Seventeen years after Jonathan Brandmeier's syndicated TV show came - and went - quickly, he's taking another stab at the small screen.
NBC-owned WMAQ-TV is set to air two half-hour specials featuring Brandmeier on Dec. 6 at 1:05 a.m. (that's Saturday morning, not Saturday night) and the other airing a week later on Sunday night, after Sports Sunday. It is titled Almost Live... with Jonathan Brandmeier. WMAQ's current general manager (Larry Wert) was also Brandmeier's boss at WLUP-FM in the 1980's and the early 1990's.
If all goes well, more specials may be ordered.
Brandmeier's last TV gig (Johnny B. on the Loose, a T Dog's TV Hall of Shame inductee), a co-production of NBC and Viacom, debuted on June 24, 1991 in a temporary 6:30 p.m. prime-access time slot on WMAQ (the time slot would be overtaken in the fall by repeats of Married.. With Children.) Ratings for the critically-panned show started off strong, but by the end of its first week, they dropped by half.
Then two weeks later, Brandmeier's show got an jolt from the FCC. Not because of content, but because of the prime-time access rule, which at the time probhited ABC, CBS, and NBC affiliates from airing network programming - new or old - in the hour before prime-time. And this would effect Johnny B. because of NBC's involvement in the show .
As a result, WMAQ moved Johnny B. to 12:30 a.m., two months earlier than planned. The ruling by the FCC also affected CBS affiliate KMOV's airing of the show in St. Louis, since it also had it in prime-access. Then-independent KCOP-TV in Los Angeles also yanked it from its 7:30 p.m. slot. The three moves - along with already low national numbers, pretty much sealed its fate. Viacom ended Johnny B. for good four weeks later, becoming one of the shortest first-run syndicated series in television history.
Despite NBC producing the show, WMAQ was the only NBC O&O to ever air it.
Brandmeier's new effort is not expected to go into national syndication.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
CW, MRC part ways
It was a idea that was bad as the shows themselves... Independent studio Media Rights capital and The CW have agreed to part ways after the Sunday night lineup the company programmed tanked in the ratings.
The CW has took back the night and plans to program it with reruns of Everybody Hates Chris and The Game, off-network repeats of The Drew Carey Show, former CBS series Jericho, and a movie from MGM.
As for the MRC block, ratings for the shows were so atrocious they were often outdrawn by religious programming airing earlier in the day on some of these same stations - not to mention the MRC block's ratings were down from already-invisible numbers The CW itself put up last year. Some of the MRC shows went into reruns already during the November sweep periods as the studio canceled bombs Valentine and Easy Money.
In addition, the programs were not promoted until the last minute and were practically absent at the TV Critics Press Tour last July.
A form letter from CW's COO John Maatta was sent to every affiliate notifying about the changes, effective Nov. 30. While the letter details the changes occurring, it does not say whether or not The CW will air original programming on the night next year, fueling speculation The CW may give the affiliates Sunday nights back next season for them to program.
If that were to happen, a possible beneficiary could new syndicated action hour Legend of the Seeker, which premiered to strong ratings on Nov. 1. Seeker is already airing on the Tribune station group, where many of its stations (including WGN-TV here in Chicago) are CW affiliates.
The CW has took back the night and plans to program it with reruns of Everybody Hates Chris and The Game, off-network repeats of The Drew Carey Show, former CBS series Jericho, and a movie from MGM.
As for the MRC block, ratings for the shows were so atrocious they were often outdrawn by religious programming airing earlier in the day on some of these same stations - not to mention the MRC block's ratings were down from already-invisible numbers The CW itself put up last year. Some of the MRC shows went into reruns already during the November sweep periods as the studio canceled bombs Valentine and Easy Money.
In addition, the programs were not promoted until the last minute and were practically absent at the TV Critics Press Tour last July.
A form letter from CW's COO John Maatta was sent to every affiliate notifying about the changes, effective Nov. 30. While the letter details the changes occurring, it does not say whether or not The CW will air original programming on the night next year, fueling speculation The CW may give the affiliates Sunday nights back next season for them to program.
If that were to happen, a possible beneficiary could new syndicated action hour Legend of the Seeker, which premiered to strong ratings on Nov. 1. Seeker is already airing on the Tribune station group, where many of its stations (including WGN-TV here in Chicago) are CW affiliates.
