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11-19-09, 09:16 PM
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#44761 | Link |
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TV Q&A
Ask Matt What’s Next for Mad Men? By Matt Roush, TV Guide Senior Critic, November 19, 2009 Send all questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me at twitter.com/roushTVGuideMag Question: I hate that Mad Men is finished for the season, but what a great capper to the season! (And a lot of unresolved bits to look forward to. Is it Summer 2010 already?) So, any idea if Betty, Sal, Paul and Ken would be in the next season? Strangely enough, the one I'd miss most out of them would be Sal—and not Betty. I love January Jones and the role of Betty, but the divorce seems so final at this point, and I'm not sure I'd care too much about, say, Betty and Henry together next season (though I'd be curious to know how the kids would be), so I really hope the new Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce could spare a job (or at least freelance work) for Sal. Also: What are your thoughts on Miss Farrell, easily the only thing I really actively disliked this season? I can see how her presence with Don has perhaps influenced how he dealt with Betty, but I still fail to see the significance of the role (considering the time devoted to building that character). Easily my least favorite of Don's flames. On another subject: It just occurred to me that as I was sorting through my DVR that I don't have one single prime-time show programmed on Tuesdays. Like, AT ALL. While it's busting its seams on Thursdays and Sundays (though with Mad Men out of the way, there’s a lot less to look forward to each week). Heck, I even have shows programmed on Friday, the death slot. What is it about Tuesdays?—Belinda Matt Roush: First, Mad Men. It’s hard to remember as impressive a finale as this season’s, which turned everyone’s world (at work and at home) upside down so we don’t know what to expect next year. (For my reaction to the finale, go here.) Matthew Weiner is famously tight-lipped about the show, but in an excellent interview with the Daily Beast website, he even admitted he didn’t know some of the answers to these questions yet, having just wrapped this season. Doesn’t stop us from speculating, and I love how by creating the new agency (Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce), the show has figured out how to keep essential characters like Pete, Peggy, Roger, Don, Bert, Lane, even Harry—and most important, Joan!—all together. What does this mean for the ones left behind? If the show is even remotely trying to be realistic, some characters will be lost in this shuffle and should only be expected to be seen on a recurring business, at ad functions or the like. But who knows? The fate of Sal is obviously the biggest question, given the way he was fired. The problem there is that the new firm’s biggest client, Lucky Strike, is the account that got him sacked. (As I’ve suggested, maybe they could just keep Sal in the, ahem, closet?) As for Betty, depicting her journey will be a challenge for the writers. She is often such an unpleasant character and is unlikely to find real happiness with new surrogate dad/lover Henry Francis, especially with those unhappy children harshing her buzz. But with Don still the ultimate focus of the show, I’m sure they’ll find many ways to keep their paths intersecting. (We don’t even know at what point in the ’60s the show will resume.) Finally, Miss Farrell. No one’s favorite character, to be sure. The way I see her now, from the perspective of a completed season, is that she somehow represents to Don yet another escape from his compartmentalized life, one that was pure, innocent and uncluttered by emotional baggage (think back to his dreamy reverie during the May Day festival). I wasn’t always thrilled or convinced by how it all played out, but what I take away from it most is how his dealings with her brother provided a sharp contrast to his rejection and abandonment of the doomed Adam Whitman. Second topic: Tuesdays. It may be a slow night for you, but it does boast the current #1 show on TV—CBS’s NCIS—which I know is a bit mainstream for some tastes, but clearly has a gigantic following. (And I’m getting more attached to The Good Wife as the weeks go by.) To explain why more hot properties aren’t cluttering up the night, look to the winter, when TV’s other #1 show, American Idol, bursts on the scene. The networks have long struggled to figure out what works against this juggernaut, and CBS hit paydirt with the NCIS formula, and NBC does well even in Idol season with the more heart-tugging reality of The Biggest Loser. Unlike Thursdays, when everyone wants a piece of that lucrative movie-advertising pie, Tuesdays tend to be middle-of-the-week, middle-of-the-road, with an awful lot of reality programming to counterprogram CBS’s populist blockbusters. From your point of view, look at it as a night to catch up on stuff from busier nights. [This Just In: As most of you will already know by now, ABC just scheduled the final season of Lost to air Tuesdays at 9/8c starting in February. That plus a new season of Idol plus the undimmed popularity of NCIS makes Tuesdays in 2010 an unexpectedly exciting night of the week, no? Something for just about everyone, exactly how network TV is supposed to work.] Question: [Paraphrased from twitter] Re Mad Men: If Ken Cosgrove got the promotion over Pete Campbell, why did Don and Roger ask Pete to join them and not Ken? Or why not give Pete the promotion in the first place? Was that solely Lane’s decision?—Mike Matt Roush: Those are good unresolved questions, but the way I see it is that Don, if not Roger, realizes how much Pete actually cares (possibly too much) about the business and the clients, whereas Ken, to whom so much comes easy (like natural charm, something Pete lacks), is much more laid-back about things and may be seen as less easy to trust or control. The new firm needs a loyal soldier, and even though Pete was taking interviews elsewhere, that’s because he had just been passed up for promotion. To woo him aboard, they flattered him and promised him the possibility of a partnership—though not his name in the as-yet-nonexistent lobby—and Pete took the bait. And I do think Cosgrove getting the promotion was all Lane (acting on behalf of those cold British bosses), a tactical business decision that now leaves Kenny temporarily in the dust. I’m as curious as anyone about how characters like this will fit into next season. Question: I know the general conceit of House is that he's an ass but a great doctor. (Not to mention a psychic, always knowing the motives behind everyone on his team, their decisions and things that happen in their private lives). This week, I think he proved to be such a selfish and pompous jerk to prompt me to say, “I don't enjoy this show.” He messed with everyone in his life and specifically the marriage of two characters. It's hard for me to understand why any of these people would want to work for him, let alone be his friend. I know he's in pain (physical as well as emotional), but you know what, most of us are, in some way or another, that doesn't make it OK to treat people badly and mess with their lives. It certainly doesn't make sense that the writers expect us to feel bad for House now that Cuddy finally found a guy that makes her happy, because he is finally ready to pursue her in his usual destructive way. Maybe I am overanalyzing this, but every time House opened his mouth I kept yelling at the TV. Yes, it's a just a TV show, but I think it's one I increasingly don't enjoy, because it's not fun to watch the lead character be an ass to other people just because he's a great doctor and is in pain. And when Cameron kissed House, besides annoying me, I found it completely implausible after she all but said he is the reason her marriage is strained.—Marc Matt Roush: Yours isn’t the only mail I got this week from former fans now saying they’re ready to break up with the show over this. Can’t say I was crazy about it, either—in part because Cameron’s departure dovetailed with House wooing back members of his second-string team (Taub, Thirteen) who I hadn’t missed in the slightest. As House kept chipping away at Chase and Cameron in this episode, I kept trying to rationalize it as if he was diagnosing their marriage like it was a disease, but maybe that’s me overanalyzing. In many ways, we watch House because we find his incorrigible behavior amusing and sometimes dramatically alarming, but I agree it can be wearying. And when the impact is to lose a character like Cameron (who has been so ill used the last few seasons) for reasons that strain credibility while the show welcomes back characters who aren’t nearly so compelling, it’s a head-scratcher. House has a very odd tendency of fixing things that aren’t broke, and here we go again, before we even got much of a chance to enjoy the original team back in action. Question: I'm trying to understand myself lately. If you were to ask me what the best new show of the season was, I'd not doubt answer Modern Family. In my opinion, the show has been virtually pitch-perfect since its pilot, the characters each have their own voice and the writing and acting found its footing remarkably well since day one, and each episode seems to even improve beyond the previous. I've heard the complaints that its premise is not bowling anyone over with its originality, and some loud detractors claim it's filching the mockumentary style from The Office and Parks and Recreation (because I'm sure many are just lining up to copy the latter), although I see it as just a legitimate, mainstream comic style by this point—but, as you're fond of saying, execution matters as much or more than anything else, and I think Modern Family delivers like crazy. But this is where I'm confused: When it comes to Wednesday nights, Modern Family isn't necessarily my first playback. Sometimes it's Glee. In fact, I find myself making excuses left and right for this little musical comedy, and discussing it more with others than what I deem superior shows. Glee can be great fun and extremely entertaining, but it's wildly uneven. Continuity is a joke, and depth of character frequently goes only far enough to set up the next show-stopping musical number or implausible twist. The show retcons more often than anything else on TV (with the possible exception of Heroes). So why do I love it so much? It's ridiculous how much I'm willing to look past—not that I'm really complaining, because I'm enjoying it so much. I wouldn't label myself a Ryan Murphy fan in the least. I couldn't stomach Nip/Tuck even back when everyone else could. I'm just thinking about the person who wrote in recently with the complaint that Castle, which has great banter and a sense of humor and even greater Nathan Fillion presence, is held back from being great TV because of its lackluster mysteries and crimes. I wonder if Glee, which I would label a great show, is really being held back from being something even more by Ryan Murphy's extremism and lack of respect for character development or (sometimes) coherent plot. Some of that goes to the charm of the show, and I'm not going to stop watching in any respect, but I wish I didn't have to make so many excuses or overlook so many weak links in a show that is endlessly inventive and original and so much fun when everything works.