TV Ratings – FlashForward a Winner, Fringe a Waner, Mentalist Doesn’t Outsmart Grey’s Anatomy

By Jon Lachonis on September 25th, 2009

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When it comes to scripted dramas, Thursday is where every net has parked their big guns – and yesterday they all pulled their triggers. The big winner: ABC, with the highly hyped FlashForward delivering on the none-stop marketing efforts, and tried and true Grey’s Anatomy pulling back viewers to resolve a couple of cliff hangers. Other nets had some good success, as well; in particular CBS with The Mentalist, which transformed the eyeball net’s 10:00 slot into fertile ground once again.

Fringe suffered against Grey’s Anatomy’s first hour, and the CSI and The Office premieres. The whack-o scifi/drama finished fourth and failed to snare an impressive share of the target 18-34 demo. Ratings pundits are shrugging this off due to ‘premiere fever.’ I’m not. This thrashing showed that Fringe is out of its element in that time slot. A dark and oozy show like Fringe belongs at 10, but since FOX doesn’t stay up that late what are we to do with this awkward property? Fringe’s best hope for survival is in its ‘brand viability.’ I.e., ways you can make money off the show besides selling advertising. Fans and apologists seem to think FOX knew it wouldn’t perform well at 9 on Thursdays, and will continue to support it based on it’s creative potential. Yeah. And television executives are patrons of the arts who serve stockholders that understand a little non-profit work is all part of the game. I doubt it.

FlashForward had to have folks biting nails at ABC, but the numbers were out of control. Far from LOST-like in proportion, FlashForward’s numbers were impressive none the less, and included a convincing win over Survivor. FlashForward sucked in around 12.5 million live viewers, and won the hour with its share of the coveted 18-34 demo. Mr. Goyer, we’d like to order more episodes.

In smaller net news, Vampire Diaries showed some staying power. Expect a back-nine order soon [in other words, a full season.] Supernatural, surprisingly, held on to its numbers from last week. As for whether or not this means a sixth season is a lock, it’s way too early to tell. It’s tempting to say that Vampire Diaries is doing better than Supernatural, but considering the level of competition the Winchester brothers are facing I’d tend to disagree. Proportionally, Supernatural is still a winner for TheCW.

http://www.facebook.com/tsfogg Scott Fogg

I’m not surprised by Fringe’s falter. My circle of friends is a nerdy/geeky bunch who have seen every episode of LOST, Doctor Who, Torchwood, and the X-Files, but I don’t know anyone stuck with the show past its third episode.
http://www.facebook.com/tsfogg Scott Fogg

I’m not surprised by Fringe’s falter. My circle of friends is a nerdy/geeky bunch who have seen every episode of LOST, Doctor Who, Torchwood, and the X-Files, but I don’t know anyone stuck with the show past its third episode.
http://www.tvovermind.com/ Jon Lachonis

I know people who have stuck with it, but very grudgingly – myself included. It had a few episodes that really captured the promise, but it is clear they don’t ‘get’ their own concept.
http://www.tvovermind.com Jon Lachonis

I know people who have stuck with it, but very grudgingly – myself included. It had a few episodes that really captured the promise, but it is clear they don’t ‘get’ their own concept.
jonathon

i think flashforward is amazing, i tried out fringe didnt really apply to me, LOST is awsome as well, so i’m with scott on this one
jonathon

i think flashforward is amazing, i tried out fringe didnt really apply to me, LOST is awsome as well, so i’m with scott on this one
Casey

I love Fringe. It has a few issues, but all shows do, and it is really starting to ramp up mythologically. I agree – it belongs at a later slot. Why did they even leave the Tuesday spot? Tuesday is a virtual quality television wasteland, in my opinion, and they could have ruled there.

I wasn’t worried about Fringe “surviving” until you brought it up Doc…don’t do that to me! Honestly, I think it’s awfully early in the season to start worrying about Fringe’s viability.

One thing Fringe will have to contend with, and it irks me to death, is the massive Fox schedule rearrangement that happens every year at World Series time, since Fox usually carries either the playoffs or the series in any given year. A lot of shows show marked ratings drops from the time before the series until after because folks can’t see the shows for a few weeks and forget to come back when baseball finally gets the hint and goes the hell away.
Casey

I love Fringe. It has a few issues, but all shows do, and it is really starting to ramp up mythologically. I agree – it belongs at a later slot. Why did they even leave the Tuesday spot? Tuesday is a virtual quality television wasteland, in my opinion, and they could have ruled there.

