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TV Ratings: CBS Wins; The Big Bang Theory Hits Highs Fringe Pummels Heroes

Posted on 12 January 2010 by Robert Seidman


Scoreboard CBS FOX ABC NBC Uni CW
Adults 18-49: Rating/Share 4.2/11 3.7/9 3.3/9 2.1/5 1.5/4 0.4/1
Adults 18-34: Rating/Share 3.3/9 3.1/9 2.9/8 1.8/5 1.6/5 0.5/1
Total Viewers (million) 13.13 10.01 10.17 5.61 4.09 .98

Led by its comedies (well, at least three out of four of them) CBS won the night with adults 18-49, and easily with total viewers.  The Big Bang Theory hit series highs both with adults 18-49 and total viewers, and the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother pulled its best numbers since last spring.

Two and a Half Men had its best 18-49 performance since last February and its best average audience numbers since December 2008.

FOX came in second topped by House and a special airing of Fringe that destroyed Heroes in head-to-head competition.  It was Heroes lowest-rated telecast ever.

The special Monday episode of Fringe performed about the same out of House as the typical episode of Lie To Me has done.  Though it’s not necessarily an either or situation, odds seem long that both shows will come back and so it will be interesting to continue keeping an eye on how Fringe is doing on Thursdays.  Lie to Me is off the schedule for a while due to the return of 24.

With a strong lead-in from The Bachelor (which was up over 9% with adults 18-49) Castle improved its 18-49 average versus its last original airing by 24%.

Here’s what NBC PR had to say about Chuck:

  • At 8 p.m. ET, the regular-slot season premiere of “Chuck” (2.6 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) scored the show’s highest regular-slot results in 18-49 and total viewers since the special 3-D telecast on February 2, 2009, the night after the Super Bowl. It was also the biggest total-viewer average for NBC in this time period with regular programming since that February 2 “Chuck.”  In a time slot that last night included competition from Fox’s “House,” ABC’s “The Bachelor” and CBS’s comedies, “Chuck” generated growth from its first half-hour to its second of 8 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.7 from a 2.5) and 16 percent in adults 18-34 (2.2 vs. 1.9).
  • Compared with NBC’s average in the time-period last season, last night’s “Chuck” is up 18 percent in 18-49 rating (2.6 vs. 2.2, live plus same day) and up 14% in total viewers (7.322 million vs. 6.409 million).

Chuck got a 2.5 A18-49 rating the first half hour and a 2.7 the last half hour.

The Jay Leno Show had its best Monday in 13 weeks.  Considering its Heroes lead-in, all the PR doesn’t seem bad for NBC!  Indeed, Conan edged Dave out in the late night wars with a 1.2 adults 18-49 rating vs a 1.0 for Letterman in local People Meter Markets.

Full details:

Time Net Show 18-49 Rating/Share Viewers (Millons)
8:00 FOX House 4.6/12 12.24
CBS How I Met Your Mother 3.9/10 9.82
ABC The Bachelor: On The Wings of Love 3.3/8 9.88
NBC Chuck 2.6/7 7.32
CW One Tree Hill  (R) 0.4/1 1.22
8:30 CBS Accidentally on Purpose 3.2/8 8.52
9:00 CBS Two and a Half Men 5.4/13 17.30
ABC The Bachelor: On The Wings of Love 4.0/10 11.15
FOX Fringe 2.8/7 7.79
NBC Heroes 2.1/5 4.71
CW Gossip Girl (R) 0.3/1 0.74
9:30 CBS The Big Bang Theory 5.7/14 15.81
10:00 CBS CSI: Miami 3.7/10 13.65
ABC Castle 2.6/7 9.48
NBC The Jay Leno Show 1.6/4 4.79

-

You can see TV ratings from other recent Overnight ratings reports here.

All numbers are Live+SD.

Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2010 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.

Definitions:

*Fast Affiliate Ratings: These first national ratings, including demographics, are available at approximately 11 AM (ET) the day after telecast, and are released to subscribing customers daily. These data, from the National People Meter sample, are strictly time-period information, based on the normal broadcast network feed, and include all programming on the affiliated stations, sometimes including network programming, sometimes not. The figures may include stations that did not air the entire network feed, as well as local news breaks or cutaways for local coverage or other programming. Fast Affiliate ratings are not as useful for live programs and are likely to differ significantly from the final results, because the data reflect normal broadcast feed patterns. For example, with a World Series game, Fast Affiliate Ratings would include whatever aired from 8-11PM on affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone, following the live football game, but not game coverage that begins at 5PM PT. The same would be true of Presidential debates as well as live award shows and breaking news reports.

Rating: Estimated percentage of the universe of TV households (or other specified group) tuned to a program in the average minute. Ratings are expressed as a percent.

Share (of Audience): The percent of households (or persons) using television who are tuned to a specific program, station or network in a specific area at a specific time. (See also, Rating, which represents tuning or viewing as a percent of the entire population being measured.)

Time Shifted Viewing – Program ratings for national sources are produced in three streams of data – Live, Live+Same Day (Live+SD) and Live+7 Day. Time shifted figures account for incremental viewing that takes place with DVRs which are currently in approximately 24.4% of all U.S. TV households. Live+Same Day (Live+SD) include viewing during the same broadcast day as the original telecast, with a cut-off of 3:00AM local time when meters transmit daily viewing to Nielsen for processing. Live+7 Day ratings include incremental viewing that takes place during the 7 days following a telecast.