"Criminal Minds", "Numb3rs" add up in syndication
CBS Television Distribution's has sold weekend runs of Criminal Minds and Numb3rs into syndication on station groups representing CBS, Gannett, Belo, Meredith, and Cox.
Here in Chicago, CBS-owned WBBM-TV will begin carrying the syndicated weekend runs of both crime drama series, beginning in September 2010. They replace the two current CSI shows in syndication: New York and Miami.
Minds was sold to A&E for $650,000 per episode and to ION for $175,000 per week, beginning next year. Both outlets have the exclusive Monday-Friday rights to air the show.
Criminal Minds has done very well for CBS against tough competition - particularly Lost - in the last few years, while Numb3rs (a weird spelling, I know) has always been a reliable performer for CBS on Friday night.
Criminal Minds features the ultimate rarity - a show produced jointly by two competing networks - Disney's ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television (Minds was co-produced by Touchstone Television before its name changed to ABC Studios in 2006.) CBS owns the home video rights in North America while Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment owns those same rights in Europe.
Another example of split-ownership of a series by two networks is Little House on the Prairie. Though NBC Universal owns the underlying rights to the 1974-83 series (including home video), the program's syndication rights are owned by CBS in the United States - a result of Viacom's purchase of Worldvision Enterprises in 1999, Little House's former distributor. Worldvision acquired the syndicated rights from NBC in the late 1970's, as the major networks weren't allowed to sell shows to syndication at the time because of fin-syn.
Worldvision was spun-off from ABC Films in 1973.
Here in Chicago, CBS-owned WBBM-TV will begin carrying the syndicated weekend runs of both crime drama series, beginning in September 2010. They replace the two current CSI shows in syndication: New York and Miami.
Minds was sold to A&E for $650,000 per episode and to ION for $175,000 per week, beginning next year. Both outlets have the exclusive Monday-Friday rights to air the show.
Criminal Minds has done very well for CBS against tough competition - particularly Lost - in the last few years, while Numb3rs (a weird spelling, I know) has always been a reliable performer for CBS on Friday night.
Criminal Minds features the ultimate rarity - a show produced jointly by two competing networks - Disney's ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television (Minds was co-produced by Touchstone Television before its name changed to ABC Studios in 2006.) CBS owns the home video rights in North America while Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment owns those same rights in Europe.
Another example of split-ownership of a series by two networks is Little House on the Prairie. Though NBC Universal owns the underlying rights to the 1974-83 series (including home video), the program's syndication rights are owned by CBS in the United States - a result of Viacom's purchase of Worldvision Enterprises in 1999, Little House's former distributor. Worldvision acquired the syndicated rights from NBC in the late 1970's, as the major networks weren't allowed to sell shows to syndication at the time because of fin-syn.
Worldvision was spun-off from ABC Films in 1973.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Syndication Update
Here's a look at some of the new syndicated programs and how they are faring thus far, based on info culled from Broadcasting & Cable and TV Week:
Legend of the Seeker. Disney-ABC's first syndicated scripted hour in a decade has made a strong impression in the ratings, with a 2.9 Nielsen household rating and 4.2 million viewers for its premiere on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 , up 53 percent from the last syndicated first-run hour premiere, She Spies in 2002.
The Bonnie Hunt Show. Hometown girl Bonnie Hunt is struggling with an 0.8 household rating, but here in Chicago on NBC-owned WMAQ-TV at 2 p.m., the talk show is showing ratings growth - nearly double from what Merv Griffin's Crosswords earned last year.
Deal or No Deal. While the network version of the game show hit has seen a downturn in the ratings, the newly-launched syndicated version is thriving - including hitting a high of 1.8 household for the week ending Nov. 9. and earning a Gross Average Audience of 2.1.
The Doctors. Another show growing in the ratings. The program hit an average overnight metered-market household rating of 2.1 on Monday. The CBS Television Distribution program is growing in New York, where WCBS-TV has already jumped to second place at 9 a.m. in households, only behind WABC-TV's Live With Regis & Kelly.
Judge Karen. The latest entrant in the courtroom race from Sony Pictures Television averaged a 1.4 GAA rating, thanks to strong performances from WCIU-TV here in Chicago and CBS affilaite WIAT-TV in Birmingham, which airs the program in early fringe.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne. This off-TBS sitcom from Debmar-Mercury is surpringly doing well, averaging a 2.1 national rating, thanks to strong performances in large markets such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and of course TBS.
