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Critic’s Notes
In love with 'NCIS'
By Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune Cultural Critic, April 7, 2009

Let me count the ways. We've got Gibbs and McGee and DiNozzo and Abby and Ducky and Vance. Have I forgotten anyone else in the—oh, right! And there's Ziva, who is likely to retaliate for my forgetfulness as only a former Mossad agent can: cleverly, stealthily, leaving no forensically discernible marks.

Spring is here, and I'm in love again. But it's not some unreliable human being who has snatched my heart away. It's a TV series: "NCIS." The initials stand for "Naval Criminal Investigative Service," a real-life federal agency that, like its fictional avatar, handles law-enforcement cases relating to the Navy and Marine Corps. The series premiered Sept. 23, 2003, as a spinoff of "JAG," and has been airing at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS ever since.

In TV years, that length of time translates to "forever, give or take." A TV series typically sheds viewers as it ages. "NCIS," though, is that rare thing: a venerable franchise whose audience is actually increasing. The show moved into the top 10 in its fifth season. Between its first season and the current one, it rose from No. 26 to No. 5. In recent weeks, more than 18 million people have tuned in each Tuesday to watch it. Among scripted shows, "NCIS" regularly lures more viewers than anything on NBC, ABC or Fox, a CBS spokesman reports. And it's more popular among young people than shows such as "The Simpsons," "Family Guy" and "30 Rock." On college campuses, it's edging close to cult status.

But enough with the numbers. This, after all, is a love story.

And like all great love stories, it starts with a meet-cute.

I had never watched an entire episode of "NCIS" during the half-dozen years it had aired in prime time. I caught a few minutes of it here and there, quickly tiring of the badgering badinage between DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo), rival NCIS agents.

And then, last fall, USA Network began airing "NCIS" episodes from 4 to 7 p.m. weeknights. The series suddenly was available in bulk, like an item you buy at Costco.

Faced with a blessedly blank stretch of vacation time and an itchy finger on the TiVo "select" button, I recorded a slew of them.

I watched.

I fell.

Hard.

Hour after hour, show after show, my passion for "NCIS" blossomed. I got to know Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), the tough and taciturn leader of the NCIS team; Abby (Pauley Perrette), the appealingly weird forensic scientist with the Goth tats and the ebony pigtails; McGee (Sean Murray), the strait-laced computer geek with a literary bent; Ducky (David McCallum), the puckish medical examiner. Because the adventures were all bunched together, instead of arriving one by one as they must with a show airing weekly, it wasn't like watching a TV series. It was like reading a Russian novel.

Yes, boxed DVD sets of the first five seasons of "NCIS" are available. But you don't buy a DVD set unless you already love a show. The bulk viewing on USA Network is what made me an "NCIS" groupie.

It did the same thing for Susan Dattalo, a 23-year-old student at Duquesne University who is part of the corps of college students who follow the show. "I'm a new fan," she said in a phone interview from her home in Pittsburgh. "I stumbled upon it by accident on USA." Now, she's hooked: "It's the characters I really like."

Oh, yes. There is a magical alchemy to the "NCIS" ensemble, a mystical blend of actors and roles that just ... somehow ... works. If it were easy to duplicate, somebody would have done it. But how do you make another Gibbs, the coffee-obsessed, snappishly impatient ex-Marine with the armor-piercing stare who's building a boat in his basement? Or Ziva, the Israeli assassin who mixes up her English idioms but never forgets a face or a clue or a grudge? Or DiNozzo, the peppery playboy? Or Abby, who sleeps in a coffin but is always wide awake when it's time for a ballistics test or a fingerprint match?

"NCIS" has an adhesive quality, a stickiness that doesn't kick in until you've watched a dozen or so episodes back to back to back. There's action. There's espionage. You'll find patriotism and heroism and humor.

Rich Heldenfels, a pop culture writer for the Akron Beacon Journal, remembers reviewing "NCIS" upon its 2003 debut. "It's long been underestimated by writers looking for buzz-worthy shows," he says. "As much as the 'JAG' connection helped bring some viewers into the tent, it suggested the show was something other than what it meant to be from the beginning—funny, sometimes edgy, respectful of its characters but skeptical of authority, unpredictable."

The online message boards are equally positive, but blunter. "NCIS: the words of heaven," one fan wrote. Gushed another: " 'NCIS' ought to be a Schedule II drug." And then there was this: "I pretty much stopped watching regular TV when I went to college, but 'NCIS' is the only show I keep watching religiously."

I know what that fan means, although my feelings for "NCIS"—OK, for Harmon—are anything but religious. His Gibbs is the Heathcliff of the "NCIS" team, handsome and brooding and haunted. Latecomers to the show such as me are forced to piece together the reasons for his sadness: the death of a wife and a child, creating a loneliness that—despite subsequent relationships—never lessens.

Revealed over the stop-and-start, herky-jerky course of six seasons, that plot point might come across as melodramatic.

Emerging from a single ribbon of episodes, though, it is as profound as an earnest "semper fi" uttered to a comrade.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/featur...4570530.column

(From Marc Berman’s April 7, 2008, Programming Insider newsletter at Mediaweek.com)
Monday’s Final Nielsens

(Posted by Travis Yanan)

Dancing with the Stars (92 minutes)
- 19.883 million viewers
- 12.5/19 HH
- 4.6/12 A18-49

NCAA Basketball Finals (9:15pm, 152 minutes)
- 17.649 million viewers
- 10.6/18 HH
- 6.3/16 A18-49

House
- 13.294 million viewers
- 7.9/12 HH
- 5.1/13 A18-49

NCAA Pregame (9pm, 15 minutes)
- 12.152 million viewers
- 7.5/11 HH
- 3.9/10 A18-49

Surviving Suburbia
- 11.249 million viewers
- 7.2/11 HH
- 3.0/7 A18-49

24
- 10.958 million viewers
- 6.5/10 HH
- 3.8/9 A18-49

Castle (58 minutes)
- 9.029 million viewers
- 6.1/10 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Medium
- 7.173 million viewers
- 4.8/8 HH
- 2.2/5 A18-49

Big Bang Theory (R, 29 minutes)
- 6.940 million viewers
- 4.3/7 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

Heroes
- 6.109 million viewers
- 3.9/6 HH
- 2.6/6 A18-49

How I Met Your Mother (R, 31 minutes)
- 6.102 million viewers
- 2.9/6 HH
- 2.5/6 A18-49

Chuck
- 6.096 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49

One Tree Hill
- 1.093 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34

Gossip Girl (R)
- 1.078 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34

Some Cable Finals

The Hills (10:30pm)
- 2.970 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

The Hills (10pm)
- 2.718 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.8/4 A18-49

Saving Grace
- 2.539 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Greek
- 0.834 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

• Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/t...9102#912109102

http://travisyanan.blogspot.com/

Note: Previous overnight ratings are available at Marc Berman’s Programmers Insider blog:

http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/t...51/m/460103871

Nielsen Notes
'River Monsters' Delivers Best Premiere Numbers In Animal Planet History
Series earned 1.3 million viewers
By Alex Weprin, Broadcasting & Cable, April 7, 2009

The series premiere of Animal Planet’s River Monsters delivered 1.3 million viewers, including 647,000 P25-54, making it the best series premiere in the network’s history and the most watched regularly airing primetime telecast in over six years.

