Today in TV History
Two long-running series hit the 200-episode mark on this day: Perry Mason in 1964 and The Jeffersons in 1983.  David Hartman exited as co-host of Good Morning America in 1987 after 11 years.  NBC announced Jane Pauley would be leaving The Today Show in 2003.  And the final episode of Late Night with Conan O’Brien aired on NBC in 2009, which led to one of the biggest fiascos in TV history.

In Today’s Issue

NETWORK
-Weekend Rating Results
-American Idol Down, but Not Out
-The Good Wife Has a New Friend

CABLE
-Marie Osmond on Hallmark Channel
-Coming Up on OWN 

SCHEDULE BOX
-On the Air Tonight

TRIVIA CHALLENGE
-Happy President’s Day

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NETWORK
Weekend Rating Results

SUNDAY 2/19/12 Metered Markets

Household
Rating/Share
CBS   7.2/12
ABC  4.8/ 8
NBC  4.3/ 7
Fox    2.6/ 4

-Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening – Sunday 2/20/11
NBC: + 8, CBS: + 4, ABC: -16, Fox: -19

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-Winners:
60 Minutes (CBS), The Amazing Race (CBS), The Good Wife (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
Once Upon a Time (ABC)

-Expected to Score Among Adults 18-49:
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)

-Losers (excluding repeats):
The Cleveland Show (Fox), Napoleon Dynamite (Fox), Pan Am (ABC)

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-Rating Results:
CBS led the Sunday overnights with ease, beating No. 2 ABC by a hefty 50 percent.  But individual series results for the Eye net are approximate due to coverage of golf bleeding into primetime until 7:21 p.m.  That said, granddaddy 60 Minutes opened with an estimated 8.3 rating/14 share in the overnights from 7:15-8:15 p.m., leading into the season-premiere of the 20^th edition of The Amazing Race at an approximate 6.5/11 from 8:15-9:15 p.m.  Compared to the year-ago season-opener (5.9/ 9 on 2/21/11), enduring The Amazing Race built by 10 percent.

Next on CBS was older-skewing The Good Wife with a first-place 6.7/11 in the overnights from 9:15-10:15 p.m., followed by CSI: Miami at a 6.5/11 (#1) from 10:15-11 p.m.  Results in the 11 p.m. half-hour were not available.  Although CBS did win Sunday in the overnights, it is unlikely to take the crown among adults 18-49.

In other season-premiere news, Celebrity Apprentice on NBC scored a 5.1/ 8 in the overnights from 9-11 p.m., which dipped by 11 percent from last season’s opener (5.7/ 9 on 3/06/11).  Since Celebrity Apprentice always resonates among adults 18-49, consider this a positive start.  Here is the half-hour breakdown:

Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
9:00 p.m.: 4.8/ 7 (#3)
9:30 p.m.: 4.8/ 7 (#3)
10:00 p.m.: 5.3/ 9 (#2)
10:30 p.m.: 6.2/11 (#1)

As for the show itself, last night was quiet.  But expect plenty of fireworks as the season progresses.

Earlier in the evening on NBC was a repeat of The Voice at a third-place 3.4/ 6 from 7-9 p.m.

In series-finale news, drama Pan Am on ABC closed with a very distant third-place 2.8/ 5 in the overnights at 10 p.m.  As a reminder, upcoming drama GCB steps into the time period on March 4.

Once Upon a Time remains the highest-rated show on ABC, but a second-place 6.2/10 at 8 p.m. was below average.  Comparably, however, that did improve from veteran lead-in America’s Funniest Home Videos (#2: 4.8/ 8 at 7 p.m.) by 29 percent.  At 9 p.m., soon-to-conclude Desperate Housewives finished second with a 5.4/ 8, which was down by 26 percent from one year earlier (7.3/11 on 2/21/11).  Yes, Desperate Housewives was wise to call it quits.

