Season 5 Ratings

[fm62]

Being fast approaching 50 and from the UK, i've no idea who any of these 'stunt casting' people are, so probably just put them down to bad actors. Casting also does seem down to being "hot", rather than actual talent. Having seen the casting call here, hot seems to be against each character requirement.

 

[Elsie]

Casting also does seem down to being "hot", rather than actual talent. Having seen the casting call here, hot seems to be against each character requirement.

Absolutely. Being gorgeous, hot etc. does seem to be a common theme in the casting calls. I also agree with Fay, 'hip' casting does seem to be a bit of a theme for the show at the moment, but it hasn't been all bad.

I've been disappointed with a couple of episodes this season, ones that seemed to have promise but really didn't deliver, I also think there has been some pretty good episodes, that's why I'm sad to see this decline in ratings. I hope it isn't a trend that continues, I also hope that we get some great upcoming storylines. We'll see.

 

[fm62]

I feel sorry for Anna Bellknap though, i'm sure they only had one character development planned at the end of season 1 and tried to split it between Lindsay and Sheldon. They both like 'show and tell' and are full of facts. Between Hill's delivery of the lines and having both Danny and Don teasing Sheldon, it comes across being overexcited and excentric. Lindsay seems more overbearing and akward. I saw Anna in Medical Investigations, don't remember thinking she was great or awful, though with Neal McDonough there, I didn't pay attention to anyone else.

She was definitely better in MI than she ever has been on CSI: NY. I've still never seen a performance from her that's come close to blowing me away, or even saying anything more than, "She's fine." Hill doesn't have that much more to work with--less, really, in all likelihood--but he does so much more with what he's given, and adds depth to Hawkes' reaction to his job and the world around him.

Having NO experience at all with this industry, I suppose I should watch my criticisms of the folks who work so hard to bring the show to us. That being said, I wonder how much of an effect the writers' strike has had on the quality of writing lately. I think other shows are getting out of hand too (anyone see Grey's Anatomy lately? That Izzie storyline is driving me mad!). Perhaps some of us are just missing all the hard work, or we expect too much? Or, maybe the writing is just that bad. Or maybe it's something else that is dragging down some of the quality (like some of that slo-mo action?). I do believe an invesigation should ensue in this case! LOL!

The writers strike definitely had an affect, and is part of the reason shows are down all around this season. It had a greater affect on serialized shows like Grey's, though, and shows that didn't come back until the fall (ABC's line up) than it did on CBS's procedurals. Also affecting the ratings is the ability to watch shows online after they've aired. It's not as pressing to catch it live when you can watch it on your computer with fewer or no commercials.

Sorry, I don't know how to pare down the quote, so just highlighted.

Hill being a better actor definately does help, he plays the character with a softness and gentleness that makes him appealing and interesting to watch. The idea of Sheldon having been a surgeon, ME and now CSI also gives him a lot of depth to me. I wondered why with these careers, he never feels he is doing enough for society and moves onto something more effective for changing the outcome of traumatic situations. Having shown the frustration and pain he suffered in the past, by being unable to protect his girlfriend, I understand more of why he has taken this journey.

Anna, in contrast, doesn't seem to know much about Lindsay, from Montana, and seems uncomfortable in the role. She certainly comes across as a fish out of water and I can't see how this can improve. Law and Order SVU had the same problem with the new character Lake, the actor there was out of his depth, but they had the courage to take the correct action and had the character written out.

 

[La_Guera]

Early S5 indicators seemed like the show was finally going to get it right. Alas, the decision to incorporate Anna's RL pregnancy into the show has proven an unmitigated disaster, and since they seem bent on muling through this arc instead of conceding defeat, it's only going to get uglier.

As much as many people here don't like the pregnancy storyline (and I have to say, it's definitely not the way I wanted it to go despite having some fondness for DL) I really don't think it's been an unmitigated disaster and see little evidence that it's influenced the ratings to any detriment to the show. The low ratings seem to me to not have followed any D/L or pregnancy drama heavy shows, although do feel free to prove me wrong! I don't think I've seen any indication that the relationship stuff has affected the ratings at all, either positively or negatively and the show had already dipped significantly before the pregnancy storyline began.

Having said all that the season did start stronger than any before and it's a shame it's not continued. Personally I think the first few episodes were definitely the best but there has been a clear correlation between the drop in ratings and an increase in competition with other shows. As for 5:13 I've seen even die hard NY fans say they recorded it this week because they were already into Lost and wanted to watch the second half.

