Hard Numbers: ‘Let's Make A Deal’ Starts Out On Top
CBS
Contestant: CBS’s Let’s Make A Deal, hosted by Wayne Brady, has kicked off the new year with steadily high ratings, averaging 0.46 in the 18-49 demo and 3.57 million viewers. During the week of January 3-7, the program attracted its best weekly numbers since the week of February 15-19, 2021. On January 26, 2022, it reached the top of the ratings with a 0.6 in the 18-49 demo and 4.37 million viewers, beating Fox’s Chicago Med and The Goldbergs by a 0.2 demo margin.
Supermarket Sweep has also seen some success following its struggling December 2021 ratings. The season’s average went up slightly, as well as the total viewership, from a 0.37 to 0.39 demo rating and 2.308 million to 2.317 million viewers. The season finale, which aired on January 30, produced a 0.34 demo rating and 2.060 million viewers. Season 2’s averages are down by 45% in the demo and 27% in viewers from season 1. So far, the show has yet to be canceled or renewed for a third season, but this significant drop in ratings between season 1 and season 2 are causes for concern.
ABC
Informative: For the weeks of January 3 through January 21, 2022, GMA3: What You Need To Know has garnered mixed ratings, averaging 0.3 in Women 18-49 and 1.69 million viewers. While it hit a season-high during the first week of the year, it was one of the only daytime broadcast shows (based on available ratings) to see a decrease week to week in total viewers during the week of January 17-21. The program has received many mixed reviews, some audience members expressing issues with the presence of a male host on a panel that used to be all female and too much bias for left-leaning ideas. However, others enjoy the chemistry of the new cast and find the show highly informational. As for many news programs, political discussions will inevitably anger a portion of the audience; unfortunately, other factors may be negatively impacting the ratings. As the program’s goal is to “highlight incredible human stories of personal triumph,” shifting focus towards this effort may increase ratings by appealing to a larger audience of more than just one political affiliate.
Although The View hit its season-high during the first week of January with 2.464 viewers, it was down a massive -849,000 viewers in comparison to the year-ago week. However, this is most likely due to a higher viewer interest one year ago because of the January 6 insurrection. The ratings have stayed steady throughout the rest of the month with an average of 0.37 in the 18-49 demo and 2.452 million viewers. The program closed the gap from the year-ago week to -641,000 viewers during the week of January 17-21. Although it has yet to select a new co-host, the decision to call back old hosts to commemorate the show’s 25th season may continue to have an impact on ratings, as well as efforts to select a co-host who will not fight with the rest of the panel. Producer Brian Teta told Entertainment Tonight: “I mean, we’re not looking for fights—we never are. We just want people to have a lively, spirited debate. The show is about different views and showing all sides of every issue and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Own
Docuseries: OWN network’s new show, Ladies Who List: Atlanta, follows six Black business-women as they navigate their work and personal lives while joining forces to serve clients in the Atlanta real estate market. It has been ranked #21 on Ranker.com’s “Best New TV Shows of 2022” list. The main cast all gave reasons for choosing to be on the show, including a desire to bring Black and female representation to reality TV as well as to a male-dominated professional field. Further, the creators of the show have expressed their desire to bring the audience “behind closed doors” into the casts’ personal lives. So far, Ladies Who List: Atlanta has had promising reviews and support from fans on social media. Many are happy with its unique display of women in the real-estate field; as such, it would be prudent for the show to avoid falling under the genre’s habit of relying mostly on dramatics. Unfortunately, it produced a mediocre 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 263,000 viewers on Friday, January 21. However, with only the first few episodes released, Ladies Who List: Atlanta has time to improve in the numbers.
Discovery+
Streaming: London Lit, a new British reality tv series streaming on Discovery+, follows the lives of successful British West Africans, exploring their family dynamics, friendships, relationships, and careers. Currently, it is ranked as the following on these Ranker.com lists: #19 on “Best New TV Shows of 2022”, #22 on “Best Black TV Shows of The Last Few Years,” and #21 on “The Best Reality Shows on TV Right Now.” With only four episodes out so far, London Lit is just starting out and is a well of potential.