For more information see Numbers 101.

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  • Po1sOn_4PpL3z
    And...where does online viewing come into the calculations? FFS people, there is a new generation watching TV, and they don't sit their asses on a couch in front of a TV with a remote. They sit their asses in a computer chair with a keyboard and watch whatever they want whenever they want. Ratings are becoming more and more worthless as time passes, and no one seems to care that their statistics gathering methods are as outdated as the stone wheel. I want to see statistics of number of times each show is watched ONLINE during a month.
    And for all the major networks trying to compete out there, here is a little hint that you should have come to understand by now:
    **If you don't make your show available to stream online, I'll find the torrent, and I'll watch it anyway. Someone, somewhere will ALWAYS have a torrent available to the public when you show you don't care about the online viewers.**

    That goes for you too, BBC One. I want to see Merlin in the US.

    And last of all, if my favorite show (and the only show I like on NBC), Heroes, gets shot... I'm never watching NBC every again. I'll just torrent your shows.
  • gayle
    I completely agree with Jason! Heroes does not get the promoting that it deserves. If it got as much promoting as Chuck, Fringe, House etc the figures would be much higher but the only promo I see is the preview at the end of the episode aired! If you don`t tune in to watch it then you miss the promo altogether. Heroes has improved vastly but due to lack of advertising for the show the figures do not reflect this also many viewers of the show DVR the show as they are avid fans. Heroes is a fantastic show that is filled with action, romance, comedy, horror and so much more if it was advertised more often than once a week it would undoubtedly bring in the viewers. I never miss an episode and must say that I adore everything about heroes including the monologues that set Heroes apart from any other show kinda rminds me of the moral messages of Outer Limits :D
  • BANG
    Heroes is still on the air because it's a gay thing that none of you would understand.
    tim kring gives up the ass and the best blow jobs in the industry.
    BANG!!!!~
  • Corey
    I appreciate all the Heroes fans supporting the show, it's great to see show loyalty. But if Monday's ratings become a trend, I can't see NBC renewing the show. It continues to lose ratings by the week, and now Chuck has shown up with better numbers in the spot Heroes used to have. Plus, Chuck had a 2.8 in its final quarter, then Heroes pulled a 2.1. That's a HUGE drop-off from a pretty good lead-in by NBC standards.

    NBC execs might be breathing a sigh of relief about Chuck, but they're saying "Oh crap" about Heroes. They might give it an extra season just to finish up the story, but if the numbers continue to go down I'm not sure even that will happen. If its demo dips below 2.0, I think the show is done.
  • Lisa G
    I agree with all Heroes fans here. Give it one more season. I want to see the writers give it a nice, satisfying finale. If you're interested in helping in the renewal efforts, follow wendilynnmakeup on twitter. We're setting up petitions and posting snail mail addys for letter writing.
  • dvr em all
    Heroes has sure gotten wonky but I enjoy watching it still...though not sure how much longer it can go on. I LOVE Fringe and BBT.
  • MIKE
    I also will stick with Heroes but after four seasons, I think that if there will be a Season 5, it will be its last. I still love the show though.
  • Jack
    NBC would have to order those extra episodes this week since the writers are breaking the second half now. CHUCK is not a show that can tag on an extra three episodes at the last minute.
  • MIke the Canadian
    NBC will probably order up the final 3 eps of chuck just before the Olympics, thus creating an overflow in the traditional season airings. That I feel would be a good thing, whats wrong with watching new stuff in June, not like its mid summer, plus with everything else ended Chuck will be all alone to bring in great numbers and lead into the 4th season in the fall. Hey look if your in last place where is it written you gotta do what everyone else does, the only way your going to get out of that rut is to do something unexpected. And since everything else NBC has tried has failed it wouldn't hurt. It was said last spring, Chuck was better than Heroes, and it is, Heroes should have been canceled and Chuck should never have been on the bubble, well they see that now, and anyone at NBC who doesn't see it needs to leave. Heroes is a show that has bled its initial fan base and continued it decline for the last 2 seasons, chuck on the other hand has held steady, and actually improved somewhat. Sure its not breaking records, but when you have a viewing audience of 20mil for american Idol you got to recognize that most people are just too dumb to watch something like chuck, and that really isn't a compliment for chuck, cause even though I love it its not a very smart show, but it entertains and that's all I need.
  • vsaint
    Agreed HEROES is painful to watch now, i will stick with it, until it sinks.
    CHUCK and Castle are nice little shows, nothing special but i'm starting to watch these shows more, as i'm getting tired of the old CBS CSI, Cold Case, etc.
  • tvmegafan
    I watched Heores, I love fringe 2 but, I've invested sooo much more time in Heroes So Ill stick with it til the end. which is right around the corner.
  • aznfratboy
    Holy crap @ Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men
  • Matt
    I remember when I though season 2 of Heroes sucked... But even that was 10 times better than this. All it is now is a bunch of BS featuring people with abilities who have a bunch of unnecessary obstacles thrown in their way while driving down a road that leads nowhere. There isn't even a purpose to the show anymore. Nobody cares that Claire and Matt Parkman want to lead normal lives and for the love of God get rid of her stupid little annoying roommate, but for the sake of the people who have had to endure her for the entire season... Please make her death nice and slow.

