Record Ratings Secure Renewal
Of the shows that have returned from the strike How I Met Your Mother has continually done well for CBS. This week’s episode was the highest rated yet for the show. From the Hollywood Reporter:
A guest appearance by Britney Spears on Monday gave the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” its highest rating ever.
“Mother” spiked to a series high 4.5 preliminary rating among adults 18-49, even as the rest of the CBS comedy lineup fell from last week’s record-setting return to original episodes.The second week of strong “Mother” ratings (10.6 million, 4.5/12) assures the one-time bubble comedy will be renewed for the fall. “Mother” was the fourth-highest-rated show of the evening, and CBS won the night (averaging 12.5 million, 4.4/11).
It’s not official, but I can’t see CBS canceling a show that’s doing so well. This is great news for us fans. Good work to those of you who wrote letters and signed petitions, but at the end of the day it all comes down to ratings and, lucky for us, the numbers don’t lie.
If you’d told me a year ago that Britney Spears would save How I Met Your Mother I’d have laughed in your face. I guess strange things do happen.
Now, for a bit of talking shop. I’ve heard readers suggest they’d be interested in a weekly ratings section, where we can track the shows stats in real time. Is this something you’d like to see?
Bonus points for the first person to get the reference in the phrasing of that poll question.
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8:30pm Mondays on CBS.
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Ranier | March 26, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
That’s a great news for the show, CBS would be nuts if they cancel himym [and they'll suffer the consequences xD] I checked yes, i’m the first promoting the idea xD
The reference? about himym? 1.12 the wedding? Not sure xD
Bob Ryan | March 27, 2008 @ 12:55 am
What if I was to tell you that if you mess up a quote of mine again I’ll shove my foot up your ass. Would that be something you might be interested in?
john d'arc | March 27, 2008 @ 6:30 am
The thing is, if you listen to gossip columns, it’s not the ratings that puts the show on the axing table each year since its inception,
The show is one of the best comedies that CBS has. Its ratings are solid as hell, and it’s dependable. In TV today, you’d be hard pressed to find a show that brings you 8 million viewers regularly (especially in the 18-49 demo). They seem like they’re trying to get the show canned by switching it with BBT, which is CBS’ other “hit” (IMO, it’s not very good). BBT is like the new kid in town, and it’s getting slightly less than HIMYM ratings. So HIMYM keeps getting better ratings since the strike, and BBT is weakening.
Anyway, whether BBT sucks or not isn’t my point. All the gossip columns seem to be claiming that the higher ups at CBS don’t “get” HIMYM, and don’t think it’s funny. That’s why HIMYM had a SuperBowl episode, because everyone assumed that it would be given the post SB slot. When it wasn’t, lots of people at CBS were scratching their heads.
Steve | March 27, 2008 @ 9:05 am
I think John hit it on the head (although I like BBT and am pleased that I got in at ground-level with it - I hope it gets renewed), it’s the network execs that really decide whether something lives or dies, and ratings play a part…
…but if every executive DIDN’T have a personal agenda, or bring their own feelings about the show into the mix, we’d see less than half the number of show cancellations than we do today. A show like Jericho has a fervent audience, but voila! It’s not coming back. Others have suffered similar fates (Arrested Development comes to mind) even when they were brilliant and funny.
Ultimately, the Britney gimmick is what I believe will ensure a full run for HIMYM, and it SAVED us. Don’t ever doubt that. Television can be a real bitch, and you don’t have to give her roofies.
Hanny | March 27, 2008 @ 9:52 am
That would be a reference from “Entourage.”
Another show that’s legen — wait for it — dary!
Great news about HIMYM. Love the show. That and “The Big Bang Theory” are the 2 most smartly-written comedies on TV right now.
JD | March 27, 2008 @ 10:24 am
We have winners. Extra points for “Bob Ryan” for answering in character.
AF | March 27, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I do enjoy BBT and I was pleased to hear that it got renewed but I wish CBS would give HIMYM more credit.
As for Britney rocking the ratings, America loves crazy. That’s all there is to it.
CJ | March 27, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Great news about the ratings; let’s just hope that if the show ever does get canceled (God forbid), Bays and Thomas have enough time to tie up any loose ends they create (just like the end of last season, which would have worked as a series finale if need be, albeit a disappointing one).
I think that BBT is one of the more clever shows on TV today. HIMYM is still my favorite show (followed closely by LOST), but the writers of BB really know their characters, and the guy that plays Sheldon is amazing. I look forward to Monday night TV more than any other, and end up watching both HIMYM and BBT at least 2 or 3 additional times each week.
Geri | March 27, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
@ CJ
Jim Parsons who plays Sheldon on BBT is pretty good at delivering his dialogue. I keep seeing him in Stride gum commercials and it makes me giggle.
However, I don’t think BBT has as much heart as HIMYM. The character development is fairly shallow and doesn’t seem to be progressing much so far. Given that, I know it’s still in it’s first season, but by this point in HIMYM I think most of the audience had really fallen in love with one or two (if not all) of the characters. Anyway that’s off topic I suppose.
Does any one else here wonder as I do, if some of those ratings on Monday’s show could have been attributed to Sarah Chalke making a guest appearance? I know the world wants to see what Britney’s doing, but I wonder just how many of them actually cared enough to remember to tune in on Monday at that specific time just to watch her play a bit role. I don’t know much about Scrubs audience, but I know if HIMYM were to be cancelled and one of the actors were making an appearance on another show, I would probably check it out.
Just a theory i’m throwing out there!
Steve | March 27, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Wow I didn’t even notice that 12 share.
Wow.
Have a shrimp.
The Mix | March 27, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
Dedicated, yes. “weekly” section, no.
I’m not sure if you mean dedication section like the “Music” one you have over to the left….in which case I would say yes, but another blog for you to write up on top of all of the news/season comparisons/show-recaps seems a bit excessive. Plus just more work for you. Just a section on the side with the ratings from each week and comment section at the end seems about right though.
Jason
JD | March 27, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
I wouldn’t make a whole new anything. It’d be another section on the side. Like music. It’d be updated every week. I’d probably link to it from a post somewhere, or those interested could just go back and check it out at their leisure.
Also, I was going to try to get a reader to maintain it (Ranier has volunteered, I think) so it wouldn’t be THAT much extra work, but thanks for looking out for me Jason.
J | March 27, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
Yea… be careful about quoting Entourage or other shows on this site…. there are way too many good HIMYM quotes to be thinking about all others shows on tv. What Im basically saying is don’t Ted up the posts.
-nice Accepted reference Steve…
toomuchfreetime | March 27, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
JD
I just want to say that is the absolute perfect picture for this thread.
“Congratulations to us all” (As long as we are slipping in random quotes)
John | April 4, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
I would LOVE a regular ratings section, so we cna keep track of how the show’s doing in terms of chances of renewal.
NV | April 6, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
I’m ecstatic. I was quite nervous about the future of the show, and the idea that anyone could simply cancel it was enough to worsen my mood for ages.
This show has heart, originality and I’m damn sure that it’s going to build an even bigger fan-base. In this age of TV seasons on DVD, it’s easy to attract new fans (especially through word-of-mouth). It’s just a feeling, but I’m sure after a couple of more seasons, CBS wouldn’t dare cancel the show. I just fear them jumping the gun so early on.
If Britney Spears gave the a bump that could save the show, then I wish all the best for her in her career. Never thought I’d say that