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The third week of a network season is a critical one. Ratings erosion after a series or season premiere is expected and even acceptable, because it’s understood that not every viewer drawn by hype and marketing will be a satisfied customer. But a continued fall in Week 3 can be a sign of trouble, and if that decline is from a number that wasn’t great to begin with, the trouble could be serious. That being said, let’s take a look at where the networks stand as they begin this crucial week. (Note: since only 2 networks debuted their Monday schedules on the season’s first official day, we’ll include the next Monday in our review of the week.)CBS
Thriving:
2 BROKE GIRLS – Even those (like I) who don’t particularly love the show have to respect the way it fits into CBS’s Monday night schedule. With its addition, the 8-10PM hours on CBS are the most effective ensemble on TV.
CSI: The addition of Ted Danson and consequent reboot couldn’t have worked out better for an aging series that’s now convincingly winning its new timeslot.
Holdovers: 2 1/2 MEN, MIKE & MOLLY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, THE BIG BANG THEORY, NCIS, NCIS LA, CRIMINAL MINDS, SURVIVOR, BLUE BLOODS, HAWAII 5-0, THE MENTALIST
Struggling:
UNFORGETTABLE – This should have been a perfect CBS procedural, but while it’s not a flop, its ratings have been soft, just a bit ahead of Parenthood. With so much of the schedule–and especially Tuesday night–performing well, it’s not clear how patient the network will be with it (even though it would already have gotten a back order from NBC).
PERSON OF INTEREST – It’s a bit of a puzzle why this show isn’t doing better. As procedurals go, it’s high-quality and has an intriguing premise, yet it’s holding 4th place in its hour. A timeslot move is more likely than an early removal.
HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN: It’s only aired once, so judgment is premature, but it certainly didn’t get off to a good start. If it squanders most of Big Bang‘s lead, it won’t be around for long.
THE GOOD WIFE – Any hope that the move to Sunday would find a wider audience for this excellent show seems to have been in vain. It’s the only true prestige show on CBS’s schedule, so it’s unlikely to be at great risk as long as its numbers stay stable, but it may not keep its Sunday slot for the entire season.
CSI MIAMI – Being pushed downward by Good Wife.
DYING:
A GIFTED MAN – It’s OK to have low ratings on Friday night compared to any other night of the week (except Saturday). But Gifted Man is in Fringe territory with a 1.2. Any further slippage and the patient may die on the table.
GRADE: B
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