Binge Report: Black Mirror Dominates + A Surprising Entry Over The Holidays

The below Binge Report has been provided to us by TV Time. Analysis is our own. You can check out the TV Time app and start tracking your favorite shows here. You can view ratings for all broadcast TV shows by clicking here. You can also view cable ratings by clicking here. 

This Binge Report follows the famous week between Christmas and New Years Eve where many Americans take time off from work, and needless to say it led to some interesting results. Classic sitcom Friends entered the list at #6, with an average of 10.75 episodes streamed per viewer. It’s insane to see how popular this show is nearly 14 years after its series finale, and raises questions about how a revival would do. The new season of Netflix’s Black Mirror premiered at the top spot with an average of 3.46 episodes per viewer. While this could just be my perception, it seems like the show is at its peak in popularity right now. Even the second season of Stranger Things, which has been out for several weeks now, rose up three spots to #3.

On the broadcast TV side of things, Grey’s Anatomy managed to rise four spots to #4 despite increased competition and the fact that it’s been several weeks since the most recent episode aired. It appeared that the long-running medical drama is still gaining new fans at a significant rate. This week wasn’t as kind to other currently-airing broadcast shows; Riverdale tumbled down to #7 after spending the pre-holiday week at #1, and it was The CW’s only entry on the chart. The Big Bang Theory was down five spots to #9, and other typical broadcast entries like Lucifer were missing entirely. Similarly bad news came for AMC’s The Walking Dead, which fell eight spots to #10. 

An impressive entry to this list is Pretty Little Liars, which aired its final episode in June 2017. Not only was it the 8th most streamed show amongst TV Time users, but it also averages over 8 episodes per viewer, which is much higher than the typical 1-4 episodes expected on a different Binge Report. Time will tell if this is a sign that Pretty Little Liars will enjoy a successful TV afterlife, but so far its prospects are good. 

Other, more typical findings on this week’s Binge Report are Netflix’s DARK and The History Channel’s Vikings, which respectively saw two and one spot jumps.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

2003-04 Sitcom Scorecard -- New Lows For ABC; Another Year in 1st for NBC as They Only Spare 2 Sitcom

Written Cuing the Sitcom Violins by Bridger Cunningham

Before delving into the results of this TV season, please note TV Ratings Guide recovers its figures from various sources cited from the internet.  Data may be contradicting as several websites, including Wikipedia.org, cite ratings points or overall viewers vs. the 18-49 demographics valued in 2017.  This site makes an effort to compile contiguous ratings information so readers may follow historic shows from one year to another.  Errors will happen, and this site is not immune to such.

2003-04 was unkind to sitcoms, as a proliferation of reality TV platforms only left 4 spaces for laughers in the top 20.  NBC took the lead in overall ranks as well as sitcoms, yet 2004 marked a bittersweet year as only Will and Grace and Scrubs returned the following season, which NBC was plunged into a 7-year ratings drought.  CBS, still sturdy with Monday sitcoms, came in 2nd.  FOX again took 3rd, while a devastated ABC was inches away in 4th.  Down below, UPN was 5th, and WB 6th.

53 entries of sitcoms traipsed the TV landscape, though this season did not value laughs.  NBC was perched in 1st place, but it ended 6 of its 8 entries, ending a 20-year trend of producing a large stable of top-notch sitcoms.  Friends ended its 10-year run on top, becoming one of the rare sitcoms which stayed in the top 10 for a long duration.  Next to go was Frasier after 11 seasons.  This cancellation ended a 22-year era, as Frasier was a spinoff from Cheers, and Kelsey Grammer was a 20-year staple on both shows.  Only Coupling (an American interpretation of the British hit) stood out among the forgettable block of sitcoms which were dispensed and moved for Donald Trump's The Apprentice.  2004 marked the first time since 1983 which 4 sitcoms did not straddle the Thursday evening schedule.

CBS fostered its Monday comedy which had moderate success with ever-sturdy (and aging) Everybody Loves Raymond, but its biggest victory was launching Charlie Sheen vehicle Two and a Half Men.  The crude laughs era dawned, as this show would enter a rare club of successful sitcoms which enjoyed high-rated runs 10+ seasons.  FOX Sundays continued strong as King of the Hill, The Simpsons and Malcolm in the Middle delivered at a high bar.  That 70's show held well on Wednesdays, but several weakened sitcom blocks perished on the schedule and were filled with (faux)scripted reality TV platforms.  Why craft a low-rated sitcom production when a network could round up a group of forward people displaying poor mating behavior for cheap(er)?

