How Are the Networks Performing This TV Season

Every TV season is very different – you never quite know what to expect from the returning shows or what the new programs may have in store. But one thing is for sure: every TV season provides a lot of entertainment. There are always unexpected delights, welcome returns and, unfortunately, colossal disappointments.

As always each network has its winners, its losers and even the shows that are stuck somewhere in the middle – that is just the name of the game. Over the last few months I have spoken about the winners and losers out of the new shows to debut this TV season; now it is time to take a look at the TV season as a whole from September until now.

But before I get into any details I should warn that I will be focusing on dramatic programming ONLY, as that’s my personal preference; and all of the ratings that will be provided below (if not stipulated) are an average from September to December.

Once Upon a Time

ABC:

The network’s top drama is none other than Castle, which has averaged 11.5 million viewers since the beginning of the season. Meanwhile, the network’s highest rated new drama is the fairytale based Once Upon a Time, which has averaged 10.9 million viewers since its debut at the end of October.

What may be surprising to some is the fact that the returning drama Body of Proof is holding its own in second place with 9.4 million viewers while the new drama Revenge has been hanging in there with 8.2 million viewers.

On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest rated new series that is still airing is Pan Am. The show has averaged 6.4 million viewers since it premiered in September. Ass for the returning show that has had the worst performance since the beginning of the season is Private Practice, which has earned an even 7 million viewers. Even the once powerful dramas Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy are down with both shows getting 8.9 million viewers so far this season.

Person of Interest

CBS:

The top two shows for the network are, of course, NCIS with 19.3 million viewers and NCIS: Los Angeles with 15.4 million viewers. Meanwhile, the network has the top two new shows out of all of the networks in the form of Person of Interest, which has been averaging 12 million viewers and Unforgettable, which has been getting about 11.7 million viewers.

The shows that are smack dab in the middle, and are safe for the most part, include Criminal Minds, which has been averaging 12.8 million; The Mentalist, which has been getting 12.7 million viewers; Blue Bloods, which has been earning 11.4 million viewers; CSI, that has averaged 11.1 million viewers and Hawaii Five-0 with 10.8 million viewers.

The lowest rated new show on the network is the medical drama A Gifted Man, which has been earning 8.3 million viewers. Whereas, the three lowest rated returning shows are CSI: NY with 101 million viewers, The Good Wife with 10 million and CSI: Miami with 9.9 million.

Grimm

NBC:

The network is struggling, and has been for several seasons now with their highest rated show being Harry’s Law, which has been averaging 7.7 million viewers.

The long-running series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been getting an approximate average of 7.5 million while the family drama Parenthood has been earning 5.3 million viewers. These ratings, at any other network, would be cause for cancellation; but both of these shows are hanging in there for right now.

Sadly, the network’s lowest rated shows are the screwball spy drama Chuck, which has been earning a disappointing 3.3 million viewers and the new fairytale drama Grimm, which has been getting 5.7 million viewers.

Terra Nova

FOX:

The highest rated returning series for the network is Bones, which has been averaging 9.1 million viewers. Meanwhile, the musicomedy Glee has been holding its own with 7.7 million viewers; but the long-running medical drama House has dropped considerably to 7.4 million viewers.

The lowest rated show on the network is the fan favorite series Fringe, which has been earning a disappointing 3.2 million viewers. The other new drama on the network, Terra Nova, has been doing better than that, of course, but its average of 6.7 million viewers may not be enough to keep it around

Hart of Dixie

The CW:

While the network will never reach double digit ratings like the other networks have managed over the years, this underdog does know how to do one thing: create cult favorite shows. The top rated series for the network is, of course, The Vampire Diaries with an average of 2.9 million viewers while The Secret Circle is the highest rated new drama with 2.2 million viewers on average.

Smack dab in the middle is the long-running series Supernatural, which earns an average of 1.7 million viewers while the two new dramas Ringer and Hart of Dixie get 1.9 million viewers and 1.7 million viewers respectively.

Meanwhile, the lowest rated returning shows are Nikita with 1.6 million viewers, 90210 with 1.5 million viewers and Gossip Girl with 1.4 million viewers.

A lot of comparisons can be made between the networks as to which new and returning shows are performing better than others. The same can be said about which shows are failing to perform at all. But in the end, these ratings will only play a small role in determining which shows get to continue to see the light of day and which ones will be pulled from the line-up. We, as fans, can only hope that our favorites are among the ones that get to stick around.

Which are your favorite new shows of the season so far? Which returning shows are you still watching and which ones have you given up? Which new shows – that haven’t already been pulled, of course – do you think deserve to be taken off the air? Please share your thoughts on the 2011-2012 TV season.