Charlie Sheen’s ‘Anger Management’ Drops In Second Week
Last night’s episode of Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management dropped significantly from its debut week on FX. Thursday’s 9:30 PM episode of Anger was down 35% in Adults 18-49. The former Two And A Half Men star’s new show’s third episode also dropped 38% in total viewers from last week’s double episode premiere. Thursday night’s Anger Management had 1.71 million viewers in the 18-49 demo as opposed to last week’s 2.65 million. In total viewers, the show pulled in 3.37 million in contrast to last week’s 5.47 million. On the upside, those are still very healthy numbers for cable and the new episode rose 44% in adults 18-49 and 55% in total viewers from its encore 9 PM lead-in. With all the hype and promotion around Anger Management’s debut it was inevitable the numbers would drop. The question is, when will they stabilize? For Anger Management that’s a question with a potential deadline. The series, produced by Lionsgate Television in conjunction with Revolution Studios, Evolution Entertainment, Mohawk Productions and Estevez Sheen Productions, has a 10-90 deal with FX. The network made a 10-episode initial order. If the show hits certain ratings targets, FX will make a 90-episode renewal that takes Anger Management to broadcast syndication levels.
Next weeks #’s will be the true tests. The holiday did have an effect on both TV and Box office #s.
Not really. Snooki & JWoww was up this week. Men at Work was steady. Family Guy re-runs were on fire. I’m sure there was a slight overall holiday effect on HUT levels, but the original shows were all at their usual levels, if not higher.
I agree. I saw the premiere and it was good. It seemed like a retooling of Two and a Half Men with similar characters surrounding him, but it seemed to work. Definitely, the holiday did not help, and next week should be a better indicator. I did not catch this week’s episode either, but I recorded it. I would imagine that was going on also, people on vacation, but recording it for later viewing. It is also on a channel, that to be honest, I did not even know where to find it on DirecTV, but it drew initially strong numbers, so that is no excuse. Part of the initlal interest, I am sure, was to see a train wreck, but since he was not strung out, some of those people will not be back.
I do not like Charlie Sheen, I have never watched any of his television programs or movies, with the exception of the movies where he was acting with his brother Emelio Estevez. Where has he been, probably hiding from his brothers shameful antics and Hello, I do not think Sheen has a working brain cell left!!!
In apples-to-apples, the drop is actually over 40%, since you’re comparing the average for the first two episodes against the third one. You should really only be comparing the 9:30PM to the 9:30PM airings.
And though a drop was inevitable, if the drop was going to be THIS big, you then have to question whether last week was really a success. If the 2.2 featured tons of curiosity buzz and “never again” viewers, then it really wasn’t a good number–a Charlie Sheen sitcom should be expected to do a 1.8-2.0 baseline adults 18-49 rating. Fickle curiosity buzz should have taken it over a 3.
You also have to figure these are CABLE ratings NOT broadcast ratings. 2.0 – 3 in cable would be outstanding especially in the summer. Compare what Anger Management that night (Thursday) to what broadcast network shows did that night .09-2.2, with a mixture of new and repeats.
It would be interesting to know what those “certain ratings targets” are. If they are met then you’ll be seeing 90 more episodes.
I wish Charlie and his new show well, but really is this news even in this business? Charlie goes on a ranting bender and we have to watch for over a year. Let’s all move on. There’s lots of other shows on that don’t get this coverage.
I think a few things are at play here. First, not surprised there was a larger-than-average falloff from such a highly-promoted premiere with such a curiosity factor. Secondly, last week’s premiere conditioned us to expect two originals from 9:00-10:00pm, so I wonder if some people tuned in at 9:00pm, saw a repeat, and figured this week’s originals were pre-empted for the holiday. Thirdly, holiday viewing levels were probably much lower. And lastly, I thought the quality level really dipped with last night’s episode; it was less about him and more about the group, with a very goofy, overly-broad storyline with few laugh-out-loud moments. Hopefully it will stabilize next week once the holiday is behind us, viewers get used to the run pattern (is there any cable original where the original episode airs on the half-hour after an encore episode on the hour?), and the storylines go back to being more about Charlie and his complicated life.
Those numbers still dwarf any other original half-hour programming FX does, so we still need to keep that mind. That show will get it’s 100 episodes, even though it is kind of cheesy.
drop was inevitable… no news here until next week… that’s the number that’s important…
This is a surprise to no one.
The trainwreck factor brought in meager ratings overall but “record” ratings for a basic cable network (not a slam to FX, I love SoA).
Sheen isn’t a tv star, he’s a tabloid star. 2 1/2 Men has proven to be watched by zombies given the fact it STILL have people tuning in after all these years and without the alleged “comedic” actor named Charlie Sheen.
Ratings will continue to drop. The curiousity factor has passed and soon the network will pass on renewal.
thanks for your ‘lighting’ Cassandra..eyerolllllllllll
After mixed feelings about last weeks premiere episode and somewhat funnier 2nd episode, I thought last night’s new episode was by far the best yet. Hopefully the show will continue to improve as it has so far. I really do enjoy it and sure love having Charlie Sheen back and on his game. I’ll cross my fingers ratings stay strong and the 90 episode pick up happens, I’ll be watching!
Episode was terrible, mainly because of Shawnee Smith. Possibly the worst actress on television…you could hear the remotes changing the channel the second she comes on the screen.
I have to agree, the supporting cast is pretty bland and blah. The beauty of Two and A Half Men is the casting was superb (other than Ashton) as is the writing on a consistent basis. I think I had higher hopes that normal for this new show because I was/am really hoping it does well, I like Charlie on screen. But so far this show is only average funny. I could do without having to see Charlie in bed trying be witty with his partner, that is a def steal from Two and A Half.
And I agree (I’m from Russia)
These are still great numbers for cable and would satisfy the 90 episode commitment.
There are only two questions:
1) What will the rating be after 10 weeks maximum or earlier?
2) Still winning, Charlie?
Problem with this show was there was way too much hype to begin with and FX invested way too much money into this venture and promising to renew with a 90-episode order which is unheard of for any show, let alone a comedy. The first show did well due to one thing…curiosity. If the next 3-5 shows continue their downward trend, then FX should call it a day and a wash and end this experiment.
It’s not “unheard of.” They patterned this deal after the deals Tyler Perry made with TBS for these shows. Heck, it’s called the “Tyler Perry model.”
Yeah, if a new show isn’t a hit by episode 5, then the money is better spent on a new Jersey Shore spinoff. Go Hollywood!
Jed, it’s not unheard of, both TYLER PERRY shows, “House of Payne,” and “Meet the Browns” had it on TBS. Both were successful and ran even past the 100 episodes.
I agree. I like Sheen as an actor, but he’s really the only winning (no pun intended) element of this show. His character plays off of a bunch of one note characters who pale in comparison to the characters he used to play off of in Two and a Half Men. Say what you will about his former series, but the supporting cast has always been fantastic… Jon Cryer, Conchata Ferrell, Holland Taylor, etc. 2.5 Men continues to do well because people know what they’re getting and they aren’t expecting much other than to be entertained. This show was over-hyped from the start, and you knew it couldn’t have been a good sign that none of the promos showed scenes from episodes. I was hoping this would be good, but so far it hasn’t been. I’d give Thursday night’s episode an F. I’ve promised myself I’d give it a full season though, and that’s what I’ll do. It’s not like there’s anything else on Thursdays at 9:30. But if it’s renewed and airs up against September-May prime time programming, I doubt I’ll return for more.