Saturday, August 28, 2010

The War of 18-49 Index


The War of 18-49 began in summer 2010 with me digging up old articles and press releases to fill out the ratings history of TV shows whose pasts I was unfamilar with. Now it's this blog's biggest ongoing project. Except in a very few cases where the early data isn't available, I trace veteran primetime shows' adults 18-49 ratings history all the way back to the beginning and look at how the ratings have evolved.





ONGOING SHOWS:

911 (Fox/ABC, 2018-)
All American (CW, 2018-)
The Amazing Race (CBS, 2001-)
America's Got Talent (NBC, 2006-)
American Dad! (Fox/TBS, 2005-)
American Horror Story (FX, 2011-)
American Idol (Fox/ABC, 2002-)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 2012-)
Archer (FX/COMEDY CENTRAL/FXX, 2010-)
The Bachelor/The Bachelorette (ABC, 2002-)
Big Brother (CBS, 2000-)
The Blacklist (NBC, 2013-)
Blue Bloods (CBS, 2010-)
Bob's Burgers (Fox, 2011-)
Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS, 2019-)
Chicago Fire (NBC, 2012-)
Chicago Med (NBC, 2015-)
Chicago PD (NBC, 2014-)
The Conners (ABC, 2018-)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 2005-)
Family Guy (Fox, 1999-)
FBI (CBS, 2018-)
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS, 2020-)
The Flash (CW, 2014-)
The Good Doctor (ABC, 2017-)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 2005-)
Hell's Kitchen (Fox, 2005-)
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, 2007-)
Law and Order (NBC, 1990-)
Law and Order: SVU (NBC, 1999-)
Magnum P.I. (CBS/NBC, 2018-)
The Masked Singer (Fox, 2019-)
MasterChef/MasterChef Junior (Fox, 2010-)
NCIS (CBS, 2003-)
The Neighborhood (CBS, 2018-)
The Rookie (ABC, 2018-)
S.W.A.T. (CBS, 2017-)
Shark Tank (ABC, 2009-)
The Simpsons (Fox, 1989-)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 2005-)
Station 19 (ABC, 2018-)
Survivor (CBS, 2000-)
Undercover Boss (CBS, 2010-)
The Voice (NBC, 2011-)
The Walking Dead (AMC, 2010-)
Wipeout/Winter Wipeout (ABC/TBS/TEENNICK, 2008-)
Young Sheldon (CBS, 2017-)

ENDED SHOWS:

