fall tv-related stories
Posted May 17th 2009 10:03AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, Pickups and Renewals, Upfronts
So You Think You Can Dance is still slated to start its annual summer run this Thursday at 8 PM ET, the night after
American Idol's finale. It's tradition, you know. But apparently, Fox is thinking
SYTYCD could shore up its fall lineup a bit, as well. As everyone knows, Fox tends to flail around in the fall while they're waiting for
24 and
American Idol to start up each January. A fall edition of
So You Think You Can Dance, if it performs well, could be a nice counterpoint to
Idol, and provide some dancing alternatives to ABC's
Dancing With the Stars.
I have to admit, it's a decent idea. If this works, it would give Fox two nights a week of programming, and they could even put it on the same nights as
Idol. That way, they don't have to cave to the pressure of all the other reality shows and double up on
Idol with both fall and winter seasons. If nothing else, I think that would start to bring
Idol's ratings down even faster.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance in the fall?
Posted Nov 25th 2008 3:14PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Web, TiVo, Reality-Free
Yup, it looks like Americans are watching more TV than ever. Which must really tick off the makers of
My Own Worst Enemy,
The Ex-List, and
Dirty Sexy Money.
How much is more than ever? The average American - Joe TV, if you will - watches 142 hours a television a month, according to
a new study from Nielsen Media. That's four or five hours a day for each of us (and if that number is accurate, then I watch about 320 hours of TV a month). As for watching shows at another time, whether via DVRs or online, that's up 50% from last year. We Americans love our TV, though as
The L.A. Times says maybe more people were watching this year because of the election and The Olympics.
Continue reading You are watching more TV than ever
Posted Nov 11th 2008 2:39PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Programming, Reality-Free
A lot of people would say FOX's
Fringe. A lot of people would say CBS's
The Mentalist (it's also the #1 new show ratings-wise). Some might even say CBS's
Worst Week, though a lot of people wouldn't. It's actually been kind of a blah year for new shows.
The Boston Herald, a newspaper I used to write for many TV seasons ago, says one of the best new shows is actually on The CW, and
it's Privileged. Amy Amatangelo says that
Privileged is "that rare show...that gets better every week." She's even really specific when comparing it to other shows. If you like
Brothers & Sisters you'll like parts of the show, and if you're a fan of
How I Met Your Mother, you'll like other parts of it (the show is about a Yale grad who is hired by a cosmetics millionaire to tutor her kids). She compares it to
Gossip Girl too.
So this go me thinking: what do you think is the best new show of the year? I haven't seen
Privileged yet, so I'd probably have to go with either
The Mentalist or
Fringe. Poll is after the jump.
Continue reading What's the best new show of the season?
Posted Oct 28th 2008 11:58AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
You never heard John McCain or Barack Obama talking about this on the campaign trail.
A lot of people were surprised that
The Sarah Connor Chronicles was
renewed. Not because it's a bad show or doesn't deserve to grow and all that, but just because it wasn't getting the best ratings (plus it's on FOX). Now
The Hollywood Reporter has a theory:
the bad economy is helping these borderline shows.
The theory is that because of the bad economy, combined with the writers strike earlier this year and advertising dollars are down across the board, networks are renewing shows that wouldn't ordinarily be renewed. Besides
The Sarah Connor Chronicles, shows like
Knight Rider have gotten orders for more episodes.
Continue reading Was Sarah Connor saved by the bad economy?
Posted Oct 14th 2008 1:29PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings, Reality-Free
If you've been thinking that the new TV season isn't exciting, you're not alone. Some top TV critics have been thinking the same thing.
Time's James Poniewozik calls it "The Ratings Drought" and thinks that viewers didn't want to go back to watching the old shows after the writers strike, they wanted something new. Tim Goodman over at
The San Francisco Chronicle says that the ratings for returning shows and new ones show a real disinterest from TV fans.
Chuck,
Heroes, and
Life (all NBC shows) have seen big drops, and ABC's
Pushing Daisies is even being beaten by...well, I'm let Goodman say it:
Continue reading Is the new TV season totally lame?
Posted Sep 26th 2008 12:02PM by Kelly Woo
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Cancellations, Reality-Free
Another new TV show bites the dust.
