“The McCarthys” Weak in Debut

CBS debuted its only new comedy of the fall, and it was not pretty.  The series premiere of The McCarthys kicked off its run with 8.78 million viewers and 1.7 A18-49.  Retention from Two and a Half Men (11.02 million and 2.4 A18-49) was a 80% among total viewers and 71% in the demo.  According to a number of publications, this was the lowest series premiere for a comedy in network history.  Needless to say, Mike and Molly may be coming back sooner than we thought.

The other exciting ratings news from CBS is Mom.  It aired its second season premiere last night, getting a new episode of The Big Bang Theory as a lead in for the first time.   Its season debut brought in 10.56 million viewers and 2.5 A18-49.  It is not a great performance, but it really is not horrible either.  Retention was underwhelming, at 72% in total viewers and 61% in the demo.  It was, however, an improvement over what The Millers had been doing.

It looks like we may soon have our second cancellation of the season.  A new episode of A to Z fell to a new series low of 2.56 million viewers and 0.7 A18-49, down another two tenths from last week.  Given its low number, I cannot see NBC sticking around for much longer.  As for its lead in, Bad Judge, things were not much better: 3.96 million viewers and 0.9 A18-49.  Those numbers are pretty ugly too, but I don’t see NBC moving it just yet.

ABC took a slight hit with How to Get Away with Murder.  Following Scandal, the freshman drama averaged 8.52 million viewers and 2.7 A18-49, down three tenth from last weeks episode.  Still, despite the three tenth loss, a 2.7 demo is very impressive for a 10 o’clock drama.  Retention from the aforementioned Scandal was 93% among total viewers and 87% in the demo.

The only other new show on the night was Gracepoint.  It held with its number from last week, notching 3.34 million viewers and 0.8 A18-49.  Not much else to say.

NBC’s “Bad Judge” Falls

No new show took a bigger fall this week than Bad Judge.  Episode four garnered 4.39 million viewers and 1.0 A18-49, down two more tenths from last week (and it’s biggest week-to-week drop yet).  Retention from The Biggest Loser was a solid 93 percent among total viewers and 83 percent in the demo.  As I have said numerous times already though, Bad Judge is simply a timeslot holder until The Blacklist comes to the night.  Same goes for A to Z.

Speaking of which, A to Z dipped another tenth from last week to 3.13 million viewers and 0.9 A18-49.  Nothing more really can be said here.

FOX is breathing a small sigh of relief this morning.  Major dud Gracepoint failed to drop to a new low, despite its Bones lead in being a repeat.  The latest episode notched 3.52 million viewers and 0.8 A18-49, completely even with last week.  Six episodes left FOX.  Just keep telling yourself!

Then there was FINALLY some good news for a new show on the night.  ABC’s breakout drama, How to Get Away with Murder jumped from last weeks low to 9.97 million viewers and 3.0 A18-49.  Compared to last week, Murder was up two tenths – pretty impressive.  As has been the case for most of the season, How to Get Away with Murder held 100 percent of Scandal‘s demographic performance, and impressive 99.89 percent of the total audience.  Sorry you only get 15 episodes, ABC.

Updated with finals 10/24

Everything Down Week-to-Week

After displaying 100% retention from its premiere to second episode, Bad Judge took a slight hit last night, attracting 4.68 million viewers and 1.2 A18-49, down only 8% from last week.  Unlike last week, however, Bad Judge fell from its Biggest Loser lead in by slim margins in the demo (around 8 percent), while holding the viewership.

The third episode of A to Z held at 3.37 million viewers and 1.0 A18-49, even in the 18-49 demo from last week.  Still, the numbers are too low for NBC to consider ordering anymore episodes.  If I had to guess, NBC will let all 13 episodes air before The Blacklist enters the night.

Meanwhile, the bad news over at FOX continued yet again.  The third week of Gracepoint dropped another tenth to 3.70 million viewers and 0.8 A18-49.  Retention from Bones was 56% among total viewers and 47% in the demo.  While I realize only seven episodes remain, FOX should consider shifting Gracepoint to Fridays and giving the Bones lead in to some other show (maybe Red Band Society, if FOX is bent on keeping it).

Finally, ABC’s Thank God It’s Thursday lineup continued to tick down week-to-week.  The latest episode of How to Get Away with Murder slipped below the 3.0 demo mark for the first time this week.  Notching 9.79 million viewers and 2.8 A18-49, How to Get Away with Murder fell 10% week-to-week, and did not grow out of Scandal this week.  This begs the question, when will How to Get Away with Murder finally stabilize?

“Bad Judge” Even with Premiere, Everything Else Down

It was not a good night for two of the freshman offerings, but one surprised, and another continued its stellar first season.

Week two of Bad Judge was the surprise of the night with 5.24 million viewers and 1.3 A18-49.  How is that surprising?  Bad Judge held onto 100% of its week-ago premiere numbers, despite The Biggest Loser (its lead in) falling a tenth week-to-week.  Not many shows hold steady in week two, especially when their lead in is down.  These numbers are weak, but if Bad Judge can hold again next week, NBC may have to give the comedy a better timeslot.

While Bad Judge held from last week, its lead out was not so lucky.  A new episode of A to Z fell to 3.63 million viewers and 1.0 A18-49, shedding one million viewers and slipping two tenths.  The numbers a week ago were bad, and this week they are even worse.  NBC will likely stick with A to Z for its entire 13 episodes, since The Blacklist is already scheduled to take over the timeslot in February.

Breakout freshman drama, How to Get Away with Murder attracted 10.81 million viewers and 3.1 A18-49 in its third week on the air.  Down only three tenths from the previous week, it appears the bleeding is coming to an end.  Another positive note for How to Get Away with Murder is the growth in total viewers and the demo from Scandal (one tenth in the demo, 1.29 million viewers).  The hit drama was also given a full season order of 15 episodes on Wednesday evening.

Finally, the bad news at FOX keeps on coming.  The second week of Gracepoint dropped from its already low debut to 3.80 million viewers and 0.9 A18-49.  Eight episodes remain, so I cannot see FOX pulling the plug, unless the show falls double-digits again next week.

Updated with finals 10/11 at 250pm.

“A to Z”, “Bad Judge”, and “Gracepoint” Start Slow

There were three series premieres last night, and all three were disappointing.

At 9pm, the series premiere of Bad Judge kicked off its run with 5.84 million viewers and 1.3 A18-49.  Retention out of The Biggest Loser was 100% in the 18-49 demo, while growing in total viewers. The overall results are low, and NBC already plans on bringing The Blacklist into the timeslot in February.

Following Bad Judge was the premiere of A to Z, which debuted to 4.79 million viewers and 1.2 A18-49.  Again, not a good start for a new comedy.  Retention from Bad Judge was acceptable 82% among total viewers and 92% in the demo, but given both are low numbers, retention should be solid.  Could A to Z be one of the first cancellations of the season?

FOX debuted new drama Gracepoint to 4.76 million viewers and 1.2 A18-49 demo. Retention in the demo from Bones was 80% and 74% among total viewers. This is yet another low rated premiere for struggling-FOX.  On the flipside, FOX will probably air the remaining nine episodes.

Over at ABC, week two of How to Get Away with Murder  attracted 12.15 million viewers and 3.3 A18-49, down an acceptable 13 percent from last weeks huge premiere.  How to Get Away with Murder once again grew in total viewers from Scandal, while displaying an impressive 97% retention in the demo.

Updated with finals 10/4 at 1219pm.