Amph The Nielsens: Shows that Nobody Admits to Watching

Here are the number one-rated shows since 1950...

1950?1951: Texaco Star Theater (NBC)
1951?1952: Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (CBS)
1952?1953: I Love Lucy (CBS)
1953?1954: I Love Lucy (CBS)
1954?1955: I Love Lucy (CBS)
1955?1956: The $64,000 Question (CBS)
1956?1957: I Love Lucy (CBS) [Final season of series]
1957?1958: Gunsmoke (CBS)
1958?1959: Gunsmoke (CBS)
1959?1960: Gunsmoke (CBS)
1960?1961: Gunsmoke (CBS)
1961?1962: Wagon Train (NBC)
1962?1963: The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS)
1963?1964: The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS)
1964?1965: Bonanza (NBC)
1965?1966: Bonanza (NBC)
1966?1967: Bonanza (NBC)
1967?1968: The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) [Final season of series]
1968?1969: Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (NBC)
1969?1970: Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (NBC)
1970?1971: Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC)
1971?1972: All in the Family (CBS)
1972?1973: All in the Family (CBS)
1973?1974: All in the Family (CBS)
1974?1975: All in the Family (CBS)
1975?1976: All in the Family (CBS)
1976?1977: Happy Days (ABC)
1977?1978: Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
1978?1979: (tie) Laverne & Shirley and Three's Company (both ABC)
1979?1980: 60 Minutes (CBS)
1980?1981: Dallas (CBS)
1981?1982: Dallas (CBS)
1982?1983: 60 Minutes (CBS)
1983?1984: Dallas (CBS)
1984?1985: Dynasty (ABC)
1985?1986: The Cosby Show (NBC)
1986?1987: The Cosby Show (NBC)
1987?1988: The Cosby Show (NBC)
1988?1989: The Cosby Show (NBC)
1989?1990: (tie) The Cosby Show (NBC) and Roseanne (ABC)
1990?1991: Cheers (NBC)
1991?1992: 60 Minutes (CBS)
1992?1993: 60 Minutes (CBS)
1993?1994: Home Improvement (ABC)
1994?1995: Seinfeld (NBC)
1995?1996: ER (NBC)
1996?1997: ER (NBC)
1997?1998: Seinfeld (NBC) [Final season of series]
1998?1999: ER (NBC)
1999?2000: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (ABC)
2000?2001: Survivor: The Australian Outback (CBS)
2001?2002: Friends (NBC)
2002?2003: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
2003?2004: American Idol (FOX)
2004?2005: American Idol (FOX)
2005?2006: American Idol (FOX)
2006?2007: American Idol (FOX)

 

I wonder if American Idol will be the first show to have six consecutive #1 seasons?

 

Chart of the top 20 TV shows this week. Top TV Shows Last
Week Viewers in Millions

1 America's Got Talent NBC, Tuesday, 9 p.m. - 13.0
2 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 3 11.3
3 So You Think You Can Dance Fox, Thursday, 9 p.m. 4 11.1
4 So You Think You Can Dance Fox, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 9 10.3
5 Deal or No Deal NBC, Tuesday, 8 p.m. - 10.1
6 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 2 10.0
7 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 8 9.5
8 60 Minutes (R) CBS, Sunday, 7 p.m. 13 9.5
9 NCIS (R) CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 6 9.4
10 Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Fox, Thursday, 8 p.m. 12 9.3
11 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 P.M. 5 9.3
12 NBA Finals ABC, Thursday, 9:02 - 9.2
13 Shark (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 10 9.1
14 How I Met Your Mother (R) CBS, Monday, 9:30 p.m. - 8.7
15 NBA Finals ABC, Sunday, 9:02 p.m. - 8.5
16 The Next Best Thing ABC, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 18 8.4
17 Hell's Kitchen Fox, Monday, 9 p.m. - 8.2
18 House (R) Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 1 8.0
19 American Inventor ABC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. - 7.9
20 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 14 7.6

 

Chart of the top 20 TV shows this week. Top TV Shows Last Week Viewers in Millions

