medialifemagazine.com
At last, comedy is back on network TV
By Toni Fitzgerald
Oct 14, 2009 - 6:10:24 AM
It's too early to declare that comedy is back, but the long-declining genre is definitely showing signs of a revival this fall.
Four new comedies have already received full-season orders this year, compared to zero at the same point last year. And four of the top 10 shows for the week ended Oct. 11 were comedies, compared to none the same week last year.
What's perhaps most notable is that no single network is leading the revival. All of the Big Four have had success with new or returning comedies this year.
CBS's strong numbers are perhaps the least surprising, simply because it has carried the largest number of comedies, six, over recent years.
Its third-year show "The Big Bang Theory" is showing bigger year-to-year gains than any other returning scripted program, averaging a 4.7 adults 18-49 rating to rank No. 5 on broadcast last week, four spots ahead of its lead-in, "Two and a Half Men." That's according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day-DVR-playback numbers.
If its ratings hold steady, "Bang" will likely replace "Men" as the No. 1 comedy in that demo this season.
Fox, which has long struggled to develop live-action sitcoms, has also had comedic success. "The Cleveland Show" ranks as the No. 1 new program this year. Despite losing audience each week, it's delivering huge gains over last year's 8:30 p.m. Sunday timeslot occupant, "King of the Hill," and it tied for 10th last week on broadcast with a 3.9 rating.
Season to date, Fox's animated Sunday comedy lineup is up 30 percent over last year.
The network has already given a full-season order to "Glee," a nontraditional one-hour comedy that airs Wednesdays. The show is winning its 9 p.m. slot among adults 18-34 and was the first new show to get picked up.
NBC had the No. 1 comedy on broadcast last week, "The Office," which averaged a season-high 4.8 rating for the much-anticipated wedding of Pam and Jim.
The network also had early success with "Community," which had a strong debut three weeks ago behind "Office" but last week plummeted in its new 8 p.m. slot. Still, it could see some DVR uptick. The show's second episode got a solid 25 percent boost from seven-day DVR playback.
ABC's comedy success has been the most surprising, as the network has struggled for years to find a viable scripted comedy that wasn't named "According to Jim."
But already it has given full-season orders to three sitcoms, "The Middle," "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town," the latter two of which ranked in the top 30 on broadcast last week.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Oct. 11:
Among adults 18-49, CBS was first with a 3.3 average rating and a 9 share, followed by NBC and Fox at 2.6/7, ABC at 2.5/7,Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 1.0/3, Telemundo at 0.5/1, Telefutura at 0.4/1, Ion at 0.2/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.2; Tie-2. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and Fox’s “House” 5.4; 4. NBC’s “The Office” 4.8; 5. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 4.7.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. CBS’s “NCIS” 20.70 million; 2. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 16.35 million; 3. CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles” 16.31 million; 4. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 16.02 million; 5. CBS’s “CSI” 14.9 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Sept. 20): 1. NBC’s “The Office” 2.2 increase (up 42 percent); 2. Fox’s “Fringe” 1.5 increase (up 38 percent); 3. NBC’s “Community” 1.5 increase (up 33 percent); 4. CBS’s “Survivor” 1.4 increase (up 36 percent); 5. Fox’s “Bones” 1.4 increase (up 36 percent).
Show on the rise: “The Office,” NBC, Thursday 9 p.m. The hour-long wedding episode posted a 4.8 among 18-49s, up 23 percent from the previous week’s 3.9.