    Just a few of the steps that MIGHT be able to resurrect a once-great show.
  • Its awsome that How I Met Your Mother did great. That was one of the best episode yet. Got so close to showing who Teds wife is.

    Oh and The Big Bang Theory is a beast wow it gets huge numbers every week.
  • vsaint
    It's already been stated, LTM isn't coming back until late Spring. They want some summer programming along with Code 58.
    Genius Show was delayed and FOX is running encore episode of Simpsons and Human Target.
    Both Fringe and LTM are going to have survive on there own.
    Either way LTM or Fringe isn't getting the HOUSE lead in spot next year, guaranteed.
  • Dee
    I propose that ABC and CBS work a straight-up strategic trade. Accidentally On Purpose goes to ABC and Better Off Ted goes to CBS.
    Then see what happens. If both are probably to be cancelled, there is really no downside. Each would have a better chance for revival.

    Imagine this:

    8:00 - Two and a Half Men
    8:30 - How I Met Your Mother
    9:00 - The Big Bang Theory
    9:30 - Better Off Ted
    10:00 - CSI: Miami

    Ted would go from obscurity to being a hit virtually overnight.
    It deserves that kind of break.
  • Jack
    I see Devorak is back trolling against CHUCK.
  • kt
    My "2 1/2 Men" brought in 17 million viewers

    maybe NBC needs to put CBS' reruns on their 10pm spot.....

    affiliates would like those numbers......Lenos past his prime....please just retire...
  • Mark D.
    My reviews for last nights shows:

    How I Met Your Mother--9/10
    Accidentally On Purpose--6.5/10
    The Secret Life of the American Teenager--7/10
    Make It Or Break It--9/10
    Chuck--8.5/10
    Heroes--8/10
    Castle--7/10

    Great numbers for HIMYM!

    Poor Heroes :( I really hope it gets renewed for one final season of at least 13 episodes, it's one of my favorite shows.

    Chuck is looking good for Season 4 :)
  • SourPip
    TBBT just amazes each week. Who knew it would be such a monster hit? I watched the first season and thought it would be cancelled.

    Fringe...oh dear...when will it go away?...I thought this week was supossed to be the big reveal when we all get to see that Thurdsay is the problem for Fringe. And yet, even paired with the mighty HOUSE, it still flops...
  • Lisa G
    Heroes has stayed within budget so that is not an issue. Monday is jammed up, now with another of my fave shows, Fringe. I was loyal to Heroes and watched that live. Will catch BBT and Fringe online. A petition is going around to save Heroes. If interested, go to twitter, follow wendilynnmakeup and read about the efforts to save Heroes for at least one more season.
  • evelyn27
    More people are watching The Bachelor than are Chuck. What's wrong with the world!? D:
  • tw
    For comcast chuck > heroes, why?

    1) syndication, heroes has a story that flows through the whole season, just like 24 you cant watch episode 5 if you do not know 1-4. that does not work so well for syndication. Chuck on the other hand is mostly "mission of the week" with some multiepisode arc weaved in but not too much, so you can enjoy most episodes without seeing the episode before it.

    2) buzz: Heroes is not liked. it has a negative vibe. Chuck is LOVED or ignored, much better.

    3) Heroes is expensive. Panettier Quinto and gang are not cheap.
  • A5J4D X
    wtf i hate american viewers right now! come on how hard is it to watch heroes live!
  • Jackson
    Well, I tried to watch Chuck due in large to the endless promos from NBC, but it is just not good. Finishing fourth in a season that is less competitive than the Fall season is not good at all. Heroes and Trauma had to deal with MNF and Godawful DWTS. Heroes, which is okay is about cooked and I expect Chuck to slowly decline. In the Fall I watched Heroes followed by Trauma for some reason. Trauma was weak for about four episodes and then something happened, writing, character development perhaps and it became by far my favorite new show. Tremendous cast. Ship may well have sailed on Trauma, but am anxiouisly awaiting the last six episodes.
  • Kathy B.
    DVR'd six shows, only had time to watch Chuck. Monday night is too jam packed.
  • UH
    I have seen Chuck 03 only now...well...what a relief !!! it's still the old good Chuck ( the first 2 episodes scary me!! I'm glad they made a 2 hour premiere!! Otherwise it was already @ 2,2 ratings!!! ) :)
  • firestorm
    yah for HIMYM 100th episode was awesome great #'s + castle got pretty good ratings Alisa Malano guest starring probebly helped
  • marc
    why you guys always talk about Chuck?

    Chuck will fail on ratings!!!!
  • Petrie
    The good thing for Chuck is that it has momentum in the right direction, unlike say Heroes. It is a strong, well-written show that is adored by critics and loved by fans. I think that perhaps viewers may fall off in the next couple of weeks, but to drop it into the dangerous levels I don't think so.
  • Eduardo Peixoto
    I don't get how people can't get tired of Two and a Half Men same old sexist jokes, that appear to fill every minute of the show's run.
    I thought fun at first, but now it's a really annoying show to me.

    Wow, great numbers for HIMYM, congrats, it was a great, great episode of a overall great series.
  • MassNerder
    When Chuck first hit the airwaves, I was a pretty big Heroes fan, but after the way they have butchered that show, I would MUCH rather get an additional season of Chuck in lieu of another season of Heroes...

