Image Credit: Byron Cohen/NBC; Eric McCandless/ABC; Elsa/Getty Images Record 20869123Fox scored a homerun on Wednesday, thanks to Game 1 of the World Series. The network (no surprise) won the night among adults 18-49 (a 4.7 rating) and total viewers (15.7 million) because of the game between the Giants and the Rangers, though it was still down 25 percent from last year’s Phillies-Yankees matchup. Fox is quick to point out, though, that Wednesday’s game is in line with 2008′s Phillies-Rays battle, which earned a 4.8 rating.
Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.3 million viewers.
CBS finished in second place Wednesday among adults 18-49 (3.0/8) and viewers (11.8 million), with Criminal Minds (3.4/9) standing out as the network’s most-watched show (13.9 million). Survivor (3.4/10) averaged 11.6 million viewers, while The Defenders (2.1/6) averaged 9.8 million.
Over on ABC, which finished third in the demo and viewers (2.7/8, 7.9 million), The Middle posted a nice little gain over last week (up 8%, to 2.8/9 and 9.4 million). Give this great show a try, won’t you? Better With You (7.7 million) earned a 2.5/7, which was up 19 percent versus last week, while Modern Family (13.0 million), earned a 5.1/13, up 9 percent. Speaking of which, a sitcom-writing buddy of mine is kicking himself for not accepting a job on this show so he could go write for an NBC comedy instead. Think he made a mistake?
Cougar Town earned a 3.3/9 and averaged 8.2 million, while the already canceled drama The Whole Truth earned a paltry 1.2/4 and 4.5 million viewers. So long, middling legal show (but leave Maura Tierney with us!).
More bummer news for NBC: An original episode of Undercovers (1.4/4) posted a 7 percent decline versus last week. It averaged 5.3 million. The fourth place network went on to air repeats of Law & Order and Law & Order: LA. I’d include the ratings here but it’s easier for you to just imagine the sound of crickets.
I watched “The Whole Truth” for first
and last time. Just awful. Did Maura Tierny think taking this role would showcase her talent? Maybe she just wanted to work following her health crisis.
Her friend created the role with her in mind. I think she was doing him a favor.
Yeah, the premise was good but the execution was awful.
I flipped past this one night and Maura Tierney’s character was arguing a case in a polo shirt! Absurd.
Tierney will be back on tv in no time, in a better role.
Nice to see Cougar Town increasing viewers.
The ratings were probably down from last year since Fox and Cablevision still haven’t come to an agreement.
I’m glad The Whole Truth got canceled. It’s a waste of Maura Tierney’s talent. She deserves so much better.
15.7 million viewers is a strong number! And the earlier starting time really helped. I don’t like it starting at 8:30 or later, but 7:57 is reasonable.
Wasn’t expecting so many runs to be scored in last night’s game. Glad to get some new blood in the World Series. Also glad to see ABC’s comedies doing well (especially the underrated “The Middle”).
“Speaking of which, a sitcom-writing buddy of mine is kicking himself for not accepting a job on this show so he could go write for an NBC comedy instead. Think he made a mistake?”
It depends on which one. I’ll take Community or 30 rock over Modern Family any day. Those two seem like they would be more fun to write, if you can ignore the lower job security because of ratings.
Is that Billy Mays?