Rueben's Ramblings

While it is clearly no longer summer, as evidenced by the fact we have entered the fourth week of the fall TV season, there are still a few summer series that are just now completing their summer runs. With that thought in mind, and the fact that I actually keep track of ratings throughout the entire year, I have compiled an overall average of the 27 summer shows that aired on the cable networks (more on the major network shows below) over the summer and leading into the middle of October.

Most bloggers and critics will tell you that only the 18 to 34 demographic numbers from the ratings system is what is followed by the networks, the studios and the industry as a whole, but I whole-heartedly disagree. I honestly believe that the overall ratings received by every show are just as important simply because the median age of viewers is approximately 54 years old.

But before I digress into an examination of the ratings system and demographics, the following list consists of the overall viewers for all 27 summer shows from the cable networks. Please keep in mind that this list is not based on any kind of scientific data just a simple average of viewers. Please also note that not all summer shows aired the same amount of episodes; some aired as few as 9 or as many as 18 so the averages are not exact; but I have stipulated how many episodes each series aired:

The Closer – 7.3 million (aired 10 episodes)
Rizzoli & Isles – 6.9 million (aired 10 episodes)
Burn Notice – 5.7 million (aired 12 episodes)
Royal Pains – 5.4 million (aired 12 episodes)
Covert Affairs – 5.2 million (aired 11 episodes)
True Blood – 5 million (aired 12 episodes)
White Collar – 4.3 million (aired 9 episodes)
Psych – 3.6 million (aired 9 episodes)
Memphis Beat – 3.6 million (aired 10 episodes)
In Plain Sight – 3.4 million (aired 13 episodes)
Leverage – 3.3 million (aired 13 episodes)
Army Wives – 3.3 million (aired 18 episodes)
The Glades – 3.1 million (aired 13 episodes)
Hawthorne – 3.1 million (aired 10 episodes)
The Secret Life of the American Teenager – 2.9 million (aired 14 episodes)
Pretty Little Liars – 2.6 million (aired 10 episodes)
Drop Dead Diva – 2.6 million (aired 13 episodes)
Warehouse 13 – 2.5 million (aired 12 episodes)
Eureka – 2.4 million (aired 9 episodes)
Mad Men – 2.3 million (aired 13 episodes) *
Dark Blue – 2.3 million (aired 10 episodes)
Haven – 1.8 million (aired 13 episodes)
Huge – 1.7 million (aired 10 episodes)
Make It or Break It – 1.6 million (aired 10 episodes)
Rescue Me – 1.3 million (aired 10 episodes)
Unnatural History – 1.2 million (aired 13 episodes)
Rubicon – 1 million (aired 13 episodes) *

* These two series (Rubicon and Mad Men) will air their finales on October 17 so averages of their overall ratings were used in lieu of the ratings for the last two episodes.

The only summer series, thus far, to be canceled is the ABC Family Channel show Huge.

As for the summer shows on the major networks, a list was compiled by Entertainment Weekly of the most watched shows, including the following:

Lie to Me – 7.3 million
Rookie Blue – 7.2 million
Flashpoint – 7 million
Miami Medical – 6.5 million
The Good Guys – 4.6 million
Friday Night Lights – 4.1 million
Scoundrels – 3.8 million
The Gates – 3.8 million
Persons Unknown – 2.8 million

Of the above shows, Persons Unknown, Scoundrels and Miami Medical were not renewed. It is also more likely than not that the series The Gates will not be back. Lie to Me returned with new episodes three weeks after its summer run because of the unexpected cancellation of new drama Lone Star. The Good Guys was also back with new episodes fairly quickly while Rookie Blue was renewed for a second season after only a few episodes were aired.  Friday Night Lights will be back on DirecTV on October 27 and on NBC next year while Flashpoint should return next summer.

What summer shows did you enjoy watching the most? Which ones did you dislike? Which ones did you avoid? Which shows are you most excited to see return?  Please share your thoughts on the summer programming by the major and cable networks.