The 10 p.m. Sunday debut also saw triple digit improvements over the same slot last year.

The premiere of the special A Lion Called Christian, based on a viral web video also delivered gains in its timeslot, including a 155% boost among P25-54.

River Monsters is the latest series launch by Animal Planet in an attempt to reach an older audience than the wildlife specials it was once known for.

The network has launched a number of more adult themed shows in the past few months, including Whale Wars, following a crew of activists attempting to stop Japanese whalers, and Jockeys, about the work and personal lives of professional jockeys.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...et_History.php

Nielsen Notes
'Tudors' Third-Season Premiere Matches Second-Season Debut
Debut, Encore Draws 1 Million To Showtime's Court Sunday Night
By Thomas Umstead, Multichannel News, April 7, 2009

The third-season premiere of Showtime's The Tudors didn't rule the ratings charts, but held its own compared to its prior-season debut.

The April 5 third season premiere of the continuing dramatic and provocative saga of King Henry VIII drew 726,000 viewers, with an additional 272,000 tuning into the 11 p.m. replay, according to the pay network. The combined 998,000 viewers were flat from its season two premiere of 1 million viewers.

An additional 400,000 on demand views put the total number at 1.3 million viewers. Showtime officials lauded the results, adding it bodes well for the rest of the show's eight-episode run.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/...ason_Debut.php

Weekly Nielsen Ratings
ABC Spins Last Week's Ratings '
April 7, 2009
Primetime Ratings Report
For the week of March 30, 2009
(Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

WEEK No. 28:

Rankings: During the week of March 30, 2009, as its Thursday night dramas and entire Sunday schedule aired in repeat, ABC claimed 2 of the Top 10 highest-rated TV programs in Adults 18-49: Dancing with the Stars - No. 6 and Lost - No. 9. In addition, ABC's Dancing with the Stars finished out the week as the 3rd-most-watched television show overall, behind only Fox's 2 installments of American Idol. ABC News' 20/20 qualified as the week's No. 1 newsmagazine in Adults 18-49 (tied w/60 Minutes on Sunday).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to over 30% currently, from 23% at the same point in 2008. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.



Monday

ABC Monday lineup drew 16.8 million viewers and a 4.1 rating 11 share in Adults 18-49, standing as the most-watched Network on the night for the 5th week running. In addition, ABC won the night for the 8th straight week across all key Women demographics (W18-34 - 4.5/12, W18-49 - 5.7/14 and W25-54 - 7.0/16), including a 13-week stretch among Women 18-34.

Dancing with the Stars (8:00-10:02 p.m.)
ABC's broad appealing Dancing with the Stars won its time period in Total Viewers (20.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.9/12) for the 4th straight week, topping the second-place networks by 8.5 million viewers (11.9 million - Fox) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (4.3/11 - CBS).DWTS also qualified as Monday's No. 1 TV program in viewers and among all key Women demos (W18-34 - 5.3/13, W18-49 - 6.9/16 and Women 25-54 - 8.5/19) for the 4th time in as many weeks.

Castle (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC's Castle beat NBC's veteran drama during the 10 o'clock hour, Medium, by 1.9 million viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.3 million) and by 6% Adults 18-34 (1.9/6 vs. 1.8/5).

Tuesday

Leaping from its lead-in (+10.3 million viewers and +244% in Adults 18-49) opposite an extended edition of American Idol and surging throughout its telecast, ABC's Dancing with the Stars Results outdrew its NBC unscripted competition during the 9 o'clock hour (Biggest Loser) by 3.9 million viewers (13.5 million vs. 9.6 million). Building throughout its broadcast, DWTS Results saw its audience soar by 4.3 million viewers and by 44% from start to finish.

·Compared to two weeks earlier when the show most recently had to compete against an extended Idol, DWTS Results was up 6% in Total Viewers (13.5 million vs. 12.7 million) and 11% in Adults 18-49 (3.1/8 vs. 2.8/7).

Cupid (10:02-11:00 p.m.)
Debuting in the 10 o'clock hour with solid young adult lead-in retention against established original dramas on NBC (Law & Order: SVU) and CBS (Without a Trace), ABC's Cupid beat out its CBS competition by 20% in Adults 18-34 (1.8/6 vs. 1.5/5) and by 33% in Women 18-34 (2.4/7 vs. 1.8/5). Cupid retained a solid 82% of its DWTS Results lead-in among Adults 18-34 and 74% among Adults 18-49.

·Cupid greatly improved the time period for ABC, up by 16% in Total Viewers (7.2 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 35% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.7/5) over the Net's average with original drama programming in the hour this season (Eli Stone).

Wednesday

ABC placed No. 2 to an Idol-fueled Fox among Adults 18-49 (2.8/8) on Wednesday night. The Net also finished a competitive second to Fox on the evening with Adults 18-34 (2.4/7), defeating CBS by 33% (1.8/5) and NBC by 109% (1.0/3).

·Continuing to generate year-to-year increases on the evening, ABC's Wednesday numbers grew over the same night last year (4/2/08) by 1.0 million viewers (6.7 million vs. 5.7 million) and by 40% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 2.0/5). The Net hasdelivered increases over the same Wednesday last year for 8 straight weeks in the key young adult sales demo.

Scrubs/Better Off Ted (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
ABC's 8:00-9:00 p.m. comedy block (Scrubs/Better Off Ted) continued to produce strong audience retention for ABC in the hour, improving week to week. At 8:30 p.m., Better Off Ted retained 94% of Scrubs' Total Viewers (4.7 million vs. 5.0 million) and a best-yet 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5), up solidly from the prior week on both counts (87%/86%). Ted built on its lead-in among Men 18-34.

·Better Off Ted was up week to week in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, Men 18-49, Men 25-54 and Women 18-34.

Lost (9:00-10:02 p.m.)
Surging from its lead-in opposite Fox's American Idol in the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's Lost held wide advantages over its drama competition in the slot among Adults 18-49. Lost (4.3/11) bested CBS' Criminal Minds replay by 87% (2.3/6) and NBC's original Life by 187% (1.5/4). In addition, Lost registered its 10th straight original broadcast as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49. The ABC drama was also once again the night's top-rated scripted series in the other two Adult demographics: Adults 18-34 (4.0/10) and Adults 25-54 (4.6/10).

