Returning 'Old Christine' sinks badly
Double-dose of CBS sitcom average a 2.7 in 18-49s
By Toni Fitzgerald
March 13, 2007
“The New Adventures of Old Christine” has been a decent performer for CBS on Monday nights since its debut last year around this time. But it turns out the show needs a strong lead-in to do well.
Last night, forced to open the evening at 8 p.m. without the benefit of usual lead-in “Two and a Half Men,” ratings for two episodes of “Christine” plunged to a new series low.
The show averaged a 2.5 and a 2.9 in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen overnights, down 29 percent from its season average of 3.8. It was returning from a month-long hiatus to make room for new hit “Rules of Engagement.”
“Christine” also performed below usual timeslot occupants “How I Met Your Mother” at 8 p.m., which is averaging a 3.4 this year, and even 8:30’s “The Class,” at a 3.0.
“Christine’s” hour-long 2.7 average, which was just 0.1 ahead of a repeat of “Wife Swap” on ABC, was down 16 percent from last week’s 3.2 average for “Wife” and “Class.”
Surely part of the decline is explained by the fact that “Christine” returned in a new and unfamiliar timeslot. It used to air at 9:30 out of “Men,” but it seems unlikely it will get that slot back with “Rules” retaining a good percentage of “Men’s” audience since its debut last month.
“Christine” will now be paired with “Mother” in the 8 p.m. hour, which seemed like a smart move. Both are relationship-oriented comedies with strong female characters. Perhaps when “Mother” returns, it will give “Christine” a boost, but the initial slip certainly indicates the latter cannot stand well on its own.
Elsewhere last night, the third episode of NBC’s “The Black Donnellys” fell, though that’s not a huge surprise. The network’s top-rated show, “Heroes,” gave “Donnellys” a 6.6 lead-in last week.
Last night, with an extended “Deal or No Deal” averaging a 5.1 at 9 p.m., “Donnellys” dipped 13 percent from last week’s 3.0 to a 2.6.
Meanwhile, Fox and NBC tied for first among 18-49s last night, each posting a 4.0 average rating and an 11 share. CBS was third at 3.7/10, ABC fourth at 2.6/7, Univision fifth at 1.7/5 and CW sixth at 0.8/2.
NBC started the night in the lead with a 4.3 rating at 8 p.m. for the first of two hours of “Deal or No Deal.” Fox was second with a 3.5 for a repeat of “House,” CBS third with a 2.7 for an hour of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and ABC fourth with a 2.6 for a “Wife Swap” rerun. That left Univision fifth that hour with a 1.9 for “La Fea Mas Bella” and CW sixth with a 0.8 average for repeats of “Everybody Hates Chris” and “All of Us.”
At 9 p.m. NBC held onto its lead with a 5.1 for the second half of “Deal,” followed by Fox with a 4.5 for “24.” CBS was third again that hour with a 4.3 average for a repeat of “Two and a Half Men” and a new “Rules of Engagement” (4.3), with ABC fourth with a 3.0 for “Supernanny,” Univision fifth with a 1.7 for “Mundo de Fieras” and CW sixth with a 0.8 for repeats of “Girlfriends” and “The Game.”
CBS took the lead at 10 p.m. with a 4.2 for a repeat of “CSI: Miami. NBC was second with a 2.6 for “Black Donnellys,” ABC third with a 2.2 for “What About Brian” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Cristina.”
Among households, NBC led the night with an 8.2 average rating and a 13 share. CBS was second at 7.5/12, Fox third at 6.9/11, ABC fourth at 4.3/7, Univision fifth at 2.3/4 and CW sixth at 1.4/2.
