Ratings Review: ABC Fridays - First 4 Weeks

ABC Friday nights got off to an early start, premiering a week earlier than the rest of the ABC schedule. We take a look at the first month's ratings for ABC Friday nights. How each series is doing and any trends that may be appearing.

For the most part, ABC and CBS are the two networks to beat on the night. Both draw relatively decent numbers for the second worst viewing TV night, behind Saturdays. The at home crowd is limited and ABC has finally put together a lineup that takes advantage of the changing environment.

The top show on the night, from all networks, is SHARK TANK. The reality series regularly collects between 6.5 and 7 million viewers each Friday and is always the top program in the A18-49 ratings. That A18-49 leadership is usually by 15%, or more, to the next highest program.

The weak link to the night is second year sitcom, THE NEIGHBORS. It regularly drops about 1/3 of the audience LAST MAN STANDING delivers and is there with BETRAYAL as the lowest rated original ABC program of the week. ABC did order 22 episodes of THE NEIGHBORS, so it may need to ride the storm out for a little while. Or, at least, until the new year, after college football, when it can be moved to Saturday nights.

LAST MAN STANDING does solid numbers for the night and is a good series to kick off Fridays. It competes well with UNDERCOVER BOSS for the 8 p.m. 1/2 hour leadership, winning about half the time. If ABC could find a companion sitcom for 8:30 p.m., they just might win Fridays every week, in the A18-49 ratings.

Series	Category	09/20	09/27	10/04	10/11
Last Man Standing	Viewers*	6.67	5.73	6.31	6.03
	A18-49	1.5	1.2	1.4	1.2
The Neighbors	Viewers*	4.58	4.06	4.14	4.12
	A18-49	1.2	1.0	1.0	0.9
Shark Tank	Viewers*	6.86	6.94	6.45	6.53
	A18-49	1.8	2.0	1.9	1.7
20/20	Viewers*	5.60	4.44	5.82	4.75
	A18-49	1.3	1.2	1.6	1.1

* - in millions