'The Middle' Did "Ok" in the Ratings?? Pav, can You break this down?

[Brian Damage]

Variety says it did just ok, that worries me. Can you compare The Middle's ratings to BTY from a year ago?

Net also did OK earlier, opening with Kelsey Grammer half-hour "Hank" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 8.34m) and then gaining ground at 8:30 with well-reviewed Patricia Heaton comedy "The Middle" (2.6/8, 8.71m). The pair ran second in 18-49 and won in adults 25-54 and total viewers.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009424.html?categoryid=14

[Pavan]

Total viewers was great but the 18-49 demo is just OK. It could be better, but could be worse. Hank is not a good fit for the show, as that show has more of an older audience. In comparison, Modern Family and Cougar Town were up over a full point over The Middle in 18-49 while having over a million more total viewers.

[yankeesrj12]

The Middle will most likely fall below a 2.0 demo by week 3. I'm guessing its 13 and done.

[JulieSomoski]

I think The Middle will end up pulling in and evening out at Old Christine-type ratings, a little over 7 million and a 2.0-2.2 demo. Whether ABC is willing to accept that, I don't know. I think this has a much better chance than Hank, and if ABC is willing to try this again next season, they should definitely try harder than ever to get Old Christine to pair it up with. Both shows seem like they'd fit perfect out of one another.

And on the Back to You thing, it premiered to about a million viewers more and a slightly better demo. But, it ended up falling to an average of slightly over 7 million and a 2.2 demo as well. I think ABC would have been better off keeping BTY as one show and not splitting up the actors, but they wanted family comedies, and these are known to be older-skewing shows nowadays.

[Pavan]

Modern Family is not older skewing. Hank is the only one that skews old. ABC can fix that problem easily with Romantically Challenged replacing Hank. The Middle, in my opinion, is way better than Back to You.