Buzz carried The CW’s “Gossip Girl” through a low-rated first season, assuring that when it came back for the season two premiere last year, it would be on the demographic’s radar. Sure enough, it opened rather strong and, combined with a huge bow for the “90210” remake, made things look promising for The CW.
Then, as the season went on, both shows quickly lost their luster–and audience. The “Gossip Girl” ratings sank even as key storylines were introduced, and the show that had become the face of the network was no longer a special performer.
The hope was that a summer of hype–and additional eyeballs on the network for “Melrose Place” and “Vampire Diaries”–would help rejuvenate the show for season three. It did not.
“Gossip Girl” premiered Monday to a low 1.7/3 rating; it averaged 2.5 million viewers overall. Below “One Tree Hill” in total viewers (the lead-in show did 2.6 million), it performed slightly better in adults 18-49 (1.3 vs. 1.2) and adults 18-34 (2.0 to 1.6).
And if the disappointing ratings for “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” were, in anyway, artificially bolstered by buzz for the new season (and lack of rival network competition), Monday is not looking strong for the network.
I don’t know why this is happening! It leads me to believe rating systems are faulty, or else the public at large has no taste in good television. Season 2 was amazing, the second half when their ratings dropped off was absolutely better than ever! It honestly makes zero sense, the show doesn’t deserve such a crummy rep.
I really believe this is because it does not take in to effect the number of people who don’t watch the show live (I know I don’t). If they included itunes downloads and viewings on the website (not to mention the people who probably watch this through less than legal means) the numbers are greater.
Certainly this show benefits from a strong online/DVR presence (and a lot of buzz–as a TV news editor, it’s easily one of the top ten shows I hear about), but ultimately a network’s big advertising money comes from ads during a live show. So the traditional rating DOES matter greatly.
As for the rating, the problem with the show is that it is VERY narrow in its target. It’s called Gossip *GIRL*, it takes a very female-oriented approach (Kristen Bell using “chick speak” as the narrator), bases itself around the glamor of New York’s elite (most interesting to women concerned with fashion/luxury) and doesn’t really have strong male characters (Chuck Bass is a fantastic character, but as he is far from an alpha male on the surface, he too is a tough sell for male viewers). Even a show like The OC, from the same creator in Josh Schwartz, showed more flexibility in its targeting–it had more engaging storylines with the parents and a group of youth actors that represented more than a small portion of the female population.
So, you basically have surburban/urban women 13-34 (I’d say it’s probably narrowed to like 15-25 in reality). A great/influential demographic, but not one that watches a great deal of TV (and not one that can give you a monster overall rating).
I am a rabid GG fan (Go Bluck!) but I’ve never watched a live episode. Who does that still? Seriously. TV Suits need to understand that things are different now. Having TiVO, DVR’s, and the internet makes it easy for us to NOT work our schedules around THEIRS in order to enjoy our favorite shows. I always get annoyed when i hear ratings info about this show and ABC’s Lost. Another one I love, but never catch live. Besides, it’s so much better to NOT have to sit through commercials! That’s another main reason I watch stuff on my DVR.
Um, I don’t know where you got this information from because the S3 premier got 3.5 million viewers.
No it did not. Headline Planet’s report is 100% correct (the final rating might fluctuate SLIGHTLY, but not by a million viewers); not sure where the 3.5 figure is coming from, but it is not true.
How could anyone really expect ‘high’ ratings? They didn’t promote this show, at least not in a very catchy way. The ads they did have were quick, unprovocative, and misleading. C’mon, who wants to see Chuck fooling around with some blonde? Not me. The second half of season two was unbearable with the exception of 2×22 and 2×25. I have to admit, Monday night I lost my cool after the first ten minutes. I hated it so much…nothing like season one, or even two for that matter. Boring, poorly acted (even Ed and Leighton didn’t pack the punch), with a lack of continuity, amazing fashion, sex and fun… I can’t say I’m surprised. Next week the numbers will be lower. I blame the writers for failing to deliver anything of interest. I had so many ideas for the new season…and they were so much better than what the writers came up with.
im not about gossip girl, but one tree gets no publicity. the show has been on for 7 years now, and the cw doesnt give it the publicity it deserves. i cant judge gg because i dont watch it.
Critically acclaimed and a popular success, Lost garnered an average of 16 million viewers per episode on ABC during its first year. It has won numerous industry awards including the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005, Best American Import at the British Academy Television Awards in 2005, the Golden Globe for Best Drama in 2006 and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series.