“Modern Family,” saw its biggest ratings to date, and pummelled the competition in its time slot in the only demographic (18-49) that matters.
“Castle,” gained on its premiere last year, even up against the premiers of “Hawaii Five-O,” and “Chase.” Nathan Fillion is not in any danger of losing his job anytime soon.
In the 18-49 demo, “Glee,” placed 2nd for the week; “Modern Family” placed 5th; “The Office” placed 10th; and “How I Met Your Mother,” placed a decent 24th.
“The Office,” “30 Rock,” and even “Community” (!) had decent gains over their premieres last season.
“The Biggest Loser,” had a precipitous 21 percent drop from its premiere last season.
“The Apprentice” (non-celebrity edition) had terrible ratings, and may not complete its half-season run.
“Chuck” was the lowest rated scripted show of the week that didn’t air on Friday. The shitcan approacheth.
“House” had a fairly steep fall in the ratings.
“Shit My Dad Says,” debuted at number 17 on the week; “Mike and Molly” debuted at number 19.
The overall ratings were dominated, as usual, by procedurals, reality shows, and laugh-track sitcoms. Also, Tom Selleck’s new show.
“Dancing with Stars,” was the most watched show of the week; the “Dancing with Stars,” results show was number three (sandwiched in between was “NCIS”).
“Parenthood” was last in its timeslot.
The Unexceptional
“Raising Hope,” my favorite new network show of the season that’s not already been cancelled, did modestly in its time slot, thanks in part of the massive “Glee” lead in. “Running Wilde,” which didn’t improve quality-wise last night, didn’t fare as well in the ratings.
“The Event” had a modest debut, and only a modest drop-off in its second week. It’s treading water, but will likely be another “FlashForward,” in that it treads water for the entire season, and then gets cancelled.
Cancellation Watch
The shows most likely not to make it to mid-season are probably “Outlaw,” (which may not make it another week), “Chuck,” “Undercovers,” “Chase,” “The Whole Truth,” “My Generation,” “Detroit 1-8-7,” “The Apprentice,” and “Running Wilde.”
What We Can Expect in the Future
A reality-show procedural about a family of overweight singing cops who solve crimes and dance. We’ll call it “CSIS: Dancing with Modern Cops Who $#*!”
Plain Odd
Sharktopus had higher ratings than both “Mad Men” and “Dexter” this week. You’ve been Sharktopussed.
A List of the Top 26 Shows of the Week in Overall Ratings
1. Dancing with the Stars
2. NCIS
3. Dancing with the Stars Results Show
4. Sunday Night Football
5. NCIS: Los Angeles
6. The Mentalist
7. CSI
8. 60 Minutes
9. Grey’s Anatomy
10. CSI
11. Two and a Half Men
12. Hawaii Five-O
13. Criminal Minds
14. Sunday Night Football Pregame
15. NCIS: Los Angeles
16. Big Bang Theory
17. Desperate Housewives
18. Blue Bloods
19. Another Dancing with the Stars Results Show
20. The Defenders
21. Mike & Molly
22. Shit My Dad Says
23. Modern Family
24. Survivor
25. Undercover Boss
26. Glee
Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance
I didn't watch a single program in the Top 26. Not even sunday night football because Boardwalk Empire was on and I didn't care about the teams playing. But mainly because of Boardwalk Empire and my wife loathes football and may have said/done/made to happen bad things to me on or about my person if I made her watch football.
I have watched House from the first episode but I decided to stop this year. Last season can be summed up as "fucking horrible" and I really don't want to waste my time on it. The characters don't make sense anymore, the cases are lamer and lamer, and the non-growth of House is just annoying at this point. It has had plenty of years, it will never be as good as the early years. Let it go gently into that good night.
Man, most of that list is depressing. I guess it'd be more depressing if it was filled with shows like "Ow My Balls" and the execution of the week, but still... Gotta hand it to CBS, for awhile there, they were in the ratings toilet, but they appear to have fixed that. Too bad it wasn't with better shows.
I watched "Lone Star." It is a well-done show, but I gotta say, I won't particularly miss it. The central con man guy is just an asshole. He ACTS nice, but he's obviously not nice. Characters don't always have to be likable for me to want to watch them, but building a show around someone like that is kind of dumb. It's like they want us to root for him, and why would we do that? Or, maybe they want us to see how he gets out of the clusterfuck he's made out of his life, but that shit is just depressing.
