Posted on 02/11/2008 11:12:07 AM PST by abb
After the star-less Golden Globes and People’s Choice Awards took a ratings hit last month, Hollywood glittered bright during last night’s Grammy Awards, with big names like Beyonce, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse performing.
The result, however, wasn’t quite the post-strike celebration that carrier CBS may have hoped for.
From 8 to 11 p.m. the Grammys averaged a 6.9 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, down 17 percent from last year’s 8.3 final rating. That may be the lowest-rated Grammys in at least a decade, though the numbers could change when final ratings are released.
Fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data.
Among total viewers, the Grammys averaged 18.2 million, down from 20 million last year and potentially the third-least-watched ever, behind 17 million in 2006 and 17.3 million in 1995.
The 2006 telecast aired opposite “American Idol,” prompting organizers to move the show to Sunday last year. Last night, the Grammys still faced stiff competition from ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which averaged a 6.1 at 9 p.m.
But the strike may still be sapping the broadcast networks’ strength. The writers agreed not to boycott the show as a goodwill gesture during negotiations with producers, but the strike has already led to a decline in ratings for the networks.
CBS, which is just now launching its midseason schedule, has been especially hard hit, airing mainly low-rated reruns the past few weeks with little scripted fare, meaning it didn’t have a big platform to promote the show. Last year CBS carried the Super Bowl and had a great place to promote the upcoming awards.
Still, even a down Grammys produce big ratings. CBS led the night among viewers 18-49 with a 5.8 average overnight rating and a 14 share. ABC was second at 4.3/10, Fox third at 3.2/8, NBC fourth at 2.1/5, Univision fifth at 1.1/3 and CW sixth at 0.3/1.
At 7 p.m. Fox was first with a 3.2 for its final hour of coverage of the NFL Pro Bowl, followed by ABC with a 3.0 for “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” CBS was third with a 2.5 for “60 Minutes,” NBC fourth with a 1.3 for a repeat of “American Gladiators,” Univision fifth with a 1.1 for “Hora Pico” and “Chavo Animado,” and CW sixth with a 0.3 for “CW Now” (0.3) and a repeat of “Everybody Hates Chris.”
CBS took over at 8 p.m. with a 6.8 for its first hour of the Grammys, with ABC second with a 4.8 for its first hour of “Home Edition.” Fox was third with a 2.9 average for a repeat of “The Simpsons” and a new “King of the Hill” (2.8), NBC fourth with a 1.5 for another “American Gladiators” repeat, Univision fifth with a 1.1 average for the special “Gran Noche de los Guapos” and the start of “5 Magnificos,” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for repeats of “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Aliens in America.”
At 9 p.m. CBS led again with a 7.2 for the Grammys, while ABC finished second again with a 6.1 for its second hour of “Home Edition.” Fox was third with a 3.3 for an hour of “Family Guy” repeats, NBC fourth with a 2.3 for its first hour of “100 Most Outrageous Moments,” Univision fifth with a 1.2 for “Magnificos” and CW sixth with a 0.3 for repeats of “Girlfriends” and “The Game.”
And CBS finished the night in the lead at 10 p.m. with a 6.6 for more Grammys coverage, followed by NBC with a 3.3 for the second half of “Moments.” ABC was third with a 3.1 for “Brothers & Sisters” and Univision fourth with a 1.3 for its last hour of “Magnificos.”
Among households, CBS was first for the night with a 10.3 average overnight rating and a 16 share. ABC was second at 7.2/11, Fox third at 4.5/7, NBC fourth at 3.4/5, Univision fifth at 1.3/2 and CW sixth at 0.7/1.
I actually enjoyed the first couple hours of The Grammy’s.
I especially liked mixing The Time with Rihanna, although Jerome is still off pouting in the corner somewhere.
Kanye’s song about his mother was good too.
And the tribute to Pavarotti was sweet...even though I dont listen to that type of music.... I turned it off at 11pm though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPxOuUL98cc Bocelli and Groban
Each one of those nominations is more laughable than the previous! Clinton on giving? Maya Angelou’s babble? The Audacity of Hope? Ha!
the writers lost the strike, are going back to work Wednesday
Ditto. I never watch the Grammys but I knew Rush was up for one and I kind of dig the Foo Fighters and they had John Paul Jones from Zep with them last night conducting an orchestra.
So we watched the entire mess unfold on TV. I was very happy to see Herbie Hancock get album of the year. He deserves it...he is a true musical talent...of course he paid tribute to Obama by saying “Yes...we...can...” about having change in music and awards going to someone else other than pop and r&b.
The Will.am.i crap was dumb and his stupid Obama song that he is trying to have spread like fire on the net.
What I loved was Vince Gill calling out Kanye West “I just had a Grammy handed to me by a Beatle...you ever have that happen to you Kanye?”
It was a total call out...and the crowd loved it after Kanye pulled a full tantrum on stage earlier about “owning the place and the awards”, Usher called out Kanye as well with Quincy Jones before album of the year was announced saying “Remember...nobody is a loser on this list Kanye”
Kanye West could be the biggest ego-maniac music has seen in quite some time. His performance was great though and I am not even a fan.
Oh no. Absolutely love rock & roll. I travel a lot in my work and I know all the good FM stations in the South. I like 60's, 70's and 80's stuff mostly. But today's stuff I don't listen to. Twenty years ago, I even contemplated going into biz doing car stereos and such, but it didn't work out.
In my humble opinion, the 80's was the best R&R decade of all, and MTV and VH1 was really happening.
And to be sure, I like movies, too. Not so much what's put out today as much as classics. As you could imagine, I think John Wayne was - and still is - a genuine U. S. of A. Hero.
She’s put on some weight since Blues Bros...
I think the real reason no one watches is found in the words, “with big names like Beyonce, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse performing”...
I’ve heard their names, but I haven’t listened to these acts much. However, I know that since I’m over forty, I no longer count for pop-culture mavens, so I asked my 23-yr-old daughter what she listens to... her answer is “none of the above”. Rather, she listens to indy acts she garners from internet searches and word-of-mouth. Evidenty the only people who think Kayne West and Amy Winehouse are “big names” are their labels and managers...
I’m sorry, but the numbers prove it - the labels no longer have the offerings to bring in viewers.
They had a good selection of military movies and shows on sunday. I watched Band of Brothers Episodes.
I recommend those.
We were soldiers was very good.
Hey, Christianity’s okay whem practiced by blacks. It’s only when whites embrace it that it gets ugly. CBS hasn’t changed it’s stripes.
I thought the best was Tina Turner...Beyonce was smart enough to just back her up...not to try to stay even.
She is hugh!!
They fawned over Amy Winehouse. Honestly, she’s a no-talent garage-band type. Guess too many Hollyweed-types identified with her “hit”, “Rehab”. What part of ‘yeech’ don’t they understand.
Just recorded it, saw all 3 1/2 hours in about 1 hour. Boring, otherwise.
Winehouse is some kind of UK drug-addled lounge singer.
Beyonce got "schooled" by Tina Turner during their duet last night.
She's the lady who married grampy.
I forget his name but that's his latest album's title. Great, huh?
4 fried chickens and some 4 more fried chickens and more Coke.
I refuse to watch any show where the ‘elites’ in the entertainment industry stand around and pat each other on the back. I have no clue why anyone would bother with such drivel.
Certainly wasn’t dry white toast.
Doop !
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