TONIGHT!
Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy return after a 3-month hiatus due to the strike, and Lost returns to a new timeslot.
What are you watching this summer?
Moderator: S2k Moderators
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Miss Mary
Okay, where are the toothpicks and caffeine? LOL
We had so much TV to watch last night......we started with Earl, then Survivor, next the Office, followed by 30Rock, and finally Lost. I didn't turn in until after midnight! We like to start shows late, at least by 10 minutes so we can FF thru the commercials on our DVR.
We still haven't watched Scrubs or ER.
Why can't our favorite shows be spaced out....he he
I realize I should have watched Grey's A., but I think I have enough on my TV show viewing plate......at some point I do need to sleep!
We had so much TV to watch last night......we started with Earl, then Survivor, next the Office, followed by 30Rock, and finally Lost. I didn't turn in until after midnight! We like to start shows late, at least by 10 minutes so we can FF thru the commercials on our DVR.
We still haven't watched Scrubs or ER.
Why can't our favorite shows be spaced out....he he
I realize I should have watched Grey's A., but I think I have enough on my TV show viewing plate......at some point I do need to sleep!
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Brent
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
Fast National ratings for Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thursday's ratings race was highly competitive, but top finishers CBS and ABC were battling over a smaller audience than they were early in the season.
CBS took the overall crown with a 9.2 rating/15 share, beating ABC, 8.1/13. FOX took third with a 5.3/8. NBC's 4.3/7 was good for fourth, and The CW trailed with a 1.8/3. Across the board, though, those numbers are down from their pre-strike levels for original episodes.
In the adults 18-49 demographic, ABC led the way with a 4.8 rating. CBS finished second at 4.0. NBC came in third with a 2.9, topping FOX's 2.3. The CW drew a 1.2.
"Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites" (7.9/13) gave CBS the lead at 8 p.m. ABC's "Ugly Betty" returned with a 6.0/10, beating FOX's "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" for second. "My Name Is Earl," 4.0/7, and "Scrubs," 3.5/6, were fourth for NBC. "Smallville" scored a 2.1/4 for The CW.
At 9 p.m., "Grey's Anatomy" led in households for ABC with a 10.7/16, but "CSI," 10.5/16, brought more total viewers to CBS (16.74 million to 16.02 million for ABC). "Don't Forget the Lyrics," 5.4/8, kept FOX in third. NBC improved a little with "The Office," 4.6/7, and "30 Rock," 3.5/5. "Supernatural" closed the evening for The CW.
CBS' "Without a Trace," 9.2/15, drew the biggest overall audience at 10 p.m. ABC, however, had a sizable adults 18-49 lead with "Lost," 7.6/13. "ER" delivered a 5.1/8 for NBC.
Thursday's ratings race was highly competitive, but top finishers CBS and ABC were battling over a smaller audience than they were early in the season.
CBS took the overall crown with a 9.2 rating/15 share, beating ABC, 8.1/13. FOX took third with a 5.3/8. NBC's 4.3/7 was good for fourth, and The CW trailed with a 1.8/3. Across the board, though, those numbers are down from their pre-strike levels for original episodes.
In the adults 18-49 demographic, ABC led the way with a 4.8 rating. CBS finished second at 4.0. NBC came in third with a 2.9, topping FOX's 2.3. The CW drew a 1.2.
"Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites" (7.9/13) gave CBS the lead at 8 p.m. ABC's "Ugly Betty" returned with a 6.0/10, beating FOX's "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" for second. "My Name Is Earl," 4.0/7, and "Scrubs," 3.5/6, were fourth for NBC. "Smallville" scored a 2.1/4 for The CW.
At 9 p.m., "Grey's Anatomy" led in households for ABC with a 10.7/16, but "CSI," 10.5/16, brought more total viewers to CBS (16.74 million to 16.02 million for ABC). "Don't Forget the Lyrics," 5.4/8, kept FOX in third. NBC improved a little with "The Office," 4.6/7, and "30 Rock," 3.5/5. "Supernatural" closed the evening for The CW.
CBS' "Without a Trace," 9.2/15, drew the biggest overall audience at 10 p.m. ABC, however, had a sizable adults 18-49 lead with "Lost," 7.6/13. "ER" delivered a 5.1/8 for NBC.
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
TV crew members still feeling effects of writers strike
Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times
By Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 28, 2008
The writers strike ended two months ago. But many in Hollywood remain on the brink.
Some are at risk of losing their homes. Some can't afford groceries. Others have filed for bankruptcy. Still others struggle to work enough hours to hold on to their health insurance.
Across Los Angeles, many crew members who work behind the scenes and on the sets of television shows and movies are still quaking from the temblor of the 100-day writers strike that shut down scripted TV production.
Blame the aftershocks. Networks have sharply curtailed the number of TV pilots this year, continuing a trend toward ordering fewer shows for the new season.
The shows that did return are filming 20% to 40% fewer episodes. And in Los Angeles County, location permits for sitcoms and dramas since the strike ended have plunged 51% and 35% from last year, respectively, according to FilmL.A., which handles film permits.
Although hard figures are not available, union officials say that thousands of crew members who normally would be busy at this time of year are still idled because of the sharp contraction in television production. Some union locals report a quarter of their members are sitting at home.
Karen Hartjen is one. She can't bring herself to open the utility bills lying on her kitchen table in Simi Valley.
The 53-year-old assistant prop master has been out of work since early November, when a string of jobs on TV shows such as "CSI: New York" and "Medium" came to a halt after the writers walked out.
Although Hartjen is accustomed to earning $100,000 a year, she is now $10,000 in debt and her home is threatened with foreclosure. She has turned to her church and the Salvation Army for help with groceries.
"I've been in this business for two decades, and I've never experienced anything like this," Hartjen said. "I'm just fighting for my life."
It will take several more months before TV production -- and the jobs that go along with it -- return to normal levels, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. And that's assuming there is no actors strike. "It's going to be a nerve-racking year for 'below-the-line' workers," he said.
Anxieties build
The downturn comes at a tough time for Hollywood's blue-collar employees, who are grappling with what many economists view as a nationwide recession, as well as a steady drain of film jobs to New Mexico, Louisiana and other states offering production incentives not available in California. Michigan upped the stakes recently by offering film producers 40 cents back for every dollar they spend shooting in the state.
