'Chuck' returns down; CW rebounds

The premieres of NBC's "Chuck" and "Life" took a hit in the ratings Monday night. Both returned lower than their previous series launches, creating a "Heroes" sandwich in the lineup that left the 9 p.m. action drama to likewise fall in its second week back on the air.

Much has been made of Josh Schwartz's "Chuck" (6.6 million viewers, 2.6 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and 7 share) airing against Josh Schwartz's "Gossip Girl" (3.5 million, 1.9/5) in the 8 p.m. hour this season.

The shows have such different audiences its tough to ascertain if one has any impact on the other. So for whatever it's worth, "Chuck" returned from its extended strike-addled break down 27% from last year's premiere to place third in the hour with a series low (despite garnering positive reviews). "Gossip" was unfazed, rebounding 19% in the adult demo after its viewers presumably sampled other debuts last week. Fox's "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles" (5.3 million, 2.0/5), however, is closer to the "Chuck" demo and dropped 13% against its new competitor.

NBC's "Heroes" (9.3 million, 4.4/10) fell 12% from its two-hour debut last week to a new low. At 10 p.m., the first of two Monday tryouts for "Life" (6.9 million, 2.7/7) placed second in the hour, down 25% from the premiere of "Journeyman" in the slot, but improved 13% on its previous telecast in this time period ("Life" also generally received upbeat return reviews). NBC plans to shift "Life" to Fridays to make way for the premiere of "My Own Worst Enemy" Oct. 13.

Overall, NBC ranked third this week. CBS edged out ABC to win the night for the second week in a row, but suffered declines of its own. CBS' second-week shows dropped slightly across the board: "Big Bang Theory" (8.7 million, 3.3/9, down 8%), "How I Met Your Mother" (8.8 million, 3.7/9, down 8%), "Two and a Half Men" (13.8 million, 4.7/11, down 11% and the night's highest-rated show), "Worst Week" (9.3 million, 3.1/7, down 18%) and "CSI: Miami" (14.3 million, 4.3/11, down 17%).

Of the CBS drops, the only shift that's worrisome is freshman entry "Worst Week," whose hit was the steepest and the show is already the lowest-rated of the lot. Although a 3.1 rating is still better than many other shows last night, networks try to avoid having a clear drag on a winning ticket. Also, though "Miami" won its time period, its drop shows that "Life" managed to have some impact on the veteran procedural.

Second-place ABC aired "Dancing With the Stars" (19.3 million, 4.5/11, down 15%) and "Boston Legal" (9.8 million, 2.3/6, down a notch).

Fox was fourth with "Terminator" and "Prison Break" (5.3 million, 2.0/5), both hitting series lows. The CW was fifth with "Gossip" and a similarly resurgent "One Tree Hill" (3.4 million, 1.9/4, up 27%).

Comments

[jake]

I really think that NBC needs to move chuck to wed or thursdays before it's too late. Mondays is the worst day of the week -- every network has a show I want to watch.

worst week is a very funny show and I wish more people would tune in.

[Brian]

The networks continue to shoot themselves in the foot (or other body parts) by their ridiculous scheduling of so many good shows on one night. Even with TiVO, you can't possibly record them all, and that is just the broadcast networks and doesn't include cable.
CHUCK and LIFE will die on Mondays if left there.
THe crowd that watches the ridiculous THREE AND A HALF MEN, the same people who actually think Charlie Sheen is funny (!), won't stick around for the hysterically slapstick humor or WORST WEEK. And it goes on. Bottom Line: What are they thinking???? An imbecile could program better than half these network idiots.

[linda]

I love "Chuck" and it is in a terrible time slot. The show does have a full season pick up and the scripts are fun and campy -- I mean ,come on. The tag line alone says it all: "Saving the world at $11.95/hour." And this season, it appears that Chuck is even growing as a CIA operative -- saving the day in last night's episode, even as his own life was in danger from none other than the people he's been helping all along. Can't believe CBS won the night, even over Dancing with the Stars.

[Kyle]

Seems to me this season is taking a hit across the board. Most shows premiered down from either last season's premiers (returning) or same time-slot (new). Personally, Mondays are especially brutal. As a fan of both NBC's & Fox's line up, I am very happy for my DVR. "Chuck", "Heroes", and "Terminator" are all producing some amazing, well scripted stories. Hopefully once the Government settles on a Bank Bailout the Nielsen viewers will relax & start watching regular TV again.

[james]

I hear that Terminator may be cancelled --- why don't they put it after Bones on Wed now that they have cancelled Do not Disturb and til Death is not benefiting from Bones's great lead in.

[John]

I think that most of the networks are feeling the pain from the writers strike, but i agree it probably would be a good idea to move Chuck to another night, not sure which one yet, but Monday night is brutal considering the numbers that ABC and CBS produce alone! But doesn't the DVR ratings come into effect too, considering everyone is watching something else, move Chuck!