EW's Michael Ausiello reports that Fox has cancelled
Do Not Disturb. The network won't confirm anything, telling
TV Guide that the critically-panned sitcom is "pre-empted" next week.
This comes on the heels of the show's producers apologizing for
"perpetrating bad television," but asking critics and viewers for a second chance. Guess they'll never get it.
Continue reading Fox cancelling Do Not Disturb?
Posted Sep 23rd 2008 4:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, CBS has the season premiere of NCIS, followed by the series premiere of The Mentalist and the season premiere of Without A Trace.- ABC has the series premiere of Opportunity Knocks at 8, then a new, two-hour Dancing with the Stars.
- FOX has new episodes of House and Fringe.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, followed by the season premiere of Law and Order: SVU.
- ABC Family has a new Lincoln Heights at 8, then a new Greek.
- Also at 8: ESPN has two new episodes of The World Series of Poker.
- At 9, PBS has a new American Masters.
- There's a new Eureka on Sci-Fi at 9, then a new ECW.
- Food Network has a new Food Detectives at 9, followed by a new Road Tasted with The Neelys.
- At 10, FX has a new episode of The Shield.
- Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk show listings.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: The Mentalist, Eureka, Greek, The Shield, Kimmel
Posted Sep 22nd 2008 4:04PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, NBC has the Heroes Countdown special at 8, followed by the two-hour Heroes season premiere.- ABC has the two-hour season premiere of Dancing with the Stars at 8, then the season premiere of Boston Legal.
- FOX has a new Sarah Connor Chronicles at 8, followed by a new Prison Break.
- CBS has the season premiere of Big Bang Theory at 8, then the season premieres of How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men, the series premiere of Worst Week, and the season premiere of CSI: Miami.
- The CW has new episodes of Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.
- E!'s Fashion Police discuss the Emmy dresses at 8.
- At 8:30, HGTV has a new Curb Appeal.
- Food Network has a new How'd That Get On My Plate at 8:30, then a new Unwrapped.
- At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
- At 10, TNT has a new Raising The Bar.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk show listings.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Dancing, Heroes, Worst Week, Letterman
Posted Sep 15th 2008 8:08AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Our Monday morning roundup of a half dozen things TV Squad readers - and TV fans in general - will be talking about this week.
1. Emmy Awards. Fingers crossed that
'Til Death wins a special award. Oh please oh please oh please oh please. (Sunday at 7 on ABC - we'll have live blog coverage!)
2. House season premiere. I'm just guessing, but I bet there's some mystery illness and House figures it out. (Tuesday at 8 on FOX.)
3. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season premiere. I haven't seen this show but the new commercials actually make me want to check it out. (Thursday at 10 on FX.)
4. Burn Notice season finale. Doesn't it seem like the season just started? (Thursday at 10 on USA.)
5. Supernatural season premiere. Yes, Dean is alive and well (?). (Thursday at 9 on The CW.)
6. The Closer season finale. Actually, maybe that should say
The The Closer season finale. (Tonight at 9 on TNT.)
Posted Sep 10th 2008 4:03PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, FOX has a new Bones, followed by the season premiere of 'Til Death and the series premiere of Do Not Disturb.- CBS has the season finale of Greatest American Dog at 8.
- NBC has a new America's Got Talent at 8.
- There's a new America's Next Top Model on The CW at 8.
- At 9, PBS has a new Great Performances.
- Discovery has a new Mythbusters at 9, then a new Man vs. Wild.
- Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9, followed by a new Top Design.
- Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters at 9, then a new Destination Truth.
- GAC has a new Next GAC Star at 9.
- Sundance has a new Architecture School at 9.
- Showtime has a new Inside The NFL at 9.
- At 9:30, A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter, followed by two new episodes of Criss Angel Mindfreak.
- At 10, FX has a new Sons of Anarchy.
- Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
- At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Lewis Black's Root Of All Evil.
- Also at 10:30, TCM has Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
Posted Sep 10th 2008 3:20PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings, Reality-Free
We've only been into the new season for a few days, but
some ratings numbers are already in. Looks like people love robots and prisons but might be getting sick of vampires.
