The CW kicked off its fall season with the premieres of “America’s Next Top Model” and “Hellcats” Wednesday, and while both performed respectably in terms of standards for the networks, it was the freshman series that made the more positive impact.
“Top Model” was actually down a bit from last year, opening to 2.88 million viewers and a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating. Last season’s two-hour premiere averaged a 1.5 rating, while the first episode to air in conjunction with a CW scripted offering (the short-lived “The Beautiful Life”) posted a 1.4 rating against heftier network competition.
Given how shows like the cancelled “Melrose Place” and still-living “90210” fell from their premiere numbers, it is far too early to treat the “Hellcats” premiere as a legitimate positive. But in building slightly on the viewership of its “ANTM” lead-in (2.99 million viewers) and suffering a minimal decline among adults 18-49 (1.25), the show performed competently in a timeslot that has been tough for the network in recent years.
Among the network’s target women 18-34 demo, “Hellcats” averaged a 2.05, slightly ahead of the 2.0 for “Top Model.”
Good news was also found in growth from half hour one to half hour two, an indication that curious viewers were at least midly interested in what they were watching.
Of course, with the other networks largely out of the competitive arena until the week of September 20, it is far too early to celebrate. Between the possibility of post-premiere recession and the negative impact of heightened competition, “Hellcats” could conceivably be only a few weeks away from ratings trouble.
But, for now, the show performed quite compatibly with “Top Model” and certainly made a better impact than “The Beautiful Life,” so network brass can at least wear a slight smile around the office today.
