Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information - Page 1170

The 2009-2010 Season
NBC Upfront:
The Official Announcement
(NBCU News Release) Published: May 19, 2009

NBC ANNOUNCES 2009-2010 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE BOLSTERED BY MORE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING THAN EVER BEFORE

Shared Time Period Strategy Around NBC’s Broadcast of 2010 Winter Olympics Along with Jay Leno at 10 p.m. Enables Network to Broadcast Original Programming Year-Round

Network Renews Returning Series "Law & Order" and "Chuck”

NEW YORK -- May 19, 2009 – NBC announced today its 2009-2010 schedule featuring more original programming than ever before and a shared time-period strategy around NBC’s Olympics platform that, along with “The Jay Leno Show” (Mondays-Fridays 10-11 p.m. ET), allows the network to broadcast all-new content year-round.

In addition, NBC issued renewals to "Law & Order" and "Chuck” (see accompanying release) as part of its strong slate of new and returning shows announced recently at the network’s highly successful Infront.

“NBC has picked up more scripted shows than last season even with “The Jay Leno Show” at 10 p.m.,” said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. “We’re incredibly excited about our new and returning series and have more comedy programming than anyone else, as well as two of the most buzzed about new shows, 'Community’ and ‘Parenthood.’ We can’t wait for the fall.”

"We are extremely proud to introduce these strong new series to NBC's schedule next season in strategic timeslots that position them for success," said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "They join some of the highest quality returning shows on television, which will serve as a strong foundation to the new schedule. I think viewers are going to be happy to see this lineup of great new shows that will truly fit the NBC legacy of quality, culturally defining shows."

NBC’s shared time period strategy will kick off this fall on Mondays with the premiere of “Heroes” (8-9 p.m. ET) continuing with all originals before "Chuck” assumes the time period after the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, which will be a powerful launching platform with its broad, female appeal and strong ratings as the most-watched event of the year. Using "NBC Sunday Night Football's" potent promotional platform, the new high-octane drama "Trauma” will debut Mondays (9-10 p.m. ET) with the epic event series "Day One” taking over the time period following the Olympics.

NBC’s successful "The Biggest Loser” series continues Tuesdays (8-10 p.m.) and will help launch the new Wednesday lineup this fall, with the new family drama “Parenthood” debuting (8-9 p.m. ET) and the new hospital drama "Mercy" assuming the time period post-Olympics. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” will air 9-10 p.m. ET following “Parenthood.”

NBC’s Thursday marquee comedy night will begin with the only live comedy between 8-10 p.m. on any network, “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday” (8-8:30 p.m. ET), followed by “Parks and Recreation” (8:30-9 p.m. ET), “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) and the new comedy “Community” (9:30-10 p.m. ET). After “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday” completes its multi-week run, “Community” will move to 8 p.m. and “30 Rock” will debut at 9:30 p.m., enabling NBC to feature more original comedy than ever before.

On Fridays in the fall, the enduring drama "Law & Order" will return for its record 20th season (tying “Gunsmoke” as the longest running drama series in primetime) and will lead off at 8-9 p.m. (ET) while "Southland” follows at 9-10 p.m. (ET), building a great crime block.

Saturdays will be a showcase for "Dateline NBC” (8-9 p.m. ET) and encore episodes of "Trauma” (9-10 p.m. ET) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10-11 p.m. ET).

"Football Night in America" (7-8:20 p.m. ET) and "NBC Sunday Night Football" (8:20-11 p.m. ET) – the number one show of the fall -- will return on Sundays in the fall with a fan-pleasing schedule of games to round out the fall season.

Utilizing the compatible demographics provided by the Olympics, NBC will launch the premieres of "The Marriage Ref" from executive producers Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen Rakieten (“Oprah”) on Sundays (8-9 p.m. ET) and the third season premiere of "The Celebrity Apprentice” on Sundays with two-hour editions (9-11 p.m. ET). In addition, the new comedy “100 Questions” will debut on Tuesdays (9:30-10 p.m. ET) following a 90-minute edition of "The Biggest Loser” (8-9:30 p.m. ET).

And coming in the summer, NBC will telecast all original episodes of “The Jay Leno Show,” "Friday Night Lights,” "America's Got Talent,” “Breakthrough with Tony Robbins,” "Dateline NBC,” with additional programs to be announced later.

To catch up on season finales, watch new "Heroes” and "The Office” web series, and more, please log onto NBC.com.