On Monday, NBC won the night, with its lineup of
Deal Or No Deal (9.6 million viewers),
America's Toughest Jobs (6.5), and
Dateline (6.2), but FOX won in the all-important 18 to 49 demographic with its lineup of the
Sarah Connor Chronicles season premiere and a new episode of
Prison Break.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles grabbed 6.3 million viewers, while
Prison Break did even better, with 6.5 million. CBS beat NBC in the 18-49 demo with their lineup of comedy repeats. ABC was fourth and The CW was fifth.
Continue reading The new fall season: the ratings so far
Posted Sep 8th 2008 8:38AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Our Monday morning roundup of a half dozen things TV Squad readers - and TV fans in general - will be talking about this week. 1. Fringe series premiere. It's from the guys behind
Lost and the pilot cost $10 million. I think a few people are going to be talking about it. (Tuesday at 8 on FOX.)
2. Sarah Connor Chronicles season premiere. "Everyone thinks I'm here to terminate John Connor. I just want to watch his DirecTV..." (Tonight at 8 on FOX.)
3. Saturday Night Live season premiere. Who's going to play Sarah Palin? (Saturday at 11:30 on NBC.)
4. The Bonnie Hunt Show series premiere. Will her talk show truly be different? Can it succeed in the crowded talk show landscape? Is it here for the long-term like
The Merv Griffin Show or will it be gone as quick as
The Martin Short Show? (Starts today -
check local listings.)
5. Psych summer finale. Sometimes it gives you a headache trying to figure out when these seasons start and end and when they start up again. (Friday at 10 on USA.)
6. Privileged. I'm beginning to overdose on the pretty/rich people TV show genre. (Tuesday at 9 on The CW.)
Posted Sep 3rd 2008 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
More all-night coverage of the Republican National Convention on the news channels, some PBS channels, and CSPAN. Networks at 10.- TCM has political movies all night.
- At 7, USA has The U.S. Open.
- At 8, FOX has the two-hour season premiere of Bones.
- CBS has a new Greatest American Dog at 8.
- The CW has the season premiere of America's Next Top Model at 8.
- Discovery has a new NextWorld at 8.
- At 9, FX has the series premiere of Sons of Anarchy.
- Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9.
- At 9:30, A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter, followed by a new Criss Angel Mindfreak.
- At 10, Bravo has the season premiere of Top Design.
- There's a new Man vs. Wild on Discovery at 10.
- Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
- At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
Posted Sep 2nd 2008 3:05PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Web, Reality-Free
We really do live in a very different television landscape.
NBC has decided to put five of its shows online a week before they even premiere on TV, to build buzz. The network has decided to use
Hulu to show the first episodes of new show
Knight Rider and returning shows
30 Rock,
Lipstick Jungle,
Life, and
Chuck.
Of course, putting episodes online is nothing new. All of the networks do it (sometimes they even "leak" the shows themselves to create buzz), but this seems to be a true attempt by NBC (which needs the help) to change the way they schedule, promote, and debut shows, a change in the way they program.
Continue reading Five NBC shows to premiere on your computer before your TV set
Posted Sep 1st 2008 4:00PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
The news channels and CSPAN have coverage of the Republican National Convention all night (the major networks join in at 10).- Hallmark Channel has a Murder, She Wrote marathon all night.
- At 7, USA has more U.S. Open (switches to CNBC and Tennis Channel at 9).
- At 8, FOX has the two hour season premiere of Prison Break.
- ABC has a new High School Musical: Get in the Picture at 8.
- There's a new Deal Or No Deal on NBC at 8, followed by a new America's Toughest Jobs.
- The CW has the season premiere of Gossip Girl at 8, then the season premiere of One Tree Hill.
- At 8:30, Food Network has a new How'd That Get On My Plate?, then a new Unwrapped.
- At 9, TNT has a new episode of The Closer, followed by the series premiere of Raising the Bar.
- USA has a new Monday Night RAW at 9.
- At 10, ABC Family has a new episode of The Middleman.
- Discovery has a new Into the Unknown with Josh Bernstein at 10.
- MTV has a new episode of The Hills at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
Next Page >
TV Squad previews NBC's new shows (part 1)
TV 101: How ESPN controls the world and what the other networks can learn from it
TV Squad previews CBS's new shows
