It wasn’t a disaster and it wasn’t a home run. The debut of ABC’s much-anticipated new sitcom “Cavemen” last night drew solid numbers, though it will take a few weeks to see if they hold up.
“Cavemen,” based on the series of Geico ads, averaged a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, tying for first in its 8 p.m. timeslot with CBS’s “NCIS.”
The critically maligned series also won its slot among adults 18-34 with a 2.7, as did lead-out “Carpoolers,” another new sitcom that tied with “Bones” at 8:30 with a 2.9.
Among 18-49s, “Carpoolers” averaged a 3.4 rating, which ABC was particularly pleased with. That show led into the results edition of “Dancing with the Stars,” likely giving it a boost.
Media people expected “Cavemen” would draw strong initial sampling because of all the buzz over the series. Thus, the decent debut ratings don’t guarantee the shows will hold up in the coming weeks, though it is a timeslot without a really dominant show in 18-49s.
Elsewhere last night, Fox’s “House” bested “Stars” among total viewers at 9 p.m., with 17.3 million to the latter’s 15.7 million. Last week the two shows shared the timeslot for only a half hour, as “Stars” began at 8 p.m.
CBS’s “Cane” declined in week two, dipping 14 percent from a 2.9 rating to a 2.5. Among total viewers, it slipped 17 percent, from 11.1 million to 9.2 million.
The second week of the critically acclaimed CW series “Reaper” was also down 11 percent from its premiere among its target 18-34s, from a 1.8 to a 1.6, though it built on its “Beauty and the Geek” lead-in in virtually all demographics and held most of last week’s audience among young men and teens.
Fox finished first for the night among viewers 18-49 with a 5.0 average overnight rating and a 13 share. ABC was second at 3.6/9, NBC third at 3.5/9, CBS fourth at 3.1/8, and Univision and CW tied for fifth at 1.3/3.
CBS led the 8 p.m. hour with a 3.6 for “NCIS,” with ABC second with a 3.3 average for “Cavemen” (3.3) and “Carpoolers” (3.4). Fox was third with a 2.9 for “Bones,” NBC fourth with a 2.6 for the fall premiere of “The Singing Bee” (2.3) and the first half hour of “The Biggest Loser,” CW fifth with a 1.3 for “Beauty and the Geek” and Univision sixth with a 1.1 for “Amar sin Limites.”
Fox took over at 9 p.m. with a 7.1 for “House,” followed by ABC with a 4.3 for its “Stars” results show. NBC was third with a 3.4 for its last hour of “The Biggest Loser,” CBS fourth with a 3.2 for “The Unit,” Univision fifth with a 1.9 for “Destilando Amor” and CW sixth with a 1.3 for “Reaper.”
At 10 p.m. NBC was first with a 4.5 rating for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” ABC was second with a 3.1 for “Boston Legal,” CBS third with a 2.5 for “Cane” and Univision fourth with a 0.9 for “S.O.S. Sexo y Otros Secretos.”
Among households, ABC led the night with a 7.9 average overnight rating and a 13 share, with Fox and CBS tied for second at 7.7/12. NBC was fourth at 5.6/9 and Univision and CW tied for fifth at 1.8/3.
