Anatomy of successful net lead-in
ABC, Fox able to book popular primetime blocks
Both ABC and Fox have come to dominate the nights of their smashes by finding quality shows to follow "Desperate Housewives" and "American Idol," respectively.
The Alphabet routs its rivals on Sunday with the block of "Housewives" leading into second-year medical dramedy "Grey's Anatomy," and Fox is easily leading its hours on Tuesday, where soph medical mystery "House" has appreciated behind "Idol."
The result has made for a changing of the guard in primetime's hospital corridor: During one recent seven-day stretch, "Grey's" and "House" achieved series highs while NBC vet "ER" -- still the net's No. 1 show in its 12th season -- hit its all-time low.
At ABC, "Grey's Anatomy," with its quirky interns and catchy pop-rock soundtrack, was the perfect choice to follow "Desperate Housewives," and the ratings have picked up since its strong bow last spring. Critics were supportive of the show at the outset but have really begun lavishing praise during its excellent second season.
And it proved to be the perfect choice to air behind the Super Bowl earlier this month, allowing an additional 20 million viewers to sample it. Don't be surprised if "Grey's" consistently challenges "DH" as the top show on Sunday the rest of this season.
For the season, "Grey's" is averaging a 9.1 rating in adults 18-49 with its original episodes (including a huge 16.5 for the hour following the Super Bowl), up from an 8.1 average a year ago. It's the highest-rated 10 o'clock skein on any net, generating at least a 21 share in each of the 18-49, 25-54 and 18-34 ratings categories.
ABC likely will shift the show to another night next season, with Monday, Tuesday and Thursday -- would they possibly put it opposite "ER"? -- the best possibilities.
While "Grey's" was pretty much a hit from the start, "House's" rise has been meteoric.
Show started slowly in fall 2004 without much lead-in support, but its 2.6 premiere rating held steady for subsequent episodes -- a sign viewers liked what they saw.
Fox's decision to place "House" behind "Idol" in January 2005 enabled millions of new viewers to sample it -- and they have stuck around in increasingly large numbers ever since.
The Hugh Laurie-fronted ensemble skein went from a 2.6 rating in fall 2004 to a 6.5 average for the second half of the season behind "Idol." And this season, its new episodes have averaged a 5.8 rating, including a series-best 8.7 in its first post-"Idol" seg of 2006.
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Although not posting anywhere near the same numbers, two other second-year dramas -- CBS crime skein "Numbers" and ABC law show "Boston Legal" -- have quietly performed well.
"Numbers" is the higher-rated show despite airing on Friday, averaging a 3.7 rating for its original episodes and consistently winning its slot. On of the net's lesser-heralded crime hits, this show started the season slowly (due to significant cast changes and a weak lead-in) but has thrived airing behind "Close to Home" since November.
As for "Boston Legal," it has consistently delivered at about a 3.4 rating in an hour that NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" controls, building on its "Commander in Chief" lead-in in recent attempts.
The Alphabet would like it to be doing closer to a 4 rating, but "Boston" is something of a prestige show, with an honored cast and an aud that's among the most upscale in television.
