'Bachelorette' drops; 'Newlyweds' debuts OK
Broadcasters, welcome to summer: The second week of ABC's "The Bachelorette" plummeted 30% in the adult demo to place a close second to repeat-driven CBS on Monday.
The "Bachelorette" (6 million, 2.1 adults 18-49) fall was to be expected, however -- the show's second episode dropped by nearly the exact same amount to nearly the same rating last year. And "Bachlorette" continues to outperform last summer's edition.
"Bachelorette" was followed by the second season debut of "Here Come the Newlyweds" (5 million, 1.9). Last year, "Newlyweds" ran during in-season, where the show premiered much stronger (116% stronger, actually). A more fair comparison is last summer's debut of "The Mole" in the same slot (which "Newlyweds" outperformed by 12%).
Repeats ruled the rest of the evening, except on NBC, which ran a special "Dateline" (7.4 million, 1.6) and then "Medium" (7.7 million, 2.1). The canceled drama (which CBS has rescued for next season) grew from its lead-in Monday night and won its time period.