CW - The little network leads off the week thanks to a quartet of premieres that beat the bigger networks to the punch. Obviously, the fact that the big networks weren’t at full steam makes these results a little iffy. We can, however, draw some interesting conclusions from the results. For one, it looks like the network may finally be poised to take advantage of the Next Top Model (2.84m/1.3) lead-in. Hellcats (3.02m/1.2) actually topped NTM in viewers, and tied in all the younger demos, while just falling a tenth short in A18-49. That’s a good start. In similar fashion, it looks like the pairing of The Vampire Diaries (3.36m/1.6) and Nikita (3.57m/1.4) could be a good one.
NBC - A short week of programming actually looked pretty good for the peacock. Minute To Win It (6.26m/1.8 – 6.5m/1.8) and America’s Got Talent (12.35m/3.3 – 12.14m/2.8) held down the fort on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, the NFL (27.49m/10.7) again proved that it is still king. And again made me wonder why MNF was ever moved to ESPN…. The week finished with Stand Up To Cancer (3.08m/.7).
ABC - The Gates (2.39m/.7) kicked off the week, and was followed on Monday by Bachelor Pad (5.67m/2) and Dating In The Dark (3.04m/1.2). All three were at their usual, uninspiring, levels. Things did pick up on Tuesday with Wipeout (8.16m/2.8) cementing its place in next summer’s schedule. Rookie Blue (4.87m/1.2) finished up its run on Thursday before the week concluded with the ABC airing of Stand Up To Cancer (3.19m/.6).
CBS - Big Brother again carried the week with the usual Sunday (7.19m/2.4), Wednesday (7.82m/2.7), and Thursday (7.83m/2.6) results. Things finished up Friday with Stand Up To Cancer (2.9m/.5) and Flashpoint (6.09m/1.1).
FOX - A very short week consisted of Master Chef (5.78m/2.5) on Wednesday and Stand Up To Cancer (1.41m/.5) on Friday.
CABLE - FX was the big story on cable, thanks to two big premieres. Sons of Anarchy (4.13m/2.1) was off just a bit from the season premiere last year, but those are still very good numbers. Particularly when you start comparing the demo score to other current cable hits like Covert Affairs (5.36m/1.6), White Collar (4.72m/1.4), The Closer (7.92m/1.5), and Rizzoli & Isles (7.24m/1.5). The news wasn’t as good for Terriers (1.61m/.5). Surely, there are other cable dramas in that same ball park, but coming on the heels of the Sons debut, those premiere numbers look especially suspect. Other cable notes:
I was surprised at how little “Nikita” brought to the table. I saw the original, the Fonda remake and watched 2 seasons of the U.S. television series and this show just feels so unnecessary. It hasn’t done anything “better” than its predecessors.
Maggie Q just seemed bored. My best friend mentioned that the show seemed tame considering how provocative the posters are (the red ones with her in a unitard, stilettos, and an assault rifle.) Maybe she’ll put in more effort as the show goes on, but we were joking about how ANY of the female leads from “Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles” (Lena Headey, Summer Glau or Stephanie Jacobsen) would have been a better fit.
Anyone think “Terriers” was horribly marketed? The “teaser” ads led to believe that its about cute dogs for months but it is not. Not surprised by the low ratings on that one. Still sitting on the DVR to watch one day.
I DVR’d Terriers and watched it over the weekend. I was impressed with it, especially after watching the previews for future shows. I didn’t realize that the story from the premiere would carry over to other episodes. That gave it more of a Damages feel than a typical standalone procedural.
I will eventually watch it – hubby already has and he liked it as well. Just saying that the advertising and awareness about the show didn’t do it any favors, hence the low ratings. Had I not read up on it then I would have been “oh its a show about little dogs”.
What’ NTM?
MNF I got :-)
*POST AUTHOR*
Next Top Model.