After sliding the last season, ABC made a noble attempt at displaying a mass of sitcoms, as well as reviving the TGIF block.  Problem is, they had no breakout hits.  The network believed Kelly Ripa, while all the rage of the 2000's, could somehow give them their next hit.  Too bad Hope & Faith fell into the forgettable pile.  Speaking of forgotten, notice Drew Carey is nowhere to be found on this colored chart?  That is because after a poorly-rated 8th season, ABC burned Drew Carey off in the summer and ended it unceremoniously.

And WB and UPN?  Can many recall the shows mentioned in this chart?

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/tv/JustTV/tvreview0304finalviewers2.html

2002-03 Sitcom Scorecard -- Reality TV Continues to Cull The Sitcoms Into Remote Nielsen Ranges

Written Grateful Sitcoms Still Exist In 2017 by Bridger Cunningham

"The Big Four" faced crossroads this season, as each pair faced a narrow fight for ranks.  NBC took another victory in 1st, yet CBS lashed at their heels a mere .03 ratings points in average of defeat.  Down below, perennial 4th Place joke left egg on ABC's face by narrowly besting them by .01, thanks to latest Reality TV sensation American Idol.  It served ABC right, as they delivered (at this time) one of the most tenuous seasons to date.  Down below, WB managed to overthrow UPN, but is that a victory?  Both networks combined could not match 4th Place ABC (or is that FOX) in the race.  Sadly, this season frowned on sitcoms, as the count dropped from 59 to 49.  Sabrina, The Teenage Witch's exit after 7-years ironically fit the theme of culling the sitcom herd this year.

This season, Friends was down 10% in ratings.  Rather devastating.  But look at their neighbors.  Will and Grace took 12th place, and Scrubs managed to place at a lackluster 14th after being moved to NBC's prime hotbed for launching sitcoms.  2002 spelled a Silent Spring for sitcoms, as only 5 placed in the top 20, compared to seasons past which boasted 14.

Must See TV endured assaults from an increasingly-strong CBS' reality/procedural platform.  CBS Mondays played strong, keeping their previous season' retention rates on-par.  ABC sitcoms managed to best FOX, yet that was where the buck stopped on bargains.  Drew Carey's ratings were flopped to the floor like a bad hairdo when Christa Miller defected, landing so low CW was cracking jokes.  FOX sitcoms maintained Sundays neatly, but they too had the buzz of the clippers shaving shows left and right.  Malcolm in the Middle, King of the Hill and Bernie Mac felt the buzz, while 7pm cuckold Futurama ended after 5 seasons of valiantly poor scheduling.  Grounded For Life was slapped with a cancellation after 3 episodes, yet WB wisely snapped the show down to their walkout basement.

Speaking of walkout, only Sabrina, The Teenage Witch defected from WB's lineup sans forgettable freshman pilots.  The 2000's reflected a devastating delivery for a tried and true television form which delivered over six decades of syndication.  And for that, be grateful we still have sitcoms in 2017, despite so many talentless loads from reality TV hogging the spotlight.

Source -- https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.arts.tv/7oLAZAvK6wY

2001-02 Sitcom Scorecard -- NBC and CBS Rule The Pack, ABC Disintegrates

Written Mourning The 90's Sitcom Ratings by Bridger Cunningham

The sitcom economy diminished their value this season, as this season offered 59 original helpings, down significantly from the previous season.  CBS Mondays and NBC Tuesdays and Thursdays maintained respectable performances, while ABC Tuesdays and and Wednesdays struggled with aging shows and failed pilots.  ABC's performance again placed behind FOX sitcoms, which faced similar ratings woes as several of their sitcoms performed so low, they were in the grab of WB and UPN.  .  Down in the cellar, UPN bested WB, in spite of Reba's debut leading WB's next successful sitcom entry.