NBC FALL 2009 SCHEDULE
*New programs in UPPER CASE

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. – "Heroes”
9-10 p.m. - "TRAUMA”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. – "The Biggest Loser” (two-hour edition)
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – "PARENTHOOD”
9-10 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY” (multi-episode run)
8:30-9 p.m. – "Parks and Recreation”
9- 9:30 p.m. – "The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – "COMMUNITY” (moves to Thursdays 8-8:30 p.m. after multi-episode run “30 Rock” returns)
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – "Law & Order”
9-10 p.m. – "Southland"
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. – "Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – "TRAUMA” (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America"
8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"

NBC MID-SEASON 2010 SCHEDULE
(2010 WINTER OLYMPICS preempt regularly scheduled programming from February 12-28, 2010)

*New programs in UPPER CASE

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. – "Chuck” (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. - "DAY ONE”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

TUESDAY
8-9:30 p.m. – "The Biggest Loser” (90-minute edition)
9:30-10 p.m. – "100 QUESTIONS”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – "MERCY"
9-10 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. – "COMMUNITY”
8:30-9 p.m. – "Parks and Recreation”
9- 9:30 p.m. – "The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – "30 Rock”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – "Law & Order”
9-10 p.m. – "Southland"
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. – "Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – "Southland” (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. – "Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. – THE MARRIAGE REF
9-11 p.m. – "The Celebrity Apprentice” (season premiere; two-hour edition)

I'd have to disagree. He didn't get kicked off the Tonight Show. NBC made a deal five years ago to give O'Brien the show.

It felt then that Leno would be fading.

But far from it, he has continued to increase his lead, in total viewers and the 18-49 demo, especially in the last two years.

And considering that NBC's prime time schedule has been tanking, and the CBS schedule has been the only major network to show growth, that is remarkable.

As to Leno failing, it may well happen. But what seems clear from the current Zucker-Silverman regime is that should Leno fail, he will be replaced by shows you likely will enjoy even less.

The 2009-2010 Season
NBC Upfront:
A Schedule Built With Jay in Mind
By Bill Carter, The New York Times, in the “TV Decoder” blog, May 19, 2009

Looking for a prime-time comeback, NBC announced a schedule Tuesday that builds nights around the regular presence of Jay Leno at 10 p.m. each weeknight.

NBC will add shows in two separate periods of the season, in the fall and then in the winter following its coverage of the Winter Olympics from Vancouver. In a small surprise, NBC will bring back its longest-running drama “Law & Order,” for a 20th season, placing it on the fall schedule on Friday nights at 8.

The strategy, said Ben Silverman, the co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, is to use NBC’s highly viewed package of NFL games on Sunday nights to promote more male-oriented shows in the fall, and the Olympics in February to promote the introduction of more female oriented new shows in the winter.

No show will be more important than “The Jay Leno Show.” NBC, which still has not announced a start date for Mr. Leno, will move several 10 p.m. shows up to 9 p.m. to make room for the show. Mr. Silverman said the network has also tried to give Mr. Leno the best lead-in audiences it can.

So NBC’s strongest holdover drama, “Law & Order: SVU,” will move to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. The network will add a new family drama with a big name cast, “Parenthood,” at 8.

And NBC will try to make a go on Fridays at 9 by slotting its new critically praised police drama “Southland” there. “Fridays are a tough night but we hope we can be more patient with it there,” Mr. Silverman said.

NBC is also keeping intact its two-hour version of its reality hit, “The Biggest Loser” on Tuesday; the network had considered dividing it into two one-hour editions at 8 on Tuesday and Wednesday. But NBC hopes to keep up the show’s momentum on Tuesday, and bring more viewers to Mr. Leno at 10.

A new medical drama, “Trauma,” will be the 9 p.m. show Mondays; NBC will try to build interest in its action elements with promotion in football the night before. “Heroes” moves to 8 where it will run without repeats until the Olympics. After that, the comedy-drama “Chuck” will return to the 8 p.m. spot.

NBC’s best new hope for comedy, “Community,” will get the network’s best location on Thursdays at 9:30, behind the comedy hit “The Office,” at the start of the season. Mr. Silverman said because of movie commitments for its stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, NBC needs to delay the start of a new season of “30 Rock” for about a month. “Community” will get that position. Special live editions of “Weekend Update” from “Saturday Night Live” will run at 8 for those weeks before “Community” is moved to that slot.

Mr. Silverman said “Update” will return for 3-4 week runs at several times during the season.

Other new NBC series like the comedy “100 Questions,” the reality show “The Marriage Ref,” and the medical drama “Mercy” will be introduced after the Olympics.