    Go Chuck!! I hope everyone keeps tuning in!
  • David
    W0W!! What's that rating of House! o__O 12.23 million viewers! It's been getting really low this and last season...
    Yay for TBBT and 2 and 1/2 man!
  • Matt
    Thanks Robert! Sorry I missed it. I guess I've just been spoiled with Chuck-related posts getting their own spots! :-D


    Favorite line from last night's Chuck ep:

    Devon: You and what army?
    Chuck: Sarah and her fists...
  • Jonathan
    Is it just me or should Leno have achieved higher ratings last night with all of the recent publicity? Not that it's relevant at this point...
  • Deacon
    Chuck has to stay next season. Its NBC's only popular scripted show. They have to keep it to at least establish a baseline viewership to hold the line while whatever new shows come about next year. If I were NBC, I would reward its loyal viewers by at least keeping around one of its shows. If they get rid of all of them, they could potentially bottom out even farther next year.

    My only question is, who the heck is still watching Two and Half Men and Big Bang Theory? They have to be the worst, most boring, most predictable shows ever.
  • Ryan47
    Like Chucksmom, I was hoping for slightly better numbers for Castle, but you know what? The fact that it continues its slow and steady climb coming out of the break is a very encouraging sign. I certainly can't (and won't) complain about the 2.6/7/9.5. That's consistency that's almost unheard of in this crazy TV numbers "game".

    Hey...anyone seen pisher? :P
  • Alex
    House got the same demo than the night Dancing with the Stars season finale aired, it's the lowest demo of the season for now (and no baseball messing up with the ratings)
  • Chucksmom
    Honestly, I was hoping for Castle to pull at 2.9 or a 3.0 to get renewel. Especially following The Bachelor.

    Chuck did well considering all the tough Monday night competition.
  • Josh Emerson
    I am SO happy Chuck trounced Heroes in the ratings. We can only hope that continues! To be honest I was dreading these numbers, given the competition of House and HIMYM. I figured those were going to take more away from Chuck than the CBS procedurals and Housewives/B&S combo on Sunday.
  • Seb
    Alex,

    We know Chuck's future ratings may fall, just like they may with any show.

    Surely you can only determine if a show is a Success or a failure based on the episodes that have aired? for now Chuck is a success based on it's first 3 episodes.

    Lets be honest, most Chuck fans were dreading how bad the numbers were going to be, especially after seeing how bad Trauma/ Heroes/ Mercy were doing. Last season Heroes got a 3.0 in it's season finale and by episode 3 of this season had dropped to 2.5, like Chuck it had a double episode premiere. Last season Chuck got 2.3 in it's season finale and last night got a 2.6. So I don't think you can blame Chuck fans for being happy.

    I'm not sure you can compare it to Southland or Parks, Chuck is in it's 3rd season which could give you a better idea of where it's ratings will go.

    I'm not of the opinion that NBC exec's were jumping around doing hi-5's and celebrating, I would have thought it would more a sigh of relief that they one less disaster to deal with. They've got to be more concerned with how Heroes did last night as Heroes is a much bigger fish.
  • Paul 80
    NBC has a secert weapon and its not CHUCK. His name is Jeff Gaspin. Finally the suits have hired a person with a programming proven record (USA NETWORK). It may take Mr. Gaspin 3 or 4 years to turn this giant corp. around, but if anyone can Jeff Gaspin is the one.

    On the unfavorable comments on (Chuck) Sundays 1st show I whole understand. The writers had very diffuclt hurdle. They needed to cram 2 hours of story telling into a 1 hour show to acommodate both new and old viewers.

    I heard a FEW interesting developments for CHUCK. Hopefully everyone will know in the next month.

    Robert and Bill the awesome contest is, well awesome
  • Build A Better Fan
    Chuck did as well as I expected, after Sunday's performance.
    It's over the first real hump of the season, as far as I'm concerned. Next week is the second hump: surviving 24's big season premiere.

    And the only other obstacle I see (and it's not much of an obstacle) is the hiatus for the Olympics. Now we get to see what effect it has on NBC's promotion when the hiatus is filled with a big fat honkin' borrowed audience. Monday, March 1, the day after the Olympics, the first thing in NBC's prime time is... that's right!

    But just think, Chuck fans...
    How much better would the numbers have been if Fox hadn't changed their schedule twice to put the Simpsons specials (which lucky for them got the benefit of a football overrun) and House's season premiere in Chuck's path?
  • Tiger Woodz - Next on Cheaters
    FRINGE did better than I expected. But its future is still very dicey. Depends on the trend during for the remaining episodes of Season 1.

    HEROES? End it this season. Its sputtering like an old overheated Model T. The circus plot was pointless. I didnt watch much of it since FRINGE was on, but what little I saw was awful. Peter walked in and destroyed deaf girls Cello? Boo hoo! The cast looks like its going thru the motions just to collect a paycheck and seems to know the end is near.
  • @KellyH, I disagree, Sylar is the most interesting part of Heroes. If he would have died, he'll be gone. I think Heroes might come back, but only for syndication purposes.

    As far as Chuck holding up, I think it will stick within the 2.7-2.4 range until the Olympics. Afterwords it will probably increase, at least for a couple of eps.