Trouble Ahead. No, it' not the name of a new syndicated strip, but you can use the title for Program Partners' Family Court with Judge Penny and Debmar's game show Trivial Pursuit: America Plays. Both are under a one rating and not showing any growth, though Family Court has added a few more metered markets in recent weeks.
Legend of the Seeker. Disney-ABC's first syndicated scripted hour in a decade has made a strong impression in the ratings, with a 2.9 Nielsen household rating and 4.2 million viewers for its premiere on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 , up 53 percent from the last syndicated first-run hour premiere, She Spies in 2002.
The Bonnie Hunt Show. Hometown girl Bonnie Hunt is struggling with an 0.8 household rating, but here in Chicago on NBC-owned WMAQ-TV at 2 p.m., the talk show is showing ratings growth - nearly double from what Merv Griffin's Crosswords earned last year.
Deal or No Deal. While the network version of the game show hit has seen a downturn in the ratings, the newly-launched syndicated version is thriving - including hitting a high of 1.8 household for the week ending Nov. 9. and earning a Gross Average Audience of 2.1.
The Doctors. Another show growing in the ratings. The program hit an average overnight metered-market household rating of 2.1 on Monday. The CBS Television Distribution program is growing in New York, where WCBS-TV has already jumped to second place at 9 a.m. in households, only behind WABC-TV's Live With Regis & Kelly.
Judge Karen. The latest entrant in the courtroom race from Sony Pictures Television averaged a 1.4 GAA rating, thanks to strong performances from WCIU-TV here in Chicago and CBS affilaite WIAT-TV in Birmingham, which airs the program in early fringe.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne. This off-TBS sitcom from Debmar-Mercury is surpringly doing well, averaging a 2.1 national rating, thanks to strong performances in large markets such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and of course TBS.
Trouble Ahead. No, it' not the name of a new syndicated strip, but you can use the title for Program Partners' Family Court with Judge Penny and Debmar's game show Trivial Pursuit: America Plays. Both are under a one rating and not showing any growth, though Family Court has added a few more metered markets in recent weeks.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Fox dumps BCS; heads for ESPN
Chalk up another victory for The Worldwide Leader in B.S. And the coup involves an organization that put the B.S. in BCS.
After Fox Sports rejected to match an offer, the Bowl Championship Series - or BCS - is headed for ESPN beginning in 2011 in a four-year, $500 million deal.
The deal means the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the BCS Championship Game head for cable TV after decades on broadcast. The deal also raises the likelyhood the Rose Bowl will head to ESPN as well.
Despite the fact ESPN-produced games appear on sister network ABC, the BCS games won't appear on ABC.
The move is the latest of major sporting events moving to cable, due to shrinking ratings on broadcast and the fragmenting of the audience. Recently, the NBA and Major League Baseball have shifted the majority of their playoff games to cable, while the NHL makes only one playoff game available for broadcast per week to NBC.
Meanwhile, the British Open is also shifting to ESPN, from its longtime ABC home.
ESPN officials say they would not add a subcharge to cable distributors to carry the NCAA Bowl games. Recently, the FCC and Congress had been pushing for a la carte cable - as a result of high per-subscriber rates to carry major cable networks like ESPN - who charges cable operators the highest per-subscriber fee.
As for Fox, the BCS games looked out of place on Fox Sports' schedule, as the network never carried regular-season college football games, and it was hard to cross-promote the BCS with other sports.
Despite the criticism regarding ESPN (its commentators were the most vocal about having a playoff system), it seems college football fans are happy with the move, even if it means moving the games off broadcast TV.
The last time Fox passed on renewing a sports contract was in 1999, when it let the NHL package move to ABC after a five-year, unprofitable run.
Thought: This is more proof that if you are a sports fan, cable or satellite is a must. Want to know why more sporting events are moving to cable? 1. Dual revenue streams - from the cable network AND subscriber fees. 2. Major sporting events (outside of the NFL) don't get huge ratings anymore because its now all about the size of the team's fan base. It's ridiculous when the Boston Red Sox (market #7) has a larger fan base than the Philadelphia Phillies (market #4) - and it showed in this year's World Series, which were the lowest-rated ever. Networks would actually make more money airing regularly-scheduled programming (more Lipstick Jungle, anyone?), as sporting events attract male, older-skewing demos - something the major broadcast networks have mostly abandoned in prime-time. 3. Cable/satellite penetration is now nearly 90 percent in the U.S., rendering any cry about these events moving to cable moot.