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2...h-jay-in-mind/

The 2009-2010 Season
Bubble shows learn their fate
'My Name is Earl,' 'Medium' canceled
By Michael Schneider, Variety, May 19, 2009

Most of TV’s remaining bubble shows finally learned their fate on Tuesday - and the news was mostly brutal.


Shows handed pink slips included NBC’s “My Name Is Earl” and CBS’ “The Unit.”



Both come from 20th Century Fox TV. Peacock also cut “Medium,” which hails from CBS TV Studios.


“The Unit” is believed to be officially over, but there may still be some life in both “Earl” and “Medium.”


20th Century Fox TV is set to talk post-upfronts to both sister Fox and also ABC about potentially taking over “Earl.” Their interest in the show is unclear at the moment.


As for “Medium,” show could very well wind up at CBS, given that its sister studio produces it. Some believe that “Medium” could make a good fit with “Ghost Whisperer” on Friday nights.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?lay...&categoryid=14

Overnight Nielsen Notes in the 18-49 Demo
CBS captures final Monday of sweeps
Averages a 3.9 in 18-49s, 0.5 ahead of ABC
By Toni Fitzgerald, MediaLifeMagazine.com staff writer, May 19, 2009

CBS made it two weeks in a row, winning Monday night for the second consecutive week on the final Monday of May sweeps.

CBS averaged a 3.9 adults 18-49 rating for the night, according to Nielsen overnights, bettering No. 2 ABC at 3.4/9 by half a point.

ABC and Fox had traded the Monday light lead with CBS since January. But with “House” airing its season finale last week, Fox fell back to third place at 3.0/8.

CBS got a lift from “Two and a Half Men,” the night’s top-rated show with a 5.2 rating. It also had the No. 2 show, “Rules of Engagement,” which averaged a 4.4 behind “Men” at 9:30, a good showing for a program still looking for a fourth-season renewal.

The premiere of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” performed decently, though losing more than a third of its “Dancing with the Stars” lead-in. The two-hour “Bachelorette” averaged a 3.0 at 9 p.m., second in the timeslot.

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-one percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

For the night, Univision placed fourth at 1.6/4, NBC fifth at 1.5/4 and CW sixth at 1.2/3.

ABC began the night in the lead with a 4.2 at 8 p.m. for “Dancing with the Stars,” with CBS second with a 3.1 for “Rules” (2.6) and “How I Met Your Mother” (3.7). Fox was third with a 2.9 for the first half of “24,” Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Cuidado con el Angel,” NBC fifth with a 1.2 for “Deal or No Deal” and CW sixth with a 1.1 for “Gossip Girl.”

At 9 p.m. CBS took the lead with a 4.8 average for “Two and a Half Men” (5.2) and another episode of “Rules” (4.4), while Fox moved to second with a 3.2 for more “24.” ABC was third with a 3.1 for the first hour of “Bachelorette,” Univision fourth with a 1.8 for “Mañana Es para Siempre,” NBC fifth with a 1.5 for more “Deal” and CW sixth with a 1.3 for “One Tree Hill.”

CBS was first again at 10 p.m. with a 3.8 for “CSI: Miami,” followed by ABC with a 2.9 for another hour of “Bachelorette.” NBC was third with a 1.9 for “Medium” and Univision fourth with a 1.6 for “Cristina.”

ABC was first for the night among households with an 8.0 average overnight rating and a 13 share. CBS was second at 7.6/12, Fox third at 5.6/9, NBC fourth at 3.5/6, Univision fifth at 2.3/4 and CW sixth at 1.7/3.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art..._of_sweeps.asp

I couldn't agree more.

When Zucker took over, NBC was firmly #1.

And now....

The 2009-2010 Season
NBC's fall schedule
By James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter senior reporter, in his LiveFeed blog, May 19, 2009

NBC presented its 2009-10 schedule Tuesday that includes a shared time-period strategy and "Southland" moved to Fridays.

With "The Jay Leno Show" occupying the 10 p.m. hour, all eyes were on how NBC would manage to reconfigure the rest of its lineup and new shows into a tighter schedule. The answer is having series share time periods through the course of the season, broken up with coverage of the Winter Olympics. The strategy will presumably allow for fewer repeats, though could cause ratings erosion if serialized shows get cut short or have a longer hiatus to make way for new content.

Mondays held the most dramatic change, with "Heroes" shifted from its longtime 9 p.m. spot, moved back to 8 p.m. to help support medical action-drama "Trauma." "Heroes" is also operating with a shortened order next season and doesn't have a spot on the midseason schedule. "Chuck" will replace "Heroes." in season and apocalyptic thriller "Day One" will take over for "Trauma."

On Tuesdays, NBC decided to keep "Biggest Loser" at two hours, which is the wise play.