Obviously, I can't say with any certainty that the inclusion of the pregnancy is the reason for the drop in ratings. Alas, I'm not a walking Nielsen box. However, I don't think it's a stretch to say that the decision to include the pregnancy caused initial plans for the season to be significantly altered or, in some cases--the return of Jacqueline Pinol, for example--scrapped altogether. Thusfar, those modified plans haven't impressed me in the slightest and have brought nothing to the show. In fact, it's detracted from it in my opinion. The writers have been so giddily playing with their new wub bunnies and shoehorning in gratuitous appearances by celebrities of dubious talent that they've neglected to fully develop plot ideas to their fullest potential. "Rush" was a great idea that never truly got of the ground, and "Help" was an episode that utterly deflated at the end when neither Sheldon nor Kara were given the opportunity to express what the Gramercy Park Rapist meant for them. The episode wasn't open-ended, but unfinished, and I think that lack of attention to detail is a symptom of the PTB's fascination with the idee fixe of Danny and Lindsay's relationship drama.

Not that they've handled the pregnancy with any aplomb, either. Aside from one bout of hurling and Lindsay's one use of her condition as an excuse to be shamelessly smug with Mac, we haven't seen any consequences from that, either. I want to see Lindsay tossing her cookies at a crime scene or needing to sit down. Not much, mind, but just enough to know that the writers have acknowledged the consequences of pregnancy.

 

[Faylinn]

NY was up more than a million viewers from the last episode, but it's still under 13 million:

5.14 "She's Not There":

CBS moved into the winner’s circle at 10 p.m. care of CSI: NY, which averaged 12.84 million viewers and a 3.5/ 9 among adults 18-49 -- the perfect fit out of Criminal Minds. Second was NBC granddaddy Law & Order (Viewers: 7.52 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 6), which is worthy of positive mention for building by 2.86 million viewers and 57 percent in the demo out of the second half of Life (Viewers: 4.66 million; A18-49: 1.4/ 3 at 9:30 p.m.). And third was ABC’s recently relocated Life on Mars at just 5.14 million viewers and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49.

From PI Feedback, as usual.

I think it's kind of funny that NY is deemed the 'perfect fit out of Criminal Minds' when in actuality NY was around first. Although, to be honest, CM consistently gets better ratings, and this week it got 13.26 million despite being up against American Idol. So yeah...

 

[Top41]

It seems like NY is doing typically for the season. It starts out strong and then kind of settles into the 11-12 million range. As long as the ratings are good enough for it to stick around, I'm happy.

I do like seeing it in Marc Berman's winner's column, though.

 

[Faylinn]

Down again.

5.15 "The Party's Over":

CBS led the 10 p.m. hour care of established CSI: NY, with 12.35 million viewers and a 3.0/ 8 among adults 18-49. Also present was NBC’s veteran Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 7.15 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.1/ 6), which is a shell of its former self in terms of the ratings, and ABC’s freshman Life on Mars (Viewers: #3, 5.27 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.1/ 6).

From PI Feedback as usual.

 

[Faylinn]

Up a little bit from the last episode - I'll be interested to see if all of the online hype for 5.17 gets the viewing numbers up.

5.16 "No Good Deed":

CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 12.69 million; A18-49: #1, 3.2/ 8)...Law & Order at a second-place 5.71 million viewers and a 1.7/ 5 in the demo at 10 p.m....Life on Mars at an estimated 5.55 million viewers (#3) and a 2.0/ 6 in the demo (#3). Since the first six minutes of the 10 p.m. hour was Lost, these lackluster fast affiliate results for Life on Mars are actually inflated.

From PI Feedback, as always.

 

[Top41]

The show seems to be holding pretty steady. Nice to see it continue to sit in first place!

 

[Faylinn]

It is a bit disappointing when Criminal Minds pulls bigger numbers against much heftier competition, though. I'm glad NY continues to win its timeslot, but if it was in a different timeslot, I don't know if it would stay on top.

 

[fm62]

Criminal Minds does seem like a much stronger show, script wise, and more likely to pull in an adult audience, so would get a tougher timeslot. Law and Order doesn't seem to be doing too well, are these repeats or have most folks given up on this now? I gave up a while ago but recently started watching series 15, as it's on immediately after CSI NY here, but haven't liked what I've seen so far.

 

[Ghawazee]

i think slowly we going to go higher (and not because the baby storyline). Pity was the fact some scripts were so inconsistent this season or maybe some characters were so OOC )

debbs

 

[Faylinn]

Ok, I was looking for more exact numbers for "Life on Mars" since it came on a bit late, and when I looked at the broadcast finals for the hour, NY's ratings were a bit lower than I originally said:

CSI: NY
- 12.563 million viewers
- 8.1/14 HH
- 3.1/8 A18-49

Now that makes me wonder if they're usually a bit lower than the fast affiliate ratings or not...

 

[JellyBelly]

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20090312cbs02 Ratings up nearly a million. Pretty good.

 

[Faylinn]

Ooh, thanks for sharing, JellyBelly.

5.17 "Green Piece":

CSI: NY with 13.52 million viewers and a 3.5/10 in the demo

(PI Feedback link) Let's see if the show can keep those numbers, or if it's a flash in the pan.