—Brad Matt Roush: What you’re describing in your conflicting attitudes toward Glee is a classic love/hate dichotomy, and what you’re responding to is heart over head. I know there are things in Glee that are too ridiculous for words, and I’m aware the characters are very broadly drawn “types,” and I detest the pregnancy storylines (well, Terri’s fake pregnancy), and wish I’d never seen the episode with all the Slushee attacks (including Will’s dousing at the end), and yet there’s an exuberance and originality and, just when you least expect it, a heart to Glee that makes it one of my favorite shows to emerge in quite a while. It goes beyond guilty pleasure, though. Glee is an over-the-top ode to the underdog, a celebration of speaking up and singing up to announce that there’s nothing wrong with being different, special, uniquely talented. New shows often take a while to find their voice, and Glee has a lot of voices and tones to contend with. For now, I’m enjoying the ride (and the soundtrack). Going back to your points on Modern Family: I haven’t fielded that many complaints about the show’s “mockumentary” style, in part because it doesn’t overwhelm the show and because it tends to reveal such different sides to characters who generally are more relatable than what you see on The Office and certainly on Parks (which, for all of its improvements, still feels to me like it’s merely aping The Office’s beats of snarky, suffocating irony). A comedy about family may not be the most original thing, it’s what you do with it that matters, and in Modern Family, the quality of the writing and acting is pure gold. Setting up the next item, this is a very personal response to last week’s Glee episode, “Wheels”—my review can be found here—so I’m letting it run at considerable length. Question: I'd like to respond to Glee's "Wheels" episode last week from my perspective, having been a wheelchair user for almost my entire life as a result of being born with a thankfully mild form of cerebral palsy. I am attending Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, which is known for the absolutely extraordinary level of accommodations being made for numerous students with all sorts of disabilities. My (individual) dorm room looks nothing like anyone else's, because it has all been rearranged to put things on a level where I can reach them, and the university paid for carpeting for me to crawl on since I don't walk. We also have a shuttle bus service exclusively for disabled students, which proves invaluable when it snows a lot. However, even here, there are some places I just can't go in my chair or others which are exceedingly difficult, but it is a long process to get things done, particularly in these financial times. I am the first wheelchair user in the history of the university to declare a major in the theater department, and with my appreciation of theater, Glee was an easy show to love from the very beginning. The fact that they are portraying a wheelchair user in prime time is just gravy on top of a show I already deeply appreciated for its bold musicality among other things. So I was extremely distressed to read via the Associated Press that certain wheelchair users and advocacy groups are condemning the show for casting Kevin McHale as Artie instead of giving the part to a wheelchair user. This is, in part, a response to that. Could Glee have cast a real-life wheelchair user to portray Artie? Yes. Might it have added authenticity to the role? Maybe, who knows? Authenticity isn't really the point with Glee, given its whimsical nature; the emotions are authentic, but the show is clearly not going for realism. Regardless of whether or not Artie could have been portrayed effectively by a chair user, you will never hear me say they did wrong by hiring Kevin McHale. He is fantastic in the part, and boy, can he sing. His performance in “Wheels” absolutely made me believe him, especially in his final moments with Tina near the end of the episode. Though I also understand her perspective, I would be lying if I said I wasn't right there with him in his disappointment when he found out that she has been faking her stutter. Generally speaking, I have found that people who do not live with a disability or know someone with one do not think about what we go through on a daily basis because they don't have to, so it never enters their minds at all. Though the show filtered the situation through its usual extreme tones, the issues it addresses are very real, and any show that brings that discussion to the front of viewers' minds is an absolute winner in my book. As far as I'm concerned, wheelchair users should be celebrating the fact that we now have a show on the air spotlighting our lives in such a significant way instead of complaining about its choice of actor to do so. So way to go, Glee, for being proactive and including wheelchair users so positively in its storytelling. I adored the show before, but I appreciate it even more now that this episode aired.—Jake Matt Roush: Thanks for sharing this. I can only imagine how meaningful this episode was for you, with the added bonus that it was also the most entertaining episode of the season to date (although I very much enjoyed this week’s, too). I would think the folks who make Glee will be very gratified to hear your story. Question: I was blown away by the Nov. 13 “For the Defense” episode of Law & Order. I can’t believe I am saying this, but I am actually shipping Cutter and Connie. It was somewhat addressed on the last episode, but this is Law & Order. Is anything going to come from this? Because the chemistry between these two characters is off the charts.—Connie Matt Roush: I loved that episode precisely because it brought the working/personal relationship of Cutter and Rubirosa into sharp focus. There’s no denying their chemistry, but the resurfacing of this messy episode from Connie’s past made it pretty clear to me that she’s not going to make the same mistake with Cutter—in direct contrast with Jack McCoy’s history (often implied) of having slept with some of his past ADAs (including Claire Kincaid all those years ago). What makes Cutter such an invaluable character is that he is determined not to emulate McCoy in many ways, including this one. The teaser at the end of the episode was intentionally ambiguous, as McCoy needled them about their newly increased workload: “You two will have to work together day and night. That won’t be a problem, will it?” Of course it will be a problem. That was clear from the look they gave each other. But will they act on it? I don’t know, but I doubt it and hope not. This is Law & Order, not Grey’s Courtroom. Which doesn’t mean they don’t want to, or that fans won’t be rooting for them to. Question: Half question, half “you were right, I was wrong.” I wrote to you a couple of months ago defending Heroes and you published the letter, strongly disagreeing with me. Here we are nearly halfway through the season, and after what I still think was a strong opener, things haven't exactly gone from strength to strength on the show, have they? It has its moments, sure, but it's terribly inconsistent, and some of the characters and storylines they are choosing to spend time on are truly awful. Their ongoing inability to move past Zachary Quinto's newfound movie stardom and focus on characters who aren't psychotic killers is not unproblematic, either. This, on a show called Heroes. I was trying hard to have patience and hoped for things to get back on an even keel, but I'm afraid the proverbial last straw came for me with the news that [SPOILER ALERT] they are letting Adrian Pasdar go. Because naturally, when it comes to getting rid of actors, you'd want to fire the only person to have won any acting awards for your show. What a genius move, surpassed in its brilliance only by allegedly letting him find out by reading it in a script. I can only hope the guy gets another regular gig quickly. He's been truly excellent on Heroes. If you feel like slamming Heroes again, have this one on me: What ARE they thinking this season? Is there anything coming up that makes it at all salvageable? Why are they firing one of the few cast members who really can act? (Hey, I loved the show, but I wasn't completely blind to its weak points!) And is it true that NBC is doing so badly that they're still likely to renew it, even with the ratings as bad as they are?