Solid Return for Lost; Positive Results for The Big 4 Nets

On the Air Tonight:
Prime-Time Programming Options 

Old Hollywood Meets Falcon Crest

Note: Birmingham is excluded from the following averages.

              HH
          Rtg/Shr

-Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Tuesday, February 3, 2009):

ABC: +117, CBS: +22, Fox: - 4, NBC: -15, CW: -62

-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), NCIS (CBS), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), Lost (ABC), The Good Wife (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:

The Biggest Loser (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):

As long as The CW remains in Tuesday repeats, nothing.

-Ratings Breakdown:

Excluding The CW, which continues to air encores, there was good news aplenty for the Big 4 networks on this first Tuesday in February. Dominant CBS inched past Fox by one-tenth of a rating point in the overnights with its line-up of blockbuster NCIS (#2: 12.2 rating/18 share), successful spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles (#1: 10.9/16) and bona fide keeper The Good Wife (#1: 9.2/15). Fox, which will no doubt dominate the evening among adults 18-49, opened with rock-solid American Idol (#1: 15.1/22), followed the new season of Kitchen Nightmares at a fourth-place 6.0/ 9. Comparably, retention for Kitchen Nightmares out of the second half of lead-in American Idol (15.7/23 at 8:30 p.m.) was only 38 percent.

In season-premiere news, two episodes of the final season of ABC’s Lost were on the map with a second-place finish in both the 9 p.m. (8.5/13) and 10 p.m. (7.9/13) hours. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown:

Lost (ABC)

9:00 p.m.: 8.6/13 (#2)

9:30 p.m.: 8.3/12 (#2)

10:00 p.m.: 7.9/12 (#2)

10:30 p.m.: 7.8/13 (#2)

Compared to the two-hour year-ago season opener on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 (6.7/10 from 9-11 p.m.) this was an increase of a noticeable 22 percent. Based on this growth, you can anticipate in the vicinity of 14 million viewers and a 6-rating among adults 18-49 for the return of Lost. The fast affiliate results will, of course, be posted at PIFeedback by approximately 12 p.m. ET.

Earlier in the evening on ABC was clips show Lost: The Final Chapter at a third-place 7.2/10 in the overnights from 8-9 p.m. 

Over at NBC, a one-hour repeat of one the network’s few hits, The Biggest Loser, finished fourth at 8 p.m., with a 3.3/ 5 in the overnights. That led into the two-hour original edition at a 6.2/ 9 from 9-11 p.m., with a consistent performance in every half hour as follows:

The Biggest Loser (NBC)

9:00 p.m.: 6.1/ 9 (#4)

9:30 p.m.: 6.2/ 9 (#3)

10:00 p.m.: 6.1/ 9 (#3)

10:30 p.m.: 6.3/10 (#3)

Considering the severity of the competition, The Biggest Loser is worthy of “honorable mention.”

The CW capped off this busy Wednesday with repeats of 90210 (#5: 0.7/ 1) and Melrose Place (#5: 0.5/ 1). At present, there is no news on when these dramas will be returning with original episodes.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

National Ratings in Prime-Time:

Led by The 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards, which rose to its best ratings in six years, CBS finished this final week in January as the most-watched network, with a first-place finish in households and adults 25-54. Compared to one year earlier, growth for the Eye net was as much as 79 percent among adults 18-34. The home of American Idol, Fox, still managed to win the week in both adults 18-49 and adults 18-34, but year-to-year the network was down by margins of 14 to 21 percent. Keep in mind that the year-ago week featured The Super Bowl on NBC, hence the significant erosion for this week’s wilted No. 4 Peacock net.

Elsewhere, ABC ranked third across the board, while last-place The CW was on the plus side, building by as much as 67 percent among adults 18-34. Don’t forget, of course, that low-rated Sunday was included in The CW’s year-ago average.

In season-premiere news, Fox’s non-scripted Kitchen Confidential returned with what sounds like a very disappointing 3.27 million viewers (#74) and a 1.4/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#55t) in the Friday 9 p.m. hour. But compared to the series-finale of lead-in Dollhouse (Viewers: #83, 2.18 million; A18-49: #78t, 0.9/ 3 at 8 p.m.), that was actually an increase of 1.09 million viewers and 56 percent in the demo. 

In potential new series news, the pilot telecast of CBS’ non-scripted Live for the Moment, created by Survivor host Jeff Probst, did not live for the moment in the ratings, with just 4.56 million viewers (#55) and a 1.0/ 3 among adults 18-49 (#75t) in the Thursday 8 p.m. hour. Needless to say, CBS will not be moving forward with Live for the Moment. Competing opposite Live for the Moment was week two of ABC’s The Deep End, which dipped to 6.09 million viewers (#39) and a 1.8/ 5 in the demo (#40t). Regularly scheduled occupant FlashFoward is scheduled to return in March. 

