The numbers are in and Super Bowl XLI was huge. Coming in at 93.1 million viewers, it was the third most watched program in history, and the second most watched Super Bowl. Having the lead-in to end all lead-ins also helped Criminal Minds put up the best numbers ever for the series. The special episode following the game averaged 26.2 million viewers. Is that a disappointment? Last year, the post Super Bowl episode of Grey's Anatomy drew a considerably larger 38.1 million viewers. We can chalk part of that difference up to the fact that Grey's was more of a hit show going in, but I think more of it has to do with the subject matter.
Criminal Minds is never a touchy-feely, happy bunnies on clouds kind of show, but the post Super Bowl episode was dark even by their standards. Come on, Dawson chaining up a woman and setting the dogs loose on her? That's asking a lot from the family friendly Super Bowl audience.
That's not to say that it wasn't a good episode. I thought it was well done, and James Van Der Beek was a nice bit of casting. But then, I'm already a Criminal Minds fan. The post Super Bowl slot isn't about getting me to keep watching. It's about finding new viewers.
So what should CBS have gone with in the coveted slot? I think there were a few better options. If they wanted to go crime-drama, both NCIS and Numb3rs would have been better choices. That is, of course, assuming that they weren't dealing with psycho-religious tech support serial killers. Of the two, I would have preferred NCIS. It has more of an approachable, comedic, flair to it. And like Criminal Minds, it has solidified itself as a solid hit this season. Numb3rs could have easily matched the Criminal Minds ratings though, and probably gained more new viewers as a result.
There was also the option to go with comedy. I think it would have been a good time for a special episode of How I Met Your Mother. Given an hour to go crazy, they could have seen a nice bump in the numbers following that appearance up. It's a good show, and should be drawing much closer to the Two And A Half Men numbers than it is. There was also the option to premiere Rules Of Engagement after a new HIMYM, but after seeing the first episode, I just don't think that one is with us for the long haul.
Finally, what about Survivor? The big premiere is coming up this Thursday, so why not kick it off a few days early? When the show had the spot in 2001, it did a better number than Criminal Minds, and there is no reason to think it wouldn't have done it again. Plus, with the increased competition this year from Ugly Betty and the growing Earl/Office combo, it would have been a nice boost to the start of their season.
We'll have to wait until we see what the appearance did for the Wednesday conclusion of Criminal Minds, and the following weeks. But at this point, I think CBS dropped the ball.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-06-2007 @ 2:25PM
Keith McDuffee said...
Can I just mention an aside here -- I caught the first few minutes of the episode, and it was clever that they had that news broadcast that was actually relatively accurate to what happened in the game (turnovers!). However, one pet peeve -- what kind of idiot carries around a football while watching the Super Bowl at home?
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:15PM
Dante said...
What do you mean in history? US television history? It's safe to say that the Superbowl was NOT the third most watched tv event in world history.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:15PM
Curt said...
Uh lots of people McDuffee. Don't be so quick to judge, moron.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:21PM
Brett said...
Fair point Dante. Yes, I was referring to US television history. For the record, #1 is the MASH finale with 106 million, and #2 is Super Bowl XXX with 94.1 million.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:30PM
Joel said...
what was the other top three most watched show? you have my curiousity piqued.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:31PM
Joel said...
I suppose I could've hit refresh and answered my last question. Thanks for beating me to the punch (or at least trying to).
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:39PM
CaliberSRT4 said...
I think Criminal Minds is a great show...I thought it was great that they had the Super Bowl on at the beginning of the show. But if CBS was to show other shows, I think they should've shown the new show with David Spade.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 9:40PM
ness said...
It certainly was sad to see what has become of Dawson now that he's found out Joey married Tom Cruise!
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:46PM
erroneous_nick said...
"Lots" of people carry around footballs while watching a game? That sounds really strange. I don't watch much football, probably because of people like the football carryers.
Do these people carry guns when watching "24"? Maybe a little skeleton when watching "Bones", a teeny TARDIS when watching "Dr. Who", an abacus when watching "Numbers", or a model of a colonial viper when watching "BSG"? Naaah, that'd just be creepy.
I don't even want to know what they hold when watching porn.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 3:55PM
gwangi said...
