After tinkering with year-round launch schedules and other experiments the last few years, networks are back to rolling out most of their shows all at once.
The result? One of the most competitive fall launches in years, with just about every new and returning show -- save for the few that debut this week, like ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” -- going up against its real competition from the start.
Sure, it’s only one week of ratings -- but what a week it was.
So first, five ratings winners -- and five losers -- among the crop of new shows. And below that, the five things we learned about the new fall season:
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED...
1. A LOT OF SHOWS ARE GETTING OLD ALL AT ONCE
With fall launches occurring on a more staggered schedule in recent years, shows benefitted by competing against repeats. But with everyone jumping in all at once last week, a lot of series weren’t able to meet the benchmarks they set for themselves in softer, more forgiving falls.
Fox’s “Fringe,” which posted a 2.1 rating/6 share in the all-important adults 18-49 demo, is a prime example. Though the paranormal-themed series was up 5 percent over its May season-two finale, it fell a full 30 percent from its September 2009 season-two debut -- which was seven days before premiere week.
It wasn't the only one. Ratings spin aside, a lot veteran series -- mostly in the hourlong realm -- experienced steep year-to-year drops. This list includes such heavy hitters as “House” (down 21 percent), “Grey’s Anatomy,” (21 percent), “Private Practice” (28 percent), “NCIS” (19 percent), “CSI” (17 percent) and “The Mentalist” (8 percent).
Sure, sophomores “Glee” and “Modern Family” stepped up to assume gold-card status, spiking 57 percent and 19 percent, respectively. But with overall premiere-week ratings collectively down about 5 percent on the broadcast networks, there seems to be more old blood floating around right now than new.
2. CBS COULD BE IN FOR A HELLAVU SEASON
Just about everything the Eye tried worked.
Example: Want to move a hit Chuck Lorre Monday night series to the ultra-competitive Thursday night schedule and replace it ... with another Lorre series? Starring obese actors? Done.
Taking the Monday 9:30 p.m. slot once occupied by the top-rated comedy on television, “Big Bang Theory,” the Lorre-created “Mike and Molly” scored a 3.9/10 demo rating, dropping only 17 percent from “Big Bang’s” 2009 debut. Moving over to Thursday night at 8 p.m., meanwhile, “Big Bang” didn’t lose any audience share, holding flat with that same 2009 debut with a 4.8/15 in the key demo.
At 8:30 on Thursday, new William Shatner comedy “$#*! My Dad Says” posted a 3.9/12