NBC enjoyed a nice season as Friends Will and Grace and Just Shoot Me soaring on Thursdays despite CBS moving two of its strongest shows (Survivor, CSI) directly attacking the sitcoms.  NBC emerged victorious.  Frasier and successful freshman Scrubs holding up 9pm on Tuesdays.  Beyond that, NBC's sitcoms delivered disasters in the remaining spaces.  CBS Mondays delivered a steadfast season, strong enough so a stinker like Baby Bob survived.  Fridays, however, couldn't earn a renewal in the wake of ABC ditching Friday comedies.

ABC sitcoms began to show their age, and Dharma & Greg and Spin City were retired.  Drew Carey did not crack the top 50, My Wife and Kids landed at 40th, and only George Lopez and According to Jim were given passes for a second season.  The remains were dispensed.  FOX also experienced a soft season, yet The Simpsons, despite a down season, outrated the entire offering of ABC sitcoms.  UPN originals Girlfriends and The Parkers held respectable for network standards, and Reba became WB's latest sensation.  Beyond that, the recycled favorites and other originals performed tepid or poorly.

Source -- http://fbibler.chez.com/tvstats/recent_data/2001-02.html

2000-01 Sitcom Scorecard -- New Milestone as FOX is 3rd in Sitcoms for the First Time, New Low as ABC Comedies Sink to 4th

Written Surviving The Reality Crunch by Bridger Cunningham

What a difference a millennium makes.  NBC dominance was no more, as they were now 2nd in both overall network ratings and in sitcoms.  That 1st place gold standard now belonged to CBS, who not only formed an alliance with Survivor, but also cultivated a rock-solid Monday comedy block, anchored by Everybody Loves Raymond, Becker and the King of Queens.  Must See TV on NBC Thursdays was still strong, yet their fortunes failed to move beyond that evening.  ABC, briefly in 1st place the previous season, plummeted back to 3rd after Who Wants to be a Millionaire faded due to saturation.  Their sitcom fortunes fell harder as they lost 17% of their viewers, falling over one whole point below a resurgent FOX's 27% gain.  FOX of course was still 4th in overall ratings, yet their new brand of sitcoms pushed into 3rd with strong ratings.  And legions below (nearly 2 full points behind 'the big four), UPN experienced a resurgence and nipped at WB's heels late 90's prominence faded.

2000-01 held 54 sitcoms like the previous season, yet placement in the top-10 and top-20 showed tastes were changing as only 6 shows reached the top-20.  NBC's Friends was aging in its 7th season, yet the breakout star was Will and Grace, who passed an ailing Frasier's 8th season, which fell below Just Shoot Me's 5th season.  These four shows proved to be the peacock's winners while only one other show survived among the 11 entries.  3rd Rock From the Sun also ended a successful 6-season run with dwindling CBS enjoyed the popularity of Everybody Loves Raymond, which bolstered its Monday evening.  Coming up in popularity was Kevin James and Leah Remini vehicle King of Queens, and Becker and Yes, Dear rode the lead-in wave.  Outside these four entries, CBS sent the other three failures to the farm.

Like CBS, FOX also had 7 original sitcoms, yet they gave double airings to That 70's Show and Malcolm in the Middle which counted into the figures as they aired multiple showings.  Family Guy took a noticeable absence this season as it was renewed, yet did not return until July 11, 2001.  Elsewhere, The Simpsons, Titus, King of the Hill and Grounded for Life all experienced respectable ratings.  Futurama trailed, yet held the Sunday 7pm timeslot and improved performance.  ABC failed to generate hits this season, and its two leading sitcoms, Dharma and Greg and Drew Carey, dropped below the top 30 and began to show their age.  Spin City's fortunes were mixed in the wake of Charlie Sheen replacing Michael J. Fox, and My Wife and Kids debuted tepid.  Beyond that, most freshman sitcoms ended their runs, along with Norm and Two Guys and a Girl well below the syndication finish line.

Remember UPN and WB?  They are becoming a distant memory.  They recycled several shows, including The Hughleys, For Your Love, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and The PJ's this season with renewals.  UPN parted with its successful Moesha after six seasons, yet had The Parkers and Girlfriends gaining attention.  Beyond that, let's try to remember which shows wound up cancelled.  This year of declines sadly foreshadowed the state of sitcoms in the 2000's, as the audiences wanted to form alliances with reality TV.