Hey what's wrong with carrying around a teeny tardis, and a little Rose to go with it ;P
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 4:13PM
Keith McDuffee said...
I'm a huge football fan, even played a little as a kid, but I'm sorry to break it to you -- while you're holding onto a football watching the game, everyone else is thinking to themselves, "there's Curt again with the football -- WTF?"
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 4:39PM
Karen said...
I see by my DVR that CBS is showing a repeat of Part 1 on Wednesday 8PM-9 EST, followed by the conclusion. I think this is a good move. I am a huge Criminal Minds fan but I am not so sure I like this episode, I am holding judgement! It was too gruesome and it might turn people off. I don't want newcomers to think that all of the episodes are like that. I like the psychological aspect more than the gore.
I also think maybe there was such a huge switch of emotions. I loved watching the Colts winning and the nice "Christian" speech that Tony gave, only to be followed by some blood and gore in the name of God. I think the "warm and fuzzies" that were being felt from Tony praising the Lord, then got transferred too easily in a bad way on CM.
Am I making sense?
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 4:51PM
David said...
I think it was a bad choice, but CBS doesn't have a lot of shows to air anyways. I would have done a new show, maybe some kind of Special Jerimah or whatever it's called, something new and fresh.
And the third most ever?!?! Why?! It was a bad game, with bad teams.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 5:01PM
MrC said...
There's only one word to describe the decision: Lost
With Lost returning Wednesday at 9pm, this was an effort to grab viewers who would then follow CM to Wednesday at 9pm (gotta catch part 2), then realize they missed Lost so they should just stick with CM.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 8:09PM
Doug D. said...
I don't think you can discount how long it took CBS to get out of post-game coverage. I understand the NFL mandates the network carrying the presentation of the Lombardi trophy, but CBS held on far too long afterwards, going to I believe three more commercial breaks, including a final one before James Brown came back to say goodbye.
Okay, you paid out the nose for the broadcast rights. We get it. You have to make up the ad revenue somehow. But, if they had pulled coverage just four to six minutes earlier, then there might not have been as big a drop-off for Criminal Minds and local markets, including CBS O&O's, would have benefited from a having a big number at the top of their late news to factor into the February book.
I know people were reporting some markets upcutting into news right after the fade to black, preventing viewers from seeing the preview of Wednesday's episode, and that was stations trying to get as big a number as possible out of Minds, no thanks to the CBS coverage.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 5:29PM
Darren said...
I can honestly say I didn't watch the super bowl but I did watch Criminal Minds as it is a good show. But if CBS was smart they would have started Survivor after the Super bowl - that would have brought in the numbers for the new season.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 7:51PM
Waimea said...
I agree with the author: that particular episode was not the best to air post-Bowl. I like the show (generally speaking) but the post-game episode was darker than average, as you mention. My biggest gripe was the tired premise: loony Christian goes on horrific rampage, spewing Bible verses all the while. How about a loony Muslim killing people in the name of Allah? A believable premise, of course, but far too taboo for our country's timid big-three networks. Anyway, whatever my personal feelings towards the storyline, I think it's safe to say that the overtones of the show were way off the mark for a post-bowl audience. You've made a good point.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 9:11PM
Jake said...
I was hoping How I Met Your Mother would have gotten a chance. It is one of the few shows on CBS that is funny and has heart. Plus, each episode is different, not simply a rehashed plot like Two and a Half Men or like Raymond used to be. Perhaps that's why it's one of only two shows I even watch on CBS anymore.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 11:15PM
jake said...
I too wished that had put HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER after the superbowl -- it would have exposed the show to a greater audience and would have solidified it as the hit it should be. CBS wanted Criminal minds to do battle with Lost and be as huge as CSI now that CSI has lost 5 million plus viewers because of Grey's Anatomy. So yes, CBS dropped the ball -- how can they expect to have people stay after the superbowl to watch murder.
Reply
2-06-2007 @ 11:35PM
John said...
I tried to give the show a chance. Still can't stand it.
But you know what was the big mistake? Hyping the show on the previews as the 'Best Criminal Minds Ever'
Well, gee, why do I want to watch that? Do I really believe that it will actually keep getting *better* after that? Heck no. Call it 'one of the best.'
Reply