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Younger viewers

'Fear Factor's' last
loyal audience: tots


A goner, yanked by NBC, but adored by 2-11s

Jul 28, 2006

The pace at which NBC gross-out reality show “Fear Factor” went from hit to miss was staggering. Ratings began to wilt in the 2004-’05 season and got so bad after the longtime Monday show switched to Tuesdays this year that NBC yanked it.

Now “Factor,” a top 20 show just two years ago, has been relegated to summer burnoff. NBC is running the handful of leftovers from its abbreviated regular season, having already canceled the show.

But there is one bright spot in an otherwise depressing farewell, and that’s the show’s continued strength among kids 2-11. It’s the only demo where viewers are still tuning in in any significant numbers.

Last week “Factor,” which airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m., finished No. 1 among English-language broadcast networks in its timeslot with a 1.4 rating among 2-11s. It was the highest-rated show of the night in that demo, bettering original episodes of CBS’s “Big Brother,” NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and ABC’s “The One: Making a Music Star.”

Among 8 p.m. Big Four shows for the entire week, “Factor” ranked sixth.

By comparison, “Fear” finished third in its timeslot among 18-49s last week and didn’t make the top 10 among 8 p.m. shows.

Why has the show remained popular with kids and not adults? Several reasons. First, and likely most significant, is “Fear’s” repetitive nature. That plays well to kids but not adults, as any parent who’s ever endured 30 straight games of Candyland can attest.

Though the contestants on the show vary a bit each week, between well-toned blondes or well-toned brunettes, little else does. There’s usually a physical stunt, an eating stunt and an over-the-top car or underwater stunt, which air between host Joe Rogan flirting with the guests.

Also, adults may simply have lost the desire to be grossed out. There are only so many pig bladder-eating contests any sane adult can tolerate, but kids, with their appetite for all things disgusting, still can’t get enough.

Finally, adults may simply have migrated to other shows in a timeslot where kids have fewer choices. CBS’s timeslot competitor “NCIS” had a strong season, as did the WB’s “Gilmore Girls.” But the only other program that has any appeal to kids in the slot is Univision’s “La Fe Mas Bella,” the network’s highest-rated telenovela.

Meanwhile, in broadcast and basic cable ratings for younger viewers for the week ended July 23:

Among teens 12-17: Fox was first at 1.6, trailed by NBC in second with a 1.0 and Univision, ABC and UPN all tied at third with a 0.9, followed CBS at 0.8, WB at 0.5, and Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.1.

Among kids 2-11: Fox led with a 1.2, followed by Univision at 1.0, NBC at 0.9, ABC and UPN at 0.8, CBS at 0.7, WB at 0.5, and Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.2.

The top five shows among 9-14s: 1. "Drake & Josh" (Nickelodeon, Thursday 5:30 p.m.); 2. "Jimmy Timmy Power Hour" (Nickelodeon, Saturday 8:00 p.m.); 3. "FOP Movie Channel Chasers" (Nickelodeon, Monday 4:00 p.m.) 4. "Jimmy Timmy Power Hour" (Nickelodeon, Friday 8:00 p.m.); 5. "Ned Declassified" (Nickelodeon, Monday 6 p.m.)

The top five shows among 12-17s: 1. "Family Guy" (Fox, Sunday 9:00 p.m.); 2. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Nickelodeon, Monday 1:00 p.m.); 3. "WWE Entertainment" (USA, Monday 10 p.m.); 4. "Family Guy" (Adult Swim, Wednesday 11:30 p.m.); 5. "Pimp My Ride" (MTV, Thursday 10:00 p.m.)

The top five shows among 12-24s: 1. "Family Guy" (Fox, Sunday 9 p.m.); 2. "American Dad" (Fox, Sunday 8:30 p.m.); 3. "The Simpsons" (Fox, Sunday 8:00 p.m.); 4. "RW/RR Fresh Meat" (MTV, Monday 10:00 p.m.); 5. "So You Think You Can Dance" (Fox, Wednesday 9 p.m.)

Cable shows making the top 10 among 18-24s: 5. "RW/RR Fresh Meat" (MTV, Monday 10 p.m.); 6. "Real World XVII" (MTV, Tuesday 10 p.m.); 9. "The Hills" (MTV, Wednesday 10 p.m.)

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-49
Week Ended July23, 2006

 

