medialifemagazine.com
For A&E's 'Seagal,' all the right moves
By Tom Conroy
Dec 9, 2009 - 7:40:29 AM
“Steven Seagal: Lawman” kicked butt in the ratings last week. The action star’s new reality show drew A&E’s biggest series-premiere audience ever.
The show not only may give a career boost to Seagal — many of whose recent films have gone straight to video — but may also signal the resurgence of a subgenre of reality TV: the celebrity self-portrait documentary.
The two episodes that aired last Wednesday averaged 3.5 million total viewers. Encouragingly for Seagal, the second episode’s viewership built slightly, placing it at No. 10 for the week for all cable shows among viewers 25-54 and No. 11 among 18-49s.
The episodes were also cable’s highest-rated reality shows for the week. The next-highest was the second-season premiere of A&E’s “Hoarders,” which had set a channel record in adult demos for a season premiere only two nights before.
“Steven Seagal: Lawman,” in which a documentary crew follows Seagal’s work as a volunteer deputy sheriff in Jefferson County, La., is unlike many celebrity vanity projects in that it may actually help burnish the actor’s brand.
Ever since the success of “The Osbournes,” which drew as many as 6.6 million viewers in its heyday back in 2002, career-stalled celebrities have been lining up to have their wacky lives taped. But as Whitney Houston, Britney Spears and Paula Abdul learned, one’s real self can sometimes come across as vain, addled or stupid. (Lindsay Lohan, who has been reportedly developing a series about her own comeback attempts, should take note.)
Though critics were divided over whether Seagal seemed silly or cool in his self-portrait as a Zen-inspired cop, many seemed surprised at how likable and even charismatic he is — and at how serious his commitment to the sheriff’s department seems to be.
If this show gives a boost to the real-life celebrity genre, that’s good news for A&E. This Sunday the channel will be premiering its six-part series “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty,” which will chronicle the lives of four of Michael Jackson’s brothers as they prepare a reunion tour.
Meanwhile, the celebrity-reality genre that has been getting the most attention in recent years — the non-documentary genre in which stars live in a house with other B-listers, try to learn to dance or pretend to be looking for a new romance — seems to be flagging.
The most-watched show last week on VH1, which has made a specialty of celebrity-looking-for-love shows, was “For the Love of Ray J 2,” in which the R&B singer Ray J is making a second attempt at finding a soul mate. It drew only 1.5 million viewers.
***
In cable ratings for the week ended Dec. 6:
Top five networks in primetime (18-49s): ESPN, USA, FX, ABC Family, TBS
Top five networks in primetime (total viewers): ESPN, USA, ABC Family, Fox News Channel, FX
Top movie (18-49s): ABC Family’s “Santa Clause 3” (Tuesday, 8 p.m.) 1.63 million
Top sporting event (total viewers): ESPN’s “Monday Night Football: Patriots/Saints” (Monday, 8:30 p.m.) 21.4 million
Shows making the top 10 among 18-34s, 18-49s and 25-54s: ESPN’s “Monday Night Football: Patriots/Saints” (Monday, 8:30 p.m.); FX’s “Sons of Anarchy” (Tuesday, 10 p.m.); ESPN’s “College Football Thursday Night” (Thursday, 8:53 p.m.); ESPN’s “SportsCenter” (Monday, 11:37 p.m.); Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” (Saturday, 9 p.m.).
Show on the rise: FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,” Tuesday 10 p.m. The drama's second-season finale averaged 2.99 million viewers 18-49, up 30 percent from 2.3 million the previous week.
Show on the decline: NFL Network’s “Jets/Bills,” Thursday 8:20 p.m. The lackluster game averaged 3.07 million total viewers, off nearly 50 percent from the 6.12 million who watched the week before for a Thanksgiving game between the Giants and Broncos.
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Ranked on Household Rating
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank |
Primetime |
Total Day |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
ESPN
|
3401
|
NICK
|
1806
|
|
2
|
USA
|
2478
|
NAN
*
|
1316
|
|
3
|
FOXN
|
1728
|
ESPN
|
1215
|
|
4
|
FAM
|
1519
|
USA
|
1184
|
|
5
|
AEN
|
1505
|
TNT
|
1053
|
|
6
|
TNT
|
1504
|
FOXN
|
995
|
|
7
|
FX
|
1499
|
ADSM*
|
916
|
|
8
|
NAN
|
1482
|
AEN
|
779
|
|
9
|
HALL
|
1340
|
FAM
|
752
|
|
10
|
TBSC
|
1204
|
HALL
|
729
|
|
11
|
HGTV
|
1042
|
TBSC
|
729
|
|
12
|
AMC
|
1037
|
TOON
|
729
|
|
13
|
LIF
|
991
|
FX
|
689
|
|
14
|
HIST
|
985
|
LIF
|
655
|
|
15
|
SPK
|
920
|
HIST
|
598
|
|
16
|
SYFY
|
919
|
TRU
|
587
|
|
17
|
TOON
|
911
|
HGTV
|
576
|
|
18
|
FOOD
|
843
|
SPK
|
560
|
|
19
|
TRU
|
843
|
FOOD
|
557
|
|
20
|
DISC
