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Imagining Ryan 
Seacrest as Dick Clark

Ridiculous? Perhaps, but he's got a way with teens.

By Abigail Azote

   Most of the country finds “American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest annoying, from his cocky attitude to his smarmy dismissal of “Idol” losers to his bleached hair. 

   Might Seacrest be the next Dick Clark in disguise?
   One would certainly think not. They are totally opposite personalities, Clark being the squeaky-clean, humble and nice-guy sort.
   Yet Seacrest may be assuming a Clark-like role among teens stemming from his “Idol” platform. And like Clark in his earlier years, he seems to be just about everywhere at once.

   We saw that with Sunday’s two-hour “American Top 40 Live” special, airing on Fox at 8 pm. and hosted by Seacrest. The show was a solid hit with teenagers, even though it was otherwise a bomb, with fewer than 4 million total viewers.

   Among 12-17s, “Top 40” scored an impressive 2.8 rating, with 680,000 tuning in to watch acts such as Avril Lavigne, Black Eyed Peas and Maroon 5. It did so airing opposite two top teen draws, “Desperate Housewives” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
   "Top 40 Live” finished 23rd for the week ended April 24 among basic cable and broadcast shows in that demo, drawing more teens than usual demo staples “Family Guy” on Adult Swim and “WWE” on UPN. 

   By contrast, the “Top 40” special finished No. 93 for the week among total viewers on broadcast.

   Why would a TV spinoff of the syndicated radio show “America’s Top 40” find an audience among teens and nowhere else? 

   Likely because of Seacrest, who in addition to his "Idol" hosting duties has succeeded Casey Kasem as host of the “Top 40” radio show. That made the Fox special a natural draw for his teen radio fans.
   Also appearing were teen faves Hilary Duff and Ryan Cabrera, as well as Ciara, J-Kwon, Gavin DeGraw, Finger Eleven, Hoobastank, JoJo, Christina Milian, Nelly, Usher and Paris Hilton.  

   In other younger-viewers ratings for the week, MTV’s “Punk’d” made the top 10 among teens with an episode featuring a prank that left Ashlee Simpson in tears. The fourth-season finale scored a 3.7 rating with 920,000 viewers.  

   “Tru Calling” came in at No. 30 in the 12-17 demo for what turned out to be its final episode. With one remaining episode to go, Fox suddenly pulled the plug on the series. Expect “Simple Life: Interns” in its stead next week.  

   Meanwhile, ABC’s steamy “Desperate Housewives” continues to rank in the top 25 among 9-14s. Last week it landed at No. 16, beating out the highest-ranking episode of the popular “Fairly Odd Parents.”

   “Desperate Housewives” also beat out “American Idol” in the 18-34, 18-24, 18-49 and 12-24 demos, though “Idol” led among teens. 

   For the week, Fox ranked No. 1 among teens with a 2.9 rating and 10 share. Tied at second were ABC and UPN with 1.7/6. CBS was third with 1.6/6 followed by the WB at 1.6/5. NBC came in last with 1.1/4.

   Among viewers 12-34, Fox also led with 3.3/11, followed by ABC at 2.3/8, CBS at 2.3/7, NBC at 2.2/7, WB at 1.5/5 and UPN at 1.4/5.

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-49
Week Ending April 24, 2005

 

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

10.1

13.14

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

9.8

12.78

3

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

9.7

12.63

4

CSI

CBS

9.2

12.01

5

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC

8.1

10.47

6

E.R.

NBC

7.4

9.59

7

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

6.9

8.96

8

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

6.8

8.86

9

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

6.8

8.85

10

HOUSE

FOX

6.5

8.45

11

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

6.5

8.38

12

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

5.5

7.17

13

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

CBS

5.4

7.05

14

AMAZING RACE: 7

CBS

5.1

6.57

15

LAW AND ORDER

NBC

4.9

6.33

16

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

4.7

6.03

17

REVELATIONS

NBC

4.6

5.91

18

24

FOX

4.6

5.91

19

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

4.1

5.37

20

CBS SUNDAY MOVIE

CBS

3.8

4.97

21

COLD CASE

CBS

3.8

4.94

22

LIFE ON A STICK

FOX

3.7

4.81

23

SUPERNANNY

ABC

3.7

4.80

24

NANNY 911

FOX

3.6

4.60

25

WILL & GRACE

NBC

3.5

4.51

26

STACKED

FOX

3.5

4.48

27

FOX NASCAR NEXTEL CUP (S)(S)-04/23/2005

FOX

3.4

4.42

28

BACHELOR, THE

ABC

3.4

4.40

29

NUMB3RS

CBS

3.3

4.30

30

CROSSING JORDAN

NBC

3.2

4.21

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-34
Week Ending April 24, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

