Not For Nothing was written by Scott M. Gimple and directed by Peter Markle.
The episode first aired on October 10, 2008 and was watched by 4.92 million viewers, with a 1.4/rating, 4/share amongst adults 18-49. Sadly this was the lowest rated episode of LIFE ever, as the show never had less than 5.4 million viewers. It was also the second time LIFE ever went below 2.0 amongst adults 18-49, the first time being the first episode to air on a Friday night. I wonder what that could mean…
Obviously there are many reasons to explain such a low performance : a lack of support from the network, also messing up with the show’s creative direction; a lack of promotion and a complete absence from the air for over 10 months — something all series in the same situation have been suffering from, see CHUCK (NBC) or even PUSHING DAISIES (ABC); and of course let’s not forget the ‘odd’ schedule and the move to Fridays, also know as the death slot.
But of course NBC will blame it on the show, its viewers - or lack of many of them, and use any kind of stupid excuse to give up on the show, or should I say ‘officially’ give up, because it looks like they already have, and are just pushing it out the door…
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
The Business Of Miracles was written by Jonathan Shapiro and directed by Elodie Keene.
The episode first aired on October 6, 2008 and was watched by 5.78 million viewers, with a 2.3/rating, 6/share amongst adults 18-49. As expected this is better than what Friday’s episode did, but it was also much lower than the last episode on Monday, the season premiere, with 1.14 million more viewers.
Of course, lead-in HEROES was also losing viewers, and going from Mondays to Fridays all the time isn’t really helping. The real worry will come when numbers on Fridays start to really look bad…
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
Everything… All The Time was written by Rand Ravich and directed by David Straiton.
The episode first aired on October 3, 2008 and was watched by 5.44 million viewers, with a 1.7/rating, 5/share amongst adults 18-49. This is obviously really not good, as it is much less than it did on Monday (6.92 million viewers, 2.8/7) and also a series-low. This was also the first time ever LIFE did not get at least a 2.0/rating on the demo, but then again, Fridays night are not called death slots for nothing. Sadly, with not even 6 million viewers or 2 on the demo, this doesn’t look good for the future of the show, starting with a full season pick up…
LIFE also fell from last season former occupant LAS VEGAS which, on October 5, had 7.48 million viewers (2.2/ration, 7/share on the demo), over 2 million more viewers. It should however be noted that lead-in DEAL OR NO DEAL only had 6.26 million viewers, with a 1.5/rating, 5/share amongst adults 18-49. So with 87 percent LIFE actually had a pretty good retention out of the game show, and even better improve on the demo. In other words, it’s not the show, it’s the slot!
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
Find Your Happy Place was written by Rand Ravich and directed by Daniel Sackheim.
The episode first aired on September 29, 2008 and was watched by 6.92 million viewers, with a 2.8/rating, 7/share amongst adults 18-49. The show came last on its slot and was down from last season’s finale in viewers (7.64 million viewers), but up on the demo (2.8 vs 2.5)
After a series premiere performing quite well and boosted by a then ratings-hit BIONIC WOMAN, for a good second half of its first season LIFE (outgrew its lead-in and) averaged 6.6 million viewers and 2.4 on the demo. Compared to those numbers, the show was up. Unfortunately, the show lost viewers with a weaker second half-hour — Here’s the half-hour breakdown :
Viewers: 7.40 million (#3), A18-49: 3.0/ 7 (#2)
Viewers: 6.43 million (#3), A18-49: 2.5/ 7 (#2)
Retention out of the last half-hour of HEROES (9.43 M, 4.5/11 at 9:30 p.m.) was somewhat good though low on the demo, with 78 percent in viewers and 67 percent among adults 18-49.
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
What They Saw was written by Jonathan Shapiro and directed by David Straiton.
The episode first aired on October 17, 2007, and was watched by 7.66 million viewers, with a 2.8/rating, 8/share amongst adults 18-49. Still loosing viewers, LIFE managed to stay put on the demo. It was again third both in viewers and amongst adults 18-49.
S01E01 on 26/09/2007 : 10,15 million viewers, 4,1/rating, 11/share
S01E02 on 03/10/2007 : 8,80 million viewers, 3,0/rating, 10/share
S01E03 on 10/10/2007 : 8,14 million viewers, 2,8/rating, 9/share
S01E04 on 17/10/2007 : 7,66 million viewers, 2,8/rating, 8/share
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
Let Her Go was written by Glen Mazzara and directed by Lawrence Thrilling.
The episode first aired on October 10, 2007, and was watched by 8.14 million viewers, with a 2.8/rating, 9/share amongst adults 18-49. Once again LIFE was third both in viewers and amongst adults 18-49.
S01E01 on 26/09/2007 : 10,15 million viewers, 4,1/rating, 11/share
S01E02 on 03/10/2007 : 8,80 million viewers, 3,0/rating, 10/share
S01E03 on 10/10/2007 : 8,14 million viewers, 2,8/rating, 9/share
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
Tear Asunder was written by Rand Ravich and directed by Daniel Sackheim
The episode first aired on October 3, 2007, and was watched by 8.80 million viewers, with a 3.0/rating, 10/share amongst adults 18-49. LIFE came third on its slot in viewers, as well as on the demo.
LIFE dropped by 1.15 million viewers and 25 percent in the demo, but is doing better than KIDNAPPED did one year ago, with just 5.15 million viewers and a 1.9/rating, 5/share in the demo.
S01E01 on 26/09/2007 : 10,15 million viewers, 4,1/rating, 11/share
S01E02 on 03/10/2007 : 8,80 million viewers, 3,0/rating, 10/share
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]
Pilot: Merit Badge was written by Rand Ravich and directed by David Semel.
The episode first aired on September 26, 2007, and was watched by 10.15 million viewers, doing well amongst adults 18-49 with a 4.1/rating, 11/share.
LIFE came third on its slot after CSI: NEW-YORK (CBS, 12.70 M) and DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC, 10.42 M) but was however the number show one on the demo, offering NBC its best performance in the Wednesday 10pm slot since June 21, 2006.
Here’s the half-hour breakdown :
10:00 p.m. Viewers: 10.79 million (#3), A18-49: 4.4/12 (#1)
10:30 p.m. Viewers: 9.50 million (#3), A18-49: 3.9/11 (#1)
[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]