On Fox, the 500^th episode of The Simpsons did not get a spike in the ratings with a fourth-place 3.6/ 6 at 8 p.m.  One year earlier, it scored a 3.9/ 6.  That led into Napoleon Dynamite (#4: 2.5/ 4 at 8:30 p.m.), which concludes for the season (or series) on March 4, followed by Family Guy (#4: 3.6/ 5) and American Dad (#4: 2.8/ 4) from 9-10 p.m.  Earlier in the evening on Fox was a repeat of Bob’s Burger’s (#4: 1.3/ 2) and low-rated The Cleveland Show (#4: 1.7/ 3) from 7-8 p.m.  While Fox on Sunday, of course, is dependent on the young adult demos, year-to-year the network slipped by 19 percent in the overnights.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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SATURDAY 2/18/12
Fast Affiliate Results

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 6.67 million, CBS: 4.79, ABC: 3.26, NBC: 2.72

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 1.9 rating/6 share, ABC: 1.0/ 3, CBS: 0.8/ 2, NBC: 0.5/ 2

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-Winners:
NASCAR (Fox)

-Losers (excluding repeats):
The Firm (NBC) and the night overall

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-Ratings Breakdown:
NASCAR on Fox took center stage on Saturday, with 6.67 million viewers and a 1.9 rating/6 share among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m.  Here is the half-hour breakdown:

NASCAR (Fox)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 5.83 million (#1), A18-49: 1.7/ 6 (#1)
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.13 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 7 (#1)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.66 million (#1), A18-49: 1.8/ 6 (#1)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.04 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#1)

As a reminder, Fox has struck a deal with Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony to air an American version of the duo’s Latin American-based reality competition Q’Viva! The Chosen, which recently premiered on Univision. The Fox version will debut on Saturday, March 3 in place of hiatus-bound Cops and will air in two-hour installments through its April 7 finale.

Elsewhere, the pickings were slim.  CBS finished second overall in total viewers and third among adults 18-49 with encore telecasts of Person of Interest (Viewers: #2, 4.26 million; A18-49: #3, 0.6/ 2) and NCIS: Los Angeles (Viewers: #2, 4.73 million; A18-49: #3, 0.7/ 2) from 8-10 p.m., and an original installment of 48 Hours Mystery at 10 p.m. (Viewers: #1, 5.37 million; A18-49: #1t, 1.1/ 3).  ABC was just the opposite – third in total viewers and second in the demo – with repeats of overused Wipeout (Viewers: #3, 3.01 million; A18-49: #2, 0.9/ 3 at 8 p.m.) and theatrical Wild Hogs (Viewers: #3, 3.38 million; A18-49: #2, 1.0 3 from 9-11 p.m.).

In time period premiere news, legal drama The Firm on NBC finished last in the 9 p.m. hour with just 2.73 million viewers and a 0.5/ 1 among adults 18-49.  No one ever said moving to Saturday would be beneficial.  The Firm led into an encore telecast of Law & Order: SVU at 3.29 million viewers (#3) and a 0.7/ 2 in the demo (#3) at 10 p.m.  Earlier in the evening on NBC was a repeat of episode two of Smash, which also finished last with 2.15 million viewers and a 0.4/ 1 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m.   My prediction for Smash tonight is a loss of approximately 10-15 percent from week two.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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FRIDAY 2/17/12

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 10.29 million, ABC: 7.13, NBC: 3.43, Fox: 3.05, CW: 1.64

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 1.9 rating/6 share, CBS: 1.8/ 6, Fox: 1.2/ 4, NBC: 0.9/ 3, CW: 0.6/ 2

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-Winners:
Undercover Boss (CBS), 20/20 – One Moment in Time: The Life of Whitney Houston (ABC), Blue Bloods (CBS)

-Losers:
The 43^rd Annual NAACP Image Awards (NBC), Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), Nikita (CW), Fringe (Fox), Supernatural (CW), Dateline (NBC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS benefited by the arrival of Undercover Boss on Friday, finishing first overall for the evening in total viewers with 10.29 million.  A special edition of 20/20, One Moment in Time: The Life of Whitney Houston, lifted ABC to victory among adults 18-49.

