American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, and NCIS led overall viewing again for the week ending April 12th with the NCAA Men’s Basketball championship game rounding out the top five.
NBC had another bad week, where no shows placed in the top twenty most-viewed. It of course fared better with adults 18-49 where it placed three shows (two airings of The Office, and Law & Order: SVU). Newcomer Southland was the twenty-third most-watched show of the week, and twenty-second among adults 18-49. The premiere of Parks and Recreation was forty-second in terms of overall viewing, but twenty-fifth with adults 18-49.
In the battle of shows from J. J. Abrams, Lost was 31st overall and 9th with adults 18-49, while Fringe was 22nd overall and 6th with the 18-49 crowd. The full top 20 sorted by 18-49 ranking is also available.
Last week (Monday 4/6, not last night) Chuck was the number 50 show in terms of overall viewing and 47th with 18-49 year olds. The lowest-rated episode of Heroes ever was 48th overall and 33rd among adults 18-49 (though even so, it was still 21st with adults 18-34).
Chuck rebounded a little last night, and Heroes rebounded a lot although it dropped so far on 4/6 that on 4/13 it basically just rebounded to where it was two weeks ago — but, still a nice reversal of a trend for a week), so look for improvement in next week’s weekly recap.
Nielsen Top Twenty Shows by viewers for the week ending April 12, 2009:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | # Viewers (LIVE+SD) (000) | HH RATING (LIVE+SD) | HH SHARE (LIVE+SD) | 18-49 Rank |
| 1 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 22,976 | 13.4 | 21 | 2 | |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 22,813 | 13.1 | 21 | 1 | |
| 3 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 19,883 | 12.5 | 19 | 5 | |
| 4 | NCIS | CBS | 17,807 | 10.9 | 17 | 13 | |
| 5 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMPSHIPS(S) | S | CBS | 17,649 | 10.8 | 18 | 3 |
| 6 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 16,921 | 10.3 | 16 | 12 | |
| 7 | CSI | CBS | 16,625 | 10.1 | 17 | 10 | |
| 8 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 14,561 | 9.1 | 14 | 16 | |
| 9 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 13,606 | 8.5 | 13 | 20 | |
| 10 | HOUSE | FOX | 13,294 | 7.9 | 12 | 4 | |
| 11 | 60 MINUTES SPECIAL(S) | S | CBS | 12,825 | 7.6 | 14 | 29 |
| 12 | CSI: NY | CBS | 12,504 | 7.9 | 13 | 19 | |
| 13 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 12,154 | 7.9 | 13 | 30 | |
| 14 | PRELUDE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP(S) | S | CBS | 12,152 | 7.5 | 11 | 8 |
| 15 | SURVIVING SUBURBIA | P | ABC | 11,249 | 7.2 | 11 | 26 |
| 16 | SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS | CBS | 11,238 | 6.6 | 12 | 14 | |
| 17 | 24 | FOX | 10,958 | 6.5 | 10 | 11 | |
| 18 | AMAZING RACE 14 – SPECIAL(S) | S | CBS | 10,572 | 6.0 | 10 | 24 |
| 19 | COLD CASE – SPECIAL(S) | S | CBS | 10,559 | 6.4 | 10 | 35 |
| 20 | HARPER’S ISLAND | P | CBS | 10,210 | 6.5 | 11 | 32 |
Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved
All numbers above based on live plus same day DVR viewing.
Wow I’m impressed Harper’s Island is on there. I figured most people were like me and switched the channel after 15 mins.
Most people actually found Harper very good, that’s why it didn’t drop as much as some were expecting in the second half hour
The women on Harper’s Island will keep me coming back…they are all gorgeous
csi seems to be quite low :S
and i hope that DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES comes back with a bang this sunday
Robert, thanks for including the Parks And Recreation info. I was wondering where that would end up.
The trick for Harper’s Island is to get all those people back this week.
gary, that will be an impressive trick.
The real trick for Harper’s is to get all those people to get their kids to tune in.
I watched Harper’s and won’t be back for the second episode. I thought it was BORING and too ’soapy’ for a limited run series.
does anyone realize theres no show from NBC from that list? how sad!
Most people thought Harper’s was GOOD? That’s news to me. The general reaction that I’ve seen has been negative.
If this has been asked before, I apologize. How does one become a Nielsen participant? I’m curious as to the guidelines followed for each unit that is given out. And is there a number of years that a person or family can be a Nielsen participant? I would like to know if the pool of people changes on a season by season basis.
Loved Harper’s Island and it was good!
@ So Cal
I noticed that too. Apparently we don’t like watching ugly people get killed? Either way, I thought the show was very good too, considering how it had to introduce a character every two minutes or so, basically. Now that that’s over, I think it’s about to get really really good.
Wow, Fringe really does have a loyal audience. I say this because, after a 7 week hiatus, it still beats the Mentalist and Lost in the final numbers for the demos. Wow, that’s amazing. It shows the show is really popular!
what’s the name of that gorgeous women from the pic
I believe that is Katie Cassidy, the bride on Harper’s Island and formerly Ruby on Supernatural.
I’ve always thought the premise behind Harper’s Island was intriguing, and that’s what brought me on – a limited run, 13-episode classic (eh…) murder mystery that will define itself come the last ep. I wasn’t brought into it because of the cast – the only star I knew that was involved was Katie Cassidy, and dang, who wouldn’t watch, then? I was pleasantly (eh…) surprised to see Christopher Gorham (I think that’s his name) along with Harry Hamlin attached to the show, found myself already looking for “clues” to whodunnit in the first ep and am eager to see how it plays out.
I’m in for the long haul – I mean, c’mon, haven’t you ever seen “Clue”? Not watching to the end is like not watching… til… the end.
ABC/Survivor rocks!
@Deadbeat
You have to be randomly selected to be a Nielsen viewer.
There are some great shows in that top 20, but I really wish more people would watch Chuck. It really deserves to be up there.
watched a little of Harpers Island, will watch a little this thurs. b/c i like the concept of an extended serial “movie of the week.” if it does decent, maybe CBS will come with something better next season. What strikes me about the list is no NBC shows and only 2 from ABC who has been stinking up the joint lately, btw, Southland is my new pick…
Fringe,Chuck,Heros,Life, are my favorite shows.American Idol I dont care for and lost Im lost.
I like Harper’s Island. It’s really entertaining. I’m going to give it a chance. Fancast hosts a chat with the recently deceased person from Harper’s Island every Friday at 1pm EST. Check it out- http://www.fancast.com/blogs/tv-news/live-chat-with-harpers-island-newly-dead/
I wish people would check out CHUCK. It is so awesome. My family and friends have Chuck parties every week. It needs to be promoted and watched by more people. It’s addicting. There’s nothing else like it on tv.
GOOO IDOL.
That picture is of Katie Cassidy, David Cassidy’s daughter.
I can’t wait for next week’s episode, this show is addicting! glad it is in the top 20! everyone please watch! great show!
Long Live CHUCK, the best show on tv, regardless of the ratings, kiddies!
CHUCK Season 3!!!
Chuck is a great show and one that my whole family watches.
Check it out and have a Subway sandwich next Monday night.