Superbowl
10-24-2008, 09:09 PM
From Variety :
Second-year Shows Lose Ratings Mojo
'Big Bang,' 'Gossip Girl' only series to improve
By RICK KISSELL
One of the biggest stories of the new season has been the sluggish performance of second-year shows that lost their mojo after being sidelined last spring due to the writers strike.
But while the future looks rather bleak for the likes of ABC's "Pushing Daisies" and NBC's "Life," there are a couple of soph skeins -- both airing on Monday night -- that are thriving in season two.
CBS comedy "The Big Bang Theory" and CW drama "Gossip Girl" are the only titles among this year's 11 sophomore skeins to improve their ratings vs. last year. And while they may garner smaller numbers than the shows that follow them on their respective nets, they deserve a lot of credit for opening the night so well.
For CBS, "Big Bang Theory" has been a strong performer at 8 o'clock, teaming with fourth-year show "How I Met Your Mother" to significantly upgrade the net's performance in Monday's leadoff hour.
Through the opening month of this season, according to Nielsen, "Big Bang" has increased its 18-49 rating by 6% vs. this time last year (3.7 vs. 3.6) even though it had launched in the higher-watched 8:30 half-hour last year.
Its strength in the important leadoff spot has enabled CBS to keep "Mother" at 8:30, where it has flourished over the past year, rising 24% vs. its showing in the lighter-watched 8 o'clock slot.
Together, the 8-9 p.m. combo for CBS is averaging a 3.9 rating -- up 15% from last year and helping the Eye gain ground on slot leader "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC, which is down this fall.
CBS is now a strong No. 2 among the broadcasters for the hour, comfortably ahead of a pair of other sophomore series: NBC's "Chuck" and Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994630.html?categoryId=2522&cs=1
Second-year Shows Lose Ratings Mojo
'Big Bang,' 'Gossip Girl' only series to improve
By RICK KISSELL
One of the biggest stories of the new season has been the sluggish performance of second-year shows that lost their mojo after being sidelined last spring due to the writers strike.
But while the future looks rather bleak for the likes of ABC's "Pushing Daisies" and NBC's "Life," there are a couple of soph skeins -- both airing on Monday night -- that are thriving in season two.
CBS comedy "The Big Bang Theory" and CW drama "Gossip Girl" are the only titles among this year's 11 sophomore skeins to improve their ratings vs. last year. And while they may garner smaller numbers than the shows that follow them on their respective nets, they deserve a lot of credit for opening the night so well.
For CBS, "Big Bang Theory" has been a strong performer at 8 o'clock, teaming with fourth-year show "How I Met Your Mother" to significantly upgrade the net's performance in Monday's leadoff hour.
Through the opening month of this season, according to Nielsen, "Big Bang" has increased its 18-49 rating by 6% vs. this time last year (3.7 vs. 3.6) even though it had launched in the higher-watched 8:30 half-hour last year.
Its strength in the important leadoff spot has enabled CBS to keep "Mother" at 8:30, where it has flourished over the past year, rising 24% vs. its showing in the lighter-watched 8 o'clock slot.
Together, the 8-9 p.m. combo for CBS is averaging a 3.9 rating -- up 15% from last year and helping the Eye gain ground on slot leader "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC, which is down this fall.
CBS is now a strong No. 2 among the broadcasters for the hour, comfortably ahead of a pair of other sophomore series: NBC's "Chuck" and Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994630.html?categoryId=2522&cs=1