Tricked out,
reality shows find new life
And it's not just 'American Idol' and its new judge
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 18, 2010
A couple years ago, when "The Bachelor" was struggling and "Survivor" was flagging, many declared the reality craze over.
Seems that pronouncement was way too premature. This winter reality shows are doing very well, with four making broadcast's top 15 last week.
Fox's "American Idol" captured the No. 1 and 2 spots among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen data for the week ended Feb. 14, averaging a 10.1 rating on Tuesday and a 9.5 on Wednesday.
The show has been the No. 1 non-sports program every week since it returned in January.
The new CBS reality series "Undercover Boss" ranked eighth for the week with a strong 5.2 rating, becoming CBS's highest-rated non-sports program in the Sunday 9 p.m. timeslot since the movie "Category 6: Day of Destruction" in 2004.
CBS's "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" soared 25 percent over last fall's premiere, from a 3.6 to a 4.5 for Thursday's two-hour season opener.
The show drew its best number among total viewers, 14.15 million, since December 2007, and it even managed a rare head-to-head win over ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," the first time this season "Grey's" has been bested by a non-sports program.
And ABC's "The Bachelor" matched a season high with a 4.1 rating, tying for 13th for the week; that would have been higher if NBC's Olympics hadn't taken up three top-five spots. In its 14th season, "Bachelor" is on pace for its best showing among 18-49s since 2004.
So why the resurgence for reality programs after being written off not so long ago? The main reason is the shrewd moves producers have made this season to keep the aging shows fresh.
"Idol," now in season nine, not only got a new judge, Ellen DeGeneres, whose debut boosted the show to its second-best rating of the season last week, it also mixed up the way it chooses the semifinalists. "Idol" introduced seven of them on Tuesday's episode instead of unveiling all 24 last night, as it has in the past.
In its 20th season, "Survivor" is doing another all-star program with the unique twist of putting fan favorites in one tribe and the players viewers loved to hate in another.
And "Bachelor" apparently learned just how much ratings value there is in a tabloid angle after last year's ratings bonanza when the winning lady was dumped by her fiancé in the post-show reunion.
This year there has been loads of "Bachelor" drama, which is once again filling tabloids, after one contestant allegedly had an affair with a show producer and another contestant left voluntarily, then begged to be reinstated.
As for "Boss'" strong ratings, there's a pretty simple reason: The most recent episode featured the CEO of Hooters, who went undercover at one of his restaurants. As the commercials for the show displayed so well, Hooters waitresses wear tight white shirts and tiny orange shorts, and they appeared in much of Sunday's episode.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Feb. 14:
Among adults 18-49, NBC was first with a 4.7 average rating and a 13 share, followed by Fox at 3.6/10, CBS at 2.9/8, ABC at 2.2/6, Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 0.8/2, Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.5/1, Ion at 0.3/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. Fox’s “American Idol - Tuesday” 10.1; 2. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” 9.5; 3. NBC’s “Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony” 9.0; 4. NBC’s “Winter Olympics Saturday” 7.6; 5. NBC’s “Winter Olympics Sunday” 7.0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony” 32.64 million; 2. Fox’s “American Idol - Tuesday” 27.89 million; 3. NBC’s “Winter Olympics Sunday” 26.37 million; 4. NBC’s “Winter Olympics Saturday” 26.19 million; 5. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” 25.17 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Jan. 24): 1. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” 3.0 increase (up 28 percent); 2. Fox’s “American Idol - Tuesday” 2.7 increase (up 25 percent); 3. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 2.4 increase (up 39 percent); 4. NBC’s “The Office” 2.2 increase (up 45 percent); 5. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 2.0 increase (up 31 percent).
Show on the rise: “Two and a Half Men” CBS, Monday 9 p.m. The sitcom posted a 5.7 rating among viewers 18-49, up 12 percent from a 5.1 the previous week and its best rating in three years.
