Sweeps-related stories
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 8:33AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
In a portent of things to come,
Dollhouse is
being shoved aside by Fox during November sweeps. The popular rumor is that November will see a repeat of
House shown on Friday nights. The upside is that December will have
Dollhouse go double-long as two episodes will be shown back-to-back on Friday nights.
At least Fox is living up to its promise to show all 13 episodes of the second season. Granted,
Dollhouse has not been Whedon's best effort, but Fox hasn't exactly been kind to the show what with relegating it to Friday nights.
This is just an example of how outdated the current ratings system is. I'm sure if DVRs or Internet downloads were taken into account,
Dollhouse's ratings would be much better than they are on paper. Sadly, we live in an unfair world (with an unfair Nielsen Ratings system) so it's likely we're looking at the last season of the show.
Posted Oct 13th 2009 10:08PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, CSI, Ratings, Casting, Reality-Free
Generally speaking, the
CSI franchise has been a ratings juggernaut for CBS. Still, this season the original
CSI has been declining a bit. It started last season when
Laurence Fishburne took on the role of Dr. Ray Langston, becoming the main man on the show with William Petersen exiting.
Well, in an effort to perhaps pump up Fishburne's popularity, CBS is doing something unique. For the first time,
a CSI character -- Langston -- will crossover to the other two shows in the same week, all part of the same story.
Will it work? Probably. Crossover stunts are always fun and it'll give viewers who watch one of the
CSI's or two, to sample the other. That's not as weird as it sounds. I only watch
CSI, not NY or Miami.
Continue reading Laurence Fishburne to do three-part CSI crossover
Posted May 13th 2009 7:04PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Programming, OpEd, The Amazing Race, The Apprentice, CSI, House, Lost, Smallville, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, 30 Rock, Reality-Free, Fringe, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation
Do the American people really like watching their favorite shows this way? Assuming you have more than one or two shows you enjoy following, this week is daunting to say the least and beyond exhausting. Just last night I had a three-hour finale of
The Biggest Loser and that awesome
Fringe finale. In the past few days we've said goodbye to
The Amazing Race,
The Apprentice,
Cold Case,
The Unit,
Brothers & Sisters,
The Big Bang Theory,
House and
Castle. And that's just on the major networks.
Over the next two days we have
America's Next Top Model,
Lie to Me,
Lost,
Bones,
My Name Is Earl,
Smallville,
Parks & Recreation,
CSI,
Grey's Anatomy,
Hell's Kitchen,
The Office,
Supernatural and even
CSI: NY on a special night. And it goes on through the weekend. In an era where ratings are slipping, how can it make good business sense to put all of these finales on against one another all within a few days of each other. I know they've always done that, but I just don't think it makes sense anymore.
Continue reading We're barely halfway through and I've already got finale fatigue!
Posted Mar 10th 2009 2:19PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free, The Mentalist
Here we are in the middle of the March sweeps period (March this year instead of February, because we were supposed to switch to digital TV on February 17 and Nielsen was worried that would screw up the numbers) and
The Mentalist is a repeat tonight. Not only that, but it's the third week in a row where the show has been a repeat.
Hmmm...I wonder why CBS has made this decision?
Continue reading Wait a second ... The Mentalist is a repeat again tonight?
Posted Feb 25th 2009 2:04PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Industry, Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free, TV Squad Ten
Television as an industry is in need of a major overhaul. It's old, dusty, soiling itself, and not keeping up with the technology that changes from day to day. If it were an old, sick animal, or Larry King, it would probably be put to sleep. Alas, so many of us rely on the old biddy that it would be hard for us to say good-bye.
Luckily, I am a resourceful, intelligent and, dare I say it, gorgeous human being who has some ideas in mind to freshen up the television landscape. Yes, it may mean sacrifice from some of us (mainly network executives) and we may lose something in the process. But, in the end, the industry that we love to quietly despise while watching Cheaters will thrive once again.
Continue reading TV Squad Ten: What I would get rid of in television
Posted Jan 7th 2009 10:02AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Spoilers Anonymous, Reality-Free
This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at
TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our
tips form or by emailing us at
tvsquad at gmail dot com or calling and leaving a message at
(775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.
This week we have:
24, Heroes, Privileged, Scrubs, Supernatural and The Unit (SPOILERS FOLLOW!) Continue reading Spoilers Anonymous
Posted Nov 4th 2008 1:10AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl
(S02E09) "He is my parent. The one getting me arrested!" - Jenny about RufusI can sum up this week's episode of
Gossip Girl with six words: The. Downfall. Of. Little. Miss. J. And I can sum up my opinion of the episode with four words: Did. Not. Like. It.
