Go On has been one of the saviors of NBC this season, as they try and restructure their schedule and be competitive in the ratings again with “broader shows” to reach a much larger audience. As of now, it’s been working. NBC was number 1 in the 18-49 category for the first time in 10 years this fall with the help of Go On, The Voice, Revolution, and Sunday Night Football.
Go On has been the bright comedy spot this season, being the highest rated new comedy of the season, and having the honor of helping NBC win Tuesday nights this season. The pilot premiere drew 16 million viewers in August with help from the Olympics, and it’s Tuesday premiere drew almost 10 million viewers in September. It’s continued to stay steady throughout the fall.
Things changed Tuesday night. Without The Voice, Go On only drew 4.2 million viewers. Tuesday night companion The New Normal, which hasn’t been as popular as Go On, attracted 3.2 million viewers.
I bring this up now because the numbers for Go On aren’t as impressive as they once were, putting the ratings equally inline with the rest of NBC’s modestly rated comedies.
Another thing I want to point out:
NBC airs comedies on Wednesdays. The forgotten Whitney and Guys With Kids. Many people dismiss these shows as unfunny, unoriginal, and bound for cancellation at the end of the season – maybe due to their multi-camera format?
However, Whitney and Guys With Kids are the type of shows that NBC consider to be “broader programming.” 
This duo does well on Wednesday nights, but many people would predict these two shows won’t see a third and second season, respectively.
Be that as it may, the ratings for Whitney and Guys With Kids are VERY CLOSE to those of their Tuesday night NBC counterparts, the shows that are more preferable as you will, and projected to get a second season – maybe because of their single-camera formats?
I noticed this week that Go On only beat Whitney by 1 million viewers (4.2 million vs. 4.1 million) and a rating point of .1 (1.5 vs. 1.4).
This weeks Guys With Kids actually beat this weeks The New Normal in the ratings (3.9 million viewers vs. 3.2 million viewers) and tied in the 18-49 demo (1.3).
This is not to go unnoticed! Most likely, ratings for Go On and The New Normal will stay in this range until The Voice returns in March. NBC’s Wednesday comedies are very steady, and have been all season. This is going to be very important to NBC president Bob Greenblatt when considering which shows stay and go for next season.
One thing to consider is the competition that each block of shows are competing against, too. Go On and The New Normal face stiff competition from NCIS: Los Angeles, and outperform ABC and Fox’s comedy blocks.
Whitney and Guys With Kids also have some competition on Wednesdays, including ABC’s The Middle, CBS’ Survivor, and Fox’s The X Factor earlier in the fall.
Despite this, Go On is a lock for another season, while The New Normal has a fighting change, mainly because Ryan Murphy is behind the project. Whitney and Guys With Kids have had big question marks all season, but now as I see this and analyze it, I feel this Wednesday night comedies have have a fighting chance, especially with The Office, 30 Rock departing this season, as well as Community and Up All Night being huge toss ups for next season.
Stay tuned!
Related Articles:
How NBC is Quietly Cancelling Their Thursday Night Comedies
Wed Ratings: “People’s Choice Awards” no match for “Modern Family.” Viewers don’t care about “Stars in Danger”
Tuesday Ratings: “Happy Endings” Rebounds from a Terrible Sunday Night, “Cougar Town” Does OK for TBS
“The Cosby Show” reunion on “Guys With Kids” Please
Jan 14
Now I Understand Why “Happy Endings”/”Apt 23″ on Sundays Nights
ABC, TV Commentary/Analysis
by TV Talk With JWalk
Now my understanding is far from that original thought.
Related Article
“Happy Endings”, “Apt 23″ Destined For Cancellation
According to recent ratings, reports, and predictions, Endings and Apt 23 were two ABC shows on the chopping block for cancellation at the end if the season, due to their lackluster ratings in both Tuesdays and Sundays.
Last week at ABC’s Television Critics Association (TCA) panel with network president Paul Lee, he assured critics
that both shows were “safe” as of now, despite their ratings. What Lee didn’t specify is HOW LONG they’d be safe. For the rest of this season? Does this heighten their chances for renewals? Valuable information, but vague information at the same time.
Back to the 10 o’clock timeslot. Could this state a new network trend?
Comedies at 10 p.m. aren’t a new concept, but it hasn’t been done on a regular basis – successfully – since the 1980′s.
Happy Endings and Apt 23 aren’t family oriented like ABC’s other comedies. Both shows premiered and aired their first seasons behind Modern Family on Wednesdays and weren’t ratings successes. Both moved to Tuesdays this fall, in ABC’s efforts to start a new comedy block. Still not a success.
10 p.m. makes sense for these two comedies. Both shows are much edgier and targeted to more of an urban,
adult audience. A demographic that probably isn’t watching on Tuesday and Wednesdays from 8-10 p.m. Also, the duo are deemed “too risqué” for 8 p.m., according to Lee, which is considered a “family hour.”
The next move is 10 p.m. Cable does it successfully, why can’t the networks?
ABC previously doubled up on Happy Endings in spring 2011 on Wednesdays at 10 p.m., but that was solely to fill an empty timeslot after dramas The Whole Truth and Off the Map were cancelled.
If networks consciously tried to develop upscale, urban comedies for the target group of 18-49 year old adults exclusively for the 10 p,.m. hour, while pushing network barriers as far as possible, I think it may be a success. The 10 p.m. timeslot may be the way to go.
It’s evident that Happy Endings and Apt 23 aren’t working at Tuesdays at 9 p.m. If they both make see another season, will ABC slot them at 10 p.m. for the long haul?
Tags: ABC, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Happy Endings, TV Commentary/Analysis
Leave comment