FOX got respectable numbers from the Thursday (Nov. 4) premiere of “The O.C.,” leading to the network’s strongest performance in years on the week’s toughest night. However, the evening’s big winner was CBS, which started the new season’s first sweeps period with a bang.
After a vacation of nearly six months, “The O.C.” returned with a 5.5 rating/9 share in fast national Nielsen ratings. The show drew 8.48 million viewers.
Thursday’s numbers were comfortably down from the show’s first-season finale. However that episode, which aired on May 5 and did a 6.7/10, had the benefit of an “American Idol” results show lead-in and a much less competitive Wednesday time slot. To start its second season, “The O.C.” had to go head-to-head with CBS’ “Survivor: Vanuatu” and an NBC comedy lineup that is slumping, but still solvent.
Realistically, FOX never had any reason to expect “The O.C.” to be competitive with “Survivor” or with “Joey” and “Will & Grace,” at least not in overall numbers. Thursday have traditionally been a graveyard for FOX and “The O.C.” and the relaunch of “North Shore” yielded FOX’s best overall ratings for the night since a special “Idol” episode goosed the audience last April.
“The O.C.” did a 3.8 rating among adults 18-49, becoming FOX’s top Thursday program since “New York Undercover” back in 1998. The popular soap won its hour among viewers 12-34 and was also tops among teens and men 18-34. It was second among viewers 18-34, beating NBC’s new programming in that demo for the first time since 1994.
While “North Shore” lost a significant portion of its lead-in, the Hawaiian soap still finished third for the hour in most measurements, topping ABC’s “life as we know it” and giving FOX its best performance in the 9 p.m. ET hour in two years. With 4.87 million viewers, it was the most watched episode of “North Shore” since the show’s premiere and the best yet among teens.
FOX’s decent night was overshadowed by CBS’ dominance, beginning the crucial sweeps period with the easiest of wins. For the night, CBS averaged 24.25 million viewers, more than 9 million more than tuned in to NBC. The network won the 18-49 demographic by 1.5 ratings points (8.6 vs. 7.1) over NBC. Both margins were CBS’ largest for a November sweeps Thursday since the introduction of people meters. “Survivor: Vanuatu” (20.24 million viewers), “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (30.58 million) and “Without a Trace” (21.77 million) all won their hours with ease.
Considering that it arrived as the most heavily hyped show of the far and carried the creative pedigree of reliable hitmakers, “CSI: NY” was born to be a success and it hasn’t disappointed. CBS is showing its confidence in the freshman drama by picking up a back-end order of 10 episodes of “CSI: NY.”
According to the industry trade papers, CBS is giving “CSI: NY” an extra episode beyond the standard back nine order. It isn’t difficult to see why. Through its first five episodes, “CSI: NY” is averaging 16.7 million viewers and has regularly beating NBC’s powerful “Law & Order” at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesdays, though the show’s numbers have taken a large dip since CBS premiered the incompatible “Center of the Universe” as a lead-in.
In addition, “CSI: NY” is averaging a 6.2 rating among adults 18-49
In viewers and the key demographic, “CSI: NY” ranks behind only ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” for new dramas.
The second spin-off from “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: NY” stars Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes.
CBS’ vote of confidence for the Jerry Bruckheimer forensic series comes as the network’s other new shows remain in limbo. “Listen Up” and “Center of the Universe” aren’t delivering horrible ratings, but neither show is providing CBS with a greater boost than much-maligned departed comedies like “Yes, Dear” (still expected to return at midseason) or “Becker” (presumably truly dead this time). CBS has already pulled “dr. vegas” off of its schedule for sweeps and its other new drama, “Clubhouse,” performed badly enough on Tuesdays to get shuffled off to Saturdays to die.
Amidst all of those question marks, CBS has a commanding lead for the season in overall ratings and total viewers and a slim lead among adults 18-49.
Credit: Zap2It