In specials news, NBC countered The Grammys with a two-hour SNL special themed Sports All-Stars, which was certainly no all-star with just 3.06 million viewers (#76) and a 1.2/ 3 among adults 18-49 (#62) in the Sunday 9-11 p.m. block. 

As we delve firth into development season, here is the freshman series scorecard (excluding repeats and ranked in order of total viewers). 

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – Tuesday 9 p.m.

Viewers: 16.94 million (#5), A18-49: 3.7/10 (#10t)
Grade: A

Human Target (Fox) – Tuesday 9 p.m. (moves to Wednesday at 8 p.m. tonight)

Viewers: 9.26 million (#19), A18-49: 3.1/ 8 (#15)
Grade: C (retention out of American Idol was just 38 percent in total viewers and 34 percent in adults 18-49)

Viewers: 6.09 million (#39), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#40t)

Viewers: 4.40 million (#59), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#50t)

Grade: C (Shark Tank built from lead-in Supernanny by 25 percent in adults 18-49)

Viewers: 3.59 million (#70), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#78t)

Viewers: 2.17 million (#84), A18-49: 1.1/ 3 (#70t)

As for soon-to-conclude The Jay Leno Show, there is one clear observation: loser. Take a look:

Monday – Viewers: 4.26 million (#63), A18-49: 1.2/ 3 (#62t)

Tuesday – Viewers: 6.20 million (#36), A18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#35t)

Thursday – Viewers: 4.34 million (#60), A18-49: 1.2/ 3 (#62t)

Friday – Viewers: 4.82 million (#51t), A18-49: 1.4/ 4 (#55t)

Here are the final national ratings for the week of January 25, 2010 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses), followed by the top 30 rated programs of the week. Note that the Wednesday 9-11 p.m. block was not rated due to President Obama’s latest address to the country. 

CBS: 7.3 rating/12 share (+22), Fox: 5.6/ 9 (-14), ABC: 4.1/ 7 (+11), NBC: 3.3/ 5 (-68), CW: 1.2/ 2 (+20)

CBS: 12.02 million (+27), Fox: 9.71 (-14), ABC: 6.32 (+ 9), NBC: 5.14 (-76), CW: 1.86 (+25)

Fox: 3.5 rating/9 share (-17), CBS: 3.3/ 9 (+50), ABC: 1.9/ 5 (-10), NBC: 1.6/ 4 (-79), CW: 0.8/ 2 (+33)

CBS: 4.1/10 (+37), Fox: 4.0/10 (-17), ABC: 2.3/ 6 (- 4), NBC: 1.9/ 5 (-77), CW: 0.8/ 2 (+33)

Fox: 3.0/ 9 (-21), CBS: 2.5/ 8 (+79), ABC: 1.5/ 5 (-17), NBC: 1.2/ 4 (-83), CW: 1.0/ 3 (+67)

 Top 30 Rankings

The 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards (CBS): 25.87 million, American Idol – Wednesday (Fox): 25.71, American Idol – Tuesday (Fox): 24.45, NCIS (CBS): 20.22, NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS): 16.91, House (Fox): 14.21, Bones (Fox) and 60 Minutes (CBS): 12.33 each, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 12.07, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 11.50, The Bachelor (ABC): 11.47, Desperate Housewives (ABC): 11.44, The Mentalist R (CBS): 11.07. 24 (Fox): 10.81, Castle (ABC): 10.55, The Good Wife R (CBS): 9.97, The Biggest Loser (NBC): 9.71, CSI: Miami R (CBS): 9.55, Human Target (Fox): 9.26, CSI R (CBS): 9.14, Fringe (Fox): 8.98, Numb3rs (CBS): 8.81, America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC): 8.55, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC): 8.54, State of the Union Analysis (NBC): 8.28, Ghost Whisperer (CBS): 8.20, 20/20 (ABC): 8.08, Medium (CBS): 8.02, Brothers & Sisters (ABC): 7.65, Dateline – Friday (NBC): 7.42

The 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards (CBS): 9.9 rating/24 share, American Idol – Wednesday (Fox): 9.5/26, American Idol – Tuesday (Fox): 9.0/24, House (Fox): 5.2/13, NCIS (CBS): 4.0.11, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 4.0/10, The Bachelor (ABC): 3.9/10, The Biggest Loser (NBC): 3.8/10, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 3.8/ 9, NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS): 3.7/10, Desperate Housewives (ABC): 3.7/ 8, Bones (Fox): 3.6/10, 24 (Fox): 3.4/ 8, Family Guy (Fox): 3.2/ 7, Human Target (Fox): 3.1/ 8, Castle (ABC) and Fringe (Fox): 3.0/ 8 each, CSI: Miami R (CBS): 2.6/ 7, Chuck (NBC): 2.5/ 6, American Dad (Fox): 2.5/ 5, Brothers & Sisters (ABC) and The Simpsons (Fox): 2.4/ 6 each, The Mentalist R (CBS) and America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC): 2.3/ 6 each, 60 Minutes (CBS) and State of the Union Analysis (NBC): 2.2/ 6 each, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) and The Cleveland Show (Fox): 2.2/ 5 each, How I Met Your Mother R (CBS), The Office R (NBC) and Cops (Fox): 2.1/ 6 each

