TV ratings: So-so start for 'Glee' as NBC wins Wednesday
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Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009FOX's "Glee" kicked off its season as Wednesday's top show among adults 18-49, but its numbers -- about 7.3 million people tuned in -- were a little underwhelming given all the hype FOX has put into the series.
NBC led Wednesday's ratings with 8.1 million viewers and a 5.2 rating/8 share in households. FOX (6.9 million, 4.2/7) came in second overall, a little ahead of CBS (6 million, 4.1/7). ABC took fourth with 5.4 million viewers and a 3.4/6, and The CW brought in 3.2 million people and a 2.2/4. Numbers for ABC, CBS and NBC will all change some as they carried President Obama's address to Congress live at 8 p.m. ET.
FOX scored the top spot in the 18-49 demographic with a 3.0 rating. No one else broke the 2.0 mark, with NBC in second at 1.9. ABC, 1.6, came in third, followed by The CW, 1.5, and CBS, 1.3.
The hour-by-hour results:
8 p.m.
NBC: Presidential address (8.2 million viewers, 5.2/9 households)
ABC: Presidential address (7.4 million, 4.5/7)
FOX: "So You Think You Can Dance" season premiere (6.5 million, 3.9/6)
CBS: Presidential address (5.6 million, 3.8/6)
The CW: "America's Next Top Model" season premiere (3.1 million, 2.1/3)
18-49 leader: "So You Think You Can Dance" (2.7)
9 p.m.
NBC: "America's Got Talent" (9.7 million, 6.0/9)
FOX: "Glee" series premiere (7.3 million, 4.6/7)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (6.2 million, 4.2/7)
ABC: "Wipeout" (5 million, 3.0/5)
The CW: "America's Next Top Model" season premiere (3.4 million, 2.3/4)
18-49 leader: "Glee" (3.3)
10 p.m.
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (6.5 million, 4.3/7)
CBS: "CSI: Miami" rerun (6.2 million, 4.3/7)
ABC: "Primetime: Crime" (3.8 million, 2.6/5)
18-49 leader: "Law & Order: SVU" (1.6)
Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change, especially in the case of live telecasts.
More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable
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I found Glee to be fresh and funny, the furthest thing from a retread of recent "musical" tv/movie fare. There are genuine laugh-out-loud funny moments, especially for adults.
Ratings wise, I predict there will be significant DVR playback for Glee... I know a lot of people who had to record last night's episode.
Also, Glee did build on its SYTYCD lead-in, which was arguably hurt by the airing of the Presidential address. I'm more interested in next week's numbers.
I don't think glee will be going anywhere just yet. I love the show. It is funny and creative, and it has good music. And it improved on it's lead in, which is always a good thing. As long as it holds stead or improves week after week, we should at least get one full season.
Everyone should know the drill with Fox by now, they drag along through the Fall, humoring viewers of certain favorite shows with shallow promises until A.I. (can't that show just die already) comes on. Then everything is planned around A.I. (why is this show still on)and shows that under any other circumstance would be given a chance are canceled. FOX claims victory over the season they had all based on A.I. (seriously, why?).
When a show is reduced to cling to demo spin in its opening, you know it's in deep trouble.
Less than 8 million viewers with essentially no competition and in spite of the hype in indeed nothing to boast about.
Congrats to zap2it for pointing it out in a fine fashion. :)
Glee was enjoyable, more so than I expected. Wed. nights are going to be heavy loaded once all the new shows start.
Regarding Fox, I couldn't have said it better, Jake. Thank you!
Couple other notes from Fox that weren't in the basic overnights: "Glee" did better in adults 18-34 than the post-"AI" preview in May (3.6 vs. 3.3) and better in 18-49 than the "Fringe" premiere (3.2) last year.
If the 18-49 and 18-34 ratings stay close to where they were Wednesday when the full season starts, Fox will probably be pretty happy.
After all the hype.."Glee" barely pulls in 7 million viewers...the Promotion and Advertising campaign cost FOX a fortune. Expect audience erosion of 30% in the coming weeks, "Glee" will be up against New Programming from CBS, ABC, NBC, etc. FOX will have to move "Glee" to an 8pm time-slot. "NCIS: Los Angeles" will do double the number of viewers...so once again CBS will program a hit and FOX will deliver a "Glee", FOX will claim its a hit because of the demo numbers but they too will come down significantly starting next week against real competition.
Between "Glee", "Dollhouse" and the dreadful "Brothers" expect mass firings at FOX's development divisions especially after Peter Ligouri was shown the door a few months ago which was...a sign of things to come.
The best thing about "Glee" is that you instantly care about the characters, that can't be said of a lot of other shows.
I love how still no one will take into account time-shift numbers as well as download and soundtrack sales.
I know Nielsens are a decent indicator but are far from being a perfect measurement tool.
Also, Glee has a higher possibility of Emmy nomination than does any of the other crap that Fox has, especially any struggling series that were on the bubble last year.
As always, America's viewing habits largely disgust me.