    I know everyone is picking on Tom, but I'm gonna say this. If NBC canned every show that came in fourth, they would cancel all of these:
    Chuck
    Heroes
    Mercy
    Law & Order: SVU
    Community
    Parks & Recreation

    Leaving only
    Biggest Loser (1st or 2nd)
    Office (2nd, sometimes 3rd)
    30 Rock (3rd)
    Law and Order (Friday, 2nd or 3rd)
  • VYuci
    @Alex

    Given the competition Chuck had to go up against, The Simpsons and the special that aired afterward (had a huge NFL lead-in) on Sunday, and the 100th episode of HIMYM and the return of House, I'd say that Chuck did fairly well for NBC. Was there erosion from Sunday to Monday? Of course, but it wasn't as bad as some had projected.

    3 episodes in, Chuck is doing well for NBC, that cannot be denied. Is it too early to celebrate? Of course, but it's a win for Chuck and NBC.

    Next week Chuck *should* be able to increase its ratings, but we'll know for sure next week the trajectory the show's heading in.

    BTW, wasn't Chuck the only show on NBC to premiere up vs.last season?
  • Chuckme2
    So wait Chuck even if it got a 2.4 it would be screwed yet nothing on Mondays is getting that.

    Come on Trauma couldn't do it, Heroes couldn't do it, so why all the doom and gloom about Chuck.

    Also name me one time besides 3D that Chuck drew 7.3 million and a 2.6 demo.

    You guys are depressing. Also Bromstadt said she is looking for Chuck to get Heroes type numbers. Well hello.

    Seriously some people on this thread.
  • Joe
    I have to admit last night bbt was not the best but I am so glad it got 5.7 and almost 16 million viewers

    this show already has been renewed season four and probably a season 5
  • William
    @KellyH: Zachary Quinto's Sylar character has taken over the centerpiece. At first, I thought the Hiro character would. But Quinto is coming off one of the biggest box office movies of last year in "Star Trek" and I wonder if the peacock boys wanted to milk that aspect. I liked how the government story started last year but it reverted back to ol Sylar again. Like watching a Big Ten football season and always at the end of the year the Michigan-Ohio State game has a factor in the championship.
  • William
    Very encouraging for the Chuckster... Interesting the TV listing for Two And A Half Men in the USA Today yesterday. Saying it was an "important" night for the show. CBS wanted to see who was watching the show the listing said. Very odd. Is is a carryover from Charlie Sheen's personal problems? The sad fact that the show in getting long in tooth and Jake is about college bound? Charlie's character needs to be that crazy single guy again. But I was curious why CBS was considering this episode so important?
  • Corey
    @ Alex:

    I agree with the majority of what you're saying. It is definitely too early to assume Chuck is going to be a big success (by NBC standards) this season. But I think it's okay to let fans enjoy this early success for now. It's a good sign that there was a fair amount of retention between nights and that there were not many viewers lost as Monday night went on.

    Obviously there is no way of knowing how things will turn out in the future, but this is at least a good start. If the show had started at a 2.4 and 6 million viewers, it might be time to panic. But it is starting strong, so there's no reason not to celebrate that fact. But we'll have to wait and see how the next couple weeks go, then wait again to see how it fares once the Olympics are over.
  • Alex
    I said this in my first post and I’ll say it again – people are getting very ahead of themselves with Chuck.

    Last night was the third episode of the season and the first in its regular timeslot to try and spin it as a success or failure at this point really doesn’t make all that much sense. Remember how many people were patting NBC on the back when they launched Parks and Southland last year and then they promptly fell off a cliff? Same with FlashForward over on ABC this season. At this stage Chuck is still very much in the wait and see pile, I’d chalk last night’s numbers up as a (relative) win for NBC and Chuck but it dropped viewers from Sunday (and dropped viewers across its two-hour run on Sunday itself) and things are only going to get harder for Chuck as the season progresses.

    What it does next week (minus House and with the weaker 24 at 8PM) will be telling as will what it does the following week. If it can retain this audience (or grow) then start doing back flips but if it just bleeds viewers from here on out Chuck is screwed.
  • drosejr
    One thing that Chuck fans should start to worry about is Obama's State of the Union speech. We already know it will not be on Thursday, Feb 2, so as to not preempt the Lost debut (think Disney is contributing to his campaign fund?). Tuesday or Wednesday are probably out because of American Idol, although I can see the Dems putting the speech on one of those days just to tweak Fox. That leaves Monday, and a choice of a time slot. Not sure whether SOTU generally goes at 8 or 9 pm. I think it usually goes on at 9, but his speech last year, as we know, was at 8. If he does choose Monday at 8 again, that could not knock some wind out of Chuck's sails for the second year in a row.
  • JaySin420
    Way to go Fringe! Now how about leaving it on Mondays next season? Heroes has become unwatchable, at least in the past when it was bad it was still kinda fun but now NOTHING EVER happens. I say cancel Heroes and send Zach Quinto to Fringe!
  • Jack
    Look through CHUCK's ratings history and you will find that it bottoms out its lowest ratings per half in its second or third episode back. If that trend is accurate this season will not dip below a 2.5 and finish at a 2.9. NBC will renew CHUCK prior to May sweeps.
  • Matt, yes, in the weekly cable top 25 post.
  • Matt
    Was there any announcement regarding how the Chuck marathon did on SyFy?
  • Holly
    @Bill,
    Good Wife’s current 18-49 average of 2.64 (inc. repeats) is #8 for CBS scripted shows.

