The alphabet network, unlike some of the others, had mostly original episodes this time around. They tried Better with You in the post-Dancing with the Stars timeslot and it did very well. Unfortunately those new viewers didn’t follow the series back to Wednesdays.
After a big drop in week two, Happy Endings bounced back in week three. Conversely, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice both had huge drops.
Which ABC TV series will be renewed or cancelled depends mostly on the show’s ratings, particularly the 18-49 demographic. Before we get to the season-to-date averages, here are the winners and losers from April 22nd through April 28th — based on the coveted demo, as measured against the last original episode.
Week-to-Week Gains: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 2.2/6 (+10.0%), Desperate Housewives 3.1/8 (+14.8%), Brothers & Sisters 1.9/5 (+11.8%), Dancing with the Stars 4.7/13 (Mon, +17.5%), Better with You 2.6/6 (+62.5% compared to last Weds ep), Dancing with the Stars 3.6/9 (Tues, +20.0%), Happy Endings 2.1/5 (+31.3%), and 20/20 1.4/4 (+16.7%, Thurs as compared to last Fri ep).
No Change: Dancing with the Stars 2.5/7 (Tues recap special).
Week-to-Week Losses: Shark Tank 1.4/5 (-6.7%), Primetime: What Would You Do? 1.2/4 (-14.3%), 20/20 1.2/4 (-29.4%), Body of Proof 2.2/6 (-8.3%), Better with You 1.5/4 (-6.3% compared to last Weds), Cougar Town 2.1/5 (-8.7%), Grey’s Anatomy 3.7/9 (-24.5%), and Private Practice 2.2/6 (-18.5%).
You can see a complete list of the cancel/renew standings of this season’s shows by checking the ABC cancelled/renewed post.
Below is a list of the regular ABC TV shows and their 2010-11 season average ratings to date. It only incorporates the ratings for original episodes and not repeats. The data is sorted by the all-important 18-49 demographic averages. The closer a show is to the bottom, the more likely it is to be cancelled. Fridays and Saturdays are the least-watched nights of TV so those shows get lower numbers.
| Demo rank | Scripted TV Shows | Average viewers (millions) |
Average 18-49 demo |
Compared to last week |
|
| 1 | Modern Family (renewed) | 11.39 | 4.5 | --- | |
| 2 | Grey's Anatomy (renewed) | 11.46 | 4.2 | --- | |
| 3 | Desperate Housewives | 11.42 | 3.6 | --- | |
| 4 | Private Practice (renewed) | 7.65 | 2.7 | --- | |
| 4 | Cougar Town (renewed) | 6.85 | 2.7 | down | |
| 6 | Castle (renewed) | 10.40 | 2.6 | --- | |
| 7 | The Middle (renewed) | 8.36 | 2.5 | --- | |
| 8 | Body of Proof | 11.31 | 2.4 | down | |
| 9 | Brothers & Sisters | 7.95 | 2.3 | --- | |
| 10 | Mr. Sunshine | 6.02 | 2.2 | --- | |
| 11 | Better With You | 6.76 | 2.1 | --- | |
| 12 | Happy Endings | 4.83 | 2.0 | up | |
| 13 | V | 5.49 | 1.9 | --- | |
| 14 | No Ordinary Family | 6.40 | 1.8 | --- | |
| 15 | Off the Map | 4.96 | 1.7 | --- | |
| 16 | Detroit 1-8-7 | 6.71 | 1.5 | --- | |
| 17 | My Generation (cancelled) | 4.49 | 1.4 | --- | |
| 18 | The Whole Truth (cancelled) | 4.39 | 1.2 | --- | |
| Demo rank | News or Reality TV Shows | Average viewers (millions) |
Average 18-49 demo |
Compared to last week |
|
| 1 | Dancing With The Stars (spring) | 21.78 | 4.7 | --- | |
| 2 | Dancing With The Stars (fall) | 20.61 | 4.3 | --- | |
| 3 | Dancing With The Stars results (fall) | 17.85 | 3.7 | --- | |
| 4 | Dancing w Stars results (spring) | 17.19 | 3.4 | --- | |
| 5 | The Bachelor (renewed) | 10.33 | 3.3 | --- | |
| 6 | Secret Millionaire | 10.70 | 2.8 | --- | |
| 7 | Wipeout | 7.78 | 2.5 | --- | |
| 8 | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | 8.20 | 2.2 | --- | |
| 9 | America's Funniest Home Videos | 7.36 | 1.9 | --- | |
| 10 | 20/20 | 5.71 | 1.6 | --- | |
| 11 | Primetime: What Would You Do | 4.73 | 1.5 | --- | |
| 12 | Shark Tank | 5.07 | 1.4 | --- | |
| 13 | Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution | 5.04 | 1.3 | --- | |
| 14 | Skating with the Stars (cancelled) | 4.99 | 1.1 | --- | |
| 14 | Supernanny (ended) | 4.22 | 1.1 | --- | |
Raw data: © The Nielsen Company via Media Week.
What do you think? Do any rankings surprise you? Which shows do you think won’t survive to see a new season?
Image courtesy ABC.
I want to see “The Middle” streamed. I can’t watch the show at the airtime and love it but have no way to view it. Please consider streaming the show.
I really like NOF too! It’s fun and entertaining.
You need to stream all of your shows expecially for us in night classes.
Thanks.
II