Blame it on this summer’s new crop of reality shows, which are bombing. Blame it on the sagging reruns of aging network dramas.
The sitcom is making a modest comeback this summer.
Animated and live-action comedy repeats took eight of the top 25 spots among adults 18-49 last week, the week ended July 1, on the English-language broadcast networks, according to Nielsen data.
That’s compared with just two sitcoms finishing in the top 25 during the recently ended regular TV season, and that’s double the number of comedies that made the list the same week a year ago.
This comes at a time, moreover, in which the sitcom has been declared dead and buried. The networks have ordered the smallest number of new fall comedies in recent memory, just six. Among the returning broadcast comedies, only one improved during the regular season over the prior year.
The higher standing of comedies is due in large part to the poorer performance of dramas and reality this summer, but not entirely.
Some comedies are actually seeing higher ratings, and there are more comedy repeats airing.
“The Office,” for example, has been airing loads of repeats in the run up to the premiere of star Steve Carell’s new movie “Evan Almighty.” Not surprisingly, the show had two episodes in the top 25 last week compared to zero the same week last year, with ratings improvement of 25 to 30 percent.
Also, this year Fox has both “Simpsons” and “Family Guy” in the top 25, whereas last year the network knocked them off the schedule to air a movie.
As for dramas, it's no doubt been a dismal summer, having the dual effect of raising comedies' standings. Last week, just two dramas, NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and CBS’s “CSI: Miami,” made the top 10, and both rated a 2.7 or lower. That's compared to four drama reruns in the top 10 in 18-49s for the same week last year, all averaging a 2.9 or better.
Network dramas are suffering for various reasons. One is that so many of them, such as the “L&O” and “CSI” franchises, are now airing as reruns daily on cable, sometimes even competing directly with broadcast repeats.
But also cable this summer is airing a number of high-quality original dramas as alternatives, such as TNT’s “The Closer,” Lifetime’s “Army Wives,” FX’s “Rescue Me” and HBO’s “Big Love.”
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended July 1:
Among adults 18-49, Fox led with a 2.2 average rating and a 7 share, followed by NBC at 1.9/6, Univision at 1.7/5, CBS at 1.6/5, ABC at 1.5/5, CW at 0.7/2, Telefutura at 0.5/2, Telemundo at 0.4/1, MyNetworkTV at 0.3/1, Ion at 0.1/0 and Azteca at 0.0/0.
Among adults 18-34, Fox led with a 2.2 average rating and an 8 share, followed by Univision at 1.9/7, NBC at 1.6/6, ABC at 1.1/4, CBS at 0.9/3, CW at 0.7/2, Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.5/2, MyNetworkTV at 0.3/1, Ion at 0.1/0 and Azteca at 0.0/0.
Among adults 25-54, Fox led with a 2.2 average rating and a 7 share, followed by NBC and CBS at 2.2/6, ABC at 1.7/5, Univision at 1.5/5, CW at 0.7/2, Telefutura at 0.5/1, Telemundo at 0.4/1, MyNetworkTV at 0.3/1, Ion at 0.2/1 and Azteca at 0.0/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): Tie-1. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance -- Wednesday” 3.8; 3. Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” 3.6; 4. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance -- Thursday,” 3.4; 5. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance – 6/27” 3.3.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 11.51 million; 2. CBS’s “CSI” 9.91 million; Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance – Wednesday” 9.83 million; 4. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance -- Thursday” 9.39 million; 5. Fox’s “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” 9.32 million.
Bottom five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): Tie-98. CW’s “Hidden Palms,” “Hidden Palms – 6/27,” “The Game” and “Gilmore Girls” 0.5; Tie-102. CW’s “Supernatural – Sunday,” “Veronica Mars” and “7th Heaven” 0.4.
Bottom five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 100. CW’s “The Game” 1.35 million; 101. CW’s “Gilmore Girls” 1.04 million; 102. CW’s “7th Heaven” 0.98 million; Tie-103. CW’s “Supernatural -- Sunday” and “Veronica Mars” 0.82 million.
Show on the rise: “The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator,” ABC, Wednesday 8 p.m. During a slow TV week in which just about everything on broadcast was down versus the previous week, “Next Best Thing” posted a 2.2 rating among viewers 18-49, up 10 percent versus a 2.0 the week before.
