NBC - Over the past few years, it hasn’t been hard to make a case that NBC just can’t do anything right. It would seem that with startlingly few exceptions, the one constant in their programming decisions is the incredible way that viewers actively don’t watch their shows. Despite the heaps of praise from critics, the numbers for things like 30 Rock and Friday Night Lights have been disappointing, at best. Really, the biggest non-sports successes at the network over the last five years have come in the form of The Biggest Loser and America’s Got Talent. Those shows do fine, but I’m sure they don’t really represent what the powers that be want the NBC brand to be.
The good news in all of that is that the NFL is back. And not even the stank of NBC can stop that particular locomotive. The debut of Sunday Night Football (11.4mm/4.2) came in with the most viewers and highest demo for the week. Something we’ll be seeing much more of once the regular season kicks off. Elsewhere, Last Comic Standing (3.91m/1.5) continued to limp to the finish line. I have no idea if we’ll be seeing that one again, but I think we can count on another round of America’s Got Talent (10.48m/2.9 – 10.67m/2.8). Minute To Win It (6.48m/1.9) is looking like a strong possibility for another run as well.
ABC – As has become the norm, Scoundrels (3.28m/.8) and The Gates (2.65m/.7) got the week off to a very quiet start. Unfortunately, The Bachelorette wasn’t there to pick up the pieces. Instead, the debuts of Bachelor Pad (6.37m/2.2) and Dating In The Dark (4.44m/1.8) made for a ‘just okay’ Monday night. Wipeout (7.95m/2.6) was still solid on Tuesday. Shaq Vs (3.63m/1.4), on the other hand, wasn’t so solid. The week was rounded out by typical showings from Rookie Blue (5.97m/1.6) and Boston Med (4.48m/1.1).
FOX – The Teen Choice Awards (4.06m/1.5) got the ball rolling, and left me scratching my head trying to figure out kids these days. Russel Crowe was nominated for a Teen Choice award? For Robin Hood? I’m calling shenanigans. After that, it was business as usual. The cooking duo of Hell’s Kitchen (7.24m/3.3) and Master Chef (6.02m/2.6) stayed strong on Tuesday, while So You Think You Can Dance (6.13m/2.2 – 7.24m/2.4) got a little boost for finale week.
CBS - Nothing much to see here. Another round of Big Brother on Sunday (7.56m/2.5), Wednesday (7.1m/2.4), and Thursday (7.24m/2.4) led to Flashpoint (6.52m/1.2) on Friday.
CW - The little network is still searching for their own cheap summer hit. Clearly, 18 to Life (.63m/.3 – .69m/.3) and Plain Jane (1m/.4) are not it.
CABLE - There were a couple of premieres last week on cable, from American Chopper (2.77m/1.3) and L.A Ink (2.04m/1.1), but the most interesting story for me continues to come from the results of Rizzoli & Isles (7.42m/1.6) and Covert Affairs (5.17m/1.6). Both of them continue to best their more established lead-ins — The Closer (7.22m/1.4) and White Collar (4m/1.1) — in viewers and demo. Also, for those playing along at home, Mad Men (2.22m/.8) continues to drop. Where will it stop? Other cable numbers:
Basic
Premium
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Aug 16, 2010 @ 10:30 EST5EDT