    Has GW had a lot fewer repeats than other shows? Or does that not include the 1/2 comedies? Otherwise the 8th seems high.
  • Mike
    @Devorak

    Plus, with Leno moving out of primetime, it will add at least 2 hours of scripted programming each week. (The rest filled by reality shows, Dateline, or specials.)

    Another good sign for Chuck.
  • X-R.G.
    Cue the voice of Jack Bauer: "The following takes place between this Sunday Night and Monday night" --

    -finally 24...I - can't wait ! it's coming (after Sunday's Premiere of coarse)...Now Monday's won't be boring at least for the next 17 or 18 mondays. :)
  • Mike
    @Devorak

    If Chuck holds at 2.6 (or even drops to 2.5), it'll be among NBC's top 2 or 3 current scripted dramas.

    Plus, it seems like a good omen that NBC is moving forward with JJ Abram's new spy drama for next season - I picture a "NBC Spy Night" in the fall.
  • SciFiGeekNJ
    During November sweeps didn't LTM also have stiffer comeptition.
    Like Dancing with the Stars?
  • Mike
    @Corey

    Agreed. Historically, Chuck's ratings have been stable when blocks of episodes are aired week-after-week. They only went down after hiatuses and pre-emptions.
  • JNewt
    Just WOW! at Men its really benefiting from not having DWtS in that slot right now. Hasn't it been a couple a seasons now when Men has reached that high? as for 8pm thats a who diff' story because I really think Gary needs to move to this night somewhere.

    FOX had a good night all-around, a better hold for fringe behind House i say they got to keep it there.

    Heroes should be done, don't bring back a dead horse.

    Castle you're awesome!!!!!

    Can't wait for AI which features Ellen's debut a judge and Simon's final season, The X Factor is going to be a cool show.
  • UH
    Any news about Chuck Second Season DVD sales ?
  • Devorak
    QUESTION:

    Knowing that Comcast is working to pull NBC primetime out of the 4th place ranking.

    Knowing that NBC has already ordered at least 18 pilots, heavy on the scripted dramas.

    Why is a good thing that the Monday premier of Chuck found itself in.. 4th place?

    Looking at the numbers up there, it seems to me that Chuck will have to improve A LOT just to be 3rd.
  • Ryan Jones
    Corey, I dont understand why either. Im very very high on Chuck right now and it is a tremedous show. I look for the show to be in the low 3.0 range.
  • Matt
    Isn't NBC's average viewers during Primetime like 2.25-2.35? A 2.6 is approximately 10% above that mark. I think NBCU wanted a 2.3 or 2.4 for an average. I can't remember where I read it, but this must have them smiling ear to ear. Go Chuck!!
  • Corey
    A bunch of people on here are saying they expect Chuck's ratings to fall back into the 2.3-2.4 range, but I don't understand why. Last season's ratings began to fade because of the pre-emption by Obama that forced the show to air episodes out of order, and the fact that there were a few crappy episodes that lost new viewers. But from literally every source that has seen preview episodes of this season, I've read they all say the episodes get better and better.

    The critics and NBC execs are all very high on the quality of the shows this season. So I don't think it's totally out of the question for the episodes to hold their audiences up until the Olympics start. Coming back from a two-week hiatus will be another story, although the Olympics should provide some very good advertising time for Chuck. If NBC gives it as much promotion during the Olympics as it did during NFL football, Chuck should be just fine.

    It seems a lot of people are assuming the show will lose some ratings throughout the season and be back on the bubble, and understanding setting the bar low so you're not disappointed. But I see no reason that the show can't hold the pace it's on, especially since I think House and The Bachelor are going to lose viewers as the season progresses.
  • Corey
    @Tom

    You need to: 1) take a chill pill, and 2) learn how numbers and ratings work before you start criticizing and looking like an idiot.

    As with most things in life, ratings are relative. And they are relative to how the rest of the network is doing. NBC is bleeding ratings and continues to be obliterated by the competition. A 2.6 demo with more than 7 million viewers is very good for NBC in one of the most competitive time slots of the week.

    All you're doing is looking at the entire night and saying, "Chuck finished fourth! HA, it will be canceled!" You even stated Chuck will be canceled and said it is a fact. Clearly you have no clue what you're talking about. If NBC canceled every show that finished fourth in its time slot, they would have any shows left.

    Chuck's numbers last night were very good and very encouraging. If it can hold those numbers, it'll be back for another season.
  • SSJ
    Go Chuck!
  • Seb
    Jason

    I doubt huge amounts of promotion would have helped Heroes. Heroes premiere had a 5.9 rating an 14.29 million total viewers. People who stopped watching stopped watching for a reason, and that reason probably still exists. It's going to be an almost impossible task to get those viewers back especially as Heroes is serialized.

    Chuck on the otherhand has a core loyal fanbase which is probably why it's ratings are similar to last year. It's why Chuck is the number one searched keyword on here and you had the Subway campaign. Chuck needed that extra promotion because some probably thought it got cancelled last season; then at the start of the fall season Chuck wasn't on the listings, instead there was Trauma. For NBC to bring back Chuck mid-season, and on a Sunday they had to heavily promote it just so the existing fans knew it was returning. It's also likely the writers convinced NBC the change in Chuck's direction could pick up new viewers.