I've said it
last week and, sadly, I have to say it again this week: the writers wrecked my perfect Little Miss J. After reading
the comments TV Squad readers left in response to my review of last week's episode, it looks like I'm not alone feeling this way. I understand that Jenny can't always be perfect and that she has to make mistakes to learn and grow up but the writers have gone too far with her and, from the previews of next week's episode, it looks like we ain't seen nothing yet.
Continue reading Gossip Girl: There Might Be Blood
Posted Nov 2nd 2008 5:00PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Spoilers Anonymous, Reality-Free
It's November sweeps time. When thinking of that time of year, TV fans know that this also means huge cliffhangers, major twists and a lot of guest stars. A good number of fans don't like the stress this time of year brings, especially since they know some of their favorite series will go on hiatus for December and the first weeks of January.
To help you prepare for November sweeps 2008, we compiled spoilers for the November episodes of some of the best shows on TV. We give you spoilers for series such as:
Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Criminal Minds, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Fringe. Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, Prison Break, Smallville, The Simpsons, The Unit, Without a Trace and
Ugly Betty.
SPOILERS FOLLOW!Continue reading November sweep secrets
Posted Oct 30th 2008 11:12PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Smallville, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S08E07) "He's just a regular guy." - Chloe about ClarkIt smells like sweeps time when you get rocking episodes such as "Identity." Episodes filled with action, mythology and storyline developments. And when
Smallville is concerned, you have to add the "one step closer for Clark to become Superman" factor to really have a truly rewarding episode. For me, "Identity" displayed all four elements and almost made me forget that
Lex left the building.
Continue reading Smallville: Identity
Posted Nov 14th 2007 11:22PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Private Practice
(S01E07) "We are following the plan. Everything is right on schedule." - PeteThree babies and three couples. This week's
Private Practice episode was all about screaming women and babypalooza, flirting doctors, and making adjustments since the plan couldn't be followed to the letter. It may not have looked like a November Sweeps episode but at least the episode pushed the romantic storylines a bit further.
Continue reading Private Practice: In Which Sam Gets Taken For a Ride
Posted Nov 13th 2007 8:38AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Journeyman
(S01E08) "I have one brother. He's messed up but he's not a crook." - JackThis week's
Journeyman episode had a tough act to follow because
last week's installment was fantastic. "Winterland" may not have been as good as "Double Down" but it sure gave us a lot of answers about Livia and had the FBI Agent connect some dots we wondered if someone eventually would.
Continue reading Journeyman: Winterland
Posted Nov 12th 2007 12:27AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Desperate Housewives, Episode Reviews
(S04E07) "Trust but verify." - Bree to SusanDeception was the trend of the week on Wisteria Lane. All
Desperate Housewives storylines moved forward; the most important move was probably the dive that took the love triangle involving Carlos, Gaby, and Victor.
Continue reading Desperate Housewives: You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover
Posted Nov 6th 2007 7:22PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Journeyman
(S01E07) "You're here to protect you." - Livia to DanI don't know about you but as soon as I saw the previews for this week's
Journeyman episode I was jumping up and down at the thought of seeing Dan do something in the past that would actually put his future (or present) in jeopardy! Don't get me wrong, I don't want bad things to happen to our hero but it was inevitable to eventually have him screw things up and see the ripple effect his actions while traveling can have on his own family and life.
In this fantastic episode (probably the best so far), Dan and Livia had to protect Past Dan and make sure he got rescued by Katie so that the future would stay intact. What a way for the series to kick of November Sweeps.
Continue reading Journeyman: Double Down
Posted Nov 4th 2007 11:41PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: OpEd, Desperate Housewives, Episode Reviews
(S04E06) "Sometimes greatness needs a little nudge." - MiltonThe moment of truth arrived: Danielle gave birth. About three weeks ago, I polled TV Squad visitors about
the sex of Danielle's baby. Close to 54% of the voters thought it would be a baby girl but
spoilers readers knew since mid-September that the baby would be a boy.
Continue reading Desperate Housewives: Now I Know, Don't Be Scared
Posted Nov 4th 2007 6:24PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Spoilers Anonymous, Watercooler Talk
Sweeps period is not only important for networks but also for TV viewers. Sweeps periods are when some of the biggest events in a TV series happen: deaths, explosions, extra special guest stars, etc.
To prepare you for November sweeps, I've combed through the networks' sweeps press releases and official episode descriptions and extracted what seems to be the juicy information for almost all scripted series on the five major networks.
All spoilers listed after the jump are actually spoilers the networks want you to know! Continue reading November sweeps secrets
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