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED

FOX

3.8

4.92

2

HELL'S KITCHEN

FOX

3.5

4.50

3

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU

FOX

3.4

4.40

4

SO YOU THINK-WED 8P

FOX

3.3

4.23

5

LAST COMIC STANDING 4

NBC

3.2

4.18

6

MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.(S)-07/23/2006

NBC

3.2

4.13

7

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

3.1

4.07

8

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

NBC

3.1

3.99

9

HOUSE

FOX

3.1

3.98

10

FAMILY GUY

FOX

2.9

3.79

11

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

2.9

3.76

12

ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA-TUE

CBS

2.8

3.60

13

SIMPSONS

FOX

2.7

3.48

14

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 930

CBS

2.6

3.42

15

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-THU

NBC

2.6

3.41

16

CSI

CBS

2.6

3.37

17

BIG BROTHER 7-TUE

CBS

2.6

3.36

18

BIG BROTHER 7-THU

CBS

2.5

3.30

19

CSI: NY

CBS

2.5

3.28

20

HOUSE-TUE 8P

FOX

2.5

3.27

21

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

2.5

3.25

22

48 HOURS MYSTERY TUESDAY

CBS

2.5

3.18

23

AMERICAN DAD-SUN 8:30P

FOX

2.4

3.13

24

NEXTEL CUP RACING/POCONO

TNT

2.4

3.06

25

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

2.3

3.04

26

BIG BROTHER 7-SUN

CBS

2.3

3.04

27

SUPERNANNY

ABC

2.3

3.03

28

KING OF QUEENS

CBS

2.3

3.02

29

PRIMETIME

ABC

2.3

2.99

30

SUPERNANNY SPECIAL-7/17(S)-07/17/2006

ABC

2.3

2.99

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-34
Week Ended July 23, 2006

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED

FOX

4.1

2.73

2

FAMILY GUY

FOX

3.8

2.53

3

HELL'S KITCHEN

FOX

3.5

2.30

4

SO YOU THINK-WED 8P

FOX

3.5

2.28

5

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU

FOX

3.4

2.28

6

SIMPSONS

FOX

3.1

2.06

7

AMERICAN DAD-SUN 8:30P

FOX

3.0

1.98

8

LAST COMIC STANDING 4

NBC

3.0

1.98

9

MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.(S)-07/23/2006

NBC

3.0

1.98

10

HOUSE

FOX

2.8

1.85

11

FEA MAS BELLA WED

UNI

2.7

1.77

12

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

NBC

2.7

1.75

13

RW/RR FRESH MEAT

MTV

2.6

1.72

14

WAR AT HOME-SUN 9:30P

FOX

2.6

1.70

15

FEA MAS BELLA TUE

UNI

2.6

1.69

16

FEA MAS BELLA THU

UNI

2.4

1.60

17

HOUSE-TUE 8P

FOX

2.4

1.60

18

ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA-TUE

CBS

2.4

1.55

19

BIG BROTHER 7-TUE

CBS

2.3

1.51

20

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

2.3

1.49

21

BIG BROTHER 7-THU

CBS

2.2

1.45

22

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

2.2

1.43

23

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-THU

NBC

2.2

1.42

24

FEA MAS BELLA MON

UNI

2.1

1.40

25

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 930

CBS

2.1

1.37

26

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

2.1

1.37

27

HILLS, THE

MTV

2.0

1.34

28

REAL WORLD XVII

MTV

2.0

1.32

29

SUPERNANNY SPECIAL-7/17(S)-07/17/2006

ABC

2.0

1.31

30

FEA MAS BELLA FRI

UNI

2.0

1.31

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-24
Week Ended July 23, 2006

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

FAMILY GUY

FOX

3.9

1.10

2

SIMPSONS

FOX

3.3

0.93

3

AMERICAN DAD-SUN 8:30P

FOX

3.3

0.93

4

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED

FOX

3.2

0.89

5

RW/RR FRESH MEAT

MTV

3.0

0.85

6

REAL WORLD XVII

MTV

2.9

0.80

7

SO YOU THINK-WED 8P

FOX

2.7

0.76

8

HILLS, THE

MTV

2.7

0.76

9

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU

FOX

2.7

0.74

10

FEA MAS BELLA WED

UNI

2.6

0.73

11

WAR AT HOME-SUN 9:30P

FOX

2.6

0.73

12

MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.(S)-07/23/2006

NBC

2.6

0.72

13

HOUSE

FOX

2.5

0.70

14

HELL'S KITCHEN

FOX

2.4

0.68

15

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEEN

MTV

2.3

0.63

16

FEA MAS BELLA THU

UNI

2.2

0.61

17

FEA MAS BELLA TUE

UNI

2.2

0.61

18

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

2.1

0.60

19

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

NBC

2.1

0.58

20

FEA MAS BELLA FRI

UNI

2.0

0.56

21

HOUSE-TUE 8P

FOX

2.0

0.56

22

CHEYENNE

MTV

2.0

0.56

23

LAST COMIC STANDING 4

NBC

1.9

0.54

24

MAKING THE BAND 3

MTV

1.9

0.54

25

FAMILY GUY

TBSC

1.9

0.52

26

JESSICA SIMPSON VIDEO

MTV

1.8

0.52

27

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

1.7

0.48

28

RUNS HOUSE

MTV

1.7

0.48

29

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

1.7

0.48

30

FEA MAS BELLA MON

UNI

1.7

0.47

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
People 12-24
Week Ended July 23, 2006

