The “American Idol” finale performances, the “Billboard Music Awards” and a two-hour finale of “NCIS: Los Angeles” – “The Simpsons” didn’t have much of a chance, and dipped further into the dreaded fractions the show has called a home for the past few months (bar one occasion).

Sunday’s season closer performed below-average, sliding for the second time ever to a 0.8 rating, with a 3% share and 2.1 million viewers. (It’s unknown at this point the full unrounded demo rating (if it’s below 0.84, it’s a new series low).)

In both the demo rating and viewership, it tied the lows of 0.8 and 2.1m, respectively, made by “Homer Is Where The Art Isn’t” on March 18, which was the first episode after a long hiatus.

The episode skewed 52% in the target 18-49 demographic, which equates to 1.1m viewers in that age range.

The episode’s numbers are down from the previous episode (0.9/4, 2.142m) and last season’s finale (0.9, 2.15m).

In terms of the other shows on FOX that evening, “The Simpsons” tied in the demo rating with the FOX finale of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Family Guy” (although it’s likely the latter beat “The Simpsons” in the unrounded demo ratings again), yet beat the others in viewership – as it was, once again, the only show of the night on FOX to be seen by more than two million people.

In terms of Live+SD averages, this season averaged 1.43 in the demo and 3.45 million in total viewership – in stark contrast to last season’s averages of 1.76 and 4.15 million viewers.

As said in the title, there was heavy competition on Sunday night, with around 21-23 million circulating on the other three broadcast networks during the episode’s timeslot – higher than usual for this time of year, when viewing levels are usually lower.

I’ll be back in at most a month to look at how the season performed as a whole, once the full catch-up figures are posted. Until then – or October 2 – I bid you farewell.

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

One more episode to go and “The Simpsons” stays fractional, but the fact it hasn’t gone lower is something to be thankful for.

Sunday’s episode scored a 0.9/4 and 2.142 million viewers; only the viewership was down – and VERY marginally down – from the previous episode (2.147m).

The episode skewed 53% to the 18-49 demo (the lowest skew of Fox’s primetime, bar repeats), equating to around 1.14 million viewers in that demographic.

The episode was beaten by “Family Guy”, which ranked top of the night for Fox with a 1.0/4 rating and 2.154 million viewers (just 102,000 viewers separating them).

With one episode to go, the season is averaging 1.46 in the demos and 3.518 million in viewership. By this point last year, last season was averaging 1.76 and 4.108 million

Competition in “The Simpsons”‘ timeslot was below usual (viewing levels, especially early in the evening, decline as we go further into spring), with around 18 million shared around the other three broadcast networks.

See you next Tuesday to see how “The Simpsons” copes with its season finale up against the mights of the “American Idol” finale and the Billboard Music Awards… my guess is that it records a new series low. Until then…!

The brief uptick to celebrate becoming the longest-running primetime scripted series on US TV didn’t last long, with “The Simpsons” falling back into the fractions.

Sunday’s episode scored a 0.9/4 rating and 2.147 million viewers.

Bar the share – that’s down from the previous episode‘s 1.0/4 and 2.473 million viewers, and down from the equivalent episode last year (1.0, 2.34m).

It was the top show in Fox primetime, however, with – once again – it being the only show above two million viewers.

This season – with just two more episodes to go – is averaging a 1.48 rating and 3.59m viewers.

The show had a lower amount of opposition than usual; around 18 million were on the other three broadcast networks during the episode’s timeslot.

See you next Tuesday!

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

“The Simpsons” became the longest-running scripted primetime TV series in the US on Sunday, and welcomed back some viewers to celebrate with.

Sunday (April 29)’s episode scored a 1.0/4 rating and 2.473 million viewers. In viewership, it was the most watched episode of the spring, and – of a non-football-boosted above-average – since last November 19’s “Singin’ in the Lane” (2.67m). 50% (lower than usual due to the above-average viewership) of its viewers were in the 18-49 demo; approximately 1.2m.

Both the demo rating – bar the share – and viewership were up from last week‘s 0.9/4 and 2.194m. Also, rather interestingly, “The Simpsons” had a 2% share in adults 50+; something no other Fox show on the night got and something “The Simpsons” hasn’t had all season (bar episodes with local or national NFL lead-ins), and will likely be due to the increased viewership, itself likely due to older viewers tuning in to ring in the milestone.

