Here are the ratings for the two soapy shows that aired last night (on The CW):
90210 - 1.2/3 in 18-49, 2.4 million total viewers
PRIVILEGED - 0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.5 million total viewers
Last week GOSSIP GIRL had 2.27 million viewers (this week was a rerun).
Meanwhile, GUIDING LIGHT was the lowest rated daytime soap last week with 2.36 million viewers.
I have asked this question before and it still remains - why is there such a huge gap in hype between some shows than others? GOSSIP GIRL is everywhere. You'll see it in the tabloids, on the entertainment news shows, in newspapers, billboards, anywhere you look. The only mainstream stories you've been seeing about daytime soaps lately are how they are doomed.
Daytime is doomed when the lowest rated show has basically the same number of viewers as GOSSIP GIRL and 90210? Why is this? And could GG or 90210 sustain their ratings over five days a week? Perhaps the daytime soaps move to The CW where 2.4 million viewers equates to being a huge hit.
The hype differential does not only apply to daytime though. THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER on ABC Family routinely has more viewers than GOSSIP GIRL on Monday nights yet has very little notoriety in the mainstream press.
The media tends to fall in love with certain shows and they receive an inordinate amount of hype, but media attention does not always equate to viewers.
Absolutely agreed, Roger, and I say it all the time. People rave about Mad Men and other shows, yet the "least of these soaps" still draw more viewers than some of the hottest cable and even broadcast primetime shows, as you're pointing out. That means the "death of the soap" is definitely premature, and it's a shame the EW's of the world don't cover soaps.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your questions, though, it's all about the demos: people will pay more attention to Gossip Girl because of its popularity among youth. GL could have more viewers, but a large proportion aren't the viewers "that count."