—Celine Matt Roush: Without getting into the specifics about how Adrian Pasdar/Nathan was let go from the show—a subject on which I’m not an expert—I can only respond by saying there’s almost no one on that show anymore, with the possible exception of HRG, who hasn’t been played out past the point where I no longer care who lives, dies or (often, maddeningly) gets reborn. I’m watching more out of duty at this point, not always sure why I’m bothering, except that I figured that I’d come this far, might as well see it to the end. But you may be right, that NBC is in such poor shape that even a lesser Heroes still has more value than most shows on its schedule and might squeeze out another undeserved season. In which case I may be answering questions like this in the future from second-hand distance. Question: Any REAL Defying Gravity news anywhere? I've read a lot of rumors on the net. That it was cancelled, not enough viewers???!!! Many people I know watched it and loved it!! I thought it was very good!! And is ABC not going to air the rest of the episodes? I read that there were 13 episodes, and the whole season including the season finale was shown in Canada and is now rerunning on Canada’s Space Channel. How can we get this on SyFy???? I am very disappointed that ABC canceled it, or did they?—Liz Matt Roush: I never understood what ABC was doing with this series, dropping it into the schedule with no fanfare in the middle of the summer, treating it like the inexpensive acquisition from Canada that it was. But to update: the show was definitely canceled, and I doubt ABC will air the unseen episodes at this point. The entire 13-episode series will be released on DVD in January, so that’s probably your best chance to see all that was made, unless Syfy someday strikes a deal to run the episodes. (They’ve done it before with short-lived sci-fi series, so anything’s possible.) Question: Watching the first part of the CSI trilogy, I’m wondering why CSIs don't share info with fellow CSIs. Take blunt force trauma to the head. How many times must they show a plastic head filled with red ink being smashed by various objects—hammers, bats, golf clubs, etc, and always by a CSI in a clean white lab coat? You would think by now the department must have complete records of heads, blunt-force trauma and blood-splatter patterns. And what’s with Langston bringing in slides of various cutting utensils to Miami? He examines the wound and pulls out his personal slide collection and declares the cuts were made by a cleaver. Wow, and Horatio didn't have a clue. And Langston's been on the job for less than a year. How many years for H and Company? What is it about a guest star playing a visiting CSI that makes the regulars seem dumb as dirt?—Dewey Matt Roush: Sometimes a stunt is just a stunt and there’s no way to pretty or smarten it up. That was the case with the CSI trilogy, which did well in the ratings but which seemed to me like a complete creative shambles. You could nitpick this story to death. It made precious little sense as it hopscotched between cities and crimes (from organ harvesting to prostitution), and no matter how hard the franchise tries, it hasn’t been able to do much with Laurence Fishburne’s ill-conceived role. Question: I've stuck with Brothers & Sisters through thick and thin for a while now. And there have been quite a few bumps in the road. There was the whole Rebecca's not-a-Walker mess (which took a while for me to get over), the Ryan storyline that just won't go away, and an entire third season that I thought was mostly terrible. But I was finally starting to really enjoy the show again. Things were going so great. I should have known they'd find a way to ruin it. Of course, I'm talking about the latest incredibly lame reveal that Rebecca is pregnant. Even if we can get past the painfully cliched way in which it was done—I don't see how any respectable writer would think that set-up and reveal was anything less than total predictable garbage—the storyline seems completely run-of-the-mill to me. It just feels like a lame twist done for nothing but short-term dramatic payoff with nothing rewarding in the long-term. I'm just really struggling to see the producer's rationale behind this latest extremely poor story development. I'll stick around to see exactly where's it's headed, but my gut tells me it's nowhere special.—Joe Matt Roush: The Rebecca-Justin part of the show is always my cue to complete a chore or hit fast-forward. There’s nowhere to go with these characters, so they’ve given them a baby-bump speed bump. I agree the way the twist was revealed was trite, but even worse is that Rebecca has spent two entire episodes (at this point) fretting about it without telling Justin. That kind of plotting works my last nerve. What is it with babies and this show that make me feel like Elizabeth Banks from the most recent episode of Modern Family (not wanting to harm them, mind you, just annoyed that they keep upstaging the rest of the action). Scotty and Kevin remain one of Brothers & Sisters’ best assets, but every storyline so far that has involved them heading toward parenthood has been so aggravating. They bicker, they pout, they part company on some ridiculous conflict, then they kiss and make up. Until they grow up, should they really bring a baby into their lives? One thing I do identify with the Walkers about: Before I watch an episode, I have to pour myself a generous glass of wine to get me through all the whining. Question: I read your (and others') rave about the “Changing Channels” episode of Supernatural and expected a lot from it. I enjoyed it overall, laughing out loud several times. I did, however, have a problem with it. I am not one of those people who constantly harps on how poorly Supernatural treats women and minority characters, but the treatment of women in the last episode really struck me. I understand that the first part was all parodies, but the roles for the women were horrible. Grey's Anatomy (despite all of its faults) is female-centric, with a lead female and several other complex female characters. When parodying it, Supernatural turned the lead into a male and made the primary female support character a constantly crying mess. OK, I could get over that. (It was amusing, after all.) In the commercial, though, they objectified the sole speaking female, showing her cleavage and even panning down to where the genital herpes could be found. Okay, again, I could deal with that. Then they had a Vanna White style character, primarily for show, on the Japanese game show. Not too horrible, but the worst for me was the sitcom female. She really had to not only be completely insipid, but she also had to be objectified and wearing a bikini? Each parody when taken alone is not so bad and does ring rather true to source material. It is when they are taken together that it starts to become a problem. For me, this was exacerbated by the fact that there were no other mitigating female characters. Obviously the brothers are male, but so were Castiel and Gabriel, the only other major/complex characters. Actually, that is rather indicative of the disquieting issue I have with Supernatural. The majority of the interesting and complex characters are male. For example, there were female witches in one of the earlier episodes, but they were simplistic, derided and killed. In a recent episode there was a male witch. Not only was he much more compelling and complex, but Dean even compared him favorably to the “standard” witch, and despite the fact he had killed people, nothing happened to him. Women on this show tend to be one-dimensionally evil and/or victims—or sometimes, like Ruby, even end up being both. This is even true of the major characters. The major exception I can come up with to the rule is Ellen, whom I love. Unfortunately, however, she is rarely seen. I would put her character on par with Bobby, but she has only been in eight episodes to Bobby's 25. I do love the show, but I find it strange that in this wonderful TV environment with strong/complex female characters (especially on cable, but also on network shows) that a show can be so male-centric and slight female characters, even in an otherwise very strong episode. I would love your take on the treatment of women on Supernatural, especially as I know you share my dislike of the portrayal of women as constant victims on other shows.—Meredith Matt Roush: I’m not sure why a parody episode of Supernatural would be such a trigger for an issue that has clearly bothered you for a while, judging by this essay. To me, the way the women came off in the parodies, especially in the jiggly sitcom spoof, was a broad comment on how women are portrayed on TV in general. I don’t follow the fan boards on shows like Supernatural, preferring not to have my own experience clouded by anyone else’s agenda, so didn’t realize this was such an issue. It honestly doesn’t bother me that the show is about two guys who are brothers, dealing with the legacy of their father and often leaning on a father figure like Bobby. It’s very dude-centric to be sure, although Ellen (who makes a comeback this week, I hear) is always a welcome presence. And to bring diversity into the discussion, I thought it was very refreshing and amusing when the guys who saved the boys’ bacon in the fan-convention episode turned out to be a gay couple. Big picture: In the horror genre, with the most obvious exception being Buffy, women often are seen as victims, characters in need of rescue. The way this show is designed, neither brother is able to maintain a long-term relationship with a female character, and it’s true that characters like Ruby (loved the first one!) and Bella have been dishonorable or evil at heart. But again, that’s the genre. Our heroes are lone wolves, and that’s pretty much as it ought to be. Question: It’s been years since the CBS show The District went off the air, and it seems by now they would have released the DVD for the series (either in individual seasons or as a complete series). The show had what a lot of CBS (and other networks’) shows are lacking in their procedurals/crime dramas lately: a real hook in their characters and storylines. The show wasn't the same once Lynne Thigpen passed away, but still, the show remains in my opinion one of CBS’ best series ever. Any chance CBS will release it to DVD?