|
|
New worry for
'Arrested Development'
Scratched for May sweeps, not a very good sign
By Toni Fitzgerald
For the second straight year,
there’s a rather glaring absence on Fox’s May sweeps schedule.
The critically beloved and Emmy-winning sitcom “Arrested
Development” had its order cut last month and will sit out the
sweeps.
It’s never a good sign when a show is yanked for any sweeps
period. But for “Development,” which was a somewhat surprise
renewal last year after only lukewarm ratings, it raises an
important question: How long can Fox keep supporting this show when
viewers aren’t?
Thus far this season, “Development” has averaged a
2.9 adults 18-49 rating in the 8:30 p.m. Sunday timeslot, up 7
percent over last season’s 2.7 when it aired mainly at 9:30 with
weaker lead-in “Malcolm in the Middle.” The show has averaged
6.0 million viewers, down slightly from last season’s 6.2 million
viewers.
Sunday’s original episode averaged a 2.8 rating, losing 30
percent of its “Simpsons” rerun lead-in.
These are not great numbers. It’s about what NBC’s
disastrous “Father of the Pride” averaged during its brief run,
and that show has been gone for months.
What there is of a fan base is rabid. Fox spokesman
Scott Grogin says that “Arrested Development” and “24,”
another show that needed two seasons before it took off, receive
more fan mail than the network’s other scripted shows. An online
petition (www.petitiononline.com/Arrested/petition.html) to
save the show has more than 31,000 signatures.
Yet while Fox waits patiently, “Arrested” is
hogging what used to be a prime spot on the network’s schedule,
the post-“Simpsons” slot. “Arrested” is not holding much of
“The Simpsons’” 4.9 average rating among 18-49s.
Fox is already trying to revamp the night, bringing in
“Family Guy” and “American Dad” for May sweeps, when “Simpsons”
reruns will fill the “Arrested” time slot.
Should Fox decide on even more of a change for next
season, “Arrested” could well be gone.
At the same time, while Sundays are no longer as strong
as they once were, "Arrested" is not hurting Fox's bottom
line. The "American Idol"-fueled network should finish
first for the season among 18-49s, and that means it can perhaps
afford to coddle underperforming critical hits.
Most likely, Fox will give the show one more shot, perhaps on
another night and with a small order. It doesn’t want to lose the
sitcom’s award-bait cachet. “Arrested” was the only Fox show
besides “24” to get major Emmy or Golden Globe attention in the
past 18 months, when it became the least-viewed show ever to win the
Best Sitcom Emmy.
There's no decision yet on whether “Arrested”
will be back next season. Fox entertainment president Gail Berman
has been a big booster of the show, but no one can say the network
hasn’t given it a fair shot.
If a limited order for next season doesn’t result in
a ratings boost, “Arrested” will be gone and fans of quality
television will weep.
In other ratings news last week, Fox finished first
among adults 18-49 for the seventh straight week, averaging a 4.8
rating, boosting the network into sole possession of No. 1 for the
season at 4.1. CBS was second for the week at 3.7, NBC third at 3.4,
ABC fourth at 3.2, UPN fifth at 1.2 and the WB sixth at 1.1. Fox was
also tops among 18-34s and 25-54s.
The premiere of ABC’s “Blind Justice” Tuesday averaged
a 4.5 rating, up 32 percent over the network’s season-to-date
average in the 10 p.m. timeslot.
In the same slot, NBC’s “Law & Order: Special
Victims Unit” posted its best 18-49 average in eight weeks, a 5.8.
Wednesday’s and Tuesday’s “American Idol” were
the top-rated shows among 18-49s for the week, both with an 11.7
average. “CSI” finished first among total viewers, outdrawing
Tuesday’s “Idol” by nearly 2 million.
