This show premiered to some very solid numbers, maybe even on par with hits such as Lost. However, after going through what seems like a dozen showrunners and storylines changing in the blink of an eye, the ratings have slipped to around a 3.0 among adults 18-49.

It now has the post- Lost timeslot. Will that help? All indications is that it will help to stop the haemorrhaging but the question is whether or not that is good enough for renewal.

My guess: Could go either way.

FOX is planning to give sophomore series Fringe a little help on Thursday nights, via both traditional and viral marketing.

The show which airs on Thursday nights at 9, has been averaging just a 2.2 A18-49 rating this season, down over 25% vs. last year. This will be a welcome push towards survival for the sci-fi drama, starring Anna Torv and Joshua Jackson.

via variety:

Fox is plotting a major marketing push for “Fringe” this week, unleashing a viral promotional spree for the show via both on- and off-air efforts.Campaign had been in the works for some time, tied to this week’s episode — which reveals the existence of (semi-spoiler alert here, if you haven’t seen Fox’s promos) multiple “observers,” the show’s mysterious bald white men who are witness to many of “Fringe’s” key events.

But it comes as “Fringe” could use a boost of some sort. Fox’s “Bones”-”Fringe” lineup has given the network its first solid scripted night on Thursdays in years — but “Fringe” has taken a hit in recent weeks vs. tough competition (“CSI,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Office”).

Net execs believe a baseball preemption also took a bite out of the show’s performance.

“Thursdays at 9 p.m. are fiercely competitive,” said Fox marketing topper Joe Earley. “‘Fringe’ isn’t just up against well-performing shows, it’s up against shows with preexisting, fiercely loyal audiences. We can tell by the DVR numbers that people like ‘Fringe,’ it’s just their DVR choice.”

As a result, Earley said the network has zeroed in on “Fringe” to find ways to make the show feel like more of a major event.

“Observer Week,” as the campaign is dubbed internally, includes placing multiple actors playing “observers” in the crowd at live Fox telecasts — Sunday’s NFL game, as well as an episode of “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Fox did something similar last year on programs such as “American Idol” and NASCAR.

Fox will also send out street teams dressed as the observer (dark suits, bald heads, carrying briefcases) to various spots in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Boston and Chicago. The characters will pass out Tabasco sauce (a nod to the fact that “Fringe’s” observers like spicy food).

Fast-pausing DVR users may also notice subliminal shots of “Fringe’s” observers popping up in primetime via hidden images in the net’s night opens, as well as via seven-frame graphics flashed throughout the evening.

“The hope is we get a few more viewers watching the show live,” Earley said. “Or at least watching it within three days of air. The show is too good, and we want to continue to support it.”

The Easter-egg approach of the campaign also plays well with the fans of mythology-based shows like “Fringe,” he said.

Fox is coming off another similarly viral campaign for “The Simpsons,” having planted references to Homer and company within some of its primetime shows last week.

CBS won last night with 7.9 million viewers and a  1.8 A18-49 rating beating out ABC (5.9 million, 1.7), an improved NBC (7 million, 1.6),  FOX (4 million, 1.2) and The CW: (2 million, 0.9).

At 8pm, Law & Order posted season highs in both viewers (7.99 million) and the key demo (1.8) to take the top spot away from Ghost Whisperer (7.93 million, 1.8) for the first time this season. Supernanny was third over on ABC with a 1.3 rating and 4.75 million viewers. A ‘House‘ rerun took fourth for FOX (1.2, 3.91 million) just beating out Smallville (1.2, 2.67 million) but was still over 50% better than Til Death/Brothers which it has replaced for sweeps.

At 9, Law & Order continued the trend and set season highs again, posting a 1.9 rating and just under 8.5 million viewers. CBS was a clear second with Medium, averaging a 1.8 rating and 7.58 million viewers. ABC was third with a brand new Ugly Betty, drawing 4.76 million viewers and a 1.3 rating – another series low. A rerun of Bones was fourth for the hour, pulling a 1.2 rating and 4.1 million viewers, again an improvement over the show it replaced (Dollhouse) by over 50%. An America’s Next Top Model rerun was last for The CW with a 0.5 rating and 1.2 million viewers.

