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Herc Ganders At
Midseason Ratings!!

I am – Hercules!!


"24" is down. "Damages" is down. "Scrubs" is down. "Biggest Loser," "The Bachelor" and "The Real World" are up.

How's your favorite show doing at midseason? The stats I cite below are preliminary 18-49 ratings (for non-repeats only).

MONDAY 1/5
UT Vs. OS (Fox) 5.5
The Bachelor (ABC) 3.1
True Beauty (ABC) 3.1
Superstars of Dance (NBC) 2.7
Momma’s Boys (NBC) 2.0
Gossip Girl (CW) 1.4
One Tree Hill (CW) 1.2

Competition-reality dominates Monday. “True Beauty,” which roundly mocks the morals and intelligence of very good-looking people, held on to virtually all of “The Bachelor’s” strong debut demo numbers. (I believe “Beauty” is my favorite new network reality series since “Wipeout.” The contestants think they’re on a “America’s Next Top Model” ripoff, but the loser at the end of every show learns that he or she has secretly been participating in a cross between “Joe Schmo” and “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader.”) Were I running ABC, I would move “Beauty” to 9:30 to keep building on its post-“Bachelor” momentum and shove weakling returning sitcom “Samantha Who?” to 10:30; it would have been a good defensive position against the return of CBS’ comedies and “CSI Miami” tonight. Last Monday’s best reality show, Texas’ season-ending victory over Ohio, was of course the night’s – and very nearly the week’s – top draw.

TUESDAY 1/6
The Biggest Loser (NBC) 4.4
The Mentalist (CBS) 3.9
Law & Order: SVU (NBC) 3.9
NCIS (CBS) 3.7
Scrubs (ABC) 3.2
Scrubs (ABC) 3.1
Without A Trace (CBS) 2.7
Primetime (ABC) 2.7
Homeland Security USA (ABC) 2.3
90210 (CW) 1.4
Privileged (CW) 0.8

Competition-reality crushes on Tuesday as well, with “Biggest Loser” garnering its biggest debut ratings ever. “Scrubs,” which no longer has top NBC sitcom “The Office” as its lead-in, saw an 18% plummet compared to its debut last year. “Scrubs” prospects should grow even grimmer with the return of world-killer “American Idol” tomorrow night.

WEDNESDAY 1/7
Barbara Walters: Patrick Swayze (ABC) 3.0
Law & Order (NBC) 3.0
People’s Choice Awards (CBS) 2.9
Stylista (CW) 1.1
13: Fear Is Real (CW) 1.1

With almost all of the regular Wednesday shows dark, the floundering “Law & Order” mothership managed to match its season high. “American Idol” and “Lost” return this week and next to crush everything in their paths.

THURSDAY 1/8
BCS Championship (Fox) 9.5
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 5.1
Private Practice (ABC) 3.3
ER (NBC) 2.6
Ugly Betty (ABC) 2.4
30 Rock (NBC) 2.3
My Name Is Earl (NBC) 2.0
Kath & Kim (NBC) 1.7

Last Thursday demonstrated how important “The Office” remains to NBC’s Thursday-night survival now that SNL Thursdays are history; with no new fresh Schrute the peacock’s otherwise non-repeat Thursday night flew apart – even with its dominant CBS competition in repeats. In its first pairing with its higher-rated sister show "Grey's Anatomy," ABC’s “Private Practice” handed the Stamos-crippled “ER” its first defeat of the season. Both “CSI” and "The Office" return this week. “Survivor” will return to crushing all comers at 8 p.m. when it returns Feb. 12.

FRIDAY 1/9
Ghost Whisperer (CBS) 2.5
Numb3rs (CBS) 2.4
20/20 (ABC) 2.2
Flashpoint (CBS) 2.1
Howie Do It (NBC) 2.1
Supernanny (ABC) 1.9
Wife Swap (ABC) 1.6
Dateline (NBC) 1.3
Lipstick Jungle (NBC) 1.3

Many curious viewers with nothing better to do on a Friday night tuned in to see Howie Mandel’s horrible prank show. Because “Friday Night Lights” returns to Fridays this week, “Lipstick Jungle” went away, almost certainly forever.

