Final ratings for Power

Smallville
- 4.211 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49
- 1.5/5 A18-34



I'm thinking we can. ;-)

I'm thinking its a combination of both AM and Clana. I know quite a few people who only tuned in this episode only cos of Clana and their last moments, who havent watched a single S8 episode.

I wanted the ratings to drop though. Ratings are increasing, and I dont want the show to be renewed.

I'm torn. I don't want the show renewed. However, I'm glad AM's directing had a strong debut (even if I doubt since it wasn't promoted then it wasn't a draw) and I also like that Clois and Lois didn't matter for ratings. I've always suspected that, naner naner.

Clana's last hurrah number 9,865. Oh, show.

I'm glad for AM's directorial debut. I hope it'll encourage her to do it again.

Now, about the ratings, altought I truly want to believe it's about AM, I think Clana has to do with it... Plus the fact that it's KK's final episodes.

I hate it but I have to admit that, as someone who never like Clana, I was happy to see KK in the show again (I bite my tongue for even thinking that ;).

And even worse, I almost didn't mind Clana (but I put that on the fact that, compared to Cnois, everything looks good in my opinion).

Best of all, KK has the power to make Nois disappear and that's a truly great power. I'll so miss her for that ;)

So much for Cnois being good for the ratings... Clana beat it all the way and make it look like rebound xD.

I think that the biggest reason is that more than half of the 8 o'clock shows were in reruns. I'm not sure how much of the general public knew it was going to be AM's directorial debut. It wasn't really advertised. I also don't think it was Clana or Lana fans tuning in as last weeks episode was under 4 million.

That being said, as much as I will miss the show, I really hope they don't do something stupid and extend it. Unless it's only for a 12 episode mid season run next year that will DIFINITIVELY wrap the show up.

Weird. Did a quarter million people really call their friends and say, Dude Lana's got powers again! Turn it on!

I would've thought it would be the opposite. People shutting it off due to nausea and seizures due to Clana.

40% increase of women. Dawn must be on cloud 9. Who knows maybe PS3 are already working on a Lana Lang spin off.

I would put the increase down purely to most of the competition being in repeats. And the rise in the last half hour? High chance that it's pre-tune in for Supernatural for the viewers that don't watch both shows.



I cannot stand another season of this show, in any shape or form. The only thing that made me stick around after hearing about MR leaving was the fact that KK was going too (Nothing against the actress, just the character she's had to portray.). I've liked this season up until a few weeks ago, but it's clear there just aren't any stories left to tell. And I would really rather they treated this Doomsday storyline as the show's endgame since it has the potential to be great, but only if they fully commit to actually using it to end the show completely. I don't think it'll work if it's written in a season/maybe-series finale. Please, PS3, stop waffling, take charge, and end the show already.

Alternatively: Tom Welling, please don't sign on for Season 9!

I'm sure the conversation would have been more like:

"Dude, they burnt Lana Lang's skin off, replaced it with nanites, and now she has Clark's powers! No, I'm not kidding! No, I'm not high! Turn your TV on. You have to see this! It's like a train wreck I can't not watch!"

Voila. Ratings spike.

that seems like a good explanation, actually.

Not just women in general, but those in her target demo of 18-34. Which is especially interesting, because the Nois featured episodes have skewed to older demos. I'm in the target demo, & the characters I began watching as a *teen* are the ones I'm invested in seeing payoff for, & this has been rumored to be the Last Season - which is why many might be tuning in. JMHO.

I've always found that Nois and ICONIC!CLois seemed, to me, to feel like "Here comics fanboys!" as far as advertising and such. Fanboys don't seem to be that 18-34 demo that Dawn is looking for, but yMMV.

Exactly, MissPiggyWiggy. Same boat here, and I'm sure there are others like us.

Me too I'm target demo sadly I'm overseas so I don't count :(

It is frustrating to actually be in the target demo and not be seeing payoff for what I've been waiting for after watching since the beginning, but for anybody out there, yes we exist! Now give me more Chlark.

She's actually probably spitting nails. She hates the show and the better it does in ratings and demos, the stupider she'll look when she cancels it.