Wednesdays, where the network has really struggled this season, NBC plans new dramedy "Parenthood" ("Mercy" in midseason) leading into "Law & Order: SVU."

Thursdays keeps "Parks & Recreation" at 8:30 and "The Office" at nine, but other two comedy block slots will see some shifting. The network will start the fall leading off with "Saturday Night Live" specials at 8 p.m. and new comedy "Community" at 9:30 p.m., then shift "30 Rock" into its usual 9:30 slot and "Community" to 8 p.m.

Fridays will see the 20th season of "Law & Order" followed by the return of "Southland," whose ratings started solid and have since declined on Thursday nights.

“NBC has picked up more scripted shows than last season even with “The Jay Leno Show” at 10 p.m.,” said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. “We’re incredibly excited about our new and returning series and have more comedy programming than anyone else, as well as two of the most buzzed about new shows, 'Community' and 'Parenthood.' We can’t wait for the fall.”

http://www.thrfeed.com/

Nielsen Notes
Syndication Ratings: Recently Renewed ‘Deal' Rises
Jumps 7% in slow week for biggest increase in first run
By David Tanklefsky, Broadcasting & Cable, 5/19/2009

NBCU's Deal Or No Deal, which was recently renewed for a second year, had the biggest increase of any show in first-run syndication in the week ending May 10. The show jumped up 7% from the week before to a 1.6. Deal's rise comes in the second full week of May sweeps. PUT levels were down and most shows dropped or stayed flat.

CTD's The Doctors continued to lead the rookie pack, though it was down 10% to 1.8. Warner Bros.' Bonnie Hunt and Sony's Judge Karen were both flat at 0.9 and 0.8 respectively. Debmar-Mercury's Trivial Pursuit slid 17% down to a 0.5. Program Partners' Family Court trailed at an unchanged 0.4.

All of the magazine shows were down for the week, after a few weeks of high ratings as a group. CTD's ET led the field with a 4.1, drooping 5% from the week before. CTD's Inside Edition sank 9% to 2.9. Warner Bros.' TMZ and NBCU's Access Hollywood each fell 5% to 2.0. CTD's The Insider was down 6% to 1.7. Warner Bros.' Extra slipped 6% to 1.6.

In talk, CBS Television Distribution's Oprah, the leader, dropped 4% to 5.2. CTD's Dr. Phil slipped 9% to 2.9. Disney/ABC's Live With Regis and Kelly was unchanged at 2.6. Warner Bros.' Ellen dipped 4% to 2.2. NBCU's Maury was the only talker to increase, with a 6% lift to 1.8. CTD's Rachael Ray (1.7), NBCU's Jerry Springer (1.1), NBCU's Steve Wilkos (1.1), Warner Bros.' Tyra (1.0), Twentieth's The Morning Show With Mike and Juliet (0.8) and NBCU's Martha Stewart (0.7) were all even from the week before.

None of the court shows were up. CTD's Judge Judy earned a 4.0, down 5%. CTD's Judge Joe Brown slipped 9% to 2.0. Warner Bros.' People's Court was flat at 1.8. Warner Bros.' Judge Mathis and Twentieth's Judge Alex each fell 7% to 1.4. Twentieth's Divorce Court was off 8% to 1.2. Twentieth's Christina's Court and Sony's Judge David Young were unchanged at 0.9 and 0.7 respectively.

Similar to the courts, game shows were all down or flat. CTD's Wheel of Fortune dropped 2% to 6.5. CTD's Jeopardy! lost 5% to 5.3. Disney/ABC's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire declined 4% to 2.3. Debmar-Mercury's Family Feud was flat at 1.4.

Among the off-net sitcoms Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men was unchanged at 4.6. Twentieth's Family Guy was up 3% to 3.8. Sony's Seinfeld was unchanged at 3.3. CTD's Everybody Loves Raymond was flat at 3.0. Warner Bros.' George Lopez rose 8% to 2.8. Twentieth's King of the Hill was down 7% to 2.5. Sony's King of Queens was unchanged at 2.4. Warner Bros.' Friends fell 4% to 2.2.

Elsewhere, the off-cable Storm Stories held steady at 1.4. Off-TBS sitcom House of Payne was down 5% to 2.1.

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

Last week’s complete network average prime-time results (with demographic and season-to-date averages) are now at the bottom of RATINGS NEWS -- the second post in this thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post10367386

Don't worry about Sepinwall, dad, he is a big boy.

Ausiello he is not.

Last week’s complete cable network average full day results are now near the bottom of RATINGS NEWS -- the second post in this thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post10367387