What are you watching this summer?

[Brent]

Wipeout was HILARIOUS. The commentary was priceless and I could watch the same people getting knocked into the water over and over again and enjoy it just as much each time.

I Survived a Japanese Game Show was decent but not nearly as good as Wipeout.

Celebrity Family Feud was okay but next week I will watch Wipeout live and record it.

[Miss Mary]

Watched America's Got Talent.

Our favorite so far is Eli.

We love Jerry Springer in this role as host. Now if he could only stop doing his show, then I'd be a Jerry fan again.....I was years ago, when he was our city's Mayor, then beloved local evening news anchor, then his talk show (it was more Oprah-like in the beginning).....

[Brent]

In the 8 p.m. hour, NBC's "Celebrity Family Feud" had a 5.8/10, edging the 5.7/10 for ABC's "Wipeout," though the splashy ABC series averaged more viewers and dominated the young adult demos. CBS' "NCIS" was third with a 5.2/9, while FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" encore and The CW's "Beauty and the Geek" drew minimal attention.

NBC grabbed a commanding lead at 9 p.m. with the 6.8/11 for "America's Got Talent." CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" took second, beating the 4.8/8 for FOX's new "Hell's Kitchen." ABC's "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" lost much of its lead-in, falling to a 4.4/7, but still finished second in the demo. The CW's "Reaper" had a 1.2/2.

Wipeout did awesome, I Survived a Japanese Game Show did decent but the stronger lead-in makes it look a lot worse, although it dropped at the half which probably means it'll drop next week.

Edit to add:

From start to finish, “Wipeout” saw its audience surge by nearly 2 million viewers (8.9 million to 10.8 million) and by 28% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/11 to 4.1/13). The opening of the new ABC unscripted series stood as Tuesday’s No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-49 (tie) and Adults 25-54, as well as emerging as the top broadcast of the evening across each of the key Men demographics (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, “Wipeout” represents ABC’s biggest summer series debut in 3 years – since 7/13/05. The premiere offered ABC its best summer series numbers in the time period since 2001 – since 8/28/01 in Viewers and since 6/12/01 in Adults 18-49.

[Cyclenall]

I finished watching "I survived a Japanese Game Show" and I thought it was funny at the start but as the show went on, it got more boring. The process seems to drag on.

[TexasStooge]

I was laughing non-stop when I was watching "Wipeout".

[Brent]

LOS ANGELES — Labor unrest continues to dominate the landscape in Hollywood, and the possibility of a strike by actors has large movie studios planning to shut down production after Monday and has television studios rushing to complete episodes of series scheduled to return in the fall or January. (I still think there won't be a strike, it certainly won't start next week if there is).

Most major movie studios long ago scheduled their big projects to finish shooting by Monday, the expiration date of the contract between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Screen Actors Guild.

Television studios meanwhile plan to continue taping new and returning series as long as possible, banking episodes scheduled for broadcast in the fall or the new year in case an actors’ strike interrupts production, as the strike by television and film writers did last winter.

It remains unclear whether there will be an actors’ strike at all. The first indication is expected around July 8, when members of the smaller of the two major actors’ unions, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, known as Aftra, completes a vote on whether to ratify a new contract with the producers alliance.

Roughly 44,000 of Aftra’s 70,000 members also belong to SAG, which has about 120,000 members. So the Aftra vote is being viewed as a strong indicator of whether SAG members will support a strike. SAG itself has not yet asked its members to authorize a strike in case its negotiations fail.

SAG’s leadership is lobbying Aftra members to reject the contract offer because the larger union says it does not offer enough in minimum wages for major television series roles and does not secure adequate payments for the digital use of actors’ work. SAG is also seeking new rules on product placement and an increase in allowance for gas and travel costs.

The actors’ unions have already provided exemptions to dozens of independent film projects that do not rely on the major studios for financing or distribution, allowing them to continue production in case of a strike.

Coincidentally, an aftereffect of the writers’ strike, which ended in February, is what allowed television producers to begin production earlier than usual this spring on many returning programs, thus putting them in a better position to withstand a possible short walkout by actors.

“I don’t think the writers’ strike was good for anybody,” said Teri Weinberg, an executive vice president at NBC Entertainment who oversees current programming and development. “But it did allow people like Tim Kring and his team to go back and talk about stories and bank scripts and start production earlier,” she added, referring to the creator of the NBC hit “Heroes.”

