Primetime Ratings: May 2011

[Toups]

Numbers are FINAL RATINGS not OVERNIGHTS

Numbers courtesy of Travis Yanan

+/- are comparisons to previous new episode

Sunday, May 1

Monday, May 2

Tuesday, May 3

Wednesday, May 4

Thursday, May 5

Friday, May 6

Sunday, May 8

Monday, May 9

Tuesday, May 10

Wednesday, May 11

[Toups]

Sunday, May 1

Total Viewers

1. Desperate Housewives: 9.44 million (-710,000)

2. The Amazing Race: 9.20 million (-170,000)

3. Celebrity Apprentice (105 mins): 8.65 million (+390,000)

4. Undercover Boss: 8.37 million (-580,000)

5. Extreme Makeover Home Edition: 8.21 million (+400,000)

6. CSI: Miami (45 mins): 7.65 million (-2,320,000)

7. The Simpsons: 5.84 million (+780,000)

8. Brothers & Sisters (44 mins): 5.70 million (-850,000)

9. Family Guy (RR): 5.07 million

10. The Cleveland Show (RR): 4.42 million

11. America's Next Great Restaurant: 4.41 million (+680,000)

12. American Dad (RR): 4.20 million

Adults 18-49

1. Celebrity Apprentice (105 mins): 3.1/8 (+.1)

2. Desperate Housewives: 2.8/7 (-.3)

3. The Simpsons: 2.7/8 (+.4)

4. The Amazing Race: 2.6/7 (same)

5. Family Guy (RR): 2.4/6

6. Extreme Makeover Home Edition: 2.3/6 (+.1)

7. The Cleveland Show (RR): 2.0/5

7. Undercover Boss: 2.0/5 (same)

9. American Dad (RR): 1.9/5

10. CSI: Miami (45 mins): 1.8/5 (-.4)

11. Brothers & Sisters (44 mins): 1.6/4 (-.3)

11. America's Next Great Restaurant: 1.6/4 (+.4)

[Toups]

Monday, May 2

Total Viewers

1. Dancing with the Stars (121 mins): 21.40 million (-980,000)

2. Castle: 12.11 million (-220,000)

3. Hawaii Five-0: 9.83 million (-1,610,000)

4. House: 8.57 million (-230,000)

5. Mike & Molly: 8.19 million (-1,790,000)

6. Two and a Half Men (RR): 7.69 million

7. How I Met Your Mother: 6.77 million (+280,000)

8. Mad Love: 5.71 million (+180,000)

9. The Chicago Code: 5.60 million (-780,000)

10. Law & Order: Los Angeles: 4.85 million (-940,000)

11. The Event: 4.14 million (-480,000)

12. Chuck: 4.10 million (-120,000)

13. 90210: 1.47 million (-270,000)

14. Gossip Girl: 1.27 million (-280,000)

Adults 18-49

1. Dancing with the Stars (121 mins): 4.5/12 (-.2)

2. House: 2.9/8 (-.3)

2. Castle: 2.9/7 (-.1)

4. How I Met Your Mother: 2.8/8 (+.3)

5. Hawaii Five-0: 2.5/6 (-.3)

6. Mike & Molly: 2.4/6 (-.2)

7. Mad Love: 2.2/6 (+.2)

7. Two and a Half Men (RR): 2.2/6

9. The Chicago Code: 1.6/4 (-.2)

10. Chuck: 1.4/4 (+.1)

10. Law & Order: Los Angeles: 1.4/4 (+.1)

12. The Event: 1.3/3 (same)

13. 90210: 0.8/2 (-.1)

14. Gossip Girl: 0.7/2 (-.1)

[Toups]