Adding to the anxiety among so-called below-the-line workers -- such as technicians, carpenters and makeup artists -- are fears that they could suffer a double whammy if actors and studios fail to reach a new contract by June 30. Studios, which have spent months preparing for a walkout by actors, began negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild two weeks ago.
The parties a few days ago agreed to extend the talks an additional week. Nonetheless, each side remains far apart on a number of issues, including how much money actors should earn when shows are distributed online.
"Any possibility of an actors strike weighs heavily on the minds of our people," said Ed Brown, business agent for Local 44 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The local represents set decorators, special-effects workers and prop makers who are among the more than 30,000 Hollywood workers represented by the union.
Brown estimates that about 25% of the local's 5,000 West Coast members are still looking for jobs -- double the normal level for this time of year.
Without any income, they've sought help from charitable groups such as the Writers Guild Foundation, which has raised money for crew members, and the Actors Fund, which provides financial help to economically distressed workers in the entertainment industry. The latter, with help from the Writers Guild Foundation, has provided more than $1 million in assistance to nearly 700 people since November. Recipients receive payments of $500 to $2,000 to help with car payments, mortgage payments or utility bills.
The Actors Fund has been getting about 20 calls a day for emergency help, double the usual volume.
"A lot of people are trying to dig themselves out of a hole," said Keith McNutt, western region director for the Actors Fund. "They're desperate."
page 2 here
Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times
By Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 28, 2008
The writers strike ended two months ago. But many in Hollywood remain on the brink.
Some are at risk of losing their homes. Some can't afford groceries. Others have filed for bankruptcy. Still others struggle to work enough hours to hold on to their health insurance.
Across Los Angeles, many crew members who work behind the scenes and on the sets of television shows and movies are still quaking from the temblor of the 100-day writers strike that shut down scripted TV production.
Blame the aftershocks. Networks have sharply curtailed the number of TV pilots this year, continuing a trend toward ordering fewer shows for the new season.
The shows that did return are filming 20% to 40% fewer episodes. And in Los Angeles County, location permits for sitcoms and dramas since the strike ended have plunged 51% and 35% from last year, respectively, according to FilmL.A., which handles film permits.
Although hard figures are not available, union officials say that thousands of crew members who normally would be busy at this time of year are still idled because of the sharp contraction in television production. Some union locals report a quarter of their members are sitting at home.
Karen Hartjen is one. She can't bring herself to open the utility bills lying on her kitchen table in Simi Valley.
The 53-year-old assistant prop master has been out of work since early November, when a string of jobs on TV shows such as "CSI: New York" and "Medium" came to a halt after the writers walked out.
Although Hartjen is accustomed to earning $100,000 a year, she is now $10,000 in debt and her home is threatened with foreclosure. She has turned to her church and the Salvation Army for help with groceries.
"I've been in this business for two decades, and I've never experienced anything like this," Hartjen said. "I'm just fighting for my life."
It will take several more months before TV production -- and the jobs that go along with it -- return to normal levels, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. And that's assuming there is no actors strike. "It's going to be a nerve-racking year for 'below-the-line' workers," he said.
Anxieties build
The downturn comes at a tough time for Hollywood's blue-collar employees, who are grappling with what many economists view as a nationwide recession, as well as a steady drain of film jobs to New Mexico, Louisiana and other states offering production incentives not available in California. Michigan upped the stakes recently by offering film producers 40 cents back for every dollar they spend shooting in the state.
Adding to the anxiety among so-called below-the-line workers -- such as technicians, carpenters and makeup artists -- are fears that they could suffer a double whammy if actors and studios fail to reach a new contract by June 30. Studios, which have spent months preparing for a walkout by actors, began negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild two weeks ago.
The parties a few days ago agreed to extend the talks an additional week. Nonetheless, each side remains far apart on a number of issues, including how much money actors should earn when shows are distributed online.
"Any possibility of an actors strike weighs heavily on the minds of our people," said Ed Brown, business agent for Local 44 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The local represents set decorators, special-effects workers and prop makers who are among the more than 30,000 Hollywood workers represented by the union.
Brown estimates that about 25% of the local's 5,000 West Coast members are still looking for jobs -- double the normal level for this time of year.
Without any income, they've sought help from charitable groups such as the Writers Guild Foundation, which has raised money for crew members, and the Actors Fund, which provides financial help to economically distressed workers in the entertainment industry. The latter, with help from the Writers Guild Foundation, has provided more than $1 million in assistance to nearly 700 people since November. Recipients receive payments of $500 to $2,000 to help with car payments, mortgage payments or utility bills.
The Actors Fund has been getting about 20 calls a day for emergency help, double the usual volume.
"A lot of people are trying to dig themselves out of a hole," said Keith McNutt, western region director for the Actors Fund. "They're desperate."
page 2 here
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/tv-n ... ana-jones/
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — There’s been little news about the Ripper spin-off since it was announced last year. It may have stalled but Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy’s Giles) says it’s not dead. He tells Digital Spy, “The latest is that I was over in LA last year at about this time. I bumped into Julie Gardner from BBC Wales who said ‘has anything ever happened to that?’ And at the same time I had just been speaking to Joss [Whedon] saying that there are a lot of people who keep asking about it. He said ‘Is there anybody at the BBC I can talk to about it?’ so I introduced him to Julie Gardner and they got on very well? and then the writers’ strike happened and FOX picked up an idea of his called Dollhouse that he’s doing with Eliza Dushku. So the answer is that there is a possibility of something happening… the story that he’s written could adapt to being a one-off story not necessarily related to Buffy. All that means that there is the will and there is the means. It’s a question of how, when and if it [comes together] through the next year or so.” As to the story details, Head says, “All I can say is that it’s a ghost story. But a ghost story with a real Joss Whedon difference. It’s got such a twist to it. But I wouldn’t want to give it away. It would be the worst spoiler of all time.”
