ABC’s new reality series “Wipeout” continued to flood the primetime zone, barely skipping a beat in its second week though it bowed to Fox’s veteran “Hell’s Kitchen” as the week’s top show in adults 18-49.
“Wipeout” (9.5 million viewers, 3.6 rating/9 share in adults 18-49) was down only slightly week-over-week after its strong premiere on the battleground that has become summer Tuesdays. But the tide failed to carry its lead-out, “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” (6.3 million, 2.6/7), which was down significantly, according to Nielsen Media Research data released Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Fox’s “Kitchen” (8 million, 3.7/11) improved slightly from last week to overcome “Japanese Game Show” and the week’s top show in viewership, NBC’s two-hour “America’s Got Talent” (12 million, 3.3/10). “Talent” was up week-over-week in both measures.
ABC, NBC and Fox finished within a tenth of a point of one another in the demo for Tuesday, while CBS was a distant fourth with repeat dramas and “48 Hours Mystery Tuesday” (7.6 million, 1.7/5). CBS did win the week in viewership, though.
Fox continued its strong run of reality with overwhelming wins Wednesday in the demo with “So You Think You Can Dance” (8.8 million, 3.2/10) and Thursday’s “Dance” (6.8 million, 2.1/8). NBC’s “The Baby Borrowers” (6.8 million, 2.8/8) was about even with last week; “Celebrity Family Feud” (6.9 million, 1.9/7) edged Fox’s “The Moment of Truth” (4.6 million, 1.8/6) for second place against “Wipeout.”
NBC came within two-tenths of a point of first-place Fox in adults 18-49 for the third consecutive week. That’s compared to five-tenths of a point a year ago.
Despite “Wipeout,” however, ABC found itself in third place in the demo, just ahead of fourth-place CBS. The CBS drama “Swingtown” (4.5 million, 1.3/5) dropped again but was tied for first place at 10 p.m. Thursday with NBC’s “Fear Itself” (4.5 million, 1.3/5). ABC’s documentary “Hopkins” (4.7 million, 1.2/4) also dropped week-over-week in the same time period.
For the week ending Sunday, Fox (5.4 million, 1.9/7) won in adults 18-49, while CBS (6.2 million, 1.4/5) prevailed in viewership over ABC (4.5 million, 1.5/5), NBC (5.8 million, 1.7/6) and the CW (1.4 million, 0.5/2). (partialdiff)
