Big Bang Theory Pilot Ratings

[Pavan]

Overnights are in:

The Big Bang Theory did a 6.2/9 in the overnights, for third place in its slot. It built by 10% on How I Met Your Mother's 5.6/9.
Compared to last year, the CBS comedies were down. Last season's overnights:
The Class 7.0/11 and HIMYM 6.7/11.

Fast Nationals will be available by noon. And final numbers by later today.

[Brian Damage]

I assume that's not too good?

[Pavan]

Certainly disappointing, but building on from its lead-in is a good sign. We'll see what is the story when the real numbers are in. Looks to be on par with Back to You. Chuck and Journeyman were also disappointing last night, both around the levels of BTY and BBT. No break outs yet this season thus far. K-Ville dropped big time for episode 2, but it held most of Prison's numbers. A breakout will come soon maybe tonight with Cane or for sure tomorrow night with Private Practive/Dirty Sexy Money.

[Raisingdad2004]

What does it need to do to stay on the air?

It seems clear Rules will probably stay now, with notable success this week, CBS have New Christine waiting, presumably they want her back on air, so is BBT the likely one or will building on HIMYM mean it stays and HIMYM goes? One has more viewers, the other has critics ...

The full numbers will be interesting, I remember you said a new show looses around 20% of the premiere audience in its first few weeks, would that put BBT down to HIMYM numbers.

[Pavan]

Well, let's wait and see what the story is for the fast nationals. Sometimes the overnights, which are just the top markets, can change. I think if it builds on HIMYM each week, it will last the season for sure. HIMYM is really not capable of leading the night off. I don't think Christine can either. Maybe CBS by next season will drop the 8-9pm sitcom hour, because nothing is doing that well there the last few seasons.

Dancing was again king last night. 14.0/21 in the overnights from 8-9:30. Very dominant, doubled up on everything.

[Superbowl]

I think you cannot compare any of these shows on Monday night to last year as an accurate comparison. There was no DWTS last year. Every single Monday night show opposite DWTS will be down from last year. Even Two and Half Men was down ! I mean to say that shows are down compared to their premiere numbers last year or new shows are down compared to last years occupants is dumb, because of the DWTS factor this year.

In the case of BBT, it built on HIMYM by 10%, and that is good. The question will be can it maintain its audience from week to week.

[Pavan]

I think you cannot compare any of these shows on Monday night to last year as an accurate comparison. There was no DWTS last year. Every single Monday night show opposite DWTS will be down from last year. Even Two and Half Men was down ! I mean to say that shows are down compared to their premiere numbers last year or new shows are down compared to last years occupants is dumb, because of the DWTS factor this year.

In the case of BBT, it built on HIMYM by 10%, and that is good. The question will be can it maintain its audience from week to week.

That is true. Two and a Half Men was down 11% from last season's overnights (10.2 overnight rating last year, 9.1 this year). HIMYM was down 17% from last season's overnights. BBT was off 12% from The Class (and 8% from the same slot of HIMY's premiere last year). So, with the Dancing factor, all the shows were down about 11-17%. So everything is on par really from last year. So, BBT did about the same as The Class, which it needs to do better on. As long as it builds each week, it will be safe for the season.

Again, let's wait until the fast nationals and the final numbers for further analysis.

[80sTrivia]

I flipped back and forth between Dancing's last half hour and Heroes on NBC, so I didn't watch any of the CBS line-up...

[TVFactFan]

well I didn't watch last night because of Monday Night Football, so I don;t see it doing to well in that slot. I recorded and will watch tonight. it may do better in the spring

[Superbowl]

From MediaLife Magazine :

CBS had a solid start for “Bang,” which averaged a 3.7 rating at 8:30 p.m. It built an impressive 16 percent on its “How I Met Your Mother” lead-in and nearly matched “Chuck” among total viewers with 9.5 million.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Overnights_50/ABC_wins_first_night_of_the_new_season.asp

[Raisingdad2004]

9.5 million sounds good, 16% on HIMYM sounds very good.

[Superbowl]

This is as good a news as we could have gotten. Let's just hope it keeps it up.

