Nellie Andreeva

The CW hasn’t been able to successfully launch a reality series in its six-year history. (Long-running hit America’s Next Top Model originated on UPN.) That is not going to change after the premiere of the network’s latest unscripted effort, fashion docu series Remodeled, which opened last night with miniscule 707,000 viewers and 0.3/1 among adults 18-49 to rank as the CW’s lowest-rated series premiere ever. That was well below the CW’s two most recent reality series, the short-lived H8R, which opened with 1.3 million viewers and a 0.6 18-49 rating in September, and Shedding For The Wedding (1.2 million, 0.5). In Remodeled‘s defense, the other two series had America’s Next Top Model as lead-in, while it followed a new 90210, which returned from a five-week hiatus with 1.3 million viewers and a 0.6/2 in 18-49, down 25% in the demo from its last original. Still, the CW put a lot of muscle behind the reality series starring modeling industry veteran Paul Fisher, scheduling multiple runs of its first two episodes. In fact, the network delayed the return of freshman drama Ringer by three weeks to launch Remodeled in its Tuesday 9 PM slot. After a similar pre-emption of New Girl by Fox to accommodate new reality series The X Factor, the freshman comedy never regained the ratings strength it once had. We will see what the impact will be on Ringer.

Speaking of New Girl, the comedy returned from another lengthy break last night with a 3.4/8 in 18-49, up a tenth from its last original. Fox’s entire Tuesday lineup was new, with the much-hyped wedding proposal episode of Glee (3.0.8) up a tenth from the fast national for its most recent original on December 13, even with the final. Raising Hope (2.3/6) was flat.

ABC’s Last Man Standing (2.6/7) rebounded nicely from last week’s series low, up 24%. The comedy starring Tim Allen was helped by facing an NCIS rerun this week vs. an original last Tuesday. Following a Last Man repeat, which replaced axed Work It, Celebrity Wife Swap (2.1/5) and Body Of Proof (1.6/4) were both even with last week. Ditto for NBC’s Parenthood (1.7/5), while The Biggest Loser (2.3/6) was down 4%. With CBS in reruns, Fox (2.9/7) won the night in 18-49, while CBS was tops in total viewers.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.