Props to Tom Guy, I think, who got the screen cap last night.
Posted on 01/17/2006 2:31:20 PM PST by LdSentinal
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jack Bauer‘s latest marathon workday got off to a good start Sunday, ratings-wise.
The Fox drama "24" notched its most-watched episode ever with its fifth-season premiere as the first of two back-to-back episodes got a boost from a primetime overrun (in East Coast and Midwestern markets) of the NFL‘s NFC divisional playoff game between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.
Airing from about 8:13-9:11 p.m. EST, the first episode of "24" averaged 17 million viewers and a 7.3 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic (demographic share data for Sunday were not available Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday), according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. The second hour of "24," which ended at about 10:13 p.m. EST, held onto the majority of its lead-in to finish out with 15.5 million viewers and a 6.7 rating in adults 18-49.
According to Fox, Sunday‘s episodes marked the two most-watched installments of the Emmy-winning real-time drama series since the clock began ticking on "24" in fall 2001. Last year, Fox shifted the series to a January premiere date in part to allow the show to run original episodes in its regular Monday 9 p.m. slot through the end of the season without taking any weeks off for repeats.
The first hour of Sunday‘s season opener improved on last year‘s "24" premiere episode (which also had a special Sunday kickoff) by 16% in adults 18-49 and 11% in total viewers. ABC‘s 9 p.m. dynamo "Desperate Housewives" (22.5 million, 9.5/20) held onto its No. 1 ranking by a comfortable margin, though the presence of "24" probably helped drive the soap to its lowest marks of the season to date for an original episode. At 10 p.m., ABC‘s "Grey‘s Anatomy" (19.1 million, 8.6/20) hung tough and registered its best-ever retention of an original "Housewives" lead-in.
But the combination of the NFL overrun and double dose of "24" gave Fox the clear victory for the night (22 million viewers, 9.2 in adults 18-49) and its highest-rated Sunday since last year‘s Super Bowl telecast on February 6.
In other weekend ratings news, ABC had a good turnout Friday for the second week of its "Dancing With the Stars Results Show" (13.7 million, 3.4/11), which kept the network at No. 1 in both key measures in the 8 p.m. hour, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen. The news was not so good on Friday for NBC‘s limited-run 10 p.m. drama "The Book of Daniel" (7 million, 2.2/6), which lost Nielsen ground from the previous week‘s underwhelming two-hour premiere. CBS wound up taking Friday honors overall on the strength of the 10 p.m. drama "Numbers" (12.8 million, 3.8/11).
On Thursday, NBC‘s new comedy lineup, anchored by 9-10 p.m.‘s "My Name Is Earl" (12.5 million, 5.9/14) and "The Office" (10.3 million, 5.1/12), made hay in the adults 18-49 demo derby against a repeat of CBS‘ "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (17.8 million, 5.4/13). A good showing from NBC‘s 10 p.m. stalwart "ER" (15.4 million, 6.7/17) gave NBC the nightly win in adults 18-49 (5.6/14) and its highest-rated Thursday since May.
ABC was a player from 8-9:30 p.m. with the second week of its 90-minute performance edition of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.4 million, 4.6/12). The network‘s momentum ebbed at 9:30 p.m., however, with the debut of the sitcom "Crumbs" (11.8 million, 3.6/9).
WB Network also had some good news Thursday with the 9 p.m. second-season premiere of "Beauty and the Geek" (5 million, 2.3/6). On the heels of a solid showing from 8 p.m.‘s "Smallville" (5.5 million, 2.4/6), "Geek" delivered WB‘s best numbers of the season in the time period in all key measures, particularly women 18-34 (3.2/8), female teens (4.0/12) and male teens (3.1/10).
Thanks... I've never seen it.
Meant that for you.
The action isn't quite as intense as "24," but the characters are much better developed, some creepier, some, unfortunately, more human.
Chloe has one dry sense of humor! And just says what she thinks.
I loved that scene last year when she told it like it was to Audry.
My kind of woman. We all have one of what my husband calls "the look" and Chloe's scowl certainly imitates reality!
I don't watch too much TV, but 24 is pretty cool.
I saw it last year after returning from a trip, and same thing this year.
I actually have TIVO but the football game screwed it up and so I missed the last 10 minutes on Sunday.
Jack Bauer is reminiscent of Mr. Clark from the Tom Clancy novels. I'd like to see "Without Remorse" filmed with Kiefer Sutherland cast as Mr. Clark.
I believe Chloe started in comedy and that's what makes her acting so successful! IMHO.
the ranks of the Seinfeld spinoffs....flushed and forgotten
spinoffs? or do you mean the shows of former cast members
post-seinfeld?
Palmer might not be dead.
I was also a big fan of 'La Femme Nikita', upon which '24' is based, so it was really interesting to see the 'Madeline' character from 'LFN' show up '24'last season (as Driscoll) in the same role that she had on 'LFN'. I wonder if she will be back?
Here are some of my other preferences in comparing '24' with its original version, 'La Femme Nikita':
Although the 'Richards' character from last season's '24' (interrogation specialist) was good, I thought the 'LFN' characters who had the same role were definitely more ominous and creepy, especially the short blonde with the thick glasses. When those two popped open the little briefcase with the needles, you could feel the fear. And they never said a word!
Although I liked the 'Michael' character from 'LFN', his counterpart, the 'Jack Bauer' character from '24' is blows him away, probably because he is more violent and simply looks rougher. (Unfortunately, there is no 'Nikita' character on '24'. She was sweet!)
Also:
1. I like the 'Chloe' and 'Edgar' characters about equal to their counterpart, 'Birkoff'.
2. It's too bad that '24' didn't reprise the 'Walter' character. I liked Walter - - reminded me of Willie Nelson.
3. The various folks that '24' has brought in as "big honchos" have not been as good as 'Operations' was on 'LFN'.
Other than all that, the sets of the two counter-terrorism units ("CTU" and "Section") are virtually indistinguishable. In fact, it would not surprise me to learn that the "CTU" set and the "Section" set are one and the same. I understand that some of the people who worked on 'LFN' are now working on '24'. No surprise there - - they certainly know the formula.
Great, great TV in my opinion.
(Realistic or not, who cares?)
The actress who portrays Chloe gave an interview last year that I saw in a local paper..
She is a bright girl.
Hehe. It's a "cop show" like "Star Wars" was another outer space movie.
You've definitely piqued my curiosity enough to watch it! When's it on?
MM
24----What an absolutely great show...I have not been this addicted to a TV series for years.
Show of hands: Who else just wants to slap that smarmy bastard playing the President right up beside the head??
Props to Tom Guy, I think, who got the screen cap last night.
You people that get to watch earlier seasons of '24' are SO lucky! My wife and I have watched this show on FOX from the first episode of Season 1, and used to have endure the three and four week breaks between episodes back when '24' was spread out over an entire television season (September - May.) Man, talk about anxiety!
That is why this show is so great. Strong (Good and bad) characters. I do believe Lofan will be taken with the vapors before all is said and done.
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