Reaper — The CW execs still haven’t made up their minds about the future of the devilish comedy. Network spokesman Paul McGuire tells the LA Times that Reaper’s seen as a quality show but that, “Its future will be revealed when we announce our schedule May 13.” Producers are finishing up this season’s final episodes and are hopeful the show will be renewed now that they’ve found the show’s unique style. Executive producer Michele Fazekas says, “We understand what the show is now and what it can be. I think now that we’re in this groove, all of a sudden, in a weird way, instead of narrowing what our prospects are, it just opens them up. ‘Oh, I can see what season three is now, and season five.’ ”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — There’s been little news about the Ripper spin-off since it was announced last year. It may have stalled but Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy’s Giles) says it’s not dead. He tells Digital Spy, “The latest is that I was over in LA last year at about this time. I bumped into Julie Gardner from BBC Wales who said ‘has anything ever happened to that?’ And at the same time I had just been speaking to Joss [Whedon] saying that there are a lot of people who keep asking about it. He said ‘Is there anybody at the BBC I can talk to about it?’ so I introduced him to Julie Gardner and they got on very well? and then the writers’ strike happened and FOX picked up an idea of his called Dollhouse that he’s doing with Eliza Dushku. So the answer is that there is a possibility of something happening… the story that he’s written could adapt to being a one-off story not necessarily related to Buffy. All that means that there is the will and there is the means. It’s a question of how, when and if it [comes together] through the next year or so.” As to the story details, Head says, “All I can say is that it’s a ghost story. But a ghost story with a real Joss Whedon difference. It’s got such a twist to it. But I wouldn’t want to give it away. It would be the worst spoiler of all time.”
Reaper — The CW execs still haven’t made up their minds about the future of the devilish comedy. Network spokesman Paul McGuire tells the LA Times that Reaper’s seen as a quality show but that, “Its future will be revealed when we announce our schedule May 13.” Producers are finishing up this season’s final episodes and are hopeful the show will be renewed now that they’ve found the show’s unique style. Executive producer Michele Fazekas says, “We understand what the show is now and what it can be. I think now that we’re in this groove, all of a sudden, in a weird way, instead of narrowing what our prospects are, it just opens them up. ‘Oh, I can see what season three is now, and season five.’ ”
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Brent
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
BRITNEY SPEARS RETURNS TO "HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER," MONDAY, MAY 12
Production on the Episode Begins Today
LOS ANGELES, April 28 - Singer Britney Spears will return to HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER to guest star in an episode to be broadcast Monday, May 12 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Production on the episode began today.
"We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again. And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you," said Craig Thomas, executive producer and co-creator, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.
and from last night:
Fast National ratings for Sunday, April 27, 2008
ABC's two Sunday dramas built on their audiences from last week, and along with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" led the network to a ratings win.
ABC averaged a 7.5 rating/12 share for the night. CBS finished second overall with a 5.7/9. FOX, 3.9/6, edged NBC, 3.8/6, for third. The CW was way back at 0.8/1.
The adults 18-49 title also went to ABC, which drew a 4.0 rating in the key ad demographic. FOX took second with a 3.0. CBS, 2.1, came in third, followed by NBC, 1.3, and The CW, 0.5.
CBS' "60 Minutes" led at 7 p.m. with a 6.5/12. "Dateline," 4.7/9, finished second in households for NBC, although "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 4.5/8, brought more total viewers to ABC. Reruns of "King of the Hill" and "The Simpsons" averaged 2.5/4 for FOX, easily topping an "America's Next Top Model" repeat on The CW.
"EM: Home Edition" improved to 7.4/12 at 8 p.m., moving ABC into the lead. FOX finished second in viewers with "The Simpsons," 4.6/8, and "King of the Hill," 4.0/6. The finale of "Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part" earned a 4.4/7 for CBS. "Monk" was fourth for NBC. "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Aliens in America" averaged 0.8/1 for The CW.
At 9 p.m., ABC's "Desperate Housewives" drew the night's biggest audience with a 10.2/16. "Cold Case" scored a 7.5/11 for CBS. "Family Guy," 5.3/8, and "American Dad," 4.2/6, moved FOX ahead of NBC and "Psych," 2.3/3. The CW went with "The Game" and a "Girlfriends" rerun.
"Brothers & Sisters," 7.8/13, easily won the 10 p.m. hour for ABC. CBS "Dexter" and NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" rerun tied for second at 4.3/7.
Production on the Episode Begins Today
LOS ANGELES, April 28 - Singer Britney Spears will return to HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER to guest star in an episode to be broadcast Monday, May 12 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Production on the episode began today.
"We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again. And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you," said Craig Thomas, executive producer and co-creator, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.
and from last night:
Fast National ratings for Sunday, April 27, 2008
ABC's two Sunday dramas built on their audiences from last week, and along with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" led the network to a ratings win.
ABC averaged a 7.5 rating/12 share for the night. CBS finished second overall with a 5.7/9. FOX, 3.9/6, edged NBC, 3.8/6, for third. The CW was way back at 0.8/1.
The adults 18-49 title also went to ABC, which drew a 4.0 rating in the key ad demographic. FOX took second with a 3.0. CBS, 2.1, came in third, followed by NBC, 1.3, and The CW, 0.5.
CBS' "60 Minutes" led at 7 p.m. with a 6.5/12. "Dateline," 4.7/9, finished second in households for NBC, although "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 4.5/8, brought more total viewers to ABC. Reruns of "King of the Hill" and "The Simpsons" averaged 2.5/4 for FOX, easily topping an "America's Next Top Model" repeat on The CW.
"EM: Home Edition" improved to 7.4/12 at 8 p.m., moving ABC into the lead. FOX finished second in viewers with "The Simpsons," 4.6/8, and "King of the Hill," 4.0/6. The finale of "Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part" earned a 4.4/7 for CBS. "Monk" was fourth for NBC. "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Aliens in America" averaged 0.8/1 for The CW.
At 9 p.m., ABC's "Desperate Housewives" drew the night's biggest audience with a 10.2/16. "Cold Case" scored a 7.5/11 for CBS. "Family Guy," 5.3/8, and "American Dad," 4.2/6, moved FOX ahead of NBC and "Psych," 2.3/3. The CW went with "The Game" and a "Girlfriends" rerun.
"Brothers & Sisters," 7.8/13, easily won the 10 p.m. hour for ABC. CBS "Dexter" and NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" rerun tied for second at 4.3/7.