It looks as though “The Simpsons” was narrowly beaten “Family Guy” in the unrounded demo rating (the former was 0.05 below the latter in the prelims), but matched when rounded (1.0). The two shows were the only shows above two million viewers on Fox during Sunday primetime.

So far, this season is averaging a 1.52 demo rating and 3.67m viewers.

Opposition on the other three main networks was around 20-22 million, on par with usual.

See you next Tuesday!

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

Sunday’s episode was back down in fraction town, with a 0.9/4 rating and 2.194 million viewers (of which around 56% – around 1.23 million viewers – were aged 18-49, in the key demo). Both the demo rating – bar the share – and viewership were down from last week‘s 1.0/4 and 2.262m.

“The Simpsons” narrowly beat “Family Guy” in the demo rating, and also came out on top in viewership, being the only show above two million viewers on Fox during Sunday primetime.

So far, this season is averaging a 1.55 demo rating and 3.741m viewers.

Opposition on the other three main networks was around 19-20 million; lower opposition than usual should correlate to highest viewership, but the downtick in ratings may be actually due to how the evenings are getting lighter and so people aren’t watching TV until later.

See you next Tuesday, to see how many tune in to see “The Simpsons” become the longest-running scripted primetime TV series. My guess is that it’ll just remain steady.

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

It is rare to see a show actually uptick in the ratings at this time of year, with daylight saving time and fewer people watching early in effect, yet “The Simpsons” managed to do that on Sunday, and broke the four-week run down in fraction town.

Sunday’s episode scored a 1.0/4 rating and pulled in 2.262 million viewers. Around 57% of those viewers were in the 18-49 demographic, equating to approximately 1.3 million viewers.

The previous episode had 0.9/3 and 2.151m.

This is the first time “The Simpsons” hasn’t been fractional since returning from its hiatus; the last episode over a 1.0 was “Frink Gets Testy” on January 14, which garnered 3.3/11 and 8.042m.

It was also the only show of Fox’s primetime schedule to nab a 1.0+ rating – with the rest of the originals 0.6-0.8 – and be over the two million viewers mark.

This season so far is averaging a 1.6 rating and 3.8m viewers.

The upturn in ratings is even more surprising considering the increased competition; around 22-25 million viewers were located elsewhere on the other three broadcast networks during “The Simpsons”‘ timeslot, plus competition from an NBA playoff on cable that ran into the timeslot (around four million viewers and very male-skewing).

This poster honestly thought “The Simpsons” would crash to a new low on Sunday, given it was against the high-rated “Country Music Awards”. It definitely surprised me, but let’s see whether it holds up next week, and if it does, the uptick this past Sunday is less likely be due to people tuning in after the controversial Apu moment in the previous episode! See you Tuesday!

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

So, contrary to what I promised, there was a bit of show-inflation this time round, with a halo from golf increasing the viewership and ratings for some CBS shows. Onto the figures…

Another fractional rating (now four in a row) was bestowed upon a controversial “The Simpsons” on Sunday; 0.9/4 was the demo rating and share, with a slight improvement in viewership to 2.151 million, up on the past three episodes (2.06m, 2.147m and 2.1m). Again, the show had the lowest 18-49 skew on Fox’s night for originals, with 54% (around 1.2 million viewers). The episode, however, was the highest-rated show on Fox all night, and was the only show with more than two million viewers.

This season is so far averaging a 1.6 demo rating and 3.95 million viewers.

Competition in the timeslot on the other three main networks combined was around 22-23 million, perhaps a smidgen above the usual.

Could the controversy see viewership rise for the next episode? Probably not, and we may even see a new low in both the demo rating and in viewership, due to its scheduling against the Country Music Awards on CBS. See you next Tuesday to discern if there’s a massacre or just a knock this Sunday!

Sources: TVByTheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

N.B. I’m aware the first image and caption above was featured in last week’s post, but that’s only because I mistakenly thought this week’s episode aired last week. Last week’s episode’s post has since been corrected.

No Easter bunny hopping about for “The Simpsons”, as it narrowly avoids dipping below the two million viewers mark.

Another episode, another fractional rating for “The Simpsons”, three weeks/episodes in a row this time (a new record).

Sunday’s episode drew a 0.9/4 rating and 2.06 million viewers – the show’s lowest viewership yet. (The last episode had 2.147m viewers (but the same demo rating and share), to put into contrast.) Around 56% of viewers were in the key 18-49 demo; that equates to around 1.2 million viewers, and tied for the lowest skew of Fox’s night for non-repeat shows.