    Heroes on the otherhand premiered in the fall like it has the previous Seasons, apart from being an hour earlier. Those who wanted to watch it were probably aware of it's return but instead decided to watch a competing network.
  • Ambaryerno
    "Given that we finally got to see Ellie scantily clad last night, a lot of things went up last night."

    ROFL. My TV set nearly exploded on Sunday. Yvonne Strahovski AND Mini Anden on-screen together in their skivvies is TOO much hot at any one time.
  • The_GodfatherSJP
    Ack! Not really a difference between Fringe and LIE TO ME above. Wish I could edit the previous post...
  • That's fantastic news for Castle!!! I hope it keeps it up. Pray that those who watched it solely because of Alyssa Milano become regular viewers, but I'm hopeful that the show will improve from its merits, and not only because of a prominent guest star or strong lead-in. But of course, anything that will help boost its ratings is welcome.


    I want to rest easy, but it seems like there will be more competition in the near future. Cable shows are starting their new seasons even I haven't decided whether to watch Damages at 10pm and just watch Castle online plus I heard NBC's moving Leno to a later time slot, which means there'll be room for yet another drama series. I'm such a worry-wart! Haha!


    With a few episodes left, hang in there Castle! I think you can! I think you can!
  • The_GodfatherSJP
    Robert, good point about Football. I forgot about that.

    Still, without MNF or anything else you'd expect a bigger 18-49 bump for Heroes then, as there's a demo overlap between men in that bracket for sports and scifi/action (probably the main reason 24 doesn't appear until the winter, really). Instead, Heroes tanked against another Sci-Fi competitor.

    Not really a difference between Fringe and Heroes, it's just improved slightly. So if you want to compare the two shows, on Fringe's side you have
    1) It's got a bigger fanbase (based on DVD sales)
    2) It does slightly better or the same at the 9PM hour that Lie To Me (I'm basing this off the 2.6/2.7 Lie to Me received in November before leaving, I usually ignore the premiere ratings for its average 18-49 demo);
    3) It's got a big name producer/writer behind it in J.J. Abrams.

    Lie to me has
    1) Better Live + SD ratings because of a gigantic lead in
    2) It's a FOX in house production

    Seems like last nights ratings indicate that neither show is stronger than the other on any given night. Lie to Me would do Fringe's numbers without House to lead in, and probably worse at 9PM Thursdays. So, point #1 for Lie to Me really isn't there. And, even though its a FOX production, it hasn't sold well at all on DVD, not even cracking 30,000 on The-numbers.com chart its first week of release, so FOX is really only seeing syndication money in addition to broadcast revenues.

    I guess it comes down to a question of whether Fringe's bigger fanbase and pedigree cancels out Lie To Me being a FOX production or not.
  • KellyH
    Heroes gets a final season renewal for several reasons:

    1. NBC invested so much in the show early that it would be exceptionally bad form not to let it wrap up.

    2. A full order gets it to 100 for syndication.

    3. DVD sales very strong.

    4. Very strong overseas.

    5. Hayden Panettiere on TV is something NBC will want to keep as long as they can, and they will use the last season to find some way to launch some new show with Hayden.

    5. Produced by NBC/Universal, which increases syndication interest.

    6. If they have the balls to actually kill off Sylar for good at the end of this season (which they had better), then jaded fans might just come back for one last season.


    I know this site is rarely about content or quality of material, but the Heroes writers have only themselves to blame for this. Had they been willing to kill Sylar off ages ago, fans may not have defected. Their strange devotion to a central villain who has outlived his usefulness several times over is what has killed the show. And that's the truth.
  • Ryan Jones
    All I have to say is that im very content with Chucks rating last night. A 2.6 isnt bad for the 2nd show, however I know the rating with be strong next week. AWESOME night for CBS, It is unbeliveable how good Big Bang Theory and TWO 1/2 MEN do for a half-hour comedy. It appears as though Heroes will NOT be apart of NBC's "rebuilding" as Heroes will be canceled.
  • Patrick J. Murphy
    Not bad for Chuck. Hope it goes up.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Given that we finally got to see Ellie scantily clad last night, a lot of things went up last night. :-D
  • Carol
    I'm glad that Castle did well since I love the show especially considering that the episode last night was the worse one in my opinion in both seasons. It was hardly watchable. Alyssa Milano was awful as a guest star.
  • Rc
    Poor Heroes, used to beat Chuck in ratings badly. Look at it now O.o

    Go Chuck!!!
  • Seraphim
    So Fox's master plan to destroy Chuck by airing House 2 weeks early worked out as good as I hoped it would - which is: "not at all" :-)

    Looks as if we may not have to worry as much as last year about future seasons of Chuck, but then again only 3 out of 19 episodes this season aired so far. I guess a lot can happen from now on in either direction.
  • 5506/orange5506
    Not bad for Chuck. Hope it goes up. :)
  • nzombi23
    Promos or no proms, what's good is good but Heroes ain't been good yet! I will still do poorly! The CW's Smallville receives literally NO PROMOTION and it still preforms decently in its NINTH season on a FRIDAY! Heroes needs to go. I'm sure there is something which makes some sense which can replace it.
  • Brian
    I don't watch Chuck, but it looks like it made a good self improvement which is probably satisfying, but still finishing fourth for NBC. But anything positive considering what's happening with that network is good news.

