STORM2K

S (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox served up a reality one-two punch that propelled the network to the top spot Monday evening with the third season opener of "American Idol" and the 9 p.m. bow of "My Big, Fat Obnoxious Fiance."

"Idol" stormed back into primetime at 8 p.m. with an average of 24.8 million viewers and 12.5 rating/30 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research.

The stellar numbers for "Idol" and the solid showing from "Fiance" (21.4 million, 9.9/22 share), Fox's latest twist on the dating-show genre, offered more proof that the only fast-starters in television these days are unscripted shows. However, "Fiance" did suffer a significant drop in its second half-hour (from 23.6 million to 19.1 million viewers, and from 10.8/24 in 18-49 to 8.9/19).

NBC's 8-10 p.m. block of "Fear Factor" (12.9 million, 5.6/13) did respectable but not spectacular business in the face of the Fox competition. At 10 p.m., NBC's matchmaking vehicle "Average Joe: Hawaii" (11.8 million, 5.6/13) perked up against lighter competition from a repeat of CBS' "CSI: Miami" (16.3 million, 5.5/13). CBS was also in repeats from 8-10 p.m., likely in a nod to the drawing power of "Idol" in its much-hyped return.

ABC was pretty much out of the game. Its 8-10 p.m. telecast of the Ben Stiller starrer "Meet the Parents" and 10 p.m. "InStyle: Celebrity Weddings" special added up to a nightly average of 6.7 million viewers and 2.2/5 in 18-49.

Fox led for the night by a mile with an average of 24.8 million viewers and 11.2/26 in the key demo. CBS was No. 2 in viewers by a hair over NBC (12.8 million to NBC's 12.6 million) and NBC was a comfortable No. 2 in adults 18-49 (5.6/13).

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


excellent show!!

Didn't watch it, and can't remember her name, but one of the women on the show is a young teacher from here in Phoenix. She took time off from her job as a first grade Catholic school teacher to go on the show and, lo and behold, there is a lot of noise being made locally about her keeping her job. Talk radio gave the question some attention yesterday. Some folks think she sets a bad example for those 6-year olds and adds to the negative publicity about the Catholic church. Others say she is entitled to pursue her dream and if it doesn't work out, she should be able to come back to her teaching job.

It is an interesting challenge. A teacher who publicly tries to lie and deceive her family in hopes of landing a million bucks!

I ask myself how she will explain that to her priest during confession....and what pennance might fit the crime.

its a tv show for crying out loud. lol!!
its entertainment!!

I am not a real fan of any reality shows.It just seems so degrading ,what some ppl. will do for $$$,Has anyone seen Jerry Springer?Is that all a put on for the audience?What is with these women standing on stage with no clothes????

Nope - Monday night is Monster House, Monster Garage and American Chopper night at our household. So that should tell you who holds the remote control on Monday nights!!!!

Patricia

rainstorm wrote:its a tv show for crying out loud. lol!!
its entertainment!!

JMO ... but its just more garbage like all the rest of the reality shows. Haven't watched it, don't intend to ever watch...not even the slightest bit curious about it. The commercials were enough for me.

rainstorm wrote:its a tv show for crying out loud. lol!!
its entertainment!!

It's a game show...a contest. It's not entertainment. The contestant is lying and deceiving. And just as the article says, it's unscripted.

Screenwriters of America aren't happy with the barrage of unscripted crap presenting itself to the viewers these days.

i think its funny. i am sure the writers arent happy. no scripts, no paychecks

Yeah, thanks for your support. (See my profile)