RATINGS BABIES! Supernatural rocks it!

Well, hey. I don't usually do ratings posts...though I LOVE me some ratings.

In case you don't know I work in promos in network television so ratings are a part of my everyday. Like every morning...I check the ratings. Sometimes the nature of my day and how stressful it will be hangs off those pesky numbers! New show launches....NERVOUS NEXT MORNING!

So ratings babies! Yeah.

Last night's Supernatural - episode 9.11 "First Born" - was a CRACKER and our ratings showed it. Actually what our ratings have shown this season is an increase in audience - regardless of the move to Tuesday - and a holding steady of audience numbers, implying a viewer satisfaction and engagement with the show.

I'd also add, that week to week our numbers are higher than The Originals - which is also doing great. So our numbers increase from our lead in show. Last year with our lead in being Arrow, our numbers dropped slightly. Arrow's numbers were very strong. It's a lead in show's job to keep the audience "flow" (sorry Priestly) through to the next show, that's why having the lead in show match with the show it precedes, having similar target audiences, is so important. Both Arrow and The Originals have show to be an excellent lead in, BUT this season we have more people tuning in when Supernatural starts, than tuning out. WHICH IS EXCITING! 

So what were last night's numbers?

1.1 and 2.70 million viewers! 

Not only that, Supernatural had its most watched episode since 2010! Statistically a drama in its 9th season would have lower ratings, or at least flat ratings. It's beyond unusual for a drama with this lifespan to grow an audience!

MOST WATCHED EPISODE SINCE 2010!

Oh yeah baby!

Here's the press release.

Last night's Supernatural was the series' most watched episode (2.7M) in more than three years (10/15/10).

Week to week, Supernatural was up 22% in total viewers and up 10% in both W18-34 (1.1/3) and in A18-49 (1.1/3), and flat in A18-34 (0.9/3).

Supernatural outrated original episodes of ABC's comedies in the 9pm hour in A18-34, and W18-34, and outrated Trophy Wife in the 9:30-10pm half hour in A18-49.

Well shit! So awesome! 

Now - 2 things. Apparently in some markets (2.4%) the show was pre-empted for Basketball, so these numbers may be adjusted up a little bit when the final numbers come through for the episode. Also, it'll be interesting to see where the numbers end up sitting once the LIVE+7days DVR numbers come in. 

Here's a little chart that shows our increase year on year to date. This is via TVSeriesFinal.com and reflects the all important 18-49 demographic (the demo most illusive and therefore most attractive to advertisers). These numbers do include the LIVE+7days DVR ratings, though as this was posted today - 22 January 2104 - it will not include the most recent DVR ratings. 

Supernatural is the only returning series on the CW to grow in audience numbers!

It was a fantastic episode. It's been an amazingly consistent and intriguing season. 

Congratulations to everyone at Supernatural. 

YOU GUYS! YOU ROCK!

Can anyone say early pickup?

-sweetondean

Spoilers Sweeties! What's next for Sam and Dean?

So... they broke up. Again. This time, it was Dean who walked away, deciding he was too poisonous to be around, even for Sam. *sigh*

Well, what's next? Will they find their way back to each other (yes, d'uh). Jared talked to Vlada Gleman at TV|Line.

Jared predicts that, "it’s going to take something big” to bridge the gulf between them.

“They’re handling it as you expect them to,” Padalecki adds of the conflict. “Sam kind of goes introverted and Dean goes forward. Sam is more the kind of guy that thinks something out and says, ‘Well, you know, this is where you messed up [and] this is why I’m upset.’… It’s nice dichotomy to catch on camera and, hopefully, Jensen [Ackles] and I get a chance to do a good job with it.”

Meanwhile, Sam will be dealing with the residual effects from Gadreel’s stint in his body. “It’s more emotional than literal and physical, but he certainly is still feeling the bruises,” admits Padalecki.

Okay. We need something big pronto. It sounds like the brothers are going to be working together eventually, well episode 9.12 for sure, but probably not dealing. Again. 

I want to shake them! They need to talk. They are the worst communicators in the history of communicating, meaning the history of the world! I hope Sam says all the somethings he thinks out in his out loud voice and Dean listens. Dean... listen. 

Both are going to be hurting emotionally. You know who they need to get them through this time... THEIR BROTHER. GAH. Boys. Dumbasses. (I loves them).

Jared goes on to discuss the spinoff and how excited he is. You can read the whole interview here.

Over at Screenfad, Clarissa has more from The Carver about what to expect from this week's episode.

Dean and Crowley are on a mission to find the "first sword" so that Crowley can take on Abaddon. The "first sword" is owned by the first son, Cain, played by Psych star, Timothy Omundson. 

But Crowley and Dean working together?  Dogs and cats living together – mass hysteria...

Here's what Carver had to say.

”Dean and Crowley have an especially juicy relationship in terms of being two foes who are constantly butting heads with each other and getting one-up on each other. To see them, for lack of a better term, being in a buddy cop episode, we really play into all the fun there of these two opposites being forced to work together, which also turns into something quite interesting and unique when it comes to their relationship.”

Awesome! I'm loving this whole idea. LOVING IT!

What about Sam, what will he be up to? Well, he'll be back at the bunker (yay!) recuperating and Castiel will be by his side.