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
NBC plans low-key exit for ABC-bound 'Scrubs'
Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:34pm EDT
By James Hibberd
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Like a tipsy party guest, it's going to be pretty tough for "Scrubs" to exit NBC gracefully.
The network's final "Scrubs" episode airs next week, concluding its run with the network after seven seasons. But you'd never know it from watching NBC or perusing the entertainment media.
At the conclusion of what was the comedy's third-to-last episode on NBC Thursday, viewers were simply urged to check out the show's interactive features on NBC.com. The usual array of creator and cast interviews that usually accompany the final episodes of a concluding series are likewise largely absent.
The super low-key exit for "Scrubs" is tied to what's become the worst-kept secret in Hollywood: that the veteran comedy is moving to ABC. The long-pending deal for ABC to pick up 18 episodes of "Scrubs" for next season is effectively, pretty much, essentially, done.
Production has been under way for weeks, while cast and crew have been encouraged to keep quiet. A television studio producing a drama costing north of $1 million per episode without anybody saying who the episodes are for is considered highly unusual, if not a little weird.
ABC plans to confirm the acquisition at next month's "upfront" presentation to advertisers.
Holding series pickup news until the upfronts is a typical network strategy. In the case of "Scrubs," ABC also is waiting for the show to end its NBC run. NBC came out swinging when news of the series' move to ABC first leaked, accusing the show's producer ABC Studios of violating NBC's right of first negotiation. The parties have since patched things up, but a premature celebration by ABC could inflame the situation.
That leaves NBC in the similarly odd position of promoting a farewell to a longtime series that's headed across the dial.
A network spokesperson said NBC will run promos for the final "Scrubs" episode and gamely bill it as "a season finale" rather than "a series finale." Back in 2001, WB Network called its last episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" the "WB series finale" rather than acknowledge the show had scored a second life on UPN.
In an interesting twist, "Scrubs"' stock has shown some life on NBC recently.
When paired with NBC's hit "The Office" since the conclusion of the Hollywood writers strike, the medical comedy has outperformed its average last year by 17% among adults 18-49, a demographic coveted by advertisers. But the show's real test will come when it moves to ABC, where it will likely have to help jump start a freshman comedy.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:34pm EDT
By James Hibberd
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Like a tipsy party guest, it's going to be pretty tough for "Scrubs" to exit NBC gracefully.
The network's final "Scrubs" episode airs next week, concluding its run with the network after seven seasons. But you'd never know it from watching NBC or perusing the entertainment media.
At the conclusion of what was the comedy's third-to-last episode on NBC Thursday, viewers were simply urged to check out the show's interactive features on NBC.com. The usual array of creator and cast interviews that usually accompany the final episodes of a concluding series are likewise largely absent.
The super low-key exit for "Scrubs" is tied to what's become the worst-kept secret in Hollywood: that the veteran comedy is moving to ABC. The long-pending deal for ABC to pick up 18 episodes of "Scrubs" for next season is effectively, pretty much, essentially, done.
Production has been under way for weeks, while cast and crew have been encouraged to keep quiet. A television studio producing a drama costing north of $1 million per episode without anybody saying who the episodes are for is considered highly unusual, if not a little weird.
ABC plans to confirm the acquisition at next month's "upfront" presentation to advertisers.
Holding series pickup news until the upfronts is a typical network strategy. In the case of "Scrubs," ABC also is waiting for the show to end its NBC run. NBC came out swinging when news of the series' move to ABC first leaked, accusing the show's producer ABC Studios of violating NBC's right of first negotiation. The parties have since patched things up, but a premature celebration by ABC could inflame the situation.
That leaves NBC in the similarly odd position of promoting a farewell to a longtime series that's headed across the dial.
A network spokesperson said NBC will run promos for the final "Scrubs" episode and gamely bill it as "a season finale" rather than "a series finale." Back in 2001, WB Network called its last episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" the "WB series finale" rather than acknowledge the show had scored a second life on UPN.
In an interesting twist, "Scrubs"' stock has shown some life on NBC recently.
When paired with NBC's hit "The Office" since the conclusion of the Hollywood writers strike, the medical comedy has outperformed its average last year by 17% among adults 18-49, a demographic coveted by advertisers. But the show's real test will come when it moves to ABC, where it will likely have to help jump start a freshman comedy.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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FOX LAYS OUT LATE SUMMER LINEUP
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- In what could be a major hint about its fall strategy, FOX has detailed its late summer lineup.
Repeats of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Prison Break" will join the network's Monday schedule on August 11 while "Bones" and "House" will shift to their old Tuesday slots on July 22.
Also on the horizon: back-to-back repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" on Wednesdays and Fridays respectively.
Here's a breakdown of the network's complete summer lineup:
Mondays (June 2-July 28)
8:00/7:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "House" (Repeats)
Mondays (as of August 11)*
8:00/7:00c - "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Prison Break" (Repeats)
Tuesdays (May 27-July 8)
8:00/7:00c - "The Moment of Truth" (New Episodes)
9:00/8:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (New Episodes)
Tuesdays (as of July 22)**
8:00/7:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "House" (Repeats)
Wednesdays (May 28-August 6)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (New Season)
Wednesdays (as of August 13)
8:00/7:00c - "Kitchen Nightmares" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Kitchen Nightmares" (Repeats)
Thursdays (May 22-June 5; August 7)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (New Season)
Thursdays (June 12-July 31)
8:00/7:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (New Episodes)
9:00/8:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (New Season)
Thursdays (August 14-21)
8:00/7:00c - "NFL Preseason"
Thursdays (as of August 28)
8:00/7:00c - (To Be Announced)
Fridays (April 25-August 1)
8:00/7:00c - "FOX Friday Night Movie"
Fridays (as of August 8)
8:00/7:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (Repeats)
Saturdays
8:00/7:00c - "Cops"
8:30/7:30c - "Cops" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted: America Strikes Back"
Sundays (as of June 1)
7:00/6:00c - "Don't Forget the Lyrics!" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "King of the Hill" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "American Dad" (Repeats)
* On August 4, FOX will air the 2008 Teen Choice Awards.
** On July 15, FOX will air the 2008 MLB All-Star Game.
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- In what could be a major hint about its fall strategy, FOX has detailed its late summer lineup.