So the BCS moves to cable. The World Series will likely be next, followed by the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup (which already has the first two games on Versus.) It's a hard, sobering fact of life broadcasters, advertisers, and the public must face.
After Fox Sports rejected to match an offer, the Bowl Championship Series - or BCS - is headed for ESPN beginning in 2011 in a four-year, $500 million deal.
The deal means the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the BCS Championship Game head for cable TV after decades on broadcast. The deal also raises the likelyhood the Rose Bowl will head to ESPN as well.
Despite the fact ESPN-produced games appear on sister network ABC, the BCS games won't appear on ABC.
The move is the latest of major sporting events moving to cable, due to shrinking ratings on broadcast and the fragmenting of the audience. Recently, the NBA and Major League Baseball have shifted the majority of their playoff games to cable, while the NHL makes only one playoff game available for broadcast per week to NBC.
Meanwhile, the British Open is also shifting to ESPN, from its longtime ABC home.
ESPN officials say they would not add a subcharge to cable distributors to carry the NCAA Bowl games. Recently, the FCC and Congress had been pushing for a la carte cable - as a result of high per-subscriber rates to carry major cable networks like ESPN - who charges cable operators the highest per-subscriber fee.
As for Fox, the BCS games looked out of place on Fox Sports' schedule, as the network never carried regular-season college football games, and it was hard to cross-promote the BCS with other sports.
Despite the criticism regarding ESPN (its commentators were the most vocal about having a playoff system), it seems college football fans are happy with the move, even if it means moving the games off broadcast TV.
The last time Fox passed on renewing a sports contract was in 1999, when it let the NHL package move to ABC after a five-year, unprofitable run.
Thought: This is more proof that if you are a sports fan, cable or satellite is a must. Want to know why more sporting events are moving to cable? 1. Dual revenue streams - from the cable network AND subscriber fees. 2. Major sporting events (outside of the NFL) don't get huge ratings anymore because its now all about the size of the team's fan base. It's ridiculous when the Boston Red Sox (market #7) has a larger fan base than the Philadelphia Phillies (market #4) - and it showed in this year's World Series, which were the lowest-rated ever. Networks would actually make more money airing regularly-scheduled programming (more Lipstick Jungle, anyone?), as sporting events attract male, older-skewing demos - something the major broadcast networks have mostly abandoned in prime-time. 3. Cable/satellite penetration is now nearly 90 percent in the U.S., rendering any cry about these events moving to cable moot.
So the BCS moves to cable. The World Series will likely be next, followed by the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup (which already has the first two games on Versus.) It's a hard, sobering fact of life broadcasters, advertisers, and the public must face.
Monday, November 17, 2008
V103 celebrates 20th anniversary
Back in 1988, a black radio station targeting adult demos was practically unheard of - but it took a radio consultant named Barry Mayo to change all that.
He took an under-performing WBMX-FM - a station languishing behind its arch-rival WGCI-FM - and flipped it to Urban Adult Contemporary WVAZ-FM, or V103 -and turned it into a adult demo powerhouse. Shortly thereafter, the success of V103 help spur the format in other markets such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis.
In Monday's edition of the Tribune, those who reguarly contributed to V103's success: radio personalities Troi Tyler, Ramonski Luv (who was formerly at WGCI), Radio Hall of Famer Herb Kent, and PD Derrick Brown look back at how it all came to be - including the rivalry between the outlet and WGCI before they became co-owned sister stations - and how V103 became a Chicago radio success story and how the station is preparing for the future.
V103 carries daily syndicated shows featuring Tom Joyner in the morning and Doug Banks in the afternoon - both of which have done time in local Chicago radio before hitting the big time.
He took an under-performing WBMX-FM - a station languishing behind its arch-rival WGCI-FM - and flipped it to Urban Adult Contemporary WVAZ-FM, or V103 -and turned it into a adult demo powerhouse. Shortly thereafter, the success of V103 help spur the format in other markets such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis.
In Monday's edition of the Tribune, those who reguarly contributed to V103's success: radio personalities Troi Tyler, Ramonski Luv (who was formerly at WGCI), Radio Hall of Famer Herb Kent, and PD Derrick Brown look back at how it all came to be - including the rivalry between the outlet and WGCI before they became co-owned sister stations - and how V103 became a Chicago radio success story and how the station is preparing for the future.
