Woe is ABC. The network’s block of hourlong dramas — 8 p.m.’s Pushing Daisies, 9 p.m.’s Private Practice (pictured: Kate Walsh), and 10 p.m.’s Dirty Sexy Money — declined yet again last night from the previous week’s premiere numbers, which were already well below each show’s last-season average. According to preliminary ratings data, Daisies nabbed just 5.6 million viewers, down 11 percent from last week and 3.2 million short of last year’s average. Private Practice scored a little better, attracting 7.2 million, down 10 percent from last week and 2.5 million below its season 1 average. And DSM reeled in 6 million, a 17 percent decline from the premiere and 1.4 million fewer viewers than its debut-season average.
NBC wasn’t looking much healthier. Knight Rider’s previous episode actually bested its premiere, but it fell 12 percent this week, attracting 6.7 million viewers. Its 9 p.m. follow up, The Biggest Loser: Families, attracted 6.6 million, down 15 percent from last fall’s Biggest Loser season and down 22 percent from the spring’s Couples season, and Lipstick Jungle garnered 4.8 million at 10 p.m., down 21 percent from last season’s average and a nearly 30 percent loss of its Loser lead-in audience.
Over at The CW, America’s Next Top Model declined slightly, bringing in 3.9 million viewers, a 3 percent decline from last week. (Last night’s 90210 was a rerun.)
Fox and CBS, on the other hand, both improved on last week’s viewership for every show. Fox’s procedural Bones added half a million viewers to last week’s totals, topping out at 10.3 million (and winning the 8 p.m. time slot). The network’s 9 p.m. double shot of the Brad Garrett-led sitcom ‘Til Death scored 5 million for the first episode and 4 million for the second (both improvements over last week).
But CBS was the night’s winner by a long shot. Although NBC’s Bones beat the Eye’s comedy block of The New Adventures of Old Christine (7.6 million) and Gary Unmarried (7 million) at 8 p.m., both series continued to increase their audience since their premieres, and the one-two punch of Criminal Minds (15.9 million) at 9 p.m. and CSI: NY (15.9 million) at 10 p.m., the night’s two top-rated shows, again handed CBS the Wednesday night crown. The ratings titans show no signs of slowing, either: Both shows added over a million viewers to their previous week totals.
More TV news:
Pushing Daisies season 1 best and worst
Free Kate Walsh from Private Practice
Dirty Sexy Money behind-the-scenes photos
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This is so weird. If anyone has noticed but all the shows that did not come back after the writer’s strike have really depleted. Chuck, Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Heroes and there’s one more I’m forgetting that didn’t return after the strike and is having trouble again…
You’re exactly right Shea … some of the networks took a gamble that it would be better to wait and relaunch in the fall instead of doing a few more episodes after the strike, and the gamble hasn’t been paying off. It’s a shame really, because some of the shows are really good shows!
Private Practice needs a far better lead-in – Pushing Daisies scoring under 6m is dire. And both Pushing Daisies & DSM both lost viewers in the half-hour.
ABC definitely made the wrong decision in delaying the return of these shows.
I hope we at least see the 13 episodes ordered for Pushing Daisies. And I hope Private Practice is moved to a better timeslot ASAP – preferably after Dancing with the Stars, or Desperate Housewives (though unlikely). DSM I ditched.
Watch Pushing Daisies i don’t understand why knight rider and all these other crappy shows are getting better ratings then it
I have hopes for “Pushing Daisies”, but the writers’ strike did it no favors. I’m still upset that FX canceled “The Riches”. Why cancel good shows when you have nothing to replace them with?
I am so happy that the most underrated show outside of “Life” is finally catching on and getting the respect and ratings it deserves- “Bones”. All it took was nearly four seasons!!!
Well, maybe the networks/studios will think twice before forcing a strike when the next round of negotiations comes up…
ABC pair ugly betty and pushing daisies together they are perfect for each other
You cant put a family friendly show like pushing daisies with a show called dirty sexy money
Pushing dasies won THREE EMMYS and the best they can do is put it with a night of dramas its not even neccesarily a drama its a dramady so put it with a show that has its demographic like ugly betty
I just cannot get into Private Practice I dont think the story lines are good. I ve watched every episode hoping it will get better but it hasnt. I hope they let DSM complete their full season I love that show.
