Strongest shows on NBC: The Office and My Name is Earl
I just found this over at Variety Magazine:
NBC has been looking for its next big laffer, and it may have found it in “The Office.”
The cubicle comedy, which has been building in buzz and audience, hit a season high last week — even though it largely remains off the radar of adults 35 and over.
For the season, according to Nielsen, “The Office” is television’s No. 4 half-hour comedy in adults 18-49 (4.2 average), pulling to within half a ratings point of leader “Two and a Half Men” on CBS and just behind Fox’s “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”
Its 5.0 demo rating last week is the second best score to date for the third-season skein, which struggled initially but has gradually built an aud airing alongside “My Name Is Earl” since the fall of 2005.
The two make for the strongest hour of sitcoms today, helping NBC remain competitive on a night when CBS and ABC both air their No. 1 programs. “Earl,” too, deserves credit, opening the night very well.
While the nets have tried numerous single-camera comedies in recent years, only “The Office” and skedmate “Earl” have really broken through.
And not surprisingly, the oft-quirky shooting style hasn’t been as easily embraced by those viewers who grew up with comedies filmed on a soundstage with a laugh track.
In fact, if “The Office” is going to become the next “Seinfeld,” it will need to add more adults 35-plus.
On average, “The Office” at 8:30 has built on its “My Name Is Earl” lead-in by 5% in adults 18-49. But looking at both halves of this demo, you can see just how young “The Office” skews.
While “The Office” is performing a whole ratings point better than “Earl” among the 18-34 crowd (4.6 vs. 3.6), and outdelivers “Earl” in teens (2.0 vs. 1.7), it underperforms “Earl” in 35-49 (3.7 vs. 4.5).
“The Office,” like “Earl,” is also a strong performer among men, averaging a 14 share in men 18-49 last week and an 11 share in women 18-49. This testosterone tilt has come in handy on the night, as ABC’s competing comedy hit “Ugly Betty” is a big draw among femmes.
NBC’s biggest comedies in recent years — “Friends” and “Will & Grace” — relied on heavy female viewership, but it just may be that for the net’s next big half-hour, it will be the men leading the way.
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