—Shane Matt Roush: Not that I’ve heard, but as I’ve often cautioned, I’m not an expert about the intricacies of the DVD marketplace, so anything’s possible. If a show isn’t released right away, the issue is usually rights fees, usually for music (but in this case, there may be complications because the show was based on an actual person’s career), or it could be that the studio did research on this type of show and its audience and calculated that an official release wasn’t a smart investment. Eventually, with so much material available for digital downloading, there will be (if there aren’t already) ways to access shows that aren’t distributed on disc. But again, that’s hardly my area of expertise. I have trouble enough keeping up with what’s currently on air. Question: I am very upset about the exit of Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe from Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Although Jeff Goldblum has been a great addition to the show, no one can replace Vincent and Kathryn's contributions. Why has this change been made? Is there anything that can be done to bring them back?—Judy Matt Roush: From what I gather, Vincent D’Onofrio left on his own accord—the writing has been on the wall ever since he halved his workload a few seasons ago—and that precipitated the revolving door so common to Law & Order shows (with the exception of SVU so far). He’ll be getting his sendoff when the show returns to USA Network next year, but I doubt anything can be done to bring him back as a regular, at least not in the foreseeable future. (Actors do have a way of coming and going on these shows.) Question: When watching Friday Night Lights, I was somewhat surprised to see a DirectTV advertisement for the Tim Daly show Eyes that was canceled so quickly about four years ago. I was even more surprised with the promo announcement referring to it as “the new, sexy show Eyes” (or something like that). I assume, with Tim Daly being otherwise occupied, that this is just a burn-off being advertised on the basis of an assumed audience memory loss. Any idea if the never-broadcast episodes would give any plot closure, or is picking it up just asking to be left hanging?—John Matt Roush: The only thing “new” about DirecTV’s run of Eyes, as with earlier pick-ups of The Nine, Wonderland and Smith, is that many of the 13 episodes were never shown, given how quickly ABC pulled it from the schedule. No new (as in current) episodes are in the picture. Can’t say if the show reached closure or went out on another cliffhanger. That’s the risk you’ll have to take. Question: Is Adam Rodriguez done completely with CSI: Miami? I thought he was going to be in at least seven or eight episodes this season to bring closure to everything, but it appears that he will no longer be in the show. What happened?—Rosemary Matt Roush: I know he’s due back for an episode next month, but beyond that, haven’t a clue. Given that he’s now appearing on Ugly Betty, which is filmed on the opposite coast, I’d assume he’s pretty much moved on. Question: Your recent mention of BBC America (in regards to Wire in the Blod) reminded me that they initially planned to air season 2 of the excellent Ashes to Ashes back in May, closely following the airings in Britain. They delayed it for the new season of Primeval, which has run its course. It is now six months later, and BBCA has not shown Ashes to Ashes and their website is remarkably silent on the subject. Do you have any way of knowing of they will continue with this unique series, or have they fallen into the reality abyss?—Rick Matt Roush: I recently looked into this again, and was told the second season of the Life on Mars sequel is still waiting in the wings, but no ballpark airdate yet. Can’t say why. It does seem as if some of the drama imports (including mystery franchises) are having trouble finding a slot on the schedule, which has gone very heavy into docu-reality. Sci-fi, on the other hand, is clearly a winner. Given the hybrid nature of Ashes to Ashes, I imagine we’ll get to see it eventually. But with the new news that Garth Ancier is stepping down as president of the channel (though he’ll continue to advise), maybe more changes will soon be afoot at BBC America. That’s all for now. Look for the next Ask Matt column the week after Thanksgiving. In the meantime, keep those questions coming to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roushTVGuideMag http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/ask-m...-men-3280.html |
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11-19-09, 09:21 PM
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#44762 | Link | |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Please let's not turn this thread into a Nikki was right or Nikki was wrong site.
Sometimes she gets things right. Often not. I prefer not to use her material until it has been confirmed. She has shown far too much fallibility and partisanship to be taken any more seriously than Ausiello (who, incidentally has a far better track record). Nikki is, IMO, to serious show business news what the MSNBC and Fox News Channel prime time programs are to political news. She can be entertaining if you enjoy her shtick. She also can, on occasion, break news. She also often gets things way, way wrong, and then the fun is to watch her go through incredible contortions as she tries to explain how she didn't mess up, it was (always!) someone else's fault. Quote:
Last edited by fredfa; 11-19-09 at 09:29 PM.. |
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11-19-09, 09:39 PM
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#44763 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Passings
Stefanie Spielman, 42 Wife of ESPN’s Chris Spielman, her efforts raised millions for breast cancer research By Amy Saunders, The Columbus Dispatch, Thursday, November 19, 2009 Stefanie Spielman has died after fighting cancer publicly and relentlessly for more than a decade. The breast-cancer advocate and wife of former football star Chris Spielman died at 6:15 p.m. this evening at her Upper Arlington home in the wake of her fifth bout with the disease. The mother of four was 42. Considering it her life mission to raise money and awareness for the disease, Spielman in 1998 established the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. "I know there's a reason God gave me breast cancer, and I'm supposed to do something with it," she said that year. As she shared her story throughout central Ohio, her fund raised more than $6.5 million for breast-cancer research, education and patient assistance at Ohio State University's Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. The charity's fundraisers include Stefanie's Champions, an annual luncheon honoring six caregivers of Columbus-area cancer patients, as well as numerous other community events. Spielman's fight with cancer began in 1998, when she discovered a lump in her right breast through a self-exam. Then 30, she said her life to that point had felt like a fairy tale. She and Chris married in 1989; the couple had met at a teen dance in their hometown of Massillon. They dated while both attended OSU, where Stefanie majored in journalism and Chris was an All-American linebacker for the Buckeyes. With his wife facing chemotherapy and a mastectomy, Chris wanted to skip his upcoming professional season with the Buffalo Bills but debated how to explain his absence to the public. Stefanie saw the situation as an opportunity to serve her community. "Tell them I have breast cancer," she recalled telling her husband. "It may make one guy go home and say: 'Honey, my favorite football player's wife has breast cancer. You got to remember to make that mammogram appointment.' " Fundraising in her name began soon after her diagnosis, when her neighborhood grocery store, Big Bear, asked shoppers to donate money to the James. The goal: $250,000. Within six months, donations from Scout troops, sports teams and other community members totaled $1 million. Inspired by the response, Spielman dedicated herself to raising money and awareness for the cause, establishing her fund and the Stefanie's Champions awards. Chris, who shaved his head in support of his balding wife, was the first recipient. Stefanie shared her experience with the public even as she suffered from the disease, publishing excerpts from her journal in The Dispatch in 1998 as she underwent her first round of treatment. "I do not feel sorry for myself. I do not wish this would have happened to anyone else," she wrote on July 11, 1998. "I pray I grow stronger with each passing day. "I cannot let this get the best of me, and I will not let this ruin the rest of my life no matter how long it is." In March, her cancer returned for the fifth and final time. In addition to Chris, 44, a sports commentator for WBNS Radio and ESPN, she is survived by four children Madison, 15; Noah, 13; Macy, 8, and Audrey, 7 as well as her mother, Myra Belcher of Upper Arlington, and sisters Sue (Bill) Fitz of Upper Arlington, Sandy Belcher of Florida and Cindy Belcher of California. Stefanie's father, Richard, preceded her in death in 1987. There will be public calling hours at the Longaberger Alumni House on Olentangy River Road on Monday from 1 to 8 p.m. A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday at Trinity United Methodist Church on Cambridge Boulevard. Slideshow: Stefanie Spielman Timeline: Life of a Champion Archive: Read earlier stories http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...er-battle.html |
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11-19-09, 11:43 PM
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#44764 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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TV Notes