"...what we’re going to see are two guys who are, if not rediscovering, are aware of the parallels in their journeys and I think that’s part of their experience together in [this] episode. I think you’ll see both dealing with each other in a way that directly corresponds to the journeys they’ve taken so far this season, as you were saying. It’s impossible for them not to do what they’re setting out to do in that episode without being affected by what’s happened so far with this season. They’re dealing with a lot of issues together.”

I like the idea of Sam and Cas finally having some time together to talk. I've always thought they'd have an excellent understanding of each other, but they've never had much of a chance to hang out and discover that.

The thing is, what is often so interesting for the brothers is to see themselves and their relationship reflected back at them. It's the outsiders who have a clearer picture of the brothers because the brothers are so close, they can't see the good of who they are and what they have for the trees (or the hurt and lies). 

We've had Jody this season say to Sam that what he has with Dean is something special, the kind of something people search for but that Sam and Dean already have. With Crowley's lingering humanity and obvious, begrudging affection for Moose and Squirrel and with Castiel's understanding of the brothers and deep connection to them, hopefully the boys will be in the company of two people who can shake them up, open their eyes and make them think. I'm sure Cas will be taking this role with Sam and I hope, Dean's time with Crowley will be equally as illuminating.

Jeremy goes on to give some more juicy detail about Cain and what the introduction of this character will mean for the mythology of the Winchester brothers. You can read the whole interview here.

As usual, I choose to go forward with optimism. Optimism that these brothers of ours get to where they need to be emotionally to finally understand what they mean to each other. I mean, they know that of course...they just forget sometimes. 

That conversation that they started in "Sacrifice", that they couldn't continue because of what happened to Sam, they need to continue that conversation. That was simply the start of the healing, now it's time to understand each other and what they have and mend their broken relationship once and for all. It took 4 seasons for them to say those words in "Sacrifice", I don't expect them to be all lollipops and rainbows overnight, or ever probably, but happy together...that's all I want for them because I think it's all they want.

Here's hoping.

-sweetondean

Spoilers Sweeties! Promo and Sneak Peek - Supernatural 9.11 "First Born"

As we all recover from last night and feeling ever single feel the world has ever felt being felt or feeled or both, we aren't given a moment to breathe or you know, stop crying, before the new episode promo and sneak peek are released!

Which is so exciting and will nicely distract us from our Winchester induced trauma!

Here's the promo.

I do love a good buddy comedy. Oh Crowley. How great was Mark in last night's episode! I love Crowley...this little joining of frenemies is going to be a sheer joy to watch. Also, I can't wait to see that fight scene that took 9 hours to shoot. Mmmmmmm fighting Deannnnnnnn...rolling all over furniture..................... Oh, sorry.

And here's the sneak peek!

Oh my gosh. Cas and Sam together. I've wanted to see them hang out for a long time. Just, because, well I think they'd get along great. They have a different dynamic than Dean and Cas and there's been a fair amount of water under the bridge for them (just as there has been for Dean and Cas), so it'll be fun to see them interacting and how that plays out and feels.

Sam being in the bunker is a good thing. Though he let Dean walk, Sam's not going anywhere. He went to back to the bunker. Good. Really good. Now all I need is for him to pick up the phone and tell his brother to come home and to use that specific word. Home. As a friend of mine said to me the other day, I'm writing fanfiction again, aren't I!

What do you think of the promo and the sneak peek? Oh and thanks for that Cas, now I'm jonesing for peanut butter!

-sweetondean

Spoilers Sweeties! Promotional Photos - Supernatural 9.11 "First Born"

Squeeee! New episode today and now promo pics for next week's episode! And don't they look equal parts awesome and terrifying!

First up, let's just refresh ourselves on what the synopsis for this episode is...

TIM OMUNDSON ("PSYCH") GUEST STARS AS CAIN --- Looking to reclaim his place as King of Hell, Crowley (Mark Sheppard) asks Dean (Jensen Ackles) for help finding "The First Blade," the only blade that can kill Abbadon (guest star Alaina Huffman). Knowing he owes Crowley a favour for helping Sam (Jared Padalecki), and also wanting Abaddon dead himself, Dean reluctantly agrees and the two set off on a road trip. However, Dean and Crowley are completely unprepared when they find out who has the blade - Cain (guest star Omundson), the first son. Meanwhile, Sam is back at the bunker with Castiel (Misha Collins) who notices there is some leftover grace inside Sam. If they can extract it, they can use the grace to track Gadreel. The only problem is the procedure may do permanent damage to Sam. John Badham directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson (911).

Okay? Refreshed and ready?

When Tim was on set, he tweeted this...

I guess this is what he was talking about! Looks like he LITERALLY watched Jensen fighting!

 

Angry Dean is one of my favourite things ever. Swoon.

Um.

Ummmmmm.

I'd be holding on to the door frame for support too if I was watching Dean roll all over that table! *fans self*

Meanwhile back at the bunker, looks like Cas and Sam are busy trying to extract that grace!

Wait. Is that...a...single layer, blue v-neck t-shirted Sam?! GUH!

 

Guh!

Goodness.... Sweet, sweet goodness.

 

I think we might need to send Robbie Thompson a fruit basket after this one...for kickass, sprawling all over the furniture, fighting Dean and single layer, v-neck adorned Sam!

Not that I'm objectifying or anything...

-sweeondean