
It was a very slow Sunday night, with only three series cracking the 2 rating among adults 18-49. Leading the pack was the return of ABC’s Once Upon A Time (2.9/8), which was up two tenths from its last original three weeks ago. But ABC didn’t keep the momentum with another tepid performance for a Hallmark Hall Of Fame movie, Firelight (1.6/4), which was up a tenth from the last Hallmark movie on the network, A Smile As Big As The Moon. CBS’ The Amazing Race (2.5/7, 9.1 million total viewers) was flat with its fast national from last week, down a tenth from the final. The Good Wife (1.8/5, 10.3 million) was steady and ranked as the second-most-watched program of the night behind 60 Minutes, while NYC 22 (1.4/4, 7.5 million) was down only a tenth from its soft premiere last week as it seems to settle into A Gifted Man‘s pattern of a stable but low-rated freshman run. CBS (1.9/5, 9.9 million) and ABC (1.9/5, 7.5 million) finished the night tied in 18-49, with CBS winning outright in total viewers.
There was not much viewer excitement about Fox’s 25th anniversary special, which drew a 1.8/5 in 18-49 from 8-10 PM. (Wow, how has Joe Millionaire changed; photo above.) Leading into the special were reruns of the pilots of Married… with Children pilot (1.3/4) and The Simpsons (1.5/4). The latter ran a card that served as a tribute to the network and a subtle dig at sibling/frequent target Fox News. (Though the statement on the card is factually accurate as Fox News did not launch 25 years ago.) NBC’s Harry’s Law (0.9/3) was flat with last week, while The Celebrity Apprentice (2.0/5) was down a tenth from last week’s fast national, and two tenths from the final.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.


The Fox Special was wonderful. They poked fun at themselves and gave us viewers a great look back at some of the groundbreaking and memorable series FOX gave us and I had a great laugh at some of the more forgettable shows Fox gave us too. The reunions were nice and Seacrest was a fantastic obvious choice!
What are the chances of NYC 22 being renewed? And if it does, where would it go on CBS’s schedule?
Thanx for the numbers Nellie. Why do these networks keep airing things nobody really watches? Basically noone watches those Abc Hallmark movies,but,they continue throwing them out there. Also, not too surprised the 25 year Fox didn’t do that great. With American Idol not getting the numbers they used to get & many Fox shows just not being that good-why would anyone even care about a special of this network?
Simple, America’s tired of Ryan Seacrest. Besides, it was a special though it was one that had reruns as a lead-in. This is just speculation, but maybe FOX could have done better with a red carpet show with Joan and Melessa Rivers so they can get Joan involved as well since she is part of the network’s history.
Totally agree. I know his deal with AI/FOX expires next month and hoping they choose not to resign this goof and FOX felt it would be better to bring back a little nostalgia to the fold but the ratings were abysmal for their whole lineup last night. Again, ABC should just get rid of those Hallmark movies as they can’t draw eyeballs even if they tried to and NBC will claim Trump saved them again.
Anyone know how Showtime’s premiere of VEEP did last night in terms of Premium Cable shows go? I thought it was hilarious! Amazing cast!
Thanks
I mean HBO’s Premiere of VEEP not Showtime
Cable ratings usually aren’t reported until Tuesday unless the network releases a press release.
I look at the fact that CBS has renewed most of its shows already and shake my head in bewilderment that this once proud network that use to throw away shows averaging 13 to 14 million viewers and 2.8 demos, now renews shows like The Amazing Race and The Good Wife with just 9 million viewers and demos in the mid-low 2 range and lower. What has happened to CBS? This kind of performance use to be unacceptable.
Marc5… the TV world has changed…the networks don’t garner anywhere near the numbers they used to and the decline will continue.
There are just too many choices for the viewing public, for the numbers they used to garner.