Tuesday, May 3

Total Viewers

1. NCIS: 17.87 million (-2,000,000)

2. Dancing with the Stars (9pm): 16.06 million (-2,220,000)

3. NCIS: Los Angeles: 14.16 million (-1,300,000)

4. The Voice (120 mins): 12.58 million (+800,000)

5. The Good Wife: 12.38 million (+1,330,000)

6. Body of Proof: 10.23 million (-1,630,000)

7. Dancing with the Stars (8pm): 9.38 million (-3,700,000)

8. Glee: 8.85 million (+230,000)

9. The Biggest Loser: 7.52 million (+70,000)

10. Raising Hope: 4.67 million (+140,000)

11. Traffic Light: 2.87 million (-220,000)

12. One Tree Hill: 1.24 million (-200,000)

13. Hellcats: 1.01 million (+30,000)

Adults 18-49

1. The Voice (120 mins): 5.7/15 (+.6)

2. NCIS: 3.7/11 (-.2)

2. Glee: 3.7/11 (+.3)

4. Dancing with the Stars (9pm): 3.0/8 (-.6)

5. NCIS: Los Angeles: 2.9/7 (-.4)

6. The Biggest Loser: 2.7/8 (+.1)

7. The Good Wife: 2.4/6 (+.4)

8. Body of Proof: 2.0/5 (-.2)

9. Dancing with the Stars (8pm): 1.8/5 (-.7)

9. Raising Hope: 1.8/5 (same)

11. Traffic Light: 1.1/3 (-.2)

12. One Tree Hill: 0.6/2 (-.1)

13. Hellcats: 0.5/1 (+.1)

[Toups]

Wednesday, May 4

Total Viewers

1. American Idol (90 mins): 21.14 million (-1,180,000)

2. Criminal Minds: 12.90 million (-690,000)

3. Survivor: 10.99 million (-330,000)

4. Modern Family: 9.90 million (-50,000)

5. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior: 8.83 million (-1,130,000)

6. Law & Order: SVU: 8.53 million (+240,000)

7. The Middle: 7.08 million (+260,000)

8. Breaking In: 7.07 million (+60,000)

9. Cougar Town: 5.49 million (-130,000)

10. Better With You: 5.41 million (+760,000)

11. Happy Endings (10pm): 3.88 million (-1,290,000)

12. Minute to Win It (RR, 9pm): 3.53 million

13. Minute to Win It (8pm): 3.42 million (+300,000)

14. Happy Endings (10:30pm): 3.26 million

15. America's Next Top Model (9pm): 1.94 million (-450,000)

16. America's Next Top Model (RR, 8pm): 1.12 million

Adults 18-49

1. American Idol (90 mins): 6.6/19 (-.5)

2. Modern Family: 3.9/10 (+.1)

3. Criminal Minds: 3.2/8 (-.3)

4. Survivor: 3.1/9 (-.1)

5. Law & Order: SVU: 2.6/7 (+.2)

6. Breaking In: 2.4/6 (same)

7. Cougar Town: 2.2/6 (+.1)

7. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior: 2.2/6 (-.4)

9. The Middle: 2.0/6 (+.1)

10. Happy Endings (10pm): 1.7/4 (-.4)

11. Better With You: 1.6/5 (+.1)

12. Happy Endings (10:30pm): 1.4/4

13. Minute to Win It (RR, 9pm): 1.1/3

14. Minute to Win It (8pm): 1.0/3 (+.2)

15. America's Next Top Model (9pm): 0.9/2 (-.2)

16. America's Next Top Model (RR, 8pm): 0.4/1

[Toups]

Thursday, May 5

Total Viewers

1. American Idol: 21.29 million (+1,690,000)

2. The Mentalist: 14.00 million (+470,000)

3. Bones: 10.94 million (+1,240,000)

4. CSI: 10.67 million (-170,000)

5. Big Bang Theory: 10.50 million (-210,000)

6. Grey's Anatomy: 10.11 million (-560,000)

7. Rules of Engagement: 7.72 million (-140,000)

8. The Office (9pm): 6.90 million (-1,520,000)

9. Private Practice: 6.89 million (+210,000)

10. Parks and Recreation: 5.06 million (+350,000)

11. Wipeout: 4.79 million (-1,400,000)

12. 30 Rock: 4.20 million (+250,000)

