Ratings Clack – Season finales all over the place

by Brett Love

The week that was brought a host of finales to each of the networks. That was overwhelmingly good news. Even those that were off the year ago pace saw a boost over the previous tougher spring weeks. Over on cable, keep an eye on those 'Game of Thrones' numbers.

ABC - The week started with an okay finale performance for Desperate Housewives (10m/3.1) on Sunday. The show is not the hit it once was, but it’s still a solid performer. That was followed with two other solid finales on Monday and Tuesday from Castle (12.93m/3.3) and Body Of Proof (10.33m/2.1). Thursday also brought a night of finales from Wipeout (5.6m/1.7), Grey’s Anatomy (9.89m/3.6), and Private Practice (7.45m/2.5). Shows that still have a little work left to do included Dancing With The Stars (21.96m/4.6 – 18.11m/3.5), The Middle (7.68m/2.4), Modern Family (10.3m/4.1), Cougar Town (5.23m/2), and Happy Endings (3.7m/1.5 – 3.1m/1.3).

NBC - Calling it a season for NBC last week were Chuck (4.53m/1.4), SVU (8.98m/2.9), The Office (7.29m/3.9), and Parks & Rec (4.27m/2.4 – 3.72m/2). There’s still more to come from Celebrity Apprentice (6.58m/2.5), The Event (4.07m/1.3), L&O LA (4.36m/1.1), Biggest Loser (7.16m/2.9), The Voice (10.01m/4.5), and Friday Night Lights (3.31m/.9). Notable there? That’s a nice number for SVU to finish up with. And with no help, the coming finale for The Event could hit amazing new lows.

CBS - Survivor (13.11m/4) and the Reunion Show (11.28m/3.4) were down just a touch from last year, but still had a very nice result in the traditional Sunday finale. The news wasn’t quite as good on Monday, but How I Met Your Mother (7.15m/3.1), Mad Love (5.73m/2.2), Mike & Molly (8.64m/2.6), and Hawaii Five-O (10.41m/2.7) were all up over the previous low week. NCIS (18.62m/4), NCIS LA (15.61m/3.3), The Good Wife (12.58m/2.4), Criminal Minds (12.84m/3.3), Suspect Behavior (8.46m/2), Big Bang Theory (11.3m/3.6), Rules Of Engagement (8.83m/2.5), and The Mentalist (14.11m/2.8) also called it a season. Flashpoint (6.68m/.9) finished off the week.

FOX - There were three finales for FOX, including Raising Hope (5.4m/2.2), Breaking In (3.18m/1.3), and Bones (9.83m/3.2). That result probably hammered the last nail in the coffin for Breaking In. The rest of the shows still have finales to deliver. Those include The Simpsons (6m/2.5), Bob’s Burgers (4.66m/2.2), Family Guy (6.55m/3.2), House (8.92m/3.5), Chicago Code (5.86m/1.8), Glee (8.97m/3.6) and American Idol (23.56m/7.4 – 21.76m/6.3).

CW – It was season finales across the board for the little network as 90210 (1.64m/.8), Gossip Girl (1.36m/.7), One Tree Hill (1.48m/.7), Hellcats (1.13m/.5), Next Top Model (1.81m/.9), and Supernatural (2.14m/.8) all signed off.

CABLE -Not a lot of excitement over on cable, but it is worth noting that Game of Thrones (2.58m/1.2) continues to grow. Episode four was .23m/.2 above the premiere.That’s four weeks in a row where the audience has slowly edged up, and it’s a very good sign.

Basic