·Opposite American Idol, ABC's Lost was up week to week in both Total Viewers (+7% - 9.6 million vs. 9.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 4.3/11 vs. 4.1/10).

Life on Mars (10:02-11:00 p.m.)
On its series finale, Life on Mars placed a strong No. 2 among Adults 18-49 (2.0/6) in the 10 o'clock hour, pacing within two-tenths of a rating point of first-place CBS' veteran CSI: NY replay (2.2/6) and topping NBC's rebroadcast Law & Order by 18% (1.7/5). Life on Mars delivered the No. 1 position in the hour among Men 18-49 (1.8/5)

·Growing its overall audience for the 3rd straight week, Life on Mars concluded its run with its biggest audience in 2 months (5.6 million) and equaling a best-since-premiere number in the hour with Adults 18-49 (2.0/6-tie) - since 2/4/09 and 1/28/09, respectively.

Friday

Wife Swap (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
In the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's Wife Swap (4.5 million & 1.5/5 in Adults 18-49) beat both NBC's back-to-back episodes of "Howie Do It" (3.3 million & 1.0/4) and Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles" (3.5 million & 1.3/5) among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

"20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC News' "20/20" beat its CBS and NBC competition during the final hour of prime among Adults 18-49 (1.8/6) and Adults 25-54 (2.3/7).

·20/20 defeated its newsmagazine competition in the hour, NBC's "Dateline," for the 14th week in a row in Total Viewers (6.8 million vs. 5.0 million) and for the 13th time in 14 weeks in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 1.5/5).

Sunday

Despite airing an all-repeat lineup on the night, ABC finished as the second-most-watched TV network on Sunday (5.9 million), outdrawing NBC's original schedule (5.7 million for Dateline/Kings/Celebrity Apprentice).

America's Funniest Home Videos (7:00-8:00 p.m.)
During Sunday's 7 o'clock hour opposite original competition, including CBS' 60 Minutes and NBC's Dateline, ABC's rebroadcast America's Funniest Home Videos won its time slot by 17% among Adults over second-place CBS (2.1/7 vs. 1.8/6).

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Pacing behind only CBS' Academy of Country Music Awards, ABC's encore airing of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition registered as the No. 2 most-watched show from 8:00-9:00 p.m. Also in the hour, ABC's repeat Home Edition essentially doubled the numbers for NBC's original episode of Kings, beating the NBC high-profile freshman drama by 3.4 million viewers (7.0 million vs. 3.6 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.1/3).

Source: Nielsen Media Research (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 3/30/09, unless stated otherwise.

Weekly Nielsen Ratings
CBS Spins Last Week's Ratings '
04.07.2009

SPECIALS, SPORTS AND SERIES LEAD CBS TO ITS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WIN IN VIEWERS AND 22ND IN 28 WEEKS THIS SEASON
CBS streaked to its fifth consecutive weekly win in viewers and 22nd of 28 this season led by two high rated specials (The 44TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and I GET THAT A LOT), sports (NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL FOUR) and regular series (NCIS, THE MENTALIST), according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending April 5, week 28 of the 2008-2009 television season.

The 44TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS delivered its largest audience in 10 years and highest adult 18-49 rating since 2005. The April Fool's Day special I GET THAT A LOT earned CBS's Wednesday 8:00 PM time period's highest ratings in all measures since December while NCIS and THE MENTALIST were the top two scripted programs for the third consecutive week.

CBS also placed first for the week in adults 25-54 and continues as the only network to post year-to-year gains in viewers (+13%), adults 18-49 (+7%) and adults 25-54 (+8%).

For the week in viewers: CBS (12.45m), FOX (9.66m), ABC (7.17m) and NBC (6.88m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.86m), ahead of FOX (9.68m), ABC (8.95m) and NBC (8.09m).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was first in adults 25-54 (4.2/11) and second in adults 18-49 (3.4/10, -0.2 behind FOX). This was CBS's first weekly win in adults 25-54 since Week #17 (Jan. 12-Jan. 18). Season-to-date, CBS and FOX are tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.1/10, each) with FOX first and CBS second in adults 18-49 (3.6/10 for FOX, 3.2/08 for CBS).
For the week in households: CBS (7.6/13), FOX (5.7/09), ABC (4.6/08) and NBC (4.5/07). Season-to-date, CBS is first (7.4/12), ahead of both ABC and FOX (5.7/09, each) and NBC (4.9/08).

CBS's Weekly Highlights:

 THE BIG BANG THEORY (6.0/09, 9.74m) was up compared to the last first run episode (March 16) by +5% in households (from 5.7/09), +3% in adults 18-49 (3.8/11 from 3.7/09), +7% in adults 18-34 (2.9/09 from 2.7/09), even in adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and added +50,000 viewers (from 9.69m, +1%).

 TWO AND A HALF MEN was second in households (8.5/13), viewers (14.56m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (5.2/13, -0.2 behind ABC). Compared to the last first run episode (March 16, 2009), TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 5.9/13), +8% in adults 18-49 (from 4.8/12) and added +440,000 viewers (from 14.12m, +3%)

 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (6.6/10, 11.03m) was second in households (6.6/10), adults 25-54 (5.0/11) and adults 18-49 (4.1/10). Compared to last week, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was up +12% in households (from 5.9/09), +22% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09), +21% in adults 18-49 (from 3.4/08) and added +1.66m viewers (from 9.37m, +18%).

 NCIS was second in households (10.7/17), viewers (17.23m), adults 25-54 (4.9/12) and adults 18-49 (3.5/09).

 THE MENTALISTwas first in households (10.5/16), viewers (16.96m), second in adults 25-54 (5.4/12). THE MENTALIST topped "Dancing with the Stars Results Show" by +22% in households (vs. 8.6/13), +38% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.9/09), +23% in adults 18-49 (3.8/09 vs. 3.1/08) and by +3.45m viewers (vs. 13.51m, +25%).

I GET THAT A LOT(S) won its 8:00 PM time slot in households (6.3/10), viewers (10.35m), adults 25-54 (4.2/11), adults 18-49 (3.4/10) and adults 18-34 (2.3/08). This is CBS's best delivery in this time slot in viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 since December 3, 2008, ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer").

-- CBS was second Thursday in households (7.5/12), viewers (12.11m), adults 25-54 (4.3/10) and adults 18-49 (3.3/09), all behind NBC's "ER" finale programming.

 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINSwas first in viewers (11.27m), adults 25-54 (4.5/12), adults 18-49 (3.6/11) and second in households (6.5/11).