Repeats of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Prison Break" will join the network's Monday schedule on August 11 while "Bones" and "House" will shift to their old Tuesday slots on July 22.
Also on the horizon: back-to-back repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" on Wednesdays and Fridays respectively.
Here's a breakdown of the network's complete summer lineup:
Mondays (June 2-July 28)
8:00/7:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "House" (Repeats)
Mondays (as of August 11)*
8:00/7:00c - "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Prison Break" (Repeats)
Tuesdays (May 27-July 8)
8:00/7:00c - "The Moment of Truth" (New Episodes)
9:00/8:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (New Episodes)
Tuesdays (as of July 22)**
8:00/7:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "House" (Repeats)
Wednesdays (May 28-August 6)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (New Season)
Wednesdays (as of August 13)
8:00/7:00c - "Kitchen Nightmares" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Kitchen Nightmares" (Repeats)
Thursdays (May 22-June 5; August 7)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (New Season)
Thursdays (June 12-July 31)
8:00/7:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (New Episodes)
9:00/8:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (New Season)
Thursdays (August 14-21)
8:00/7:00c - "NFL Preseason"
Thursdays (as of August 28)
8:00/7:00c - (To Be Announced)
Fridays (April 25-August 1)
8:00/7:00c - "FOX Friday Night Movie"
Fridays (as of August 8)
8:00/7:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (Repeats)
Saturdays
8:00/7:00c - "Cops"
8:30/7:30c - "Cops" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted: America Strikes Back"
Sundays (as of June 1)
7:00/6:00c - "Don't Forget the Lyrics!" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "King of the Hill" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "American Dad" (Repeats)
* On August 4, FOX will air the 2008 Teen Choice Awards.
** On July 15, FOX will air the 2008 MLB All-Star Game.
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TexasStooge
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TexasStooge wrote:It seems "The Unit" on CBS Tuesday Nights has been cancelled and replaced with new episodes of "Shark". At the same time, I was recording "Hell's Kitchen".
Shark's original timeslot (10PM Eastern/9PM Central) has been filled with an episode of "CSI".
only for three episodes. . .
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Brent
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
It's two weeks before the broadcast network upfronts, and the town isn't ready.
Conference rooms normally booked solid with marathon pilot screenings are empty. Many pilots are still in the casting phase, or are still recruiting directors and other key production elements. At one network, execs who normally put together their upfront speech months in advance just began working on it.
What's more, most of the five major broadcast networks -- still reeling from the loss of revenue due to the strike -- are dramatically scaling back the number of L.A. staffers they plan to send to Gotham next month. Some talent agencies have also cut back their upfront contingents, telling some younger agents they'll have to stay home this year.
"It's going to be slim pickings this year," one TV biz insider said. "Everything is being cut back."
Normally, a year's worth of pitches, scripts, development, pilots, casting and production boils down to that one week in May. Virtually the entire biz relocates to Gotham as the networks unveil their fall wares to advertisers. Agencies throw lavish parties to toast clients, nets throw bigger fetes to woo advertisers -- then everyone gets on a plane back to Los Angeles.
That won't be the case this year.
At ABC, one person familiar with the net's plans said perhaps just a half-dozen senior execs will schlep to New York this year -- dramatically fewer than in past years. As of now, net has also opted against flying out any talent from its shows (save for latenight host Jimmy Kimmel).
CBS is also cutting back on its upfront crew, slashing its Gotham contingent by more than 50%, according to a person familiar with the net's thinking. Only staffers directly involved in putting together the Eye's upfront presentation will get a golden ticket to Gotham this year.
Not surprisingly, NBC is also downsizing its upfront team -- in part because the net has already presented its fall (and winter, and spring) schedule. And instead of an upfront, Peacock is planning the "NBC Universal Experience," a circus-like event at 30 Rock in which Madison Avenue men and women, along with the press, will get a taste of all things Peacock.
Also scaling back is the CW, which earlier this year opted to scrap a straight-ahead presentation in favor of a cocktail party with a mini-presentation. As a result, network insiders confirm that the net will be cutting back its upfront contingent.
While strike-related budget pressures are behind many of the cuts, other observers believe this year's event just seems less relevant. "It just seems like a different kind of year. It seems like everything is just smaller," one agency insider said.
One network wag lamented that more staffers wouldn't be headed to Gotham this May.
"It's a shame, because the end of year thing is important for people as a release, to mark the end of development season," insider said. "But this year, there really wasn't a normal development season, so it wouldn't really be the end of anything."
Because so many pilots are still in flux, much of the talk around town about what has a shot to get on the air next season has relied on script quality, casting coups and A-list auspices.
There are the no-brainers: Joss Whedon's Fox drama "Dollhouse," starring Eliza Dushku, is a lock (and already has an episodic order). Ditto Fox's J.J. Abrams entry "Fringe," which has a series commitment, and its Bernie Mac-Bruce Helford comedy. Net execs are also said to be fond of the script for comedy "Boldy Going Nowhere," from the team behind FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," but it won't be shot until long after the upfront.
Hot projects at CBS are said to include dramas "The Mentalist," and the untitled Geena Davis vehicle and Jerry Bruckheimer's "11th Hour," which is already hiring staff writers.
Despite some hiccups, ABC has long been high on David E. Kelley's drama "Life on Mars," making it a contender for a 2008-09 slot.
CW, meanwhile, is expected to pick up its "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff, even though nothing has been shot yet. The saucy "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls," which, like "Gossip Girl," is based on a novel, is also considered likely.
With far fewer new shows available to tout, the upfront presentations themselves -- once three-hour or more affairs -- have been slashed down, as the nets forgo the pomp and circumstance.
Nets may announce fall lineups but forgo midseason announcements. With fewer cutdowns to show than usual, the network presentations are expected to be short and sweet this year. What's more, most nets have canceled their post-presentation parties (with the exception of Fox).
Alphabet plans on offering advertisers a "no B.S." presentation, laying out its strategy sans stunts and gimmicks. Net has just a handful of scripted pilots that will be done prior to its upfront, which means there won't be as many lengthy clip presentations as in years past.