13. The Office (RR, 8:30pm): 3.68 million

14. Community: 3.49 million (+140,000)

15. Outsourced: 3.14 million (-360,000)

16. The Vampire Diaries: 2.84 million (+160,000)

17. Nikita: 2.00 million (+280,000)

Adults 18-49

1. American Idol: 6.3/20 (+.6)

2. The Office (9pm): 3.5/10 (-.7)

2. Grey's Anatomy: 3.5/10 (-.2)

4. Big Bang Theory: 3.2/11 (-.1)

4. Bones: 3.2/9 (+.4)

6. The Mentalist: 2.7/7 (+.1)

7. Parks and Recreation: 2.5/7 (+.2)

8. Private Practice: 2.3/6 (+.1)

8. CSI: 2.3/6 (-.1)

10. Rules of Engagement: 2.2/7 (-.1)

11. 30 Rock: 2.1/6 (+.2)

12. Community: 1.5/5 (+.1)

12. Outsourced: 1.5/4 (-.2)

14. Wipeout: 1.4/5 (-.5)

15. The Vampire Diaries: 1.3/4 (+.1)

16. The Office (RR, 8:30pm): 1.1/3

17. Nikita: 0.8/2 (+.2)

[Toups]

Friday, May 6

Total viewers

1. Blue Bloods: 10.38 million (+320,000)

2. CSI: NY: 9.53 million (+340,000)

3. Flashpoint: 6.94 million

4. 20/20: 6.17 million (-610,000)

5. Dateline (120 mins): 5.95 million (-830,000)

6. Shark Tank: 4.45 million (-130,000)

7. Primetime: What Would You Do?: 4.02 million (+20,000)

8. Kitchen Nightmares: 3.71 million (+340,000)

9. Fringe: 3.29 million (-230,000)

10. Friday Night Lights: 2.82 million (-170,000)

11. Supernatural: 2.11 million (+100,000)

12. Smallville: 2.07 million (+80,000)

Adults 18-49

1. 20/20: 1.7/6 (+.1)

2. Kitchen Nightmares: 1.6/6 (+.3)

2. CSI: NY: 1.6/5 (-.1)

2. Dateline (120 mins): 1.6/5 (+.4)

5. Blue Bloods: 1.5/5 (-.1)

6. Shark Tank: 1.2/5 (same)

6. Fringe: 1.2/4 (-.1)

8. Primetime: What Would You Do?: 1.2/4 (same)

9. Flashpoint: 1.1/4

10. Supernatural: 1.0/3 (+.1)

11. Friday Night Lights: 0.8/3 (+.1)

11. Smallville: 0.8/3 (same)

[Khan]

"Blue Bloods" is leading among total viewers on Fridays, and scoring big among adults 18-49 as well. So, of course, let's show the creators and showrunners the door and retool it into another procedural for next season.

[DRW50]

I wonder if this has to do with Tom Selleck. Wasn't he unhappy with the show when it started?

CBS is hitting a wall with the procedurals. They should take a lesson from NCIS gaining viewers by becoming more character-driven.

[Toups]

Sunday, May 8

Total Viewers

1. Desperate Housewives: 10.00 million (+560,000)

2. CSI: Miami: 9.85 million (+2,200,000)

3. The Amazing Race (120 mins): 8.97 million (-230,000)

4. Extreme Makeover Home Edition: 7.99 million (-220,000)

5. Brothers & Sisters: 7.18 million (+1,480,000)

5. Celebrity Apprentice (180 mins): 7.18 million (-1,470,000)

7. Family Guy: 6.52 million (+540,000)

8. The Simpsons: 5.52 million (-320,000)

9. The Cleveland Show: 4.70 million (+90,000)

10. Bob's Burgers: 4.26 million (+260,000)

11. American Dad: 3.29 million (-1,450,000)

Adults 18-49

1. Family Guy: 3.3/8 (+.3)

2. Desperate Housewives: 2.9/7 (+.1)

3. The Amazing Race (120 mins): 2.6/7 (same)

4. The Simpsons: 2.5/8 (-.2)

5. Celebrity Apprentice (180 mins): 2.4/7 (-.7)

6. The Cleveland Show: 2.2/5 (-.1)

7. Extreme Makeover Home Edition: 2.1/6 (-.2)

8. Bob's Burgers: 2.0/6 (+.1)

8. CSI: Miami: 2.0/5 (+.2)

10. Brothers & Sisters: 1.9/5 (+.3)

11. American Dad: 1.6/5 (-.6)

[Khan]