|
795
|
AMC
|
510
|
|
21
|
TLC
|
775
|
DISC
|
506
|
|
22
|
CMDY
|
673
|
TVLD
|
456
|
|
23
|
CNN
|
672
|
SYFY
|
449
|
|
24
|
BRAV
|
624
|
CNN
|
429
|
|
25
|
TVLD
|
580
|
CMDY
|
406
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank
|
Program |
Net
|
(000) |
|
1
|
Patriots/Saints
|
ESPN
|
14872
|
|
2
|
Monk
|
USA
|
6276
|
|
3
|
iCarly Movie: I Quit iCarly
|
NICK
|
5338
|
|
4
|
Sportscenter
|
ESPN
|
4422
|
|
5
|
College Football-Thursday Night
|
ESPN
|
4150
|
|
6
|
White Collar
|
USA
|
3849
|
|
7
|
iCarly
|
NICK
|
3718
|
|
8
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
3573
|
|
9
|
President's Address/Analysis
|
FOXN
|
3561
|
|
10
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
3508
|
|
11
|
Monk
|
USA
|
3414
|
|
12
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
3252
|
|
13
|
iCarly Movie: I Quit iCarly
|
NICK
|
3192
|
|
14
|
iCarly
|
NICK
|
3180
|
|
15
|
Monday Night Countdown
|
ESPN
|
3151
|
|
16
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
3143
|
|
17
|
Presidential Address
|
FOXN
|
3141
|
|
18
|
The O'Reilly Factor
|
FOXN
|
3127
|
|
19
|
Sons Of Anarchy
|
FX
|
3096
|
|
20
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
3055
|
|
21
|
iCarly
|
NICK
|
3049
|
|
22
|
The Penguins Of
Madagascar
|
NICK
|
3040
|
|
23
|
iCarly Movie: I Quit iCarly
|
NICK
|
3031
|
|
24
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
3003
|
|
25
|
iCarly
|
NICK
|
2969
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 18-34
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank |
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
ESPN
|
1150
|
ADSM*
|
485
|
|
2
|
USA
|
623
|
ESPN
|
457
|
|
3
|
TBSC
|
571
|
NICK
|
359
|
|
4
|
FAM
|
542
|
NAN
*
|
313
|
|
5
|
FX
|
542
|
TBSC
|
307
|
|
6
|
SPK
|
487
|
USA
|
281
|
|
7
|
AEN
|
389
|
FAM
|
268
|
|
8
|
MTV
|
357
|
TNT
|
256
|
|
9
|
CMDY
|
341
|
FX
|
248
|
|
10
|
TNT
|
341
|
SPK
|
238
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 18-34
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
Patriots/Saints
|
ESPN
|
5393
|
|
2
|
The Ultimate Fighter
|
SPK
|
1783
|
|
3
|
Sportscenter
|
ESPN
|
1724
|
|
4
|
Sons Of Anarchy
|
FX
|
1573
|
|
5
|
College Football-Thursday Night
|
ESPN
|
1331
|
|
6
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1327
|
|
7
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1289
|
|
8
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1259
|
|
9
|
The Ultimate Fighter
|
SPK
|
1234
|
|
10
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1203
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 18-49
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank |
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
ESPN
|
2315
|
ESPN
|
852
|
|
2
|
USA
|
1368
|
ADSM*
|
665
|
|
3
|
FX
|
1146
|
TNT
|
631
|
|
4
|
FAM
|
1075
|
USA
|
627
|
|
5
|
TBSC
|
962
|
NICK
|
589
|
|
6
|
AEN
|
896
|
NAN
*
|
572
|
|
7
|
TNT
|
867
|
TBSC
|
547
|
|
8
|
SPK
|
836
|
FX
|
516
|
|
9
|
AMC
|
675
|
FAM
|
503
|
|
10
|
SYFY
|
638
|
AEN
|
458
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 18-49
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
Patriots/Saints
|
ESPN
|
11196
|
|
2
|
Sportscenter
|
ESPN
|
3369
|
|
3
|
Monk
|
USA
|
3198
|
|
4
|
Sons Of Anarchy
|
FX
|
2985
|
|
5
|
The Ultimate Fighter
|
SPK
|
2757
|
|
6
|
College Football-Thursday Night
|
ESPN
|
2562
|
|
7
|
Monday Night Countdown
|
ESPN
|
2293
|
|
8
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
2212
|
|
9
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
2121
|
|
10
|
White Collar
|
USA
|
2119
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 25-54
Week Ending December 6 |
|
|
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Rank
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
ESPN
|
2322
|
ESPN
|
783
|
|
2
|
USA
|
1404
|
TNT
|
652
|
|
3
|
FX
|
1099
|
USA
|
647
|
|
4
|
FAM
|
974
|
NAN
*
|
518
|
|
5
|
AEN
|
957
|
TBSC
|
483
|
|
6
|
TNT
|
933
|
FX
|
477
|
|
7
|
TBSC
|
819
|
AEN
|
475
|
|
8
|
AMC
|
745
|
NICK
|
474
|
|
9
|
SPK
|
714
|
FAM
|
447
|
|
10
|
SYFY
|
687
|
ADSM*
|
445
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 25-54
Week Ending December 6 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
Patriots/Saints
|
ESPN
|
11249
|
|
2
|
Monk
|
USA
|
3739
|
|
3
|
Sportscenter
|
ESPN
|
3281
|
|
4
|
Sons Of Anarchy
|
FX
|
2767
|
|
5
|
College Football-Thursday Night
|
ESPN
|
2546
|
|
6
|
White Collar
|
USA
|
2254
|
|
7
|
Monday Night Countdown
|
ESPN
|
2220
|
|
8
|
The Ultimate Fighter
|
SPK
|
2196
|
|
9
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
2137
|
|
10
|
Steven Seagal: Lawman
|
AEN
|
2090
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
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© 2012 Media Life
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