A few months ago, it looked as though “ER” was going through a twilight resurgence of sorts. Ratings were up over the previous year, and NBC backtracked on an earlier decision to shelve the 13-year-old show at midseason in favor of a fresh drama.
But with two weeks left in February sweeps, it now seems that the resurgence was merely temporary. Over the last two weeks, “ER” has dropped to season-low and near series-low ratings.
“Media buyers are once again voicing concerns about the show's health, and it feels like this discussion is going to have an impact on ‘ER's’ attractiveness during the next upfronts,” one veteran media buyer tells Media Life.
Tonight’s 10 p.m. episode addresses a moral dilemma Gates and Kovac face while treating a liver patient.
While even a weakened “ER” still outdraws most of NBC’s shows, the ratings decline is not encouraging. Last week’s episode averaged a 4.8, down 16 percent from its season-to-date 5.7 average for originals and 21 percent from last year’s 6.1 average on the same night.
Meanwhile, ratings for the competing “Men in Trees” on ABC and CBS’s “Shark” were both up last week, and the latter beat “ER” in total viewers.
Certainly better competition may explain the show’s recent decline. Last fall, when "ER's" ratings were healthier, “Shark” was not as strong in 18-49s and ABC’s “Six Degrees” was bombing.
But it’s also likely been hurt by its lead-in, the low-rated sitcom “30 Rock.” That show is averaging just a 2.8 rating, down a considerable 22 percent from a 3.6 for “Deal or No Deal,” its lead-in last fall.
Another factor may be the departure of longtime cast member Laura Innes (Kerry Weaver) who left at midseason after more than a decade on the show.
With NBC still rebuilding and its once-promising freshman drama “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” looking unlikely to return, “ER” may return for a 14th season; it remains a top 20 show. Whether it can remain one next year looks less and less clear.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws |
|
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
7 a.m. |
ABC |
"Good Morning America" (N) |
Amber Frey and author Joe Hill both guest. |
|
8 p.m. |
ABC |
"Ugly Betty" (D) |
Lucy Liu and Jerry O'Connell both guest star. |
|
8:30 p.m. |
NBC |
"The Office" (C) |
Michael speaks at Ryan's business school, and we're guessing some discomfort ensues. |
|
8 p.m. |
TNT |
"NBA Basketball" (S) |
Texas rivalry game between Dallas and Houston. |
|
9 p.m. |
CBS |
"CSI" (D) |
Grissom finds a mini crime scene in a package mailed to him. |
|
9 p.m. |
NBC |
"Scrubs" (C) |
Under stress, JD comes down with a condition where he blacks out. |
|
10 p.m. |
ABC |
"Men in Trees" (D) |
Annie introduces Patrick to her parents and Jane to her brother. |
|
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
7 a.m. |
NBC |
"Today" (N) |
Country star Keith Urban performs. |
|
7 p.m. |
ESPN |
"NBA All-Star Celebrity Game" (S) |
The likes of Jamie Foxx, Bobby Flay and Taye Diggs compete on the hardwood. |
|
8 p.m. |
CBS |
"Ghost Whisperer" (D) |
A jewelry store employee dies during a robbery, so his spirit goes to Melinda for help. |
|
9 p.m. |
Fox |
"Trading Spouses" (R) |
A rock singer trades places with a mom who's underappreciated. Aren't they all? |
|
9 p.m. |
ESPN |
"NBA Basketball" (S) |
The league's best rookies take on the All-Star sophomore squad in Las Vegas. |
|
10 p.m. |
CBS |
"Numb3rs"(D) |
An ultimate fighter dies while sparring, and it initially appears he was drugged. |
|
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
Noon |
ESPN |
"College Basketball" (S) |
Big East rivals Georgetown and Villanova square off. |
|
3 p.m. |
CBS |
"PGA Golf" (S) |
Third round coverage of the Nissan Open from Riviera Country Club. |
|
4 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
"College Basketball" (S) |
Two tough mid-majors, Southern Illinois and Butler, do battle. |
|
8:30 p.m. |
TNT |
"NBA All-Star Sunday Night" (S) |
The annual NBA lovefest, including the now watered-down slam dunk contest. Watch it for the all-star judges. |
|
9 p.m. |
Fox |
"America's Most Wanted" (R) |
Tonight's episode focuses on sex-abuse cases. |
|
9:45 p.m. |
HBO |
"Boxing" (S) |
Paulie Malignaggi take on Edner Cherry in NYC. |
|
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
1 p.m. |
CBS |
"College Basketball" (S) |
Regional coverage: Either Ohio State-Minnesota or Duke-Georgia Tech. |
|
2 p.m. |
Fox |
"NASCAR Racing" (S) |
The sport's biggest event, the Daytona 500. |
|
3 p.m. |
CBS |
"PGA Golf"(S) |
Final round of the Nissan Open, won last year by Rory Sabbatini. |
|
8 p.m. |
ABC |
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (R) |
The crew saves a family with six children from foreclosure. |
|
8 p.m. |
CBS |
"The Amazing Race: All-Stars" (R) |
Eleven teams of two race for a $1 million grand prize, and one of them is Rob and Amber. |
|
8:30 p.m. |
TNT |
"NBA Basketball" (S) |
The NBA All-Star game from Las Vegas, the first time it's been played in a non-NBA city. |
|
9 p.m. |
ABC |
"Desperate Housewives" (D) |
It’s sweeps, so marriage proposals and medical emergencies abound. |
|
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show. |