 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was second in households (9.1/14), viewers (14.63m), adults 25-54 (5.0/11) and adults 18-49 (3.8/10), all behind the "ER" series finale.

 FLASHPOINT was first in households (5.3/09), viewers (8.77m), adults 25-54 (2.5/07) and adults 18-49 (1.8/06). FLASHPOINT finished first in its time period in households, viewers and adults 25-54 for 11th consecutive broadcast and first in adults 18-49 for the 8th time in 11 weeks.

-- Saturday, CBS coverage of the NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL FOUR won the night in households (8.8/16), viewers (14.80m), adults 25-54 (5.6/17), adults 18-49 (5.0/17), adults 18-34 (4.2/17), men 25-54 (7.2/21), men 18-49 (6.4/22) and men 18-34 (5.2/21). CBS won every half-hour in households, viewers, key men and adult demos.

-- Sunday, CBS was first in households (8.6/14), viewers (14.17m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.3/09). CBS won six consecutive Sundays in viewers, three in a row in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

 60 MINUTES was first in households (7.9/14), viewers (12.27m), adults 25-54 (2.7/08) and second in adults 18-49 (1.8/06).

 THE 44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (S) was first in households (8.8/14), viewers (14.78m), adults 25-54 (4.9/12) and adults 18-49 (3.8/10) - winning every half-hour in these measures. Compared to the event last year (May 18, 2008), CBS was up +21% in households (from 7.3/12), +32% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09), +31% in adults 18-49 (from 2.9/08), +24% in adults 18-34 (2.6/08 from 2.1/06) and added +3.04m viewers (from 11.74m, +26%). This is THE ACADEMY OFCOUNTRY MUSIC's best delivery in households since May 9, 2001, in viewers since May 5, 1999, in adults 25-54 since May 22, 2002 and in both adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 since May 17, 2005.

CBS top programs of the week: #4 NCIS (an average of 17.23m), #5 THE MENTALIST (16.96m), #7 THE 44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (S) (14.78m), #8 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (14.63m), #9 TWO AND A HALF MEN (14.56m), #10 CBS NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY - 2 "Villanova vs. UNC" (S) (14.45m), #12 CSI; MIAMI (13.46m), #13 CBS NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BRIDGE SHOW (S) (12.95m), #14 WITHOUT A TRACE (12.53m), #16 60 MINUTES (12.27m), #17 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (11.27m), #19 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (11.03m), #21 ELEVENTH HOUR (10.37m), #22 I GET THAT A LOT (S) (10.35m), #23 CSI: NY (R) (10.06m), #24 CRIMINAL MINDS (R) (10.03m), #25 THE BIG BANG THEORY (9.74m) and #29 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (9.20m).


Source: Nielsen Media Research (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 3/30/09, unless stated otherwise.

Weekly Nielsen Ratings
NBC Spins Last Week’s Ratings
'ER' FINALE LEADS NBC'S PRIMETIME WEEK OF MARCH 30-APRIL 5
Published: April 7, 2009

'ER' FINAL EPISODE IS THE #1 SCRIPTED PROGRAM OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS

ON THURSDAY, 'ER' TAKES ITS FINAL BOW WITH THE BIGGEST VIEWERSHIP FOR ANY DRAMA SERIES FINALE IN 13 YEARS

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' GAINS A HEFTY 48 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 33 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH, TO RANK #1 IN ITS FINAL HALF-HOUR IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

'LOSER' IS UP 17 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 18 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS ITS YEAR-AGO CYCLE, AND IS THE BIGGEST 'LOSER' CYCLE IN TOTAL VIEWERS SINCE THE FIRST 'BIGGEST LOSER' IN 2004-05

TUESDAY'S 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' WINS ITS HOUR IN KEY DEMOS, LOCKING UP A 21 PERCENT MARGIN OF VICTORY IN 18-49 AND A 72 PERCENT LEAD IN 18-34 VERSUS ITS CLOSEST COMPETITORS

ON WEDNESDAY, 'LIFE' TRACKS DOWN ITS BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP IN TWO MONTHS, UP 29 PERCENT VERSUS THE PRIOR WEEK, DESPITE TOUGH COMPETITION FROM 'IDOL' AND 'LOST'

ON MONDAY, 'HEROES' AND 'MEDIUM' POST WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS IN ADULTS 18-49

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – April 7, 2009 – Paced by the final episode of "ER," which after 15 seasons took its final bow as the #1 scripted series of the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 2.4 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall for the week of March 30-April 5, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The two-hour series finale of "ER" on Thursday was the #1 scripted television program of the week in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, ranking #3 among all primetime programs behind only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol." "ER" also achieved this distinction – ranking #1 among scripted programs for the week and #3 overall – in all key adult-female demographics: women 18-34, women 18-49 and women 25-54. In total viewers, "ER" ranked #6 among all primetime programs this week.

With a 6.0 rating, 16 share in adults 18-49 and an average 16.4 million viewers for its final two-hour telecast on Thursday, "ER" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for a drama series finale on the broadcast networks in nearly seven years (since "The X-Files") and the biggest overall audience for any drama series finale in 13 years ("Murder, She Wrote").

Primetime averages for the week of March 30-April 5 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.6/10), CBS (3.4/10), NBC (2.4/7), ABC (2.1/6), Univision (1.7/5), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.6/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.5 million), Fox (9.7 million), ABC (7.2 million), NBC (6.9 million), Univision (4.2 million), CW (2.1 million) and Telemundo (1.3 million).

Through the first 28 weeks of the 2008-09 season, NBC is the only one of the major broadcast networks to decrease its median age versus the prior season. NBC is the "second youngest" of the major broadcast networks, with a median age of 47.2 years (versus 47.9 years at this point last season), 2.3 years "older" than Fox (44.9 years). By comparison, ABC's median age this season is 49.2 and CBS's median age is 53.8.

Season to date, NBC is running within 0.7 of a rating point of first place in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, versus a deficit of 1.3 points at this time last season.

NBC highlights for the week of March 30-April 5:

* On Sunday, "Celebrity Apprentice" delivered significant growth from its first half-hour to its fourth, gaining 43 percent in 18-49 and 34 percent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers on a night that included special competition from CBS's "Academy of Country Music Awards." The other major networks all declined in both categories between the 9-9:30 half-hour and the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour.

* "Celebrity Apprentice" this week was up 22 percent in adult 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period this season prior to the "Apprentice" debut.

* On Thursday, the series finale of "ER" scored the highest 18-49 rating for a drama series finale since "The X-Files" in 2002, and in total viewers, "ER" assembled the biggest overall audience for a drama finale since "Murder, She Wrote" in 1996.

