Categorized | '

Nielsen Ratings Fri, April 18: Friday Night Needs American Idol

Posted on 19 April 2008 by Robert Seidman

Scoreboard for Fri. April 18, 2008 NBC CBS FOX CW ABC
Total Viewers (million) 6.56 6.28 4.83 4.08 3.91
Rating/Share: Adults 18-49 1.8/6 1.5/5 1.3/4 1.2/4 1.1/4

NBC won both the most viewers and the 18-49 demographic and those are words rarely typed by me in an overnight post.   The most watched show of the night was a two hour Dateline that only had 7.12 million people.

There were lots of repeats, but two out of ABC’s three programs were not repeats and ABC came in last place and I mean last place even if you do count the CW!  CW’s Friday Night Smackdown!  came in ahead of ABC for the night.  And the CW probably will find something that that is more capable of promoting Gossip Girl, but will have only a million viewers.  I think CW is going to wind up missing Smackdown!  Anyway, 20/20 isn’t going anywhere, but we’re pretty sure Duel won’t be on the fall schedule.

CBS ran all repeats – Ghost Whisperer, the return of Moonlight, and Numb3rs which was its original fall lineup.  Even in repeats the same phenomenon where Ghost Whisperer’s viewers bail out on Moonlight and then seemingly come back for Numb3rs occurs.

The season finale of Canturbury’s Law didn’t generate much enthusiasm on FOX.  A repeat of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles might  have fared better.  I don’t expect to see Canturbury’s Law back on the schedule next year.

There’s just not a lot to say about this night. I miss Steve Urkel (Family Matters).  It doesn’t seem all that long ago when people watched TV on Friday night’s. I wonder how many would watch a new American Idol airing if it ran on Fridays.

If you want a real blast from the past, take a look back with Bill’s post on the top 20 shows of the 1971-1972 season.  Bonanza was still in the top 20!  I vividly remember watching ALL of those shows on that list very well, except for one (which I don’t remember watching at all, honestly).  Can you guess which one?

See Friday night’s details:

Time Net Show Viewers (Millons) 18-49 Rating/Share
8:00 ABC Desperate Housewives (R ) 3.14 0.8/3
  CBS Ghost Whisperer (R ) 6.74 1.7/6
  NBC Most Outrageous Moments (R ) 5.45 1.5/6
  CW Friday Night Smackdown! (8p-10p) 4.07 1.2/4
  FOX House (R ) 4.98 1.5/6
         
9:00 ABC Duel 3.29 0.9/3
  CBS Moonlight (R ) 5.28 1.3/4
  NBC Dateline (9p-11p) 7.12 1.9/6
  FOX Canterburys Law 4.68 1.0/3
         
10:00 ABC 20/20 5.3 1.5/5
  CBS Numb3rs ( R) 6.82 1.9/6

HH ratings junkies, check out Zap2it.

Nielsen Ratings Source: Nielsen Media Research. Full night’s results available via Marc Berman/Mediaweek.

Paid Advertisement
Looking to purchase a new DVD player or one of the many new LCD TVs available?  Check out this online shopping site and browse all of our electronics and televisions today!

Share:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • email

46 Responses to “Nielsen Ratings Fri, April 18: Friday Night Needs American Idol”

  1. magyarics says:

    The bailout at 9 happens to every show CBS put’s in that time slot,

  2. magyarics says:

    The bailout at 9 happens to every show CBS put's in that time slot,

  3. Polly says:

    I think that CBS viewers must take a nap from 9-10 because the same thing happened even with The Price is Right in that spot. Although the words “bail out” seems a little harsh. Moonlight(R) still came in second up against two new shows. Not looking too good for ABC or FOX. Not sure how Sarah Conner would hold up in repeats. I like the show, but don’t think I would watch a re-run.

  4. Polly says:

    I think that CBS viewers must take a nap from 9-10 because the same thing happened even with The Price is Right in that spot. Although the words “bail out” seems a little harsh. Moonlight(R) still came in second up against two new shows. Not looking too good for ABC or FOX. Not sure how Sarah Conner would hold up in repeats. I like the show, but don't think I would watch a re-run.

  5. Andrea says:

    FOX should put New Amsterdam in that 9pm timeslot.
    T:SCC is not appropriate for Fridays.

  6. Andrea says:

    FOX should put New Amsterdam in that 9pm timeslot.
    T:SCC is not appropriate for Fridays.