I wasn’t worried about Fringe “surviving” until you brought it up Doc…don’t do that to me! Honestly, I think it’s awfully early in the season to start worrying about Fringe’s viability.

One thing Fringe will have to contend with, and it irks me to death, is the massive Fox schedule rearrangement that happens every year at World Series time, since Fox usually carries either the playoffs or the series in any given year. A lot of shows show marked ratings drops from the time before the series until after because folks can’t see the shows for a few weeks and forget to come back when baseball finally gets the hint and goes the hell away.
Featherlite

FlashForward was admitted amazing. However, this Fringe episode was more of a character episode than a Pattern episode. And they did a very good job with the characters. I do wish they would have left it alone. It is going to suffer against all the other Thursday night shows, and I’d much rather watch it on another night.
Featherlite

FlashForward was admitted amazing. However, this Fringe episode was more of a character episode than a Pattern episode. And they did a very good job with the characters. I do wish they would have left it alone. It is going to suffer against all the other Thursday night shows, and I’d much rather watch it on another night.
Featherlite

Do you think they are taking it too slow, Jon? Should they be concentrating more on the Pattern than on the weird-science-of-the-week?

Fortunately, I never got into the mythology Lost but I’m wondering if audiences are getting tired of the deep series that have such detailed stories where if you miss one episode, you might as well stop watching for the season. Lost, Supernatural, Fringe, Defying Gravity, Prison Break, 24.
Featherlite

Do you think they are taking it too slow, Jon? Should they be concentrating more on the Pattern than on the weird-science-of-the-week?

Fortunately, I never got into the mythology Lost but I’m wondering if audiences are getting tired of the deep series that have such detailed stories where if you miss one episode, you might as well stop watching for the season. Lost, Supernatural, Fringe, Defying Gravity, Prison Break, 24.
Jon Lachonis

Personally, I was always hoping the show would live more in the borderland between science and fantasy. Stuff like this week was just kind of low-rent, 1950′s schlock. “SEE The Scorpion Boy wreak havoc in the little town of…” wherever they were.

A big challenge they face is that they have the ensemble to service, but they rarely offer a compelling character story within the world of the mystery. Like this week, daddy wasn’t really a sympathetic character because, well, he did human experimentation on his wife and unborn child. Lowest form of hick-scientist scumbag. But we literally met him outside of the investigation one beat before he was a target of the investigation, and a beat later he’s at FBI headquarters.

It would also be nice if there was some sort of metaphor between the monster-of-the-week (I have nicknamed these ‘Insta-beast’ episodes, because of the ease at which these beasties get whipped together) and what was going on in the lives of the characters inside the mystery.

I dunno… I could go on for hours… BUT, I’m hooked to the show. Grudgingly, but I’m hooked. I’ll be there till the end. I’m the geeky guy who got asked out by the hot chick, only to find out she’s really bitchy and is staying sexually abstinent for marriage – I can’t give up on it because it’s on the edge of perfect, and I might not get another girl… err… show.
Jon Lachonis

Personally, I was always hoping the show would live more in the borderland between science and fantasy. Stuff like this week was just kind of low-rent, 1950′s schlock. “SEE The Scorpion Boy wreak havoc in the little town of…” wherever they were.

A big challenge they face is that they have the ensemble to service, but they rarely offer a compelling character story within the world of the mystery. Like this week, daddy wasn’t really a sympathetic character because, well, he did human experimentation on his wife and unborn child. Lowest form of hick-scientist scumbag. But we literally met him outside of the investigation one beat before he was a target of the investigation, and a beat later he’s at FBI headquarters.

It would also be nice if there was some sort of metaphor between the monster-of-the-week (I have nicknamed these ‘Insta-beast’ episodes, because of the ease at which these beasties get whipped together) and what was going on in the lives of the characters inside the mystery.

I dunno… I could go on for hours… BUT, I’m hooked to the show. Grudgingly, but I’m hooked. I’ll be there till the end. I’m the geeky guy who got asked out by the hot chick, only to find out she’s really bitchy and is staying sexually abstinent for marriage – I can’t give up on it because it’s on the edge of perfect, and I might not get another girl… err… show.
Barrows

Ironically, I think quite the opposite. I know numbers leaned one way, but Fringe was bound to suffer facing Grey’s 2 hour season premiere.

