Rating Review: MODERN FAMILY (Season Four)

MODERN FAMILY is easily one of the new classic sitcoms of today's TV programming. But season four was a bit of a bumpy rod for the hit sitcom.

As you can see from the chart, it started the 2012-13 season strong, pulling in over 12 million viewers and a high four rating in the A18-49 demographic. Once the LIVE+7 ratings came out, it was usually the top gainer in time shifted viewing. But as the season progressed, it started to shed viewers. It's last 12+ million viewer episode was on November, 2012. It last pulled a 4.0+ demo rating twice between the February and May sweeps months.

It is my contention that MODERN FAMILY is not constant in delivering funny episodes. When its on, it is hilarious. When its off, it is very noticeable and that 30 minutes seems like 3 hours. We shall see if the syndication of the series has the positive effect on it, like recent sitcoms THE BIG BANG THEORY and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER had after they were launched in syndication.

For the season, MODERN FAMILY drew an average of 9.31 million viewers and a 3.5 rating in Adults 18-49, for the 35 airings the series had, including 11 repeats. Unless the series pulls a DREW CAREY SHOW on ABC, it should see another two to four seasons, easily.

MODERN FAMILY (Wednesdays at 9 p.m., on ABC)

Date	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
09/26/12	14.44	5.5
10/03/12	Preempted
10/10/12	12.08	4.8
10/10/12	12.31	4.9	2%	9:30
10/17/12	12.28	4.7	0%
10/24/12	12.52	4.9	2%
10/31/12	10.62	4.2	-15%
11/07/12	12.43	4.8	17%
11/14/12	11.89	4.6	-4%
11/21/12	5.81	1.7	-45%	R
11/28/12	12.01	4.7	-3%
12/05/12	8.36	2.9	-30%	R
12/12/12	10.94	4.2	31%
12/19/12	5.70	1.8	-48%	R
12/26/12	5.46	1.7	-4%	R
01/02/13	6.56	2.1	20%	R
01/09/13	11.96	4.7	82%
01/16/13	11.01	4.3	-8%
01/23/13	10.83	4.2	-2%
01/30/13	6.14	2.2	-43%	R
02/06/13	9.83	3.7	60%
02/13/13	10.05	3.8	2%
02/20/13	10.62	4.0	6%
02/27/13	10.53	3.9	-1%
03/06/13	6.16	2.1	-42%	R
03/13/13	5.18	1.8	-16%	R
03/20/13	5.42	1.8	5%	R
03/27/13	9.09	3.2	68%
04/03/13	10.88	4.2	20%
04/10/13	10.38	3.8	-5%
04/17/13	6.43	2.0	-38%	R
04/24/13	4.38	1.8	-32%	R
05/01/13	9.64	3.6	120%
05/08/13	9.02	3.3	-6%
05/15/13	10.03	3.7	11%
05/22/13	10.01	3.7	0%

* - in millions