I kinda like "Detroit 187," but it's not exactly appointment TV. I watched it last night. Michael Imperioli needs a better show.
I would love it if "Apprentice" disappeared forever. I'd love it more if Trump disappeared forever, but I'll take what I can get.
Posted by: Slash at September 29, 2010 1:44 PM
BAM! Sharktopussed.
I kind of enjoy Raising Hope. Like, kind of a lot.
Posted by: Anna von Beav at September 29, 2010 1:45 PM
Chuck always seems to do its best work when the threat of cancellation looms...
/fingerscrossed
Posted by: Lennon at September 29, 2010 1:46 PM
The writers of "Chuck" fucked everything up by returning to the same old shit. I was pissed when NBC didn't want to continue it last year. Now I don't care. Great job, assholes. You yelled and screamed to keep your show on the air, then proceeded to do churn out the EXACT SAME SHIT that threatened it in the first place. In the old country, we call that "dumber than the sense your father's balls and mother's vagina gave you."
Posted by: Kballs at September 29, 2010 1:52 PM
Oh god. CSI, Dancing with the stars, Hawaii Five-O?
I don't miss tv AT ALL.
Posted by: replica at September 29, 2010 1:54 PM
Nooo, the Event can't go anywhere. As much as I'm "dis-liking" the show, I'll keep watching for Jason Ritter because I want him on my tv.
We also need a weekly recap of that show here. So we can discuss how much running happens and how super hot "bland" Agent Lee is and the fact is one of THEM. Which after the reveal was kind of obvious, and the fact that he's totally going to turn against his kind.
Also, it's nice to see Laura Innes walking without a cane after so many years on ER.
Posted by: kilmo at September 29, 2010 1:55 PM
This year's new show crop is just shit. Complete and utter shit.
Posted by: Cindy at September 29, 2010 2:02 PM
Shit my dad says continues to exist? Why?
Posted by: annoyingmouse at September 29, 2010 2:04 PM
I got so panicked when I saw the word "cancellation" next to cast members of Community. Whew.
It'll be sad if Chuck is canceled, but I can hardly believe it's lasted THIS long.
Posted by: Julie at September 29, 2010 2:08 PM
Who the hell watching NCIS anymore?? That show is like the Smallville of its genre.
Shit my dad says is still on? I watched 10 minutes of it because of Shatner and had to turn it off. He was Denny Crane and now he has been reduced to this drivel? And the son. I don't know who that actor is, but I wanted to punch him in the face.
Posted by: lillie at September 29, 2010 2:38 PM
This is why I don't watch network tv
Posted by: Candy at September 29, 2010 3:02 PM
I'd assumed chuck was really popular. I only discovered it a month or so ago (all caught up now though). I forget that the entertainment that internet nerds buzz about isn't necessarily reflected in the broader culture(that I rarely come in contact with).
For example, I assume the entire continent is doing a countdown on their calendars for the Walking Dead, that the most popular dads on tv are a meth cook and a serial killing spatter analyst and that watercoolers everywhere are alive with superhero movie chatter.
dancing with the stars? really? has anyone ever met any of the folk that make up the powerhouse audience of this show. I'm kinda glad i don't get out to mix much.
Posted by: idleprimate at September 29, 2010 3:09 PM
I loved Chuck its first two years and now...I have it DVR'd and haven't found time to watch it. yep, it's probably time to say g'bye.
But oh please, keep Community on for ever and ever. Life without Senor Chang is not worth living.
Oh, and my 85 year old Mamma watches NCIS, so I'm cool with keeping it around for her. She also watches hockey for the fights. I love my Ma.
Posted by: lil_a at September 29, 2010 3:12 PM
I adore Chuck. Here in the UK, we've just seen the penultimate episode of season 3 (Chuck vs the Subway) and I find it hard to wait a week for the finale.
That said, it does frustrate me with the constant on again/off again Chuck & Sarah romance.
Did Niles and Daphne teach us nothing?
Posted by: Simon at September 29, 2010 4:16 PM
Undercover Boss beat Glee?! I feel for my friends who love Jane Lynch. But Glee will soldier on, I'm sure.
