2008 Tony Awards Nielsen Ratings -- Down From Last Year

In the Heights and August Osage may have won -- but not the Tony's themselves!

The 62nd Annual Tony Awards snagged a typically bland 6.19 million viewers and a 1.1/ 3 among adults 18-49 from 8-11 p.m.

This is a drop from last year -- the 61st Annual Tony Awards received a 1.2 rating/3 share in adults 18-49 and about 6.3 million viewers overall.

Keep in mind -- last night's show was competing with an NBA Finals game and the completion of the US Open.

But still...

WATCH VIDEOS FROM THE TONY AWARDS -- In the Heights, Gypsy, Passing Strange and more

BEST AND WORST OF THE TONY'S

Source: Mediaweek

American Idol Ratings Report: 13% Drop From Last Year's Opener

American Idol is back with a vengeance.

The singing competition, now in it's seventh season, pulled in an average of 33.24 million viewers last night, easily making it the most watched show of the evening. It was, however, a drop of 4.2 million and 13% from last year's opener, which begs the question -- has Idol hit it's peak?

Even if it has, these are still impressive numbers -- 13.8 rating/32 share among adults 18-49? Wow. Many industry observers, however, had predicted the writer's strike would actually boost the show's ratings to it's highest numbers ever. Well -- so much for that!

NCIS (Viewers: #2, 15.91 million; A18-49: #2, 3.0/ 7) and part two of miniseries Comanche Moon (Viewers: #2, 12.48 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 6 from 9-11 p.m.) performed well for CBS, while NBC’s The Biggest Loser 5 fell to a season-low 7.18 million viewers opposite Idol. CW’s One Tree Hill, meanwhile, roped in 2.74 million viewers.

We'll see how Idol holds up tonight, in it's second airing of the season.

Numbers courtesy of Marc Berman at Mediabase

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The Musical Legally Blonde Scores Big Ratings on MTV

Omigod u guys! Did you catch MTV's broadcast of the Broadway musical Legally Blonde this past weekend? I did...and loved it!

Apparently, I wasn't the only one, as the ratings are in and it looks like a moderate hit. The following is from HitsDailyDouble.com:

"MTV’s broadcast of the Broadway show Legally Blonde the Musical on Saturday afternoon ranked #1 in its time period among persons 12-34 across all of television, even beating out broadcast. The highest-rated demo for the broadcast was in females 12-17 (3.89 rtg, +151% from the prior four weeks). It also scored a 1.15 persons 12-34 rating, up 31%. vs prior four weeks time period average. The special broadcast reached over 12.5 million total viewers, with over 6.9 million from the net’s persons 12-34 core."

I found the telecast ridiculously entertaining to watch -- I thought it had great production values that didn't just feel like they set up a video camera on a tripod, but also didn't go over-the-top with crazy camera cuts.

I had seen the show and enjoyed it in the theater back in April, but I fell in love with it even more watching it on TV. The story is charming, and the music, while not insta-classics, have a peppy, feel-good quality that make them easy to listen to. And the performances! Laura Bell Bundy just blows me away -- aside from Sutton Foster, I can't think of a single Broadway actress capable of dancing, singing and acting the way she does. She's the hardest working woman on Broadway! Christian Borle is effortlessly appealing as Emmitt, Orfeh is a hoot (and better than she was when I first saw the show) as Paulette, and Kate Shindle belts her face off as Vivian. I have to admit, I missed Leslie Kritzer as one of the Delta Nu girls, but all in all the cast is pretty flawless.

If you missed it, I believe MTV is re-running the airing this Friday. Check your local listings.

Click for This Week's Top 10 Posts

High School Musical 2 Sets Ratings Record

Did you watch? I know I did!

Variety is reporting that the Friday premiere of Disney Channel's High School Musical 2 brought in a remarkable 17.24 million viewers, making it the most watched basic cable telecast ever, including sports telecasts.

Per Variety, "HSM 2 now ranks as the most-watched TV movie ever with kids 6-11, drawing 6.1 million viewers in that demo, and the most-watched ever with tweeners 9-14, drawing 5.9 million viewers in that demo, according to Disney Channel."

Wow. I guess we really all are in this together.

Click for more Television News/Commentary

Saving Grace Looks Like a Winner for TNT

Holly Hunter's foray into television seems to have paid off for TNT -- the new drama Saving Grace scored 6.4 million viewers and 4.8 million households in it's debut last night. I haven't gotten a chance to watch the show yet (the screener TNT promised me never arrived), but it's sitting on my Tivo ready to be watched, and I'll be sure to let y'all know what I think when I get to it.

Will Glenn Close rope in as many eyeballs when her new show Damages premieres on FX? Guess we'll see...

TV Ratings Report for Monday May 22

The final Dancing with the Stars performance show blew away the rest of the competition in last night's ratings, while Heroes outperformed 24 in a battle of the season finales.

Here are the Top 5 ratings performers for Monday May 22:

1. Dancing with the Stars, 19.75 million
2. Heroes, 13.21 million
3. The Bachelor, 12.85 million
4. CSI: Miami, 11.48 million
5. 24, 10.19 million

Read more Television News/Commentary, including thoughts on the season finales of 24, Grey's Anatomy, and Brothers & Sisters

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High School Musical 2 Sets Ratings Record

HBO Renews Entourage and Flight of the Conchords

Whoopi Joins 'The View'!

Saving Grace' Looks Like a Winner for TNT

Idol Thoughts on the Emmy Nominations -- No Friday Night Lights???

Emmy Nominations Announced!

CBS Announces Fall Premiere Dates

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Isaiah Washington Has Lost His Mind

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Predicting the Emmy Nominations: The Dramas

Isaiah Washington Fired from Grey's Anatomy

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Gilmore Girls Canceled

AI Nielsen Ratings Report: Top 16 Results

According to Marc Berman over at Mediaweek, the revelation of this year's Top 12 was seen by 27.43 million viewers last night. While this was 1 million viewers less than Wednesday night's performances by the girls and 400K fewer viewers less than tuned in to see the boys on Tuesday night, it was a bump of about 300K over last week's result show.

In addition, American Idol outdelivered its nearest competitor, CBS' Survivor, by more than 14 million viewers.

AI Ratings Report: Wednesday March 7

The Top 8 girls' performances on American Idol last night were seen by 28.45 million viewers, which is about one million viewers less than last week's 90 minute episode, but about 500K more viewers than tuned in to see the boys on Tuesday night.

AI Ratings Report: Tuesday March 6

American Idol pulled in 27.8 million viewers last night, as the boys had their final chance to sing their way into the Top 12. That is about 1.5 million fewer viewers than watched last week's 90 minute episode.