The 100 (CW, 2014-2020)
2 Broke Girls (CBS, 2011-2017)
24 (Fox, 2001-2014)
30 Rock (NBC, 2006-2013)
8 Simple Rules (ABC, 2002-2005)
90210 (CW, 2008-2013)
A Million Little Things (ABC, 2018-2023)
According to Jim (ABC, 2001-2009)
Agents of SHIELD (ABC, 2013-2020)
Alias (ABC, 2001-2006)
America's Next Top Model (UPN/CW/VH1, 2003-2018)
American Housewife (ABC, 2016-2021)
The Americans (FX, 2013-2018)
The Apprentice/Celebrity Apprentice (NBC, 2004-2017)
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Fox, 2007-2015)
Army Wives (Lifetime, 2007-2013)
Arrow (CW, 2012-2020)
Bates Motel (A&E, 2013-2017)
Beauty and the Beast (CW, 2012-2016)
The Bernie Mac Show (Fox, 2001-2006)
Better Off Ted (ABC, 2009-2010)*
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-2019)
The Biggest Loser (NBC, 2004-2016)
Black-ish (ABC, 2014-2022)
Black Lightning (CW, 2018-2021)
Blindspot (NBC, 2015-2020)
Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 2010-2014)
Bones (Fox, 2005-2017)
Boston Legal (ABC, 2004-2008)
Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008-2013)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox/NBC, 2013-2021)
Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 2006-2011)
Bull (CBS, 2016-2022)
Burn Notice (USA, 2007-2013)
Castle (ABC, 2009-2016)
Charmed (CW, 1999-2022)
Chuck (NBC, 2007-2012)
The Cleveland Show (Fox, 2009-2013)
Cold Case (CBS, 2003-2010)
Community (NBC, 2009-2014)
Cougar Town (ABC/TBS, 2009-2015)
Covert Affairs (USA, 2010-2014)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW, 2015-2019)
Criminal Minds (CBS, 2005-2020)
CSI (CBS, 2000-2015)
CSI: Miami (CBS, 2002-2012)
CSI: NY (CBS, 2004-2013)
Deal or No Deal (NBC/CNBC, 2005-2019)
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 2004-2012)
Dollhouse (Fox, 2009-2010)*
Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime, 2009-2014)
Dynasty (CW, 2017-2022)
Elementary (CBS, 2012-2019)
Empire (Fox, 2015-2020)
ER (NBC, 1994-2009)
Everwood (CW, 2002-2006)
Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW, 2005-2009)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC, 2003-2012)
Falling Skies (TNT, 2011-2015)
Flashpoint (CBS, 2008-2011)
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, 2015-2020)
Friday Night Lights (NBC, 2006-2011)
Friends (NBC, 1994-2004)*
Fringe (Fox, 2008-2013)
The Game (CW/BET, 2006-2015)
Game of Thrones (HBO/HBO PRIME, 2011-2019)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 2005-2010)
The Glades (A&E, 2010-2013)
Glee (Fox, 2009-2015)
The Goldbergs (ABC, 2013-2023)
Good Girls (NBC, 2018-2021)
The Good Place (NBC, 2016-2020)
The Good Wife (CBS, 2009-2016)
Gossip Girl (CW, 2007-2012)
Gotham (Fox, 2014-2019)
Grimm (NBC, 2011-2017)
Hart of Dixie (CW, 2011-2015)
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, 2010-2020)
Hell on Wheels (AMC, 2011-2016)
Heroes (NBC, 2006-2010)
Homeland (Showtime, 2011-2020)
House (Fox, 2004-2012)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2005-2014)
How to Get Away with Murder (ABC, 2014-2020)
iZombie (CW, 2015-2019)
Jane the Virgin (CW, 2014-2019)
Jericho (CBS, 2006-2008)*
Jersey Shore (MTV, 2009-2012)
Justified (FX, 2010-2015)
Last Comic Standing (NBC, 2003-2015)
The Last Man on Earth (Fox, 2015-2018)
Last Man Standing (ABC/Fox, 2011-2021)
Law and Order: CI (NBC/USA, 2001-2011)
Legacies (CW, 2018-2022)
Legends of Tomorrow (CW, 2016-2022)
Leverage (TNT, 2008-2012)
Lie to Me (Fox, 2009-2011)*
Life (NBC, 2007-2009)*
Life in Pieces (CBS, 2015-2019)
Lost (ABC, 2004-2010)
MacGyver (CBS, 2016-2021)
Madam Secretary (CBS, 2014-2019)
Man with a Plan (CBS, 2016-2020)
Medium (NBC/CBS, 2005-2011)
The Mentalist (CBS, 2008-2015)
The Middle (ABC, 2009-2018)
Mike and Molly (CBS, 2010-2016)
Mistresses (ABC, 2013-2016)
Modern Family (ABC, 2009-2020)
Mom (CBS, 2013-2021)
Moonlight (CBS, 2007-2008)*
My Name is Earl (NBC, 2005-2009)
Nashville (ABC/CMT, 2012-2018)
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, 2009-2023)
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 2014-2021)
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 2006-2010)
New Amsterdam (NBC, 2018-2023)
New Girl (Fox, 2011-2018)
The Night Shift (NBC, 2014-2017)
Nikita (CW, 2010-2013)
Numb3rs (CBS, 2005-2010)
The OC (Fox, 2003-2007)
The Office (NBC, 2005-2013)
Once Upon a Time (ABC, 2011-2018)
One Tree Hill (CW, 2003-2012)
The Originals (CW, 2013-2018)
Parenthood (NBC, 2010-2015)
Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009-2015)
Person of Interest (CBS, 2011-2016)
Pretty Little Liars (Freeform/FREEFORM, 2010-2017)
Prison Break (Fox, 2005-2017)
Private Practice (ABC, 2007-2013)
Pushing Daisies (ABC, 2007-2009)*
Raising Hope (Fox, 2010-2014)
Ray Donovan (Showtime/SHOWTIME PRIME, 2013-2020)
Reaper (CW, 2007-2009)*
Reba (CW, 2001-2007)
Reign (CW, 2013-2017)
The Resident (Fox, 2018-2023)
Revenge (ABC, 2011-2015)
Riverdale (CW, 2017-2023)
Rizzoli and Isles (TNT/TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION, 2010-2016)
Rookie Blue (ABC, 2010-2015)
Royal Pains (USA, 2009-2016)
Rules of Engagement (CBS, 2007-2013)
Scandal (ABC, 2012-2018)
Scorpion (CBS, 2014-2018)
Scrubs (NBC/ABC, 2001-2010)
SEAL Team (CBS, 2017-2021)
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Freeform, 2008-2013)
Shameless (Showtime, 2011-2021)
Silicon Valley (HBO/HBO PRIME, 2014-2019)
Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 2013-2017)
Smallville (CW, 2001-2011)
Sons of Anarchy (FX, 2008-2014)
Southland (NBC/TNT, 2009-2013)
Suits (USA, 2011-2019)
Supergirl (CBS/CW, 2015-2021)
Supernanny (ABC/LIFETIME TELEVISION, 2005-2020)
Supernatural (CW, 2005-2020)
Superstore (NBC, 2015-2021)
Swingtown (CBS, 2008-2008)*
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, 2008-2009)*
This Is Us (NBC, 2016-2022)
Til Death (Fox, 2006-2010)
True Blood (HBO, 2008-2014)
Two and a Half Men (CBS, 2003-2015)
Ugly Betty (ABC, 2006-2010)
Unforgettable (CBS/A&E, 2011-2016)
The Unit (CBS, 2006-2009)
The Vampire Diaries (CW, 2009-2017)
Veronica Mars (UPN/CW, 2004-2007)
Vikings (History/HISTORY, 2013-2020)
Warehouse 13 (Syfy, 2009-2014)
White Collar (USA, 2009-2014)
Wife Swap/Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC/LIFETIME TELEVISION/PARAMOUNT, 2004-2020)
Without a Trace (CBS, 2002-2009)
The X Factor (Fox, 2011-2013)

