ABC's and D's
How do the nets fare in their midterm report cards?
Jason Lee, My Name Is Earl
We're 13 weeks into the 2005-06 TV season, so it's report-card time at the Biz. Based on the ratings, here's how each of the broadcast networks is doing so far:
CBS: Not only the most-watched network, but it's also No. 1 in the advertiser-coveted category of viewers 18 to 49 years old. Friday night has been rebuilt with Ghost Whisperer, Close to Home and Numbers. Criminal Minds is a solid hit, despite going up against ABC's Lost on Wednesday. The departure of Everybody Loves Raymond from Monday has hurt a bit, and Survivor is weakening among younger viewers. But overall, a strong year. A-
ABC: Second-year hits Desperate Housewives and Lost are blazing away, providing a double-digit ratings boost. Grey's Anatomy looks like it can eventually stand on its own without a Housewives lead-in, but the network hasn't been able to take advantage of that strength to benefit the season's new entries. Invasion does not look like a keeper, and the attempt to aggressively program Thursday failed. Commander in Chief will likely stick around because its audience is upscale. But it's older than ABC would like. One surprise success: Freddie. B+
Fox: Factor out a disappointing performance for postseason baseball and you've got the network's best fall line-up in years. Excluding sports, Fox is up 12 percent from a year ago in viewers 18 to 49, thanks to House, surprise hit Prison Break and solid ratings from Sunday's animated comedies. With the arrival of American Idol and 24 in January, Fox will soon be contending for the 18-to-49 lead. Fox is hoping that giving The O.C. an Idol lead-in for three weeks will revive the fading series. On Wednesday Idol will try to give a boost to Bones — remember what it did for the almost-canceled House last season? B+
UPN: Everybody Hates Chris was every TV pundit's pick to click this season. That hasn't happened, but to UPN's credit, it's sticking with the series, hoping to broaden its audience over time (that's worked for parent network CBS). America's Next Top Model has turned into one of prime time's most dependable reality shows, driving the network's ratings gain among viewers 18 to 34. B-
NBC: My Name Is Earl is a bona fide hit comedy. But as one exec from a rival network put it: "It's a Band-Aid on a massive gunshot wound. It isn't enough to turn things around for them." NBC is experiencing double-digit declines in 18-to-49-year-old viewers on every night except Tuesday and Saturday. Could the dark-horse game show Deal or No Deal — which scored big ratings against nonexistent competition this week — ride in to save the day? C-
WB: Bring back Michigan J. Frog! An attempt at broadening the WB audience didn't pan out (Don Johnson?). Supernatural is a decent success, and Smallville has put them in business on Thursdays. Nevertheless, the network has seen big ratings declines among teens and young adults. The network will be looking for help from a second edition of Beauty and the Geek, and the romantic comedy Pepper Dennis. D