This just in: Deafening buzz can indeed translate into improved ratings. At least that looks like the case for The CW’s Gossip Girl — a recent cover subject for Entertainment Weekly — which averaged a series-high 3.7 million viewers last night. That figure was up a half-million viewers over last week and 300,000 eyes over its Sept. 1 season premiere; even more exciting for CW execs, last night’s episode grew a healthy 1 million viewers over the third GG episode from season 1, and helped make the network No. 1 for the night with women 18-34 and adults 18-34. In further good news for The CW, One Tree Hill scored 3.4 million viewers last night, retention of 91 percent out of its GG lead-in.
Apparently, however, scoring an EWwy nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series wasn’t enough buzz to help Lena Headey’s Fox drama, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, maintain viewership levels for the second episode of its second season. The show scored an average 5.5 million viewers in the overnights, down 800,000 viewers from last week’s season premiere (which was itself off 36 percent from its first-season average of 9.8 million). The network’s onetime buzz-worthy Prison Break, meanwhile, managed to grow its audience out of Sarah Connor, averaging 5.9 million viewers, but still declined from last week’s overnight viewership average of 6.5 million.
In other first-run news, NBC’s Deal or No Deal scored 8.8 million viewers in the overnights, while ABC’s broadcast of Batman Begins drew 5.7 million. A rerun of Two and a Half Men on CBS led all shows with 9.8 million.
If you’re a GG obsessive, you’ll want to check out Tim Stack’s episode recap, watch his behind-the-scenes video from the GG set, and read our guide to the Best and Worst of Gossip Girl and recent Gossip Girl cover story.
If Terminator is more your thing, check out Tom Conroy’s recap of the premiere and our Sarah Connor Chronicles Best and Worst gallery.
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I they had any sense they would kill SWC character again for good.Her returned has mad the show unbearable to watch her acting is horrible and the show is a twisted mess.
I meant has made.
I can’t imagine Terminator will do much better once new episodes of Chuck and How I Met Your Mother/Big Bang Theory start. Why do the networks put all the shows I watch on at the same time? I’ll be watching a lot of TV online this fall.
I hope the ratings pick up for Terminator. The show is full of action/drama goodiness. They’re probably losing some ratings due to the fact that you can watch the show on hulu.com. That could totally take away live viewers. Plus DVRs and illegal downloading. Plus, oh yeah..we really need a new system of ratings.
Why would anyone in their right mind make a big deal about a show that reached slightly more people than a strong cable show, and STILL reached fewer people than an edited version of an average theatrical release? EW and all the other rags can give Gossip Girl all the buzz they want… the audience just isn’t there.
Well, my excuse is that I was fascinated by the Red Sox’s rout of the Rays and that happening mainly during Terminator. I missed big parts, but got the gist. Sadly, I could have done the same with Prison Break, at least that looks really good for next week.
It is a little appalling how the media allow themselves to be used to promote Gossip Girl. I’ve never heard a word of “buzz” about it except in the glut of entertainment magazines and websites. And while it’s true I’m not part of its target audience, I do know lots of people who are, and none of them watch the show.
Bring back the Terminator tv watch! Even if the ratings are not great (at the moment), it is better than most of the dreck you are covering (Hills anyone?).
SO HAPPY FOR GG!!!
I need CW to stay afloat…because of GOSSIP GIRL!!!
I can’t believe you guys cover The Hills. Embarrassing.
Terminator it’s just getting better on this second season.
But sadly I can’t see the ratings grow. And I really, really hope that FOX don’t cancel the show
Prison Break is a Surprise to me, Im starting to Like the “Mission: Impossble” Plot the PB’s Storyline this season, its got me Hooked.
For Terminator: TSCC to succeed, Fox has to move the timeslot. I think a move to Friday or Sunday would be great for this show. X-Files in the 90′s thrived in those spots. This season is off to a great start and I would hate not to see this show giving a fighting chance.
I agree with TegoLivi. Who are the 18 year olds that are watching this show. Most college kids I know are still hooked on Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. I never, never hear them say a word about Gossip Girl when talking about their favorite tv shows.
Hmm. So Gossip Girl hit a series high of 3.7 million viewers. And on the same night Deal or No Deal an a rerun of Two and a Half Men drew 8.8 and 9.8 million viewers respectively. So why isn’t EW doing cover stories on them?