Many serialized dramas like “Heroes” and Fox’s “Prison Break” did not return to the air after the strike, allowing their writers to start working on the next season’s opening scripts back in February, when they normally would be plotting season finales.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/arts/ ... ei=5087%0A

[Brent]

Pre-Season Launch for "Survivor: Gabon" on Thursday, Sept. 18

Monday Comedies, Including the Series Debut of "Worst Week" and the Night's Top Drama "CSI: Miami," Premiere Sept. 22

"NCIS," Freshman Drama "The Mentalist" and "Without a Trace" (On Its New Night) Premiere Tuesday, Sept. 23

CBS's New Wednesday Comedy Block of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and Freshman "Project Gary," Along with Returning Dramas "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY," Premiere Sept. 24

"60 Minutes," "The Amazing Race," "Cold Case" and "The Unit," Premiere Sunday, Sept. 28

CBS's Friday Lineup Including "Ghost Whisperer," Freshman Drama "The Ex List" and "Numb3rs" Return Oct. 3

"CSI" and New Drama "Eleventh Hour" Premiere Thursday, Oct. 9

CBS today announced dates for the fall premieres of its new and returning series, which include a pre-season debut for SURVIVOR: GABON and the launch of its Thursday and Friday drama series in early October. The Network will introduce the majority of its schedule beginning Monday, Sept. 22, the official start of the 2008-2009 season.

For the seventh consecutive season, SURVIVOR: GABON, the 17th installment of the hit reality series, will debut a week prior to the formal start of the season, returning on Thursday, Sept. 18 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).

CBS's new season rollout officially begins on Monday, Sept. 22 with the second season premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT), the fourth season debut of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the sixth season premiere of television's Number One comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), the debut of new comedy WORST WEEK (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the seventh season premiere of CSI: MIAMI (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), the night's Number One drama.

NCIS begins its sixth season on Tuesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the new drama THE MENTALIST (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the seventh season premiere of WITHOUT A TRACE on its new night (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

CBS premieres its new Wednesday comedy block on Sept. 24 with the fourth season of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) and new comedy PROJECT GARY (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the fourth season of CRIMINAL MINDS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the fifth season premiere of CSI: NY (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Premiering on Sunday, Sept. 28 is the 41st season of 60 MINUTES, the longest running and highest rated newsmagazine (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT), the 13th edition of multi-Emmy Award winning THE AMAZING RACE (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the sixth season of COLD CASE (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the fourth season premiere of THE UNIT on its new night (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

The Network's top-rated Friday lineup returns on Oct. 3 with the fourth season premiere of GHOST WHISPERER (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the debut of the new drama THE EX LIST (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the fifth season premiere of NUMB3RS (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION returns for its ninth season on Thursday, Oct. 9 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the premiere of freshman drama ELEVENTH HOUR (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

The premieres of the Thursday and Friday night dramas have been scheduled outside of premiere week to accommodate the scheduled presidential debate on Sept. 26 and a vice presidential debate on Oct. 2.

CBS's 2008-2009 Premiere Dates

Thursday, Sept. 18

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR (17th Installment Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 22

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (2nd Season Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (4th Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (6th Season Premiere)
9:30-10:00 PM WORST WEEK (Series Debut)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI (7th Season Premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 23

8:00-9:00 PM NCIS (6th Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM THE MENTALIST (Series Debut)
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (7th Season Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 24

8:00-8:30 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
(4th Season Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM PROJECT GARY (Series Debut)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS (4th Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY (5th Season Premiere)

Saturday, Sept. 27

8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY (Season Premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 28

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES (41st Season Premiere)
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE (13th Edition)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE (6th Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM THE UNIT (4th Season Premiere)

Friday, Oct. 3

8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER (4th Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM THE EX LIST (Series Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS (5th Season Premiere)

Thursday, Oct. 9

9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (9th Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM ELEVENTH HOUR (Series Debut)

[lurkey]

George Clooney calls for unity among actors
By RYAN NAKASHIMA, AP Business Writer

Thu Jun 26, 8:08 PM ET



LOS ANGELES - George Clooney just wants actors to get along instead of choosing between sparring unions.


In a two-page letter released Thursday, Clooney adopted a neutral stance in the dispute between the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild.

"What we can't do is pit artist against artist," he wrote.

