Here's a good ratings comparison for the muppets
The Goldbergs went from 3.1 to 2.2 to 1.9 to 1.6, similar to the muppets, the fifth episode went up, let's hope the muppets does the same.
Thanks, MM. I was actually thinking about
The Goldbergs myself in terms of ABC being patient with a heavily-promoted new series. In its first season,
The Goldbergs actually aired at 9 EST on Tuesday nights (after
Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.) in a comedy block with the one-season wonder
Trophy Wife. ABC was patient enough to wait for the core audience to settle in, and now
The Goldbergs is enjoying great numbers in its third season (its second in ABC's Wednesday-night comedy block).
Let's face it, folks, Tuesday nights are tough.
The Flash (which Mrs. Otter and I really enjoy) just returned, and
NCIS and
The Voice are still go-to favourites. It can be argued that
The Muppets is fortunate to get the numbers it's getting. (And let's face it: How would you like to be FOX or John Stamos, attempting to digest the rock-bottom ratings for
Grandfathered?)
We can't forget two important variables about the most recent Tuesday night: the Democratic candidates' debate on CNN and the first round of the MLB playoffs. These are event-television broadcasts that will naturally bleed viewers away from regular-series TV. (And now that one of the Final Four MLB teams is Canadian, that probably won't continue.)
Also, I did a count on the ABC ratings figures and only five of its scripted series are doing better than
The Muppets in the coveted 18-49 demographic:
The Goldbergs, Modern Family, Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and
How To Get Away With Murder. Other new shows like
Quantico and
Blood and Oil are tanking.
The Middle, the Wednesday night comedy-block leader that just started its seventh season, isn't pulling
The Muppets' numbers.
Nashville, a favourite of mine that just launched its fourth season, is taking in half the audience of
The Muppets and is probably on life support right now.
Further to that thought:
The Muppets has been tagged as one of ABC's more expensive series (with double the budget of an average sitcom) but the network is holding on to other shows with even lower ratings that must cost a fortune to produce - specifically,
Once Upon A Time and
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And what else do these shows have in common with
The Muppets? Rabid fan bases that will loyally follow these series to the final episode, and even beyond.
With four quality, buzz-worthy episodes in the can and decent numbers for a new show on a busy TV night, I'm certainly not calling the TV undertaker. (Or, for that matter, the Cancellation Bear, which has
The Muppets as a good bet to be renewed for 2016-17 based on the first month's ratings.)
This isn't a rehash of the Friday-night-death-slot
Muppets Tonight days, folks. Call me overly optimistic but I really like this new show and its chances for a long run. This is a major commitment for ABC, not a
Selfie-type sitcom to be dumped after a month and a half. And until such time as the axe actually falls, I look forward to enjoying my old friends in their new shenanigans every Tuesday night.
(After Charlie Brown, of course.)