  7. Andrea, what’s clear is that Canturbury’s Law isn’t appropriate for Friday nights. Everything else is speculation :)

  8. Andrea, what's clear is that Canturbury's Law isn't appropriate for Friday nights. Everything else is speculation :)

  9. Polly bail out ON Moonlight is too harsh — but I don’t think “bail out” by itself is fair since it always seems to happen. we can’t be sure that the people who come back for Numb3rs are the same ones who left after Ghost Whisperer though, but it is sort of a mystery.

  10. Polly bail out ON Moonlight is too harsh — but I don't think “bail out” by itself is fair since it always seems to happen. we can't be sure that the people who come back for Numb3rs are the same ones who left after Ghost Whisperer though, but it is sort of a mystery.

  11. Polly says:

    Thanks for clarifying the Moonlight comment. I agree about the mystery. Maybe cable? Probably just a different set of viewers coming back for Numb3rs.

  12. Polly says:

    Thanks for clarifying the Moonlight comment. I agree about the mystery. Maybe cable? Probably just a different set of viewers coming back for Numb3rs.

  13. Bill Gorman says:

    Moonlight’s 5.28m isn’t terrible for a rerun of a show that last had a new episode on Jan 18.

    The real test will be next Friday when the next new episode airs.

    I agree with Robert that the 3 CBS shows from last night may have very different audiences. If so, that may be a problem with the CBS scheduling.

  14. Bill Gorman says:

    Moonlight's 5.28m isn't terrible for a rerun of a show that last had a new episode on Jan 18.

    The real test will be next Friday when the next new episode airs.

    I agree with Robert that the 3 CBS shows from last night may have very different audiences. If so, that may be a problem with the CBS scheduling.

  15. Jack says:

    Sarah Connor is renewed for a second season!

  16. Jack says:

    Sarah Connor is renewed for a second season!

  17. Gwen says:

    Part of the problem with comparing 8pm to 9 pm is that everything but Friday Night Smackdown was a repeat at 8 pm. At 9pm only Moonlight was a repeat and yet it had the second highest number of viewers overall and in the demo.

  18. Gwen says:

    Part of the problem with comparing 8pm to 9 pm is that everything but Friday Night Smackdown was a repeat at 8 pm. At 9pm only Moonlight was a repeat and yet it had the second highest number of viewers overall and in the demo.

  19. Gwen, I wasn’t commenting on Moonlight’s performance, rather a trend with the 9pm Friday hour on CBS regardless of whether the competition is a rerun. Here’s a link to a Friday overnight from November when nothing was a repeat.

    Even then the 8p and 10p #s were almost identical for CBS, with the 9pm hour having ~2 million less. It happens all the time. As to why, I can’t really say.

  20. Gwen, I wasn't commenting on Moonlight's performance, rather a trend with the 9pm Friday hour on CBS regardless of whether the competition is a rerun. Here's a link to a Friday overnight from November when nothing was a repeat.

    Even then the 8p and 10p #s were almost identical for CBS, with the 9pm hour having ~2 million less. It happens all the time. As to why, I can't really say.

  21. Polly says:

    Robert – back to the mystery. Does this play out on any of the other networks during this time or is it just CBS? I’ve never really looked before because I’ve just been interested in CBS numbers on Fridays.

  22. Polly says:

    Robert – back to the mystery. Does this play out on any of the other networks during this time or is it just CBS? I've never really looked before because I've just been interested in CBS numbers on Fridays.

  23. I can’t think of any instance of something else like that which *always* happens (8p and 10p with similar numbers, 9pm ALWAYS lower). If there are other regularly occuring similar phenomenon, they haven’t jumped out at me.

  24. I can't think of any instance of something else like that which *always* happens (8p and 10p with similar numbers, 9pm ALWAYS lower). If there are other regularly occuring similar phenomenon, they haven't jumped out at me.

  25. Polly says:

    Thanks. Don’t mean to harp on this point, just don’t like it when I can’t come up with a logical explanation for something that involves data. Unfortunately it just becomes a mystery to be solved. (Of course they probably pay someone big bucks at CBS to figure it out)

  26. Polly says:

    Thanks. Don't mean to harp on this point, just don't like it when I can't come up with a logical explanation for something that involves data. Unfortunately it just becomes a mystery to be solved. (Of course they probably pay someone big bucks at CBS to figure it out)

  27. Friday night viewer says:

    I personally love all the shows on Friday night that CBS runs. This year (due to the strike) has been frustrating and there are only so many re-runs one cares to watch. I am eagerly awaiting where Moonlight will go. We (the viewers) need consistency with programming so that shows can build up a fan base. The networks keep shifting things around often at the expense of the shows fans. Obviously I am in the minority with Friday viewing but it’s one of my favourite nights after a long week and the kids are in bed. In my 20’s it was party night!!!

