|
|
Late vote of confidence
for 'West Wing'
Season finale sees a boost over last year's ender
By Abigail Azote
It’s widely accepted that NBC’s “The West Wing”
is a shadow of its former self, suffering from steep viewer decline these
past two seasons.
And that remains so even after a revamp earlier this season that
won praise from critics for improved storylines. The revamp did not revive
ratings.
Or so it seemed. Then came last week's finale. At the least it
should build hopes for the show as it goes into its seventh and perhaps final season.
“Wing” outdelivered last season’s finale after a
season of decreased viewership.
The Wednesday 9 p.m. episode averaged a 3.5 rating and 9
share in the adults 18-49 demo, up 13 percent from last season’s 3.1/7
finale.
Yes, it landed the show in fourth place for the timeslot,
behind the 3.6 average of “King of Queens” and “Yes, Dear,” “Alias’”
3.7, and the 7.4 average for “American Idol” and “Life on a Stick.”
But it was also up several tenths of a point over “Wing’s” season
average.
The once top-flight show has suffered since creator Aaron
Sorkin’s departure in 2003 after peaking at an average of 17 million viewers
and winning more Emmys than anyone but the show’s producers cared to
count. By 2004 it was averaging 11.8 million viewers, a 31 percent drop,
and this season it slipped even further, averaging 11.1 million viewers.
That slide could well be reversed next season with the
revived storyline that closes out the administration of Josiah Bartlet
(Martin Sheen) to turn to the presidential race between two distinctly
different characters, Democrat Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Republican
Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda). This time, Republicans aren’t simply the bad
guys, reflecting a shift in politics for the long left-leaning series.
The challenge 'Wing" faces is that of bringing back
viewers who drifted way. Will an election storyline with a Republican in
serious contention be enough?
In other ratings last week, CBS finished
first among 18-49s with a 3.8 average, followed by Fox at 3.5, ABC at 3.3,
NBC at 3.0, UPN at 1.2 and the WB at 1.2.
Among households, CBS finished first with an 8.1/13 rating,
followed by ABC with a 5.9/10, NBC with a 5.7/9, Fox with a 5.3/9, UPN
with a 2.1/3, and the WB with 2.0/3.
ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” became the first show in
weeks to supplant Fox’s “American Idol” as the week’s top-rated
show among 18-49s and total viewers.
“Housewives” was first among 18-49s, followed by the
Wednesday and Tuesday editions of “American Idol,” CBS’s NCAA title
game and ABC newcomer “Grey’s Anatomy.”
On Tuesday, “The Office” is not performing well, but it
is doing better. The big-buzz show retained the full 18-49 lead-in from
“Scrubs,” besting its 90 percent retention from the week before. The
show averaged a 2.9 rating in among 18-49s, up seven percent from the
previous week.
|
PRIMETIME
AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 10 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.1 |
8880 |
13 |
4.5 |
12420 |
12 |
3.8 |
4880 |
11 |
|
ABC |
5.9 |
6510 |
10 |
3.2 |
9020 |
9 |
3.3 |
4320 |
9 |
|
NBC |
5.7 |
6210 |
9 |
3.0 |
8340 |
8 |
3.0 |
3880 |
8 |
|
FOX |
5.3 |
5800 |
9 |
3.0 |
8380 |
8 |
3.5 |
4560 |
10 |
|
UPN |
2.1 |
2290 |
3 |
1.1 |
3060 |
3 |
1.2 |
1560 |
3 |
|
WB |
2.0 |
2150 |
3 |
1.0 |
2910 |
3 |
1.2 |
1560 |
3 |
|
PAX |
0.5 |
490 |
1 |
0.2 |
660 |
1 |
0.1 |
180 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is
equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SEASON-TO-DATE
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 10 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.3 |
