family (9.02m/3.8) has solidified itself as a genuine hit.
Thursday, Grey’s Anatomy (10.94m/3.9) still managed to win the hour in the demo, but the recent struggles are starting to look like a trend. Those struggles aren’t doing any favors for Private Practice (7.66m/2.8) either. Things wrapped up Friday with a double-shot of Supernanny (4.86m/1.4 – 4.17m/1.2) and 20/20 (5.58m/1.7).
CBS - The Amazing Race (8.11m/2.6) was the only show that dared face down the Oscars, and it took the expected hit. No worries there though. Things were much better on Monday with How I Met Your Mother (10.06m/3.9), Rules Of Engagement (10.07m/3.6), 2 ½ Men (17.61m/5.8), Big Bang Theory (16.32m/5.9), and CSI: Miami (11.93m/3.3). Notable is that Engagement is edging HIMYM in viewers. It doesn’t speak well for Accidentally On Purpose.
More good news on Tuesday with NCIS (19.58m/3.8), NCIS:LA (16.99m/3.5), and The Good Wife (13.95m/2.8). As we’ve seen in the past, Gibbs is nearly immune to Idol, and the LA team is holding up very well faced with Lost. Comedy remains a problem on Wednesday, with Old Christine (7.67m/2.2) and Gary Unmarried (6.68m/2.2). Criminal Minds (13.29m/3.4) hasn’t been hurt by that, but it looks like CSI:NY (11.07m/2.6) has suffered a hit from the return of SVU to 10PM.
Thursday was mostly as expected. Survivor (12.12m/3.6) was solid against Idol, and CSI (15.25m/3.3) is still popular, if not what it once was. The most interesting bit came from The Mentalist (16.02m/3.4), which again topped CSI in both measures. Finally, Ghost Whisperer (7.84m/1.9), Medium (8.15m/1.8), and Numb3rs (8.74m/1.8) all won their hours on Friday. If that was the series finale of Numb3rs, it went out as the most watched show of the night. And it was also a very well done series finale episode.
FOX - House (12.82m/4.8) kicked off the week, returning to the top spot at 8. 24 (8.86m/2.8) was up just a bit, but is starting to show where those final season rumors are grounded. American Idol took over with shows on Tuesday (22.75m/8.2), Wednesday (20.7m/7.5), and Thursday (19.34m/6.3). More interesting than those numbers was the results for a repeat Glee (7.55m/2.9) that followed. That bodes well for the show’s return. Human Target (7.83m/2.4) was able to win the 8PM hour on Wednesday, and Kitchen Nightmares (7.19m/3) was solid on Thursday.
NBC - The week started with another Chuck (6.37m/2.3) that looked just good enough to get the show renewed. It’s not a slam-dunk, but the show is looking like the best option among the network’s bubble shows. Trauma (4.76m/1.4), on the other hand, doesn’t look good at all. Those numbers are really bad, but you do have to wonder how pulling the show, possibly canceling it, and then bringing it back fed into it. Law & Order (5.21m/1.5) wasn’t much better.
By comparison, things were much better on Tuesday. The Biggest Loser (7.91m/3) continues to slip versus Idol, but is still better than everything except The Office. Parenthood (6.09m/2.6) took a pretty sizable hit in week two, so the jury is still out on that one. On Wednesday, Mercy (6.31m/1.5) can say that it beat Scrubs. Unfortunately, neither of them can say that they beat Next Top Model in the demo. And if a CW show beats a big network show in the adult demo, that show should be done. There was better news from the L&O: SVU (8.53m/2.6) return to 10PM. That’s still off the pace of what the show once did, but it tied CSI:NY for first in the demo.
With Thursday, I just keep asking, “They renewed all of this?” Community (4.6m/1.9) and Parks & Recreation (4.55m/2.1) continue to be a black hole anchoring the night. For some perspective on that, the 8PM numbers from 3/05/09 were My Name Is Earl (5.45m / 2.2) – Kath & Kim (4.09m/1.8). The Office (7.43m/3.8) is still solid. Second in the demo on Thursday at 9 is hard to argue with. 30 Rock (5.77m/2.9), on the other hand, continues to only (marginally) succeed when Michael Scott hands off a ready-made audience. Friday, Who Do You Think You Are (7.15m/1.8) continues to look like a solid bit of Friday programming. That was followed up with two entries from Dateline (7.8m/1.7 – 8.29m/1.8).
CW – Finally, after weeks and weeks, there was something resembling a schedule from the little network. Life Unexpected (1.94m/.9) moved to 8, to make way for the return of Gossip Girl (1.74m/1). Gossip Girl has a large lead where the young female audience is concerned, but it is notable that LUX topped it in viewers. Likewise, LUX also bested 90210 (1.7m/.8) and Melrose Place (1.16m/.5) in both measures. The big news though, was the return of Next Top Model (3.66m/1.6). That 1.6 was good enough for third place at 8PM. The week finished with the premiere of High Society (1.26m/.5), which looks to continue the CW tradition of squandering the valuable Top Model lead-in.
CABLE - USA wrapped up the goofy split seasons for White Collar (4.04m/1.4) and Psych (2.95m/1.1) this week. The other successful note from the world of cable came from E!’s Red Carpet Special (3.54m/1.4). Not only is that a good number for E!, the show should also serve as a huge source of embarrassment to ABC. Their pathetic red carpet train-wreck doesn’t begin to compare. Other cable numbers:
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Mar 15, 2010 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
Ok I have to admit I like “Community” and since Season 2 also “P&R” but the only good thing about those numbers is that they are below those of “30 Rock”. Finally that show can’t be “on the bubble” anymore with two other shows sucking so bad in the ratings as lead in. And with the quality of “The Office” dwindling, I think it’s safe to say that we’ll see two more seasons of “30 Rock”. Neat.
What really irritates me are the numbers for HIMYM. Quality writing DOES seem to pay off and it really gives some trust in the american TV audience back seeing those numbers. Especially because Survivor seems to get real good numbers and I think that one and TAR are real good Reality TV, at least in my book.
Again thanks for writing this all up, I read it religiously every week from top to bottom :-)
*POST AUTHOR*
I really like Community as well, but those numbers are just horribly bad. And while 30 Rock does look better in comparison, I’d bet that Community or Parks & Rec would do the same, or better, numbers following The Office. On those rare occasions when 30 Rock hasn’t had the benefit of The Office, it’s proven that it can’t stand on its own. So I find it puzzling that the network, which needs all the help it can get, has resigned itself to fourth place next season on what is arguably the most important night of the week.
I would also agree with you on Survivor. “Reality TV” takes a lot of hits as a genre, and much of it is deserved. But Survivor, even after all these years, is still a very good show.
Whatever the subjective quality of The Office might be, it’s only its ratings that matter, and as Brett has pointed out, the show pulls a strong demo on a weak network. I don’t think it affects 30 Rock‘s chances. You should also consider that if The Office does suddenly tank, 30 Rock‘s ratings are likely to fall as well as a result of being the lead-out.
Scrubs came back last week? Neither my DVR nor I noticed. By the end of the season, it seems as though the only ABC show I’ll be watching is Modern Family.
All I have to say is I still miss “My Name Is Earl.” That show made us laugh consistently each week and always ended with a “feel good” note.
Oh, and “Better Off Ted” was never given a fair chance. Completely hilarious, consistently funny, well acted and just plain fun. I know it’s not officially cancelled, but does anyone believe it’ll get renewed?
It’s sad when Hannah Montana beats out most of NBC’s shows, and tied with the great The Middle.