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December 21, 2011
 

The Sked: TUESDAY RATINGS December 20

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Written by: Mitch Metcalf
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>NBC managed to win last night (the only network to average a 2 rating across the evening) by programming an original game show and a Christmas-themed SNL special (the same strategy the network employed last year on this night).  CBS was second by repeating its regular schedule (as it did last year).  ABC improved over last year by repeating its normal Tuesday lineup (and not airing Skating with the Stars as it did last year).  Last year FOX benefited from Million Dollar Drop, while this year it was burned by a schedule that simply doesn’t repeat well.

             Nightly Adult 18-49 Rating
Tuesday      NBC    CBS    ABC    FOX
12.20.2011   2.0    1.9    1.2    1.1
12.21.2010   2.3    1.9    0.8    1.7

NBC won Tuesday night by completely throwing out its regular schedule, just as it did last year on this night.  The second episode of Who’s Still Standing? (1.8 Adult 18-49 rating) in as many nights showed some promise.  It is up over the first episode Monday (1.5), it managed to finish second in the time period (to the 2.0 by NCIS), and it grew by half hour (1.7 from 8:00-8:30 to 2.0 from 8:30-9:00).  The night was capped by SNL: A Very Gilly Christmas, which averaged a 2.1 from 9-11 pm and delivered a rare first-place finish for NBC stations from 10:30-11:00 leading into the late local news.  Last year on this night: Minute to Win It (2.2) and SNL: A Very Gilly Christmas (2.3). 

NBC Tues     High Low  1115 1122 1129 12.6 1213 1220
Biggest Loser2.7  1.9  2.1  2.0  2.4  2.2  2.7  —
Parenthood   2.2  1.9  2.0  1.9  2.1  —   —   —

CBS is blessed to have shows that repeat well or at least repeat much better than the competition’s shows.  Last year on this night:  NCIS (2.2), NCIS Los Angeles (2.1) and Good Wife (1.3).

CBS Tues     High Low  1115 1122 1129 12.6 1213 1220
NCIS         4.3  3.5  4.0  3.5  2.8R 2.1R 3.6  2.0R
NCIS: LA     3.7  3.0  3.4  3.0  —   2.2R 3.0  2.1R
Unforgettble 2.9  2.2  2.4  2.2  —   1.7R 2.2  1.7R

FOX viewers, in contrast, are much less likely to tolerate repeat telecasts.  Last year on this night: Glee repeat (1.4) and Million Dollar Drop (2.0) proved that some original programming keeps FOX relevant in late December.

FOX Tues     High Low  1115 1122 1129 12.6 1213 1220
Glee         4.0  3.0  3.0  —   3.2  3.0  3.0  1.1R
New Girl     4.8  3.3  3.5  —   3.6  3.4  3.3  1.1R
Raising Hope 3.1  2.1  2.2  —   2.4  2.2  2.3  1.0R

ABC averaged a 1.2 last night with some acceptable repeat performances in the first half of the evening — Last Man Standing (1.4), Last Man Standing (1.6) and The Middle (1.3) — before the wheels came off after 9:30 pm — Suburgatory (1.0) and Body of Proof (0.8).  Last year on this night: Skating with the Stars (0.8), No Ordinary Family (0.8) and Detroit 187 (0.9). 

ABC Tues           High Low  1115 1122 1129 12.6 1213 1220
Last Man Standing  3.6  2.2  2.6  2.7  2.4  2.7  2.2  1.4R
Man Up!            2.4  1.6  1.7  1.9  1.7  1.6  —   —
Dancing Res        4.1  2.6  2.7  4.1  —   —   —   —
Body of Proof      2.2  1.5  2.0  —   1.8  1.5  1.1R 0.8R

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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.