SUNDAY 1/11
Desperate Housewives (ABC) 5.2
Golden Globes (NBC) 4.8
24 (Fox) 4.2
60 Minutes (CBS) 4.0
Extreme Makeover (ABC) 3.4
Brothers & Sister (ABC) 3.4
Cold Case (CBS) 3.0
The Unit (CBS) 2.7

Yesterday’s “Golden Globes” was the lowest-rated since NBC started airing the show in 1996. (Perhaps the Hollywood Foreign Press Association should consider reviving its fortunes by renaming itself The Hollywood Award-Givers Association, an arguably more accurate designation.) “24,” with its best (qualitatively) two hours in years, was down 31% from its 2007 premiere.

CABLE

While “The Hills” and its equally craptacular spinoffs are struggling, MTV’s “The Real World: Brooklyn” was up 18% from he debut of last year’s “Real World: Hollywood.”

FX’s best show, “Damages,” was sadly down 44% from its July 2007 premiere. The good news is FX has already ordered its third season, so the channel will be forced to give us great TV despite the anemic ratings.

For far more thorough, in-depth and intelligent ratings analysis, I refer you to James Hibberd’s excellent Live Feed Blog.




"I love love love DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG as much or more than just about anything I’ve seen this year." -- Harry Knowles


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When
by nukethefridge
Jan 12th, 2009
06:21:30 PM
The Office
by Amber Spyglass
Jan 12th, 2009
06:21:40 PM
House is back a week from today.
by Hercules
Jan 12th, 2009
06:43:44 PM
If you know someone who is watching that fucking reality crap...
by CatVutt
Jan 12th, 2009
06:47:28 PM
I'm not surprised with the ratings.
by Orbots Commander
Jan 12th, 2009
06:49:00 PM
The Howie Mandell Channel...
by RaRoMo
Jan 12th, 2009
06:50:24 PM
agree with bacci40...
by Executor
Jan 12th, 2009
06:53:21 PM
Howie Mandell needs feces thrown at him
by CobraKai
Jan 12th, 2009
06:55:01 PM
"24" screwed itself with the last horrible season
by Pongo
Jan 12th, 2009
07:00:38 PM
Have FX changed their busuness plan?
by Setesh
Jan 12th, 2009
07:02:04 PM
Networks really don't care
by Shivv
Jan 12th, 2009
07:05:43 PM
FX's business plan
by Hercules
Jan 12th, 2009
07:08:32 PM
Life?
by Frank Black
Jan 12th, 2009
07:10:17 PM
there's literally nothing on tv
by Balcony Fool
Jan 12th, 2009
07:19:55 PM
Is it just me or...
by drewlicious
Jan 12th, 2009
07:28:28 PM
The only show ...
by Mr Spork
Jan 12th, 2009
07:29:26 PM
Is Rescue Me still on FX?
by codymr
Jan 12th, 2009
07:35:57 PM
Herc, why are you the only one on the internet...
by nalapou
Jan 12th, 2009
07:42:42 PM
Golden Globes ratings down because
by aportee
Jan 12th, 2009
07:56:58 PM
I know it's snobbish but...
by aversiontherapy2
Jan 12th, 2009
08:04:28 PM
People Just Don't Get It
by shoe1985
Jan 12th, 2009
08:14:25 PM
Saturday
by yubnubrocks
Jan 12th, 2009
08:16:04 PM
I blame the economy.
by SkidMarkedUndies
Jan 12th, 2009
08:17:34 PM
Executor
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 12th, 2009
08:20:27 PM
24 is... back, surprisingly enough.
by El Fuego
Jan 12th, 2009
08:32:34 PM
Flashpoint sure stank on ice
by chromedome
Jan 12th, 2009
09:10:12 PM
WHERE IS MY 'CHUCK' TALKBACK?!?!?!?!?! :)
by RyanMurray
Jan 12th, 2009
09:10:17 PM
You forgot Knight Rider
by WIBoomer1
Jan 12th, 2009
09:28:26 PM
Nice writeup, Herc
by snowpuff
Jan 12th, 2009
09:28:40 PM
LOST
by EyeofPolyphemus
