Surveying Lost’s New Thursday Night Competition
We all know Lost is returning on the final day of January, a Thursday, and is taking over the 9pm slot normally filled by the melodramatic glory of Grey’s Anatomy. ABC has all sorts of reasons for this change (mostly because of the strike and the need to avoid American Idol), but the truth is that Lost’s change pits it against some less than intimidating time slot competition. So, let’s go network by network and see exactly what those competing programs have going for them and why Lost will take Mr. Eko’s whooping stick and bludgeon them senselessly.
NBC’s Thursday 9pm Offering: Celebrity Apprentice
Donald Trump returns with the 83rd season of The Apprentice, this time with well known celebrities like the Hot Softball Pitcher, that Chick From the Olympics Twenty Years Ago, the Washed Up Model, The Guy With the Long Tongue, a Random Baldwin, that Smug Englishman Who’s Not Simon Cowell, That Lady From Telemundo, that Bitch from Apprentice’s First Season, and Big Pussy. You know, famous people. The Apprentice hasn’t had good ratings in three years, and that won’t change now.
CBS’s Thursday 9pm Offering: Reruns of CSI:
I hate CSI. The problem is, viewers devour the series without reservation, whether it’s a rerun or a new episode. The sad reality is that reruns of CSI will probably get higher ratings than new episodes of Lost, despite Lost being a billion times better show. CSI, because every episode is the same (dead hookers, blah blah blah), can get their sheep-like viewers to come back for more, no commitment necessary. Lost, however, will definitely receive higher ratings in the key demographics, especially with the all-important 18-49 year olds. But, if you’re a person who watches old CSI’s instead of Lost (or even instead of Celebrity Apprentice) we can never be friends.
FOX’s Thursday 9pm Offering: Don’t Forget the Lyrics
If watching Wayne Brady host a show that mostly involves bad singing is something that interests you, go ahead. I really don’t know what to say. We live in a cynical, cynical world, a place where Don’t Forget the Lyrics thrives and other, better shows fail. We can all take solace, however, that there should be absolutely zero crossover in the audiences for Lost and Lyrics. Lost will receive higher ratings than Lyrics, but it will be depressingly close.
The CW’s Thursday 9pm Offering: Reruns of Supernatural
Probably the best thing Thursdays have to offer besides Lost come January, but it doesn’t matter, because most people don’t even know what channel The CW is on.
So, there you have it. Lost should be a dominant force over its eight episode run on Thursdays. Although I can’t imagine trying to jump in on season four without seeing the first three seasons, the possibility of picking up new viewers is there. ABC is great at putting together those catch-up specials, and with nothing else to entice TV viewers on Thursdays, this could potentially be Lost’s biggest season yet, abbreviated as it is.
I’m really just glad that Lost isn’t against American Idol, and I think the ratings will be very high this season. But in your little paragraph about Don’t Forget the Lyrics, you said “Lost will receive higher ratings than Lyrics, but it will be depressingly close.” Is this sarcasism that I am not picking up on, or are the ratings for DFtL really that good? I’ve never watched the show ever but it can’t be much different than NBC’s The Singing Bee(I’m not sure if that still airs or not lol), but are the ratings really going to be that close?
Also, did Grey’s Anatomy get a time slot move that I am not aware of(never watched the show but I thought it came on Thursdays at 9)? I realize that it won’t be on because of the strike, but what will happen to Lost(or GA) when it does come back? Please don’t tell me that Lost will be moving from this perfect time slot.
Comment by Doug — December 17, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
Sweet! Someone who actually knows what Supernatural is! Totally underrated IMO.
But I’m very happy with this change, it’s unfair for the best drama on TV to compete with the most popular show on TV, period.
Comment by Shiro — December 17, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
That CSI thing is gonna make some people mad. I don’t care, but someone will.
Comment by Jimbo08lak — December 17, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Actually, I’ve been keeping tabs on these shows’ ratings for years, and if LOST can hold on to the 11 million viewers it had as an average over the final ten episodes of last season (increasing to 15.5 million in the last half hour of the season finale), then it should almost certainly clobber the competition. Don’t Forget the Lyrics pulls in about six million viewers per show (whether or not it’s first-run), Apprentice pulls in about the same amount, and CSI reruns generally do about eight to nine million. So keeping that in mind, and also how much major buzz LOST has received for its incredible season finale, I think Lost’ll win handily in both total viewers and the 18-to-49 demographic.
Come February 1st, ABC will be touting LOST on commercials as Thursday night’s #1 show, but in my opinion it should really be television’s #1 show.
Comment by Justin — December 17, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
You also have to keep in mind that ABC will be throwing a lot of weight behind this as it is some of its only original programming. Not only does it have a strong time slot, but there will be a lot of media sources ready to cover actual television shows again by the time the new year rolls around.
Comment by Mike — December 17, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
HEY - Sounds like Oscar is quite the grouch.