At 10, a 20/20 with special guest Rhianna drew the nights highest numbers for ABC, pulling a 2.7 rating and 8.18 million viewers, significantly building on its lead in (Ugly Betty). Numb3rs was up a tick vs. last week, pulling a 1.8 rating and 8.09 million viewers which was perhaps a reaction to the shows episode order being cut from 22 to 16 earlier this week. Last but least was The Jay Leno Show, pulling NBC’s average down nicely and proving all of Hollywood right with a 1.2 rating and 4.6 million viewers.

On a night where CBS were completely in repeats, it was FOX’s World Series Game 1 that hit a home run.

Although live sports numbers are subject to heavy change in the final numbers, FOX averaged a 6.3 rating and just under 20 million viewers from 8 – 11pm, taking first place all night long.

At 8, NBC’s Monsters vs. Aliens special took second for the hour drawing a 2.2 rating and just under 7 million viewers beating out ABC’s special half hour presentation of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown/ The Middle into third place (2.1, 6.5 million). Fourth was a rerun of New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried for CBS pulling a 1.7 rating and 6.5 million viewers. America’s Next Top Model was 5th for The CW with a 1.6 rating and 3.5 million viewers, roughly level with last week.

Modern Family was up a couple of ticks from last week to take second for ABC at 9, pulling 9.23 million viewers and a 3.7 18-49 rating. At 9.30, Cougar Town drew a 3.2 rating and 7.5 million viewers. On NBC, Law and Order SVU took 3rd for the hour with a 2.7 rating and 8 million viewers. A Criminal Minds repeat was fourth for CBS with a 2.4 rating anf 9.72 million viewers, beating out an encore of The Vampire Diaries which posted a 0.7 rating and 1.5 million viewers.

At 10, CBS’ CSI: NY (rerun) took second place with a 2.2 rating and 9.22 million viewers. Eastwick was up a tick this week for ABC, pulling a 1.8 rating and just over 5 million viewers. The Jay Leno Show was last (as always) with a 1.5 rating and just under 5 million viewers.

To view the latest What’s Next To Be Cancelled #6, Click Here

So, it’s Monday again and time to look at what’s transpired in the world of television renewals and cancellations.

In an update from last week, Community, Parks and Recreation and Mercy were given back 9 pickups by NBC. The Vampire Diaries was given a full season and Melrose were given an extra 5 episodes. What does this say about the chance of a the others? Find out below.

So we’ll again start with Three Rivers. My prediction was wrong. It lived to see another day… I can’t really see how much longer CBS are willing to put up with these numbers, especially seeing CSI and The Mentalist reruns out-rate it last week. I haven’t yet seen the numbers from last night but I predict that they’ll be lower than last week.
My Prediction: I’m puzzled. Although with November sweeps coming up I believe cancellation is imminent.

Eastwick – Last week ABC released a statement that they’re happy with Eastwick and will continue showing it and I believed them, to an extent. I believe that they’re happy with the content and creative direction that the show is going but there isn’t a chance in hell that I believe that they’re happy with the numbers. I will concede that this show isn’t going to get cancelled before Christmas but will not be picked up for a back 9. Judging by last weeks ratings which were steady with the week before at a (1.7 18-49), there’s no way that advertisers are happy with the performance.  
My Prediction: End after 13 episodes.  

The Forgotton - I was slightly surprised that this show actually bounced back slightly from last weeks ratings low and posted a 2.0 A18-49 rating. I know that NBC’s comedies Parks and Recreation and Community were picked up with similar numbers last week but still. This isn’t NBC, it’s ABC. They expect more from their shows and aren’t just trying to make the best of a bad situation.
My Prediction: Gone after 13 Eps

Fringe - Unfortunately Fringe has made it into the main list this week. This isn’t because it’s a bad show or it’s numbers are at Three Rivers levels but because it’s down so much from last season. The problem is the shows timeslot. It’s clear to see that FOX went with counter-programming when finding this show a slot. They’ve put it against two of the most successful shows of the last decade in CSI and Grey’s Anatomy along with demo powerhouse The Office & 30 Rock. They could’ve had a better response if they put something like Glee or So You Think You Can Dance in this slot.
My Prediction: Full 22 and who knows? I can’t imagine it’s a cheap show so it needs to get to at least a 2.5 for next year consideration.

The Others -

- Eastwick - Stayed the same this week. Their unlucky number is 13

- Hank - Pulled a season low 1.5 rating this week and really hasn’t got a chance of a back 9 pickup.