This is really starting to scare me. I watch all three of the shows on ABC Wednesday nights. Granted I don’t always watch them live. I’m going to be really upset if three of the shows I’ve invested my time into get cancelled. At least give them a chance to give the show a proper finale. Don’t just rip it off the air. Although many networks are known for doing that.
I am a big Pushing Daisies fan and would be heartbroken to see it get cancelled. They could lose the other two shows and I wouldn’t notice (don’t watch them now and can’t foresee that changing), but Pushing Daisies is a shining example of what good TV can be; well-written, well-acted and just plain quirky fun.
I’ll keep watching it, and talking it up with others. I hope the rest of you do too.
They did to move Private Practice since it is the only one showing potential. It gained in the second half hour and DSM and PD both lost viewers in the second half. It also won the 18-34 demo. It would benefit greatly with a good lead in.
The only show I watch regularly is Pushing Daisies. It’s fresh and unlike anything else on TV. If it gets canceled, there would really be no reason left to keep my television. With the economy the way it is, I’ll save money by getting rid of my cable bill. How ’bout them apples?
You don’t need cable to watch Pushing Daisies.
“Pushing Daisies” is the only show I watch on Wednesdays!! (Well, I watch “South Park” and “The Sarah Silverman Program”, too, but they’re cable, so the ratings don’t have to be as big.) This abso-frakkin’-lutely stinks.
Could it be the reason “Pushing Daisies” took a hit with viewership on Wednesday night is because of last season’s writers strike? I think that the show just needs a gentle reminder to the fans who have left the show that “Daisies” is back in its full-blooming quirkiness! And by the way, it is a comedy not a drama. A great, quirky comedy that deserves to be watched!
It is one of only a few shows on TV that the entire family can watch.
I love pushing daisies. It is so original, so fresh…there is no other show like it on tv. It is not your usual “crime fighting” show like CSI or Bones. All of those shows are so typical and predictable, “you’ve seen one you’ve seen all” type of shows. But Pushing Daisies is like watching a really great grown up fairy tale. The actors are so good and original. There is no other show like it on tv…I hope the ratings get better. Come on people watch pushing daisies you would not be sorry!
FYI – Bones is not your typical procedural show. The characters are the main attraction. It has strong performances from the very underrated cast. David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel have the best chemistry on TV! Glad to see Bones is finally getting some respect!
ABC should have done what it originally planned to do — they were going to just start showing Daisies from the very beginning, then the new shows. I think this would have encourage more new people to watch. If you didn’t catch it the first time, well, a lot of people don’t want to start watching something that’s already into its second season (Seinfield, Cheers, are a few exceptions). I LOVE THIS SHOW! I have the dvd set and several pins, etc. Kinda like watching a bit of a Dr Seuss book, what with the narration. We’ve lost RICHES, lets fight to keep DAISES — FLOWER POWER PEOPLE !!!!
Pushing Daisies had another excellent episode this week.
Honestly private practice should be taken off the air. it’s good at all.
Honestly private practice should be taken off the air. it’s not good at all.
Pushing Daisies is my FAVORITE show on TV right now, I really hope they don’t cancel it because of these ratings–I don’t think the viewership is ever going to be as huge as some of the other longtime shows on TV, but the viewers it has are VERY loyal!
overall viewership is fine and dandy, but what about the 18-49?
I look forward to Wed. nights because of these three shows on ABC and can’t understand why more viewers don’t watch. I’m still upset that FX cancelled Dirt and now The Riches. I don’t want ABC to follow suit because I love Private Practice and DSM!
Private Practice is the only one with any potential – it gained during the hour & also won the key 18-34 demo. ABC just need to give it a good lead-in.
How about we get rid of these awful, mediocre shows and replace them with SWINGTOWN!!!!
If you are not watching Pushing Daisies or Dirty Sexy Money – I hate you.
I love both “Bones” and “Pushing Daisies,” and I think the reason “Pushing Daisies” hasn’t done well in the ratings this season is because the brainiacs over at ABC put it on at the same time as a very well-established show that’s already got a really strong following. Because Fox is less reliable about putting their shows online (i.e., “House” is put online EIGHT days after the episodes air – what is that about?), I feel compelled to watch “Bones” when it’s on and catch “Pushing Daisies” online the following day. At least “Bones” is taking a break for new episodes until November, so maybe that’ll help give “Pushing Daisies” a boost.
Out of the shows mentioned, Daisies must be one of the most creative shows on TV right now. Why is it shows that push the norm and dare to try something new (such as Daisies and Swingtown) are always so quickly discarded?