As for everyone bragging that they don't watch ANY network television, Modern Family is hilarious. That might be good to know if you're suffering from some constipated bowel to match your constipated attitude. Laughter can shake it loose.
Posted by: Patricia at September 29, 2010 4:20 PM
RE "dancing with the stars? really? has anyone ever met any of the folk that make up the powerhouse audience of this show."
Yeah, the 65-year-old receptionist in my office watches it. I have no idea about the actual demo for the show.
"NCIS" got nearly 19 million viewers. I believe a large part of its audience is also older females (I think my mom watches it). "Glee" got 13 million viewers last night. "Dancing with the Stars got over 18 million. "Raising Hope" got 7.5 million.
Yap all you want about old people, but they're the ones still watching broadcast TV (well, them and the males who watch major league sports). If you want better TV on the big 4 networks, you're gonna have to get more of your age cohort to watch them.
Posted by: Slash at September 29, 2010 4:38 PM
This info is from 2006, but RE Dancing with the Stars:
The show’s viewing audience is overwhelming female, according to Nielsen Media Research, and largely composed of older viewers. Women make up more than 70 percent of viewers, and more than one-quarter of all viewers are over 65.
Posted by: Slash at September 29, 2010 4:43 PM
with chuck and sarah during the third season, it wasn't the on/off that bothered me. it was the completely contradictory and random rules they kept setting up for whether or not to be together:
they can only be together if they are not spies, they can only be together if they are both spies, they can only be together if Sarah is a spy and chuck isn't, they can only be together if chuck refrains from killing anyone(despite the fact that everyone else routinely does).
It got so maddeningand destroyed any character credibility and I almost gave up on what otherwise is a really funny entertaining show. the new season seems to have gone back to what works--a coldish but sometimes self-doubting sarah, and a mawkish pining chuck. unresolved sexual tension is one of the most standard tv tropes it always works as long as it is maintained, and it crashes and burns if they fuck with it in anyway
Posted by: idleprimate at September 29, 2010 4:47 PM
WHO WATCHES ALL THIS CRAP?
(besides NFL football, guilty pleasure)
I consider my parents to be "average viewers" and even they don't watch any of the Top 20 shows.
Posted by: BAM at September 29, 2010 5:11 PM
Man, I used to be so up on tv, watched every show going, and now I can't even be bothered to start. I'll just wait to see whether they last a bit and get the DVDs.
That said, what should I be watching? Community is on my list. As is Mad Men (yes yes I'm behind).
I'm so happy for Modern Family, but also surprised. How the hell did an actually GOOD comedy make it so big? It's exactly the kind of comedy that always gets forgotten and cancelled early. Good for them.
And oh thank god the Trump nightmare might be over.
Totally forgot to watch The Event. I feel like it wasn't such a big loss.
And, OK, I do get why people watch DWTS. It's stupid as all hell, but it's colorful and completely and utterly harmless, and you get to see "celebrities" being silly. Plus, dancing. I do NOT get why people watch the results show, when the only real thing that matters is the last 5 minutes. Before that it's filler, rehashing of shit that happened 24 hours ago and the celebrities barely even show up. It kills me. These people need to find something else to watch on Wednesdays.
idleprimate - those are excellent points. They may just start to bug me retrospectively...
Posted by: Simon at September 29, 2010 5:41 PM
"As for everyone bragging that they don't watch ANY network television, Modern Family is hilarious. That might be good to know if you're suffering from some constipated bowel to match your constipated attitude. Laughter can shake it loose."
THE GENERAL and A FISH NAMED WANDA are also hilarious, and I don't have to put up with any crap when I watch them.
Posted by: Pat C at September 29, 2010 6:24 PM
YAY MODERN FAMILY. Everyone should be watching it.
I wish more people would watch Parenthood. I need to keep Peter Krause on my TV.
Posted by: RC at September 29, 2010 6:33 PM
Fuck! Are people seriously not watching "Parenthood?" Seriously? That is sad news.
I am so in love with Raising Hope, I "hope" it sticks around, ok that was bad.
Posted by: Alli at September 29, 2010 6:47 PM
The only show in the top 25 I watch is Modern Family.
