Logo

Of TV’s Most High-Profile Shows, These Two Have Lost More of Their Audience This Season Than Any Others

Dec 9, 2011  •  Post A Comment

Two high-profile shows have lost more of their audience this season than any other shows among the ratings leaders, reports TheWrap.com.

One of them — the higher-rated of the two — is Fox’s "Glee," which has lost nearly one-quarter of its audience, the story notes.

"Is it burning out, like so many series shows that become near-instant cultural phenomena? Or just finding its real audience after years of hype?" the story asks.

The show has cut down on gimmicks and special guests during its third season, making it unclear whether that’s the reason its viewership is down or whether fans are just giving up on the show, the piece notes.

"Glee" has declined 23.9% in the 18 to 49 age group, making it the 10th-biggest ratings loser this fall, the story says. 

Other than “Glee,” the highest-rated show among the ratings losers is ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” which is down 27.5% in viewers 18-49. It’s No. 7 on the biggest losers list — ahead of “Glee” at No. 10 — but its rating in the 18-49 demo is 2.9, below “Glee’s” 3.5.

Most of the shows on the list of the top 10 biggest losers either are on The CW or have been moved to Friday nights. NBC’s "Chuck," for instance, is this season’s biggest loser, with a decline of 55% among the 18 to 49 age group. But it airs on Friday nights and is in its last season, and overall draws a much smaller audience than "Glee" or "Desperate Housewives."

The No. 2 loser overall is The CW’s "America’s Top Model," which has lost 39% of its 18-49 audience, while the third-biggest loser is Fox’s "Fringe," another Friday night show, which moved from Thursday nights last year and has shed 37% of its young viewers, the story says.

8 Comments

  1. With GLEE they have just gone too far with the whole gay story lines. People want to be entertained and are accepting of the gay issues until they become such a focus of the show. Not all HS performing ares people are gay or dysfunctional.

  2. In the case of “Glee,” it’s clear (as it should have been clear beforehand) that if you go out of your way to insult a big part of your audience, a big part of that audience is probably going to go out of its way to avoid you in future.
    Why is it so hard for the Hollywood, PC-worshipping elite to understand this? It’s not rocket science or graduate-level marketing course work. It’s simple common sense — if I invite you into my home and you spend half your time insulting me, you probably won’t make the invite list next time around.
    Wakey, wakey.

  3. Sounds like someone, (who was never in the target audience for this show anyway,) is all upset about the (non-existent) “War on Christmas.” “Hollywood, PC-worshipping elite?!?!?” Sounds straight out of the Roger Ailes bullet/talking point playbook…Someone’s been watching their FAUX “News” a little too much lately!!!

  4. I haven’t ever really watched Glee, just curious though….what have the done that insults their audience?

  5. Oh, the feigned outrage!!!!

  6. They featured those horrible gay people as PRIMARY characters!!!! Oh, the humanity!!!

  7. Well, the gays obviously have a secret agenda to take over the world and force everyone into homosexual relationships. Glenn Beck was able to prove this thanks to hidden symbols and messages found in the painting “American Gothic” and a combination of his morning Alpha-Bits & 3 cans of Campbell’s Alphabet Soup.

  8. The real story is the writing. It isn’t very good anymore. They can’t seem to come up with any credible ideas for plots. It doesn’t matter whether you have gays or straights. Modern Family proves every week that people will watch well written programing.

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)