- Trauma - Although it wasn’t mentioned when P&R, Community and Mercy got picked it, the lack of a mention said more than if it was…13 Episodes. ‘Nuff Said.

- Dollhouse – Pulled a 0.8 rating and 2.2 million viewers this week. Don’t get too attached. 13 and out.

- Brothers - a 0.8 again this week, no rerun on Sunday. Possibly run until the end of the season.

- Law and Order – Say goodbye after 20 prosperous seasons.

- Gary Unmarried/ New Adventures of Old Christine – Similar to last season. Possible 2010 pickup.

- Heroes - A 2.5 isn’t enough to save this expensive show. Gone after 18.

UPDATE: Melrose Place encores have just been pulled from Wednesday Nights and are to be replace by The Vampire Diaries encores – sound move.

What do you think’s next to go? Sound off below!

On a night where both CBS were in repeats it was NBC who was the ‘Biggest’ winner.

The Biggest Loser started off the night in first place at 8pm pulling in 9.25 million viewers and a 3.4 18-49 rating. An NCIS rerun was second for the hour with a 3.0 rating and 15.5 million viewers. ABC went with the hallowe’en special, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to take 3rd place (2.7, 8.8 million). So You Think You Can Dance was fourth for FOX, bringing in a 2.5 rating and 6.8 million viewers. A 90210 was last for the hour. (0.6).

At 9, The Biggest Loser posted it’s biggest numbers of the night, pulling a 3.9 rating and 10.2 million viewers. DWTS results show was second for ABC with 2l9 rating and 14.7 million viewers, down from last week. ‘Dance’ was third for FOX drawing roughly the same numbers as at 8pm. NCIS: LA was 4th for the hour pulling just a 2.2 rating and 11 million viewers. The CW went with a Melrose Place repeat, bringing in….is it worth telling you?

The Forgotton won the 10pm hour (wow, it’s probably the last time i’ll ever write that!) for ABC, drawing 8.5 million viewers and a 2.0 rating. The Good Wife (rerun) was second pulling a 1.8 rating and 9.1 million viewers, the hours most viewers. Leno pulled a 1.8 rating, roughly level with last week.

ABC took the ratings crown last night beating out CBS which was in repeats throughout primetime. FOX was third due to House being replaced by So You Think You Can Dance. NBC took fourth and The CW posted its best numbers for a while but still finished 5th.

Dancing With The Stars won the 8pm slot, pulling a 3,4 18-49 and just over 17 million viewers. In second place was How I Met Your Mother (repeat) pulling in a 2.6 rating and just over 7 million viewers. 3rd was an out of timeslot So You Think You Can Dance, also pulling a 2.6 rating and just under 6 million viewers. Fourth was Heroes on NBC, pulling a 2.5 rating, even with the past 2 weeks. One Tree Hill posted a season high 18-49 rating (1.3) and viewers (2.7 million). Accidentally on Purpose (repeat) pulled a 2.1 rating and 6 million viewers at 8.30.

At 9, Dancing continued to lead pulling a 4.0 rating and just under 18.5 million, a large improvement over the first hour. A Two and a Half Men/ Big Bang Theory for CBS pulled an average 3.5 rating and 10.8 million viewers to take second. Third was Lie To Me for FOX which was down over 10% vs. last week (but had a House lead in last week) pulling a 2.5 rating and just over 6 million viewers. Trauma was up a tick to 1.9 (rating) this week, taking 4th for NBC. The CW rounded out its night with a 1.2 rating and 2.3 million viewers with Gossip Girl. 

A CSI Miami rerun took first place for CBS at 10, roughly level with last weeks new episode….and beating a brand new Castle on ABC (2.8, 11 million) and The Jay Leno Show on NBC (1.3, 4.5 million).  