  28. Friday night viewer says:

    I personally love all the shows on Friday night that CBS runs. This year (due to the strike) has been frustrating and there are only so many re-runs one cares to watch. I am eagerly awaiting where Moonlight will go. We (the viewers) need consistency with programming so that shows can build up a fan base. The networks keep shifting things around often at the expense of the shows fans. Obviously I am in the minority with Friday viewing but it's one of my favourite nights after a long week and the kids are in bed. In my 20's it was party night!!!

  29. Donna says:

    I watched only Moonlight on Friday night as I love the show and the episodes have all been fantastic. I just can’t get into numbers and I don’t know why?

    CBS would be fools to not renew Moonlight. I mean what are they going to replace it with “Will and Grace” reruns?

    Thats what Lifetime did when Blood Ties ended. Fools, I never watch Lifetime now and who would stay up to watch Will and Grace reruns.

  30. Donna says:

    I watched only Moonlight on Friday night as I love the show and the episodes have all been fantastic. I just can't get into numbers and I don't know why?

    CBS would be fools to not renew Moonlight. I mean what are they going to replace it with “Will and Grace” reruns?

    Thats what Lifetime did when Blood Ties ended. Fools, I never watch Lifetime now and who would stay up to watch Will and Grace reruns.

  31. Jim says:

    CBS should either replace Moonlight with a one hour drama that can draw nearly 10 million like Ghost Whisperer or Numbers or move GW to 9pm and have Price is Right on at 8pm every Friday

  32. Jim says:

    CBS should either replace Moonlight with a one hour drama that can draw nearly 10 million like Ghost Whisperer or Numbers or move GW to 9pm and have Price is Right on at 8pm every Friday

  33. Drew says:

    Moonlight will be more fun than Jericho if it gets cancelled. Crazed fans will send blood to Nielsen and CBS instead of peanuts.

  34. Drew says:

    Moonlight will be more fun than Jericho if it gets cancelled. Crazed fans will send blood to Nielsen and CBS instead of peanuts.

  35. Sue says:

    They won’t cancel Moonlight. CBS likes that they can say it has an artsy show.

    Besides its ratings seem OK for a Friday. Better than Friday Night Lights!

  36. Sue says:

    They won't cancel Moonlight. CBS likes that they can say it has an artsy show.

    Besides its ratings seem OK for a Friday. Better than Friday Night Lights!

  37. Rob says:

    It’s sad because I actually like Duel. I can’t believe how bad it is doing. I mean, anyone with a brain will be bored watching Deal or No Deal. 5th Grader was a good concept….. but with the students knowing the answers in advance, I stopped waching quick. Yet those shows do very good in the ratings.

  38. Rob says:

    It's sad because I actually like Duel. I can't believe how bad it is doing. I mean, anyone with a brain will be bored watching Deal or No Deal. 5th Grader was a good concept….. but with the students knowing the answers in advance, I stopped waching quick. Yet those shows do very good in the ratings.

  39. Rob says:

    I guess that you never watched Mannix.

  40. Rob says:

    I guess that you never watched Mannix.

  41. Are you kidding? I *loved* Mannix. He got the crap beat out of him all the time and always came back next week!

  42. Are you kidding? I *loved* Mannix. He got the crap beat out of him all the time and always came back next week!

  43. drovin says:

    I can’t watch Ghost Whisperer because it is the same show every week and I don’t care for Numbers. I only tune in for Moonlight. Ghost Whisperer was a new episode and Moonlight was a rerun, and it was a brand new show with only 12 episodes before the strike. We will see next week how well it does. I don’t think this week is a good indication…Although for the time slot it was number two, even playing as a rerun.

  44. drovin says:

    I can't watch Ghost Whisperer because it is the same show every week and I don't care for Numbers. I only tune in for Moonlight. Ghost Whisperer was a new episode and Moonlight was a rerun, and it was a brand new show with only 12 episodes before the strike. We will see next week how well it does. I don't think this week is a good indication…Although for the time slot it was number two, even playing as a rerun.

  45. Mari says:

    Ghost whisperer was not a new episode. It was a rerun of an episode that first aired in January before the strike ended.

  46. Mari says:

    Ghost whisperer was not a new episode. It was a rerun of an episode that first aired in January before the strike ended.


Renew of Cancel Index


Play Fan Excuse Bingo!