CTV’s Spectacle has a more re-spectacle showing last Friday, but still far from spectacular. The third episode of the Elvis Costello-hosted music and talk series, featuring Kris Kristofferson and Norah Jones, drew 593,000 viewers Friday (according to BBM Canada “commercial” overnight estimates. CTV says they counted 650,000 on their supersized “Total” tally, which is quite a jump). That’s up from the 418,000 who watched when Sting dropped by the week before but down from the 858,000 who saw the Elton John opener.
Friday was a slow night overall for CTV with reruns of Ghost Whisperer (807,000) and Flashpoint (843,000) well off their new episode averages.
Round One of the NHL hockey playoffs dominated weekend TV watching in Canada, although even those totals were down with Toronto/Edmonton/Ottawa out of the loop. The Canadiens and Bruins drew 1,188,000 last Thursday night, but the late game, featuring Anaheim and San Jose, drew only 481,000 to CBC.
CBC pulled 1,323,000 for the late game Friday night and another 1,174,000 for Saturday night’s first game. TSN also scored 713,000 for their coverage on Saturday.
UPDATE: Sunday’s CBC tilt between Vancouver and St. Louis drew the biggest playoff audience yet–1,625,000. CTV drew almost as many (likely more when you add the CTV “Total” tally) for the first new Desperate Housewives episode in three weeks–1,604,000.
Global scored 632,000 for the series premiere of the new animated Fox comedy Sit Down, Shut Up. That was squeezed between the usual crowd for The Simpsons (853,000) and Family Guy (918,000). Bob & Doug did not take off at 7:30, drawing 209,000, and the Season Five premiere of Rescue Me, opposite all that hockey and Housewives, didn’t catch fire, either, netting 107,000 on Showcase.
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