Against a repeat lineup on CBS, ABC took the night, though impressively CBS managed second place both in overall viewers and adults 18-49. NBC is now famously on record that it thought The Jay Leno Show would fare better against repeats. I was on record early saying that repeats of CSI: Miami would still best Jay, even in repeats. But I’m not sure I expected the beat down to be so bad. Last night at 10pm a rerun of CSI: Miami averaged a 3.1 rating with adults 18-49, while The Jay Leno Show averaged a 1.3 rating. Castle averaged a 2.8 rating, though that might get adjusted down a touch in the final numbers due to Dancing With the Stars overrun (also, in the Philadelphia market, Monday Night Football aired on the ABC affiliate and is counted in the numbers below, and that might have been the case in the Washington, D.C. market as well — that will be adjusted out in the finals). The real story to me though isn’t Leno’s ratings, it’s how great CBS Monday lineup does in repeats. This isn’t a new trend, but it still impresses me. Aided perhaps by CBS repeats, Dancing With the Stars had stronger legs and turned in a much better performance than last week. An out of normal time slot So You Think You Can Dance won the 8pm hour with adults 18-34. Heroes seems to have stabilized and the good news for NBC is that Trauma was up a tick versus last week. The bad news is that only got it to a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating.

The critics were all raving about last nights episode of Dollhouse but it didn’t help them in the ratings, pulling just a 0.8 rating and 2.25 million viewers.

CBS won the night with their regular lineup of Ghost Whisperer (2.1, 8.5 million viewers), Medium (2.2, 8.5 million and the shows season to date best) and Numb3rs (1.8, 8 million).

At 8 on FOX, Brothers and Til Death posted numbers similar to last week, pulling around 2.1 million viewers and a 0.8 rating. At 9, Dollhouse’s numbers looked, well, buh-leak.

ABC showed the season premiere of Supernanny (1.1 rating, 4.7 million viewers) at 8, followed by Ugly Betty which was down 20% in adults 18-49 with a 1.2 rating and 4.6 million viewers. At 10, 20/20 drew the nets highest rating (1.6) and 5.6 million viewers.

NBC started the night with a new Law and Order, posting 1.5 and 7.2 million viewers for the peacock. At 9, Dateline posted the networks best numbers of the night with a 1.8 rating and just under 8 million viewers. Leno was up a couple of ticks from the same slot last week pulling a 1.4 rating and just over 6 million viewers.

The CW went with Smallville (1.1, 2.5 million) which was level with last week and a America’s Next Top Model encore which pulled a 0.5 rating and just over a million viewers.

CBS took the ratings crown last night, with the NCIS’ doing the most damage. At 8, NCIS drew 20.6 million and a 4.7  A18-49 – up from last week. NCIS: LA was up a thrid of a point in A18-49 to 3.9 and 16.5 million viewers. The Good Wife was slightly down vs. last week, pulling a 2.7 and 12.85 million viewers.

NBC took second for the night in the all important adult demographic pulling an average 3.9 rating and 10 million viewers – a seasons best. At 10, Leno was up to a 1.8 and 5.375 million viewers.

The Shark Tank finale pulled a season high 1.9 rating and 6.2 million viewers to start the night on ABC. The Dancing With The Stars Results show was roughly level with last week - 14.2 million viewers and a 3.2 rating. The Forgotton was up slightly vs. last week, pulling a 2.0 rating and 7.6 million viewers, although there was a half point drop off between the first and second half hours.

Fox covered the Yankees/Angels game, averaging a 3.1 A18-49 rating and around 9.5 million viewers.

The CWs Melrose Place and 90210  were level with last week drawing a 0.7 and 1.1 respectively and averaging around 1.9 million viewers.

Monday Night Final Ratings Review:

The big story from the Monday night finals were that The Big Bang Theory jumped from a 5.1 to a 5.3, a new record for the show. In other CBS ratings news, Two and a Half Men was up a tick to a 4.8, How I Met Your Mother was down a tick to a 3.4 season low and Accidental on Purpose was up four ticks vs. last week (and also beat HIMYM in viewers).

Over on ABC, Dancing With The Stars were around level with the preliminary numbers (3.6) and Castle didn’t drop at all – for what I think is the first time ever (2.4).

With the massive overrun, FOX ’s MLB coverage from 8 – 8.43 posted a 2.2 average for the day. House was down to a 4.4 from a 5.3 last week, a 20% drop which I’m just going to put down to the odd start time (this also possibly explains why Accidentally on Purpose was up). Lie To Me was up a tick vs. last week with a 2.9 A18-49 rating.

Over on NBC, every was stable from the preliminaries, Heroes (2.5), Trauma (1.8) and Leno (1.4).

The CW also stuck to its earlier numbers, Gossip Girl pulled a 1.1 18-49 rating and One Tree Hill a 1.0 (both were down 10/12.5% from last week.