9.0

5.88

2

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

8.3

5.42

3

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

8.1

5.30

4

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC

7.6

4.98

5

CSI

CBS

7.0

4.55

6

E.R.

NBC

6.7

4.39

7

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

6.3

4.12

8

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

6.1

3.97

9

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

4.8

3.16

10

HOUSE

FOX

4.8

3.13

11

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

4.6

3.02

12

AMAZING RACE: 7

CBS

4.2

2.76

13

O.C.

FOX

4.1

2.70

14

24

FOX

3.8

2.51

15

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

CBS

3.8

2.48

16

LIFE ON A STICK

FOX

3.6

2.34

17

NANNY 911

FOX

3.6

2.33

18

LAW AND ORDER

NBC

3.6

2.33

19

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

3.5

2.28

20

SUPERNANNY

ABC

3.5

2.26

21

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

3.4

2.21

22

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

3.3

2.18

23

REVELATIONS

NBC

3.3

2.16

24

STACKED

FOX

3.3

2.15

25

CONTENDER

NBC

3.3

2.15

26

WILL & GRACE

NBC

3.2

2.12

27

BACHELOR, THE

ABC

3.2

2.06

28

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

3.1

2.03

29

SIMPSONS SP-4/24 7P(S)-04/24/2005

FOX

2.9

1.89

30

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

FOX

2.9

1.87

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-24
Week Ending April 24, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

6.2

1.73

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

6.0

1.66

3

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

5.5

1.54

4

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC

5.4

1.51

5

CSI

CBS

4.9

1.35

6

O.C.

FOX

4.6

1.29

7

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

4.3

1.19

8

HOUSE

FOX

4.2

1.17

9

E.R.

NBC

3.8

1.06

10

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

3.3

0.91

11

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

3.2

0.90

12

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

3.0

0.83

13

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

2.8

0.78

14

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

2.8

0.77

15

STACKED

FOX

2.7

0.75

16

RWRR CHALLENGE INFERNO II

MTV

2.7

0.74

17

NANNY 911

FOX

2.6

0.72

18

LIFE ON A STICK

FOX

2.6

0.72

19

24

FOX

2.6

0.71

20

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

CBS

2.5

0.71

21

SUPERNANNY

ABC

2.5

0.70

22

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.4

0.68

23

SIMPSONS SP-4/24 7P(S)-04/24/2005

FOX

2.4

0.67

24

PUNKD

MTV

2.4

0.66

24

GILMORE GIRLS - WB

WB

2.4

0.66

26

BACHELOR, THE

ABC

2.3

0.65

27

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.3

0.64

28

ONE TREE HILL - WB

WB

2.3

0.64

29

LAW AND ORDER

NBC

2.2

0.62

30

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.2

0.61

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
People 12-24
Week Ending April 24, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

6.0

3.16

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

6.0

3.12

3

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

5.8

3.06

4

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

4.5

2.33

5

O.C.

FOX

4.4

2.32

6

CSI

CBS

4.4

2.29

7

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC

4.2

2.22

8

HOUSE

FOX

4.2

2.19

9

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

3.2

1.69

10

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

3.1

1.62

11

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

3.0

1.59

12

PUNKD

MTV

3.0

1.58

13

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

FOX

3.0

1.54

14

SIMPSONS SP-4/24 7P(S)-04/24/2005

FOX

2.9

1.54

15

ONE TREE HILL - WB

WB

2.8

1.49

16

E.R.