[lurkey]

From Nikki Finke at DHD:

COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 30TH: Calm Down. There Will Be No Strike Sequel. But When Will Hollywood Ever Get Back To Work?

Here is the start of my COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 30TH package of reporting and analysis, as promised. Please keep refreshing all three separate posts to check for updates and breaking news:

Part I: SAG/AFTRA/AMPTP Overview

Posted now...

The sense of panic among actors, writers, directors and below-the-liners is palpable in Hollywood right now. Matched only by the angst of agents whose phones aren't ringing, and out-of-town journalists struggling to write Monday's "strike sequel" stories. Strange, isn't it, that the only Hollywood types without any visible flopsweat from the de facto shutdown of production are the network and studio moguls. Because they are the puppeteers pulling everybody else's strings. From behind the scenes, they order Hollywood to jump, and the town asks how high. And never more so than during all these guild negotiations. If only the entire industry could stay focused on the actions of Big Media and start pressuring the Hollywood CEOs to put people back to work. But instead everyone's attention has strayed to the carnival sideshow of SAG vs AFTRA, and AFTRA vs SAG, and Big Star vs Big Star, and all the other diversions in an already confused situation.

The article rather long, so go here for the rest . .

Part II: The Details No One Wants You To Know
Posting Friday Night...

[Brent]

From Nikki Finke at DHD:

COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 30TH: Calm Down. There Will Be No Strike Sequel. But When Will Hollywood Ever Get Back To Work?

Here is the start of my COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 30TH package of reporting and analysis, as promised. Please keep refreshing all three separate posts to check for updates and breaking news:

Part I: SAG/AFTRA/AMPTP Overview

Posted now...

The sense of panic among actors, writers, directors and below-the-liners is palpable in Hollywood right now. Matched only by the angst of agents whose phones aren't ringing, and out-of-town journalists struggling to write Monday's "strike sequel" stories. Strange, isn't it, that the only Hollywood types without any visible flopsweat from the de facto shutdown of production are the network and studio moguls. Because they are the puppeteers pulling everybody else's strings. From behind the scenes, they order Hollywood to jump, and the town asks how high. And never more so than during all these guild negotiations. If only the entire industry could stay focused on the actions of Big Media and start pressuring the Hollywood CEOs to put people back to work. But instead everyone's attention has strayed to the carnival sideshow of SAG vs AFTRA, and AFTRA vs SAG, and Big Star vs Big Star, and all the other diversions in an already confused situation.

Now take a deep breath and calm down. To understand what's going on right now, I first need to ask you to do the following: reflect on everything you knew surrounding the writers strike, and then throw it all out the window. What's going on with SAG and AFTRA and the AMPTP is the complete opposite of what happened a few month back. The writers were for the most part united. The actors are divided to the point of distraction. The writers went after the AMPTP and the Big Media behemoths. The actors are going after each other. The agents and moguls backchannelled negotiations with the WGA. Hardly any backchannelling is going on right now between the moguls and SAG, while the agents are sitting on their hands. All the moguls kept close tabs on pre- and post-strike talks with the writers. Now some CEOs are so disengaged they're not bothering to read their labor lawyers' memos, much less to demand updates. The writers strike crippled television while movies went virtually unscathed. But the de facto strike has seemingly halted moviemaking while television production continues mostly uninterrupted. . . .

The article rather long, so go here for the rest . .

Part II: The Details No One Wants You To Know
Posting Friday Night...

This is EXACTLY why there won't be a strike.

and I've been waiting for this post from her all week.

[lurkey]

SAG, studios to meet Saturday

Negotiations are first weekend talks in a month
By DAVE MCNARY


SAG and the majors have agreed to meet over the weekend, with the guild's feature-primetime contract on the verge of expiration.

Talks recessed late Friday afternoon and will resume Saturday morning in Sherman Oaks at the headquarters of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Neither side commented.

[lurkey]

SAG's Alan Rosenberg Publicly Confirms My "Calm Down, No Strike Steps" Report

Los Angeles, June 29, 2008 – Screen Actors Guild released the following statement from SAG National President Alan Rosenberg: “We have taken no steps to initiate a strike authorization vote by the members of Screen Actors Guild. Any talk about a strike or a management lockout at this point is simply a distraction. The Screen Actors Guild national negotiating committee is coming to the bargaining table every day in good faith to negotiate a fair contract for actors.”