Show on the decline: “The Vampire Diaries” CW, Thursday 8 p.m. The first-year drama slipped 21 percent week-to-week among 18-49s facing the season premiere of CBS’s “Survivor,” falling from a 1.9 rating to a 1.5.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 14 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
NBC
|
8.9
|
10240
|
14
|
5.5
|
16080
|
14
|
4.7
|
6200
|
13
|
|
CBS
|
6.5
|
7420
|
10
|
3.6
|
10640
|
9
|
2.9
|
3820
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.8
|
6610
|
9
|
3.5
|
10110
|
8
|
3.6
|
4720
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
4760
|
7
|
2.3
|
6620
|
6
|
2.2
|
2910
|
6
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2060
|
3
|
1.2
|
3570
|
3
|
1.4
|
1820
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1350
|
2
|
0.6
|
1790
|
1
|
0.8
|
1020
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
820
|
1
|
0.4
|
1100
|
1
|
0.3
|
390
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
620
|
1
|
0.4
|
1060
|
1
|
0.5
|
650
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
0.4
|
1120
|
1
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
190
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 14 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.6
|
8680
|
12
|
4.3
|
12500
|
11
|
3.4
|
4460
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
5.8
|
6670
|
9
|
3.4
|
9930
|
8
|
3.7
|
4820
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
5.5
|
6270
|
9
|
3.0
|
8690
|
8
|
2.7
|
3550
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.9
|
5590
|
8
|
2.7
|
7910
|
7
|
2.7
|
3510
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2060
|
3
|
1.2
|
3520
|
3
|
1.4
|
1780
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.3
|
1540
|
2
|
0.7
|
2030
|
2
|
0.9
|
1240
|
3
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
770
|
1
|
0.4
|
1030
|
1
|
0.3
|
400
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
0.4
|
1050
|
1
|
0.5
|
630
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
530
|
1
|
0.3
|
970
|
1
|
0.4
|
560
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average of pre-TSV and Live+SD data.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 14 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
WNTR OLYM OPEN CEREM(S)
|
NBC
|
17.3
|
30
|
19849
|
1
|
11.2
|
32641
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
15.1
|
23
|
17361
|
2
|
9.6
|
27892
|
|
3
|
WNTR OLYM SUN PRIME 1(S)
|
NBC
|
14.3
|
23
|
16450
|
3
|
9.0
|
26372
|
|
4
|
WNTR OLYM SAT PRIME 1(S)
|
NBC
|
14.0
|
25
|
16121
|
3
|
9.0
|
26189
|
|
5
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
13.6
|
21
|
15631
|
5
|
8.6
|
25172
|
|
6
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
11.8
|
18
|
13563
|
6
|
6.8
|
19748
|
|
7
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
10.9
|
16
|
12479
|
7
|
6.1
|
17906
|
|
8
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
10.5
|
16
|
12114
|
8
|
6.0
|
17661
|
|
9
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
9.8
|
17
|
11284
|
10
|
5.4
|
15861
|
|
10
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
9.7
|
14
|
11088
|
9
|
5.6
|
16260
|
|
11
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
9.6
|
16
|
10999
|
12
|
5.1
|
14754
|
|
12
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
13
|
9962
|
13
|
4.9
|
14334
|
|
12
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
15
|
10011
|
16
|
4.6
|
13532
|
|
14
|
UNDERCOVER BOSS
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
13
|
9841
|
11
|
5.3
|
15446
|
|
15
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
8.2
|
13
|
9447
|
17
|
4.4
|
12735
|
|
16
|
SURVIVOR: HEROES-VILLAINS
|
CBS
|
8.1
|
13
|
9253
|
14
|
4.8
|
14152
|
|
17
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
7.9
|
12
|
9033
|
19
|
4.2
|
12350
|
|
17
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
7.9
|
12
|
9076
|
15
|
4.7
|
13599
|
|
17
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
