Overnights
ABC's 'High School' sinks even further
By Toni Fitzgerald
Jul 22, 2008 - 11:56:31 AM

“High School Musical: Get in the Picture” may be out of the picture if these numbers continue. The second episode of ABC’s new reality show sank even further after a dismal premiere on Sunday.

“Picture” averaged a 0.9 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, placing fifth in the timeslot and drawing a mere 3.2 million total viewers. It slipped 18 percent from Sunday’s 1.1 premiere in 18-49s and lost 20 percent of its 4 million total viewers.

Even among kids 2-11, where it dominated its timeslot Sunday, the show plunged. “Picture” averaged a 0.7 in the demo last night, less than half of its debut rating, and finished well behind Univision and Fox in the 8 p.m. hour.

Viewers apparently weren’t keen on the reality show’s premise or the lack of stars from the Disney Channel smash films “HSM” and “HSM 2.” The show follows auditioners ages 16-22 competing for, among other things, a spot in the video that will be shown during the theatrical release of “HSM 3” this fall.

How much longer “Picture” will last becomes the next big question. The show pulled down ABC’s entire Monday schedule, which averaged a mere 1.1, including the debut of the new game show “Wanna Bet.”

Meanwhile, Fox and CBS tied for first for the night among viewers 18-49, each with a 2.2 average overnight rating and a 7 share. NBC and Univision tied for third at 1.7/5, with ABC fifth at 1.1/3 and CW sixth at 0.5/2.
 
At 8 p.m. CBS was first with a 1.9 average for repeats of “The Big Bang Theory” and “How I Met Your Mother,” while NBC and Univision tied for second at 1.8, NBC for “American Gladiators” and Univision for “Al Diablo con los Guapos.” Fox was fourth with a 1.7 for a repeat of “Bones,” ABC fifth with a 0.9 for “Picture” and CW sixth with a 0.6 for a “Gossip Girl” rerun.
 
At 9 p.m. Fox and CBS tied for first at 2.7, Fox for a repeat of “House” and CBS for repeats of “Two and a Half Men” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” Univision was third with a 1.8 for “Fuego en la Sangre,” NBC fourth with a 1.6 for “Nashville Star,” ABC fifth with a 1.1 for “Bet” and CW sixth with a 0.5 for a repeat of “One Tree Hill.”
 
CBS led at 10 p.m. with a 2.1 for a repeat of “CSI: Miami,” followed by NBC with a 1.6 for “Dateline.” ABC and Univision tied for third that hour at 1.4, ABC for “The Mole” and Univision for “Cristina.”
 
Among households, CBS finished first for the night with a 5.1 average overnight rating and a 9 share. Fox was second at 4.7/8, NBC third at 3.2/6, ABC fourth at 2.1/4, Univision fifth at 2.0/3 and CW sixth at 0.9/1.