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

FAMILY GUY

FOX

3.5

1.86

2

AMERICAN DAD-SUN 8:30P

FOX

3.0

1.60

3

SIMPSONS

FOX

2.9

1.53

4

RW/RR FRESH MEAT

MTV

2.9

1.52

5

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED

FOX

2.8

1.47

6

HILLS, THE

MTV

2.7

1.44

7

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU

FOX

2.7

1.42

8

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

2.6

1.35

9

REAL WORLD XVII

MTV

2.5

1.32

10

WAR AT HOME-SUN 9:30P

FOX

2.4

1.27

11

MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.(S)-07/23/2006

NBC

2.4

1.24

12

PIMP MY RIDE

MTV

2.3

1.19

13

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEEN

MTV

2.3

1.18

14

SO YOU THINK-WED 8P

FOX

2.2

1.18

15

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.2

1.17

16

CHEYENNE

MTV

2.2

1.15

17

JESSICA SIMPSON VIDEO

MTV

2.2

1.15

18

HOUSE

FOX

2.2

1.14

19

HELL'S KITCHEN

FOX

2.2

1.14

20

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.2

1.13

21

FEA MAS BELLA WED

UNI

2.1

1.10

22

MAKING THE BAND 3

MTV

2.1

1.09

23

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

NBC

2.0

1.07

24

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

2.0

1.05

25

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

1.9

1.02

26

FEA MAS BELLA THU

UNI

1.9

1.02

27

RUNS HOUSE

MTV

1.9

1.00

28

FEA MAS BELLA TUE

UNI

1.9

1.00

29

FAMILY GUY

WB

1.9

0.99

30

FAMILY GUY

TBSC

1.8

0.95

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Teens 12-17
Week Ended July 23, 2006

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

FAMILY GUY

FOX

3.1

0.76

2

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.1

0.75

3

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

3.0

0.75

4

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

3.0

0.74

5

PIMP MY RIDE

MTV

3.0

0.74

6

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU

FOX

2.8

0.68

7

RW/RR FRESH MEAT

MTV

2.7

0.68

8

HILLS, THE

MTV

2.7

0.68

9

AMERICAN DAD-SUN 8:30P

FOX

2.7

0.67

10

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

2.7

0.67

11

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

2.7

0.66

12

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

2.6

0.65

13

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.6

0.65

14

FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR

NAN

2.6

0.64

15

JESSICA SIMPSON VIDEO

MTV

2.6

0.63

16

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

2.6

0.63

17

SPONGEBOB

NICK

2.5

0.63

18

FOP MOVIE CHANNEL CHASERS

NICK

2.5

0.62

19

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.5

0.62

20

SIMPSONS

FOX

2.4

0.60

21

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

2.4

0.60

22

RW/RR FRESH MEAT

MTV

2.4

0.60

23

CHEYENNE

MTV

2.4

0.59

24

FAMILY GUY

ADSM

2.4

0.59

25

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

2.4

0.58

26

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEEN

MTV

2.3

0.58

27

SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED

FOX

2.3

0.57

28

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

2.3

0.57

29

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

2.3

0.57

30

FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR

NAN

2.3

0.56

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Kids 9-14
Week Ended July 23, 2006

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.7

1.15

2

S JIMMY TIMMY POWERHOUR3

NICK

4.6

1.14

3

FOP MOVIE CHANNEL CHASERS

NICK

4.5

1.11

4

S JIMMY TIMMY POWERHOUR3

NICK

4.5

1.11

5

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

4.4

1.07

6

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.4

1.07

7

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.3

1.07

8

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

4.3

1.07

9

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.3

1.05

10

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.0

0.98

10

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.9

0.97

12

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.8

0.94

13

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.8

0.94

14

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.8

0.93

15

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

3.8

0.93

16

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

3.8

0.93

16

S JIMMY TIMMY POWERHOUR3

NICK

3.8

0.92

18

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

3.7

0.92

19

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

3.7

0.92

20

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.7

0.91

21

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.7

0.90

22

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.7

0.90

23

DRAKE & JOSH MOVIE

NICK

3.7

0.90

24

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

3.6

0.89

25

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

3.6

0.89

26

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.6

0.89

27

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.6

0.88

28

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

USA

3.5

0.87

29

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.5

0.86

30

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

3.4

0.85

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Kids 2-11
Week Ended July 23, 2006

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

S JIMMY TIMMY POWERHOUR3

NICK

5.8

2.33

2

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.8

2.30

3

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.7

2.28

4

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.6

2.24

5

FOP MOVIE CHANNEL CHASERS

NICK

5.6

2.23

6

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.5

2.21

7

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.5

2.19

8

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.3

2.13

9

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

5.3

2.13

10

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.3

2.12

11

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.2

2.09

12

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.2

2.09

13

S JIMMY TIMMY POWERHOUR3

NICK

5.2

2.08

14

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.1

2.04

15

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.0

1.98

16

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.8

1.93

17

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.8

1.91

18

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.7

1.89

19

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.7

1.89

20

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

4.7

1.89

21

FOP MOVIE SCHOOLS OUT

NICK

4.6

1.84

22

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

4.6

1.84

23

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.6

1.83

24

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

4.6

1.83

25

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

4.6

1.83

26

DANNY PHANTOM

NICK

4.5

1.81

26

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.5

1.80

28

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.5

1.79

29

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

4.5

1.79

30

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.5

1.78

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 



Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.