|
PRIMETIME
AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 13 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults
18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.1 |
8850 |
13 |
4.5 |
12530 |
11 |
3.7 |
4820 |
10 |
|
FOX |
6.7 |
7380 |
11 |
4.0 |
11120 |
10 |
4.8 |
6220 |
13 |
|
NBC |
6.4 |
7030 |
10 |
3.4 |
9570 |
9 |
3.4 |
4430 |
9 |
|
ABC |
5.5 |
6070 |
9 |
3.1 |
8500 |
8 |
3.2 |
4170 |
9 |
|
UPN |
2.0 |
2240 |
3 |
1.1 |
3010 |
3 |
1.2 |
1570 |
3 |
|
WB |
1.8 |
1920 |
3 |
0.9 |
2580 |
2 |
1.1 |
1390 |
3 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
430 |
1 |
0.2 |
580 |
1 |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is
equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SEASON-TO-DATE
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 13 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults
18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.3 |
9130 |
13 |
4.6 |
12850 |
12 |
4.0 |
5190 |
11 |
|
ABC |
6.7 |
7380 |
11 |
3.8 |
10450 |
10 |
3.9 |
5040 |
10 |
|
NBC |
6.7 |
7360 |
11 |
3.6 |
10120 |
9 |
3.7 |
4790 |
10 |
|
FOX |
6.1 |
6710 |
10 |
3.6 |
10020 |
9 |
4.1 |
5280 |
11 |
|
WB |
2.3 |
2510 |
4 |
1.2 |
3430 |
3 |
1.4 |
1830 |
4 |
|
UPN |
2.3 |
2500 |
4 |
1.2 |
3370 |
3 |
1.4 |
1780 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.1 |
180 |
0 |
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK
TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 13 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS
2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
CSI |
CBS |
18.0 |
27 |
19775 |
1 |
10.6 |
29399 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
15.8 |
24 |
17313 |
2 |
10.0 |
27662 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
15.8 |
24 |
17293 |
3 |
9.7 |
26855 |
|
4 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
15.0 |
25 |
16486 |
5 |
8.4 |
23321 |
|
5 |
AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7
8P(S) |
FOX |
14.0 |
21 |
15334 |
4 |
8.6 |
23909 |
|
5 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
14.0 |
22 |
15331 |
6 |
7.8 |
21676 |
|
7 |
SURVIVOR: PALAU |
CBS |
12.4 |
20 |
13609 |
6 |
7.8 |
21797 |
|
8 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
11.4 |
17 |
12507 |
9 |
6.3 |
17449 |
|
9 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
10.7 |
16 |
11757 |
11 |
5.9 |
16285 |
|
10 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
10.5 |
16 |
11521 |
10 |
6.0 |
16611 |
|
11 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM
ED-8P |
ABC |
10.3 |
16 |
11330 |
8 |
6.6 |
18415 |
|
12 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
10.1 |
15 |
11035 |
12 |
5.8 |
16136 |
|
12 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM
INTENT |
NBC |
10.1 |
15 |
11032 |
13 |
5.7 |
15715 |
|
12 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
10.1 |
17 |
11110 |
14 |
5.3 |
14728 |
|
15 |
APPRENTICE 3 |
NBC |
9.2 |
14 |
10088 |
15 |
5.1 |
14108 |
|
16 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
8.8 |
15 |
9664 |
17 |
4.8 |
13341 |
|
17 |
JAKE IN PROGRESS
SP1-3/13(S) |
ABC |
8.7 |
13 |
9494 |
16 |
5.0 |
13963 |
|
18 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
8.3 |
14 |
9049 |
20 |
4.5 |
12557 |
|
18 |
SIMPLE LIFE 3 |
FOX |
8.3 |
13 |
9059 |
17 |
4.8 |
13329 |
|
20 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
8.2 |
14 |
9013 |
23 |
4.3 |
11824 |
|
21 |
BLIND JUSTICE |
ABC |
8.1 |
13 |
8879 |
21 |
4.4 |
12361 |
|
22 |
24 |
FOX |
8.0 |
12 |
8802 |
19 |
4.7 |
13085 |
|
23 |
LOST |
ABC |
7.9 |
12 |
8656 |
21 |
4.4 |
12156 |
|
24 |
JAKE IN PROGRESS
SP2-3/13(S) |
ABC |
7.7 |
12 |
8449 |
23 |
4.3 |
12005 |
|
25 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
7.4 |
12 |
8117 |
26 |
4.1 |
11282 |
|
25 |
PRIMETIME LV SP
EDTN-3/9(S) |
ABC |
7.4 |
12 |
8116 |
29 |
3.8 |
10530 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media
Research
|
|
TOP 25
PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending March 13 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
11.7 |
15131 |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
11.7 |
15229 |
|
3 |
CSI |
CBS |
10.4 |
13556 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7
