Anticipated shows fail to draw big audience

Thu., March 17, 2005

David Bauder Associated Press

Despite a strong year for a handful of new network programs, last week’s Nielsen television ratngs show how difficult it can be to entice viewers with the promise of something new.

The John Stamos comedy “Jake in Progress” failed to take advantage of the best time slot ABC could offer. In the 9 p.m. Sunday spot that “Desperate Housewives” usually occupies, two “Jake” episodes managed barely more than half the audience that “Housewives” typically draws: 14 million viewers for the first half-hour, 12 million for the second.

Partly as a result, ABC fell to fourth in the weekly rankings.

NBC’s highly anticipated boxing series “The Contender” was seen by 8.9 million people in a special showcase last Thursday, or half what “ER” usually does. And its audience of 6.7 million in its regular 8 p.m. Sunday time slot was barely more than a third of ABC’s competing “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

And no one was laughing over the debut of Kelsey Grammer’s “Sketch Show” Sunday night on Fox, which had one of that network’s smallest audiences.

CBS won the week, averaging 12.5 million viewers in prime time (8.1 rating, 13 share). Fox was second with 11.1 million (6.7, 11) and easily won among the advertiser-favored 18- to 49-year-old demographic.

NBC averaged 9.6 million viewers (6.4, 10), ABC 8.5 million (5.5, 9), UPN 3 million (2.0, 3) and the WB 2.6 million (1.8, 3).

A ratings point represents 1,096,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation’s estimated 109.6 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

The top 10 shows for the week ending Sunday: “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 29.4 million viewers; “American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 27.7 million; “American Idol” (Wednesday), Fox, 26.9 million; “American Idol” (Monday), Fox, 23.9 million; “Without a Trace,” CBS, 23.3 million; “Survivor: Palau,” CBS, 21.8 million; “CSI: Miami,” CBS, 21.7 million; “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” ABC, 18.4 million; “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, 17.4 million; “Cold Case,” CBS, 16.6 million.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.