V103 carries daily syndicated shows featuring Tom Joyner in the morning and Doug Banks in the afternoon - both of which have done time in local Chicago radio before hitting the big time.
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
- With all the high-price radio personality deals a thing of the past (especially in this economy) Don and Roma Wade have signed a new deal with Citadel-owned WLS-AM to keep their morning show on the air for the next four years. Don and Roma have been on WLS since 1985 (when the station still had a CHR/Top 40 format!)
- Are they going to live long and prosper?: It appears NBC has done a role reversal on the fate of Lipstick Jungle. Brooke Shields (one of the stars of the show) now says the series is not canceled, despite an announcement made by the network last week stating it was canceled along with My Own Worst Enemy. Ratings for the program actually went up after the announcement was made.
As James Hibberd notes, few NBC programs have received positive fan support, as in this case when fans are sending tubes of lipstick to the network to support the show. For the network, this may be a case of Deva Vu: Back in September 1968, Star Trek lost its Monday night time slot and was moved by NBC to Fridays at 9 p.m. (CT) for its third and final season - the same slot Lipstick Jungle currently holds. Read more in the comments section in the above linked article where yours truly is certain to be flamed for being a geek...
- Selectavision. Beta. Divx. HD-DVD. Blu-Ray? Meet the next generation of consumer electronics which may be headed for the trash can...
- Are they going to live long and prosper?: It appears NBC has done a role reversal on the fate of Lipstick Jungle. Brooke Shields (one of the stars of the show) now says the series is not canceled, despite an announcement made by the network last week stating it was canceled along with My Own Worst Enemy. Ratings for the program actually went up after the announcement was made.
As James Hibberd notes, few NBC programs have received positive fan support, as in this case when fans are sending tubes of lipstick to the network to support the show. For the network, this may be a case of Deva Vu: Back in September 1968, Star Trek lost its Monday night time slot and was moved by NBC to Fridays at 9 p.m. (CT) for its third and final season - the same slot Lipstick Jungle currently holds. Read more in the comments section in the above linked article where yours truly is certain to be flamed for being a geek...
- Selectavision. Beta. Divx. HD-DVD. Blu-Ray? Meet the next generation of consumer electronics which may be headed for the trash can...
Carol Fowler out at Channel 2
Yeah, we knew this was coming: News director Carol Fowler of CBS-owned WBBM-TV was fired today after six years. She was brought in as a stooge of former general manager Joe Ahern, who was fired last month.
During her tenure news ratings failed to move upward and still placed behind most of their rivals, including ABC-owned WLS-TV and CW affiliate WGN-TV. Despite CBS' standing as the number one network for the last couple of years, WBBM has failed to capitalize on their success.
No word on a replacement, though WBBM GM Bruno Cohen will likely take his time on a candidate.
During her tenure news ratings failed to move upward and still placed behind most of their rivals, including ABC-owned WLS-TV and CW affiliate WGN-TV. Despite CBS' standing as the number one network for the last couple of years, WBBM has failed to capitalize on their success.
No word on a replacement, though WBBM GM Bruno Cohen will likely take his time on a candidate.
T Dog's Think Tank: So what happens if "Oprah" exits?
With Oprah Winfrey scheduled to run her new cable network in a joint venture with Discovery beginning next year, there is increasing speculation she may discontinue her daily talk show strip when her contract with CBS Television Distribution expires in 2011.
The speculation increased when Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav revealed in an earnings report a few days ago that Ms. Winfrey is discontinuing her talk show in three years, and focus on her joint venture with Discovery. Harpo Productions immediately debunked the notion, stating no decision has been made regarding The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011.
But the controversy has forced stations who carry the number one talk show in syndication to tackle the inedible: What to do when Oprah Winfrey walks away.
For years, stations carrying the popular Oprah as a news lead-in received a bucketload of revenue - particularly the seven out of ten ABC O&Os who carry her (ABC stations in Houston, Flint, and Toledo don't carry the show), while her presence has devoured the competition. And for stations who let Oprah go to a rival, the ratings went with it. This was the case in Baltimore, where ABC affiliate WMAR-TV let Oprah go to rival NBC affiliate WBAL-TV in 1995. The result: WBAL is the market's number one station, while WMAR's ratings have cratered and never recovered.