ABC insiders are hoping to avoid scheduling or announcing new shows that haven't already shot a pilot (unlike NBC, which announced series orders for several projects that have yet to lense a single scene). Net has a pilot for "Life on Mars" in the can, and should have two comedies and several alternative projects ready for screening by upfront week.
Unlike the other nets, Alphabet also has a strong roster of returning sophomore shows it can point to, including "Private Practice," "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money."
Over at CBS, where development execs have been working feverishly to ensure a healthy number of pilots are ready to be screened -- up to nine dramas and five laffers -- it's believed the net will manage to show off clips from a number of new projects.
"We will be showing brand-new shows at our upfront," CBS Corp. supremo Leslie Moonves told analysts Tuesday during a conference call to discuss earnings. "Many of our shows were filmed as presentations rather than full pilots, representing significant savings, while still providing the creative content on the screen to make an informed decision regarding the best new series."
Moonves was upbeat about the Eye's strike-shortened slate, even suggesting that it might have helped with the quality of this year's pilots.
"I've only had the opportunity to see two of our pilots so far, one of which I absolutely adore," he said. "I don't want to oversell, but I am very excited about one. It is ironic, but there are some who think -- and I may be one of them -- that the forced, compressed nature of it may have forced better work or more intense work on the part of people. Obviously, casting became a bit more difficult because everybody was running in a very limited period of time."
When the strike ended in mid-February, the networks opted to push forward at their own pace. Some nets, like ABC and Fox, aren't following arbitrary deadlines and will continue developing pilots into the summer. CBS, meanwhile, decided to pick up more short-form presentations and make their programming choices from there. One network, NBC, decided to go for broke and announce its fall sked a month early. (The Peacock is planning an event promoting the entire NBC U universe, in lieu of a network presentation.)
In some ways, webheads sound liberated by the decision to play fast and loose with the upfronts. There's much more calm in the air than what usually transpires in the days leading up to the nets' presentations to advertisers.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111798 ... id=14&cs=1
Conference rooms normally booked solid with marathon pilot screenings are empty. Many pilots are still in the casting phase, or are still recruiting directors and other key production elements. At one network, execs who normally put together their upfront speech months in advance just began working on it.
What's more, most of the five major broadcast networks -- still reeling from the loss of revenue due to the strike -- are dramatically scaling back the number of L.A. staffers they plan to send to Gotham next month. Some talent agencies have also cut back their upfront contingents, telling some younger agents they'll have to stay home this year.
"It's going to be slim pickings this year," one TV biz insider said. "Everything is being cut back."
Normally, a year's worth of pitches, scripts, development, pilots, casting and production boils down to that one week in May. Virtually the entire biz relocates to Gotham as the networks unveil their fall wares to advertisers. Agencies throw lavish parties to toast clients, nets throw bigger fetes to woo advertisers -- then everyone gets on a plane back to Los Angeles.
That won't be the case this year.
At ABC, one person familiar with the net's plans said perhaps just a half-dozen senior execs will schlep to New York this year -- dramatically fewer than in past years. As of now, net has also opted against flying out any talent from its shows (save for latenight host Jimmy Kimmel).
CBS is also cutting back on its upfront crew, slashing its Gotham contingent by more than 50%, according to a person familiar with the net's thinking. Only staffers directly involved in putting together the Eye's upfront presentation will get a golden ticket to Gotham this year.
Not surprisingly, NBC is also downsizing its upfront team -- in part because the net has already presented its fall (and winter, and spring) schedule. And instead of an upfront, Peacock is planning the "NBC Universal Experience," a circus-like event at 30 Rock in which Madison Avenue men and women, along with the press, will get a taste of all things Peacock.
Also scaling back is the CW, which earlier this year opted to scrap a straight-ahead presentation in favor of a cocktail party with a mini-presentation. As a result, network insiders confirm that the net will be cutting back its upfront contingent.
While strike-related budget pressures are behind many of the cuts, other observers believe this year's event just seems less relevant. "It just seems like a different kind of year. It seems like everything is just smaller," one agency insider said.
One network wag lamented that more staffers wouldn't be headed to Gotham this May.
"It's a shame, because the end of year thing is important for people as a release, to mark the end of development season," insider said. "But this year, there really wasn't a normal development season, so it wouldn't really be the end of anything."
Because so many pilots are still in flux, much of the talk around town about what has a shot to get on the air next season has relied on script quality, casting coups and A-list auspices.
There are the no-brainers: Joss Whedon's Fox drama "Dollhouse," starring Eliza Dushku, is a lock (and already has an episodic order). Ditto Fox's J.J. Abrams entry "Fringe," which has a series commitment, and its Bernie Mac-Bruce Helford comedy. Net execs are also said to be fond of the script for comedy "Boldy Going Nowhere," from the team behind FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," but it won't be shot until long after the upfront.
Hot projects at CBS are said to include dramas "The Mentalist," and the untitled Geena Davis vehicle and Jerry Bruckheimer's "11th Hour," which is already hiring staff writers.
Despite some hiccups, ABC has long been high on David E. Kelley's drama "Life on Mars," making it a contender for a 2008-09 slot.
CW, meanwhile, is expected to pick up its "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff, even though nothing has been shot yet. The saucy "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls," which, like "Gossip Girl," is based on a novel, is also considered likely.
With far fewer new shows available to tout, the upfront presentations themselves -- once three-hour or more affairs -- have been slashed down, as the nets forgo the pomp and circumstance.
Nets may announce fall lineups but forgo midseason announcements. With fewer cutdowns to show than usual, the network presentations are expected to be short and sweet this year. What's more, most nets have canceled their post-presentation parties (with the exception of Fox).
Alphabet plans on offering advertisers a "no B.S." presentation, laying out its strategy sans stunts and gimmicks. Net has just a handful of scripted pilots that will be done prior to its upfront, which means there won't be as many lengthy clip presentations as in years past.
ABC insiders are hoping to avoid scheduling or announcing new shows that haven't already shot a pilot (unlike NBC, which announced series orders for several projects that have yet to lense a single scene). Net has a pilot for "Life on Mars" in the can, and should have two comedies and several alternative projects ready for screening by upfront week.
Unlike the other nets, Alphabet also has a strong roster of returning sophomore shows it can point to, including "Private Practice," "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money."
