Ratings Roundup – 13th February 2011

Winners and Losers From The Last 7 Days

Apologies for the lack of a Ratings Roundup these last couple of weeks – I’ve been absolutely slammed. But the Roundup is back… and there’s lots to talk about…

WINNERS

MR SUNSHINE: As I predicted in my Coming Soon posting Matthew Perry’s return to TV comedy proved there’s still a lot of Friends fans out there. Sure Mr Sunshine benefited from a great lead in (Modern Family – 13.16 million and a terrific 5.1 18-49 share, up 9% on the last original episode). But the comedy held well and ABC has to be happy with the final ratings – 10.52 million and a 3.7 18-49 share.

That figure was slightly lower than fellow Friend Courtney Cox managed when Cougar Town first debuted. But it’s a LOT higher than current Cougar Town levels (don’t worry CT fans your favorite show is already renewed for next season). The question now is how many of those viewers will stick around post premiere…

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: Here’s another sign of the growing power of cable – and the freefall the networks are in. Check out the ratings performance of ABC Family’s teen Mean Girls thriller, Pretty Little Liars….

On Monday the show pulled in 3.14 million and a 1.1 18-49 share. Those are great figures for a cable show. Then check out The CW, which has spent a fortune over the years plugging Gossip Girl and 90210, desperate to turn the shows into hits. On the same night as Liars, a heavily hyped 90210 (Teddy finally came out!) managed just 1.75 million and a 0.9 youth share, while Gossip Girl, which has had dozens of covers over the last two years, pulled in just 1.62 million. It just goes to prove no matter how much money you spend viewers will always find the shows they want to watch – wherever they air…

ONLY IN AMERICA: Unfortunately that also means viewers will sometimes make bad choices! Yep, Larry The Cable Guy hit History this week with his new show Only In America.

I think History has done a great job of attracting viewers while still staying smart with shows like Pawn Stars and American Pickers – but even I have to shake my head at this offering. Watching Larry’s redneck persona blundering around America, making lame jokes and offering little historical input is just embarrassing (and to think History was worried about The Kennedys!) Still viewers tuned in – Only In America scored 4.10 million viewers and a 1.2 18-49 share. I guess now that Sarah Palin’s Alaska has finished the viewers had to go somewhere…

LOSERS

FRINGE: Sorry Fringe fans, it’s definitely not looking good for your favorite show. After a high profile move to Friday nights and some initially respectable ratings, the Joshua Jackson sci-fi show has slipped into the cancelation zone.

Friday’s Fringe managed just 3.71 million viewers and a measly 1.4 18-49 share, down 12% week on week – and almost half the total ratings of NBC’s Who Do You Think You Are, an unscripted and thus far cheaper show. At this stage the chances of Fringe getting another season are very slim, especially with the likes of Terra Nova and The X Factor coming in the Fall – Fox just doesn’t have the real estate for a rating underperformer.

MIDSEASON SHOWS: The rating might have started rosy for Mr Sunshine, but elsewhere on the networks viewers have unanimously turned their backs on the latest winter offerings.

On Wednesday Live To Dance limped to a close with 4.70 million viewers and a 0.9 youth share. Sorry CBS – this was an easily predictable bomb – you’ve got no-one but yourselves to blame for this one! Between Dance and her reality show Hey Paula, is Paula Abdul now officially ratings poison?

Meanwhile over at NBC, The Cape saw it’s initial order cut as ratings continue to freefall (gosh – another shocker!). On Monday the superhero saga pulled in 4.57 million viewers and a 1.3 18-49 share. Meanwhile Chuck is also slipping this year, now down to 5.40 million and a 1.71 share. And don’t expect Monday nights to get better after The Cape finishes up – there’s still the second half of The Event to come. The bad news keeps coming for NBC (though to be fair Harry’s Law is holding its own)

Also on Monday, Fox launched the generic cop saga, The Chicago Code. Overall ratings were respectable (9.43 million / 2.4 18-49 share) but the show is following House and lost almost half the demo share. And then one night later, generic couples comedy Traffic Light (a concept so lame I couldn’t even bear to write a Coming Soon about it!) stalled with 4.58 million viewers and a 1.9 share. Given that Fox had a record breaking Super Bowl on Sunday – with a staggering 111 million viewers tuning in – those figures have to hurt!