nielsens-related stories
Posted Dec 1st 2009 10:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free
You knew it was a bad sign in November when
CBS decided to flip flop Cold Case and Three Rivers to test whether it was the time slots that were dictating the sliding ratings of the Sunday night dramas.
The results were hardly conclusive, but consistently drawing less than 2.0 in the demographics has doomed
Three Rivers.
CBS has pulled Three Rivers off the schedule for December. Merry Christmas, Alex O'Loughlin lovers.
This is the first step to cancellation and anyone who tells you otherwise is blowing smoke. Despite a big star in the center,
Three Rivers is an earnest medical drama that's just not catching on with viewers. CBS will complete the 13-episode order and then kiss the show bye-bye.
Continue reading Three Rivers will spend December on the shelf
Posted Nov 17th 2009 11:50AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free
Sundays have always been a good night for CBS. It's been a good day for years, thanks to the NFL. Traditionally, the football games bleed right into prime time, which commences at seven o'clock because of
60 Minutes. Even in the days when CBS broadcast Sunday night movies, the network has done well on that night of the week.
However, the advent of the NBC
Football Night in America has put a dent in CBS's strength. Also the ABC lineup and Fox's animation domination are no slouches either. So, CBS is going to do something to bolster Sundays.
Three Rivers and Cold Case will switch time slots.
.
Continue reading CBS's Sunday flip-flop: Cold Case for Three Rivers
Posted Aug 7th 2009 12:29PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Industry, Programming, OpEd, Cancellations, Ratings, Reality-Free
Earlier this week, I told you about
the real reason Without A Trace was cancelled. Now, executive producer
Shawn Ryan reveals the real reason The Unit was cancelled. "Listen, if the show had been owned by Paramount and
Medium had been owned by 20th Century Fox, we'd be making the fifth season of
The Unit now." You see, TV fans, it's comes down to money. CBS owns Paramount so it would earn more in the long run if
The Unit made more episodes, went into syndication and reaped revenues for years to come. However, Fox owns
The Unit. Get it?
Continue reading The real reason The Unit was cancelled
Posted Aug 7th 2009 9:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Daytime, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Ratings, Reality-Free
There's good news and bad news on the CBS soap opera front. The good news is that
The Young & the Restless has been renewed for two years. The bad news is that
As the World Turns could be axed just like Guiding Light.
The Young & the Restless is CBS daytime's top rated soap. It's been number one in the Nielsens for nearly 20 years running. So the renewal wasn't a big surprise. However, the pick-up came with a warning to cut costs, tighten the budget and, basically, don't expect the stars to get big raises anytime soon. In the past year alone, two of the veterans -- Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton -- opted to take less money when the show threatened to write them out or recast. Welcome to the brave new world of daytime!
Continue reading Good news, bad news for CBS soaps
Posted May 15th 2009 7:06PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: American Idol, Watercooler Talk, Contestants, Alumni
Attention, Rosie O'Donnell: Simon Cowell promised that next week's
American Idol will be a ding-dong finale. Break out the Drake's Cakes! Actually, Simon wasn't referring to Rosie's favorite chocolate cake treat, he was using perhaps the strangest euphemism he could come up with to hype the finale which he anticipates -- and rightfully so -- a great showdown between two singers who could both be deservedly crowned the winner of
American Idol.
Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen might seem like a heavyweight versus a bantam weight, one guy who's already been splashed on magazine covers -- last week's Entertainment Weekly -- as the presumptive champ, while the other was nearly knocked on his butt by the judge's song choice that was so bad that Simon faulted Kara and Randy for setting him up to fail.
Continue reading Anticipating a ding dong American Idol finale
Posted Mar 30th 2009 5:05PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Daytime, Reality-Free
It looks the lighthouse may be switched off before the end of 2009. CBS is expected to determine
whether or not to renew Guiding Light later this week. All things considered, I think the network is going to call it a day for the 72-year-old soap opera.
The ratings have been lagging and the way
Guiding Light is situated around the country – being broadcast in different time slots instead of having a regular fixed time like the rest of the CBS soaps – it's not likely to ever challenge in the Nielsens.
Continue reading CBS to decide Guiding Light's fate this week
Posted Aug 28th 2008 9:04AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Pickups and Renewals, Chuck, Reality-Free
If you're of the belief that actions speak louder than words, than this move by NBC is proof positive that the network has great faith in
Chuck.
NBC has given Chuck an early full-season pickup.
The term is called a "back-nine" order, which means that the adventures of a geek-turned-reluctant super spy, will be on NBC for all of 2008-09. The vagaries of the demographics and Nielsens notwithstanding, NBC is betting on
Chuck.
