CABLE – With only two hours of new scripted programming on the broadcast networks last week, the numbers from cable were much more interesting. There were a host of premieres that included Pretty Little Liars (3.68m/1.3), Memphis Beat (3.02m/.7), Hawthorne (2.58m/.7), Nine Lives of Chloe King (2.17m/.7), Hot In Cleveland (2.39m/.5), and Happily Divorced (2.41m/.5). In non-scripted premieres, we find After The Catch (2.47m/1.2), Jon Benjamin Has A Van (1.16m/.7), and Family Jewels (1.43m/.7). In non premiere news, it’s again worth noting just how well Pawn Stars (7.49m/2.7 – 7.29m/2.5) continues to do. Not only is that far and away better than all of the scripted premieres on cable, it also topped all of broadcast in the demo for the night.
Basic
Army Wives (3.61m/1.2)
In Plain Sight (3.99m/1)
Criminal Intent (3.59m/1)
The Glades (2.61m/.8)
The Killing (1.83m/.5)
Secret Life of the American Teenager (3.07m/1.4)
Teen Wolf (1.82m/.7)
Sanctuary (1.2m/.4)
White Collar (3.71m/1.1)
Covert Affairs (3.92m/1.1)
Franklin & Bash (2.88m/.9)
Deadliest Catch (3.63m/1.7)
Premium
Game Of Thrones (2.66m/1.2)
ABC - I suppose that if you are not going to have very much programming, it’s nice to have the biggest program of the week. ABC took that honor easily with the NBA Finals (23.89m/9.7). After that, the rest of the week was made up of The Bachelorette (7.88m/2.4), Extreme Makeover Weight Loss (5.87m/2), and Food Revolution (2.5m/.8).
NBC - The peacock was again a distant second where sports was concerned, airing two more NHL games. Monday’s game (5.48m/2) again went largely unnoticed. Things did pick up for Wednesday’s deciding game (8.54m/3.4), but hockey remains a very regional sport and the network actually had much better luck with America’s Got Talent (12.59m/3.5) and The Voice (12.33m/4.6). The week finished with another Friday Night Lights (2.97m/.8).
CBS – The week got off to a slow start with the Tony Awards (6.95m/1.2). Despite another great turn as host from Neil Patrick Harris, and the popularity of the other major award shows, the TV viewing audience just isn’t interested in the Tonys. You can think of it as the NHL of awards shows. The only other original programming came from Flashpoint (5.74m/.8) and Chaos (3.86m/.6).
FOX – A rather uneventful week was made up of two episodes each from Master Chef (5.01m/2 – 4.38m/1.9) and So You Think You Can Dance (7.59m/2.7 – 6.54m/2.2).
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Jun 20, 2011 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
Maybe I’m just stupid or wired very differently than most people, but just how many times can you watch a show about a pawn shop? I’ve seen several episodes because my wife is a “serial surfer” and if the show delved deep into the history of these often odd items I could understand the appeal, but all I see is people coming in with what are often treasures and getting ripped off. Sure, there’s a little information given about the items, but once you get to the part where the scam artists, er, pawn brokers offer a paltry sum it just goes sour for me.
Of course, I feel the same way about sports. After watching the same game played over and over and over it gets a little boring. Being a participant would be enjoyable, but after a while it’s about as satisfying to my entertainment needs as watching people eat is to my need for nourishment.
*POST AUTHOR*
Given those choices, I’m going to go with ‘wired differently’ there, Tom. :D I have much the same problem with Pawn Stars. It does get awfully repetitive. And that’s a big part of why the numbers fascinate me. I really thought by now that it would have worn out its welcome, but it looks like there is plenty of tread left on those tires.
. . . . .
Apropos of nothing and for the record, I will watch baseball over and over and over and over and over again, ad nauseum.