Undercover Boss opened with 10.73 million viewers and a 2.4 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m., which was a season-high for CBS in the time period.  It was also the top-rated show of the evening in both categories and a double-digit percent improvement over year-ago occupant The Defenders.  Former time period drama A Gifted Man, which shifted to Fridays at 9 p.m., debuted with 9.31 million viewers and a 1.4/ 5 in the demo on Sept. 23, 2011.  As a reminder, any prior rating results are based on Live Plus Same Day.

With ample lead-in support, A Gifted Man at 9 p.m. rose to a series-high in both total viewers (9.51 million) and adults 18-49 (1.5/ 4).  But one week earlier, CSI: NY, which returns to the time period in April, was stronger at 10.34 million viewers and a 1.7/ 5 in the demo on Feb. 10.  Retention for A Gifted Man out of the 8:30 p.m. portion of Undercover Boss (Viewers: 11.20 million; A18-49: 2.5/ was 85 percent in total viewers but just 60 percent among adults 18-49.  Had A Gifted Man not been on the house of hits, CBS, its chances of renewal for a second season would be greater.  As it stands, it is 50/50.

Blue Bloods at 10 p.m. capped off the evening for CBS with 10.63 million viewers (#1) and a second-place 1.6/ 5 among adults 18-49.

Shark Tank on ABC, which was winning the 8 p.m. hour among adults 18-49, had to settle for a distant second with a 1.5/ 5.  It was also No. 2 in total viewers in the hour with 5.66 million.  That led into an expanded edition of aforementioned 20/20 at a season-high 7.86 million viewers (#2) and a 2.0/ 6 in the demo (#1) from 9-11 p.m.  Here is the half-hour breakdown:

20/20 – One Moment in Time: The Life of Whitney Houston (ABC)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.72 million (#2), A18-49: 1.6/ 5 (#1)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.48 million (#2), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#1)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 8.44 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/ 7 (#1)
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 8.79 million (#2), A18-49: 2.3/ 7 (#1)

Lifted by the expanded 20/20, ABC rose to its most-watched Friday since January 1, 2010 and best performance among adults 18-49 since December 31, 2010.

On NBC, The 43^rd Annual NAACP Image Awards could not compete with 2.96 million viewers (#4) and a 0.8/ 2 among adults 18-49 (#4) from 8-10 p.m.  But this was, however, an improvement over the 2.32 million viewers (and the 0.6/ 2 in demo) who tuned in one year earlier on Fox on March 3, 2011.  The half-hour breakdown is as follows:

The 43^rd Annual NAACP Image Awards (NBC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.03 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#4)
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 2.85 million (#4), A18-49: 0.7/ 2 (#4)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.05 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 2 (#4)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.10 million (#3), A18-49: 0.8/ 2 (#4)

Minus the lead-in support (and opposite Whitney Houston on 20/20), Dateline on NBC finished last at 10 p.m. with just 3.43 million viewers and a 0.9/ 3 among adults 18-49.

Elsewhere, Fox came in below-average with its pairing of Kitchen Nightmares (Viewers: #3, 3.11 million; A18-49: #3, 1.3/ 4) and Fringe (Viewers: #4, 2.99 million; A18-49: #3, 1.1/ 3), which is expected to conclude this spring.  And The CW capped off the night with fifth-place finishes, as usual, for both Nikita (Viewers: 1.60 million; A18-49: 0.6/ 2) and Supernatural (Viewers: 1.68 million; A18-49: 0.7/ 2)

As a reminder, Hotel Hell with Gordon Ramsay on Fox steps into the Friday 8 p.m. hour in place of Kitchen Nightmares on April 6.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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OTHER NETWORK ITEMS

American Idol Down, but Not Out
Two-hours of American Idol led Fox to Thursday victory, with 16.71 million viewers and a 5.1 rating/14 share among adults 18-49 on Feb. 16, based on the Live Plus Same Day results.  One year earlier, however, a one-hour edition of Idol was notably stronger at 22.18 million viewers and a 7.6/22 in the demo on Feb. 17, 2011.  CBS finished second overall for the evening with its combination of The Big Bang Theory, Rob, Person of Interest and The Mentalist at 13.31 million viewers and a 3.3/ 9 among adults 18-49.  Next was ABC (Viewers: 6.85 million; A18-49: 2.4/ 6), followed by diluted NBC (Viewers: 3.02 million; A18-49: 1.3/ 4) and The CW (Viewers: 2.30 million; A18-49: 1.1/ 3).  