-Top 20 Rated Shows in Syndication – Week of Jan 18:

What follows are the top 20 rated shows in syndication (first-run and off-network) based on households for the week of Jan. 18, followed by any highlights worth noting:

Wheel of Fortune (CBS Television): 7.5 rating, Jeopardy (CBS): 6.4, Two and a Half Men (Warner Bros.): 5.5, Judge Judy (CBS): 4.9, Oprah (CBS): 4.8, Entertainment Tonight (CBS): 4.7, Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Weekend (NBC Universal) and Wheel of Fortune – Weekend (CBS): 3.7 each, CSI: NY (CBS): 3.6, Family Guy (Twentieth): 3.5, Inside Edition (CBS): 3.3, Dr. Phil (CBS) and The Office (NBCU): 3.1 each, Dr. Oz (Sony Pictures Television) and George Lopez (Warner Bros.): 2.9 each, Live with Regis & Kelly (Disney-ABC), Seinfeld (SPT), Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), Seinfeld –Weekend (SPT) and Two and a Half Men – Weekend (Warner Bros.): 2.8 each

-Two and a Half Men hit a new season high in households, extending its winning streak among all off-network sitcoms to 118 weeks (all without the benefit of a cable run).

On the Air Tonight:
Prime-Time Programming Options

 8:00 p.m. Modern Family (R)

 8:30 p.m. The Middle

 9:00 p.m. Modern Family

 9:30 p.m. Cougar Town

 8:00 p.m. Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials

 9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds

 8:00 p.m. Mercy

 9:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU

 8:00 p.m. Human Target (new time period)

 9:00 p.m. American Idol (new time period)

 8:00 p.m. Life Unexpected (R)

 9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (R)

The fourth (and final) season of TNT drama Saving Grace, headlined by Oscar winner Holly Hunter, will begin with back-to-back episodes on Monday, March 26 from 9-11 p.m. ET. One week later Saving Grace will air in the Monday 10 p.m. hour. Also on TNT, the second season of Southland (and first on the cable net) will conclude on Tuesday, April 6 at 10 p.m. ET out of a marathon re-airing of the second season episodes beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

Busy Ellen DeGeneres will make her official debut as the fourth judge on American Idol on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. ET. 

-MGM HD Counters The Super Bowl:

MGM HD will program against Super Bowl XVIL on CBS this Sunday with a marathon of six back-to-back musicals beginning at 2 p.m. ET with Treat Williams and Beverly D’Angelo in 1979’s Hair. Next up is The Cotton Club (1984), followed by The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), A Song is Born (1948), The Fantasticks (2000) and the 1954 version of Moulin Rouge, featuring Zsa Zsa Gabor and Jose Ferrer. This special musical lineup is part of MGM HD’s “MGM At the Awards,” which features movies in honor of the studio’s 85th anniversary. For more information, click on www.mgmhd.com/musicals. 

Old Hollywood Meets Falcon Crest

Who played Chase’s mother on long-running serialized drama Falcon Crest?

In honor of the return of Lost, tell me which one of the following characters was “killed off” first?

Is: a) Boone Carlyle. Although Boone (Ian Somerhalder) did fantasize that his sister Shannon (Maggie Grace) had died, he was critically injured when Mr. Eko's plane fell out of the trees in "Deus Ex Machine" (Season 1, Episode 19). He died of one episode later.

-Current kudos goes to:

Suzanne Ackley, Michelle Yarborough-Bauer, Carolyn Bisson, Gerry Bixenspan, Lisa Brause, Michael Campellone, Vanessa Coates, Larry Collins, Tom Condosta, Harold Cooper, Larry Corsa, Gus Curran, Audrey Davis, Christina D’Esposito, Arleen Fong, Jason Gold, Maureen Goldman, Geoffrey Gordon, Heidi Hoffmeister, Keith Hopkins, Kerry Hughes, Bob Ingersoll, Ken Jobe, Deb Kainer, Kevin Keefe, Stephanie Kelly, Mary Kinoshita, Synda Kollman, Steve Kurtzer, Adam Licker, Patty Lynch, Valeri Marquart, Michele McAleer, Michael McCray, Lisa Menin, Rich Miller, Anne Moynihan, Gordon Purcell, Michael Ratliffe, Julie Reis, Lisa Tatum-Roehrig, Tina Rolon, David Ruckman, Ron Salmon, Emily Schneider, Lonnie Staley, Larry Weinstock, Abbott Wool, Kevin Yim, Jeanne Yonkers