Jan 12th, 2009
09:32:53 PM
LOST's ratings hardly matter
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 12th, 2009
09:35:07 PM
There are only two shows I care about.
by Kid Idioteque
Jan 12th, 2009
09:47:59 PM
LOST OWNS! FU@K THE HATERS!
by eoneon
Jan 12th, 2009
09:57:16 PM
Shivv
by TVguy4566
Jan 12th, 2009
10:53:32 PM
LOST will rock this season. DVR/TiVO/iTunes
by Cheif Brody
Jan 12th, 2009
11:19:33 PM
Lost is still the best show on TV
by Eyegore
Jan 12th, 2009
11:54:08 PM
Cheif Brody, spot on
by the_scream
Jan 13th, 2009
12:52:59 AM
bittorrent - the only way to watch your shows!
by David Cloverfield
Jan 13th, 2009
02:09:04 AM
bacci40...you forgot to mention...
by Cheif Brody
Jan 13th, 2009
02:17:53 AM
What's wrong with walking and talking?
by estacado1
Jan 13th, 2009
02:55:00 AM
Rescue Me comes back in April.
by The McPoyle Clan
Jan 13th, 2009
04:49:20 AM
LOST's Rating have steadily dropped every year
by EyeofPolyphemus
Jan 13th, 2009
06:34:44 AM
David Cloverfield
by shoe1985
Jan 13th, 2009
07:17:06 AM
re: SCRUBS....
by meCPS
Jan 13th, 2009
07:18:10 AM
Kind of funny when you think about it
by shoe1985
Jan 13th, 2009
07:23:54 AM
Fuck that, download everything... and fuck commercials
by turketron
Jan 13th, 2009
07:49:16 AM
WHO CARES WHEN LOST IS FUCKING OUR MINDS NEXT WEDNESDAY?
by turketron
Jan 13th, 2009
07:49:54 AM
Ratings, DVR and advertising
by Mooly
Jan 13th, 2009
08:18:29 AM
Still the Sons of Anarchy hate from Herce
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
Jan 13th, 2009
08:57:04 AM
Mooly, agreed.
by Orbots Commander
Jan 13th, 2009
10:17:18 AM
I agree with Cleric Binks
by masteryoda007
Jan 13th, 2009
10:20:41 AM
Oh shut the fuck up shoe
by magic_ninja
Jan 13th, 2009
10:52:43 AM
When I watch "live" tv I almost never see any commercials
by Big Jim
Jan 13th, 2009
11:13:18 AM
underrated...
by dengreg31
Jan 13th, 2009
11:47:32 AM
When does Office return?
by Jor-El23
Jan 13th, 2009
12:07:30 PM
EyeofPolyphemus
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 13th, 2009
12:10:14 PM
Big Jim
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 13th, 2009
12:12:05 PM
Bob, by "every show you watched" does that mean
by Big Jim
Jan 13th, 2009
12:21:11 PM
by "change the channel" I mean changing whenever
by Big Jim
Jan 13th, 2009
12:22:32 PM
Nielsen journals
by WickedJacob
Jan 13th, 2009
12:27:41 PM
Bob
by EyeofPolyphemus
Jan 13th, 2009
12:38:13 PM
Politics and Neilson Journals
by Mooly
Jan 13th, 2009
12:58:56 PM
EyeofPoly...
by meCPS
Jan 13th, 2009
01:13:22 PM
magic_ninja
by shoe1985
Jan 13th, 2009
01:45:53 PM
Journal
by lowman
Jan 13th, 2009
02:35:43 PM
Big Jim
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 13th, 2009
03:26:37 PM
lowman
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 13th, 2009
03:30:12 PM
EyeofPolyphemus
by Bob Loblaw Law Blog
Jan 13th, 2009
03:40:11 PM
Thanks Bob
by Big Jim
Jan 13th, 2009
03:45:15 PM
The McPoyle Clan & ev1ldead
by codymr
Jan 13th, 2009
05:10:39 PM
masteryoda007
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
Jan 13th, 2009
09:27:06 PM
Herc Make up Your Mind re: 30 Rock
by catlettuce4
Jan 13th, 2009
10:44:30 PM
More on Rescue Me
by The McPoyle Clan
Jan 14th, 2009
06:30:27 AM
Pushing Dasies
by NOVAJimBo
Jan 14th, 2009
07:57:13 AM

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