Show on the decline: “Hank,” ABC, Wednesday 8 p.m. The comedy slid 24 percent week-to-week among 18-49s, from a 2.1 to a 1.6.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 11 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.6
|
8690
|
13
|
4.2
|
12190
|
11
|
3.3
|
4370
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
6250
|
9
|
2.9
|
8410
|
8
|
2.5
|
3240
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.8
|
5470
|
8
|
2.6
|
7520
|
7
|
2.6
|
3390
|
7
|
|
FOX
|
3.9
|
4490
|
6
|
2.2
|
6540
|
6
|
2.6
|
3470
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2150
|
3
|
1.3
|
3740
|
3
|
1.4
|
1900
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.4
|
1660
|
2
|
0.7
|
2140
|
2
|
1.0
|
1360
|
3
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
0.4
|
1070
|
1
|
0.5
|
660
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
0.3
|
780
|
1
|
0.2
|
310
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
510
|
1
|
0.3
|
900
|
1
|
0.4
|
530
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
150
|
0
|
0.1
|
200
|
0
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 11 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
12.6
|
20
|
14490
|
1
|
7.1
|
20702
|
|
2
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
10.7
|
16
|
12256
|
2
|
5.6
|
16350
|
|
3
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
10.2
|
16
|
11686
|
2
|
5.6
|
16310
|
|
4
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
9.7
|
16
|
11199
|
4
|
5.5
|
16017
|
|
5
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
9.4
|
16
|
10785
|
6
|
5.0
|
14704
|
|
6
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
9.3
|
14
|
10637
|
5
|
5.1
|
14897
|
|
7
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
9.1
|
15
|
10405
|
6
|
5.0
|
14537
|
|
7
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
9.1
|
14
|
10425
|
8
|
4.8
|
14126
|
|
9
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
15
|
10254
|
10
|
4.7
|
13693
|
|
10
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.8
|
14
|
10079
|
8
|
4.8
|
14053
|
|
11
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
14
|
10046
|
12
|
4.6
|
13433
|
|
12
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
8.4
|
12
|
9704
|
12
|
4.6
|
13296
|
|
13
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
8.3
|
13
|
9524
|
15
|
4.3
|
12420
|
|
14
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
8.2
|
14
|
9453
|
15
|
4.3
|
12426
|
|
14
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
8.2
|
12
|
9433
|
12
|
4.6
|
13423
|
|
16
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
7.9
|
12
|
9110
|
10
|
4.7
|
13738
|
|
17
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
7.8
|
12
|
9019
|
15
|
4.3
|
12515
|
|
18
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
7.5
|
12
|
8624
|
18
|
4.2
|
12317
|
|
19
|
SURVIVOR:
SAMOA
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
11
|
8013
|
19
|
4.0
|
11694
|
|
20
|
BONES
|
FOX
|
6.3
|
10
|
7288
|
22
|
3.5
|
10286
|
|
21
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
6.2
|
11
|
7168
|
25
|
3.3
|
9500
|
|
22
|
AMAZING RACE 15
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
9
|
7043
|
20
|
3.6
|
10518
|
|
22
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
6.1
|
10
|
7034
|
26
|
3.2
|
9228
|
|
22
|
HOME DEPOT PRIME CLG FTBL(S)
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
11
|
6974
|
20
|
3.6
|
10496
|
|
25
|
BROTHERS & SISTERS
|
ABC
|
6.0
|
10
|
6898
|
29
|
3.1
|
8972
|
|
25
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
6.0
|
10
|
6850
|
23
|
3.4
|
9819
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending October 11 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
6.2
|
8137
|
|
2
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
7051
|
|
2
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
5.4
|
7072
|
|
4
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
4.8
|
6268
|
|
5
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
4.7
|
6156
|
|
6
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
5999
|
|
6
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
4.6
|
6055
|
|
6
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
4.6
|
6038
|
|
9
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
5829
|
|
10
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
4.3
|
5719
|
|
11
|
CLEVELAND
|
FOX
|
3.9
|
5107
|
|
11
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
3.9
|
5163
|
|
13
|
BIGGEST LOSER 8
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4885
|
|
13
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4888
|
|
13
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
3.7
|
4855
|
|
16
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4727
|
|
16
|
HOME DEPOT PRIME CLG FTBL(S)
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4709
|
|
16
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4798
|
|
16
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
3.6
|
4785
|
|
20
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4604
|
|
20
|
AMERICAN DAD
|
FOX
|
3.5
|
4550
|
|
20
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4566
|
|
20
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
3.5
|
4574
|
|
24
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
4452
|
|
24
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
3.4
|
4471
|
|
24
|
SURVIVOR:
SAMOA
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
4534
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE M-F
|
UNI
|
25.5
|
5967
|
|
2
