Image Credit: Marc Serota/Getty Images; Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS; FoxNBC’s telecast of the divisional rivalry between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins gave the Peacock a much-needed spot in the winner’s circle Sunday. Despite a bevy of premieres on Fox, CBS and ABC, NBC easily won the night among adults 18-49 (5.3 rating/14 share and viewers 13.47 million viewers, according to preliminary ratings. Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.31 million viewers.
Fox still had a few reasons to brag: The hour-long return of Family Guy averaged 9.12 million viewers and won is timeslot (no surprise) in several demographics, including teens, persons 12-34, and very young guys and gals. It also beat Desperate Housewives among adults 18-49. The Simpsons was down versus last year’s premiere among adults 18-49 but up 16% versus last season’s average. It pulled in 7.75 million viewers at 8 while The Cleveland Show that followed averaged 6.60 million.
On ABC, the return of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Desperate Housewives averaged 8.39 million and 12.75 million, respectively. The premiere of Brothers and Sisters dominated its 10 p.m. slot among female demos and averaged 9.59 million.
CBS brought back new seasons of 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss (an NFL overrun wreaked havoc on CBS’ prime time lineup so everything started later). Minutes and Race from 8:30-9:30 p.m. averaged 12.20 million, and dropped to 11.2 million in its final half hour. The combo of Race and Boss at 10 lured 10.99 million.
Overall, CBS came in second in viewers for the night (13.2 million), followed by ABC (9.1 million), and Fox (7.6 million). CBS was second among adults 18-49.
She looks like Holly Montag.
Simpsons was really good last night, but Family Guy was terrible. I’d stopped watching it a while ago because it got so unfunny, but I love murder mysteries so I decided to watch. Big mistake; it was unfunny and painful to watch. Won’t be making that mistake again.
Simpsons was actually pretty lame last night. I haven’t watched Family Guy yet, so I can’t comment on that, but its really sad when I lose interest more than halfway through and have to almost force myself to pay attention.
I liked the Simpsons last night, but Family guy was just…I dunno. They took a lot of things a little too far.
Just now? After, what, nine seasons they finally went too far? The dumpster baby, AIDS song performed by a barbershop quartet, references to incest, etc. were all fine by you but a murder-mystery was too much?
I agree. It was a particularly good/funny episode of the Simpsons, and the Glee guest stars didn’t detract from the funny.
We actually loved the Family Guy season premiere. And I agree with commenter “…” (if that’s his or her real name). It was a murder mystery in the style of Murder She Wrote or Clue. Nothing went too far last night IMO.
The football overruns on CBS is frustrating. It helped some that they had The Amazing Race start at 8:30 instead of 8, but they still ran over by 15 minutes or so. Why don’t they just cancel 60 Minutes, then maybe they could start TAR at 8:00?
CBS will probably never cancel 60 minutes because they liked to be known for their award-winning investigative journalism. They could shorten the Undercover Boss to 30 minutes though since most of that show is fluff and filler. Maybe UB would feel more “genuine” if it was trimmed up a bit. Right now, the show feels like one hour of staged PR.
Cancel 60 Minutes? Maybe instead you should try watching it and learn a thing or two about the world in which we live. 60 Minutes is outstanding, year after year.
I think they should postpone 60 Minutes until midseason. It’ll help make the football overrun not as severe as it has been and it can still be on the air for prestige.
I look forward to watching 60 minutes each week. I don’t mind hte overruns because I watch the football, 60 minutes and TAR.
I think CBS encourages the overruns because it will get more viewers tuning into shows they think will be on and get the to keep watching until that show finally starts.
If they really wanted to fix the problem though, they would make sure the late afternoon games started at 4:00 and not at 4:15 or 4:30.
What the hell? I watched The Simpsons season premiere last night expecting to hear good music only to have my ears tortured by the worst singing performances ever. It really did sound like they were hitting a baby with a cat. Next time I need to torture someone I will show them this episode…with only the sound on!
So, DH was the #1 scripted show of the night…..Wonderful!!