Closer to home in Milwaukee, ABC affiliate WISN-TV acquied Oprah in 1993 from NBC affiliate WTMJ, after the station refused to pay then-syndicator King World a price increase. Though WTMJ's news leads at 10 p.m., and does respectively well in other news time periods, WISN leads at 5 and 6 p.m. - time slots WTMJ used to dominate.
Those two cases alone tell you how powerful Oprah Winfrey is.
For six ABC O&Os, the decision on what to do post-Oprah in early fringe may be simple - the station group is considering expanding its newscasts to 3 or 4 p.m. to fill the time slot Oprah may leave vacant. This way, the station group won't have to pay a syndicator to air programming. That's bad news for them, who had been eying Oprah's time slot on those stations. But the changing economic conditions and the growing appetite for local news may have changed those plans, though there's no telling how the market will be three years from now.
Another option is fare from ABC's own syndication unit, Disney-ABC Domestic Television - and the option could come into play in this next example.
WLS-TV here in Chicago - the home base for Oprah since 1984 - has aired her show at 9 a.m. for more than twenty years, back to the days she hosted A.M. Chicago. With local news not likely an option, the station could go after Regis & Kelly on WGN-TV - given the morning talk show is distributed by Disney-ABC - whose parent company also owns WLS. Regis & Kelly has had two previous stints in overnight time slots at WLS - from 1990-92 (when it was known as Regis & Kathie Lee) and again from 1999-2002, when it underwent three name changes. Regis Phillbin recently signed a contract extension with Disney-ABC to continue his show, which he co-hosts with Kelly Ripa (who joined the show in 2001, shortly after former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford departed.) Currently, WLS is the only ABC O&O that doesn't carry the show because of Oprah's presence at 9 a.m.
More importantly, Oprah sets WLS' dominance in news and programming throughout the day. But since WLS does so well in this arena - and its' competitors are nowhere remotely close - Oprah's departure from the station might not effect the ABC-owned station as dramatically as it could others. While ABC O&Os dominate in New York and Philadelphia, the ratings race is closer in other ABC O&O markets such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. In Raleigh-Durham, N.C., ABC's WTVD actually finishes second with Oprah - behind CBS soap The Young and the Restless, which market leader WRAL-TV delays until 4 p.m.
Oprah's possible departure would also effect station group clients such as Scripps, Belo, Allbritton, Hearst-Argyle, and Gannett. Some stations in those groups carry Oprah - many of them ABC affiliates. There is no doubt they will be targeted by syndicators for replacement fare.
The challenge for syndicators is to create a replacement for Oprah, as they believe younger viewers are the key in early fringe and can draw them to news at 4 or 5 p.m. Many of them feel expansion of local news could alienate younger viewers and skew stations' ratings older than they are now. But what they're forgetting is local news draws the most lucrative demo in television outside of prime-time - the 25-54 demo - as news draws the most ad dollars for local stations, even if it has no lead-in from a syndicated program.
Already, many stations are airing local news against Oprah in early fringe with some success - in Milwaukee, WTMJ airs news at 4 p.m. opposite Oprah on WISN and it does well. In Philadelphia, both CBS-owned KYW-TV and NBC-owned WCAU-TV also air news at 4 opposite Oprah on ABC-owned WPVI-TV, and in Detroit, NBC affiliate WDIV airs news opposite Oprah on ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV also at 4 p.m., and believe it or not, WDIV often beats WXYZ at 5 p.m, when their newscasts goes head-to-head (keep in mind though, these shows feature the same slop -fires, murders, etc. - you usually see in local news.)
And another reason for the news expansion is because stations are tired of launching new shows in early fringe only to see them fail. Since Oprah launched in syndication in 1986, more than fifty challengers have come and gone, with many of them spectacular flops. Others have done decently well - such as Geraldo, who once featured topless donut-shop operators as a response of his show being up against Oprah in more than 100 markets in 1989 and 1990 (and it proved to be his downfall, as he pledged to clean up his show years later.) Another competitor with a salacious format (Jerry Springer) beat Oprah in one book in 1998, but his ratings slid and is now barely flickering.
But those are expectations to the rule. Usually, new first-run syndicated programs have a 90 percent failure rate - though it recent years, the number has dropped as syndicators are having a little more patience and aren't spending as much to make the programs as they have done previously. This is why you see 298 courtroom shows on TV - they are economical to produce.