1 America's Got Talent NBC, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 1 10.8
2 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7 p.m. 2 9.9
3 The Singing Bee NBC, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. 6 9.7
4 Hell's Kitchen Fox, Monday, 9 p.m. 8 9.7
5 So You Think You Can Dance Fox, Thursday, 8 p.m. - 9.6
6 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 3 9.5
7 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 7 9.2
8 Without a Trace (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 4 9.1
9 So You Think You Can Dance Fox, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 12 8.7
10 NCIS (R) CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. - 8.5
11 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 8 8.3
12 Cold Case (R) CBS, Sunday, 9 12 8.2
13 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 19 8.2
14 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 11 8.2
15 So You Think You Can Dance Fox, Monday, 8 p.m. - 7.9
16 Power of 10 CBS, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 16 7.7
17 Big Brother 8 CBS, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 22 7.6
18 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC, Sunday, 8 p.m. 25 7.6
19 Big Brother 8 CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 16 7.5
20 Big Brother 8 CBS, Sunday, 8 p.m. 19 7.4

Sure is a lot of reality TV on the list...

 

This is why I hate you all.

 

Why is this our fault?

Rumours are that series with the "Lost" format are no longer the deal for the new season.

 

I've caught a couple of episodes of the Power of Ten. It's an OK show and Drew Carey does a decent job hosting it. But I don't think anyone will ever win $10 million the way it is set up now. You'd have to be freakin' nuts to risk the million for a shot at the $10 million on a 1 in 10 chance at getting it. If they ever changed the last level where you'd drop to say $500,000 instead of $100,000 if you missed the $10 million question, then maybe somebody would go for it. Of course that would defeat the entire purpose of the title of the show.

As for the rest, I don't think I've seen one other show on the list.

 

This week:

1 America's Got Talent NBC, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 1 13.9
2 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 6 10.4
3 Without a Trace (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 8 9.3
4 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 7 9.2
5 Sunday Night Football NBC, Sunday, 8:08 p.m. - 9.2
6 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7 p.m. 2 9.0
7 The Singing Bee NBC, Tuesday, 10 p.m. - 8.9
8 Power of 10 CBS, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 16 8.7
9 Cold Case (R) CBS, Sunday, 9 p.m. 12 8.4
10 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 11 8.3
11 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 19 7.8
12 Big Brother 8 CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 19 7.8
13 Just For Laughs ABC, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. 25 7.7
14 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 12 7.6
15 Big Brother 8 CBS, Sunday, 8 p.m. 20 7.4
16 Big Brother 8 CBS, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 17 7.3
17 Last Comic Standing NBC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 36 7.3
18 TV's Funniest Moments (R) Fox, Monday, 8 p.m. - 7.2
19 Just For Laughs ABC,Tuesday, 8 p.m. 26 6.8
20 Rules of Engagement(R) CBS, Monday, 9:30 p.m. 23 6.7

 

As it is every season, it'll be interesting to see how the new shows fare. What will be the unexpected Heroes-like hit or the surprising The Nine-like bomb ?

 

About three shows are hits--of the new ones each year.

 

Pushing Daisies is already a critical darling but of course that doesnt mean that that will translate into ratings success.

It'll also be interesting to see how quickly Cavemen crashes and burns.

 

TV: Top RatedChart of the top 20 TV shows this week.

Top TV Shows Last
Week

Viewers
in Millions

1 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 4 10.3
2 Power of 10 CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. - 9.9
3 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 14 9.1
4 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 11 8.9
5 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 10 8.5
6 Power of 10 CBS, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 8 8.3
7 Big Brother 8 CBS, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 16 8.4
8 House (R) Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. - 7.6
9 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 2 7.7
10 Rules of Engagement(R) CBS, Monday, 9:30 p.m. 20 7.6
11 NCIS (R) CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. - 7.5
12 Just For Laughs ABC, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 13 6.5
13 Without a Trace (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 3 6.7
14 Last Comic Standing NBC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 17 6.5
15 Just For Laughs ABC, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 13 6.5
16 48 Hours Mystery (R) CBS, Saturday, 10 p.m. - 6.3
17 Big Brother 8 CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 12 6.2
18 Cold Case (R) CBS, Sunday, 9 p.m. 9 6.2
19 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7 p.m. 6 6.2
20 20/20 ABC, Friday, 10 p.m. - 6.1

 

Well the reality shows' count seems down a bit this week though I'm not sure what "Just for Laughs" is. I guess everyone is getting back into their regular shows like CSI, etc. as the new season approaches.