9120 |
13 |
4.6 |
12860 |
12 |
4.0 |
5220 |
11 |
|
NBC |
6.6 |
7250 |
11 |
3.6 |
9950 |
9 |
3.6 |
4690 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.6 |
7240 |
11 |
3.7 |
10240 |
9 |
3.8 |
4930 |
10 |
|
FOX |
6.1 |
6660 |
10 |
3.6 |
9940 |
9 |
4.0 |
5260 |
11 |
|
UPN |
2.3 |
2490 |
4 |
1.2 |
3360 |
3 |
1.4 |
1770 |
4 |
|
WB |
2.2 |
2440 |
3 |
1.2 |
3340 |
3 |
1.4 |
1780 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
0.2 |
620 |
1 |
0.1 |
180 |
0 |
|
* Each
rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 10 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
15.9 |
24 |
17409 |
1 |
9.2 |
25549 |
|
2 |
CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMPSHIPS(S) |
CBS |
15.0 |
23 |
16441 |
4 |
8.6 |
23895 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
14.7 |
24 |
16136 |
2 |
8.8 |
24452 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
14.4 |
22 |
15818 |
3 |
8.7 |
24114 |
|
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
14.3 |
22 |
15676 |
5 |
8.1 |
22576 |
|
6 |
SURVIVOR: PALAU |
CBS |
11.8 |
19 |
12963 |
6 |
7.1 |
19752 |
|
7 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
11.7 |
19 |
12868 |
7 |
6.5 |
17989 |
|
8 |
LOST |
ABC |
10.6 |
17 |
11607 |
8 |
6.2 |
17123 |
|
9 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
10.3 |
17 |
11314 |
9 |
5.6 |
15688 |
|
9 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
10.3 |
17 |
11330 |
9 |
5.6 |
15462 |
|
11 |
PRELUDE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP(S) |
CBS |
9.9 |
16 |
10796 |
12 |
5.2 |
14569 |
|
12 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
9.6 |
15 |
10559 |
11 |
5.4 |
15036 |
|
13 |
APPRENTICE 3 |
NBC |
9.1 |
14 |
9930 |
13 |
4.9 |
13727 |
|
14 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
7.9 |
13 |
8713 |
16 |
4.2 |
11653 |
|
15 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
7.8 |
12 |
8509 |
16 |
4.2 |
11782 |
|
15 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P |
ABC |
7.8 |
13 |
8503 |
14 |
4.6 |
12663 |
|
17 |
AMAZING RACE: 7 |
CBS |
7.6 |
12 |
8376 |
15 |
4.4 |
12280 |
|
17 |
WEST WING |
NBC |
7.6 |
11 |
8305 |
16 |
4.2 |
11624 |
|
19 |
LAW &ORDER:TRIAL BY JURY |
NBC |
7.5 |
13 |
8253 |
19 |
4.1 |
11383 |
|
20 |
JUDGING AMY |
CBS |
7.4 |
12 |
8158 |
22 |
3.8 |
10511 |
|
21 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
7.3 |
12 |
8005 |
22 |
3.8 |
10659 |
|
22 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN 830PM(S) |
CBS |
7.2 |
12 |
7897 |
22 |
3.8 |
10620 |
|
23 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
7.1 |
11 |
7762 |
21 |
3.9 |
10938 |
|
24 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
7.0 |
11 |
7642 |
22 |
3.8 |
10611 |
|
24 |
NCIS |
CBS |
7.0 |
11 |
7672 |
26 |
3.6 |
9970 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25
PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending April 10 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
11.1 |
14435 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
10.2 |
13278 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
10.0 |
12924 |
|
4 |
CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMPSHIPS(S) |
CBS |
8.7 |
11300 |
|
5 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
7.5 |
9725 |
|
6 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.3 |
9519 |
|
7 |
SURVIVOR: PALAU |
CBS |
7.0 |
9108 |
|
8 |
APPRENTICE 3 |
NBC |
6.2 |
8054 |
|
9 |
LOST |
ABC |
6.0 |
7731 |
|
10 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
5.8 |
7580 |
|
11 |
AMAZING RACE: 7 |
CBS |
5.1 |
6608 |
|
11 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P |
ABC |
5.1 |
6648 |
|
13 |
