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Ratings: Oscars up, 'Dollhouse' down

Feb 23, 2009, 08:48 PM | by Mandi Bierly

Categories: TV Ratings

The 81st Annual Academy Awards drew 36.3 million viewers to ABC Sunday night -- that's an increase of 4.3 million people from last year's telecast, which remains the lowest-rated ever. The Alphabet's official red carpet pre-show saw a matching 13 percent increase in year-to-year audience, averaging 24.3 million viewers. While Barbara Walters' annual pre-show special (11.6 million viewers) was on par with its 2008 performance, Jimmy Kimmel's after-show special with guest Mel Gibson (4.3 million) increased its crowd by 16 percent.

In other ratings news, Joss Whedon's Dollhouse dipped last Friday to 4.3 million viewers, an 11 percent decline from its series premiere. The show's lead-in on Fox, The Sarah Connor Chronicles (3.9 million), was actually up 4 percent week-to-week. NBC's Friday Night Lights (3.9 million) rose 13 percent. 

More TV news:
Oscar ratings up from last year's record low
Ken Tucker reviews the Oscars telecast
EW's Oscars Central
Abby West on Dollhouse: Things are looking up

elvagree Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 10:25 AM EST

Ever saw a one sorta like this one on ___ WealthyRomances com ____ It's where romancing with the rich singles!

Matt Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 03:06 AM EST

I agree with Tee - Dollhouse just isn't hitting the mark. Admitting this breaks my heart. I love Buffy, Angel, and Firefly, but Dollhouse desperately lacks the wit, humor, and purpose we've come to expect from Joss Whedon.

Jack Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 01:31 AM EST

I'm glad FNL is up in the ratings, such a good so. I am a Joss Whedon fan, and I thought the pilot was decent but the second episode was pretty good. I hope that sticks around longer then Firefly did, I think the show shows promise. Hopefully FOX doesn't act like idiots like they usually do and kill the show.

Tee Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 01:23 AM EST

Honestly if it wasn't Whedon behind Dollhouse, I was so blah about the premise and writing so far that I would have just taken it off my dvr. The characters and storyline are hardly compelling.

markman98 Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 01:04 AM EST

not surprised that Dollhouse was down the second week...the show just isn't that good. Too bad , as there was much anticipation for this one. Still, though it may get some traction as the season rolls along..TERMINATOR became a much better show its sophomore outing.

Sharlin Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 09:35 PM EST

Eli Stone should have been a Friday show along with Pushing Daisies.

Horatio Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 03:41 PM EST

Eliza Dushku is jut not very good, but I don't think that's the problem. I wonder what the hulu and fox.com streaming numbers are like for the show. Who is home on a Friday to watch Dollhouse? Certainly not its target audience, and if they are, getting near the tv at 9 pm is unlikely.

Neal Patrick Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:54 PM EST

I'll agree that the first episode of Dollhouse was only so-so. Being willing to give the show a second chance really paid off. The second episode of Dollhouse was fantastic! I hope that the viewers who dropped out after the premiere soon realize what they're going to be missing and come back. It would be a real shame for this show to be cancelled.

nan Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:46 PM EST

So does that mean it will be canceled like Eli Stone which was supposedly bringing in 6.3 million viewers? Biggest mistake ever canceling Eli Stone. And I loved the Academy Awards, I haven't loved them this much since I was a teenager. Hugh did a brilliant job of hosting.

Jessica S. Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:34 PM EST

I think a lot of Dollhouse's viewers are getting their fix via the web. As all Whedon fans know, FOX has a happy trigger finger. To ensure a full season (and hopefully more# we have to make sure FOX knows we are watching. Since not everyone is a Nielsen family this means taking to FOX.com, Hulu, etc to make our voices heard #and our views count). I, for one, think the second episode was a vast improvement over the first and really made me want to keep watching...

As for the Oscars ratings, I think people were intrigued by the changes that were supposed to take place. Hugh's opening number was great and the awards, although still long, seemed to move a bit more quickly than in past years. Maybe a little song and dance was just what the doctor ordered:)

Shannon Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:26 PM EST

This was the first Oscars that I watched all the way through. I thought Hugh Jackman was WONDERFUL and the show was very entertaining. I did like the idea of 5 previous winners announcing the nominees for the women, however for the men it was just a tad strange and it seemed a few of them went "rogue". Loved Tina Fey and Steve Martin, that was so creative. Ben Stiller, eh. I see where he was going but not everybody may have gotten it. And that Anne Hathaway is such a good actress, who knew she could sing like that!!

Sidebar...Why does Beyonce perform something every year, she is not an actress. Does she have dirt on one of the academy members?

JMP Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 01:41 PM EST

I'm so glad FNL is raising in the ratings! This show more than deserves to stay on the air. It is better than 99% of the shows on TV. Amazing acting and storylines. I'm touched every time I tune in.

Donna Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 01:02 PM EST

Yayyy for Friday Night Lights. This is one of THE best shows on TV right now. After all of the ABC cancellations, it's refreshing to see a good show on the air. Let's just hope it stays there.

Trev Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 01:00 PM EST

Loved loved LOVED the second ep of Dollhouse. No one's what the seem, there appears all sorts of nefarious forces surrounding the Dollhouse (even more so than them) and what looks like to be all sorts of possiblities for mystery and intrigue. It was really excellent to see (and hear) Mark Shephard on my telly again. Can't wait until next ep.

Preston Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 12:49 PM EST

I was hoping that it would get 40 million viewers, but I'll take that 13% increase to 36.3 million. Getting new producers, updating the awards itself,showing the glamour more and all those big stars like Brad Pitt, Angelia Jolie, Sean Penn, Mickey Roarke and Kate Winslet there boosted those numbers. I've heard more positive reviews of this awards than the past 9 to 10 shows.

David Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 12:49 PM EST

I forgot that Dollhouse was even on. I watched the first ep and thought it was so-so but without all of the constant promotion I forgot all about it :(

ann Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 12:22 PM EST

the second episode of dollhouse was better than the first though...

greg Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 12:16 PM EST

That's what happens when you have crappy writers on a show, Dollhouse. Show sucks = ratings bad = big surprise? I think not.

jake Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 11:09 PM EST

I think last year's low ratings can be attributed to the writers strike and the lack of a golden globes ceremony and a doom and gloom of the strike.

they still need to move this show to March -- even Hugh jackman didn't have the time to see The reader. If they insist on smaller films, they need to give us time to see them so that we can be more interested in the ceremony.

Anyone think of having the show on earlier since they have even higher ratings then? the superbowl after all starts at 6.

Lisa Hess Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 11:00 PM EST

I thought Hugh Jackman did a great job last night at the Oscars! He made it fun & entertaining. Bravo! I'm tired of The Oscars being political and he did a great job of keeping the Oscars about the movies.

Serena Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 09:44 PM EST

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Michael Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 09:26 PM EST

Holy Crap, Dollhouse for me was one of the most anticipated shows for me in a long while. What a dissapointment!

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