From pifeedback:

I'm confused. Episodes earlier in the season were getting over 4 million and SV was "aging" and "fading" and other choice words. Yet it falls below 4 million and that's considered a positive now? It must be the Lana Effect.

I think the key is that it's a positive for the CW not for SV itself.

If you look year to year (by episode number at least, I can't speak for by date) season eight underperformed season seven in total viewers for episodes 1-9 while over performing it for episodes 10-14. So while the season does have declining numbers it is holding up much better than season seven did. The fact that episodes 10-14 happen to also be the ones with KK may be a coincidence or maybe it's not. Whether this season can out do season seven without KK remains to be seen.

Requiem also grew at the half. It was a smller growth, but I think this has more to do with Bones being in the mix, rather than SV's quality(or lack thereof):

8, 3.823,1.5/4,1.4/5
8:30, 3.940, 1.6/4, 1.6/5

I wondered about that too, but I think jwm has hit on the likely answer. This guy is very concerned about a show's performance compared to last year. Since SV typically drops off in the spring, this episode may have done relatively well compared to last season's counterpart. Or he may be taking other things into consideration, such as the fact that the show was up against stronger competition.

My money is on this. It'll be interesting to see how Smallville performs when Survivor returns.

Also UB's ratings have been down. They'll be shelving that in sweeps for something else for Thursdays at 8 PM on ABC. So the competition keeps getting stiffer. Bones is the beginning but then survivor and new shows can add to it. Should be very interesting...

What jwm said basically. Year-to-year performance is generally used by tv analysts to decide on the potency of a series. In the Fall, Smallville's ratings were down from S7 which looked bad. However, with KK's guest appearance in these episodes, the decline in ratings for the January episodes of S8 hasn't been as sharp as the decline for the Spring S7 epsidoes so they look better by comparison.

The KK episodes benefitted some from lack of competition with a lot of shows still in reruns. It's hard to predict what will happen when the show returns.
-With "Bones" and "Samantha Who" airing opposite the competition is getting stiffer.
-A hiatus always hurts ratings.
-KK fans who cushioned the loss of any regular viewers for her run of episodes are not likely to return after the break.
-Will those regular viewers who left will be back or cut ties permanently?
-Warmer weather increasingly keeps people outdoors & away from tv watching in the Spring. How much will this affect ratings?
-Will the depressing, dark tone turn off people?

Interesting is that depressing tones tend to run people off (See Buffy or SV season three). I am interested in what happens with stiffer and stiffer competition and KK fans no longer watching at all. Some were watching season eight in the beginning just to keep up with the story line for when Lana returned, but not now. Also, SV may have screwed itself in one big way. People were watching on the promise/hope MR would return. After Requiem, it seems like Lex isn't coming back this season. MR coming back was a big draw cause Lex Luthor is that.

First, let me say that there are too many variables to say one specific thing has driven the numbers. Competition, advertisement, plotline, pre-emption (presidential, football, or otherwise). Having said that, the Clois-heavy S8 fall was about 10% lower than S7 for the first five episodes while the Clana-heavy S8 5-episode arc is beating the S7 numbers by...you guessed it, about 10%.

I think the trend of beating last year's numbers in the winter is what is causing positive feedback but I also expect a dismal spring based on the competition. One counter-indication BTW is when the economy is bad, people stay home and watch broadcast entertainment for free rather than spend money going out. They also drop cable if they are really hurting. This could affect the spring numbers IMO -- again, just a thought.

"The CW was up compared with the same week a year ago in its target demo, led by "Smallville" (3.9 million, 1.6/4). "

Hollywood Reporter

So is Smallville new tonight? The CW website says it is, but all other listings (like TV Guide) say it is a repeat. Does anyone know for sure?

It's a repeat, definitely. New episodes do not start until March 12. Craig just posted a correction to the schedule for airing last night.

Variety says the CW is doing sort of okay overall.

Television Week reports that Smallville will return for a Season Nine.

Poor Omar!

You know how in the "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", the poet has "measured out his life in coffee spoons?"

For Omar, it's red jackets and continuity errors.

