TVSquad

Lost still has a higher rating when it comes to 18-49 year olds, which is the only rating which actually matters. Lost had a 6.7 rating in that demographic and Criminal Minds had a 4.9 rating...a pretty big difference, but since Lost is going on hiatus the numbers may drop even lower.

Yesterday The Office beat My Name Is Earl in that demographic (4.2 versus 4.1). Grey's Anatomy gets an outstanding 9.1 while CSI is 6.9

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Actually, the trailers from last Friday on had the line "someone will die" or something like that. They were definitely playing that angle.

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Older people and stupid people are the ones that are moving the ratings. The older people do not want to think and Criminal Minds is perfect for them.
Then there are the stupid people, the ones that refuse to watch lost because it would be their first time and they are afraid of being 'Lost.' So, they will not watch it and then the only other thing on is C.M. Those kind of peps are the ones that drive me crazy. Just watch it once, yes it is deep but you can pick it up.

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I believe calling people stupid for making a choice in TV shows is a bit harsh and out of line. Some people like hunting monsters.

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Saying Lost lost 1 million viewers from the previous week is actually doing it a diservice.

The episode from two weeks ago was the most watched episode since the premiere. It's only natural that they lose at least SOME of the audience from a highly watched episode.

Expect the viewership to pick up again for the last episode of the arc, given that ABC is pimping a sex scene between Kate and Sawyer.

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I have to agree with you, Bob. I gave Criminal Minds more than a fair shake largely because how can you not love Mandy Patinkin, but in the end, the show just left me going "okay, another crime drama, whodunit... who-cares?" I surprised that it did as well as it did last season, and that its beating Lost in the ratings, now that I can't really comprehend.

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Yeah Lost is beating Criminal Minds in all the key demographics- especially in the 18-34- which is the most important measure. so what Lost is getting 16-17 million viewers, that is still good- if they ever lose the 18-34 demographic and/or go below 10 million I would start worrying.

Look at "Without a Trace"- that used to actually beat CSI in ratings and be the #1 show, but now it's not even in the top 10.

Lost will see the jump of viewers next week- ABC is pimping the fall season finale as the "Best Episode of the Year" and "Sawyer/Kate sex".

Plus, the ratings for episodes depend on the character there focusing on- you usually see higher ratings for more popular characters like Locke, Sawyer, and Hurley.

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Look, its not even worth it to talk about Lost's ratings. It does extermely well, especially in key demogrpahics. It also sell a boat load of DVDs. Whoe cares if an infereior show like Criminal Minds gets more total viewers?

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Cripes, for those of us that watch shows on Tivo could you please not put spoilers in your articles (or at least include them AFTER the jump)? I knew someone died this week, but I didn't know who until scanning your post.

crap.

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"Older people and stupid people are the ones that are moving the ratings. The older people do not want to think and Criminal Minds is perfect for them.
Then there are the stupid people, the ones that refuse to watch lost because it would be their first time and they are afraid of being 'Lost.'"

Wow that is such an ignorant statement. The reason Criminal Minds is popular is because it's a crime show like CSI, which a lot of people watch.

For the record I don't watch either of them. Criminal minds= just another crime show, while I gave Lost a chance and was bored out of my mind during the 2nd season. Now they show all these ads that someone is going to die (I prefer to be REALLY surprised), and they go and kill off one of the most interesting characters.

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I really don't get why people are making such a big deal of this. LOST is in the Top Ten shows every week and yet all people care about is whether it beat Criminal Minds? What does it matter?

Plus, it's misleading to say LOST lost 1 million viewers since last week because last week LOST gained 1 million viewers. So, in reality LOST is back to where it was two weeks ago.

Can't both shows exist in the same time slot and do well?

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Here's an article that contradicts what TV Squad is saying:

"ABC claims that LOST finally tamed CBS to seize the hotly contested 9pm time slot for competitor Criminal Minds. In ABC's press release, the victory was not only solid but had a little ring of finality to it:

“Lost” won its time period and ranked as the No. 1 TV program of the night in Adults 18-49 for the 5th straight week (on each of its telecasts this season), defeating second-place CBS’ “Criminal Minds” in the slot by 35% (6.6/16 vs. 4.9/12).

However, Zap2it has an assessment of the Wednesday night battle that would warm CBS's heart: 'CBS Tells ABC to get LOST'. By their numbers both networks were up, but CBS again dominated the target demo as well as besting LOST, for the first time, in total number of viewers.