 

Chart of the top 20 TV shows this week. Top TV Shows Last
Week

Viewers in Millions

1 Sunday Night Football NBC, Sunday, 8:24 p.m. - 18.2
2 NFL Thursday Special NBC, Thursday, 8:40 p.m. - 17.8
3 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7:29 p.m. - 10.8
4 Without a Trace (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 13 9.5
5 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 9 9.5
6 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 9 9.1
7 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 3 8.8
8 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC, Sunday, 8 p.m. 49 8.4
9 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Fox, Monday, 8 p.m. - 8.3
10 Big Brother 8 CBS, Sunday, 8 p.m. 24 8.3
11 Power of 10 CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 2 8.1
12 Don't Forget the Lyrics Fox, Thursday, 9 p.m. - 8.1
13 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 4 8.0
14 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 5 8.0
15 Big Brother 8 CBS, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 7 8.0
16 Big Brother 8 CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 17 8.0
17 Sunday Movie of the Week (Meet the Fockers) ABC, Sunday, 9 p.m. - 7.9
18 House (R) Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 8 7.8
19 Power of 10 CBS, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 6 7.7
20 Dateline NBC, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 26 7.4


Sports and new game shows are the big thing this week.

 

It'll be interesting to see if these game shows can hold their own beyond the summertime and into the new season. A surprising number have been pretty big hits, but big numbers in the summer are a different animal compared to the fall season and all of the new and returning shows.

 

Top TV Shows Last Week
Viewers in Millions

1 Sunday Night Football NBC, Sunday, 8:25 p.m. 1 15.3
2 59th Annual Emmy Awards Fox, Sunday, 9 p.m. - 13.0
3 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7:51 p.m. 3 10.0
4 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 6 9.5
5 Without a Trace (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 4 8.9
6 Big Brother 8 CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 13 8.9
7 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 13 8.9
8 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 5 8.4
9 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 7 8.3
10 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 14 8.2
11 Big Brother 8 CBS, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 15 8.1
12 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Fox, Monday, 8 p.m. 9 7.9
13 The Biggest Loser NBC, Tuesday, 8 p.m. - 7.8
14 House (R) Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 18 7.8
15 Power of 10 CBS, Wednesday, 8 p.m. 19 7.8
16 NCIS (R) CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 22 7.7
17 Rules of Engagement(R) CBS, Monday, 9:30 p.m. 25 7.3
18 Cold Case (R) CBS, Sunday, 9 p.m. 21 7.1
19 Saturday Night Football ABC, Saturday, 8:07 p.m. - 7.1
20 Big Brother 8 CBS, Sunday, 8 p.m. 10 7.1

 

Why would they be? Of the 47562342332 new serials last year, only Heroes was a success.

Anyway, anyone think Bionic Woman is going to bomb big time?

 

I liked the pilot. It didn't blow me away, but I'll definitely keep tuning in.

 

Chart of the top 20 TV shows this week.

Top TV Shows Last Week

Viewers in Millions

1 Sunday Night Football NBC, Sunday, 8:25 p.m. 1 19.0
2 Survivor: China CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. - 15.4
3 CSI (R) CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 8 14.1
4 Cold Case CBS, Sunday, 9 p.m. 18 12.7
5 Deal or No Deal NBC, Monday, 8 p.m. - 11.7
6 Shark CBS, Sunday, 10 p.m. 23 11.4
7 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7 p.m. 3 11.4
8 Without a Trace (R) CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 5 11.3
9 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 4 10.8
10 Family Guy (R) Fox, Sunday, 9 p.m. - 10.8
11 Deal or No Deal NBC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. - 9.9
12 CSI: Miami (R) CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 9 9.7
13 The Simpsons Fox, Sunday, 8 p.m. - 9.6
14 Back to You Fox, Wednesday, 8 p.m. - 9.5
15 Kid Nation CBS,Wednesday, 8 p.m. - 9.4
16 CSI: NY (R) CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 6 9.2
17 Desperate Housewives (R) ABC, Sunday, 9 p.m. 9 9.0
18 K-Ville Fox, Monday, 9:01 p.m. - 8.9
19 Big Brother 8 CBS, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 11 8.7
20 Criminal Minds (R) CBS, Wednesday, 9:06 p.m. 10 8.4