At least Omar is getting paid to watch it. What's our excuse? :(

I keep hearing that Nois heavy episodes are the big ratings drawing this season I though those where Lana's what is the truth? Thanks.

I can't exactly understand your question, but perhaps a breakdown of the episodes ranked by viewers and a note of whether each had Lana and/or Lois would be helpful?

1. 8.08 Bloodline - 4.46 million; 1.9/5 A18-49 (had Lois)
2. 8.01 Odyssey - 4.34 million; 1.8/6 A18-49 (had Lois)
3. 8.07 Identity - 4.32 million; 1.7/5 A18-49 (had Lois)
4. 8.11 Legion - 4.30 million; 1.8/5 A18-49 (had Lana)
5. 8.13 Power - 4.21 million; 1.7/5 A18-49 (had Lana)
6. 8.02 Plastique - 4.18 million; 1.7/5 A18-49 (had Lois)
7. 8.05 Committed - 4.18 million; 1.7/5 A18-49 (had Lois)
8. 8.10 Bride - 4.18 million; 1.7/5 A18-49 (had Lois) (had Lana)
9. 8.06 Prey - 4.16 million; 1.7/4 A18-49
10. 8.04 Instinct - 4.12 million; 1.6/4 A18-49 (had Lois)
11. 8.03 Toxic - 4.05 million; 1.6/4 A18-49 (had Lois)
12. 8.14 Requiem - 3.93 million; 1.6/4 A18-49 (had Lana)
13. 8.12 Bulletproof - 3.85 million; 1.6/4 A18-49 (had Lana)
14. 8.09 Abyss - 3.56 million; 1.4/4 A18-49

Two of Lana's episodes were among the highest (but definitely not the highest), but two were also two of the very lowest, so. Take that for what you will. Lois's episodes tend to perform well, typically.

I don't think it had anything to do with Lois per se...

Bloodline had Kara's return, and the origins of Doomsday
Odyssey was the premier and JL
Identity was Clark getting his picture taken by Jimmy
Legion had the Legion
Power AM was directing the episode.

The episodes that featured Lois the heaviest/promoted the hell out was moderate.

Plastique, Committed, Bride

I don't think Lois's episodes are as well as one thinks, it's just a good episode that Lois Lane was in.

This has already been discussed on previous pages. jwm explained the deal.



Tv analysts looks at performance on a year-to-year basis. Fall ratings are expected to be higher than spring ratings because warmer weather decreases tv viewership in general. The surprise was that Episodes 8.10-8.14 (with Lana) had better ratings than 7.10-7.14, while 8.1-8.9 had lower ratings than 7.1-7.9.

The other thing is that Lana drew a younger, more female audience which is what the CW wants and will boast about.. Basically imagine that Dawn Ostroff is prejudice against men and adults over 34 and wants nothing to do with them so she was thrilled by the young female audience Lana's return pulled in.

I think this claim about Bloodline rather chafes my ass on behalf of Kara and Laura Vandervoort. Lois wasn't even LOIS for most of that episode. I think it's much more plausable that people tuned in to see how Kara's storyline ended (which is how it was promoted), but as always, YMMV.

Eh, well, opinions on that subject will vary WIDELY based on who and where you ask. :) I wasn't considering whether one was in the episode more or less, I was just trying to answer the poster's question in terms of cold, hard numbers. Ratings for episodes of television shows can never be attributed to any one cause, and it's actually LEAST likely to be the episode content. There's too many variables:

1. The previous week's episode influences the current week's audience.
2. The *quantity* of advertisement often correlates to how many viewers there are.
3. The *quality* of advertisement often correlates to how many viewers there are.
4. Non-advertisement-related buzz, e.g. advance episode reviews, star appearances elsewhere, etc.
5. The degree of competition in the same timeslot on different networks and channels.
6. Where the episode fell in time. Was it during a holiday period? In the fall or in the spring?

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The only problem Smallville has at this point is that it's very male-skewed; its audience leans more towards M18-34 than W18-34. This actually isn't a bad thing because it still means MONEY. M18-34 is harder to get than W18-34, so as long as Smallville remains profitable, they wouldn't dare drop it, and they'll be grateful to have it. However, you'll notice The CW does indeed heavily promote episodes where a female character is predominant, because, well, it boosts the W18-34 demographic. Generally speaking.

