>Many Sunday shows were down from recent weeks last night, with much of the decline attributable to the shift to Daylight Saving Time over the weekend (particularly in the early part of prime time). However, the drop in Celebrity Apprentice (much later on the night) is hard to blame on the time change, and it certainly wasn’t helpful to exchange its compatible lead-in (a repeat of itself) for the very old-skewing legal drama Harry’s Law starring Kathy Bates (which returned with an absolute thud). Best news of the night if you are at ABC: GCB actually was up slightly in its second week. Note: the year-ago numbers are now correct. In all cases, we are comparing Live+Same Day Adult 18-49 ratings to each other.
Nightly Primetime Average
Sunday ABC CBS FOX NBC
03.11.2012 2.3 2.1 2.0 1.5 THIS WEEK
03.04.2012 2.6 2.1 2.0 1.7 LAST WEEK
03.13.2011 1.6 2.5 2.0 1.9 LAST YEAR
ABC declined three tenths of a ratings point from last Sunday (2.3 last night from 7-11 pm versus 2.6 last Sunday). The decline was heavily concentrated before 9 pm (the dreaded effect of Daylight Saving Time as more sunlight reduces TV viewing). Most notably, Once Upon a Time declined over half a rating point from last week, setting a series low (or tying the low if it is adjusted up in the official nationals). However, GCB did the unusual at 10 pm: it was actually one tenth from last week’s premiere despite having the same lead-in from Desperate Housewives. At a 2.3 rating from 10:00-11:00, GCB holds on to a narrow lead in the hour (versus a 2.1 for CSI: Miami and a 2.2 for Celebrity Apprentice). GCB declined one tenth halfway through the show (2.4 from 10:00-10:30 and 2.3 from 10:30-11:00), although this slight decline might be erased in the official nationals because Desperate Housewives actually ran to 10:01 as it revealed the murder of James Denton’s character. On this night last year on ABC: AFHV (1.7), Secret Millionaire (2.8), Desperate Housewives repeat (1.2) and Brothers & Sisters repeat (0.7).
ABC Sun High Low 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04 3.11
AFHV 2.0 1.1 1.9 2.0 2.0 — 2.2 1.3*
Once Upon 4.0 2.9 3.5 3.0 3.1 — 3.4 2.8*
Desp House 3.2 1.8 — 1.8 2.2 — 2.5 2.5*
Pan Am 3.1 0.7 — 0.7 1.2 —
GCB 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.3*
CBS was mostly flat week to week, with 60 Minutes and Amazing Race not needing to go to the DST excuse. CSI: Miami (with guest star Raquel Welch) also held last week’s relatively soft rating, but Good Wife just continues to struggle, setting another season low. Last year on this night: 60 Minutes (1.7), Amazing Race (2.7), Undercover Boss (3.0) and CSI: Miami (2.7).
CBS Sun High Low 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04 3.11
60 Minutes 4.8 1.5 1.5 2.8 1.8 1.3 1.6 1.6*
Amaz Race 3.3 2.2 — — 2.8 2.2 2.8 2.8*
Under. Boss3.0 2.3 3.0 —
Good Wife 2.7 1.9 2.2 — 2.1 — 1.9 1.7*
CSI Miami 2.6 1.9 2.3 — 2.2 1.1R 2.1 2.1*
FOX aired original animated comedies and returned Bob’s Burgers to a soft 1.9 rating at 8:30 (similar to last year’s performance on this night). Simpsons was down two tenths from last week (a normal DST decline), while the 9 pm hour of Family Guy and American Dad was very similar to last week’s ratings. Last year 8-10 pm on this night: Simpsons (2.5), Bob’s Burgers (2.0), Family Guy repeat (2.5) and Cleveland Show (2.4).
FOX Sun High Low 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04 3.11
Simpsons 5.4 2.0 2.4 2.0 2.6 1.6R 2.5 2.3*
Bob’s Burg 1.9*
Napoleon 4.4 1.7 2.1 1.8 2.0 1.6R 2.0 —
Cleveland 2.2 2.2 —
Family Guy 4.4 2.5 3.1 2.5 2.8 1.6R 2.8 2.8*
Amer Dad 3.0 1.7 2.4 1.8 2.2 1.5R 2.1 2.2*
NBC returned Harry’s Law to 8 pm last night and scored a very low 1.1 rating, exactly the same number a repeat Celebrity Apprentice last week. (At 7 pm, Dateline (0.9) was down one tenth from last week). The biggest disappointment of the night had to be the two-hour Celebrity Apprentice from 9-11 pm, sinking three tenths of a rating point, all the way down to a 2.0 rating. Even though Apprentice had a 1.1 rating leading into the original at 9 pm both this week and last week, the 1.1 last week was much more likely to stick around because it was an example of the ultimate program compatibility: the same show leading into itself. Last night, a huge percentage of the 1.1 rating for Harry’s Law probably scattered at 9 pm. The original Celebrity Apprentice episode never really got going, starting at a 1.8 rating from 9:00-9:30 and building very meekly to a 1.9 from 9:30-10:00, a 2.1 from 10:00-10:30 and only a 2.2 from 10:30-11:00 as Donald Trump fired both Adam Carolla and Michael Andretti. On this night last year: Dateline (1.1), America’s Next Great Restaurant (1.4) and Celebrity Apprentice (2.8).
NBC Sun High Low 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04 3.11
Harry’s Law 1.1*
Celeb App 2.6 1.8 — — 2.6 1.8 2.3 2.0*
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