Reportedly, Tom Selleck was unhappy because the original showrunner, Ken Sanzel ("Numb3rs"), wanted to make it a more procedural series. Sanzel was replaced by Creator/EP's Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green, though, and Selleck seemed very pleased that BB was going to stay a character- and family-driven show.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that BB managed to be the first series since "Ghost Whisperer" to attract an audience on an otherwise "dead" night (no pun intended), CBS's higher-ups, along with series EP (and CBS board member) Leonard Goldberg, continued to chaf at the series' direction, ultimately resulting in Burgess and Green's decision to part company.

So, now, BB will probably be the series the network wants, but not so much its' cranky lead.

[Toups]

Exactly. Even though CBS is #1, I kinda look down on them because they're so pro-procedure and they rarely think outside the box or take chances on something new. CBS will always be my 4th network, behind NBC, ABC, FOX, CW, because of that.

[Toups]

Monday, May 9

Total Viewers

1. Dancing with the Stars (121 mins): 20.74 million (-660,000)

2. Castle: 12.60 million (+490,000)

3. Hawaii Five-0: 9.45 million (-380,000)

4. House: 7.94 million (-630,000)

5. Mike & Molly: 7.63 million (-560,000)

6. Two and a Half Men (RR): 6.45 million

7. How I Met Your Mother: 6.41 million (-360,000)

8. The Chicago Code: 5.67 million (+70,000)

9. Mad Love: 5.11 million (-600,000)

10. Law & Order: Los Angeles: 5.06 million (+210,000)

11. Chuck: 4.10 million (same)

12. The Event: 3.85 million (-290,000)

13. 90210: 1.43 million (-40,000)

14. Gossip Girl: 1.20 million (-70,000)

Adults 18-49

1. Dancing with the Stars (121 mins): 4.2/12 (-.3)

2. Castle: 3.1/8 (+.2)

3. House: 3.0/9 (+.1)

4. How I Met Your Mother: 2.6/8 (-.2)

5. Mike & Molly: 2.3/6 (-.1)

5. Hawaii Five-0: 2.3/6 (-.2)

7. Mad Love: 1.9/5 (-.3)

8. Two and a Half Men (RR): 1.8/5

9. The Chicago Code: 1.7/4 (+.1)

10. Chuck: 1.4/4 (same)

11. Law & Order: Los Angeles: 1.2/3 (-.2)

12. The Event: 1.1/3 (-.2)

13. 90210: 0.7/2 (-.1)

14. Gossip Girl: 0.6/2 (-.1)

[Khan]

But the thing is...? I get where CBS is coming from. Sort of.

IMO, the reason why there are so many procedural shows on CBS' lineup right now, aside from the initial success of the "C.S.I." franchise, has not a little to do with the fact that more serialized, character-driven shows do not hold up well in repeats or that their attempts to create their own "24" or "Lost" phenomenon have been largely failures. (There are only so many "Threshold"s and "Jericho"s you can do before you start realizing that maybe you're not cut for that kind of television, lol.)

OTOH, Toups, you're right: by relying so much on one, particular sub-genre, CBS has not only stayed stubbornly inside the box, but they've also created a glut of these kinds of shows that's going to leave them in serious trouble if/when the current shows play out, viewers don't cotton to their successors or replacements, and they are forced to rebuild the lineup from scratch.

Ironically, CBS used to be able to deliver smart drama shows that were neither mythology-driven nor crime-oriented. And, they were big hits, too! Remember "The Waltons," for example? Or "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman"? Or "Touched by An Angel"? Or "Northern Exposure" and "Picket Fences"?

[DRW50]

The problem is that the rigid and lazy procedural format is starting to hurt CBS. Hawaii 5-0 has not been anywhere near the hit it was supposed to be, and the Criminal Minds spinoff has been a flop.