Ratings Recap: ‘Blue Bloods’ Slipping, But With ‘Outlaw’ And ‘The Good Guys’ Nobody’s Going to Notice

(for Friday, October 8, 2010) ‘Blue Bloods’ isn’t dominating like it used to, particularly in the advertiser valued Adults 18-49 demographic, but it’s got a long way to drop still before CBS would even think of worrying. FOX and NBC, on the other hand, need to start worrying right now as both ‘Outlaw’ and ‘The Good Guys’ are failing in epic proportions, getting beaten or tying with The CW in that demo.

Obviously, CBS (1.6/6, 9.02 million) was the night’s winner, followed by NBC (1.4/5, 5.76 million), thanks to those two-hour installments of ‘Dateline NBC.’ ABC (1.2/4, 3.98 million) is still playing with repeats, while The CW (1.0/4, 2.33 million) is consistency on Fridays, while FOX (0.9/3, 2.67 million) is starting to fade away.

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The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, “A Plan Is Hatched and a Date Is Not a Date”

'The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret' - 'A Plan Is Hatched And a Date Is Not a Date'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 2
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (10:00 PM)
Network: IFC

It’s one thing for Todd to be inept as a salesperson or a manager, but it’s another for Thunder Muscle to actually be a toxic chemical that flags cashiers to call local and national emergency services. How can he possibly be expected to sell this stuff. Still, the impending disaster should be uncomfortably fun to watch.

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Haven, “Spiral” [season finale]

'Haven' - 'Spiral'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 13
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (10:00 PM)
Network: Syfy

Well, that answers that question. Would ‘Haven’ go out with a sense of closure or would they leave us dangling with a million more questions than we even knew we had. It looks like the writers would rather tantalize us about next season, and that’s fine by me. Max Hansen returns from Shawshank Redemption after serving 25 year, and his presence stirs up a lot of questions, and … well more questions.

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Supernatural, “The Third Man”

'Supernatural' - 'The Third Man'Identifier: Season 6, Episode 3
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (9:00 PM)
Network: The CW

It’s about damned time the third man who makes up the stars of this show made an appearance. It’s only too bad he came bearing nothing but bad news. It was worth it for Dean’s awkward prayer to Castiel appearing to actually work and summon the angel. I don’t care what Castiel says, I say it was Dean’s prayer that convinced him to finally come down. I also think he knows something about Sam.

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Corruption”

'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' - 'Corruption'Identifier: Season 3, Episode 5
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (9:00 PM)
Network: Cartoon Network

This one felt like kind of a fluff piece, or a throw away episode if you’re in the show for the larger picture. Focusing on Mandalore, it features the story of the difficulties the planet is having securing supplies since they are attempting to maintain their neutrality in the Galactic War. Padme Amidala was the most notable figure in the episode, as she went there to see her friend the Duchess Satine. While there, they uncover a smuggling racket that’s proving potentially deadly to the planet’s children.

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Generator Rex, “The Hunter”

'Generator Rex' - 'The Hunter'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 13
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (8:30 PM)
Network: Cartoon Network

I appreciate that the world Rex lives in is one that’s changing as the series progresses. This week, there’s a major shift in the dynamic of Rex’s relationship to the world at large. Last week we learned a little about the past Rex doesn’t even remember, and this week we learn a little about how this world feels about Evos, or the infected people Rex and Providence battle and ultimately try to cure.

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Sym-Bionic Titan, “Phantom Ninja”

'Sym-Bionic Titan' - 'Phantom Ninja'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 4
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (8:00 PM)
Network: Cartoon Network

Look, Lance is a superhero! Actually, that’s kind of exactly what he becomes this week, though that wasn’t his intention. Restless on Earth, and unsatisfied with domestic life and school as a teenager, Lance takes on some extracurricular crime-busting activities and gets the handle “Phantom Ninja” from the local media. All is good and well, except that an agent of General Modula is there, and Lance doesn’t just settle for the blue hoodie.

