'SpongeBob' Episode A Chum To New Nick Series

Nov. 7 Special Draws 7.7 Million Watchers; Fans Viewers As Lead-In To Net's Series Record Debut For 'Fanboy And Chum Chum'

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 11/10/2009 5:50:23 PM

SpongeBob SquarePants is a chummy fellow and his latest installment helped set the stage for the highest-rated series debut among key kids demo in Nickelodeon history last Friday night.
The Nov. 6 premiere of SpongeBob SquarePants "Truth or Square" at 8 p.m. attracted 7.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. That made the show cable's top entertainment program for the week of Nov. 3 through Nov. 8. The show ranked second overall behind ESPN's Nov. 2 Monday Night Football matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, which tackled 12.3 million viewers.
"Truth or Square" also served as a strong lead-in for the bow of Fanboy and Chum Chum at 9 p.m., which pulled in 5.8 million watchers, including network series opening records of 10.4 rating and 3.7 million kidsamong 2 to 11 and an 11.9 rating and 2.5 million with kids 6 to 11. The premiere also garnered an 8.9 rating and 1.9 million tweens 9 to 14.
The second episode of Fanboy and Chum Chum the following morning at 10:30 a.m. also performed well: averaging a 9.5 rating and 3.4 million kids 2 to 11, a 10.4 rating and 2.2 million kids 6 to 11 and a 6.9 rating and 1.5 million tweens 9 to 14.
Encores of SpongeBob's "Truth or Square" also played big for Nick. The Nov. 7 showing at 9:30 a.m., with 7.17 million watchers on average, was the third most-watched show on cable last week. The program pulled 4.98 million at 7 p.m. that night to finish ninth, while a 9 a.m. airing on Nov. 8  pulled 4.26 million, good for 19th place, accoring to Nielsen data.