Adjustments in the finals might dampen the impact slightly, but based on the preliminary ratings, it appears there was a slight “Miley Cyrus effect” on “Two and a Half Men” ratings this week.
“Men” rose to a season-high 4.0 adults 18-49 rating, building on the 3.5 it delivered for its previous episode. Viewership clocked in at 13.6 million.
Lead-in “The Big Bang Theory” was also up slightly, rising to a 4.7 rating with 15.4 million viewers, but that minor increase would not explain the entirety of the “Men” ratings rise.
Though one of TV’s most popular shows, “Men,” save for the shakeup involving Ashton Kutcher replacing Charlie Sheen, does not typically generate too much buzz for its content. Thanks to still shots showing Cyrus in skimpy attire, this week’s “Men” episode generated more anticipation than is usually the case, and the ratings boost seems to indicate a slight connection between buzz and audience interest.