* "ER" dominated its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key ratings categories. In adults 18-49, "ER" generated a 94 percent margin of victory over second place and in its concluding hour from 10-11 p.m., "ER" beat the ABC-CBS drama competition combined in all key ratings categories – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" surged 48 percent in 18-49 rating and 33 percent or more than 2.5 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth. With growth of 0.4 of an 18-49 rating point or more in each successive half-hour, "Loser" seized the lead in adults 18-49 in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour, beating Fox's debut of "The Osbournes: Reloaded," CBS's "The Mentalist" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" results show.

* "The Biggest Loser: Couples" is up 17 percent in adults 18-49 and 18 percent in total viewers versus its year-ago cycle. The current, seventh cycle of "The Biggest Loser" is the biggest "Loser" cycle in total viewers since "The Biggest Loser 1" in the 2004-05 season.

* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its slot in adults 18-49 and other key demos. In adults 18-49, the "SVU" margin of victory was 21 percent over CBS's "Without a Trace" and 48 percent over ABC's premiere of "Cupid." In adults 18-34, "SVU" topped "Cupid" by 72 percent and beat "Trace" by 106 percent. It is worth noting that an "SVU" original has not lost this hour to regular competition in adults 18-49 in more than four years

* On Wednesday, "Life" tracked down its biggest overall audience since February 4, posting a week-to-week gain of 29 percent or 1.3 million persons in total viewers. "Life" built on its lead-in by 25 percent in 18-49 rating and 13 percent in total viewers, despite facing intense competition in the hour from Fox's "American Idol" and ABC's "Lost," among other programs.

* On Monday, "Heroes" and "Medium" exhibited week-to-week gains, with "Heroes" growing 7 percent and "Medium" gaining 14 percent in the key demographic of adults 18-49 versus their prior week's results.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of March 30-April 5:

On Monday, March 30 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Chuck" averaged a 2.1 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "Chuck" increased by 10 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.2 from a 2.0).

Monday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (3.1/7 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) increased week-to-week by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (3.1 vs. 2.9). "Heroes" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 48 percent in adults 18-49 and by 81 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 2.9/7 from a 1.6/5). It is worth noting that "Heroes" ratings have increased by an average 23 percent in adults 18-49 when going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" measures through the season's first five months, one of the biggest increases for any major-network primetime series. In total viewers, "Heroes" has been adding an average 21 percent or 1.7 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" numbers when "live plus seven day" viewing is counted.

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Medium" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) increased versus the prior week by 14 percent in adults 18-49 (2.5 vs. 2.2) and by 10 percent in total viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.6 million), to rank #2 in the hour in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key demos. "Medium" summoned its biggest overall audience since February 23 and matched its highest 18-49 rating since that same date.

On Tuesday, March 31 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) increased 9 percent in 18-49 (3.5 vs. 3.2) and 10 percent in total viewers (8.8 million vs. 8.0 million) versus its most recent telecast in this time period on March 17 ("Biggest Loser" on March 24 aired from 9-11 p.m., ET).

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" gained 48 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.3/11 from a 2.9/8) and 33 percent or more than 2.5 million persons in total viewers (to 10.3 million from 7.7 million). With growth of 0.4 of an 18-49 rating point or more in each successive half-hour, "Biggest Loser: Couples" seized the lead in adults 18-49 in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour, beating Fox's debut of "The Osbournes: Reloaded," CBS's "The Mentalist" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" results show. For the full 9-10 p.m. hour, "Loser" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and other key demos, ahead of "The Mentalist" and "Dancing," behind only "Idol"-fueled Fox.

"The Biggest Loser: Couples" is up versus its year-ago cycle by 17 percent in 18-49 (4.1 vs. 3.5, "most current") and 18 percent in total viewers (10.2 million vs. 8.6 million), while the Tuesday edition of "Idol" is down 14 percent in 18-49 (10.2 vs. 11.8, "most current") and down 10 percent in total viewers (26.8 million vs. 30.0 million).

The current, seventh cycle of "The Biggest Loser" is the biggest "Loser" cycle in total viewers (10.2 million) since "The Biggest Loser 1" in the 2004-05 season. Among adults 18-49, the current cycle (averaging a 4.1/10) is currently tied with "Biggest Loser 2" as the highest-rated cycle since "The Biggest Loser 1."

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.4/9 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults, men and women 18-49 and other key demos. In adults 18-49, the "SVU" margin of victory was 21 percent over CBS's "Without a Trace" (3.4 vs. a 2.8) and 48 percent over ABC's premiere of "Cupid" (3.4 vs. 2.3). In adults 18-34, "SVU" topped "Cupid" by 72 percent (3.1 vs. 1.8) and beat "Trace" by 106 percent (3.1 vs. 1.5). It is worth noting that an "SVU" original has not lost this hour to regular competition in adults 18-49 in more than four years.

NBC ranked #2 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and other key demos, behind only "Idol"-boosted Fox.

On Wednesday, April 1 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a1.2/4 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall.

Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Life" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) tracked down its biggest overall audience since February 4, posting a week-to-week gain of 29 percent or 1.3 million persons in total viewers (5.7 million vs. 4.4 million). "Life" built on its lead-in by 25 percent in 18-49 rating and 13 percent in total viewers, despite intense competition in the hour from Fox's "American Idol" and ABC's "Lost," among other programs.

It is worth noting that "Life" has added an average 23 percent in adults 18-49 over the season's first five months when going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" results, one of the biggest increases for any show on the major networks.

Wednesday at 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) locked up its biggest overall audience for a rebroadcast in a year (since April 2, 2008) and matched its highest 18-49 rating for a rebroadcast since April 16, 2008. From its first half-hour to its second, "Law & Order" increased by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.6) and 6 percent in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 6.1 million), while the ABC-CBS drama competition declined half-hour to half-hour in both categories.

On Thursday, April 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the special "ER Retrospective" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's top non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period since January 3, 2008 and biggest non-sports total viewership in the slot since March 27, 2008. The retrospective finished within 0.1 of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 in adults 18-34, women 18-34, women 18-49 and women 25-54.

Thursday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the series finale of "ER" (6.0/16 in adults 18-49, 16.4 million viewers overall) scored the highest 18-49 rating for a drama series finale since "The X-Files" wrapped with a 6.3 on May 19, 2002. In total viewers, "ER," with an average 16.4 million viewers, assembled the biggest overall audience for a drama finale since "Murder, She Wrote" concluded with 16.5 million on May 19, 1996.

"ER" sewed up NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in this time period with entertainment programming since May 18, 2006, the night of the "Will & Grace" finale. This marked the highest-rated episode of "ER" among adults 18-49 since October 12, 2006 and in total viewers since May 18, 2006. Versus "ER's" season-to-date average for original episodes, the finale was up 88 percent in adults 18-49 (6.0 vs. 3.2, "live plus same day") and 90 percent in total viewers (16.4 million vs. 8.6 million, "live plus same day').

"ER" took charge of the two-hour time period, dominating in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key ratings categories. In adults 18-49, "ER" generated a 94 percent margin of victory (6.0 vs. 3.1 for CBS's dramas in second place). In the 10-11 p.m. hour, "ER" beat the ABC-CBS drama competition combined in all key ratings categories – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC's 5.2 average in adults 18-49 and 14.5 million viewers overall on Thursday from 8-11 p.m. marks the network's best Thursday primetime performance in both measures, excluding sports, since May 18, 2006 (the night of the "Will & Grace" finale).

On Friday, April 3 from 8-8:29 p.m. ET, "Howie Do It" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall. From 8:29-9 p.m., a second episode of "Howie Do It" delivered a 1.0/4 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall.

Friday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 3.6 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 20 percent in women 18-49 (to a 1.2 from a 1.0), 25 percent in adults 25-54 (1.5 vs. 1.2) and 42 percent in women 25-54 (1.7 vs. 1.2). It is worth noting that so far this season, "Friday Night Lights'" 18-49 rating has been increasing by an average of 22 percent when going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" results. The current third season of "Friday Night Lights" has previously run on DirecTV.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) built on it is lead-in from the previous hour by 36 percent in 18-49 and 41 percent or 1.4 million persons in total viewers

On Saturday, April 4 from 8-10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the series finale of "ER" averaged a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "ER" increased by 80 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 0.9/3 from a 0.5/2) and by 39 percent in total viewers (to 3.0 million from 2.2 million).

Saturday from 10-11 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) was the top non-sports program on the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. From its first half-hour to its second, "Law & Order" grew by 33 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.2/4 from a 0.9/3), by 23 percent in adults 25-54 (1.6 vs. 1.3) and by 20 percent in total viewers (5.1 million vs. 4.3 million).

On Sunday, April 5 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to it second by 36 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.5/5 from a 1.1/4) and by 27 percent or 1.2 million persons in total viewers (to 5.5 million from 4.3 million).

Sunday from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Kings" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall.

Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) delivered significant growth from its first half-hour to its fourth, up 43 percent in 18-49 (to a 3.3/9 from a 2.3/6) and 34 percent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (to 8.2 million from 6.1 million) on a night that included special competition from CBS's "Academy of Country Music Awards." The other major networks all declined in both categories between the 9-9:30 half-hour and the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour.

This steady growth propelled "Celebrity Apprentice" to a #2 ranking for its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET in nearly all key categories and a #1 finish among the broadcast networks in the 10 p.m. hour among men 18-34.

"Celebrity Apprentice" was up 22 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period this season prior to "Apprentice's" debut (2.8 vs. 2.3, "live plus same day").

Source: Nielsen Media Research (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 3/30/09, unless stated otherwise.

I thought you all might want to see how the networks look at their ratings -- or at least how they want the media to see them.

So, I posted the previous news releases. There are similar ones posted each week.

Weekly Nielsen Ratings
'ER' makes a healthy exit, 'Cupid' bests 'Mars' '
By Gary Levin, USA TODAY

The Academy of Country Music Awards and March Madness gave CBS a boost last week.

•Country mile. CBS' Academy of Country Music Awards, an also-ran moved from mid-May, drew 14.8 million viewers Sunday, its biggest audience since 1998 and just 1 million shy of last year's more prestigious Country Music Awards.

•Final four. The second of two NCAA matches, with eventual champion North Carolina, averaged 14.5 million viewers Saturday, matching last year's game, which also featured the Tar Heels.

•Stat. NBC's series finale for ER, after 15 seasons, averaged 16.4 million viewers Thursday, the show's best number in nearly three years. It also marked TV's biggest drama finale since Murder, She Wrote in 1996. A retrospective claimed 10.6 million.

•Lovelorn. The premiere of ABC's Cupid (2009 edition) drew a modest 7.2 million viewers Tuesday, a bigger turnout than Wednesday's series finale for Life on Mars (5.6 million).

•You got it. CBS' celebrity-prank special, I Get That a Lot, drew a time slot-winning 10.4 million Wednesday.

•'Bournes again. Fox's Osbournes: Reloaded, the first of several variety specials, claimed 8.4 million for Tuesday's 35-minute opener, about a third of its American Idol lead-in.

•Zip code.CW's 90210 returned to a series-low 2 million Tuesday after a seven-week break.

•Cable openers. HBO's In Treatment (657,000 Sunday, up from last season); Showtime's The Tudors (726,000, down slightly); TBS' My Boys (1.3 million Tuesday, down); ABC Family's Greek (991,000 Monday, way down); and Animal Planet's River Monsters (1.3 million Sunday, the network's biggest start).

•Cable closers. FX's Damages (1 million Wednesday, down from 1.7 million lastseason); MTV's The Real World: Brooklyn (1.7 million Wednesday); Showtime's United States of Tara (413,000 Sunday).

http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...analysis_N.htm

Rest up, dad.

Two weeks from right now I will probably be somewhere in Mississippi or Alabama with a cranky Newfoundland in the back seat.

Critic’s Notes
Arresting or not?
Checking out new cop shows 'Southland' and 'The Unusuals'
By Maureen Ryan, Chicago Tribune TV critic, in her blog “The Watcher”

The merger wouldn't quite work, I suspect, but if you combined the best parts of "Southland" (9 p.m. Central Thursday, NBC; three stars) and "The Unusuals" (9 p.m. Central Wednesday, ABC ; two and a half stars), you might end up with a pretty great cop show.

Both shows follow in the footsteps of “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blue” in that they attempt to depict what it’s like to be an urban police officer. The randomness, the tragedies, the camaraderie, the sacrifices, the sardonic humor—they’re all part of the fabric of both ensemble dramas.

“Southland,” which comes from “ER” executive producers John Wells and Christopher Chulack, is the more serious and satisfying drama, though it could use a little more of the lightness of “The Unusuals.” I don't know if the folks who tuned in each week to see doctors heroically saving patients at County General Hospital will want to see beleaguered cops combating crime on the gritty streets of L.A. Bodies are often fixable; street crime and gang violence, not so much.

“The Unusuals,” on the other hand, tries a little too hard to be quirky. “Hill Street Blues” had its share of offbeat moments, but it strived to get the atmosphere of the station house and the details of police work right. “The Unusuals” doesn’t have the balance between the comedy and the serious stuff right yet, but Terry Kinney lends a welcome acerbic note as the station’s seen-it-all leader, Sgt. Harvey Brown.