PRELUDE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP(S) |
CBS |
4.8 |
6181 |
|
14 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
4.7 |
6104 |
|
15 |
LIFE ON A STICK |
FOX |
4.6 |
5986 |
|
16 |
24 |
FOX |
4.5 |
5896 |
|
17 |
E.R. |
NBC |
4.2 |
5469 |
|
18 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
4.1 |
5300 |
|
19 |
SUPERNANNY |
ABC |
4.0 |
5184 |
|
19 |
YES, DEAR |
CBS |
4.0 |
5136 |
|
21 |
ALIAS |
ABC |
3.7 |
4842 |
|
21 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
3.7 |
4820 |
|
21 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
3.7 |
4793 |
|
21 |
NBC MOVIE OF THE WEEK-MO(S) |
NBC |
3.7 |
4844 |
|
25 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
3.6 |
4662 |
|
25 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
3.6 |
4710 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
CABLE TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 10 |
|
BASIC CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW
ZONE) |
SPIKE |
3980 |
3.6 |
5477 |
|
2 |
PRIME MOVIE(ODD GIRL OUT) |
LIF |
3914 |
3.6 |
5108 |
|
3 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) |
SPIKE |
3570 |
3.3 |
4881 |
|
4 |
LAW & ORDER |
TNT |
3442 |
3.1 |
4043 |
|
5 |
LAW & ORDER |
TNT |
3354 |
3.1 |
4170 |
|
6 |
SUPERVOLCANO(S)-04/10/2005 |
DISC |
3315 |
3.0 |
5143 |
|
7 |
LAW & ORDER |
TNT |
3225 |
2.9 |
3957 |
|
8 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3222 |
2.9 |
3996 |
|
9 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3113 |
2.8 |
3991 |
|
10 |
KIM POSSIBLE MOVIE |
DSNY |
3095 |
2.8 |
4441 |
|
11 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3091 |
2.8 |
3869 |
|
12 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3066 |
2.8 |
3876 |
|
13 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2905 |
2.7 |
3703 |
|
14 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2744 |
2.5 |
3524 |
|
15 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2656 |
2.4 |
3309 |
|
PAY CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
DEADWOOD |
HBO |
1522 |
1.4 |
2163 |
|
2 |
WHOOPI: BACK TO BROADWAY |
HBO |
1308 |
1.2 |
1747 |
|
3 |
BREAKIN ALL THE RULES |
HBO |
1024 |
0.9 |
1433 |
|
4 |
VAN HELSING |
STARZ |
829 |
0.8 |
1370 |
|
5 |
FACE/OFF |
HBO |
814 |
0.7 |
1035 |
|
* Ratings based on 109.6
million U.S. TV homes. One ratings point represents 1.096 million
homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 3 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
9.3 |
10245 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
7.7 |
8427 |
|
3 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
7.3 |
8013 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
6.8 |
7464 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
5.7 |
6281 |
|
6 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
5.6 |
6169 |
|
7 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
5.2 |
5703 |
|
8 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
5.1 |
5578 |
|
9 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.0 |
5530 |
|
10 |
DR. PHIL SHOW |
KIN |
4.9 |
5362 |
|
10 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.9 |
5338 |
|
12 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3.7 |
4073 |
|
12 |
CENTURY 19 |
2/T |
3.7 |
4032 |
|
14 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.6 |
3989 |
|
14 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
3.6 |
3920 |
|
16 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.5 |
3802 |
|
17 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
3.4 |
3750 |
|
18 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
3.3 |
3612 |
|
19 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
3.1 |
3435 |
|
19 |
MALCOLM IN-MIDDLE SYN(AT) |