NBC

2.8

1.48

17

STACKED

FOX

2.8

1.48

18

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.7

1.39

19

RWRR CHALLENGE INFERNO II

MTV

2.6

1.38

20

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

2.6

1.38

21

LIFE ON A STICK

FOX

2.6

1.38

22

NANNY 911

FOX

2.6

1.35

23

PIMP MY RIDE

MTV

2.6

1.34

24

VIVA LA BAM

MTV

2.5

1.30

25

24

FOX

2.5

1.30

26

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.5

1.29

27

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

2.4

1.27

28

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.4

1.26

29

GILMORE GIRLS - WB

WB

2.4

1.24

30

TRU CALLING

FOX

2.3

1.22

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Teens 12-17
Week Ending April 24, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

6.2

1.52

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

6.0

1.47

3

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

5.9

1.44

4

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

4.6

1.14

5

O.C.

FOX

4.2

1.03

6

HOUSE

FOX

4.2

1.02

7

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

FOX

3.9

0.95

8

CSI

CBS

3.8

0.94

9

PIMP MY RIDE

MTV

3.8

0.93

10

PUNKD

MTV

3.7

0.92

11

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

3.7

0.91

12

SIMPSONS SP-4/24 7P(S)-04/24/2005

FOX

3.6

0.88

13

ONE TREE HILL - WB

WB

3.5

0.85

14

VIVA LA BAM

MTV

3.5

0.85

15

PUNKD

MTV

3.3

0.80

16

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

3.2

0.78

17

ALL THAT

NICK

3.1

0.77

18

STACKED

FOX

2.9

0.72

19

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.9

0.71

20

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC

2.9

0.71

21

FUTURAMA

ADSM

2.8

0.69

22

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

2.8

0.69

23

AMERICAN TOP 40 LIVE(S)-04/24/2005

FOX

2.8

0.68

24

LIFE ON A STICK

FOX

2.7

0.66

25

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.7

0.66

26

FUTURAMA

ADSM

2.7

0.66

27

WWE SMACKDOWN!

UPN

2.7

0.65

28

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.7

0.65

29

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.6

0.65

30

SOUTH PARK

CMDY

2.6

0.65

30

TRU CALLING

FOX

2.6

0.65

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Kids 9-14
Week Ending April 24, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

7.5

1.84

2

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

6.3

1.55

3

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

5.5

1.35

4

ALL THAT

NICK

5.4

1.32

5

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

5.2

1.29

6

ZOEY 101

NICK

5.0

1.22

7

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.8

1.18

8

ALL THAT

NICK

4.6

1.13

9

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.5

1.11

10

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

4.4

1.07

11

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.3

1.06

12

FULL HOUSE

NAN

4.3

1.05

13

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

4.2

1.03

14

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.2

1.03

15

ALL THAT

NICK

4.2

1.03

16

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

4.1

1.01

17

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.0

0.98

18

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.0

0.98

19

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.0

0.98

20

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

4.0

0.97

21

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.9

0.97

22

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

3.9

0.97

23

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.9

0.97

24

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

3.9

0.96

24

ALL THAT

NICK

3.9

0.96

26

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.8

0.94

27

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.8

0.94

28

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.8

0.94

29

HOUSE

FOX

3.8

0.93

30

FULL HOUSE

NAN

3.7

0.92

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Kids 2-11
Week Ending April 24, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

SPONGEBOB

NICK

6.3

2.50

2

SPONGEBOB

NICK

6.3

2.49

3

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

6.1

2.42

4

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.8

2.32

5

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

5.8

2.28

6

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.5

2.19

7

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.4

2.15

8

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.4

2.13

9

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.3

2.08

10

S JN ATTACK OF TWONKIES

NICK

5.2

2.08

11

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.2

2.06

12

DANNY PHANTOM

NICK

5.1

2.01

13

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.0

1.99

14

AVATAR

NICK

4.9

1.94

15

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.8

1.92

16

AVATAR

NICK

4.8

1.89

17

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.7

1.88

18

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

4.7

1.86

19

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

4.7

1.86

20

AVATAR

NICK

4.7

1.86

21

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.7

1.85

22

ZOEY 101

NICK

4.6

1.84

23

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.6

1.83

24

AVATAR

NICK

4.6

1.83

25

ALL THAT

NICK

4.5

1.80

26

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.5

1.80

27

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.4

1.74

28

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

4.4

1.74

29

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.4

1.74

30

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.3

1.72

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research


April 29, 2005 © 2005 Media Life


- Abigail Azote is a staff writer for Media Life.


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