7.9
|
13
|
9045
|
17
|
4.4
|
12979
|
|
20
|
LOST
|
ABC
|
6.4
|
10
|
7300
|
20
|
3.8
|
11045
|
|
21
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
9
|
6975
|
22
|
3.4
|
10001
|
|
21
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
6.1
|
10
|
7036
|
24
|
3.3
|
9544
|
|
21
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
6.1
|
10
|
6987
|
25
|
3.1
|
9036
|
|
24
|
24
|
FOX
|
5.9
|
9
|
6765
|
21
|
3.5
|
10274
|
|
25
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
5.7
|
9
|
6537
|
22
|
3.4
|
9835
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending February 14 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
10.1
|
13343
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
9.5
|
12549
|
|
3
|
WNTR OLYM OPEN CEREM(S)-02/12/2010
|
NBC
|
9.0
|
11844
|
|
4
|
WNTR OLYM SAT PRIME 1(S)-02/13/2010
|
NBC
|
7.6
|
10055
|
|
5
|
WNTR OLYM SUN PRIME 1(S)-02/14/2010
|
NBC
|
7.0
|
9262
|
|
6
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
6.0
|
7884
|
|
7
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
5.7
|
7506
|
|
8
|
UNDERCOVER BOSS
|
CBS
|
5.2
|
6793
|
|
9
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
5.1
|
6743
|
|
10
|
LOST
|
ABC
|
5.0
|
6537
|
|
11
|
SURVIVOR: HEROES-VILLAINS
|
CBS
|
4.5
|
5981
|
|
12
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
4.4
|
5734
|
|
13
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5436
|
|
13
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
5375
|
|
13
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
5438
|
|
13
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5343
|
|
17
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
3.9
|
5148
|
|
18
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
4952
|
|
19
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4910
|
|
19
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
4841
|
|
21
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4770
|
|
22
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
3.5
|
4627
|
|
23
|
ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4340
|
|
23
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
3.3
|
4277
|
|
23
|
24
|
FOX
|
3.3
|
4284
|
|
23
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4368
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 7 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
SORTILEGIO M-F
|
UNI
|
23.0
|
5426
|
|
2
|
MUJERES ASESINAS 2 THU
|
UNI
|
18.2
|
4040
|
|
3
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
18.1
|
3982
|
|
4
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE M-F
|
UNI
|
16.2
|
3818
|
|
5
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
15.9
|
3371
|
|
6
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
13.7
|
2662
|
|
7
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
13.0
|
2833
|
|
7
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
13.0
|
2684
|
|
9
|
GORDO Y FLACA: ED ES 2/5(S)-02/05/2010
|
UNI
|
10.5
|
2085
|
|
10
|
CINE ESPECIAL SUN 9PM
|
UNI
|
9.8
|
2370
|
|
11
|
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
|
UNI
|
8.9
|
1916
|
|
12
|
CINE ESPECIAL SUN 7PM
|
UNI
|
7.4
|
1863
|
|
13
|
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
|
TEL
|
6.7
|
1399
|
|
14
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
5.4
|
1322
|
|
15
|
CAPO, EL M-F
|
TF
|
5.2
|
1147
|
|
16
|
FUTBOL ESTELAR II
|
TEL
|
4.8
|
1054
|
|
16
|
VECINOS M-F
|
TF
|
4.8
|
1254
|
|
18
|
IDOLOS DE MEXICO IV 2/7(S)-02/07/2010
|
TEL
|
4.7
|
1268
|
|
19
|
PERRO AMOR M-F
|
TEL
|
4.4
|
980
|
|
20
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
|
TF
|
4.0
|
1044
|
|
20
|
IDOLOS DE MEXICO III 2/7(S)-02/07/2010
|
TEL
|
4.0
|
927
|
|
22
|
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-F
|
TF
|
3.9
|
852
|
|
23
|
VICTORINOS M-F
|
TEL
|
3.8
|
896
|
|
24
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
3.4
|
679
|
|
25
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