*- denotes 'flashback' post for shows with shorter runs/incomplete info

Can't find your show? It might be on one of these pages: 

(NEW!) Post-2018 Scripted Series: ABC | CBS | NBC | Fox | CW 
News & Sports Series (NEW!)
Pre-2001 Comedies
Pre-2001 Dramas

YEARLY INDICES:
2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 | 2015-16 | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 | 2006-07 | 2005-06 | 2004-05

BUREAUCRATIC:
Summer 2010 Intro 1
Summer 2010 Intro 2
Summer 2010 Post-mortem 
Winter 2010 Intro
Summer 2011 Intro
Summer 2013 Intro (introducing 'Now')
Summer 2014 Intro (introducing separate raw/Plus tables)
The Breakdown Grading Rubric (explanation of grades)

19 comments:

Spot said...

It's possible to get the ratings [adults 18-49] of Friends?

Spot said...

Wow. This is amazing. I've always wanted to know the 18-49 series high's for shows like CSI and Idol. Thankyou!

Spot said...

I have one question. What's the highest 18-49 you have recorded (Excluding sports). Survivors 22.8 may be the highest I've seen so far.

Spot said...

Thanks for the kind words! I believe the highest rating out of the War of 18-49 shows is a 25.8 for the season 4 finale of ER. I know Friends got a 28.2 after the Super Bowl.

Spot said...

Could you possibly do a post on Friends!? I know that show used to pull HUGE numbers.

Spot said...

I might try to do something on Friends at some point, although I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find the 18-49 ratings on a consistent basis beyond the last season or two.

Spot said...

That would be great! Do you know what Friends' highest rating was for a regularly scheduled episode? (ie. not including the 28.2 for the Super Bowl and the 24.9 for the series finale).

Spot said...

Now that it's got a year under its belt, could you include "Person of Interest" (full ratings for last season) on your list? I think it's going to be around for awhile. Great site! Thanks.

Spot said...

Still researching, but I'm pretty sure the answer here is "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby," the season 8 finale (17.0 on 5/16/02)

Spot said...

I don't do full-fledged War of 18-49 posts till the show has aired four seasons, but you can get all the PoI ratings here: http://www.spottedratings.com/2012/09/spotvault-person-of-interest-cbs-2012.html

Spot said...

I don't know where to ask this, so I'll post it around!

I have two questions:

1. In September 2005, as you know, Desperate Housewives premiered to an 8.9 adults 18–49 rating. What would that equate to in terms of today's ratings? I wonder the same thing about Grey's Anatomy, which premiered to a 7.2 adults 18–49 rating in March 2005. I understand you may only be able to come up with a ballpark estimate, but I'd be pleased with just that.

2. I know that Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012 stands as the most-viewed telecast in television history, but what is the highest-rated (adults 18–49) telecast in television history?

I'd be thrilled if you can answer these questions!

Spot said...

The following shows will have aired four seasons by the end of the 2012-13 season:

Shark Tank

Modern Family
The Middle
Cougar Town
NCIS: Los Angeles
The Good Wife
Undercover Boss
The Vampire Diaries
The Cleveland Show
Glee
The Voice
Community

Will you be doing War of 18-49 posts for these shows? I'm sure there's more on cable, but these are all I can think of.

Spot said...

Yes

Spot said...

Okay, good! :-)

Spot said...

I recently came across an Ad Age article that says the 1993 Cheers series finale got a 42.6/76 A18-49 rating and the 1998 Seinfeld series finale got a 38.7/72 A18-49 rating. Are these whopping numbers accurate? That 42.6 is the highest A18-49 rating I've ever seen!

Spot said...

I'm flattered that you would ask me to verify numbers in Ad Age! :) If they're there, they are almost certainly correct. I don't have any other info dating that far back.

Spot said...

Just to let you know: the So You Think You Can Dance link is wrong I think, it links to the ratings archives page, not the war 18-49 page.

Spot said...

Thanks!

Spot said...

Can we expect a War 18-49 post for Scandal once it has ended its fourth season run?

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