Over at CBS, where development execs have been working feverishly to ensure a healthy number of pilots are ready to be screened -- up to nine dramas and five laffers -- it's believed the net will manage to show off clips from a number of new projects.
"We will be showing brand-new shows at our upfront," CBS Corp. supremo Leslie Moonves told analysts Tuesday during a conference call to discuss earnings. "Many of our shows were filmed as presentations rather than full pilots, representing significant savings, while still providing the creative content on the screen to make an informed decision regarding the best new series."
Moonves was upbeat about the Eye's strike-shortened slate, even suggesting that it might have helped with the quality of this year's pilots.
"I've only had the opportunity to see two of our pilots so far, one of which I absolutely adore," he said. "I don't want to oversell, but I am very excited about one. It is ironic, but there are some who think -- and I may be one of them -- that the forced, compressed nature of it may have forced better work or more intense work on the part of people. Obviously, casting became a bit more difficult because everybody was running in a very limited period of time."
When the strike ended in mid-February, the networks opted to push forward at their own pace. Some nets, like ABC and Fox, aren't following arbitrary deadlines and will continue developing pilots into the summer. CBS, meanwhile, decided to pick up more short-form presentations and make their programming choices from there. One network, NBC, decided to go for broke and announce its fall sked a month early. (The Peacock is planning an event promoting the entire NBC U universe, in lieu of a network presentation.)
In some ways, webheads sound liberated by the decision to play fast and loose with the upfronts. There's much more calm in the air than what usually transpires in the days leading up to the nets' presentations to advertisers.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111798 ... id=14&cs=1
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
They're going through with this with the actor's strike looming???? Unbelievable . .. And yes, I think the actors will go on strike. . .
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Brent
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
lurker_from_nc wrote:They're going through with this with the actor's strike looming???? Unbelievable . .. And yes, I think the actors will go on strike. . .
Ugh...
I was just thinking yesterday how it has been quiet and hopefully that meant good news but I guess not. 
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
Brent wrote:lurker_from_nc wrote:They're going through with this with the actor's strike looming???? Unbelievable . .. And yes, I think the actors will go on strike. . .
Ugh...
I think it will be worse, because I think the reality show/game show hosts are covered by the AFTRSA union
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Brent
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
lurker_from_nc wrote:Brent wrote:lurker_from_nc wrote:They're going through with this with the actor's strike looming???? Unbelievable . .. And yes, I think the actors will go on strike. . .
Ugh...
I think it will be worse, because I think the reality show/game show hosts are covered by the AFTRSA union
Part of me thinks there's no chance of a SAG strike, or at least not a long one coming on the heels on the writers strike. I doubt the public will be as understanding as it was during the WGA strike(especially if it lasts more than a few weeks).
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Brent
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
Nielsen Media Research said Wednesday that it will move the traditional February sweep period into March next year to minimize the disruption surrounding the digital TV transition.
It's likely the first time the ratings giant has moved the timing of its four-times-a-year sweep periods. But it's also a measure of the industry's concern over the Feb. 17 conversion to all digital signals that has the potential of leaving millions of people who use over-the-air TV without a way to watch broadcasts.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... b47250d938
It's likely the first time the ratings giant has moved the timing of its four-times-a-year sweep periods. But it's also a measure of the industry's concern over the Feb. 17 conversion to all digital signals that has the potential of leaving millions of people who use over-the-air TV without a way to watch broadcasts.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... b47250d938
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
Studios Won't Accept Actors' Pay Demands
By WENN | Thursday, May 01, 2008
HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood studios have sparked fears of an actors strike after insisting they will not accept pay raises demanded by the Screen Actors' Guild (SAG).
In an official statement released by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group insists there are still "significant gaps" in its own needs and what the SAG want--even after 13 days of talks.
Actors belonging to SAG are threatening walkouts in June if talks between the union and the AMPTP fail to resolve a dispute over pay and conditions.
But the production company announced it "was not willing to accept" requests to double the payments actors receive from DVD sales and to increase fees paid for work distributed online.
Retorting to the announcement in a statement to its members, SAG says, “We are not surprised that the employers dispute the economic hardships actors are facing. You know better."
The union has set a June 30 deadline--the day their current contract expires--for negotiations to be resolved. If the strike goes ahead it could put hundreds of major film and TV projects under threat.
It follows a 100-day writers strike in Hollywood, which ended in February after causing an estimated $2.5 billion in economic losses in the Los Angeles area.
COPYRIGHT 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.
By WENN | Thursday, May 01, 2008
HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood studios have sparked fears of an actors strike after insisting they will not accept pay raises demanded by the Screen Actors' Guild (SAG).
In an official statement released by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group insists there are still "significant gaps" in its own needs and what the SAG want--even after 13 days of talks.
Actors belonging to SAG are threatening walkouts in June if talks between the union and the AMPTP fail to resolve a dispute over pay and conditions.
But the production company announced it "was not willing to accept" requests to double the payments actors receive from DVD sales and to increase fees paid for work distributed online.
Retorting to the announcement in a statement to its members, SAG says, “We are not surprised that the employers dispute the economic hardships actors are facing. You know better."
The union has set a June 30 deadline--the day their current contract expires--for negotiations to be resolved. If the strike goes ahead it could put hundreds of major film and TV projects under threat.
It follows a 100-day writers strike in Hollywood, which ended in February after causing an estimated $2.5 billion in economic losses in the Los Angeles area.
COPYRIGHT 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
Hollywood's Actors Delay Screwing Selves Over Pennies
Michael Learmonth | May 2, 2008 3:55 PM
It looks like the actors are coming to their senses. The Screen Actors Guild and the Hollywood studios agreed to extend their contact talks until Tuesday (the deadline for a deal had been today). In addition, the actors have backed down on DVD revenues to a 15% increase from their earlier demand for a 100% raise.
We all know know from the writers strike, and from the studios' deal with Apple, the studios would rather stop production and call it a year before giving ground on the DVD revenue, so this one's really about digital, which is really about pennies.
What do the actors want in digital? The studios say the actors want 70 changes to the new media formula agreed-to by the writers and directors. That's probably spin. SAG has not detailed its demands but it is reported to want to reduce the 17-day "promotional" window in which the studios can use TV and film online without paying residuals, and to reduce the amount the studios can spend on original Internet productions before the union contract kicks in. Both seem reasonable, but nothing to call a strike over.