The best thing about “The Unusuals” is the partnership between Detectives Eric Delahoy (Adam Goldberg) and Leo Banks (Harold Perrineau). These two actors have great chemistry, and their interrogation of a suspected cat killer is weird and amusing, even if it recalls moments seen on many other cop shows in the past. (It's worth noting that the twitchy Goldberg has an impressive mustache, though it can't quite compete with the championship 'stache Michael Imperioli sported on the canceled "Life on Mars.")

Amber Tamblyn is appealing as Detective Casey Schraeger, but she is stuck in a more conventional story line about cops who are hiding secrets. Other characters fail to make much of an impression on first viewing, aside from the arrogant, headstrong Eddie Alvaraz (Kai Lennox), who is a walking cop-show cliche but who also allows the writers to provide an occasionally amusing meta-commentary on cop-show cliches.

It may have strayed into forced cuteness a few more times than it should have, but I wanted to like "The Unusuals" until it took one character in a direction that smacked of magic realism. That development hadn't really been earned, and it made me wonder if the show's mix of chipper comedy, surreal events and typical cop-show shenanigans could ever quite gel.

Like Shraeger in “The Unusuals,” Ben Sherman, Ben McKenzie’s character on “Southland,” is hiding a secret about his past. And though it has a much darker look and tone, the NBC show also boasts its share of cop cliches.

“It’s like driving through the sewer in a glass-bottomed boat,” veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) growls to Sherman, who is learning the ropes from the older cop.

“Southland” is a little reminiscent of “The Shield”; in this NBC drama, dogs are constantly barking, crimes make little sense and bystanders are too afraid to act as witnesses. Quietly holding the whole thing together is McKenzie (“The O.C.”), who gives Sherman an appealing vulnerability and an inward-looking intensity. Also excellent is Regina King as a dedicated detective.

There are intriguing indications that the earnest and engaging "Southland" wants to be more than just another cop show, which is to its credit. But the real question is, what will -- what can -- NBC do with this program? In a few short months, Jay Leno is taking over a third of the network's real estate. It's hard to imagine "Southland" having much of a future unless it is a breakout hit, something NBC has had precious few of in recent years


http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/

Critic’s Notes
'Southland,' 'The Unusuals' don't make their case
By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

If you've been looking for a good old-fashioned TV cop show, keep looking.

Sure, cops abound on television, but they're confined to mystery procedurals, and those who rank below the level of detective are mostly stuck playing secure-the-scene extras. As CSI and its ilk have risen in the ratings, shows like Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue, the classic standard-bearers for day-to-day life-in-the-squad police dramas, have fallen out of favor.

Odds are neither The Unusuals nor Southland will reverse that trend.

Though they share a genre, these two new shows offer very different takes on it. The Unusuals focuses on New York detectives, Southland on Los Angeles police officers. The Unusuals is light, Southland is dark. And where The Unusuals is ultimately unsuccessful in its attempts to entertain, Southland is unbearable — a pretentious, foul-mouthed, overly arty chore that will leave you with a headache should you linger too long.

Created by Bones' Noah Hawley, The Unusuals garners some rooting interest simply for hosting the welcome TV return of Joan of Arcadia's Amber Tamblyn. Here she's a tart-tongued, newly elevated detective with a rich-girl past, a role she imbues with her usual charm and intelligence.

If only the show were equally smart and charming. Instead, she's the relatively sane member of a squad that leans too heavily on eccentricities: a ex-baseball player partner (Jeremy Renner) who puts pretzels in omelets; a detective (Lost's Harold Perrineau) with an unnatural fear of death; and another (Adam Goldberg) with an unnatural desire to die. And considering Goldberg gives his usual antsy performance, viewers may find themselves hoping he gets his wish.

Clearly the show is trying to contrast humor with murder, lightening the mood with cat kidnappers and plushie hot dogs. But like too many ABC shows, it pushes the quirkiness too hard. And it's saddled with one of those running conspiracy plots that seem to get plopped into every series these days in an ill-considered attempt to add depth and hook viewers; odds are they repel more than they attract.

If Unusuals overdoes the levity, it's still more appealing than the deadly serious, painfully dreary Southland. It's hard to say what's more annoying: the script, which sprinkles the dialogue with vulgarities bleeped and unbleeped; or the jumpy camerawork, which relies so heavily on super-tight close-ups that you figure the lens must have gotten stuck.

Southland is seen mostly through the eyes of Ben Sherman (The OC's Ben McKenzie), a rookie who rides with veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz). Ben is led through all the modern horrors of L.A., a dull throb that's alleviated only when the story passes to Regina King, an actress who can make even the worst material momentarily bearable.

Southland does make a few stabs at dark humor, proof that the producers have seen NYPD Blue even if they haven't absorbed its lessons in storytelling or character development. The only truly humorous moment, however, is unintentional: Cooper's laughably earnest speech about the job giving them "a front-row seat to the greatest show on Earth."

That's a show that would be worth stopping to see. As for these two — keep moving.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...terstitialskip

TV Notes
April 7th:
Renewal & Cancellation Prospects For Your Favorite Shows
By Bill Gorman, TVByTheNumbers.com, April 7, 2009

I’ve broken each network’s data for scripted shows out into its own separate post to keep the discussions more on topic, find them at the links below.

CLICK THESE LINKS TO SEE EACH NETWORK’S SCRIPTED SHOWS:

ABC: Castle’s Foundation Is Shaky, Motherhood,Cupid, Ted Are Goners

CBS: Will the Cancel Bell Toll For Eleventh Hour?

CW: Don’t Fear The Reaper’s Lack Of Producers?

Fox: Dollhouse Foreclosure Likely

NBC: NBC Bubble Show Fans Looking For a Scapegoat? Blame Jay!

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/04/07...te-shows/16234

TV Notes
Fox, Endemol USA Have 'Gotta Go'
By Josef Adalian, TVWeek.com, April 7, 2009

Fox and Endemol USA are teaming up for “Someone’s Gotta Go,” a recession-era reality concept in which the employees, rather than the boss, determine who gets laid off.

Each episode of the series will focus on a single troubled small business in which management has already determined that an employee needs to be fired.

“They have to get rid of someone,”said Mike Darnell, president of alternative at Fox. “Instead of the boss making an arbitrary decision…the employees decide who goes.”

A real-life employment coach will serve as host of the show.

The project began with Endemol USA and its London office developing an idea about a toxic workplace. Mr. Darnell then was inspired by a cable news report about a woman who opened the financial records of her company so that her employees could see who made what.

That transparency will be part of “Someone’s Gotta Go,” since employees will get to see what their colleagues make. They’ll also have to justify their work habits to one another, with a group discussion among staffers leading to the decision about who gets dumped.