Friday’s TV Talk Shows Meghan McCain is a guest on 'The Tyra Show' From the Los Angeles Times’ “Show Tracker” blog (Note: times are generally ET/PT Cable times are Pacific. For Sunday talk show and PBS show start times please check your local listings.) The Early Show A performance by the cast of "Dreamgirls." (N) 7 a.m. CBS Today Taylor Lautner; Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed. (N) 7 a.m. NBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. TLA Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. ABC Live With Regis and Kelly Penélope Cruz ("Nine"); Taylor Lautner ("The Twilight Saga: New Moon"); Kelly's and Mark Consuelos' recent return to "All My Children." (N) Syndicated The View Author Joseph Califano ("How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid"); Emily Osment performs. (N) 10 a.m. (11 a.m. ET) ABC The Doctors Health warning signs: nipple discharge; a skin-saving mastectomy; bruising. (N) Syndicated Martha Stewart (N) Syndicated The Bonnie Hunt Show Larry the Cable Guy; Nigel Lythgoe ("So You Think You Can Dance"); author Paul McKenna discusses sleep. (N) Syndicated Oprah Winfrey Ray Romano ("Men of a Certain Age") and Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious"). (N) Syndicated Dr. Phil Rude people; author Amy Alkon ("I See Rude People"). (N) Syndicated The Ellen DeGeneres Show Robert Pattinson ("The Twilight Saga: New Moon"). (N) Syndicated The Tyra Show Meghan McCain. (N) Syndicated The Dr. Oz Show Bed bug infestations; a woman has excess skin removed. (N) Syndicated Tavis Smiley Rapper 50 Cent. (N) 7 and 11 p.m. PBS Washington Week Senate debates healthcare reform: Karen Tumulty, Time magazine; President Barack Obama's Asia trip: David Sanger, the New York Times. Afghanistan: Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times. Prospects of former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska): John Dickerson, Slate Magazine. Moderator: Gwen Ifill. (N) 8 p.m. PBS The Jay Leno Show Kellan Lutz; Ed Begley Jr. (N) 10 p.m. NBC Charlie Rose Thomas L. Friedman, the New York Times. (N) 11:30 p.m. PBS Late Show With David Letterman Viggo Mortensen; Paula Poundstone; Lyle Lovett performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. CBS The Tonight Show Eva Mendes; Bon Jovi performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. NBC Jimmy Kimmel Live Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner; Death Cab for Cutie performs. (N) 12:06 a.m. ABC The Late Late Neil Patrick Harris; David Gray performs. (N) 12:37 a.m. CBS Late Night Gordon-Levitt; Elvis Costello performs. (N) 12:37 a.m. NBC Last Call Morena Baccarin; Lisa Hannigan performs. (N) 1:36 a.m. NBC http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/ |
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11-19-09, 11:46 PM
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#44765 | Link | |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Business Notes
NBCU's Zucker Mum on Comcast Deal By Georg Szalai, MediaWeek, Nov. 19, 2009 "There is not a lot to say," NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker said here Thursday when asked about the potential sale of a 51 percent stake in his company to cable giant Comcast Corp. "I'm incredibly interested to see what will happen...Time will tell." He made his comments in a chat with CNBC anchor Erin Burnett at the Paley Center Thursday morning after several moments of laughter and silence on his part in reaction to the interviewer's opening question. She had asked whether he was enjoying his last few days reporting to a guy named Jeff, namely GE chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. Zucker then quipped: "I knew I shouldn't have asked Erin" to do this interview. If NBCU was bought by anyone, what is the key driver and benefit for the acquirer, Burnett also asked her boss. "They're looking at the value of content," and the strength of NBCU's assets, including the growth of the company's cable networks, Zucker argued. "Today NBC Universal is a vastly different company" than when NBC was founded, with more than two-thirds of the company today having nothing to do with either NBC or Universal. He reiterated that 75 percent of profits come from the core cable networks, which Zucker said is still not widely understood. Questioned whether people will pay for content in digital formats, he argued that "the interest in NBC Universal proves that there is value." He added: "Quality content wins out." Burnett also asked Zucker about some of his experiments with new approaches and models, such as the move to give Jay Leno a daily 10 p.m. talk show. Discussing Leno, Zucker said he felt it was "unfortunate" that some of his previous comments on the production cost efficiency of Leno's talk show made it seem like NBCU is more focused on making money than on producing memorable TV. Instead, he argued his team wants to do "whatever it takes to put on the best television." That also goes for news operations at a time when everyone can be a journalist or citizen reporter or Twitter user. "It's cheap to be first, but expensive to be right," Zucker said. NBCU is investing in "credibility and experience," he added. Asked about the network affiliate system, Zucker said: "We don't want to throw it out. We think it still works incredibly well," even though the economics need to be fixed. "We shouldn't diminish that" and underestimate its power. Asked by TiVo CEO Tom Rogers how companies can react to a drop in profitability at their TV stations in recent years, Zucker responded: "We can't look at this as a TV station anymore," suggesting that companies must instead look at the broader local media space as an opportunity. Plus, cost measures have been key. Overall, he said he is more upbeat about the local business going into 2010 than in a while. NBCU's local business could see double-digit growth in the fourth quarter for the first time in more than two years, he said. Asked about a push by CBS and Fox to get retransmission fees from distributors, Zucker said the market seems to be increasingly moving into that direction. "We would expect to play in that, and that would be very advantageous," he said. Asked how long this shift in business models will take to play out, he suggested three to four years. Burnett also asked her boss Thursday whether he still believes spending a lot of money on movies and prime time shows, even though hits are hard to predict. "We certainly believe in spending appropriately," Zucker said. Discussing TV, he added "we probably gotta do a better job...at being smarter" in prime time. Asked about the state of the advertising market, Zucker said "the auto market feels a little better." Vancouver Olympics ad sales are "going quite well," and the firm is on track to do well. Will the 2014 and 2016 Games be on NBC? "It's something we would like to stay in and continue," but only if it makes financial sense, Zucker said. http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_...247c3d18c2dfe2 |
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11-19-09, 11:51 PM
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#44766 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Critic’s Notes
'Oprah' exit leaves huge void By Elizabeth Guider, The Hollywood Reporter, November 19, 2009 The most telling indication that Oprah Winfrey was about to make the big decision was the cover of last month's "O" magazine. To actually share space with Ellen DeGeneres (who, after all, fronts a rival afternoon talk show) and later have her on "Oprah" as the main guest was a subtle if unconscious anointing of one queen of talk by another. Thursday's news that Winfrey is exiting the first-run fray she will have dominated for 25 years is nothing less than a paradigm shift, one that will roil the already fragile local TV station business for the next two years. She was a king maker, after all, and without her to set the standard, there is going to be a scramble -- indeed a power grab --throughout the realm. The ABC O&Os and many affiliate stations, which are "Oprah's' historic home, will be affected right off the bat. Sure, "Oprah" is hugely expensive for them, but what she does is provide a reliably substantial lead-in for their local newscasts, which is where they make most of their money. With her gone, all bets are off. As one syndie veteran summed it up for me, "If you now have 'Oprah,' you're depressed; if you don't, you're ecstatic." That's where "Ellen" comes in. The younger-skewing gabber, which is distributed by Warner Bros., got its start on the NBC O&Os, where the original license fees, as usual in start-up deals, were quite low. Those NBC station deals will be coming up for renewal soon, and with ABC looking for an "Oprah" replacement, "Ellen's" timing looks impeccable -- and advantageous for Warners, as well. It could be argued too that "Ellen" is more attuned to the current cultural zeitgeist than "Oprah" is, or more simply that her more light-hearted approach and tone sits better with audiences in depressing times like these. Not that anything in syndication is straightforward. A couple of other pretenders to the throne will vie for attention too. CBS' "Dr. Phil," a show that Winfrey helped nurture into first-run fame, could take advantage of the looming vacuum. Until now, that talk show could not contractually go head-to-head with "Oprah" in the afternoon, but once the latter is gone, CBS will be working to upgrade the relationship therapist to those coveted 4 p.m. slots. Then there's Sony, which has fielded several interesting candidates in the talk-show fray, including "Dr. Oz," and, presumably beginning in September, the lifestyle-themed "Nate Berkus." They too might be poised to take advantage of the free-for-all come fall 2011. "It's going to be the clash of the titans," is how another syndie onlooker described what the next 18 months will look like behind the scenes and on the road as the big guns in first-run jostle for position. No doubt the syndie salesman par excellence Roger King, who essentially did whatever it took to put "Oprah" on the map and then renew the bejesus out of it for 20 years, is looking down on all this. King would immediately have pulled a rabbit out of his hat and had an instant replacement. We'll see what others can do. http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/oprah...ontent=Twitter |
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11-20-09, 10:38 AM
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#44767 | Link | |
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Samsung LN-S4092D
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Quote:
I STILL want to see SoA live beyond whatever denouement happens with Zobbel and his crew...
