Mar 16 2009 08:18 PM ET

Ratings: 'Kings' debut is less than royal

Tags:

The two-hour premiere of NBC’s critically acclaimed drama Kings (6 million viewers) did nothing to dethrone reigning Sunday ratings champs like ABC’s Desperate Housewives (14.4 million) and CBS’ The Amazing Race (10.4 million). Brothers & Sisters, meanwhile, continued its upward trajectory with 10.6 million viewers at 10 p.m.

Over the weekend, fans of Fox’s Friday sci-fi block got some good(ish) news, as Terminator ticked up 21 percent to 3.5 million viewers and Dollhouse crept up 19 percent to 4.3 million viewers. NBC kicked off the weekend with slightly higher numbers, too, for Howie Do It (4.3 million) and Friday Night Lights (4.4 million).

 
   
   
      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

 

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
7 p.m. 60 Minutes (CBS)
America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
Dateline (NBC)
Hole in the Wall (Fox)
Jericho (The CW)
12.6
7.5
4.3
2.1
.7 (repeat)
8 p.m. Amazing Race XIV (CBS)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
Kings (NBC)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Movie: Moonstruck (The CW)
10.4
9.4
6.0
6.0
1.2
8:30 p.m. King of the Hill (Fox) 5.4
9 p.m. Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Cold Case (CBS)
Family Guy (Fox)
14.4
12.9
7.2
9:30 p.m. American Dad (Fox) 5.8
10 p.m. The Unit (CBS)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
10.9
10.6
6.7
Comments (22 total) Add your comment
Page: 1 2
  • Denise

    I liked Kings- I hope it stays around.

  • chris

    i would have watched if i was home at the time. i hope it doesn’t get canceled.

  • Derrick

    I loved kings it was great.
    why doesnt fox premote The Sthe simpsons like it premotes Family Guy,The Simpsons ratings and viewership would go up alot if they had just 1 or 2 tuesday and wendsday commercials

  • skmilj

    I DVRd it and just finished watching it; or TRYING to watch. As a LOST and BSG fan, I was bored bored bored.

  • Tom

    Kings interests me I will check it out if it lasts the season…I refuse to invest myself at all in series’ that start on NBC or ABC.

  • sherman

    hey derrick, learn how to spell promote.

  • Melissa

    I really liked it!!! The problem is I only stumbled on it last night and had no idea what it was and really got into it. But NBC did little promotion and it is one of those shows that you cant pick up in the middle.

  • Darrin

    I was skeptical, but I watched Kings and really liked it. The reason I almost didn’t watch, and the reason ratings for this and most new shows are tanking – people have realized that if a show isn’t a smash hit, the network will yank it off the air at any time, with no resolution, making viewers feel they had completely wasted their time. Memo to networks – if you want more loyal viewers, try showing a bit of loyalty to your own shows, you’re the cause of your own failures.

  • Rachel

    thought Kings was great!! So agree with Darrin!!!

  • Greg

    Was everyone high when they watched that show, Kings? Seriously, the acting was pathetically bad (Ian McShane excepted) and that script was atrocious. And it’s too bad, because it’s kind of an interesting idea to do a modern-day version of a biblical story.

  • AJ

    Kings was great! I hope it sticks around, definitely check it out if you missed it!

  • Nix

    It was very promising, but really, to echo one of the reviewers, it should have been a mini- or maxi-series, so there’s a clear end. Look what having a set ending did for the quality of and attention for Lost!
    Well, NBC does have a few things on its list that aren’t exactly ratings winners, but are known to be quality. And I admire the ambition of Kings more than the cleverness of even the divine Tina Fey.
    FWIW, the teenage/college girl demographic that loves the CW and fanfiction are ALL OVER this show and the two younger actors. Drooling. Check Livejournal.

  • Wrenn

    KINGS was phenomenal. I’m seriously bummed about the poor ratings.

  • shelly

    I wanted to like this but I found the story and writing confusing and the overall show dreary and dull. The cast is fine (McShane is great, the new guy, not so much) but the pacing too slow and the plot too convoluted (I found all the war history stuff hard to follow). And I don’t get what the show is supposed to be about…it needs to show clearly what it is and where it’s going and who the audience is supposed to root for – David, okay, but are we supposed to love or hate the King?
    I also wish they’d can the romance between David and Michelle. It’s so trite and predictable and yes, they need it to draw the female audience in but I just found it pointlessly unnecessary.

  • walle

    its funny how ppl keep saying they were lost.. i was on it!! i enjoyed it! i thought it was something new and fun! the whole idea of the show is great! the drama is cool, personally i enjoyed it very much. ppl are just to the same ol same ol. and if you are lost READ THE PLOT!! at NBC and PAY ATTENTION! haha

Page: 1 2
Add your comment
The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject - or we may delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

When you click on the "Post Comment" button above to submit your comments, you are indicating your acceptance of and are agreeing to the Terms of Service. You can also read our Privacy Policy.

Advertisement
  1. Tuesday, May 1
    1. The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
  2. Friday, May 4
    1. In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
  3. Sunday, May 6
    1. The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
    2. GCB NBC, 10-11PM
  4. Monday, May 7
    1. Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
    2. Castle ABC, 10-11PM
  5. Tuesday, May 8
    1. Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
    2. The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
    3. New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
    4. Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
  6. Wednesday, May 9
    1. CSI CBS, 10-11PM
  7. Thursday, May 10
    1. The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
    2. The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
    3. The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
    4. The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
    5. Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
  8. Friday, May 11
    1. The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
    2. Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
    3. Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
    4. CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
    5. Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
  9. Sunday, May 13
    1. Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
    2. Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
    3. Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
    4. American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
  10. Monday, May 14
    1. Bones FOX, 8-9PM
    2. How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
    3. Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
    4. Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
    5. Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
    6. Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
    7. Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
    8. Smash NBC, 10-11PM
  11. Tuesday, May 15
    1. 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
    2. Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
    3. NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
    4. NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
    5. Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
    6. Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
  12. Wednesday, May 16
    1. Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
    2. Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
  13. Thursday, May 17
    1. Missing ABC, 8-9PM
    2. Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
    3. 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
    4. Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
    5. Awake NBC, 9-11PM
    6. Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
    7. Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
    8. The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
    9. Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
  14. Friday, May 18
    1. Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
    2. Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
    3. Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
    4. Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
    5. Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
  15. Saturday, May 19
    1. Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
  16. Sunday, May 20
    1. America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
    2. The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
    3. Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
    4. The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
    5. Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
    6. Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
    7. Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
  17. Monday, May 21
    1. Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
    2. House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
  18. Tuesday, May 22
    1. American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
    2. Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
    3. Glee FOX, 9-10PM
  19. Wednesday, May 23
    1. The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
    2. American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
    3. Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
    4. Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
    5. Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
    6. Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
  20. Thursday, May 24
    1. Awake NBC, 10-11PM
  21. Tuesday, May 29
    1. Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
    2. The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
  22. Wednesday, May 30
    1. America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP