NETWORK UPDATE: RISING STAR and WIPEOUT swapped 0.1s, with RISING STAR on the low end–in fact, it was ABC’s lowest-rated original show of the night. On CBS, BIG BROTHER went up even higher to 2.2, but RECKLESS was pathetic, down another 0.1 to 0.5.
SUNDAY CABLE: THE STRAIN, FX’s first entry into the world of Sunday programming, started strong at 1.2 (plus 0.6 for an 11:40PM re-airing). HBO’s TRUE BLOOD remained king of the night, however, at 1.7. It was followed by a steady 0.7 for THE LEFTOVERS, and 0.4 for LAST WEEK TONIGHT after a week off. Showtime’s season premieres were both lower than the same shows’ premieres or finales last year–RAY DONOVAN at 0.4 and MASTERS OF SEX at 0.3–but in fairness, last season both shows had big lead-ins from DEXTER and HOMELAND, respectively. On Lifetime, the season finale of DEVIOUS MAIDS was up 0.1 to 0.8, and WITCHES OF EAST END rose 0.2 to 0.6. On TNT, THE LAST SHIP and FALLING SKIES held even at 1.0/0.8. HALT AND CATCH FIRE (AMC) remained stable at 0.26, and the season finale of SALEM (WGN America) rose 0.05 to 0.18. The REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY (Bravo) were less irresistible than their Atlanta counterparts, down 0.3 to 0.9, and that pulled MARRIED TO MEDICINE down 0.2 to 0.6. KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS (E!) remained at 1.2. NAKED AND AFRAID (Discovery) was steady at 0.9, and MOUNTAIN MEN (History) slipped 0.1 to 0.7.
Weaker competition helped Rising Star… a bit.
ABC: The first 1-hour installment of RISING STAR (and the first not to face open challenge from NBC) climbed 0.2 to 1.4. There was another 0.2 jump for WIPEOUT, at 1.3. The network’s highest rated show, though, was AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS at 1.5 (which might have benefited from big afternoon audiences parked on ABC for the World Cup Final).
CBS: The network flipped timeslots on its dramas, helping UNFORGETTABLE, which increased a healthy 0.2 to 0.9. RECKLESS was neither helped nor hurt by the move, staying at 0.6. Both were far below BIG BROTHER, the highest-rated show of the night and up 0.2 to 2.1. The night started with a steady 1.0 for 60 MINUTES.
NBC: A night of reruns, led by 0.8 for SVU, which beat the new Reckless at 10PM.
FOX: After BRAIN GAMES held at 0.5, reruns took over, led by 1.2 for FAMILY GUY.
FOX airs the season finale of its 24 miniseriestonight. CW tries something new and different (and cheap), moving its digital series SEEDS and BACKPACKERS to the big(ger) leagues.
About the Author