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Smallville, “Supergirl”

'Smallville' - 'Supergirl'Identifier: Season 10, Episode 3
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (8:00 PM)
Network: The CW

Kara’s back, and there was no awkward recasting and lame explanation for a new person having the same name as an old person as we got with Cat Grant, who vanished as quickly as she appeared. Laura Vandervoort returned in a very public way, in an outfit very similar to the one Supergirl actually wears. We’re getting so close to Superman, it’s ridiculous.

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Batman: The Brave and the Bold, “The Last Patrol!”

'Batman: The Brave and the Bold' - 'The Last Patrol!'Identifier: Season 2, Episode 16
Air Date: Fri., Oct. 8, 2010 (7:00 PM)
Network: Cartoon Network

Batman was almost a bit player in this episode, which featured an homage to the Silver Age run of the Doom Patrol. In fact, the episode seemed to be little more than that. At least last week’s Flash-centric yarn tried to tell a story. This one featured little more than a collection of some of their more memorable and bizarre villains, like Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man, and a chance to show that they’re heroes.

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Ratings Recap: CBS and ABC Battle for the Crown, With the Eye Narrowly Claiming Victory

(for Thursday, October 7, 2010) By the narrowest of margins, CBS (3.0/9, 12.572 million) was tops on the night in both total viewers and the Adults 18-49 demographic. ABC (2.9/8, 8.24 million) would probably have this crown were it not for their dead zone at 8PM, now filled with repeats of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ performing horribly as well.

FOX (2.3/7, 7.176 million) was next, followed by NBC (2.1/6, 4,806 million) in their typical fourth place finish, despite the accolades their comedy lineup gets. The CW (1.3/4, 3.206 million) is thrilled with the power of their Thursday and Friday lineups.

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The League, “The Kluneberg”

'The League' - 'The Kluneberg'Identifier: Season 2, Episode 4
Air Date: Thu., Oct. 7, 2010 (10:30 PM)
Network: FX

Taco as art critic: “It’s a penis bird attacking ass mountain.” He should totally write the blurbs next to all the paintings at the art museums. I bet they’d get more people in there. This time he was referring to a painting Andre paid $25,000 for. It’s nice to know that he’s successful enough he can blow money on more than ugly clothing. He can get ugly art, too.

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “Mac’s Big Break”

'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' - 'Mac's Big Break'Identifier: Season 6, Episode 4
Air Date: Thu., Oct. 7, 2010 (10:00 PM)
Network: FX

He’s looking pretty cool and confident there. A man in full control of his destiny. That is the legend of Mac in his own mind. You didn’t think reality looked anything like that, did you?

After Mac wins a radio call-in contenst, and gets the chance to take a shot from center ice at a Flyers hockey game, he and Charlie start training him up for the big day. Apparently, Big Mac can’t skate.

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Outsourced, “Party of Five”

'Outsourced' - 'Party of Five'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 3
Air Date: Thu., Oct. 7, 2010 (9:30 PM)
Network: NBC

Rajiv revealed a secret to one employee, and proved to have a heart. At least when he’s not dealing with Todd. Todd, on the other hand, has a heart-on for Asha, so to speak, while Charlie is clearly into Tonya who’s pretty clearly into Todd. See, romantic triangles are universal.

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The Office, “Andy’s Play”

'The Office' - 'Andy's Play'Identifier: Season 7, Episode 3
Air Date: Thu., Oct. 7, 2010 (9:00 PM)
Network: NBC

The theatrical side of Andy Bernard found an appropriate outlet when he brought the cast of a local production of ‘Sweeney Todd’ to the office as a viral marketing campaign. Of course, as it is Andy’s office, I’m sure they were all too aware he was in the play.

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Fringe, “The Plateau”

'Fringe' - 'The Plateau'Identifier: Season 3, Episode 3
Air Date: Thu., Oct. 7, 2010 (9:00 PM)
Network: Fox

It’s back “Over There” to check in on the real Olivia Dunham … If Olivia isn’t careful, she may take all of the other Olivia’s memories and truly make them her own. I’m guessing that means that Secretary Bishop isn’t intending for the other Olivia to ever return home. Or he doesn’t really care once he’s been able to take advantage of the real reason he’s going to so much trouble to convince our Olivia that she’s his Olivia. Knowing the stakes, it does make more sense.

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