JustTV 2004/05 TV Review: Biggest Hits2004/2005
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Desperate Housewives (ABC)
With all the press that this show has gotten this year, it's hard not to be reminded of all that this show is and what it has done. It finished the season number 4 in viewers and number 3 in adults, without the help of a huge-hit lead-in ("Extreme Makeover" is a big hit, yes, but viewers aren't tuning into "DH" solely because of "EM: HE"), it came away with 5 Golden Globe nominations and 2 big wins, it's the series of the year as far as hype is concerned and it's actually a good show. Coming from nothing, "Housewives" is, unequivocably, the hit of the year.
Lost (ABC)
I jumped on the "Housewives" train early and came to "Lost" sometime in November, but what I've slowly come to realize is that "Lost" is the better series of the two. Full of good, "X-Files"ish creepiness, interesting characters, good scenery and great scripts, viewers have made this a top 15 show. During a regular year, this would be the toast of tv and "Lost" would have all of the magazine covers, but it's a credit to ABC that it has an even bigger new hit doing all of that.
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Only a year ago, race fans were worried that the fifth seasn, dumped in the summer would be the last, until CBS decided to schedule the 6th edition for Saturdays at 8pm, the death knell. But over last summer, "Race" picked up steam and became the summer show of the year. Although numbers for the 6th edition were up somewhat, it took Rob & Amber to push the 7th edition into official hit territory, finishing up the season with just under 13 million viewers and a near top 20 birth in adults. The finale finally broke out, drawing 16 million viewers and a 6.8/18 in adults 18-49, series bests in both respects, and beat "The Apprentice" final by a comfortable margin. Why do I add that? Last September, when "Race" won the emmy, Trump complained that "Race" was a show that nobody watched. The tables have certainly turned, Donald.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Okay, so it's ABC's year. Early on, "DH" looked like one of those shows that was an event, one that viewers would watch and then tune out. That was certainly true for the ratings of "Boston Legal," which were barely half of it's lead-in. Hopes were not too high for "Grey's Anatomy," until it premiered, that is. Finishing the season in the top 5 in adults and at number 9 in viewers, it's helped ABC to lock up the three biggest new hits of the season.
House (Fox)
In the fall, House was a critically acclaimed, little watched series that averaged a little more than 7 million viewers a week. Then January came along and "House" did what no other Fox show has been able to do: make appropriate use of it's post "Idol" lead-in. The ratings were merely okay at first- 12.9mil viewers, but the slowly increased until the show was drawing 15 million, then 16, then 17 and now 18 million. The real test will come this fall when "House" doesn't have "Idol," but with it now holding 75% or better of its lead-in (typical post "Idol" retention had been a mere 50%), a good portion of those viewers will stick with the series.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
It's not exactely a new show, but the second season of the feel good series increased viewership by nearly 50% in viewers and adults, just about landing itself in the top 10 in both respects.
Medium (NBC)
After a fall season of nothing but bombs, NBC needed a hit desperately, and that it got with "Medium." NBC has had troubles Mondays at 10pm since "CSI Miami" came on the scene a few years ago, but "Medium" managed to carve out a nice niche for itself and finished the season in the top 20 in adults and viewers.
Num3ers (CBS)
CBS has had a lot of problems in the Friday at 10pm slot, and while this show is not a mega hit (it finished the season in the top 40), it does hold one record- it's been the only series that has been able to kill a "Law & Order."
The Family Guy (Fox)
Fox has been having a really rough time on Sundays this season, and all seemed to be lost until this show came back for it's third time after being cancelled twice, and managed to finish the season in the top 30 in adults, opening up an hour that had been dead to Fox.
Gilmore Girls (WB)
It's very rare that a show in its fifth season will actually increase its viewership and still have fans buzzing, but that's exactely what this show did. It also finished as the WB top rated series in adults 18-49, the first time it's ever done that, increasing its audience by 20% in the demo.