[Superbowl]

From Marc Berman :

Over at CBS, the third-season premiere of How I Met Your Mother took a tumble, with a third-place finish in both total viewers (8.27 million) and adults 18-49 (3.2/ 9) at 8 p.m. Former failed time period occupant The Class kicked-off the 2006-07 season (on Sept. 18, 2006) with a heftier 10.48 million viewers and a 3.6/10 among adults 18-49 (leading into the second season-premiere of How I Met Your Mother at 10.48 million viewers and a 3.8/10 in the demo). Remember, year-ago comparisons are based on the final nationals. How I Met Your Mother led into the debut of sitcom The Big Bang Theory (Viewers: #3, 9.57 million; A18-49: #3, 3.7/ 9), which managed to build out of How I Met Your Mother by 1.30 million viewers and 16 percent in the demo. That’s a positive.

[Pavan]

6.0/9 for Big Bang Theory in preliminary numbers, with 9.57 million. 3.7/9 in A18-49 is impressive. A basic tie with Back to You in HH and viewers, but an advantage in 18-49. If BBT can go up over 0.5 point in 18-49 each week over HIMYM, it will be safe!


Other new series debuts:
Chuck: 5.7/9, 9.28 million, 3.6 A18-49
Journeyman: 5.9/10, 9.48 million, 3.7 A18-49

Journeyman lost a huge chunk of Heroes' 8.1/12, 14.12 million and 6.5 18-49 rating. Also Journeyman lost viewers in its second half, so that was the worst series premiere last night. Don't get used to Journeyman, it was also down big from Studio 60's debut last year...and that show is canceled now. I believe Chuck grew 5% in its second half-hour, so that is a positive. Of the three series debuts, BBT was the best, followed by Chuck, then Journeyman. K-Ville's second episode was down big from its premiere. This week it got a 4.1/6, 6.17 million, and just a 2.3/5 18-49, down from the premiere's 5.7/9, 8.93 million and 3.3/8 in 18-49.

As for returning series, Rules of Engagement was impressive. 7.7/11, holding almost all of Two and a Half Men's 8.4/12. 21.19 million for Dancing!

[Superbowl]

To me any time BBT beats HIMYM in the ratings is a good week for this show. Especially in the 18-49 demo. Nobody expects this to be a hit show or carry the night. That is simply impossible up against DWTS. It simply needs to do what The Class did not do, and that is build on HIMYM, and that makes the show a success, and should keep it on the air.

And Pavan, don't worry, if CBS cancels it and keeps HIMYM, while it is still getting better ratings I will blast CBS just like I did ABC over that 8SR debacle. ;)

[Pavan]

The Class did build on HIMYM a few times when it moved to 8:30. So, BBT must do it on a regular basis, and you like said, especially in 18-49.

[JulieSomoski]

9.57 million seems pretty good for a sitcom to me. It's pretty much CBS, who to me, as very high standards for their sitcoms nowadays. God, if they expect any sitcom besides Two and Half Men to do over 10 million nowadays, they're crazy. Both ABC and NBC had their sitcoms doing 6-8 million last season, and all were brought back (except George Lopez on ABC).

I can't believe it basically tied with Back to You. BTY was a much more highly-expected show, yet BBT beat it. Surprising.

[Pavan]

Final numbers are in. 9.52 million is the final count:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=210045

[Superbowl]

I know it has to keep it up, but this show did a terrific job in the first week of ratings. I mean to beat the critically acclaimed Chuck by 400,000 viewers, and to beat HIMYM by a whopping 1.4 million viewers is great.

It also skewed young which was good, and it did it without much of a lead in from HIMYM, and also did it up against DWTS. It is just a start, but this is a really good start. :)

[Superbowl]

CBS also estimates ratings to increase by as much as 14% after DVR playback added in. From CBS Press Release :

From CBS Press Release:

The Series Premiere of "The Big Bang Theory" Builds on its Lead-In By +12% in Adults in 18-49, +13% in Adults 25-54 and +11% in Adults 18-34

CBS Research Estimates that All "Big Bang Theory" DVR Playback to Boost Adult 18-49 Ratings By +10% and By +14% Among Adults 18-34


The series premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY (P) (6.0/09, 9.52m) was second in households, tied for second in adults 25-54 (4.4/10, with NBC) averaged a 3.7/09 in adults 18-49.

THE BIG BANG THEORY built on its HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER lead-in by +15% in households, +13% in adults 25-54, +12% in adults 18-49, +11% in adults 18-34 (3.1/08 from 2.8/09) and added +1.40m viewers. CBS Research estimates that all DVR playback will increase ratings by +10% in adults 18-49 and +14% in adults 18-34.