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March 5, 2012
 

The Sked: SUNDAY RATINGS March 4

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Written by: Mitch Metcalf
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>ABC wins the night but has a fairly disappointing debut of GCB.  Additionally, all the networks — including ABC — are down significantly versus the same night last year.  The four broadcast networks have seen a collective 2.5 rating points just disappear from Sunday night, more audience scattering to cable and other activities.      

               Nightly Primetime Average
Sunday         ABC    CBS    FOX    NBC
03.04.2012     2.6    2.1    2.0    1.7  THIS WEEK
02.26.2012     8.9    1.4    1.4    1.4  LAST WEEK
03.06.2011     3.1    2.7    2.7    2.4  LAST YEAR

ABC premiered GCB on a night of Sunday originals, the week following the Oscars.  ABC averaged a first-place 2.6 rating with Adults 18-49 on the night with a season-high rating for America’s Funniest Home Videos, a solid rating from Once Upon a Time (up from recent lows and the highest rated broadcast network show on the night), a recovering Desperate Housewives.  However, GCB failed to hold its DH lead-in (let alone grow somewhat as we forecast).  Instead, the new soap fell three-tenths of a rating point from its lead-in.  Further, GCB wilted a bit at the half-hour mark (2.3 from 10:00-10:30 and 2.2 from 10:30-11:00, although the show actually started at 10:01 so that downward blip might be entirely erased in the official nationals).  Competitively, GCB tied for first place from 10:00-10:30 (GCB and Celebrity Apprenctice each 2.3 and CSI: Miami 2.0) but fell to second from 10:30-11:00 (Celebrity Apprentice 2.4, GCB 2.2 and CSI: Miami 2.1).  Like most new dramas, GCB will probably settle down a few tenths in the next few weeks, leaving Celebrity Apprentice in first for the hour.  Not a disaster, but it has to be disappointing for ABC.  On this night last year on ABC: AFHV (1.9), Secret Millionaire (3.6), Desperate Housewives (4.3) and Brothers & Sisters (2.8).

ABC Sun    High Low  1.22 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04
AFHV       2.0  1.1  1.1  1.9  2.0  2.0  —   2.2*
Once Upon  4.0  2.9  3.2  3.5  3.0  3.1  —   3.4*
Desp House 3.2  1.8  2.6  —   1.8  2.2  —   2.5*
Pan Am     3.1  0.7  1.2  —   0.7  1.2  —   
GCB        2.2  2.2                           2.2*

CBS fell to a weak second-place for the night (2.1 rating from 7-11 pm)Amazing Race rebounded nicely to its premiere of this cycle after a rough outing last week against the Oscars and not too far off last year’s pace (2.8 last night and 3.2 on the same night last year, a nominal decline compared to so many other shows).  But Good Wife just can’t get it going at 9 pm, on track for another season low, while CSI: Miami flirts with its season low at 10.  Last year on this night: 60 Minutes (1.7), Amazing Race (3.2), Undercover Boss (3.0) and CSI: Miami (2.9).    

CBS Sun    High Low  1.22 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04
60 Minutes 4.8  1.5  1.5  1.5  2.8  1.8  1.3  1.6*
Amaz Race  3.3  2.2  —   —   —   2.8  2.2  2.8*
Under. Boss3.0  2.3  2.3  3.0  —
Good Wife  2.7  1.9  1.1R 2.2  —   2.1  —   1.8*
CSI Miami  2.6  1.9  1.3R 2.3  —   2.2  1.1R 2.0*

After a week of repeats against the Academy Awards, the FOX comedies returned to levels from two weeks ago, generally three or four tenths above season lows for each show.  Napoleon Dynamite ended its short season with an undistinguished 2.0 rating.  Last year 8-10 pm on this night: Simpsons (3.2), Bob’s Burgers (2.5), Family Guy (4.1) and Cleveland Show (2.6).


FOX Sun    High Low  1.22 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04
Simpsons   5.4  2.0  —   2.4  2.0  2.6  1.6R 2.5*
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*
Amer Dad   3.0  1.7  —   2.4  1.8  2.2  1.5R 2.1*

NBC was basically off the air from 7-9 pm with Dateline (1.0) and a repeat Celebrity Apprentice from 8-9 (1.1).  The original episode of the Trump reality show from 9-11 pm averaged a 2.3 (rating by half hour: 2.2… 2.3… 2.3… 2.4).   A definite rebound from last week’s outing versus the Oscars but well off last year’s pace and surprisingly lower than the cycle-premiere rating.  On this night last year:  Dateline (1.4), America’s Next Great Restaurant (1.8) and Celebrity Apprentice (3.1).

NBC Sun    High Low  1.22 1.29 2.12 2.19 2.26 3.04
Celeb App  2.6  1.8  —   —   —   2.6  1.8  2.3*

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About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.