|
TF
|
2.9
|
753
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 7 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
SUPER BOWL XLIV(S)-02/07/2010
|
CBS
|
28.4
|
8277
|
|
2
|
SUPER BOWL XLIV POST GAME(S)-02/07/2010
|
CBS
|
21.4
|
5937
|
|
3
|
UNDERCOVER BOSS
|
CBS
|
11.3
|
2928
|
|
4
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
7.6
|
1657
|
|
5
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
6.9
|
1344
|
|
6
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
4.1
|
700
|
|
7
|
KITCHEN NGHTMR SP-2/2 9P(S)-02/02/2010
|
FOX
|
3.8
|
744
|
|
8
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
3.7
|
723
|
|
9
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
3.6
|
678
|
|
9
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
670
|
|
1
|
SUPER BOWL XLIV(S)-02/07/2010
|
CBS
|
28.4
|
8277
|
|
2
|
SUPER BOWL XLIV POST GAME(S)-02/07/2010
|
CBS
|
21.4
|
5937
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 7
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
SUPER BOWL XLIV
|
CBS
|
43.8
|
11242
|
|
2
|
SUPER BOWL XLIV POST GAME
|
CBS
|
36.5
|
9210
|
|
3
|
UNDERCOVER BOSS
|
CBS
|
20.7
|
4936
|
|
4
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
14.1
|
3094
|
|
5
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
10.6
|
2111
|
|
6
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
1929
|
|
7
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
9.9
|
1923
|
|
8
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
9.0
|
1599
|
|
9
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
1567
|
|
10
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.5
|
1590
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 7 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
SUPER BOWL XLIV-02/07/2010
|
CBS
|
INDIANAPOLIS
VS
NEW ORLEANS
|
45
|
68
|
51728
|
106476
|
|
2 |
BUDWEISER SHOOT-OUT-02/06/2010
|
FOX
|
|
4.4
|
8
|
5064
|
8187
|
|
3 |
LA OPEN-SUN-02/07/2010
|
NBC
|
|
1.7
|
3
|
1899
|
2502
|
|
4 |
NBA SUNDAY SHOWCASE 1-ABC-02/07/2010
|
ABC
|
ORLANDO
AT
BOSTON
|
1.6
|
3
|
1882
|
2484
|
|
5 |
FOX NASCAR DAYTONA QUAL-02/06/2010
|
FOX
|
|
1.6
|
4
|
1791
|
2361
|
|
6 |
LA OPEN-SAT-02/06/2010
|
NBC
|
|
1.4
|
3
|
1552
|
1968
|
|
7 |
NBC NHL-02/07/2010
|
NBC
|
PITTSBURGH
AT
WASHINGTON
|
1.1
|
3
|
1247
|
1701
|
|
8 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SAT-2-02/06/2010
|
CBS
|
CAL AT UCLA/WISC AT
MICH
|
0.8
|
2
|
961
|
1231
|
|
9 |
NBC WINT ACT SPORT TOR-SA-02/06/2010
|
NBC
|
WINTER DEW TOUR
|
0.8
|
2
|
938
|
1151
|
|
10 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR II-02/06/2010
|
TEL
|
ATLAS VS
AMERICA
|
0.6
|
1
|
647
|
1080
|
|
11 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-02/06/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
733
|
848
|
|
12 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR-SA-02/06/2010
|
CBS
|
CELEBRITY SKI FEST
|
0.4
|
1
|
493
|
677
|
|
13 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SUN-02/07/2010
|
UNI
|
ESTUDIANTES TECOS VS JAGUARES
|
0.3
|
1
|
379
|
670
|
|
14 |
FLM SAT 1-02/06/2010
|
AZA
|
CRUZ AZUL VS
SANTOS
|
0.3
|
1
|
362
|
625
|
|
15 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT-02/06/2010
|
TF
|
PACHUCA
VS SAN LUIS
|
0.3
|
0
|
293
|
619
|
|
16 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-02/04/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
544
|
603
|
|
17 |
FUTBOL TELEMUNDO-02/07/2010
|
TEL
|
TOLUCA
VS
MONTERREY
|
0.3
|
1
|
328
|
597
|
|
18 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-02/05/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
2
|
552
|
591
|
|
19 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR-02/06/2010
|
TEL
|
TIGRES VS UNAM
|
0.3
|
1
|
367
|
563
|
|
20 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-02/03/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.4
|
2
|
471
|
488
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
|
|
