Perhaps the biggest news when examining Hispanic TV viewership for the week of May 25-May 31 is that American Idol is over. Is there really anything to talk about? Sigh. Let's go over the lineup for all the new shows that came out last week. It is, after all, summer and summer means audience experimentation via filler TV. Though ratings were lower than usual, So You Think You Can Dance followed in the footsteps of its FOX brethren and took the first and second spot on English-Language TV's most watched program by Hispanics. Also back in prime time is ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos, which took the number nine spot alongside FOX's The Simpsons. And just for some trivia, as of December The Simpsons will be celebrating its 20-year on-air anniversary. Pretty good for an adult cartoon, Ten bucks says the cast of Friends is out there somewhere shaking their fists in jealousy.
Spanish Language TV also welcomed back El Gordo y La Flaca, a show that pairs literally a fat man and a skinny lady in a gossip-driven comedy act. Like Regis and Kelly with less childlike humor but with the same skinny female obnoxious laugh, Gordo y Flaca centers around its hosts Raul de Molina and Lili Estefan who are paired as a polarizing duo. They make jokes, get soapy and borderline inappropriate in a bubbled Jacuzzi--why Jacuzzis have soap in them, we can't be sure--and interview famous people, you know, when they have time. The show is based off Laurel and Hardy, a comedy act that was popular in the 1930s.
ABC's new show Wipeout also manage to squeeze into the top ten. Completely new to the network, the show mimics Japanese shows that test contestants' ability to, well, complete an obstacle course that's desinged to hurt them as much as possible. Although Wipeout has a cute name and an even cuter theme song, its intentions to exploit its contestants for primetime slapstick comedy seems contradictory to its wholesome family feel. The courses are basically designed for failure. Unless those participating are freestyle walkers or have been trained in the ancient ways of the ninja, the hope of completing the complex courses is small. Chances are neither is the case, allowing viewers to sit back on their soft couches and laugh as those on TV get pummeled by foam padding.
The following TV ratings are based on Hispanic viewership. Nielsen's ratings include viewers who watched the program while it aired and those who viewed the shows via digital video recorder within 24 hours of their airing. Nielsen says that the Hispanic TV audience represents more than 11.63 million television households in the United States. The rating is the percentage of households watching a TV program out of the potential audience of 11.63 million households.
Spanish-Language Program Ratings
1. Manana para Siempre (UNI, M-F Var.) 21.2
2. El Gordo y La Flaca (UNI, Tues. 10p.m.) 20.4
3. Cuidado con el Angel (UNI, M-F Var.) 17.4
4. Mujeres Asesinas (UNI, Thurs. 10p.m.) 16.6
5. Don Francisco Presenta (UNI, Wed. 10p.m.) 14.7
6. Rosa de Guadalupe (UNI, Thurs.-Fri. 10p.m.) 14.4
7. Cristina (UNI, Mon. 10p.m.) 13.9
8. Tontas no van Cielo (UNI, M-F 7p.m.) 13.8
9. Sabado Gigante (UNI, Sat. 8p.m.) 10.3
10. Futbol Liga Mexican (TF, Sun. 8p.m.) 10.1
English-Language Program Ratings
1. So You Think You Can Dance Thursday (FOX, 8p.m.) 3.9
1. So You Think You Can Dance Wednesday (FOX, 8p.m.) 3.9
3. Family Guy (FOX, Sun. 9p.m.) 3.3
4. Amerian Dad (FOX Sun. 9:30p.m.) 3.0
4. Wipeout (ABC, Wed. 8p.m.) 3.0
6. WWE Friday Night Smackdown (MNT, 8p.m.) 2.4
6. Cold Case (CBS, Sun. 9p.m.) 2.4
6. NCIS (CBS, Tues. 8p.m.) 2.4
9. America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, Sun. 7p.m.) 2.2
9. The Simpsons (FOX, Sun. 8p.m.) 2.2