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Time Warner NYC (Man North Head End) - 8300HD DVR - MDN 2.4.6-21 |
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11-20-09, 10:40 AM
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#44768 | Link |
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AVS Special Member
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Fox News again accused of airing misleading video
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts988 Thu Nov 19, 3:36 pm ET For the second time in just over a week, Fox News is coming under fire for misusing old news footage. The latest flap is leading some people to charge that the cable news network is intentionally misleading its audience, while Fox claims a "production error." Wednesday's incident occurred when Fox News host Gregg Jarrett mentioned that a Sarah Palin appearance and book signing in Grand Rapids, Michigan had a massive turnout. As footage rolled of a smiling and waving Palin amidst a throng of fans, Jarrett noted that the former Republican vice-presidential candidate is "continuing to draw huge crowds while she's promoting her brand-new book,'' adding that the images being shown were "some of the pictures just coming in to us.... The lines earlier had formed this morning." However, the video used in the segment was from a 2008 McCain/Palin campaign rally. In response to the minor uproar that arose after clips of Jarrett's report hit the Internet, Fox senior vice-president of news Michael Clemente issued an initial statement saying, "This was a production error in which the copy editor changed a script and didn't alert the control room to update the video." On Thursday afternoon, Fox News issued an on-air apology delivered by host Jane Skinner: "Yesterday we told you about Sarah Palin kicking off her book tour and then we spoke to Sean Hannity about an interview that he did with former Governor Palin. When introducing the segment we showed you footage of people lining up in Michigan for a book signing that evening. In the tease before the segment, the tease to commercial, we told you how those people were already lining up to meet Palin. The problem is we didn't show you the video we were actually referencing. Instead we mistakenly aired what's called "file tape" of Sarah Palin. We didn't mean to mislead anybody in that tease. It was a mistake, and for that we apologize." The current mishap comes on the heels of a controversy sparked last week when footage from a conservative rally held over the summer was played on "Hannity" during a segment on a more recent rally. During the clip, host Sean Hannity marveled over the large turnout for a Washington, DC protest. The Daily Show later pointed out that there seemed to be some inconsistencies with the video shown on Hannity's show, namely that the atmospheric conditions seemed to vary from shot to shot. Hannity later apologized on the air for what he called "an inadvertent mistake." Barely a week into Palin’s blitz to promote “Going Rogue,” media coverage is becoming its own story. Fox News rival MSNBC caught heat last week for using altered images of Sarah Palin on the air, for which they later apologized. On Wednesday, Yahoo! News reported Newsweek’s defense of their latest controversial cover, which Palin herself blasted as “sexist.” -- Brett Michael Dykes is a contributor to the Yahoo! News Blog
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. There he goes again... Good Ol' R. Reagan's favorite Troll line ! |
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11-20-09, 10:47 AM
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#44769 | Link | |
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Samsung LN-S4092D
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Then again, I'm very old school... any "anchor" who become known for their opinion would NOT be allowed that job.
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Time Warner NYC (Man North Head End) - 8300HD DVR - MDN 2.4.6-21 |
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11-20-09, 10:51 AM
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#44770 | Link | |
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Samsung LN-S4092D
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Quote:
__________________
Time Warner NYC (Man North Head End) - 8300HD DVR - MDN 2.4.6-21 |
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11-20-09, 11:03 AM
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#44771 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Thursday’s metered market overnight prime-time ratings – along with Media Week Analyst Marc Berman’s view of what they mean -- have been posted at the top of Ratings News -- the second post in this thread.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&#post10367387 |
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11-20-09, 11:07 AM
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#44772 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Let's cut out the posts about complaints about Fox News Channel, MSNBC and/or CNN coverage.
Those kinds of posts belong on a political board somewhere, and they are all pretty predictable. For several years I rarely ever posted anything about those three channels because of the rancor such posts brought to the thread. Perhaps it is time to go back to that philosophy. |
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11-20-09, 11:11 AM
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#44773 | Link | |
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Cox - SARA 1.89.27.1
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Quote:
__________________
Cheers, Dave |
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11-20-09, 11:42 AM
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#44774 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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TV Notes
Friday’s TV Highlights: 'Law & Order' on NBC From the Los Angeles Times’ “Show Tracker” blog (Note: times are generally ET/PT. Please remember that all live sports events are listed in Pacific time. For PBS show start times please double check your local listings.) SERIES Law & Order: Detectives Bernard and Lupo (Anthony Anderson, Jeremy Sisto) suspect a violent armed robbery is part of a shakedown. (8 p.m. NBC). Smallville: Tess (Cassidy Freeman) kidnaps Lois (Erica Durance), determined to find out where she went when she disappeared for weeks, while Clark (Tom Welling) makes a significant decision about Zod (Callum Blue) after learning of Lois' memory of the future (8 p.m. CW). DietTribe: The women compete in a triathlon and their final weights and makeovers are revealed (8 p.m. Lifetime). Bill Moyers Journal: As President Obama prepares to respond to calls for more troops in Afghanistan, Bill Moyers revisits President Lyndon Johnson's deliberations as he stepped up America's role in Vietnam. (9 p.m. PBS). Numb3rs: Thieves strike a diamond exchange and take hostages, and Don (Rob Morrow) and his team believe the culprits are copying a convicted bus hijacker's (Fisher Stevens, reprising his guest role) strategy. David Krumholtz, Judd Hirsch and Alimi Ballard also star (10 p.m. CBS). 20/20: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (10 p.m. ABC). Happily Ever Faster: A pregnant bride worries her wedding dress might not fit over her baby bump and chapel planner Melody tries to enlist actor William Shatner as best man for a Trekkie wedding in the premiere of this new matrimonial series (10 p.m. TLC). A second new episode follows at 10:30. White Collar: After an expensive portrait is stolen from a young woman, Neal tries to uncover the secret behind its origin while working with Peter to set up a sting in hopes of catching the culprit (10 p.m. USA). Now on PBS: The news magazine series looks at support provided for family members who care for returning soldiers with traumatic brain injuries (10:30 p.m. PBS). MOVIES Hairspray: It started as a John Waters-directed movie, then became a hit stage musical. Now it comes full circle by taking movie form again with John Travolta cast as the mother of an aspiring 1960s dance-show participant (Nikki Blonsky). Michelle Pfeiffer and Brittany Snow also star in this 2007 musical (6 p.m. HBO). Journey to the Center of the Earth: A science professor (Brendan Fraser) and his nephew (Josh Hutcherson) travel beneath the Earth's surface and encounter bad-tempered dinosaurs in the 2008 adventure (6:50 p.m. Cinemax). Dr. Dolittle 2: In this 2001 sequel, Eddie Murphy returns as the fellow who can talk to the animals, most of which talk back. Kevin Pollak, Andy Dick and Isaac Hayes lend their voices (8:30 p.m. Cinemax). SPORTS NASCAR racing: Sprint Cup: Ford 400 Qualifying (Noon ESPN2). College basketball: Coaches vs. Cancer Consolation Game (2 p.m. ESPN2). Coaches vs. Cancer Final (4:30 p.m. ESPN2). Pro basketball: The Orlando Magic visit the Boston Celtics (5 p.m. ESPN). The Denver Nuggets visit the Clippers (7:30 p.m. ESPN). College football: Boise State at Utah State (Live) (6:30 p.m. ESPN2). English Premier League Soccer: Liverpool vs. Manchester City (4:30 a.m. ESPN2). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/show...er-on-nbc.html |
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11-20-09, 11:47 AM
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#44775 | Link | |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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TV Notes
On The Air Tonight Friday’s Network Prime-Time Programming Options (All shows are in HD unless noted as SD) (Reminder: If you are recording these programs, check your network listings for precise start/end times. For PBS, please double check your local listings.) ABC: 8 Movie: Shrek the Third 10 20/20: Sarah Palin is interviewed. CBS: 8 Ghost Whisperer 9 Medium 10 Numb3rs NBC: 8 Law & Order 9 Dateline NBC. A detective tries to solve a crime with the help of a 3-year-old girl. 10 The Jay Leno Show : Actor Kellan Lutz; actor Ed Begley Jr. Fox: 8 House (R, January 19) 9 Bones (R, March 12) PBS 8 Washington Week SD 8:30 NOW on PBS: Support for family members who care for returning soldiers with traumatic brain injuries. 9 Bill Moyers’ Journal: President Lyndon B. Johnson considers increasing America's role in Vietnam. SD 10 Secrets of Shangri-La. Explorers find 14th-century wall paintings, ancient human remains and a hidden library in human-carved caves. (R, August 20) The CW: 8 Smallville 9 America’s Next Top Model (R, Wednesday) SD MNT: 8 WWE: Friday Night Smackdown! (two hours) |
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11-20-09, 11:58 AM
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#44776 | Link | |
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AVS Special Member
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amen brother!
