Two ‘comedies’ in the top 10!
There has been a significant trend this season in the complete absence of comedies from the Nielson top 10 (and only an occasional representative in the extended top twent, usually Two and a Half Men). This can be traced two a few things. Obviously the number of comedies is way down compared to what was on the networks ten years ago. Also, I feel the television comedy is in a period of change, and yet the audience seems to be slow to adapt. If you aren’t one to obsess over comedy (or television) you could easily find yourself flipping around the dial (who uses a dial?) trying to decide between watching something that looks and feels completely different from what you’re used to (like Arrested Development or The Office) or watching something that is entirely familiar, but unfunny. Keep reading by clicking below…
Now, if we take a look at this past week’s prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research (May 22-28), we get the following numbers:
- #6 (#15 last week) Two And a Half Men, CBS, 15.5 million viewers.
- #10 (#28 last week) New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS, 13.1 million viewers.
- #17 (#52 last week) The King of Queens, CBS, 8.4 million viewers.
What do these three shows and their very respectable ratings say?
To begin with, CBS is clearly the only network people are watching en mass when it comes to comedy. Also, all three shows are standard 3-camera sit-coms (NBC, the last place network, the former king of sit-com, is the only network outside of FOX to seem to be actively pursuing single-camera comedies). The key to this huge ratings jump, however, seems to have very little to do with the actual product that’s appearing on screen (who are these 15 million crazies who can’t seem to get enough Charlie Sheen anyway?). I’m led to believe these three comedies were watched because there simply wasn’t anything else on. Aside from the shows making up #1-5 (American Idol(x2), House, CSI:Miami, Lost) there weren’t any significant finales left to air. Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy had their finales the week earlier, along with the original CSI, The Unit and most of the other shows that frequently pop up in the top 20.
Many have made the argument that the average television viewer simply prefers dramas to comedy these days. The normal Nielsen numbers would certainly back this theory up, but this week’s ratings made me realize that audiences aren’t obsessed with dramas, they’re obsessed with THESE dramas. When given the opportunity to watch a night of comedy when there isn’t anything else on, the viewers spoke overwhelmingly. Grey’s Anotomy, Desperate Housewives, CSI and ESPECIALLY American Idol et al are such monster hits they’ve completely eclipsed everything else on television– comedy or not. When the competition deminished, the viewers started to spread themselves more evenly across the spectrum.
One thing is absolutely certain, I’m going to watch New Adventures of Old Christine this summer in re-run. I don’t know, I hear it isn’t that bad. It has to be better than Two and a Half Men, doesn’t it? DOESN’T IT??
Tags: ABC, American Idol, CBS, CSI, Desperate Housewives, FOX, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, NBC, The Industry, The Office