Also, I used to really enjoy Chuck, but these last two episodes have been so bad that I probably wouldn't be too upset when it inevitably gets canceled. I find myself embarrassed to be watching it, it's been THAT bad... and I saw Sharktopus.
Posted by: HoJu at September 29, 2010 7:38 PM
No Sons of Anarchy?? Really??
Posted by: beautifulgirl at September 29, 2010 7:52 PM
For the love of cripes, people - watch the HELL out of Chuck. Seriously.
But, as said above, I am shocked as hell that it lasted this long. I just wish they'd drop the "reason why Chuck can't tell Ellie" schtick. Just have it as read that he doesn't tell her, and she remains happily oblivious - the end.
Posted by: Shane at September 29, 2010 8:20 PM
y'know, i just finished the most recent episode of chuck(4.02) and i have finally become convinced that the real winning formula could be "retards at the buy-more" we could skip the spy stuff(keep baldwin as a retired spy tryng to fit in) and skip milan and paris and sarah trying to fit in in her short skirts. a show that was just about buy-more capers would totally rock my world. do you remember them choosing an assistant manager with a thunderdome?
Posted by: idleprimate at September 29, 2010 8:43 PM
That news about Mad Men and Dexter means all of television has finally jumped the sharktopus.
I kind of wish Castle would just get canceled already so that I can stop watching it and Fillion can move on to better things.
Posted by: the_wakeful at September 29, 2010 9:51 PM
I used to really love chuck (and the music supervision is still pretty on point), but I'm okay if it goes at this point. I grow so weary of the Chuck/Sarah dynamic at this point. CHUCK, for the love of Christ, she's stuck with you to this point and you are basically the most bad ass person on the planet, can you CUT it with the nebbish insecure shit already? Some, okay. Every episode of every season? "Oh Sarah, you don't love me because you haven't unpacked your suitcase!"
UGH. I don't care.
Also, the whole CIA/Buymore thing is lame. Lame lame lame. It was a great premise that really moved ahead when the intersect was upgraded (such a great moment), but it's just stalling out and I don't care anymore.
Also in other shows that are past their prime, has anyone noticed how Weeds has gotten even MORE shit-tacular this season? It's way past time to pack it in, Nance.
Posted by: mangrilla at September 29, 2010 11:03 PM
Godtopus wept.
Posted by: , at September 30, 2010 1:25 AM
Yea, I was kind of pissed that after last season's finale where they left the show open to pretty drastic changes, in only two episodes they've taken it all back and we're back were we started with the exception of Big Mike not being the manager of the Buy More (Which will more than likely change next week)
Also, it wasn't until number twenty three that I found a show I watch on that list. And has Dancing with the Stars really been on ten years? Fuck me, they aren't even stars. Margaret Cho and that guy from Jersey Shore are not fucking stars.
Posted by: Al Borland's Beard at September 30, 2010 7:34 AM
@AB's Beard: DWTS, like most reality shows, does half-seasons twice a year. One in the fall; one in the spring. So, it only takes five years for them to be on season 10. Just like Survivor is on season 21, but this is technically it's 11th year of production. Get it? Got it? Good.
Parenthood is terrible..I'm not surprised if it's the last in its timeslot. AWFUL and corny show!
Posted by: james at September 30, 2010 2:42 PM
I am not ashamed to admit Parenthood is one of my can't miss shows. The casting is spot on, the dialogue is just real - family members sound like that when they are conversing.
Also, the characters are dealing with authentic problems, not contrived plot devices. (Except for Crosby and Jasmine's baby-I-didn't-know-about subplot, which is still treated with a light enough hand to make it believable.)
All of these factors add up to a show that treats its viewers with respect for their intelligence and displays identifiable and empathetic characters and interactions amongst them.
The loss of a well-crafted drama of this degree to make way for more reality drivel or lazily- written, lowest common denominator crap would be heartbreaking.
Posted by: Alice at October 1, 2010 11:42 AM
Wow! Fringe wasn't even on the scope! I guess it can't compete with "Snookie",sad.
Posted by: Bob Gould at October 1, 2010 10:56 PM
You guys and gals who keep harping on about how real and authentic Parenthood is?
You were molested, repeatedly, weren't you?
So, that's TV, huh?
Wow.