The broadcast networks barely cracked a 1 rating each last night, while the most attention was probably paid to FX’s new night of comedy featuring the premieres of Charlie Sheen in Anger Management and Russell Brand’s new latenight show. Ratings for those and other cable shows will be available later today.
CBS (with its all-repeat lineup) and ABC dueled to a tie, each with a 1.3 preliminary Adult 18-49 rating from 8-11 pm. ABC started slow with an original Duets at 8 pm (1.0 rating, down from a 1.2 in its last telecast Wednesday of last week). Wipeout returned with an original episode, kicking off its summer run with a 1.9 rating (tied for second among all broadcast programs last night). The recently-renewed Canadian import drama Rookie Blue underwhelmed at 10 pm with a 1.1 rating for its season premiere.
CBS started strong with a 2.0 for a repeat Big Bang Theory, followed by a 1.6 for a repeat 2 Broke Girls. Person of Interest and The Mentalist ended the night with a 1.1 rating each for repeat episodes.
NBC and FOX both aired original programming, but struggled to a 1.1 rating each in prime time. NBC began the night with more U.S. Olympic Trials swimming coverage (1.7 rating, down from 1.9-2.0 the past three nights), and then Saving Hope dropped to a 0.7 rating at 9 pm. A few extra viewers gave the medical drama a shot in the first few minutes but then switched away when they got a taste of the summer drama. The Olympic trials ended with a 1.8 rating in the 8:30 half hour, pushing Saving Hope to a 0.8 in the 9:00 half hour before the show chased the audience away, down to a 0.5 rating in the 9:30 half hour. Rock Center with Brian Williams did its usual unimpressive 0.8 rating at 10 pm.
FOX plugged away with its dating combo of Take Me Out (1.0) and The Choice (1.2). The night is down three tenths of a rating point from the last two weeks and down five tenths from the premieres three weeks ago.
Stay tuned for FX ratings around lunch Pacific time.
