CABLE - We’ve talked about the great numbers for Pawn Stars before, but they just keep getting better. Two new episodes this week checked in with 7.3m/2.8 and 7.74m/3. Keep those 7.7 million viewers and that 3 demo in mind as you make your way through the broadcast network section this week. It’s amazing how many shows are looking up at the Pawn Stars crew.
Basic:
Premium:
NBC - Completely opposite of the Pawn Stars numbers is where NBC starts the week. Chuck (5.57m/1.7) hit an all time number as well, but it was a series low in the demo. The feat was matched by The Cape (5.34m/1.5). Both were somewhat surprising considering repeats from CBS and Dr. House taking the week off. There was better news at 10, with Harry’s Law (11.02m/2.1) holding steady. It will be interesting to see what the show’s numbers look like when it faces Castle and Five-O this week.
Also good news, The Biggest Loser (9.2m/3.3) continues to grow, and enjoy the new Idol schedule. That’s lending a hand to Parenthood (6.18m/2.2), which is separating itself from the other bubbly dramas. Minute To Win It (7.67m/2.4) also saw some gains for the week, leading to a convincing win in the demo for L&O SVU (8.81m/2.9).
Thursday wasn’t so happy. With a full slate on all the networks, comedy night came back to reality. Community (4.37m/2) and Parks & Rec (4.95m/2.4) both fell below 5 million and landed in fourth place in both measures. 30 Rock (4.78m/2.4) only avoided the same because FOX doesn’t program 10PM, finishing third. Worse news came as Perfect Couples (3.06m/1.4) and Outsourced (3.74m/1.8) were both below 4 million. And the real killer, Perfect Couples managed a fifth place finish in the demo, behind CW’s Vampire Diaries. The Office (7.29m/3.7) remains the only solid hit on the night. The week wrapped with the premiere of Who Do You Think You Are (7.32m/1.3) and Dateline (8.61m/1.9).
CBS – As mentioned above, NCIS (22.85m/4.6) also had a great week. That is yet another series best in total viewers. Things also looked very good for NCIS LA (17.7m/3.8). And The Good Wife (12.14m/2.2)? Well … it does get nominated for a lot of awards. That was all after the week kicked off with Hallmark’s The Lost Valentine (14.64m/2.3).
Things slowed considerably Wednesday, in the form of Live To Dance (4.75m/.9). With no new Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods (11.31m/1.6) still looked a little better than Defenders, but not by much. The news was much better Thursday, with Big Bang (13.83m/4.3), $#*! My Dad Says (10.45m/2.8), CSI (13.98m/3) and The Mentalist (15.18m/2.9) all turning in solid numbers. The Defenders (8.65m/1.3) struggled a bit in its first go on Friday, before things picked up with Superbowl Commercials (9.55m/2) and CSI NY (9.34m/2).
FOX - The spring decisions for the network continue to get complicated, with Human Target (7.75m/2.1) making gains in a one-off shot opening Monday night. Another episode following Idol showed even more gains (9.22m/2.6). Lie To Me (7.06m/2.2) is making a case as well, as it finished up its run with two of its better performances in quite some time. Now we wait to see what Chicago Code has to offer.
American Idol was, of course, very good on both Wednesday (25.14m/9) and Thursday (21.89m/7.5). And Bones (10.2m/3.3) continues to reap the rewards of the new slot. Friday wasn’t as happy. Finally facing full nights from the other networks, Kitchen Nightmares (4.01m/1.7) and Fringe (4.29m/1.6) both dropped. I’ve no idea what FOX is looking for on the night. They did make that ridiculous renewal of Dollhouse, after all. But its certainly not a good sign for Fringe.
ABC – Extreme Makeover (9.08m/2.7) ran solo on Sunday, before handing things off to The Bachelor (9.66m/3.2) on Monday. That’s good news for The Bachelor, which continues to climb. The same can’t be said for V (5.29m/1.7) and Detroit 187 (5.49m/1.2). Both shows continue to struggle. The surprise of the week might have been Cougar Town (6.5m/2.7). Continuing to run following repeats of Modern Family, that’s well up from the previous week. Unfortunately, it didn’t offer much help to Off The Map (5.37m/1.9). With a full schedule, a Thursday of Wipeout (7.95m/2.5), Grey’s Anatomy (11.18m/4.3) and Private Practice (7.05m/2.5) looked solid.
CW - There was nothing too exciting to report with 90210 (1.67m/.8), Gossip Girl (1.51m/.8), Hellcats (1.8m/.8), Vampire Diaries (3.22m/1.5) or Nikita (2.38m/.9). One Tree Hill (2.42m/1.2) did have a nice week-to-week bump. And the best news of all was probably that after an extended layoff, Smallville (2.37m/1) and Supernatural (2.28m/.9) returned at right about where they left off.
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Feb 07, 2011 @ 09:30 EST5EDT
I don’t understand why Fox isn’t showing Chicago Code after Idol, would make more sense.