CABLE - With more of the usual summer ho-hum on the networks, cable was much more interesting this week. There were six big premieres to look at, with some very intriguing results. Over on A&E, it was the series premiere of The Glades (3.55m/.9). For a little perspective, that puts the show right around double the numbers of Breaking Bad.
Also clocking a series premiere, USA debuted Covert Affairs (4.88m/1.6). These were also interesting numbers, as they came on the heels of the second season premiere of White Collar (4.29m/1.2), while also besting Psych (3.68m/1.1). It looks like that could be a fun race. On a very similar note, TNT’s latest series, Rizzoli & Isles (7.55m/1.6) managed to trump The Closer (7.66m/1.5) in the demo. Brenda does still wear the viewer crown. It’s silly to draw any conclusions from series premiere numbers, but those three new shows have made the summer ratings much more fun.
It’s also worth noting that the big Phil Harris episodes of Deadliest Catch (8.55m/3.9), and After The Catch (6.85m/3.2), did huge numbers. Other cable numbers of note:
Basic
Premium
ABC - No surprises to start the week, as there were more struggles for Scoundrels (2.98m/.8) and The Gates (3.35m/1). The Bachelorette (9.64m/3.1) picked up the pace on Monday, with True Beauty (4.71m/1.6) treading water in its wake. Downfall (3.66m/1.3) continues to look like a one-and-done experiment on Tuesday.
There was good news to be had on Thursday when the network renewed Rookie Blue (6.38m/1.7). That decision was obviously helped by the fact that the show is doing very well in Canada as well. Boston Med (4.71m/1.3), wasn’t renewed.
NBC - Last Comic Standing (4.75m/1.7) started the week off in usual fashion. Things remained par for the course with Losing It With Jillian (3.94m/2.4) and America’s Got Talent (11.63m/3.3 – 11.44m/3.1) as well. If there was a surprise, it might have been that Minute To Win It (6.73m/2) continues to hold up. Friday brought a movie, The Jensen Project (3.93m/1). And things wrapped on Saturday with the newly relocated Persons Unknown (1.69m/.5).
FOX - Sons Of Tuscon (1.6m/.7) was up 146% this week! Or, you could say it had 31% of Pawn Star’s viewers, depending on which way you want to spin things. That led to Lie To Me (5.71m/1.8) and The Good Guys (3.42m/1) on Monday. You really have to wonder when the anvil is going to fall on The Good Guys. Does that show really make it to fall? The douchebag chef made way for the MLB All-Star Game (12.12m/3.8), which offered a nice boost to Tuesday.The numbers remain somewhat troubling for So You Think You Can Dance (6.03m/2.3 – 5.67m/2). It’s not end of the show bad, but I think we might be seeing a top 20 next summer.
CBS - Big Brother was in full force with episodes on Sunday (7.04m/2.4), Wednesday (6.38m/2.3), and Thursday (7.1m/2.4). That easily outpaced the scripted offerings of Flashpoint (5.76m/1.1) on Friday, and The Bridge (2.88m/.3) on Saturday.
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Jul 19, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
Good Guys doesnt belong on Fox. Its more of a USA “Characters Welcome” thing.
No love for “Louie”? How are those numbers?
I’m finding most of the shows this summer are underwhelming if not outright disappointing. Enjoyed “The Closer” and “Covert Affairs”. The rest were just meh. Looking forward to Mad Men next week though.
While I watch “The Good Guys” and enjoy it a little, I have to disagree that it’s more of a fit with USA’s shows. I think the quality of the USA original series are far better than “The Good Guys” is on its best day.
Keep in mind that I watch every USA series and GG, too, but I think it’s insulting to the USA shows to say that. I’m not trying to start an argument here, but I don’t think I’d get much of one from anyone who’s’ seen GG and anything USA offers.