[Brent]

SAG's Alan Rosenberg Publicly Confirms My "Calm Down, No Strike Steps" Report

Los Angeles, June 29, 2008 – Screen Actors Guild released the following statement from SAG National President Alan Rosenberg: “We have taken no steps to initiate a strike authorization vote by the members of Screen Actors Guild. Any talk about a strike or a management lockout at this point is simply a distraction. The Screen Actors Guild national negotiating committee is coming to the bargaining table every day in good faith to negotiate a fair contract for actors.”

So true, I'm tired of seeing all these panic articles like a strike will start at Midnight tomorrow night. At the earliest it's going to be Mid-July before they even vote.

[lurkey]

Screen Actors Guild aims to thwart AFTRA contract with studios

A campaign is urging dual-union members to vote down a deal. Stars are on both sides of the battle line.

By Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 30, 2008
Some actors are lining up behind Tom Hanks. Others are backing Jack Nicholson.

No, this is not an Oscar race. It's the campaign over a new contract for Hollywood actors, and the two movie stars are on opposing sides regarding what to do about it.

[Miss Mary]

FYI - Season 4 Weeds' episode airs tonight (in case anyone is watching).

I meant to watch Swingtown last week but forgot it was on. Heard it was really good too. Dang....

[lurkey]

COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 30TH: The Details They Don't Want You To Know

PART II: The Details They Don't Want You To Know

As soon as the striking Writers Guild went back to work, the Hollywood moguls and Screen Actors Guild secretly held their first confabs. In late February, SAG national president Alan Rosenberg and national executive director Doug Allen had a meet-and-greet with Disney CEO Bob Iger. Then, the guild duo agreed to confer again with Iger plus News Corp No. 2 Peter Chernin (the pair credited with backchannelling their way to a WGA strike settlement). This was exactly what SAG leadership had told members they would do: hold informal get-togethers with the moguls to lay groundwork for formal bargaining. .

Again, a long article, so more of the article here

Part III: Battle of the Superstars, whenever Nikki Finke gets around posting it. . .

[lurkey]

Hollywood producers want industry to keep working

Monday June 30, 6:57 pm ET
By Ryan Nakashima, AP Business Writer

With contract expiring, Hollywood producers want industry to keep working

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hollywood producers sent the clearest sign yet on Monday that they won't lock out actors if negotiators don't settle on a labor contract before the current pact expires early Tuesday.

Their ads in trade publications argued the entertainment industry had suffered enough from previous work stoppages over contract disputes.

[Miss Mary]

I have a suggestion to make. This topic has gone to 51 pages by now. Yes I know it's been changed from season to season, but the majority of posts have become strike related, and often copy/paste. And not "what are you watching this summer" content. Now I know I was guilty of posting TV Guide reviews, but they pertained to actual shows, so in a way I think they were different, in theory.

Would it be possible to start a separate topic about current shows? ANY current show that's on.

Just asking....thanks.

Please know that I'm not trying to stir trouble up, just thinking that perhaps another topic would be interesting to read. Many shows debuted this summer. Some of which I'm not even watching. It might be interesting to read about one (fan posted, that is).

[lurkey]

AFTRA ratifies agreement

LOS ANGELES (July 8, 2008) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) announced today that AFTRA members ratified a new three-year primetime television agreement (Exhibit A of the AFTRA Network Television Code) reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) by a 62.4% margin. AFTRA—the nation’s second largest performers’ union—represents more than 70,000 actors, recording artists, broadcasters, and other talent working in the entertainment and media industries.

rest here

Coming soon to TV near you:

Eureka
The Closer
BB10
Burn Notice
Monk
SGA

and I forgot: Kitchen Nightmares


well, at least this is want I'll be watching the rest of the summer as far as new shows are concerned.

Also, watching repeats of Bones, since I missed most of last season. ..

[Brent]

AFTRA ratifies agreement

LOS ANGELES (July 8, 2008) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) announced today that AFTRA members ratified a new three-year primetime television agreement (Exhibit A of the AFTRA Network Television Code) reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) by a 62.4% margin. AFTRA—the nation’s second largest performers’ union—represents more than 70,000 actors, recording artists, broadcasters, and other talent working in the entertainment and media industries.

rest here

Well that's it, SAG has lost all their leverage. No strike.

Primetime TV is REALLY REALLY boring right now. Anxious for the Olympics and then fall.