Out of 20, three new shows: "Back to You", "Kid Nation", and "K-Ville"

 

Man, Chuck is going to get canceled and the Fire Fly curse will continue.

 

Top TV Shows Last
Week Viewers
in Millions
1 CSI CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 3 25.2
2 Dancing With the Stars ABC, Monday, 8 p.m. - 21.2
3 Grey's Anatomy ABC, Thursday, 9 p.m. 48 20.9
4 Desperate Housewives ABC, Sunday, 9 p.m. 17 19.3
5 Dancing With the Stars ABC, Tuesday, 9 p.m. - 18.5
6 House Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. - 18.3
7 Heroes NBC, Monday, 9 p.m. - 17.0
8 Dancing With the Stars ABC, Wednesday, 8 p.m. - 16.8
9 Without a Trace CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 8 16.7
10 CSI: Miami CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 12 15.1
11 Sunday Night Football NBC, Sunday, 8:25 p.m. 1 15.0
12 Private Practice ABC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. - 14.4
13 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC, Sunday, 8 p.m. 25 14.3
14 Survivor: China CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 2 14.1
15 Bionic Woman NBC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. - 13.9
16 NCIS CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. 26 13.9
17 Cold Case CBS, Sunday, 9 p.m. 4 13.7
18 Two and a Half Men (R) CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 9 13.6
19 Brothers & Sisters ABC, Sunday, 9 p.m. 59 12.8
20 60 Minutes CBS, Sunday, 7:30 p.m. 7 12.8

What amazes me is all three CIS shows in the top 20. I got bored with them *years* ago.

 

America loves their procedurals.

 

And no Friday Night Lights in the top twenty yet again.

 

Chart of the top 20 TV shows this week.
Top TV Shows Last Week
Viewers in Millions

1 CSI CBS, Thursday, 9 p.m. 1 21.0
2 Dancing With the Stars ABC, Monday, 8 p.m. 2 20.2
3 Grey's Anatomy ABC, Thursday, 9 p.m. 3 18.5
4 Sunday Night Football NBC, Sunday, 8:25 p.m. 11 18.3
5 Desperate Housewives ABC, Sunday, 9 p.m. 4 17.8
6 House Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 6 17.4
7 NCIS CBS, Tuesday, 8 p.m. - 16.4
8 Dancing With the Stars ABC, Tuesday, 9 p.m. 5 15.9
9 CSI: Miami CBS, Monday, 10 p.m. 10 14.7
10 Criminal Minds CBS, Wednesday, 9:00 p.m. 22 14.6
11 Without a Trace CBS, Thursday, 10 p.m. 9 14.2
12 Survivor: China CBS, Thursday, 8 p.m. 14 14.1
13 Two and a Half Men CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. 18 13.2
14 Pushing Daisies ABC, Wednesday, 8 p.m. - 13.0
15 Cold Case CBS, Sunday, 9 p.m. 17 13.0
16 CSI: NY CBS, Wednesday, 10 p.m. 21 12.7
17 Private Practice ABC, Wednesday, 9 p.m. 12 12.4
18 Heroes NBC, Monday, 9 p.m. 7 12.0
19 Brothers & Sisters ABC, Sunday, 9 p.m. 19 11.9
20 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC, Sunday, 8 p.m. 13 11.8

 

And I saw . . . two. Football and Two and a Half Men. I thought I had heard that Desperate Housewives had taken a bit of a nosedive in the ratings last season. Is that so, because it looks pretty strong right now.