Shows on the decline: “Standoff,” Fox, Friday 9 p.m. Fox’s already-canceled Friday night drama tumbled 27 percent among viewers 18-49 last week, posting a 0.8 rating in the demo compared to a 1.1 the previous week.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending July 1 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
4.6
|
5160
|
9
|
2.4
|
6830
|
7
|
1.6
|
2080
|
5
|
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4170
|
7
|
2.0
|
5670
|
6
|
1.9
|
2530
|
6
|
|
FOX
|
3.5
|
3890
|
6
|
2.0
|
5550
|
6
|
2.2
|
2820
|
7
|
|
ABC
|
3.0
|
3340
|
6
|
1.6
|
4480
|
5
|
1.5
|
1930
|
5
|
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2100
|
3
|
1.3
|
3720
|
4
|
1.7
|
2160
|
5
|
|
CW
|
1.1
|
1270
|
2
|
0.6
|
1760
|
2
|
0.7
|
890
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
660
|
1
|
0.4
|
1040
|
1
|
0.4
|
580
|
1
|
|
MNT
|
0.6
|
630
|
1
|
0.3
|
770
|
1
|
0.3
|
400
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
590
|
1
|
0.3
|
980
|
1
|
0.5
|
620
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.5
|
500
|
1
|
0.2
|
670
|
1
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
70
|
0
|
0.0
|
100
|
0
|
0.0
|
50
|
0
|
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending July 1 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.5
|
8350
|
12
|
4.2
|
11770
|
11
|
3.5
|
4510
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
6.0
|
6690
|
10
|
3.3
|
9280
|
9
|
3.3
|
4270
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
6.0
|
6710
|
10
|
3.5
|
9850
|
9
|
3.8
|
5010
|
11
|
|
NBC
|
5.5
|
6110
|
9
|
3.0
|
8440
|
8
|
2.9
|
3830
|
8
|
|
CW
|
2.0
|
2200
|
3
|
1.1
|
3040
|
3
|
1.2
|
1620
|
3
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2190
|
3
|
1.3
|
3620
|
3
|
1.6
|
2050
|
4
|
|
MNT
|
0.6
|
680
|
1
|
0.3
|
840
|
1
|
0.3
|
410
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
590
|
1
|
0.3
|
890
|
1
|
0.4
|
520
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
480
|
1
|
0.2
|
630
|
1
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
400
|
1
|
0.2
|
620
|
1
|
0.3
|
390
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
0.1
|
150
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 114
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending July 1 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT
|
NBC
|
7.2
|
13
|
8012
|
1
|
4.1
|
11514
|
|
2
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
6.6
|
11
|
7346
|
2
|
3.5
|
9913
|
|
3
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
6.2
|
11
|
6866
|
6
|
3.2
|
8947
|
|
4
|
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED
|
FOX
|
6.0
|
10
|
6646
|
2
|
3.5
|
9829
|
|
4
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
6.0
|
10
|
6685
|
6
|
3.2
|
9117
|
|
6
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
5.9
|
10
|
6576
|
8
|
3.1
|
8648
|
|
6
|
PRINCESS DIANA TRIBUTE(S)
|
NBC
|
5.9
|
11
|
6607
|
8
|
3.1
|
8818
|
|
6
|
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU
|
FOX
|
5.9
|
10
|
6534
|
4
|
3.3
|
9393
|
|
9
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
11
|
6484
|
11
|
3.0
|
8445
|
|
10
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
5.7
|
10
|
6377
|
12
|
2.9
|
8171
|
|
10
|
SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER
|
FOX
|
5.7
|
11
|
6341
|
4
|
3.3
|
9319
|
|
12
|
COLD CASE
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
10
|
6108
|
12
|
2.9
|
8327
|
|
13
|
SHARK
|
CBS
|
5.4
|
10
|
5993
|
14
|
2.7
|
7729
|
|
13
|
SO YOU THINK CN DNCE-6/27(S)
|
FOX
|
5.4
|
10
|
6029
|
8
|
3.1
|
8654
|
|
15
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
4.9
|
10
|
5424
|
15
|
2.6
|
7324
|
|
15
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
4.9
|
9
|
5435
|
15
|
2.6
|
7279
|
|
17
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
8
|
5367
|
20
|
2.5
|
7084
|
|
18
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
4.6
|
8
|
5138
|
22
|
2.3
|
6524
|
|
18
|
NEXT BEST THING, THE
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
8
|
5138
|
15
|
2.6
|
7234
|
|
20
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
4.5
|
7
|
5021
|
15
|
2.6
|
7426
|
|
21
|