But launching projects like Judge Ozzy Osbourne and The Stephen A. Smith Show isn't going to be enough to replace the queen of talk. If syndicators are going to nab these time periods should Ms. Winfrey hang it up, they are going to have to develop better programming - not the standard cheapo courtroom and talk show fare they have been launching recently. And it's not going to be easy, with daytime audiences fragmenting faster than a hard drive. Shows featuring topless Dunkin' Donut clerks and couples boasting they had sex on the John Deere showroom floor aren't going to cut it.
Otherwise, we'll see more local newscasts featuring stories about fires, murders, and celebrity fluff earlier in a lot more markets on a lot more stations. In other words, it's a choice between syndicated show dysfunction and street dysfunction. And as usual, the viewers - especially those without cable or satellite - lose.
The speculation increased when Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav revealed in an earnings report a few days ago that Ms. Winfrey is discontinuing her talk show in three years, and focus on her joint venture with Discovery. Harpo Productions immediately debunked the notion, stating no decision has been made regarding The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011.
But the controversy has forced stations who carry the number one talk show in syndication to tackle the inedible: What to do when Oprah Winfrey walks away.
For years, stations carrying the popular Oprah as a news lead-in received a bucketload of revenue - particularly the seven out of ten ABC O&Os who carry her (ABC stations in Houston, Flint, and Toledo don't carry the show), while her presence has devoured the competition. And for stations who let Oprah go to a rival, the ratings went with it. This was the case in Baltimore, where ABC affiliate WMAR-TV let Oprah go to rival NBC affiliate WBAL-TV in 1995. The result: WBAL is the market's number one station, while WMAR's ratings have cratered and never recovered.
Closer to home in Milwaukee, ABC affiliate WISN-TV acquied Oprah in 1993 from NBC affiliate WTMJ, after the station refused to pay then-syndicator King World a price increase. Though WTMJ's news leads at 10 p.m., and does respectively well in other news time periods, WISN leads at 5 and 6 p.m. - time slots WTMJ used to dominate.
Those two cases alone tell you how powerful Oprah Winfrey is.
For six ABC O&Os, the decision on what to do post-Oprah in early fringe may be simple - the station group is considering expanding its newscasts to 3 or 4 p.m. to fill the time slot Oprah may leave vacant. This way, the station group won't have to pay a syndicator to air programming. That's bad news for them, who had been eying Oprah's time slot on those stations. But the changing economic conditions and the growing appetite for local news may have changed those plans, though there's no telling how the market will be three years from now.
Another option is fare from ABC's own syndication unit, Disney-ABC Domestic Television - and the option could come into play in this next example.
WLS-TV here in Chicago - the home base for Oprah since 1984 - has aired her show at 9 a.m. for more than twenty years, back to the days she hosted A.M. Chicago. With local news not likely an option, the station could go after Regis & Kelly on WGN-TV - given the morning talk show is distributed by Disney-ABC - whose parent company also owns WLS. Regis & Kelly has had two previous stints in overnight time slots at WLS - from 1990-92 (when it was known as Regis & Kathie Lee) and again from 1999-2002, when it underwent three name changes. Regis Phillbin recently signed a contract extension with Disney-ABC to continue his show, which he co-hosts with Kelly Ripa (who joined the show in 2001, shortly after former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford departed.) Currently, WLS is the only ABC O&O that doesn't carry the show because of Oprah's presence at 9 a.m.
More importantly, Oprah sets WLS' dominance in news and programming throughout the day. But since WLS does so well in this arena - and its' competitors are nowhere remotely close - Oprah's departure from the station might not effect the ABC-owned station as dramatically as it could others. While ABC O&Os dominate in New York and Philadelphia, the ratings race is closer in other ABC O&O markets such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. In Raleigh-Durham, N.C., ABC's WTVD actually finishes second with Oprah - behind CBS soap The Young and the Restless, which market leader WRAL-TV delays until 4 p.m.
Oprah's possible departure would also effect station group clients such as Scripps, Belo, Allbritton, Hearst-Argyle, and Gannett. Some stations in those groups carry Oprah - many of them ABC affiliates. There is no doubt they will be targeted by syndicators for replacement fare.
