CBS – This is a perfect case of creative scheduling actually making the network better. After years of trying to build a comedy block on Wednesday, with limited success, the network chucked the whole plan and moved Survivor (12.59m/4) to that spot. Just like that, they own the hour. Even better, Survivor‘s old spot was filled by Big Bang Theory (14.04m/4.9) and $#*! My Dad Says (12.58m/4). As if it’s some kind of crazy math, that hour is up too. There was a small hit taken in the 9:30 spot on Monday, where Mike & Molly (12.23m/3.9) aren’t quite up to the BBT numbers, but that’s still good for 2nd place on the night.
In fact, all of the scheduling shenanigans at CBS were so successful that it was the most watched network Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Even better, the network also had the top demo numbers for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Technically, Monday was the least successful night against the other networks, but even that night looked pretty dang good with How I Met Your Mother (8.79m/3.6), Rules Of Engagement (8.35m/3.1), 2 ½ Men (14.63m/4.9), and Hawaii Five-O (14.2m/3.9). Those are all numbers that every other network would be more than happy with.
The veterans that you expect good things from all delivered: NCIS (19.41m/4), NCIS:LA (15.76m/3.4 – 13.6m/3), Criminal Minds (14.13m/4), CSI (14.69m/3.4), The Mentalist (15.5m/3.4). The news was good for the new shows as well. Along with Five-O, $#*!, and M&M, The Defenders (12.17m/2.9) and Blue Bloods (12.81m/2.2) both got off to solid starts. If there is one bad spot in the CBS schedule, it might be Medium (6.12m/1.4). That’s much lower than what Ghost Whisperer delivered to kick off last season. Not sure if people are tiring of Medium, or if it was just a mistake to move the show to 8:00. CSI:NY (10.28m/2) was down from last year, but those are numbers that easily win the hour on Friday night.
FOX - If CBS had the best week overall, FOX had the biggest disparity between the highs and lows. Any questions about how Glee (12.45m/5.6) would perform now that the show is on its own, leading off Tuesday night, can be put to rest. That’s not just good. That’s the number one demo for a scripted program in premiere week. On a completely opposite note, nobody watched Lone Star (4.1m/1.3) on Monday. The only thing keeping that from being the least watched scripted show on the big networks was the fact that FOX also ran a new Good Guys (2.9m/.9) on Friday.
In curious news, House (10.69m/4.2) was off the pace. Those are still solid enough numbers, but I would think the network was expecting more. The news is also iffy for the new FOX comedies. They got the best time slot the network could offer, but Raising Hope (7.31m/3.1) and Running Wilde (5.6m/2.4) didn’t exactly run with it. Hell’s Kitchen (5.98m/2.6 – 7.17m/3.1) remains okay, and Bones (9.89m/2.7) is still a solid second Thursday at 8. Just as Fringe (5.73m/2.1) is still a solid fourth.
ABC - Monday was ABC’s big win of the week. A still dominant Dancing With The Stars (21.29m/5.1) and a solid Castle (10.7m/2.7) had the network tops in viewers and demo. DWTS was also potent on Tuesday (18.52m/4.4), bringing a good sampling to Detroit 1-8-7 (9.34m/2.3). Next week should be very telling for 1-8-7. Those numbers are awfully close to what The Forgotten premiered with.
Wednesday found the ABC comedy block solidified, thanks to The Middle (8.8m/2.7), Better With You (7.86m/2.5), Modern Family (12.67m/5.1), and Cougar Town (8.32m/3.4). That looks a lot better than the Hank-led mess from a year ago. Despite the solid numbers, it didn’t offer any help to The Whole Truth (4.85m/1.2). For a little perspective, that’s about 3.5 million viewers below the Eastwick premiere….
The Whole Truth wasn’t alone in stumbling. It was quickly joined by My Generation (5.17m/1.6), which barely registered on Thursday, before Grey’s Anatomy (14.32m/5.4) and Private Practice (8.83m/3.2) righted the ship.
NBC – While the CBS scheduling was clever in fixing problems, the NBC scheduling mostly looks dumb. Remember last year when Chuck was getting its ass handed to it every Monday at 8? Well, it’s back… on Monday at 8. What do you suppose happened? Yeah. Chuck (5.79m/2) again found itself in a very distant fourth place.
On a more positive note, The Event (10.88m/3.6) had very good premiere numbers. Chase (7.31m/2.3) couldn’t keep the ball rolling, getting swallowed up by the Five-O and Castle competition. Tuesday was a bit of a downer too. The Biggest Loser (7.23m/2.9) is still solid, but those numbers are down. More troubling were the numbers for week two of Parenthood (5.85m/2.5). Undercovers (8.7m/2.1) also had a disappointing premiere. That’s third in viewers and fourth in the demo. Given the way the network trumpeted their big deal with Abrams, they had to be expecting more. And by more I mean better numbers than the Mercy premiere (8.38m/2.3) at a bare minimum. SVU (10.08m/3.2) looked fine in its premiere.
And then there is Thursday… I really have no idea what the plan for NBC on Thursday is. Much like the situation with Chuck, Community (5m/2.2) was hammered all last season at 8:00. Why it returned there, I just don’t get. Moving 30 Rock (5.91m/2.6) to 8:30 was at least different. Although, didn’t we all know the show was being propped up by The Office (8.48m/4.4)? Outsourced (7.49m/3.6) is the new recipient of Michael Scott’s viewer charity program. Judging by the first episode though, those numbers are coming down. And at 10:00? The Apprentice (3.84m/1.4) probably has affiliates remembering the good ol’ days of Leno at 10:00. The week wrapped with everyone forgetting that Outlaw (4.99m/1.1) was even on.
CW – There wasn’t a lot of motion in the CW schedule this week. That’s a good thing. The shows generally stood up against the new full schedule very well. The biggest story was the premiere of the reunited Smallville (2.9m/1.3) and Supernatural (2.79m/1.2) on Friday. Proving once again that these two shows have among the most loyal audiences on TV, that was good for third place in the demo for Friday.
Elsewhere, the results look like this: 90210 (1.83m/.9) – Gossip Girl (1.84m/1) – One Tree Hill (1.86m/.9) – Life Unexpected (1.45m/.7) – Next Top Model (2.82m/1.3) – Hellcats (2.31m/1) – Vampire Diaries (3.56m/1.6) – Nikita (3.15m/1.1). Those numbers continue to be somewhat misleading where the younger demos are considered. For example, despite more than a million less viewers, Gossip Girl continues to more than double Nikita among Women 18-34.
CABLE – With the broadcast networks coming fully online, things are quieting down on cable. HBO made some noise with the premiere, and quick renewal, of Boardwalk Empire (4.81m/2). That’s not a bad result, although it does put it quite a ways below True Blood. The other story that continues to fascinate me is the way that people are actively not watching Terriers (.57m/.2).
Basic:
Premium
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Sep 27, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
Wow! I thought Outsourced was the funniest new show of last week. (I was a big fan of Office Space, and this show is much more like OS than The Office is)
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not speaking to whether or not the show is good, or funny. I just don’t see it as being the kind of show that is going to attract, and maintain, a large audience. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s doomed. 30 Rock and Community were both renewed without the ratings to support the decision.
Lone Star should switch spots with Fringe, so at least one of the shows can be safe.
*POST AUTHOR*
Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Lone Star couldn’t do any worse on Thursday, and Fringe could certainly use the boost that House would provide.
. . . . .
$#*! My Dad Says for the win … !!!