The comedy-adventure is entering its sophomore season, returning on Monday, September 29, at 8 E.T. Apparently, the powers-that-be at NBC -- Ben Silverman -- have liked the shows that are currently in the can.
Assuming they're right,
Chuck will pick up right where it left off last year with sharp characters, funny stories and the right blend of action and laughs. It's not an easy mix, although when it works -- like
Chuck and
Burn Notice -- it makes for terrific TV.
Continue reading NBC gets behind Chuck in a big way
Posted Apr 4th 2008 11:42AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: King of the Hill, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
Propane rules! Fox has renewed
King of the Hill for a 13th season. The down home hilarity of Hank and Peggy Hill, their son Bobby and dog Lady Bird, will continue for another year, likely remaining in Fox's strong Sunday night animation lineup that includes
The Simpsons, Family Guy and
American Dad -- although that's only speculation on my part.
Creators Mike Judge (the voice of Hank and Boomhauer) and Greg Daniels (The Office) will continue at the helm, and all the usual characters remain. That means more of Kathy Najimy as Peggy, Brittany Murphy as Luanne, Pamela Adlon as Bobby, Johnny Hardwick as Dale, and Stephen Root as Bill.
Continue reading Fox renews King of the Hill
Posted Mar 7th 2008 8:42PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: News, Daytime, Celebrities, Talk Show
Is Kathie Lee Gifford coming back to daytime? Does Regis know; does he care? Well, whatever the case with Reeg, there is talk that La Kathie Lee may be ready for a new talk show gig.
In the
Hollywood Reporter,
Today executive producer Jim Bell said
Kathie Lee Gifford is on the short list as a co-host for the fourth hour of the show. "I think she's a great talent," he said of KLG, while adding that other names are in the hopper as well.
Continue reading Kathy Lee Gifford co-hosting Today's fourth hour?
Posted Feb 20th 2008 12:26PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Programming, How I Met Your Mother, Pickups and Renewals, Ratings
Interesting news out of
CBS this morning. On the heels of
renewing The Big Bang Theory last week, the network has now announced that when
Bang returns with new episodes on March 17, it will be leading off the night.
How I Met Your Mother, in its third year, is also returning with new shows that night, but will be taking over
Bang's 8:30 slot. On a side note,
The New Adventures of Old Christine will be replaced by new episodes of
Rules of Engagement on Monday, April 14.
Continue reading How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory are switching slots
Posted Feb 18th 2008 8:01PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, American Idol, PVR Wire, News and Gossip
You can call it the beginning of a beautiful relationship, or it may seem like a license to print money, but any way you view it, today's announcement that
Apple will be the signature sponsor for Fox's
American Idol -- that Apple will have exclusive audio and video performance download rights for
AI -- is huge. The deal, effective immediately, ensures that all
Idol performance downloads will now only be available on Apple's iTunes store. In addition, iTunes will sponsor online streaming of contestant performances on the official
American Idol web site. Each and every time you click on the
AI site, you'll see links for iPods and iTouches and iPhones, all the cool players and gadgets that Apple sells. And every time you click on the Apple site, you'll see links to
Idol.
Continue reading American Idol + Apple = BFF
Posted Feb 15th 2006 8:26AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming
1. American Idol - Tues (FOX)
2. American
Idol - Weds (FOX)
3. CSI (CBS)
4. Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
5. Desperate
Housewives (ABC)
6. Olympics - Sun (NBC)
7. Olympics - Sat (NBC)
8.
House (FOX)
9. Olympics Opening Ceremonies (NBC)
10. Dancing With The Stars
(ABC)
11. Without A Trace (CBS)
12. Survivor (CBS)
13. Lost (ABC)
14.
CSI: Miami (CBS)
15. Grammy Awards (CBS)
16. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
17.
NCIS (CBS)
18: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
19. Law and Order: SVU
(NBC)
20. Dancing With The Stars - Results (ABC)
Posted Feb 8th 2006 10:33AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming
1. Super Bowl XL (ABC)
2. Super Bowl Post-Game -
10:05-10:10 (ABC)
3. Super Bowl Post-Game - 10:11-10:27 (ABC - no, I have no idea why they count
these as separate!)
4. Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
5. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
6.
American Idol - Tues (FOX)
7. CSI (CBS)
8. Without A Trace (CBS)
9. CSI:
Miami (CBS)
10. Survivor (CBS)
11. Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
12. CSI:
NY (CBS)
13. Dancing With The Stars - Fri (ABC)
14. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
15.
24 (FOX)
16. ER (NBC)
17. Numb3rs (CBS)
18. Courting Alex (CBS)
19. Criminal Minds (CBS)
20. Bones (FOX)
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