Despite all the doom and gloom, “The Simpsons” did manage to make it out as Fox’s most-watched show of the night, although that title doesn’t look so good when you realise that the most-watched show of the night got just 2.06m viewers. “Family Guy” came in just under “The Simpsons” in viewership, and slightly over in the unrounded demo rating (or at least was in preliminary ratings); it was the only other show on Fox that night with over two million viewers.

This season is currently averaging a 1.67 rating and 4.07 million viewership.

Could the low viewership be excused? The episode did have the old-skewing Jesus Christ Superstar live event to contend with on NBC, which drew around 9 million during the show’s half-hour. Around about an additional 13 million viewers were also split between the other two main networks during the timeslot, making it a 22 million opposition; although, that is not that much higher than normal…

See you next Tuesday to see how the next episode fares up – up against normal schedules with no special events and no basketball-inflated opposition. Naturally, it should increase, but we’ll see…

Sources: TVbyTheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

N.B. A previous version of this article incorrectly included an image from, and linked to, the episode that would air the following Sunday. This has been amended.

“Simpsons” may have recovered from last week, but it’s hanging onto a non-fractional future (for this season) by its fingertips.

Sunday’s episode was up on the last week’s episode (which scored a series low in the key demo and overall viewership) with a 0.9/4 rating and 2.147 million viewers – not great numbers, but it did have unusually heavy competition (which I’ll come onto later). That viewership figure is the third-lowest; last week’s episode and “The Caper Chase“‘s numbers are the first- and second-lowest respectively. The episode’s 18-49 skew was 54% (the lowest of Fox’s night), equating to approximately 1.16m viewers in that demographic.

In the key (rounded) demo ratings, “The Simpsons” tied with almt all of the rest of originals on Fox that night (“Bob’s Burgers”, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Family Guy”), but won Fox’s night in viewers (and was the only show of Fox’s night with over two million viewers).

This season is averaging 1.7 and 4.23m so far.

As aforementioned, the episode had severe competition: during its timeslot, there were around 30 million viewers in total watching the other three main networks, with the number of viewers riveted to “60 Minutes” (boosted by the basketball and the Stormy Daniels interview) constituting around/just over half that figure.

See you next Tuesday to see if the weekend of chocolate eggs will be the factor in deflating “The Simpsons”‘ ratings for the next episode.

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily

‘Simpsons’ returns to all-time low as spring downturn sets in

Daylight saving time, and spring, has well and truly arrived. And that is usually not good news for any show on television.

“The Simpsons” arrived back on our TV screens on Sunday (March 18th) with its worst numbers yet – 0.8/3 and 2.1m viewers. That 0.8 is the lowest demo rating ever, and that 2.1m is the lowest viewership ever – both below “The Caper Chase“‘s 0.92 demo rating and 2.128m viewership last April.

The equivalent episode last year – “Kamp Krustier” – scored 1.1/4 and 2.61m.

This is the fourth time “The Simpsons” has gone fractional, after recording three (0.92, 0.94, 0.97) last season.

The last episode this season we can fairly compare this to is November 19th, “Singin’ in the Lane” (the last episode that aired without a football lead-in), which drew a 1.1/4 and 2.67m. It could be said the 0.8 is just evidence of natural decline, but it is worrying, especially since…

It just added to the embarrassment that comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, which was relocated from its Tuesday slot due to it recording flop-level ratings, actually improved on “The Simpsons” in the demo and audience share (0.9/4), yet not in viewers (1.92m). “Family Guy” did even better, with 1.0/4 and 2.24m viewers, but it was a special episode (no commercial interruption) and didn’t have to face as much competition from the other networks. Previous to “The Simpsons” was a new “Bob’s Burgers”; each matched in the demo and share.

“The Simpsons” recorded a 49% 18-49 skew (around 1.03m viewers in that demo), the lowest for originals on FOX for the night.

So far, this season is averaging 1.8 and 4.4m viewers.

In “The Simpsons”‘ timeslot, around 23-25m were watching the other three main networks, which is similar, yet slightly up, on usual.

I’ll be back next Tuesday where hopefully the ratings story will be brighter.

Sources: TVBytheNumbers, SpottedRatings, ShowBuzzDaily