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11-20-09, 11:58 AM
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#44777 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Thursday’s metered market and fast affiliate overnight prime-time ratings (which include the total viewers and 18-49 demographic estimates in every half hour) – along with Media Week Analyst Marc Berman’s view of what they mean -- have been posted near the top of Ratings News -- the second post in this thread.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&#post10367387 |
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11-20-09, 12:01 PM
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#44778 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Overnight Nielsen Notes
Thursday shows slump as TV usage declines From James Hibberd’s The Hollywood Reporter LiveFeed blog, Nov. 20 2009 With a holiday week approaching, plenty of sports competition on cable and sweeps stunts winding down, most broadcast shows declined Thursday evening as CBS resumed control of the board. Overall TV usage slipped 4% from last week, which accounts for some of the loss. CBS aired "Survivor" (12.3 million viewers, 3.7), down 5% and a post-crossover "CSI" (15 million, 3.5), dropping 15%. But even with the reduced lead-in, "The Mentalist" (15.8 million, 3.7) was up a tenth for a suspenseful Red John episode -- the only broadcast show to post a gain last night. Slipping into second place, ABC's "FlashForward" (8 million, 2.4) fell again, down 8%. "Grey's Anatomy" (14 million, 5.0) was down 11% and "Private Practice" (9 million, 3.1) dropped a dramatic 21%. NBC and Fox tied for third, with the Peacock running "Community" (5.1 million, 2.0) and "Parks & Recreation" (4.6 million, 2.0), both off a tenth. "The Office" (7.4 million, 3.7) was down 12% and "30 Rock" (5.9 million, 2.9) slipped a notch. "The Jay Leno Show" (4.8 million, 1.4) was steady. Fox's "Bones" (9.8 million, 2.7) was down 7%. "Fringe" (5.9 million, 2.0) could have used a few more observers last night, declining 15%. The CW was pre-empted in Miami and could improve. "Vampire Diaries" (3.7 million, 1.7) fell 11% in the prelims and "Supernatural" was on par. http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/thurs...ines.html#more |
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11-20-09, 12:14 PM
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#44779 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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This Weekend’s College Football in HD
All times are Eastern Note: BCS rankings 1-25 are official. (Rankings below #25 are replicated by Jerry Palm at collegebcs.com using the same computer models as the BCS.) Tonight #112 Akron (2-8) at #80 Bowling Green (5-5) 5:30 p.m. ESPNU #6 Boise State (10-0) at Utah State (3-7) 9:30 p.m. ESPN2 Tomorrow #70 Duke (5-5) at #20 Miami (7-3) 12 noon ESPNU NR Harvard (6-3) NR at Yale (4-5) 12 noon Versus NR Maine (4-6) at NR New Hampshire (8-2) 12 noon CSNE / CSMA #51 Minnesota (6-5) at #13 Iowa (9-2) 12 noon (ESPN or ESPN2) #10 Ohio State (9-2)at #82 Michigan (5-6) 12 noon ABC #96 Maryland (2-8) at #46 Florida State (5-5) 12 noon Raycom #53 Mississippi State (4-6) at #44 Arkansas (6-4) 12:21 p.m. SEC Network NR Tennessee Chattanooga (6-4) at #2 Alabama (10-0) 12:21 p.m. SEC Network #35 Oklahoma at #40 Texas Tech 12:30 p.m. FSN #4 TCU (10-0) at #73 Wyoming (5-5) 2 p.m. Mtn. #56 Connecticut (4-5) at #45 Notre Dame (6-4) 2:30 p.m. NBC NR Wofford (3-7) at NR Furman (5-5) 3 p.m. SS #43 Air Force (7-4) at #22 BYU (8-2) 3:30 p.m. CBSC #8 LSU (8-2) at #31 Mississippi (7-3) 3:30 p.m. CBS #77 Purdue (4-7) at #87 Indiana (4-7) 3:30 p.m. BTN #16 Wisconsin (8-2) at #41 Northwestern (7-4) 3:30 p.m. BTN #14 Penn State (9-2) at #57 Michigan State (6-5) 3:30 p.m. ESPN / ABC Regional #79 Virginia (3-7) at #23 Clemson (7-3) 3:30 p.m. ABC Regional / ESPN The ABC/ESPN Coverage Maps (3:30 and 8 p.m.) are here: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/s...veragemaps2009 #83 North Carolina State (4-6) at #15 Virginia Tech (7-3) 2:30 p.m. ESPNU #63 Arizona State (4-6) at #49 UCLA (5-5) 4 p.m. FSN #88 San Diego State (4-6) at #21 Utah (8-2) 4 p.m. Versus #112 Arkansas State (7-3) at #64 Middle Tennessee (2-7) 4:30 p.m. ESPN-GP #90 Colorado State (3-7) at #117 New Mexico (0-10) 6 p.m. Mtn. #102 Vanderbilt (2-9) at #54 Tennessee (5-5) 7 p.m. ESPNU #92 Tulsa (4-5) at #66 Southern Miss (6-4) 6:30 p.m. CBSC #68 Kansas State (6-5) at #28 Nebraska (7-3) 7:45 p.m. ESPN #48 Kentucky (6-4) at #42 Georgia (6-4) 7:45 p.m. ESPN2 #76 Kansas (5-5) at #3 Texas (10-0) 8 p.m. ABC regional # 11 Oregon (8-2) at #26 Arizona (6-3) 8 p.m. ABC regional #25 California (7-3) at #17 Stanford (7-3) 9:30 p.m. Versus #39 Nevada (7-3) at #109 New Mexico State (3-7) 10:30 p.m. ESPN-GP ESPN Game Plan (All games are in SD) Louisville (4-6) at South Florida (6-3) 12 noon Maryland at Florida State 12 noon Mississippi State at Arkansas 12:21 p.m. Tennessee Chattanooga at Alabama 12:21 p.m. Florida International at #1 Florida (10-0) 12:30 p.m. Lafayette at Lehigh 12:30 p.m. Virginia at Clemson 3:30 p.m. Florida Atlantic at Troy 4:15 p.m. Arkansas State at Middle Tennessee 4:30 p.m. Kansas at Texas 8 p.m. ABC regional Oregon at Arizona 8 p.m. ABC regional Hawaii at San Jose State 8 p.m |
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11-20-09, 12:19 PM
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#44780 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Overnight Nielsen Notes in the 18-49 Demo
CBS takes its first Thursday, a slow one Averages a 3.7 in 18-49s, 0.2 ahead of ABC By Toni Fitzgerald, MediaLifeMagazine.com staff writer, Nov. 20, 2009 For the first time this season, CBS finished first among adults 18-49, holding a slight advantage over usual leader ABC. CBS averaged a 3.7 adults 18-49 rating and a 10 share, according to Nielsen overnights, with ABC second at 3.5/10. CBS's victory is more attributable to ABC's decline than anything else. All three of the latter's shows were off from last week, though 9 p.m.'s "Grey's Anatomy" was still the night's top program with a 5.0. In fact, only one show on the Big Four networks, CBS's "The Mentalist," was up from last week. NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" was even, and the rest were down. "Mentalist" increased 3 percent to a 3.7 rating, outdrawing lead-in "CSI" and scoring a rare victory over timeslot competitor "Private Practice" on ABC, which slipped 21 percent. "Mentalist" was also the night's top show in total viewers, averaging 15.8 million, a rare feat for a 10 p.m. program. • • • • • • • • • • • Meanwhile, for the night, NBC and Fox tied for third among 18-49s at 2.3/6, the CW was fifth at 1.5/4 and Univision sixth at 1.4/4. As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-three percent of Nielsen households have DVRs. Also, the CW’s “Vampire Diaries” and “Supernatural” were preempted last night in Miami for an NFL game, meaning the network’s fast affiliate ratings will likely change when final nationals are released. At 8 p.m. CBS was first with a 3.8 for “Survivor,” followed by Fox with a 2.7 for “Bones.” ABC was third with a series-low 2.4 for “FlashForward,” NBC fourth with a 2.0 for “Community” (2.0) and “Parks and Recreation” (2.0), CW fifth with a 1.7 for “Diaries” and Univision sixth with a 1.4 for “El Nombre del Amor.” ABC took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 5.0 for “Grey’s,” while CBS slid to second with a 3.5 for “CSI.” NBC was third with a 3.3 for “The Office” (3.7) and “30 Rock” (2.9), Fox fourth with a 2.0 for “Fringe,” Univision fifth with a 1.9 for “Sortilegio” and CW sixth with a 1.3 for “Supernatural.” CBS regained the lead at 10 p.m. with a 3.7 for “Mentalist,” with ABC second with a 3.1 for “Practice.” NBC was third with a 1.6 for “Leno” and Univision fourth with a 1.0 for “Rosa de Guadalupe.” Among households, CBS led the night with an 8.8 average overnight rating and a 14 share. ABC was second at 6.8/11, Fox third at 5.0/8, NBC fourth at 3.5/6, CW fifth at 2.1/3 and Univision sixth at 1.8/3. http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...a_slow_one.asp |
