Post-Superbowl Show Announced by CBS: Is it a Big Deal?

CBS announced today that its hit freshman drama ELEMENTARY, which provides a modern take on Sherlock Holmes in New York City, will receive what CBS called the coveted post-Super Bowl slot. A special episode of ELEMENTARY will be broadcast following CBS Sports' coverage of SUPER BOWL XLVII, on Sunday, February 3rd.

Is this a big deal? Does the time slot after the Super Bowl make a difference to a show's success anytime thereafter?

You can decide for yourself.

Here's a list of post-Super Bowl shows from the past 20 years:

Year	Superbowl	Network	Show	Viewers	Share
2012	XLVI	NBC	The Voice	37.6 Million	NA
2011	XLV	Fox	Glee	26.8 Million	NA
2010	XLIV	CBS	Undercover Boss	38.6 Million	NA
2009	XLIII	NBC	The Office	22.9 Million	21%
2008	XLII	Fox	House	29 Million	27%
2007	XLI	CBS	Criminal Minds	26 Million	26%
2006	XL	ABC	Grey's Anatomy	37.8 Million	27%
2005	XXXIX	Fox	The Simpsons	23 Million	22%
			American Dad!
2004	XXVIII	CBS	Survivor: All-Stars	33.5 Million	32%
2003	XXXVII	ABC	Alias	17 Million	20%
2002	XXXVI	Fox	Malcolm in the Middle	21.4 Million	21%
2001	XXXV	CBS	Survivor: The Australian Outback	45 Million	39%
2000	XXXIV	ABC	The Practice	23.8 Million	27%
1999	XXXIII	Fox	Family Guy	22 Million	21%
			The Simpsons
1998	XXXII	NBC	3rd Rock from the Sun	33.6 Million	34%
1997	XXXI	Fox	The X-Files	29 Million	29%
1996	XXX	NBC	Friends	52 Million	46%
1995	XXIX	ABC	Extreme	22.5 Million	25%

As you can see, only Friends, Glee and The Office have been incredible hits. And these shows were not broadcast after the game during their Freshman seasons. So, the answer to me, is no. Hyping a show after the Super Bowl presents only a minimal advantage, if any.

ELEMENTARY, which has won its Thursday (10:00-11:00 PM) time period in key ratings measures in every broadcast against regularly scheduled programming this season, is averaging 14.2 million viewers, 4.6/11 in adults 25-54 and 3.5/10 in adults 18-49. ELEMENTARY ranks as the #2 new series on television this season, only slightly behind CBS’ VEGAS (14.5 million viewers).

The series has also opened strong in international markets. ELEMENTARY is the number one new series in Canada, airing on the Global Network, where it wins its time period in viewers and key demographic categories. In the UK, ELEMENTARY ranks as Sky Living's third highest rated series since 2002, and the top-rated launch of a drama acquisition in the channel's history.

ELEMENTARY stars Jonny Lee Miller as eccentric, mischievous detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson, a former surgeon turned sober companion. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare – a sobriety coach. Now running free in New York solving crimes, it’s simple deduction that he’s going to need someone to keep him grounded, and it’s elementary that it’s a job for Watson.

Also, Aidan Quinn stars as Capt. Thomas Gregson, who knows from previous experience working with Scotland Yard that Sherlock is brilliant at closing cases, along with Jon Michael Hill, who portrays Det. Marcus Bell, a top-notch investigator who is initially skeptical of Holmes and his unorthodox methods.