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR MON
|
UNI
|
18.0
|
4195
|
|
3
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
17.4
|
3837
|
|
4
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
15.9
|
3279
|
|
5
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
15.7
|
3346
|
|
6
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
15.3
|
3210
|
|
7
|
ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
14.2
|
3176
|
|
8
|
GANCHO AL CORAZON M-F
|
UNI
|
12.8
|
2780
|
|
9
|
VIVA EL SUENO SUN
|
UNI
|
12.2
|
2497
|
|
10
|
QUIEN TIENE RAZON? EE SUN
|
UNI
|
11.5
|
2148
|
|
11
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
11.0
|
2348
|
|
12
|
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 9/30(S)-09/30/2009
|
TEL
|
10.9
|
2493
|
|
13
|
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
|
UNI
|
8.7
|
1811
|
|
14
|
MARIA TODOS ANGELES SUN
|
UNI
|
8.5
|
1818
|
|
15
|
BETTY LA FEA M-F
|
TF
|
6.8
|
1484
|
|
16
|
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
|
TEL
|
5.1
|
1115
|
|
17
|
RUMBO PRE-GAME 9/30(S)-09/30/2009
|
TEL
|
4.9
|
1167
|
|
17
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
4.9
|
1318
|
|
19
|
VECINOS THR
|
TF
|
4.6
|
1032
|
|
19
|
VECINOS FRI
|
TF
|
4.6
|
1117
|
|
21
|
VECINOS TUE
|
TF
|
4.5
|
1023
|
|
22
|
VECINOS MON
|
TF
|
4.4
|
1038
|
|
23
|
VECINOS WED
|
TF
|
4.3
|
950
|
|
23
|
VICTORINOS M-F
|
TEL
|
4.3
|
1013
|
|
25
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
|
TF
|
3.8
|
824
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
5.8
|
1192
|
|
2
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
1009
|
|
3
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
5.3
|
1228
|
|
4
|
CLEVELAND
|
FOX
|
4.8
|
1156
|
|
5
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
4.7
|
925
|
|
6
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
4.5
|
842
|
|
7
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
4.4
|
807
|
|
7
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
786
|
|
9
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
4.2
|
933
|
|
10
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
722
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
13.6
|
2573
|
|
2
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
11.5
|
2278
|
|
3
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
11.4
|
2387
|
|
4
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
10.9
|
1899
|
|
5
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
10.4
|
1995
|
|
6
|
CLEVELAND
|
FOX
|
10.0
|
2190
|
|
7
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
9.9
|
1797
|
|
8
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
9.8
|
1751
|
|
9
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
9.6
|
1982
|
|
10
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
9.5
|
2082
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-NATIONAL-10/04/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
13.1
|
25
|
15027
|
22026
|
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL-10/04/2009
|
NBC
|
SAN DIEGO
AT
PITTSBURGH
|
11
|
18
|
12621
|
18416
|
|
3 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT-10/04/2009
|
FOX
|
DALLAS
AT
DENVER
|
10.9
|
19
|
12556
|
18600
|
|
4 |
CBS NFL SINGLE-10/04/2009
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
10.1
|
22
|
11620
|
16558
|
|
5 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-REGIONAL-10/04/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
7.7
|
17
|
8805
|
11813
|
|
6 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL-10/03/2009
|
ABC
|
OK AT MIAMI/USC AT
CALIF
|
4.8
|
9
|
5562
|
7834
|
|
7 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2-10/03/2009
|
CBS
|
LSU AT
GEORGIA
|
3.5
|
8
|
4018
|
5542
|
|
8 |
NASCAR SPRINT CUP-SUN-10/04/2009
|
ABC
|
KANSAS
|
3.2
|
7
|
3721
|
5252
|
|
9 |
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL-10/03/2009
|
NBC
|
WASHINGTON
AT NOTRE DAME
|
2.9
|
7
|
3383
|
4447
|
|
10 |
ABC
COLLEGE
FTBL GM-LATE-10/03/2009
|
ABC
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
2.6
|
6
|
3017
|
3853
|
|
11 |
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 9/30-09/30/2009
|
TEL
|
MEXICO
VS
COLOMBIA
|
1.3
|
2
|
1465
|
2591
|
|
12 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR-SU-10/04/2009
|
CBS
|
GODADDY.COM INVIT: BULL RIDING
|
1.2
|
2
|
1366
|
1867
|
|
13 |
FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-10/03/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
1.2
|
3
|
1345
|
1741
|
|
14 |
SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMP-SUN-10/04/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.7
|
1
|
751
|
920
|
|
15 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/30/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
639
|
654
|
|
16 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-10/03/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
651
|
703
|
|
17 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/28/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
574
|
590
|
|
18 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-10/01/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
532
|
531
|
|
19 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-10/02/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
2
|
520
|
571
|
|
20 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/29/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.4
|
2
|
481
|
552
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
© 2010 Media Life
|
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