“This is about making a difficult decision through a democratic process,” said David Goldberg, chairman of Endemol North America. “It’s usually an autocratic decision where the boss determines who goes home. It’s almost empowering to let the employees make the call.”

Mr. Darnell said many employees are frustrated when they see hard-working employees fired, while less productive staffers linger on.

“It’s so arbitrary,” he said. “In the long run, it’s so empowering and so of the moment.”

Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Darnell are keeping some key details of “Someone’s Gotta Go” under wraps for now, but the executives said the show will mix elements of tension with some humor.

The project represents the first Endemol USA production for Fox since “The Next Great Champ.”

Production on “Someone’s Gotta Go” has already begun; the two companies declined to discuss how many episodes have been ordered or when the show will air.

However, industry insiders believe Fox will try to get the show on the air as soon as possible, perhaps as early as this summer.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/04/f...e_gotta_go.php

Critic’s Notes
The New Quartet
By Marc Berman, MediaWeek

If you are in the mood for something different, I have four new shows for you to check out this week: sitcoms Surviving Suburbia and Parks and Recreation, dramedy The Unusuals and murder mystery Harper’s Island, which is sure to strike a chord if you are a fan of Agatha Christie.

If Surviving Suburbia sounds familiar, this is the sitcom that was supposed to air on The CW Sundays last fall when Media Rights Capital was leasing out the night. But the MRC deal was cut abruptly short, Surviving Suburbia was sent packing and comedy-deprived ABC, looking for a cheap investment, snapped it up. So, what would have likely been another clinker on The CW now has a shot on ABC out of Dancing With the Stars at 9:30 p.m. on Monday. How lucky can you get?

Surviving Suburbia features perennial TV Dad Bob Saget and recent Men in Trees co-star Cynthia Stevenson as a couple with two teenage kids and a seemingly perfect life in suburbia after 20 years of marriage. But what looks normal is, of course, anything but. While that golden statuette called Emmy will probably not be in the offing for this sitcom, there is nothing wrong with some mindless laughs that we can all relate to.

Next up is ABC’s The Unusuals, an ensemble hour headlined by Amber Tamblyn, Adam Goldberg and Terry Kinney that focuses on frantic life at NYPD’s 2nd Precinct. It airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Described as M*A*S*H meets Hill Street Blues, ABC certainly struck gold with the similarly sounding NYPD Blue. And what could work to its advantage, the series takes a lighter approach to the traditionally grittier crime dramas. Still, recent occupant Life on Mars, which was also crime-themed, came and quickly went. The competition—CBS’ CSI: NY and NBC’s veteran Law & Order—are also well established crime-solving hits, and template Hill Street Blues was never exactly a ratings hit. While leading out of Lost brings an ample number of young adults 18-49 into the time period, ABC may have to exercise some patience if it wants The Unusuals to arrest viewers.

Moving to Thursday, we have NBC’s Amy Poehler vehicle Parks and Recreation, which airs at 8:30 p.m. out of fading My Name is Earl, and CBS mystery Harper’s Island, which replaces on-the-fence Eleventh Hour out of CSI at 10 p.m. Had NBC found a better-suited vehicle for the former Saturday Night Live star (how about a harried mother with a few rambunctious kids, a dumbbell husband, smart-mouthed housekeeper and wacky neighbor?), this might have a chance.

Poehler certainly possesses solid comedic chops. But casting her as an Indiana-based parks and recreation employee who attempts to take on the system to improve her own town sounds pretty limited. Who the heck named this show? Since Parks and Recreation is set in Indiana, I have an idea. How about sending over former One Day at a Time (classic ’70s sitcom was also based in Indiana) janitor Dwayne Schneider for a cameo? I bet Pat Harrington Jr. could use the gig.

Mirroring My Name is Earl, The Office and 30 Rock, all on NBC Thursday, there is no reason to believe Parks and Recreation will ever be a mass-appeal hit. Clever, maybe, but NBC just does not seem to realize that sometimes generic draws bigger crowds, if not better.

Last, and by no means least, is Harper’s Island, the tale of a group of friends and family who are murdered one by one while attending a wedding in a secluded island off the coast of Seattle. Although you might wonder how long this show can last, the goal from the get-go is just 13 episodes. If it works—and I am optimistic it will—there are plenty of other places where random murders can occur. I envision this as a midseason utility player.

For years, I have knocked CBS for relying too heavily on crime dramas. But I like the Ten-Little-Indians tension of Harper’s Island. It’s like a scripted reality/competition where you root for your favorite characters to survive and just the opposite for the ones you hate. Out of CSI, which is still alive and well despite the departure of William Petersen, I think Harper’s Island is the perfect fit. And I do believe it will dominate overall (in total viewers, at least) opposite ABC’s Private Practice and NBC’s unproven Southland. Thumbs up, CBS.


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TV Sports Notes
IRL numbers plummet on Versus
From sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com, April 8, 2009

If the numbers for Versus' first IRL telecast are any indication, it may be a long ten years for the open wheel racing league.

According to Autoracing1.com, the IRL's season opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg drew 233,000 viewers on Versus last Sunday, down 79% from 1.1 million viewers for last year's season opener on ESPN2.

Sunday's race was the first ever IRL telecast on Versus. Last year, the IRL and Versus agreed on a deal for the network to air races for the next ten years, replacing ESPN and ESPN2.

To put the 233,000 viewers in perspective, NHL telecasts on Versus averaged 311,000 viewers through January's All-Star break.

Record Low Ratings for NCAA Title Game

For the fourth time this decade, ratings for the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game hit an all-time record low.

North Carolina's victory over Michigan State drew a 10.8/17 final rating and 17.6 million viewers on CBS Monday, down 11% and 10% respectively from a 12.1/20 and 19.5 million for last year's game between Kansas and Memphis, and the lowest rating ever for the national title game.

The 10.8 rating is 2% lower than the previous record low -- an 11.0 for Connecticut/Georgia Tech in '04. While the rating is the lowest ever for the title game, the 17.6 million viewers is only the third-lowest, ahead of 17.1 million for Connecticut/Georgia Tech in '04 and 17.5 million for Florida/UCLA in '06.

Despite the record low, the 10.8 for North Carolina/Michigan surpassed the highest rated game of last year's NBA Finals (Game 6, 10.7 rating), the highest rated game of last year's World Series (Game 5, 9.6), February's Daytona 500 (9.2), last year's Kentucky Derby (8.9) and Belmont Stakes (9.0), the final round of last year's Masters (8.6), and college football's Fiesta (10.4), Orange (5.4) and Sugar (7.8) bowls.

Since drawing a 17.2 rating in '99, ratings for the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game have declined 37%. From '00 to '09, the national title game averaged a 13.0 rating -- down 34% from the 19.7 the game averaged from '90 to '99.

http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/