Ratings seasonal review
Reality the clear winner for the year
- NBC may have a ratings winner in gamer "Deal or No Deal," which put up solid Nielsens last week as a weeknight 8 o'clock strip.
The Dec. 19 episode posted an 11 share in adults 18-49 and drew 11.6 million viewers overall, the best result for the Peacock in the hour since May. And the following night's episode built to a 13 share in the demo and about 12.6 million viewers.
Similar to the way ABC launched "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" as an event series in summer 1999, NBC smartly skedded "Deal" for another time of the year -- Christmas week -- when original programming is scarce.
After the Olympics in February, the net may want to try another burst of episodes. Also, a multiweek run on several nights (say Sunday and Monday at 8) would be a good way to give NBC a ratings boost and allow more viewers a chance to see promos for upcoming new shows.
In other words, unlike "Millionaire," ask "Deal" -- which figures to have a fairly short shelf life -- to spark the net, not carry it.
- Four veteran reality series ended their fall seasons recently, and the best ratings news came for the oldest of them: "Survivor."
Finale of the 11th edition of the CBS skein, "Survivor: Guatemala," averaged a 7.7 rating in adults 18-49 -- on par with last season.
Not looking as good was CBS' "The Amazing Race 8," as the family edition's finale earned a 4.7 rating in the demo, down sharply from the 6.8 it scored for the end of "Race 7." NBC's "The Apprentice," meanwhile, continued its decline, scoring a 5.7 -- down from a 6.3 last May and a 7.7 in December 2004.
UPN's "America's Next Top Model" continues to excel, with its 2.7 rating only slightly below last season.
- The lack of a current four-comedy block -- where new shows could be sandwiched between hits -- has made ABC and NBC get creative so their new comedies can be sampled.
ABC is high on "Emily's Reasons Why Not," a witty, sophisticated skein unlike any other half-hour on the sked. Net is smartly pairing it in January with John Stamos laffer "Jake in Progress" for a one-hour Monday block.
It's something of a long shot, but by pairing them together, and between "Wife Swap" and "The Bachelor" -- two shows with young-female appeal -- ABC is providing both with their best chance to succeed.
The Alphabet also is giving the family comedy "Crumbs" a shot behind "Dancing With the Stars" on Thursday. Reality into comedy isn't ideal, but the net is hoping the women 25-54 aud that likes the hoofing will also feel like laughing.
And NBC has made the right decision in going with a four-comedy Thursday block. "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" make for television's funniest hour and should perform well from 9 to 10.
Newbie "Four Kings" also looks promising, and is afforded a shot by being skedded at 8:30 between "Earl" and "Will & Grace."
- Another good Thursday sked move is Fox's shift of "The OC" to 9, beginning Jan. 12. The teen sudser has underperformed at 8 but will be good counterprogramming for "CSI" and comedies on NBC at 9 -- and give Fox its strongest numbers there in years.
For a short while anyway, it will also get a lead-in from "American Idol," whose results show will move to Thursday for an hour (8-9 p.m.) for three weeks beginning Feb. 23.
It will be a tough call for viewers when "Idol" takes on the concluding episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC as well as early episodes of the new "Survivor" on CBS.
Things could get ugly.
