SMASHWatch is glad TV shows don’t close in Boston.
NBC: Last night’s SMASH pulled off the trick of being both melodramatic (poisoning! illicit sex!) and remarkably dull, an anticlimactic way to head toward next week’s season finale, and with a church production number to boot that seemed designed to let us know that even God Himself basks in the wonder that is Karen. The rating is currently slightly above last week’s series low, but variations of a tenth or so don’t mean much–essentially the show is locked in to the 1.8-2.0 range, and that’s with the best lead-in NBC has to offer. Thinking of which, although the first part of THE VOICE‘s season finale was up 0.2 from last week, that was down about 15% from last year’s performance finale (which aired during the less-watched summer). We’ll find out next week if the network will push its luck and bring Voice back in the fall rather than waiting for midseason, as it did this year.
CBS: The 1-hour season finale of 2 BROKE GIRLS set a new series low 3.2, down 0.4 for the week–not exactly the ideal way to end the season (although still a solid number as sitcoms go these days). 2 1/2 MEN and MIKE & MOLLY were both down fractionally from last week, while HAWAII 5-0, facing the hyped Castle season finale (would they finally admit they’re in love?), was down to a series low 2.3, flip-flopping the hour with ABC to fall into 2d place.
ABC: DANCING WITH THE STARS, airing against the Voice season finale, slumped to a new low 2.6 (although it decisively won the slot in older viewers). CASTLE‘s season finale scored a solid 2.5 and won its hour.
FOX: A very blah evening, with a new low 1.9 for BONES‘ cute Hollywood episode, and a 2.1 for HOUSE, tying last week.
CW: Conventional wisdom has it that GOSSIP GIRL will come back next season, but last night’s 0.4 hardly justified its return. (If the show is renewed, it’ll be more due to ancillary value of new episodes than current ratings.) But can we get a little respect for the work ethic of Robert John Burke, the character actor who in recent weeks has shown up on Army Wives, NYC 22 and Gossip Girl, not to mention in the theatrical movie Safe? HART OF DIXIE was comparatively healthy with 0.6.
The rush of season finales continues tonight with LAST MAN STANDING, NEW GIRL and UNFORGETTABLE joining the pack, as well as the conclusion of the VOICE‘s season.
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