Also, randomly, I've been meaning to post an ordered list of all current episodes for LIVE+7 Day ratings:

1. 8.08 Bloodline - 5.020 million
2. 8.07 Identity - 4.991 million
3. 8.13 Power - 4.938 million
4. 8.11 Legion - 4.892 million
5. 8.01 Odyssey - 4.804 million
6. 8.02 Plastique - 4.782 million
7. 8.05 Committed - 4.729 million
8. 8.06 Prey - 4.708 million
9. 8.04 Instinct - 4.706 million
10. 8.03 Toxic - 4.614 million
11. 8.14 Requiem - 4.602 million
12. 8.12 Bulletproof - 4.536 million
13. 8.09 Abyss - 4.382 million

[Data for 8.10 Bride not available.]
Shockingly consistent - typical variation being less than half a million viewers. Abyss is the only real outlier there.

General viewership is not as important as demos and we don't have access online to the gender demos the CW does.

To them, "Power" was the best rated episode of the season and that's why they put out a press release for it.





Smallville doesn't fit in with Dawn Ostroff's plans to turn the CW into another Lifetime. She dumped Wrestling which does well with men and makes money bc it skewed too male. She's just buying herself some time by renewing SV for another season in hopes that she can launch a show that will be 1) cheaper, 2) more female friendly, 3)flashier and 4) something she can actually take credit for.

Oh, I'm well aware of that. We just don't HAVE those numbers, so the only thing we can talk about is the ones we DO have. :D

SmackDown skewed male, but it also had the lowest ad rates on television. It wasn't hitting demographics advertisers wanted to pay for. The CW can literally make more money off of two hours of America's Next Top Model reruns. (Top Model reruns score over $50,000 an ad; SmackDown ORIGINALS barely grabbed over $20,000 an ad. SmackDown had a slight advantage in that it runs year-round and the licensing was very cheap, but even still, a repeat of any other show on the network can grab over that year-round. And plus, that show had NOTHING in common with any other show on the network.)

Smallville, on the other hand, pulls in some demos advertisers want to pay for. Its ad rates were, last I saw, on par with Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill's. And that's to say nothing of other arenas Smallville makes money in. But as Smallville ages, it does become less and less profitable, and I'd be shocked to see it go past season 9 unless The CW's development slate for '10-'11 looks terrible.

What I find interesting, as an admitted Kara/Laura Vandervoort fan, is that the episode that rated the highest for the season was Bloodline. Not Lana's return. Not the Justice League. Not the terrifying reign of the ICONIC ICONS OF BONDED ICONISITY! No, Kara.

Even when you look at the DVR numbers it's still Bloodline.

And that's the character they axed from the show...

In the episode of Bloodline - the promo for that episode was Lois, Clark, and Kara in the Phantom Zone - with Lois, her words and images a huge part of it. So to say that the draw of Bloodline was because of Kara and not Lois, I don't think is entirely fair. Yes, this episode signaled the brief return of Kara, but it was mainly about Lois being somewhere with Clark that she had never been and how were they going to get out of it.

All the episodes that Lois was in had over 4 million viewers. The same cannot be said about Chloe and Lana episodes, in fact Abyss which was mainly a Chloe ep was the lowest. Whether it's liked or not, Lois's presence on the show does not hurt it's ratings.

Abyss did poorly because the trailor implied it was a Chlimmy episode.

Nois wasn't Nois for most of the episode and as Nois she didn't further any plot. I believe it's the combination of LV's/Kara's return and Davis/Doomsday backstory that made the episode interesting to a wider audience. As a Chlarker/Chloiser I enjoyed the episode for those reasons.

The trailer for Abyss was about Chloe and all the people in her life, with the fact that she was forgetting them.

The trailer for Bloodline didn't even have Lois as Faora in it.

The trailer for "Abyss" unfortunately made it look like a Chimmy episode. Chimmy is death in the ratings-- see "Sleeper." I bet concentrating on all the Chlark kisses instead would have made ratings go through the roof:-).