48 HOURS MYSTERY
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
9
|
4946
|
26
|
2.2
|
6156
|
|
21
|
CBS SATURDAY MOVIE-SP(S)
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
9
|
4884
|
22
|
2.3
|
6414
|
|
21
|
NUMB3RS
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
8
|
4887
|
21
|
2.4
|
6756
|
|
21
|
OLD CHRISTINE
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
8
|
4913
|
22
|
2.3
|
6505
|
|
25
|
48 HOURS MYSTERY TUESDAY
|
CBS
|
4.3
|
7
|
4755
|
26
|
2.2
|
6205
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending July 1 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT
|
NBC
|
3.8
|
4965
|
|
1
|
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED
|
FOX
|
3.8
|
4990
|
|
3
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
3.6
|
4742
|
|
4
|
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU
|
FOX
|
3.4
|
4474
|
|
5
|
SO YOU THINK CN DNCE-6/27(S)
|
FOX
|
3.3
|
4345
|
|
6
|
FEA MAS BELLA MON
|
UNI
|
3.2
|
4158
|
|
7
|
SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER
|
FOX
|
3.0
|
3916
|
|
8
|
COPA AMERICA 2007 04 UNI(S)
|
UNI
|
2.7
|
3582
|
|
8
|
CRISTINA-MON
|
UNI
|
2.7
|
3484
|
|
8
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
2.7
|
3557
|
|
8
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
2.7
|
3527
|
|
8
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
2.7
|
3489
|
|
13
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
2.6
|
3391
|
|
14
|
COPA AMERICA 2007 10 UNI(S)
|
UNI
|
2.5
|
3299
|
|
14
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
2.5
|
3286
|
|
14
|
LAST COMIC STANDING 5
|
NBC
|
2.5
|
3282
|
|
17
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
2.4
|
3112
|
|
18
|
AGE OF LOVE
|
NBC
|
2.3
|
2985
|
|
18
|
AMERICAN INVENTOR
|
ABC
|
2.3
|
3035
|
|
18
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
2.3
|
3042
|
|
18
|
OFFICE 6/28-B(S)
|
NBC
|
2.3
|
2965
|
|
22
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
2.2
|
2935
|
|
22
|
FAMILY GUY SP-6/25 8:30P(S)
|
FOX
|
2.2
|
2820
|
|
22
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
2.2
|
2823
|
|
22
|
MY NAME IS EARL
|
NBC
|
2.2
|
2828
|
|
22
|
NEXT BEST THING, THE
|
ABC
|
2.2
|
2933
|
|
22
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
2.2
|
2880
|
|
22
|
PRINCESS DIANA TRIBUTE(S)
|
NBC
|
2.2
|
2830
|
|
22
|
SCIENCE OF LOVE(S)
|
NBC
|
2.2
|
2894
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending July 1 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
FEA MAS BELLA M-F
|
UNI
|
28.5
|
6712
|
|
2
|
CRISTINA-MON
|
UNI
|
24.6
|
5250
|
|
3
|
COPA AMERICA 2007 04 UNI(S)-06/27/2007
|
UNI
|
22.3
|
4826
|
|
4
|
FEA MAS BELLA 6/25(S)-06/25/2007
|
UNI
|
19.7
|
4565
|
|
5
|
DESTILANDO AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
17.0
|
3685
|
|
6
|
DUELO DE PASIONES M-F
|
UNI
|
15.0
|
3042
|
|
7
|
AQUI Y AHORA-THU
|
UNI
|
13.5
|
2769
|
|
8
|
YO AMO JUAN QUERENDON M-F
|
UNI
|
13.2
|
2805
|
|
9
|
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP FRI
|
UNI
|
12.6
|
2591
|
|
9
|
VER
PARA CREER-TUE
|
UNI
|
12.6
|
2781
|
|
11
|
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT
|
UNI
|
11.3
|
1945
|
|
12
|
PRIMER IMP E C AME 1 6/27(S)-06/27/2007
|
UNI
|
10.3
|
1851
|
|
12
|
COPA AMERICA 2007 06 TF(S)-06/28/2007
|
TF
|
10.3
|
2163
|
|
14
|
BUSCANDO TIMBIRICHE SUN
|
UNI
|
9.8
|
2128
|
|
15
|
MARINA M-F
|
TEL
|
7.6
|
1429
|
|
16
|
ZORRO M-F
|
TEL
|
6.7
|
1261
|
|
17
|
MARINA
FINALE RR 6/29(S)-06/29/2007
|
TEL
|
6.4
|
1464
|
|
18
|
TODOS JUAN QUERENDON 6/30(S)-06/30/2007
|
UNI
|
6.0
|
1139
|
|
19
|
ESCLAVA ISAURA M-F
|
TEL
|
5.8
|
1016
|
|
20
|
COPA AMERICA 2007 02 TF(S)-06/26/2007
|
TF
|
5.7
|
977
|
|
20
|
DAME CHOCOLATE M-F
|
TEL
|
5.7
|
1002
|
|
22
|
CONTACTO ESPECIAL 6/28(S)-06/28/2007
|
TF
|
5.5
|
966
|
|
23
|
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN
|
TF
|
5.0
|
990
|
|
24
|
COPA
AMERICA:INAUG 6/26(S)-06/26/2007
|
TF
|
4.3
|
768
|
|
25
|
CONTACTO ESPECIAL 6/26(S)-06/26/2007
|
TF
|
4.2
|
608
|
|
1
|
FEA MAS BELLA M-F
|
UNI
|
28.5
|
6712
|
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending July 1 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
