Dec 17, 2008

Entertainment - We Still Watch Heroes, Eventually

Joal Ryan

Los Angeles (E! Online) – All right, TiVo users, your generic DVR relations and those who aspire to be the masters of their TV universes: Which shows did we record—and watch—the most in 2008? And why's the answer some rare good news for Heroes?

But wait—there's more: Which new comedy was a Top 25 hit last week? Which show made a surprise nonkilling in its season finale? And why should Barack Obama aspire to be like the Dallas Cowboys?

The answers—and more questions—in this week's ratings pop quiz.

1. What were our favorite shows to get around to, you know, eventually?

Answer: Per Nielsen, which ran the numbers from Jan. 1 through Nov. 30, Tuesday's American Idol added the most households after one week's worth of DVR playback was added in. Wednesday's Idol was second. Heroes made a strong showing and led all scripted shows in third place. Rounding out the Top 10: Lost, Fringe, House, The Mentalist, Survivor: Gabon, Grey's Anatomy and Bones.

Battlestar Galactica saw the biggest percentage increase in its household rating. The series topped Burn Notice, Heroes, 90210 and Sanctuary.

2. Which freshman comedy is burning up the charts?

Answer: Did you not follow the Golden Globe nominations last week? There is no new comedy hit on broadcast TV. (There's not one on cable, either, really.) Last week's most-watched first-year comedy was Gary Unmarried (7.7 million viewers), which ranked 30th in the Nielsen Media Research rankings.

3. How'd Dexter's season finale do?

Answer: Killer, if you'll pardon the expression. The peaceable, lawfully wedded shocker scored 1.5 million viewers, up 48 percent from last season's finale, the Los Angeles Times reported.

4. Does anything unite us more than the sight of large men in tights, clawing and grabbing at each other?

Answer: Ah, if only…NBC's Sunday Night Football (23.1 million) was TV's No. 1 show in total viewers, adults 18-49, women 18-34 and E.T.'s from Pluto. ESPN's Monday Night Football (11.6 million) was cable's No. 1 show.

5. Which time slot is Jay Leno least likely to take over?

Answer: Four of the week's Top 10 shows (CSI, Two and a Half Men, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist) aired during the 9 p.m. hour. Only one ran at NBC's Leno-designated 10 p.m.—CBS' CSI: Miami.

6. Hannah Montana or Wizards of Waverly Place?

Answer: Actually, try Suite Life on Deck (4.3 million), which was cable's top scripted show. The Disney Channel comedy edged Wizards (4.1 million), which itself opened up a noticeable lead over its lead-in, Hannah Montana (3.8 million).

7. Seen any good holiday TV lately?

Answer: Apparently. ABC's A Charlie Brown Christmas (11 million) ranked 16th among broadcast network shows. Hallmark's all-new movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (4.1 million), outdrew all but nine shows on cable.

8. George Bailey or Kevin McCallister?

Answer: It's a Wonderful Life (4.9 million) was an improvement for NBC on Saturday night, but it wasn't Home Alone (3.6 million), which helped lead myNetworkTV to its most-watched week ever.

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