Not that anyone expected Sunday’s Sopranos premiere to knock Desperate Housewives off its perch, but they did some damage to each other. Sopranos has never had much competition before in its 9 p.m. Sunday slot, but this year, it debuted with an estimated 9.5 million, down about 25 percent from the Season 5 premiere two years ago. In the other corner, Housewives drew 22.2 million, its smallest audience in more than a year, and about a million less than the last new episode three weeks ago. The real winner Sunday was Housewives‘ follow-up, Grey’s Anatomy, which drew 22.5 million. It’s been outdrawing its lead-in for a few weeks now. Tail is now officially wagging dog.
Blog Roll
- Best Week Ever
- BuzzSugar
- Coolfer
- Dark Horizons
- Deadline Hollywood Daily
- Digital Music News
- Gold Derby
- Hits Daily Double
- Hollywood Elsewhere
- Hollywood Wiretap
- Huffington Post
- Hypebot
- Idolator
- jaded insider
- Lost Remote
- Movie City News
- Movie List
- MTV News
- Pop Candy
- PopBytes
- Popeater
- reality blurred
- Salon: Arts & Entertainment
- Stereogum
- The Beat
- The Programming Insider
- Thompson on Hollywood
- Tuned In
- TV Barn
- TV Tattle
- TVFanatic.com
- TVNewser
- Velvet Rope
Featured Video
Realite: Reality TV justice!
Worthy winners on ''Runway,'' ''ANTM''; just desserts on ''Top Chef'' and ''SYTYCD''; bonus Kris Allen!
More 
Today's Most Popular
-
-
The Ausiello Files Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Bones,' 'Glee,' 'Chuck,' 'Gossip Girl,' and more! -
-
-
Doc Jensen on 'Lost' 'Lost': Reboot anxiety?
From Our Partners
Special Coverage
'Twilight' Saga: 'New Moon'
It's almost here! Get all the latest news, photos, video, and fan commentary leading up to the big premiere
More
Comments (1-6) of 6 Add your comment
Based on what I have read (people and critics alike) this season of Grey’s Anatomy has been top notch. The same writers all say “last season of Housewives was better”.
Sopranos will pick up as more people heat up their HBO subscriptions and as this season’s plot continues.
Between VCR’s, DVR’s and Sopranos being on every night of the week if you have HBO and HBO2, is it any surprise that DH won? Unless you have iTunes, you only have one shot at watching/recording Desperate Housewives. When the ratings system catches up with the technology in the marketplace, then these numbers will be relevant.
BTW, Sopranos kicked DH’s sorry keister as far as quality goes.
I’m no “Grey’s” fan, but maybe the reason it has finally gotten better ratings than DH lately is because ABC actually bothers to put on a new episode, pretty much, every single week, thereby building momentum, an audience and general interest.
Meanwhile, a new DH airs, then two weeks go by, then another new one, then three more weeks go by. ABC is doing the same thing with Lost and it’s a terrible idea. It’s almost like they’re flipping us off and daring us to stop watching and turn away from their most popular shows.
It’s no wonder! The last Sopranos season premiere was two years ago?!? No one even remembers what was happening. Meanwhile, Desperate Housewives gives us new episodes relatively frequently. The hubby and I were conflicted as to which to watch: we ended up Tivo’ing DH and watching Sopranos. We still have to see both!
I guess there’s no accounting for taste. One had to be living in a cave not to know that the Sopranos was returning on the 12th. Considering that its on premium cable, and oil and utilities are up about 30% (in price) verses 21 months ago, not to mention the continued rising cost of cable, a 25% drop isn’t that bad. Desperate Housewives was a one season wonder show. The plots are silly, the acting is embarrasing, (yes, Felicity you’re included), and any intrigue season 1 had is missing. However, it is free TV.
Sopranos has lost its edge and has been off for to long