So who has the right data?

The answer could be: neither. Both assessments are the results of early projections or 'fast' numbers. In Zap2it's case, they are relying on Nielsen's early data which is derived mostly from Tivo scheduling. This data usually amounts for less than half of the reporting families and can pack an error margin that would make ABC's numbers realistic.

Networks, naturally, have their own data collection mechanisms and are often better at predicting the final Nielsen numbers than Nielsen themselves. Why? The networks are able to trend through non-nielsen sources and volunteer media tracking organizations which mirror the Nielsen model, Nielsen does not go to these lengths to process their fast data. They merely pose the percentages against their contributing families to come up with a hypothetical number based on the assumption that all families will behave like those tivo users.

While it does happen from time to time, it is pretty uncommon for a network to claim a win this huge without a great degree of certainty. With the slot this highly contested, you can be sure both networks are waiting for the final numbers with bated breath."

But, still Lost still one of the most watched shows arould the world- I don't know if it beat csi: miami this year, but it still has the biggest fanbase around the world (especially in europe) Criminal Minds wish they have that....Lost is still in the top ten...

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I have been watching Lost since the beginning.am a groupie I admit it..I am hanging by my nails each week waiting for a better story line this season...We all want to see the original folks more...they are the reason we watched loyally. Get rid of the new people. Torture? Abuse? There was intrigue before now just plain violence. And to kill off Mr. Eko???? Whos bright idea was that?
The new story line is so not interesting and eventually will make us all leave the show...Its the beat up and torture Jack/Sawyer/Kate show now...
I guess they dont get the reason we all valued this show in the beginning...intrigue and adventure! Get back to the beach!!

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What makes this such a big deal is that a show with next to no buzz is earning comparable ratings with a show that gets a lot of buzz.

Reality check for ferley: this is not junior high. Just because someone does not share the same likes and dislikes as you does not make them stupid. For that matter age (with the exception of maybe the pre-school set) does not define much less cement what a person likes to watch. Blanket statements just scream ignorance.

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Maybe its the younger and idiotic people that caused all this. I am only stating this as the above comment by SJ insensed me so much.

I do not watch Lost. I do not care to ever watch Lost. I am a Criminal Minds fan, and I truly enjoy the show. It made me quite happy to read that it may or may not have beaten Lost in the ratings. It deserves to be in the top 10 each week, alongside Grey's,and Desperate Housewives.

I am a devout Grey's Anatomy fan, and I can understand if someone who does not enjoy it would make comments about the show. I cannot comment on Lost. I haven't seen one episode to evaluate whether it is good or not. But to classify fans of either show as stupid, old, young or idiotic is completely irrelevant.

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correct that, I meant ferley!

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I left Lost about 3 episodes into Season 2. The show didn't progress at all. And it became very predictable. Don't miss it at all.

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As a fan of both shows, I think people dismissing Criminal Minds as just another crime show are missing the most important aspect - the writing and chracters are fabulous, the dialogue sparkles and unlike (imo) many procedurals, each member of the team has a distinct and interesting personality. It's a joy to watch.

Lost, comparatively, tends to be slow-moving and lets face it, many of the characters don't have a lot of depth and the dialogue is often uninspired. What it has going for it is the overall arc and ultimate mystery and the powerful reveals. Well, and Locke. I love Locke.

They may be totally different shows but they're both worthwhile for people who enjoy quality television, even if they're not both for everyone.

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I'm sick of the Lost "mysteries". Solve something for once. Not like, "oh there's a door... that leads to another door... that leads to another door... that leads to another door... that leads to a HALLWAY... with another door... that leads to another door..." enough already. At least Criminal Minds gives me some satisfaction and conclusion every week not just the same poop. Oh the mystery the mystery. I swear, if I watch one more vision/flashback on Lot I'm going to strangle somebody. So yeah, no wonder people are tuning to watch Criminal Minds. Cause it's good and not something that makes me want to gauge my eyes out. But that's just me.

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I just found out Lost was going on Hiatus to plug this other show (which reminds me of the movie groundhog's day...a movie which i found completely annoying...so i doubt a show like this would be any better). Anyway..its a long Hiatus and I find that to be very distracting to the flow of the show. I also dont think its right to get an audiance addicted to a show and use them to promote another show. I feel that on principal alone, when Lost comes back in February...I just wont watch it anymore. I am very dissapointed in the network for this decision. Hey, what can I say, I take my shows very seriously!! :-)

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