By David Bauder, Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --For all the changes in television over the past decade — how it is consumed and the explosion of new outlets and programs — CBS’ popularity with the masses remains unchallenged.
The traditional television season ended last Wednesday and, for the ninth year in a row, CBS finished as the most popular network in primetime. CBS has won 14 of the last 15 years, the Nielsen company said.
CBS’ “NCIS” finished as the most-watched drama for the eighth year in a row, and “The Big Bang Theory” was the most popular comedy for the seventh straight year. With no reason to change, both series will be back next season, with “The Big Bang Theory” accompanied by a new prequel based on Sheldon’s character.
Nielsen said CBS averaged 9.6 million viewers a night in primetime, with time-delayed viewing of up to seven days included. The network was down 11 percent from last season. NBC was second, essentially flat from last year, ABC was third and down 9 percent, and Fox gained 1 percent, although helped significantly by showing the Super Bowl in 2017.
The notion of a traditional TV season is slowly falling by the wayside, with more original programming available in the summer. Reality shows and games dominate the warm-weather months.
Last week, CBS won in primetime, averaging 5.2 million viewers. NBC had 4.63 million, ABC had 4.56 million, Fox had 3.3 million, Univision had 1.7 million, the CW had 1.32 million, ION Television had 1.31 million and Telemundo had 810,000.
Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.25 million viewers in prime time. TNT had 2.2 million, MSNBC had 1.61 million, USA had 1.41 million and HGTV had 1.36 million.
NBC’s “Nightly News” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 7.8 million viewers. ABC’s “World News Tonight” was second with 7.5 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 6.2 million viewers.
Below are primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for May 22-28. Listings include the week’s ranking and viewership.
1. “Dancing With the Stars” (Monday), ABC, 10.54 million.
2. “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 9.65 million.
3. “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 9.37 million.
4. “Dancing With the Stars” (Tuesday), ABC, 8.91 million.
5. “Bull,” CBS, 8.54 million.
6. “Survivor,” CBS, 8.38 million.
7. “NCIS,” CBS, 8.3 million.
8. NBA Playoffs: Boston vs. Cleveland, Game 4, TNT, 7.05 million.
9. “Empire,” Fox, 6.97 million.
10. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 6.79 million.
11. Movie: “Dirty Dancing,” ABC, 6.58 million.
12. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 6.43 million.
13. “Diana: Life-Death-Truth,” CBS, 6.15 million.
14. “Law & Order: SVU,” NBC, 6.12 million.
15. NBA Playoffs: Cleveland vs. Boston, Game 5, TNT, 5.83 million.
16. NBA Playoffs: Golden State vs. San Antonio, Game 4, ESPN, 5.8 million.
17. “Downward Dog,” ABC, 5.74 million
18. “Survivor Reunion,” CBS, 5.71 million.
19. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 5.709 million.
20. “The Bachelorette,” ABC, 5.67 million.
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More