That being said, if you did make it past the first few episodes of Fringe, you would find a wealth of reasons to stick around. Sure, the show has some holes it needs to fill in but it’s very solid for the most part. It’s a show that deserved a second season and is back for a reason.

The move to Thursday kills me personally, but it’s still my priority come Thursday(considering I live in Scranton and skip The Office, I think that says something at least).

Flash Forward, however, felt pushed to me. Many parts felt overacted but the premise still has me interested. The second half worked for me, but the beggining simply didn’t have me like Lost did. It’s fair to say that we can compare the two as well, being Flash Forward has been deemed by many the “next Lost”.

I haven’t given up on the show nor am I being negative, I simply felt it was forced and I’m looking forward to a more natural feeling next time I watch it. Plus, a certain actor will be on next week’s episode…
Barrows

Ironically, I think quite the opposite. I know numbers leaned one way, but Fringe was bound to suffer facing Grey’s 2 hour season premiere.

That being said, if you did make it past the first few episodes of Fringe, you would find a wealth of reasons to stick around. Sure, the show has some holes it needs to fill in but it’s very solid for the most part. It’s a show that deserved a second season and is back for a reason.

The move to Thursday kills me personally, but it’s still my priority come Thursday(considering I live in Scranton and skip The Office, I think that says something at least).

Flash Forward, however, felt pushed to me. Many parts felt overacted but the premise still has me interested. The second half worked for me, but the beggining simply didn’t have me like Lost did. It’s fair to say that we can compare the two as well, being Flash Forward has been deemed by many the “next Lost”.

I haven’t given up on the show nor am I being negative, I simply felt it was forced and I’m looking forward to a more natural feeling next time I watch it. Plus, a certain actor will be on next week’s episode…
http://www.tvovermind.com/ Jon Lachonis

It certainly earned it, and I think it is an important show. Not to reveal my geek prejudice too much, BUT – I think scifi/fantasy programming should have a slight handicap when it comes to ratings anyways because of the brand potential.

Sadly, I’m kind of a pavlovian mutt when it comes to SciFi – ring the bell, and I’ll eat it up. I fear for Fringe though, it didn’t develop the root system I had hoped for last season, and it really seems to be struggling in the early going. There is always next week though.

I hear you on the ‘pushed’ thing. FlashForward was heavily marketed; at times I worried that ABC was overdoing it, but that turned out to be the Eeyore brand of dread.
http://www.tvovermind.com Jon Lachonis

It certainly earned it, and I think it is an important show. Not to reveal my geek prejudice too much, BUT – I think scifi/fantasy programming should have a slight handicap when it comes to ratings anyways because of the brand potential.

Sadly, I’m kind of a pavlovian mutt when it comes to SciFi – ring the bell, and I’ll eat it up. I fear for Fringe though, it didn’t develop the root system I had hoped for last season, and it really seems to be struggling in the early going. There is always next week though.

I hear you on the ‘pushed’ thing. FlashForward was heavily marketed; at times I worried that ABC was overdoing it, but that turned out to be the Eeyore brand of dread.
http://www.facebook.com/tsfogg Scott Fogg

I never felt like FRINGE was offering me much more than trying to be the next X-Files. I wanted to like it, but the big picture wasn’t interesting enough for me to sit through the small, episodic adventures.
http://www.facebook.com/tsfogg Scott Fogg

I never felt like FRINGE was offering me much more than trying to be the next X-Files. I wanted to like it, but the big picture wasn’t interesting enough for me to sit through the small, episodic adventures.
Coach55

The problem with Fringe, being labeled the Next: X-files, when was the last X-files new-epi?
The X-files fan base has moved on, while:

Flashforward, the Lost fan base is being handed off.

I agree, time slot and day slot will kill Fringe more that anything wrong with the show.
Coach55

The problem with Fringe, being labeled the Next: X-files, when was the last X-files new-epi?
The X-files fan base has moved on, while:

Flashforward, the Lost fan base is being handed off.

I agree, time slot and day slot will kill Fringe more that anything wrong with the show.
~COOP~

Flash Forward is awesome & intense. Fringe is also much better than alot of other shows. I remember being hooked on Jericho till it went tits up. Fringe could last a while if they’d contemplate switching time slots to pick up more viewers. I love the show & would hate to see it go..
~COOP~

Flash Forward is awesome & intense. Fringe is also much better than alot of other shows. I remember being hooked on Jericho till it went tits up. Fringe could last a while if they’d contemplate switching time slots to pick up more viewers. I love the show & would hate to see it go..