Rueben's Ramblings

More Winners and Losers of the 2011-2012 TV Season

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Last month I provided a list of the winners and losers among the new dramas to debut this fall TV season. Among those winners were Unforgettable and Person of Interest (both on CBS) and Revenge (on ABC). Since that time all three dramas have been picked up by their respective networks for a full season.

As for the losers, both Charlie’s Angels (on ABC) and The Playboy Club (on NBC) have been pulled from the primetime line-up even though ABC is currently burning-off the remaining episodes of Charlie’s Angels. Prime Suspect was my other choice as a loser, but NBC seems to be relentless where this show is concerned. The network has not only given the show additional episode orders but has also re-aired episodes of this drama over and over again in the hopes of drawing in viewers. Not enough all those airings have done much to help the series.

Now that more new shows have debuted and more ratings results are available for the other existing new shows it is easier to determine their futures. With that thought in mind, I wanted to compile another list of winners and losers for the 2011-2012 TV season.

WINNERS:

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time – The much-buzzed about ABC fairytale drama tells the dual story of the fantasy characters we all grew up on who are transported, via a curse by the evil queen, to our world, not knowing who they really are; and about the presumed daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming who is destined to save them all. The series has aired only two episodes (since October 23), but has already become the most watched drama of the season. And, best of all, ABC picked it up for a full season based on the success of those two episodes. Average viewership (2 airings): 12.2 million viewers

Homeland

Homeland – The military/government-themed series on Showtime may not be pulling in double digit ratings like many of the other new shows but it certainly has become a favorite among critics and viewers alike. Given that the show is on the pay-cable channel, it performed well enough for the network to order it to a full season of episodes. Average viewership (5 airings): 1.1 million viewers

The CW

The CW – The network debuted three new series this fall and all of them – Hart of Dixie, Ringer and The Secret Circle – performed well enough with the viewers that all of them were given full season orders. Hart of Dixie is about a New York City doctor who ends up in a small town in Alabama working at her birth father’s clinic. The Secret Circle is about a group of teens who are third generation witches trying to learn about their past while comes to term with their powers. Ringer is about identical twin sisters; one who fakes her death and the other takes her place to hide out from a dangerous man who wants her dead. Average viewership for Hart of Dixie (5 airings): 1.8 million viewers; Average viewership for Ringer (6 airings): 2 million viewers and Average viewership for The Secret Circle (8 airings): 2.2 million viewers

LOSERS:

Pan Am

Pan Am – The 1960’s period piece from ABC about the pilots and stewardesses of the legendary airline started off strong with 10 million viewers watching the debut episode, but since then the series has dropped each week. The network seems to believe in the show, however, as it recently ordered five more scripts, but even with that added incentive it will be rough skies for the show. Average viewership (6 airings): 7.1 million viewers

Terra Nova

Terra Nova – The time-travel, dinosaur-heavy, family-laced drama about a family escaping a brutal future Earth to a new land populated by dinosaurs and amazingly-weird creatures where they hope to start fresh performed well in its two-hour debut on FOX; but since then it has faltered back and forth in the ratings. The network has invested a lot of money into this Steven Spielberg series so it will be interesting to see what they decide to do with it. Average viewership (5 airings): 7.7 million viewers

NBC

NBC – The once-powerful network that was home to the “must-watch Thursday night line-up” and countless legendary dramas has fallen from grace over the last few seasons; none more so than this year. The network has yet to find a hit drama although the fairytale-inspired Grimm did surprise critics and viewers alike by performing better-than-expected in its Friday night timeslot against very stiff competition. Average viewership for Grimm (2 airings): 6.2 million viewers; Average viewership for Prime Suspect (6 airings): 4.8 million viewers

TOO SOON TO TELL:

A Gifted Man

A Gifted Man – The new medical drama from CBS stars Patrick Wilson and Emmy winner Margo Martindale in a story about a self-centered surgeon who begins to be visited by the ghost/spirit of his late ex-wife, who attempts to not only have him help the patients at her clinic but also make him a better man. Average viewership (6 airings): 7.1 million viewers

What do you think of the new fall season so far? Regardless of what genre you like to watch, NiceGirlsTV would love to hear your thoughts. Please share below.

Using her favorite online handle, Rueben is an East Coast-bred gal who is now a permanent Californian and a lifelong tv-oholic. She watches at least 25 TV shows a week, goes to the movies as often as possible, listens to music every waking moment, reads every day and “plays” on the internet every chance she can. Some of her current favorite TV shows are Outlander, Sweet Magnolias, Wednesday, The Mandalorian, The Equalizer, Fire Country, Miss Scarlet, Hudson & Rex, SkyMed, The Rookie, Bridgerton, Cobra Kai, Virgin River, The Witcher, Leverage: Redemption and School Spirits. She is looking forward to the fall TV season, including the return of Outlander, Tracker and The Equalizer and the debuts of the new dramas Matlock, Murder In a Small Town, NCIS: Origins and Cross. Follow her on Bluesky @ruebensramblings.bsky.social or contact her at rueben@nicegirlstv.com. Please also check out Rueben's Ramblings website for even more entertainment news.