NBC’s ‘Parenthood’ gathering steam

LOS ANGELES — As NBC executives start to figure out what shows deserve to come back next fall, its Tuesday night dramedy “Parenthood” is starting to quietly make a case for a second season.

The 10 p.m. program, which is NBC’s second attempt to turn the hit Steve Martin movie into a TV series, beat “The Good Wife” in the coveted 18 to 49 demographic Tuesday.

It was the first time since “Parenthood” premiered a month go that it beat a new episode of the CBS freshman drama head-to-head in that category. Last week, a new “Parenthood” beat a repeat of “The Good Wife.”

In terms of viewers, it is still no contest. “The Good Wife” had 12 million watching on Tuesday, compared with 6.3 million for “Parenthood,” according to Nielsen. The ratings for “Parenthood” have been all over the map since its March 2 premiere, but the past few weeks have seen some stabilization.

Although “Parenthood” has not matched the numbers of its premiere week, the show is doing particularly well with women.

A decision as to whether the show, which features Peter Krause, Lauren Graham and Craig T. Nelson, will make it to a sophomore season is not expected any time in the immediate future.

NBC ordered 13 episodes and has seven more to get through. If “Parenthood” can maintain or improve on its current performance, though, odds are NBC will bring it back. It doesn’t hurt that NBC has had a very tough season and anything that shows the slightest sign of clicking with viewers will get a long look.

There will be a little bit of schadenfreude for NBC if “Parenthood” can continue to make a dent in “The Good Wife.” At January’s Golden Globe Awards, that show’s star, Julianna Margulies, took a swipe at NBC’s strategy of putting Jay Leno on at 10 p.m. when she thanked CBS President Leslie Moonves and entertainment chief Nina Tassler for “believing in the 10 o’clock drama.”

Who knows, NBC might have to thank them one day, too.

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services