The Good Wife Has a New Friend
Matthew Perry, whose last attempt at a sitcom, Mr. Sunshine, came and quickly went on ABC last season, is switching to drama.  The former Friends star has been cast in a recurring role on CBS’ The Good Wife as a Chicago attorney.  His first appearance on the Juliana Margulies legal drama is on Sunday, March 25.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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CABLE 

Marie Osmond on Hallmark Channel
It is not official yet.  But the anticipated arrival of Marie Osmond on Hallmark Channel in a new daytime talk show to replace departing Martha Stewart next fall is the ideal fit for the feel-good, female-driven cable net.  With experience in the category and built-in appeal, she is exactly the personality Hallmark needs to spark interest in daytime.  Hallmark is close to a reported deal with Los Angeles-based ATI, which is producing Osmond’s new show.

Coming Up on OWN
Own has announced the start dates for returning Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s and debuting Beverly’s Full House.  The new season of Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s begins on Saturday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET, leading into Beverly’s Full House at 10 p.m. ET, a new docudrama focused on three generations of supermodel Beverly Johnson’s family.  Eight one-hour episodes have been ordered.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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SCHEDULE BOX

Monday, February 13

ABC
8:00 p.m. The Bachelor (two hours)
10:00 p.m. Castle

CBS
8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
8:30 p.m. 2 Broke Girls
9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men
9:30 p.m. Mike & Molly
10:00 p.m. Hawaii Five-O

NBC
8:00 p.m. The Voice (two hours)
10:00 p.m. Smash

Fox
8:00 p.m. House
9:00 p.m. Alcatraz

CW
8:00 p.m. Gossip Girl
9:00 p.m. Hart of Dixie

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TRIVIA CHALLENGE
Happy President’s Day

What was the name of the club that Lucy and Ethel were co-presidents of on I Love Lucy?

a)  Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
b)  The Society of Arts and Leisure
c)  The Lady’s Auxiliary Aide
d)  The Manhattan Association of Female Philanthropists
e)  The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League

Friday’s answer was…

What episode number is animated The Simpsons on Fox hitting this Sunday?

a)  300
b)  400
c)  500
d)  600
e)  750

…c) 500.  The Simpsons, which began as a series of short sketches on variety half-hour The Tracey Ullman Show, debuted as a regularly scheduled series on December 17, 1989.

-Today’s Trivia All-Stars:

Mark Amato, Michelle Yarborough Bauer, Barbara Beach, Barbara Berman, Laurie Biddle, Carolyn Bisson, Gerry Bixenspan, Kimay Bloch, John Brooker, D.C. Carter, Steve Clements, Mark Condosta, Harold Cooper, Jacqueline Cutler, Reid Davis, Bob Eisenstaedt, Steve Ellis, Phyllis Epstein, Jim Forkan, Linda Grillo, Ed Griffis, Paul Gygli, Mary Ann Harkness, Michelle Harrington, Carolyn Becker Hayes, Barb Hembeger, Michael Hoffman, Heidi Hoffmeister, Julie Hurwitz, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Ken Jobe, Tom Joyce, Marie Lefevre Karp, Synda Kollman, Dave Koranda,  Rick Locke, Kathy McClung, Sean Merriweather, Richard Millhiser, Michael Murphy, Paul Neace, Barbara Oates, Aaron Paquette, Alan Perris, Greg Phelan, Roger Price, Gordon Purcell, Patti Rodriguez, Jay Rossi (3x), Colleen Roth, Staci Rothchild, Kimberly Rowland, Joe Rubi, David Shearer, Mark Simmons, Mark Maxwell-Smith, Ken Stowe, Joe Swaney, Ronnie Tallant, Ralph Tobias, Melissa Toyofuku, Larry Weinstock, Randy West, Ted Zavales