The bottom line here is the money at stake over the three year life of this deal is miniscule, and the actors would hurt their position far worse by walking out than by living with the deal negotiated by the WGA, and then reloading for the next deal in three years.
Michael Learmonth | May 2, 2008 3:55 PM
It looks like the actors are coming to their senses. The Screen Actors Guild and the Hollywood studios agreed to extend their contact talks until Tuesday (the deadline for a deal had been today). In addition, the actors have backed down on DVD revenues to a 15% increase from their earlier demand for a 100% raise.
We all know know from the writers strike, and from the studios' deal with Apple, the studios would rather stop production and call it a year before giving ground on the DVD revenue, so this one's really about digital, which is really about pennies.
What do the actors want in digital? The studios say the actors want 70 changes to the new media formula agreed-to by the writers and directors. That's probably spin. SAG has not detailed its demands but it is reported to want to reduce the 17-day "promotional" window in which the studios can use TV and film online without paying residuals, and to reduce the amount the studios can spend on original Internet productions before the union contract kicks in. Both seem reasonable, but nothing to call a strike over.
The bottom line here is the money at stake over the three year life of this deal is miniscule, and the actors would hurt their position far worse by walking out than by living with the deal negotiated by the WGA, and then reloading for the next deal in three years.
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Miss Mary
Re: What are you watching this spring?
TV Guide's Top 20 TV moments from this past week. It's a good list!
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry ... /800038824
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry ... /800038824
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Re: What are you watching this spring?
Networks Expected to Be Generous with Series Renewals
By Reuters | Monday, May 05, 2008
LOS ANGELES - For broadcast series still hoping for a renewal, the past week was rough sledding.
CBS' Shark and ABC's Women's Murder Club returned to post about a 2.0 rating among adults 18 to 49, joining low-rated outings by fellow "bubble shows" Moonlight (CBS), Boston Legal (ABC) and Reaper (The CW).
But with most scripted series struggling from a writers' strike ratings hangover, the networks seem inclined to give some of the lagging shows a second chance this fall.
Here's how things stand:
* Men in Trees: Producers of ABC's drama were recently told the show will not return for a third season. Last year, the show scored a surprising early renewal, but in April it averaged only about a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
* Boston Legal: A recent episode of Legal hit a series low, but, then again, what show hasn't? Given a strong lead-in, Legal tends to hold a reliable number. It's also an Emmy darling. A likely pickup.
* Reaper: The word on CW's cult-favorite supernatural comedy-drama has turned unexpectedly positive. Though recent episodes have pulled about a 1.1 rating, the CW needs a suitable Thursday night partner for Supernatural because next season is expected to be the last for Smallville. Plus, after adding DVR use, Reaper ratings often climb more percentage points than any other series, and CW executives are fond of the show.
* Shark: Another network might be inclined to give this drama another chance, but CBS sets a high ratings bar for pickups, and Shark has a tough time clearing it. Industry oddsmakers are pessimistic about a fall return.
* The New Adventures of Old Christine: With CBS' Monday night comedy block continuing to perform strong while other returning shows crash, the network is considering opening up another night of comedy. If so, the net is going to need Christine. As for How I Met Your Mother, a pickup is considered a given.
* Moonlight: Since returning post-strike, Moonlight remains the weakest link in CBS' Friday night lineup. Yet the vampire drama continues to win its time period. A pickup is all but certain.
* Eli Stone and Women's Murder Club: The bubbliest of the bubble shows, Stone has split industry opinions. The season finale scored only a 2.0 rating. Yet ABC likes the show and the network has a history of giving a second chance to modestly rated freshman series (Trees, What About Brian). If ABC picks up Stone, a renewal for similarly rated Murder Club becomes less likely.
* Cashmere Mafia and October Road: With uninspiring ratings and stars of both ABC shows posed to move to other projects, a return appears unlikely.
By Reuters | Monday, May 05, 2008
LOS ANGELES - For broadcast series still hoping for a renewal, the past week was rough sledding.
CBS' Shark and ABC's Women's Murder Club returned to post about a 2.0 rating among adults 18 to 49, joining low-rated outings by fellow "bubble shows" Moonlight (CBS), Boston Legal (ABC) and Reaper (The CW).
But with most scripted series struggling from a writers' strike ratings hangover, the networks seem inclined to give some of the lagging shows a second chance this fall.
Here's how things stand:
* Men in Trees: Producers of ABC's drama were recently told the show will not return for a third season. Last year, the show scored a surprising early renewal, but in April it averaged only about a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
* Boston Legal: A recent episode of Legal hit a series low, but, then again, what show hasn't? Given a strong lead-in, Legal tends to hold a reliable number. It's also an Emmy darling. A likely pickup.
* Reaper: The word on CW's cult-favorite supernatural comedy-drama has turned unexpectedly positive. Though recent episodes have pulled about a 1.1 rating, the CW needs a suitable Thursday night partner for Supernatural because next season is expected to be the last for Smallville. Plus, after adding DVR use, Reaper ratings often climb more percentage points than any other series, and CW executives are fond of the show.
* Shark: Another network might be inclined to give this drama another chance, but CBS sets a high ratings bar for pickups, and Shark has a tough time clearing it. Industry oddsmakers are pessimistic about a fall return.
* The New Adventures of Old Christine: With CBS' Monday night comedy block continuing to perform strong while other returning shows crash, the network is considering opening up another night of comedy. If so, the net is going to need Christine. As for How I Met Your Mother, a pickup is considered a given.
* Moonlight: Since returning post-strike, Moonlight remains the weakest link in CBS' Friday night lineup. Yet the vampire drama continues to win its time period. A pickup is all but certain.
* Eli Stone and Women's Murder Club: The bubbliest of the bubble shows, Stone has split industry opinions. The season finale scored only a 2.0 rating. Yet ABC likes the show and the network has a history of giving a second chance to modestly rated freshman series (Trees, What About Brian). If ABC picks up Stone, a renewal for similarly rated Murder Club becomes less likely.
* Cashmere Mafia and October Road: With uninspiring ratings and stars of both ABC shows posed to move to other projects, a return appears unlikely.
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