8P(S) |
FOX |
10.1 |
13056 |
|
5 |
SURVIVOR: PALAU |
CBS |
8.1 |
10566 |
|
6 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM
ED-8P |
ABC |
7.7 |
9939 |
|
7 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
7.6 |
9888 |
|
8 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
7.3 |
9522 |
|
9 |
APPRENTICE 3 |
NBC |
6.7 |
8652 |
|
10 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
6.6 |
8579 |
|
11 |
SIMPLE LIFE 3 |
FOX |
6.3 |
8235 |
|
12 |
JAKE IN PROGRESS
SP1-3/13(S) |
ABC |
5.9 |
7604 |
|
13 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
5.8 |
7530 |
|
14 |
24 |
FOX |
5.6 |
7260 |
|
15 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
5.5 |
7190 |
|
16 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM
INTENT |
NBC |
5.4 |
6994 |
|
17 |
JAKE IN PROGRESS
SP2-3/13(S) |
ABC |
5.1 |
6670 |
|
18 |
THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9
830P(S) |
FOX |
5.0 |
6479 |
|
19 |
AMAZING RACE: 7 |
CBS |
4.8 |
6282 |
|
19 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
4.8 |
6297 |
|
21 |
CONTENDER 3/10(S) |
NBC |
4.7 |
6145 |
|
22 |
BLIND JUSTICE |
ABC |
4.5 |
5846 |
|
22 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
4.5 |
5869 |
|
24 |
BOSTON LEGAL |
ABC |
4.2 |
5440 |
|
24 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
4.2 |
5503 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media
Research
|
|
CABLE
TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 13 |
|
BASIC
CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM
NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
LAW & ORDER |
TNT |
3610 |
3.3 |
5039 |
|
2 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT(WWE
RAW) |
SPIKE |
3380 |
3.1 |
4621 |
|
3 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE
RAW ZONE) |
SPIKE |
3311 |
3.0 |
4527 |
|
4 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3093 |
2.8 |
4027 |
|
5 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3069 |
2.8 |
3872 |
|
6 |
LAW & ORDER: SVU |
USA |
3025 |
2.8 |
4093 |
|
7 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2954 |
2.7 |
4078 |
|
8 |
GLADIATOR(S)-03/12 |
TNT |
2940 |
2.7 |
4278 |
|
9 |
LAW & ORDER |
TNT |
2914 |
2.7 |
3877 |
|
9 |
PRIME MOVIE (LIES MY
MOTHER TOLD ME) |
LIF |
2914 |
2.7 |
3690 |
|
11 |
GLADIATOR(S)-03/11 |
TNT |
2886 |
2.6 |
3996 |
|
12 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2865 |
2.6 |
3537 |
|
13 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2853 |
2.6 |
3635 |
|
14 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2796 |
2.6 |
3467 |
|
15 |
ZOEY 101 |
NICK |
2776 |
2.5 |
3739 |
|
PAY CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM
NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
DEADWOOD |
HBO |
2063 |
1.9 |
3408 |
|
2 |
CARNIVALE |
HBO |
1598 |
1.5 |
2500 |
|
3 |
SEX AND THE CITY(S)-03/13 |
HBO |
1224 |
1.1 |
1653 |
|
4 |
ATLANTIC CITY HOOKERS(AU) |
Starz |
1169 |
1.1 |
1344 |
|
5 |
EUROTRIP |
HBO |
1538 |
1.4 |
2496 |
|
* Ratings based on 109.6
million U.S. TV homes. One ratings point represents 1.096
million homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 6 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
9.9 |
10846 |
|
2 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
8.7 |
9583 |
|
3 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
8.4 |
9161 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN
(AT) |
KIN |
7.2 |
7894 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
6.5 |
7164 |
|
6 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
5.9 |
6463 |
|
6 |
DR. PHIL SHOW |
KIN |
5.9 |
6437 |
|
8 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
5.8 |
6336 |
|
9 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
5.7 |
6259 |
|
10 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.4 |
5969 |
|
11 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
5.2 |
5704 |
|
12 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
4.5 |
4889 |
|
13 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND
KELLY |
BV |
3.9 |
4240 |
|
13 |
CENTURY 19 |
2/T |
3.9 |
4232 |
|
15 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT
WKD |
PRM |
3.8 |
4111 |
