Reality Returns!

In prime-time reality series news, given that ABC’s The Bachelor has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity this year, I have been anxiously anticipating how well the new seasons of CBS’s veteran reality series Survivor and the Amazing Race would fare. The results are now in. The 18th cycle of CBS’ veteran Survivor, (Tocatins: The Brazilian Highlands), opened on Thursday, Feb. 12 with a first-place time period finish in households (8.0 rating/13 share), total viewers (13.63 million) and adults 18-49 (4.4 rating/13 share). This was on a par with its performance from one year earlier. Meanwhile, the 14th cycle of CBS’ Emmy award winning The Amazing Race (featuring a leg set in Switzerland) opened first in the 8 p.m. Sunday timeslot in both total viewers (9.29 million) and adults 18-49 (2.7/ 7). However, retention out of lead-in 60 Minutes (Viewers: 13.08 million; A18-49: 2.1/ 6) was just 71 percent (in total viewers). Also, AR lagged relative to the previous season premiere on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2008. The Season 13 debut was stronger, attracting 10.04 million viewers and a 3.2/ 8 in the key demo.