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TV Wasteland: Sweeps is Here, Can You Do Anything About It?
By: Stephen LackeyDate: Monday, April 28, 2008
The May sweeps officially started last Thursday and some of our favorite series came back from hiatus that night. Smallville and Lost both came back to the same average numbers they had been getting for the past season while another series, Supernatural actually saw a 23% drop in viewer-ship compared to the last original episode that aired. That series also saw a 36% drop in the all important 18 - 34 year old demographic. So, the good news is that even with a time change, Lost is holding onto its viewers. Considering the quality of the series, it’s amazing that Smallville also seems to be stable. Supernatural has always been the little show that could, just barely fighting of cancelation time and time again and numbers like the ones from last Thursday tell the tale for the show.
Its’ more than a little frustrating that such a small group of viewers - the ones with the magic boxes that count their views - get to make the decisions for us. All the shows that we love are back this month and fighting for those viewers and all we can do is sit back and watch the shows, and hope the ones being counted are watching too. Supernatural has been green-lit for another season, but if the numbers keep dropping, we’ll need to start worrying about the future of the fantastic series.
This week is another great one for TV, especially Thursday and Friday night! Lost was amazing last week and it looks as though it’ll be just as great this week. Supernatural is promising that Sam and Dean will get a call from their long dead father this week, and Starbuck’s search for Earth will be the focus on this week’s episode of Battlestar Galactica. Smallville, Medium, 30 Rock, Doctor Who, and Family Guy are also new this week! Make sure the vents are clear on your DVR’s so they don’t overheat!
BONES (FOX, 8PM EST) THE BABY ON THE BOUGH
A baby boy is discovered at the scene of his mother's murder. While the Jeffersonian team carries out the investigation, the maternally challenged Brennan cares for the child.
MEDIUM (NBC, 10PM EST) CAR TROUBLE
Joe surprises Allison by buying her a used car, but Allison's subsequent visions warn of the vehicle's unsavory past. Meanwhile, Allison grows unsettled upon meeting Joe's sightly business partner, venture capitalist Meghan Doyle (Kelly Preston).
Two team members go to Iraq when a mortar attack turns into a murder investigation. Nikki Jardine: Susan Kelechi Watson. Leon Vance: Rocky Carroll. Maj. Ike Varnai: Josh Stamberg. Kelvin Ridgeway: Rick Hoffman. George Stenner: Patrick Fischler.
GHOST HUNTERS (SCI FI, 9PM EST) HAUNTED ASYLUM
Weston State Hospital, a former psychiatric hospital in West Virginia, is probed concerning claims made by volunteers who are restoring the facility.
SMALLVILLE (CW, 8PM EST) APOCALYPSE
Clark, through a series of messages sent by Kara from Krypton, discovers what Earth would be like had he never arrived: Jonathan is still alive; Lex is the president; the Luthors have raised Kara; Lana is happily married; and Chloe and Lois are ace reporters. Tom Welling directed this episode.
SUPERNATURAL (CW, 9PM EST) LONG-DISTANCE CALL
Dean gets a mysterious phone call that appears to be from his dad (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), explaining how to get out of the deal, and he decides to follow the advice despite the fact that Sam doesn't believe it was really John on the line.
30 ROCK (NBC, 9:30PM EST) SANDWICH DAY
Liz's ex-flame Floyd (Jason Sudeikis) returns to the Big Apple and looks for a place to stay overnight. Meanwhile, Jack worries about his future at the company when he's moved to a different floor; and the staffers relish Sandwich Day with sandwiches from a mysterious, unnamed shop. Rip Torn and Brian Dennehy guest star.
LOST (NBC, 10PM EST) SOMETHING NICE BACK HOME
Jack's health is seriously compromised, forcing Kate and Juliet to work together to save him. Meanwhile, something goes wrong as Sawyer, Claire, Aaron and Miles continue their trek from Locke's camp to the beach.
GHOST WHISPERER (CBS, 8:00PM EST) DEADBEAT DADS
Payne's former flame (Nikki Cox) and her son show up, and so does his wife's jealous ghost.
A promising Hollywood starlet hires Mick to protect her after she feels threatened by overly aggressive paparazzi. Meanwhile, Beth questions her new boss' journalistic ethics.
SARAH JANE ADVENTURES (SCIFI, 8:30PM EST) WARRIORS OF KUDLAK
Part 1 of 2. A boy's disappearance is probed by Sarah Jane and Maria, who link him and other missing children to freak storms near cities that support a popular laser-tag game.
DOCTOR WHO (SCIFI, 9:00PM EST) THE FIRES OF POMPELI
A visit to ancient Rome puts the Doctor and Donna in Pompeii just ahead of what the Doctor calls "Volcano Day," which is the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SCIFI, 10:00PM EST) THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
The search for Earth produces tension aboard the Demetrius for Kara and her crew mates.
ROBIN HOOD (BBC AMERICA, 9PM EST) THE BOOBY AND THE BEAST
Robin attempts to raid the castle's new strongroom where the Sheriff is storing the funding for his "Shah Mat" campaign, but it's filled with deadly traps. Meanwhile, Allan A Dale continues to leak Robin's plans to Gisborne.
SIMPSONS (FOX, 8PM EST) ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
Lisa makes a film about her family that gets accepted by the Sundance Film Festival, and the Simpsons go to Park City, Utah, to attend. Director Jim Jarmusch makes a voice appearance as himself.
FAMILY GUY (FOX, 9PM EST) LONG JOHN PETER