|
16 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
3.7 |
4102 |
|
16 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.7 |
4097 |
|
16 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3.7 |
4049 |
|
16 |
WARNER BROS. VOL 35 |
WB |
3.7 |
4023 |
|
20 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
3.5 |
3882 |
|
20 |
MALCOLM IN-MIDDLE SYN(AT) |
2/T |
3.5 |
3863 |
|
22 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
3.2 |
3552 |
|
22 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
3.2 |
3528 |
|
22 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN
(AT) |
2/T |
3.2 |
3464 |
|
25 |
WILL & GRACE-SYN
(AT) |
WB |
3 |
3297 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media
Research
|
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE
TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 13 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
|
1 |
RUBI M-F |
UNI |
33.7 |
3676 |
|
2 |
AMOR REAL M-F |
UNI |
26.8 |
2919 |
|
3 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
26.4 |
2878 |
|
4 |
APUESTA POR UN AMOR M-F |
UNI |
21.7 |
2369 |
|
5 |
MAS ALLA DE RUBI
3/13(S)-03/13 |
UNI |
19.6 |
2141 |
|
6 |
MUJER DE MADERA M-F |
UNI |
18.6 |
2027 |
|
7 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
18.3 |
1997 |
|
8 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
18.1 |
1976 |
|
9 |
HOSPITAL EL PAISA FRI |
UNI |
17.4 |
1894 |
|
10 |
GH: RUBI 3/11(S)-03/11 |
UNI |
17.0 |
1853 |
|
11 |
SUPER CLASICO
3/13(S)-03/13 |
UNI |
16.6 |
1814 |
|
12 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
15.8 |
1718 |
|
13 |
ESCUELITA FRI |
UNI |
15.2 |
1663 |
|
14 |
JUGANDO AL AMOR TUE |
UNI |
12.7 |
1385 |
|
15 |
ASI ES GILBERTO GLESS
SAT |
UNI |
11.1 |
1216 |
|
16 |
TE VOY-ENSENAR A QUERER
M-F |
TEL |
6.7 |
733 |
|
17 |
ANITA NO TE RAJES M-F |
TEL |
6.6 |
723 |
|
18 |
MUJER EN EL ESPEJO M-F |
TEL |
6.4 |
703 |
|
19 |
GITANAS M-F |
TEL |
6.1 |
665 |
|
20 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
5.4 |
584 |
|
21 |
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL PRE-GAME(S)-03/09 |
TEL |
5.1 |
554 |
|
22 |
NUEVAS VOCES DE AMERICA |
TEL |
5.0 |
543 |
|
23 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
4.9 |
534 |
|
24 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
4.3 |
473 |
|
25 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN |
TF |
4.1 |
443 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic
Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV
homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK
SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending March 6 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
FORD DORAL
GOLF-SUN
(S)-03/06 |
NBC |
|
5.5 |
13 |
6000 |
7774 |
|
2 |
NCAA BASKET
SUN-2 3/6 |
CBS |
DUKE AT
NORTH CAROLINA |
3.6 |
8 |
3977 |
5239 |
|
3 |
FOX NASCAR
BUSCH SRS -
SP(S)-03/06 |
FOX |
PRES BY
AMERICA ONLINE |
3.5 |
8 |
3846 |
5672 |
|
4 |
WWE
SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
3.5 |
5 |
3802 |
5713 |
|
5 |
FORD DORAL
GOLF-SAT
(S)-03/05 |
NBC |
|
3.2 |
8 |
3493 |
4499 |
|
6 |
NCAA BBALL
SUN-1 |
CBS |
KAN AT
MISSOURI/KY AT FLA |
2.9 |
7 |
3186 |
4224 |
|
7 |
NCAA BBALL
SUN |
CBS |
ILLINOIS
AT OHIO STATE |
2.4 |
7 |
2643 |
3446 |
|
8 |
NCAA BASKET
SUN-2 3/6(B) |
CBS |
DUKE AT
NORTH CAROLINA |
2.3 |
6 |
2570 |
3417 |
|
9 |
NCAA BASKET
SUN-2 3/6(B) |
CBS |
DUKE AT
NORTH CAROLINA |
2.1 |
5 |
2339 |
3123 |
|
10 |
NCAA BBALL
SAT-2 |
CBS |
SYR AT
UCONN/WASH AT STANFORD |
1.9 |
5 |
2111 |
2708 |
|
11 |
NBA ON ABC
SUN 2 |
ABC |
DETROIT
AT SACRAMENTO |
1.6 |
4 |
1759 |
1992 |
|
12 |
NBA ON
ABC-SUN 1 |
ABC |
DALLAS AT
HOUSTON |
1.5 |
4 |
1680 |
1830 |
|
13 |
NCAA
BBALL-SAT-1 |
CBS |
PIT AT N
DAME/BAMA AT MISS ST |
1.4 |
4 |
1528 |
1828 |
|
14 |
FOUNTAIN
OF YOUTH STAKES(S
-03/05 |
ABC |
|
1.1 |
3 |
1213 |
1318 |
|
15 |
NBC ARENA
FOOTBALL |
NBC |
NY AT
PHIL/SAN JOSE AT ORLANDO |
1.0 |
3 |
1122 |
1324 |
|
16 |
NBC SPORTS
SPEC. 3/5(S) |
NBC |
SI FOR
KIDS-SNOW SEARCH |
0.8 |
2 |
887 |
1087 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media
Research |
|
March 16, 2005
©
2005
Media Life
- Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.
|
|
|
|
