"Did you hear who's going to play during the Super Bowl halftime show?""No, who?"
"That's what I just said. Who."
"No, seriously. Which is the band that's going to appear?"
"It's Who."
"I'm not talking proper English. Which band will be on CBS's halftime show on February 7 at Landshark Stadium in Miami?"
"The Who -- you know, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend. 'Tommy, can you hear me?'"
"Oh! Why didn't you just say that!"
Okay, I couldn't resist the nod to Abbott and Costello's Who's On First. But the fact is that Sports Illustrated has spread the word that The Who will star in the Super Bowl big, overblown half-time pageant. This follows the safe pattern the NFL has been employing since the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake costume malfunction; that is, stick with classic rock stars who are guaranteed to do their hits and not disrobe. That's why we've had Prince, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and now The Who. All superstar acts, no controversy.
That's the lead story, but after the game is just as big a story for television fans. The post-Super Bowl timeslot is a showcase for the network presenting the game. What will CBS do with that cushy slot? James Hibberd's The Live Feed offered a few possibilities -- The Mentalist, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Big Bang Theory, and Survivor.
The Mentalist and The Big Bang Theory are already in solid positions on CBS, already doing very well in the ratings and they're probably not in need of a boost.
Survivor was a surprise choice to me, but CBS has used this same position for past Survivor editions.
The show I suspect CBS will pick is NCIS: Los Angeles. It's not what I would choose to promote, but CBS will.
Here's why: CBS is looking for the next big show to anchor a night. They'll want to expose NCIS: LA to wider audience than it gets after NCIS on Tuesday nights, about twice the 20 million NCIS typically draws.
The Mentalist has already succeeded in moving and held its own -- from Tuesday (post NCIS) to Thursday at 10 p.m. The Big Bang is already earmarked to take over Two and a Half Men's spot in a year or so, and it's already a breakout hit. It doesn't need the big exposure. As for Survivor, it is an established franchise that will not draw that many more non-watchers in a sampling spot like post-Super Bowl because the series is on the downswing of its popularity, not on the upswing.
What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-13-2009 @ 2:37PM
cherries said...
Definitely "The Big Bang". Followed by The Mentalist. By the way, you forgot Tom Petty, who played halftime two years ago. They should have Tom EVERY year, far as I'm concerned!! Talk about an All-American band, they consistently give amazing performances and the energy is infectous, plus you can actually understand the words to their songs.
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11-13-2009 @ 2:13PM
Darnell said...
I think CBS had Criminal Minds the last time they had the super bowl. It'll probally be NCIS: Los Angeles. The big bang episode with Leonard learning football would of been perfect.
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11-13-2009 @ 2:14PM
Matt said...
They should a HIMYM and TBBT crossover hour.
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11-13-2009 @ 2:40PM
Ryan said...
+1
11-13-2009 @ 7:20PM
Darren said...
+2
11-13-2009 @ 10:16PM
Luis PJ said...
I laugh that CBS still love The Who since well....there songs are still use for there CSI intros...So well....find it weird that there hasn't been a female singer on halftime stage
as for show after the after super bowl show...I thought they should choose CSI Miami since the location of the Super Bowl would take place there...but if I had to choose I would take Survivor since it need a rating boost...all the other shows should would benefit regardless mostly to a wide exposure
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11-13-2009 @ 2:38PM
Gina said...
How about Cold Case. It is the regular program for that time and might help keep it alive. I really like that show. The period music, the fact that it shows that there are dedicated police officers who will continue to try to solve cases long after the crime. It has never gotten the respect it deserves.
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11-13-2009 @ 2:55PM
Chris Shifty said...
I think the media makes a big thing about it.
Looking at past years all it really does is give the network another hour of huge numbers. There is no benefit in the live ratings. Maybe DVD sales, DVR recordings and iTunes sales go up but The Office had 22 million people watch and this year they're getting the same 7-8 million viewers. House had 28 million, Criminal Minds had 26. The Simpsons/American Dad had 23, Alias had 17 and Family Guy aired after the Super Bowl and it was canceled!
Grey's Super Bowl episode did give them a boost to around 25 million after but what are they getting now? 14 million. One show every ten years receives a boost and then its up the show to keep the viewers.
If NCIS:LA airs after the most watched show, NCIS, I don't think they should get the Super Bowl spot.
Air an episode of The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother. Both air in less than 24 hours on the Monday, if they like what they see they'll tune in.
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11-15-2009 @ 11:55AM
johngaltx said...
After the Steelers repeat I will be too wasted drunk to even know how to turn a TV on....
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11-13-2009 @ 3:23PM
TomK said...
Amazing Race
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11-13-2009 @ 3:40PM
Richard said...
A CSI to follow the Who would seem to fit, but,t,t, reality says NCIS LA in order to promote and possibly have another winner. Of course, it might be possible to premiere a new show, if CBS has one.
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11-13-2009 @ 4:37PM
hotboudain said...
Prince should be the halftime act at EVERY Superbowl until he chooses to step down. Nobody can touch that performance before or since.
As for the program following the game? Who cares...most folks are too hammered by that time anyway
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11-13-2009 @ 8:29PM
Brett Alan said...
The bit about doing Abbott and Costello with The Who was already done to perfection by Skippy and Slappy on Animaniacs. They're at Woodstock, see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39xNlnmNLf4
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11-14-2009 @ 10:28AM
stg said...
I wonder how long before feminists start bitchin about the lack of popular female representation at half time shows
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11-15-2009 @ 11:36AM
Jimmy said...
> All superstar acts, no controversy.
Child porn doesn't qualify as controversial?
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