2/T |
3.1 |
3382 |
|
21 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
3.0 |
3290 |
|
21 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.0 |
3288 |
|
23 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
2.9 |
3183 |
|
23 |
DIVORCE COURT (AT) |
2/T |
2.9 |
3171 |
|
23 |
COPS-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
2.9 |
3164 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE
TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 10
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
|
1 |
SELENA VIVE! 4/7(S)-04/07/2005 |
UNI |
35.9 |
3913 |
|
2 |
SELENA NOCHE ESTRELLS
4/7(S)-04/07/2005 |
UNI |
27.0 |
2945 |
|
3 |
MADRASTRA M-F |
UNI |
23.8 |
2597 |
|
4 |
APUESTA POR UN AMOR M-F |
UNI |
19.6 |
2145 |
|
5 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
19.5 |
2129 |
|
6 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP TUE |
UNI |
18.8 |
2047 |
|
7 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
17.2 |
1880 |
|
8 |
INOCENTE DE TI M-F |
UNI |
16.5 |
1801 |
|
9 |
HOSPITAL EL PAISA FRI |
UNI |
16.2 |
1769 |
|
10 |
SELENA ACCESO TOTAL
4/10(S)-04/10/2005 |
UNI |
14.3 |
1565 |
|
10 |
ESCUELITA FRI |
UNI |
14.3 |
1556 |
|
12 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
14.0 |
1523 |
|
13 |
JAULA-SUN |
UNI |
12.3 |
1346 |
|
14 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
12.1 |
1318 |
|
15 |
PARODIA-SUN |
UNI |
9.5 |
1041 |
|
16 |
ASI ES GILBERTO GLESS SAT |
UNI |
8.2 |
892 |
|
17 |
ANITA NO TE RAJES M-F |
TEL |
7.8 |
856 |
|
18 |
MUJER EN EL ESPEJO M-F |
TEL |
6.1 |
669 |
|
19 |
SELENA 10ANOS DESPUES
4/6(S)-04/06/2005 |
TEL |
5.2 |
564 |
|
20 |
AMARTE ASI M-F |
TEL |
4.7 |
515 |
|
21 |
PLATEADOS M-F |
TEL |
4.5 |
488 |
|
22 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICAN SUN |
TF |
4.3 |
465 |
|
23 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX WED |
TF |
4.2 |
453 |
|
24 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
4.1 |
442 |
|
25 |
SOLO BOXEO DE MILLER |
TF |
3.9 |
424 |
|
1 |
SELENA VIVE! 4/7(S)-04/07/2005 |
UNI |
35.9 |
3913 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television
Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK
SPORTS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending
April 3 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
NCAA BSKBL
CHAMP SA-2
(S)-4/2 |
CBS |
UNC VS
MICH ST |
10.9 |
19 |
11937 |
17548 |
|
2 |
NCAA BSKBL
CHAMP-SA-1
(S)-4/2 |
CBS |
ILL VS
LOVILLE |
10.0 |
20 |
10961 |
15657 |
|
3 |
FOX NASCAR
NEXTEL CUP |
FOX |
LIVE FROM
BRISTOL |
6.3 |
16 |
6907 |
9750 |
|
4 |
WWE
SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
3.6 |
6 |
3956 |
5506 |
|
5 |
BELLSOUTH
CLASSIC
GOLF-SU(S)-4/3 |
NBC |
|
2.4 |
6 |
2616 |
3474 |
|
6 |
PLAYERS CHAMP
-MON(S)-3/28/ |
NBC |
FINAL
ROUND |
2.2 |
6 |
2380 |
2885 |
|
7 |
BELLSOUTH
CLASSIC GOLF-SA(S)-4/2 |
NBC |
|
2.2 |
5 |
2456 |
3271 |
|
8 |
NBA ON ABC
SUN 2 |
ABC |
DALLS AT
CVLND/
MINN AT
SCRMNTO |
2.1 |
5 |
2344 |
2846 |
|
9 |
NBA ON ABC
SUN 1 |
ABC |
PHILA. AT
BOSTON |
1.8 |
5 |
1998 |
2335 |
|
10 |
FLA.
DERBY(S)-4/2 |
ABC |
|
1.7 |
4 |
1850 |
2249 |
|
11 |
CBS SPORTS
SPECT.-SA |
CBS |
NASDAQ 100
OPEN
TENNIS-WMN
FNL |
1.5
|
4 |
1631 |
2014 |
|
12 |
CBS SPORTS
SPECT.-SU |
CBS |
NASDAQ 100
OPEN
TENNIS-MEN
FNL |
1.5 |
4 |
1594 |
1955 |
|
13 |
NBC ARENA
FOOTBALL |
NBC |
LA AT
ORLANDO/
PHIL AT COLUMBUS |
0.7 |
2 |
785 |
1012 |
|
14 |
PURINA INCR
DOG CHAL
3/31(S |
PAX |
|
0.4 |
1 |
490 |
629 |
|
15 |
REAL PRO
WRESTLING |
PAX |
|
0.1 |
0 |
118 |
140 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
April 13, 2005
©
2005
Media Life
-
Abigail Azote is a staff writer for
Media Life.
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