The way things are going, “Oprah’s Next Chapter” could be ratings bankruptcy.
Winfrey’s OWN show sunk to an all-time ratings low this past Sunday night, corralling a paltry 355,000 viewers who watched the first of Winfrey’s two-part foray into Brooklyn’s Hasidic culture. Numbers for Part 2, which aired Monday night, weren’t available at press time (or “cyber” press time, in this case).
While it’s true that Sunday’s “Next Chapter” aired opposite the Grammys on CBS — which pulled in a lusty 40 million viewers — it also begs the question as to why OWN didn’t just hold the episodes until after the awards show, as it did the week before in running a “Next Chapter” repeat opposite the Super Bowl. Did they really think Winfrey would trump Adele and company? Don’t answer that question.
In any event, “Next Chapter” has fallen steadily and drastically after reaching a high of 1.6 million viewers in its second episode. From there it’s fallen to 501,000 viewers (Jan. 15), 557,000 viewers (Jan. 22) and 498,000 viewers (Jan. 29).
Not good, any way you slice it.
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Well, that didn’t take long.
Yes, I realize it’s only Week 2 of “Smash,” but the NBC drama — about behind-the-scenes life at a nascent Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe — fell to 8.1 million viewers in its second episode Monday night, after premiering to 11.5 million viewers Feb. 6.
While “Smash” (Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston) did win the hour in adults 18-49 — for the second consecutive week — it also shed over 1.5 million viewers in its second half hour, which is never a good sign — and certainly not the type of trend that screams “hit show.” (And despite what you’ll read in several unnamed entertainment magazines who will, I’m guessing, continue to fall all over themselves gushing over this series like they continue to do with “Glee.”)
“Smash” came in third, in total viewers, from 10 to 11 p.m., behind “Hawaii Five-0” on CBS (9.5 million viewers) and ABC’s “Castle” (8.9 million).
Elsewhere, on the syndication front, “Dr. Oz” averaged 3.9 million viewers for the week ending Feb. 5, second behind “Dr. Phil” (4.3 million).
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Last, but not least:
* MSG will air 15 Knicks games in Spanish, starting tonight, with announcers Clemson Smith Muniz and Juan “Tiny” Cains . . . QVC airs live from LA this Friday (9 p.m.) for its “The Buzz on the Red Carpet — Live from LA” show with guests including Heidi Klum, Judith Ripka, Joan Rivers and more . . . Comedy Central has renewed “Key & Peele” (Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele) for a second season of 10 episodes premiering in the fall . . . Disney Channel was TV’s top-rated network, total day, in kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 for the week of Feb. 6 . . . Congrats to Shari Kaufman, who’s been named VP, talent relations and special events, at Showtime. She’s a good egg.