"The Shield" - NOW what?
Well, that was a messy ending to season 5.0 of "The Shield." In just three weeks, they'll start taping the next 10 episodes -- "season 5.5," as insiders are calling it -- which will air later this year or maybe 2007. And then who knows what.
The outcome of "The Shield" may be turning on another program that aired last night. "The Unit," from "Shield" creator Shawn Ryan plus David Mamet, scored what CBS is promoting as a significant share of its previous week's rating (85%), given the fact that last week's had a "NCIS" first-run lead-in and this was a rerun.
If "The Unit" keeps putting up decent numbers, the temptation would be strong for Ryan to make these next 10 episodes of "The Shield" the last. He intimated as much in an interview last week on public radio.
March 22, 2006
ON ITS THIRD MISSION, "THE UNIT" OVERCOMES A REBROADCAST LEAD-IN AND STILL RETAINS 86% OF LAST WEEK'S ADULT 18-49 RATING AGAINST "AMERICAN IDOL"
"NCIS" Rebroadcast is a Solid Second in Viewers and Key Demos Against First-Run Competition
"The Amazing Race" Hits the Mat Second in Key Demos
The third episode of THE UNIT retained 86% of last week's adult 18-49 delivery and 85% of its viewer tally with a rebroadcast lead-in and competition from an extended "American Idol," according to preliminary Nielsen ratings for Tuesday, March 21.
THE UNIT posted a 9.7/14 with 15.27m viewers, 5.7/12 in adults 25-54 and 4.2/09 in adults 18-49 -- second behind an extended episode of FOX's "American Idol". Compared to last week, THE UNIT retained 85% of both viewers (from 18.07m) and adults 25-54 (from 6.7/14) and 86% of adults 18-49 (from 4.9/11). Note: Last week's episode had a first run NCIS as a lead-in.
A rebroadcast of NCIS was second in households (7.5/11), viewers (11.55m), adults 25-54 (3.7/08) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07) against primarily first-run competition.
THE AMAZING RACE delivered a 6.0/10 with 9.39m viewers, 3.0/09 in adults 18-34, 3.9/10 in adults 18-49 and 4.6/11 in adults 25-54. THE AMAZING RACE was second in adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34.
For the night, CBS was second in households (7.7/12), viewers (12.07m), adults 25-54 (4.6/10) and adults 18-49 (3.6/09) -- all behind FOX's two hours of "American Idol".
Final Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.
