
Following a January preview, Fox’s new series Touch had its official premiere last night after American Idol. The drama starring Kiefer Sutherland logged a 3.2/9 in adults 18-49 and 11.7 million viewers in the fast nationals. (UPDATE: Fox just released time zone-adjusted ratings for Touch, and it climbed to a 3.3.) That was down 18% in the demo and 3% in total viewers from the preview, also behind American Idol. For comparison, Idol last night (4.0/13, 15 million) was down 38% in the demo and 23% in total viewers from the night of the Touch preview. All and all, it was a solid launch for Touch though the series had atypical competition at 9 PM, a Grey’s Anatomy rerun on ABC and NCAA basketball on CBS. But the downtrend for Idol is alarming as its erosion continues, down another 13% from last week. Fox still won the night in 18-49 and total viewers.
Related: Maria Bello Joins Fox Drama Series ‘Touch’
Speaking of erosion, NBC’s entire lineup posted across-the-board double-digit declines from last week. Community (1.7/6) was down 23% from its promising return to the schedule last Thursday and yet ranked as NBC’s highest-rated program of the night. 30 Rock (1.5/4) was down 25%, while a second original 30 Rock (1.5/5) at 9 PM was down 38% from The Office‘s demo rating in the time period last week. With a weaker lead-in, Up All Night (1.4/4) was down 18%. It was followed by Awake (1.2/3), which dropped 25%.
ABC’s new drama Missing (1.6/5, 8.7 million) was down a steep 24% in the demo from its premiere last week. In total viewers, which continues to be the series’ stronger suit, it was down 18%. Missing was followed by repeats. The CW’s The Vampire Diaries (1.3/4) was up a tenth in 18-49, and The Secret Circle (0.7/2) was flat.
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Ouch. Awake is done. Too bad, it’s one of the few decent new shows this season.
Hey Netflix, if you’re looking for a good sci fi series to revive, forget Spielberg’s disasters, Awake is the one for you.
FULLY agree. This is the sort of show that would have THRIVED on FX.
I second that.
ratings whatever, 30 Rock was awesome last night.
“30 Rock”‘s ratings are so unbelievably low and have been for some time that what I’m wondering is, “Why is it still on the air?”
Can anyone explain to me by precisely what index (except of course critically) “30 Rock” is a success?
In its heyday it was a critical darling and racked up the Emmy Awards, but the whole concept has become rather tired and boring — especially Alex Baldwin. I went an entire year without watching and only recently caught up.
it looks like NBC is seriously gunna have to consider brinng back Whitney next fall. say what you will about the show but it does better than up all night which most of the time has NBCs best comedy lead in.
Awake is alright, but I can’t stand the wife or the actress who plays her. She was the worst part about The 4400, and she’s following suit here. Would be nice if someone told her she’s supposed to be grieving for her dead son, and her potentially insane husband. Unless their intent was to make the tennis coach much more likeable, for some reason.
The people who are 18-49 who want to watch Awake, aren’t awake to watch it at 10. It’s not something that college kids who stay up at that hour will watch. It’s something people with kids would watch. And we go to bed early. Or it’s something that people who have to get up on Friday to go to work would watch.
Shows that require brain power have to be on by 9pm.
You’re comparing Wednesday Whitney to Thursday UAN following 30 Rick. UAN did a better job than Whitney of opening Wednesday night and does a better job than Whitney did when following The Office.
There’s so much NBC hate right now, but Thursday nights on NBC is really must-see.
I’d like to see TOUCH and AWAKE, both excellent new shows, back for a second season. TOUCH will probably make it – AWAKE is questionable. What a shame AWAKE wasn’t made for cable – might have done very well…
From I’ve heard Touch is second episode was pretty bad. Alan Sepinwall said if you ever wanted see how things can go horribly wrong on this show watch episode 2. He also said episode 3 barely put the pieces back together.
Awake is just oo complicated before bedtime. Not worth the effort. Touch while it has some value its a little way out here in having a women running all over the city chasing a dog on foot. The kid is doing a great job.
Sepinwall has no idea what he’s talking about, WOM is really good on Touch, and it’s fantastic.
NOTE TO KEIFER on his Touch acting mode: Whispering is not acting.