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11-20-09, 12:22 PM
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#44781 | Link |
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AVS moderator
AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER
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Critic’s Notes
Laurence Fishburne and 'CSI': The evidence is weak By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY, November 20, 2009 Sadly, good actors and good shows don't always turn out to be good matches. There's no question that Laurence Fishburne is a fine actor, as anyone who has seen his best film work can attest, or that CSI (CBS, tonight, 9 ET/PT) remains a fine TV show. Yet fresh on the heels of last week's reasonably well-watched but creatively disastrous CSI/Miami/NY triple crossover, it may be time to admit that Fishburne's stint on CSI isn't working, at least not to the extent CSI needs. Considering the relative strength of the series, Fishburne's performance might be good enough and the character strong enough to function as a member of the ensemble. But what CSI needs in the still-roiling wake of William Petersen's departure is a lead character and a charismatic star turn, and Fishburne's Ray Langston is not filling either bill. It didn't help, of course, that the trilogy was a ridiculous mishmash of disjointed plots that failed to serve any of the shows well. A girl gets caught in a credit card scam in Miami, shipped for her body parts to New York, and then forced into prostitution in Las Vegas? Even by TV standards, that's a remarkable run of bad luck. Still, badly plotted or not, the point of the Fishburne-driven trilogy was to bolster his star status, and at that, it failed dismally. Indeed, the episodes were actually better when he wasn't on screen, if only because for those few moments, the writers weren't aggressively pushing "Dr. Ray" upon us. The 2007 crossover between CSI and Without a Trace was no great prize-winner either, but it held your interest because the two main characters were so distinctly different: Petersen's wry, odd, observant Gil Grissom clashing with Anthony LaPaglia's more aggressive, emotional and proactive Jack Malone. Ray seems to have no distinctive traits or quirks at all, and having the Miami and New York characters fuss over him like he was some forensics rock star did nothing to lend him one. We do know one unusual fact about Langston: He was raised in Korea. But so far, that seems to be no more than the kind of back story actors invent to help them latch on to a character. The show has yet to use it in any significant or even vaguely entertaining way that viewers can appreciate. Whatever his character's failing, it's unfair to blame Fishburne for the show's ratings decline, which is as much a product of erosion as anything. And to be fair, he's been put in an odd situation: Given top billing and yet cast in what has been written as a subordinate role. But the end result is a show that is less balanced and far less interesting than it once was – and a talented actor who is going to waste. And that's just sad. http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...terstitialskip |
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11-20-09, 01:28 PM
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#44782 | Link | |
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AVS Special Member
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Quote:
Granted, news has always been "sold" in some way or another ever since the days of the kid on the corner yelling "extra, extra, read all about it". The difference is, news wasn't considered "entertainment" back then and most people didn't have the tools to draw an audience away from the traditional "hard" media reporting outlets. Today, "the news" has to compete with online media and folks who only respond to Twitter messages. Honestly, I think it was officially all over for any kind of real news reporting as soon as topics like "Survivor", "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars" became "news stories" at 6PM.
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MY DVD COLLECTION |
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11-20-09, 02:44 PM
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#44783 | Link | |
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AVS Special Member
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This is definitely going somewhere... if you're paying attention, anyway  |
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11-20-09, 03:00 PM
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#44784 | Link | |
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Cox - SARA 1.89.27.1
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Quote:
__________________
Cheers, Dave |
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11-20-09, 03:05 PM
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#44785 | Link | |
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AVS Addicted Member
AVS CLUB MEMBER
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Quote:
He needed to come in as the head honcho, not a rookie, and there's no way the writers can fix that now. |
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11-20-09, 03:10 PM
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#44786 | Link | |
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Cox - SARA 1.89.27.1
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I watched the trilogy after reading a few comments here and I found myself concentrating more on the unlikeliness of it all rather than the story. I enjoyed the series, but certainly rolled my eyes more than usual. And I still can't figure out just why Fishborne's character became "the" central link in all 3 episodes. Seemed to me it was just made up to showcase him, which is okay I guess, but really didn't add much, least not for me. Maybe I just haven't identified with his character enough yet.
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Cheers, Dave |
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11-20-09, 03:13 PM
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#44787 | Link | |
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Cox - SARA 1.89.27.1
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Quote:
__________________
Cheers, Dave |
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11-20-09, 03:14 PM
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#44788 | Link | ||
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AVS Addicted Member
AVS CLUB MEMBER
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Quote:
Quote:
Last edited by keenan; 11-20-09 at 03:23 PM.. Reason: Eliminated multiple posts |
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