You know, CSI’s writing has been top notch the past 2 seasons and has been quite consistent for 7 years. For all the typical crime related dramas out there, this one is the best. The characters are interesting and the stories have vastly improved.
I’m a devoted Lost fan, but come on man, CSI (only the original on Thursdays) is a quality prime time drama. Not every show can be like Lost and a lot of people don’t watch Lost because its not something the casual viewer can tune into and watch like they can with CSI. Not everyone is dedicated to a TV show like Lost fans are, but we HAVE to be or else we may miss something important. It has so many layers it has to be examined with a microscope. CSI on the other hand is fun, fast paced, and way less complex, and there’s NOTHING wrong with that.
We’re all sheep in one way or another. We are devoted to a TELEVISION PROGRAM. As are millions of others around the world. Oscar, you are the number one typical sheep. I’m a sheep. So is every other fan of any show. I watch what I like and I try to never miss a show. SO what? What’s wrong with that? Just because someething is popular doesn’t make it bad or not fun to watch. You’re probably one of those fanboys who has to be critical of EVERYTHING just to make yourself feel better rather than just sitting and watching a program for the sake of entertainment.
I look forward to Thursdays, its my BIG TV night with Survivor (yeah, so what, I like forced social experiements), CSI, The Office and Scrubs. Now I will be watching Lost and will Tivo the rest, if they ever air new episodes again?
That’s my only concern - who cares about the competition??? Just watch the damn show and love it!
Comment by MikerMan — December 18, 2007 @ 7:54 am
The comments about CSI in your post are almost like trolling.
Fact is, the show is good, and it will obliterate Lost in the ratings when it comes time for NEW episodes. I’ll DVR CSI and watch Lost, but Lost on Thursdays against CSI when the strike is over and CSI is new. Well, here’s to hoping that doesn’t happen this season.
Comment by Magorak — December 18, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Mikerman - you are right on. I agree totally, I love CSI and Survivor. Although this years was a bit of disappointment. CSI is the best crime drama on tv. Don’t get me wrong. I am a LOSTie first and foremost. Watched it from day 1 and own all 3 seasons.
Oscar - you really have to give CSI its props. It has been going for 7+ seasons and will be on for many more. You can’t last that long without some good writing. As far as the other 2 CSI’s Miami & NY, I agree wholeheartedly, but CSI LV is going to be around for a while. When the strike ends CSI will give LOST a run for its money. (Assuming LOST stays on Thursdays.)
Comment by rwilson2006 — December 18, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Saying great writing is the reason for CSIs success because they’ve been on for 7+ seasons and “you can’t last that long without some good writing” is ridiculous. Americas Funniest Home Videos has been on since 1980-something and I’ve never seen a show that sucked harder. Longevity proves nothing. You CSI lovers and I “can never be friends”. Same for the Mensas watching “Two and a half men”. You idiots can’t be friends with anyone.
Comment by Willyer Hero — December 18, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
haha this is definitely the best news we could expect for lost given the whole strike situation. here’s hoping for more gratuitous flesh-and-sex scenes as the producers try to steal away all the teenage “grey’s” fanatics who, in robotic knee-jerk fashion, tune their t.v.’s to abc at the stroke of 9 p.m. on thursdays. what pairings would do the trick? kate and jack? claire and sayid? juliet and sayid? juliet and kate? juliet and kate and sayid? hahaha.
Comment by Michael — December 19, 2007 @ 2:24 am
CSI sucks! People have basically been watching the same episode for 7 years, but the writer’s are good at changing things around (”Let’s call the dead hooker Sheila this time… ooh, and let’s make her a transvestite”) just enough that people don’t notice that they’ve been rehashing the same plots week after week.
Comment by Nathaniel White — December 20, 2007 @ 10:38 am
CSI is so damn mindless, I couldn’t agree more. I don’t get why they have so many crime shows out anyway. If you want to see how real criminals are caught watch “First 48″ . The real CSI type stuff relies on snitchery and decieving the criminals more than some CSI crap. For example in real life a guy shoots another guy in a drug deal.They simply ask the family who the dealer is the guy goes to.On CSI they’d find some adidas tracksuit fibers on the victims fingernails, track down the database at the factory to see what year the tracksuit was made, then trace it down the the sporting goods store it was bought at. Then they’s check the videos and track down everyone who bought the same outfit after having the video enhanced. WHen they enhanced the video they’d see crack pipe burns on one of the buyers hands. etc. etc. Trying to sell “Lost” to lazy minded people is a hard sell.You actually have to understand everything that’s happened. Most people would rather hear an idiot’s poor rendition of a classic rock that’s been played 1 trillion times on a game show.
Comment by Anthony Grieco — December 22, 2007 @ 10:06 am
ABC and the LOST producers have penned a masterful stroke in the scheduling of this season of LOST. With the strike looming, they have delayed it far enough that there is now limited or no creative drama shows left with new episodes. Heroes is on Hiatus, Everything else is finished for the season, and might not be back until after the strike.
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