TV Ratings: Disappointing premiere for The CW's 'Melrose Place' on Tuesday

'90210' outperforms 'Melrose,' but NBC and FOX rule Tuesday ratings

By Daniel Fienberg Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 11:19 AM

Laura Leighton of 'Melrose Place'

Credit: The CW

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2009.

Not only did The CW's "Melrose Place" reboot fail to equal the ratings for last year's "90210" reboot premiere, but the soap opera couldn't even hold onto the significantly less robust ratings for the season season launch of "90210."

The CW will attempt to spin the ratings later in the day. For now, though, your full results for the evening, which was won by NBC and FOX.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 2.7 rating, edging out NBC's 2.4 rating and the 2.1 rating for CBS. ABC was fourth in the coveted demographic with a 1.6 rating, while The CW's 1.3 rating was fifth for the night.

Overall, NBC averaged an estimated 10.065 million viewers to go with a 6.2 rating/10 share. CBS was second with a 5.4/9. FOX was a distant third with a 3.5/6, followed by ABC's 2.9/5. The CW trailed with a 1.8/3.

CBS began the night in first with a strong 6.9/11 for "NCIS." FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" and NBC's "America's Got Talent" repeat both averaged a 4.4/7, though FOX averaged more viewers and got a 3.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, the hour's best. ABC's "Shark Tank" repeat was fourth. The CW's season premiere of "90210" did a 1.8/3, averaging 2.56 million viewers and a 1.3 demo rating.

Because we know you want a little point-of-comparison, last fall's "90210" premiere averaged 4.9 million viewers.

NBC won the 9 p.m. hour with a 7.2/11 for "America's Got Talent." CBS' "Big Brother" was second with a 5.0/6, nearly doubling FOX's "More to Love," which nipped the 2.5/4 for ABC's "Shaq Vs." The "Melrose Place" premiere did a 1.7/3 for The CW, averaging 2.27 million viewers and the same demo as "90210."

The CW will attempt to give those numbers meaning later in the day by emphasizing young female viewers and whatnot.

In the 10 p.m. hour, NBC stayed in first with "America's Got Talent," which dipped slightly to a 6.9/12. CBS' "The Mentalist" took second, edging the 4.0/7 for ABC's "Primetime" special featuring Jon Gosselin.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.