I have been eagerly anticipating writing this blog today. I was all set to do it this morning but the numbers were not yet out and so I had to go about my day and accomplish other tasks before being able to come back to writing it. As I am typing now, I do not yet know the numbers. I haven’t gone and checked my sources to see what they are. I must say I’m a little nervous about looking. If there is one new show that I truly care about how well it does and if it ends up remaining on the air, this is it. I was so very excited when I heard that a new version of one of my favorites was coming to TV. Last nights show did not disappoint. I didn’t even really wait to watch it. I let it go ahead by a few minutes and watched most of it live because I just couldn’t wait.
It was interesting keeping what I remember of the 80’s version in my mind while watching the new version. The differences were very apparent from the beginning. For one, the female heroin of the show is not a U.S scientist but rather an FBI agent. The male hero that will undoubtedly lead the charge of putting together the resistance against the Vistors is not a reporter but a priest! We’ll have to wait and see if or when Chad, the reporter that snags the interview with Anna, will join the resistance. The true intentions of the V’s unfolded almost immediately. I love the scenario that they have been amongst us for quite some time. To avoid any spoilers I won’t mention just who we discovered is actually a V , but it was a cool little shocker to find out right from the start. Leaves you wondering how many amongst the population are actually human and who are actually one of the them. I laughed when the beautiful female leader revealed her name was Anna (the original was Diana). And, of course, the show is very relevant to today and today’s current events. All in all, I was very happy. This is NOT your Mom’s ‘V’, but is definitely a ‘V’ for a new generation (and the older one too!) .
Okay..here I go, I’m going to look up the ratings right now (by the way, I had my husband asking after it was over what rating it got..LOL. I had to explain to him that I won’t know until, well now! Huh, soon he will no more about TV than most). Here I go………………….
And.. YES!!! Ready for it.. ‘V’ had 13.76M viewers with a 4.9/13 and was #1 and it increased in to 14.13M with 5.1/13 in the second half hour! Oh.. I am a very happy TV viewer. Now, we just have to wait and see what the numbers bring in for week 2 , what the drop off is and where it will settle in weeks 3 and 4. But I’m pretty certain that it’s going to hold strong!
Here is the press release from ABC on the issue (I found it at pifeedback.com)
ABC’s “V” Opens Big – #1 New TV Show of the Season
Some V highlights ahead of the regular press release
Opposite stiff established original competition in Tuesday’s 8 o’clock hour, including CBS’ top-rated NCIS, NBC’s Biggest Loser and Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, ABC’s V opened a strong #1 in Adults 18-49, soaring to the top of its slot and leading second-place CBS’ NCIS by 19% (5.0/13 vs. 4.2/11).
In fact despite its early time period with lower overall viewing levels and with no network lead-in, self-starter V stood as Tuesday’s #1 TV program overall in the key young adult sales demo and as the season’s highest-rated new series debut this TV Season. In a good sign for future viewing the new ABC drama generated tune-in throughout its premiere, growing in both Total Viewers (13.8 million to 14.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.9/13 to 5.1/13) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.
V marked ABC’s strongest performance in the time period among Adults 18-49 in 3 years (any programming) since 11/14/06.
Topping CBS’ spinoff NCIS: LA series debut in September by 14% (5.0/13 vs. 4.4/11 – which had the added advantage of airing out of the season opener of NCIS), V qualifies as the top-rated Tuesday night fall series debut among Adults 18-49 on any network since 2005 and ABC’s highest since 2003 since 9/20/05 and since 9/23/03, respectively.
V opened with the highest Adult 18-49 rating for a regular 8pm drama debut (any net/any night) since ABC’s Lost on 9/22/04.
Oh.. I am ONE happy TV fan today!!
Just a little side note, some very political types on a message board I belong to are actually trying to claim that ‘V’ is taking a swipe at Obama because of the reference to Universal Health Care etc (yeah, okay, whatever..LOL) Another poster answered that it is more in line with the consipracy theory about the Illuminati lizards. Okay, I’ve heard of the Illuminati conspiracy theory, but I’ve never heard about the part where those that make up the Illuminati are lizard people..LOL. Wow, some people are just way out