    But yeesh, it really had way better numbers than Heroes did with the same slot all season long earlier and Heroes moving back to its original slot with the better numbers from its old slot from the Chuck lead-in and it did WORSE, ouch.
  • Anonymous
    I'm surprised this hasn't been posted (yet) - but ABC gave a 2nd season order to "The Middle", "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town"
  • Richard
    As someone who likes both Heroes and Chuck I have to say that this is great and it sucks at the same time. I really don't get why Heroes get so low ratings but is always the most popular show on Hulu the next morning.
  • Chuckme2
    Jack says:
    January 12, 2010 at 8:59 am
    NBC execs are running through the offices doing high fives.

    Do you work for NBC? If so that is great.
  • andoni
    Alright, that's bad numbers for Heroes, but looking on the good side, it got better numbers than the previous week (4.57). Let's see if David Anders (Adam Monroe), George Takei (Kaito Nakamura) and Tamlyn Tomita (Ishi Nakamura) can make the numbers grow.
  • Dario
    I'm one of the biggest fans of heroes and it's time to say this ; CANCEL IT !
  • Last night's Fringe was an episode from season 1 that never aired or made the DVDs. I posted about it yesterday:

    http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/11/spoilers-t...
  • j
    I watched The Bachelor due to the controversy. But the show, as it turns out, is really, really boring. Esp since the guy is really boring. The only part that was exciting was the 3 or 4 minutes when the host confronted Roslyn. Everyone else's reactions to it were just drama queen hysterics which got annoying. Why is this 2 hours long?
  • Jason
    Damn if NBC promoted Heroes like they did Chuck the ratings would go up what do u except when u only promo of heroes is on sunday night I think I saw 3 promos the whole winter break 4 heroes it suck cause the show is very good damn the writers stirke!!
  • Question for Fringe fans- Did anyone else notice that the Charlie character was in last nights episode. It was a new episode yet that character was killed off weeks ago. It appeared that they aired a so-so stand alone episode that was shot before the events leading up to his characters demise. Am I missing something as I dont get it?


    Chuck
  • nzombi23
    Heroes was so awful last night the only thing i can remember from the episode is ratatouille. Damn...like make a point! Chuck on the other hand was absolutely amazing! So original, so entertaining! I expect good things from Chuck :)
  • BrandonK
    Sheldon will still lose his virginity to Penny. You'll see. Eventually in some weird twist of fate! :)
  • Zachary
    Well with Chuck losing only 13% of his rating and Castle gaining 11% thats a good sign for both shows. Heroes...your in big trouble....lost 25% since beginning of season and since last week it lost 8%...not good...and the season average is down over 1 rating point than last seasons average....
  • MIke the Canadian
    Shit still floats as evident by House being on top, why is this show preforming, do people actually think it is a good show, how does Fox continually produce crap that succeeds yet the quality shows with some thought tend to hover on the brink of cancellation (ie Fringe) and what the hell are people still watching CSI Miami for, David Caruso to change up his acting style, got tired of that in NYPD Blue. I don't watch sitcoms so BBT and HIMYM don't even count in my book, they're like commercials I skip over them, too short for my complex attention span. My voracious media habit aside I guess I'm just beating my head against a dead horse if I expect quality from my TV viewing and should learn to accept and embrace the bad taste the permeates throughout society and into our media...
  • Alex
    Good news, bad news for Chuck fans again.

    Bad news you predictably dropped from the Sunday premiere and dropped back down to levels comparable with last year. Good news it’s at the top end of last year’s numbers and is an improvement on Heroes 8PM performances. As I said yesterday though Chuck is all about the long term if it holds steady at a 2.6 or grows from it over the coming weeks then I’d say Chuck fans can chalk that up as a win. If however it drops again next week and continues to bleed then Chuck fans should be very worried.

    Elsewhere Big Bang lays another demo smackdown on Men but at what point is Bang ready to stand on its own two feet? Without the Men lead-in would it still be producing these very big demos? I doubt we’ll find out any time soon but unlike NBC, CBS has managed to find and groom a replacement for their big comedy block anchor so Monday’s are looking in good shape for years to come. Meanwhile Accidently on Purpose continues to be the weak link at CBS on Monday night, its Wednesday performance and exactly what CBS are expecting from it there will be interesting to keep an eye on. If its loss isn’t too big from the move it might just be back next season.

    Heroes continues to die. No surprises there, eventually NBC will just throw in the towel with Heroes, right?

    Fringe meanwhile didn’t perform noticeably better out of House this season than Lie To Me, which is something of a blow for Fringe fans and something of a boost for Lie to Me fans but neither show is really looking much stronger or weaker than it was 24-hours ago. The real question is will Lie to Me get an early return now Genius has gone down the crapper? And if it does where will it and Fringe land after the Olympics? I would think that Fox would prefer to give an Idol slot to Lie to Me given that its ‘in-house’ but who knows...

    On one final note I’m still not sure what to make of Castle’s numbers and whether or not ABC are or should be pleased with them.
  • Johnny says:
    January 12, 2010 at 9:52 am

    Chuck finished fourth? They should change the name from Chuck to Suck!


    LOL! FAIL!
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