The challenge for syndicators is to create a replacement for Oprah, as they believe younger viewers are the key in early fringe and can draw them to news at 4 or 5 p.m. Many of them feel expansion of local news could alienate younger viewers and skew stations' ratings older than they are now. But what they're forgetting is local news draws the most lucrative demo in television outside of prime-time - the 25-54 demo - as news draws the most ad dollars for local stations, even if it has no lead-in from a syndicated program.
Already, many stations are airing local news against Oprah in early fringe with some success - in Milwaukee, WTMJ airs news at 4 p.m. opposite Oprah on WISN and it does well. In Philadelphia, both CBS-owned KYW-TV and NBC-owned WCAU-TV also air news at 4 opposite Oprah on ABC-owned WPVI-TV, and in Detroit, NBC affiliate WDIV airs news opposite Oprah on ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV also at 4 p.m., and believe it or not, WDIV often beats WXYZ at 5 p.m, when their newscasts goes head-to-head (keep in mind though, these shows feature the same slop -fires, murders, etc. - you usually see in local news.)
And another reason for the news expansion is because stations are tired of launching new shows in early fringe only to see them fail. Since Oprah launched in syndication in 1986, more than fifty challengers have come and gone, with many of them spectacular flops. Others have done decently well - such as Geraldo, who once featured topless donut-shop operators as a response of his show being up against Oprah in more than 100 markets in 1989 and 1990 (and it proved to be his downfall, as he pledged to clean up his show years later.) Another competitor with a salacious format (Jerry Springer) beat Oprah in one book in 1998, but his ratings slid and is now barely flickering.
But those are expectations to the rule. Usually, new first-run syndicated programs have a 90 percent failure rate - though it recent years, the number has dropped as syndicators are having a little more patience and aren't spending as much to make the programs as they have done previously. This is why you see 298 courtroom shows on TV - they are economical to produce.
But launching projects like Judge Ozzy Osbourne and The Stephen A. Smith Show isn't going to be enough to replace the queen of talk. If syndicators are going to nab these time periods should Ms. Winfrey hang it up, they are going to have to develop better programming - not the standard cheapo courtroom and talk show fare they have been launching recently. And it's not going to be easy, with daytime audiences fragmenting faster than a hard drive. Shows featuring topless Dunkin' Donut clerks and couples boasting they had sex on the John Deere showroom floor aren't going to cut it.
Otherwise, we'll see more local newscasts featuring stories about fires, murders, and celebrity fluff earlier in a lot more markets on a lot more stations. In other words, it's a choice between syndicated show dysfunction and street dysfunction. And as usual, the viewers - especially those without cable or satellite - lose.
Friday, November 14, 2008
NBC, Fox to pool news services
Yes, the tough economic times has yielded another unexpected result - competitors working with each other.
NBC-owned and Fox-owned decided to pool their news-gathering sources with the title Local News Service, or LNS.
This affects only markets where NBC and Fox O&Os are competing with each other. Chicago is included, along with New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Washington D.C. The plan is expected to roll out next year.
The LNS concept involves cameramen from both stations shooting news footage around in their markets, with a LNS editor determining which events the news pools cover. The footage then will be sent to both stations in the market where news executives will decide what footage can be used.
Editorial and voice content of each station aren't affected, and all employees involved in the service are staying with their respective companies.
Philadelphia's WCAU (NBC) and WTXF (Fox) will get the ball rolling in January, with other markets coming on line in a few months.
TV Newsday interviews the individuals behind the new news service: Fox's Jack Abernethy and NBC's John Wallace.
NBC-owned and Fox-owned decided to pool their news-gathering sources with the title Local News Service, or LNS.
This affects only markets where NBC and Fox O&Os are competing with each other. Chicago is included, along with New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Washington D.C. The plan is expected to roll out next year.
The LNS concept involves cameramen from both stations shooting news footage around in their markets, with a LNS editor determining which events the news pools cover. The footage then will be sent to both stations in the market where news executives will decide what footage can be used.
Editorial and voice content of each station aren't affected, and all employees involved in the service are staying with their respective companies.
Philadelphia's WCAU (NBC) and WTXF (Fox) will get the ball rolling in January, with other markets coming on line in a few months.
TV Newsday interviews the individuals behind the new news service: Fox's Jack Abernethy and NBC's John Wallace.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
It's beginning to look a lot like...
WLIT-FM is expected to switch to an all-Christmas format beginning tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.
The date this year is later than it was in 2007 (Nov. 2) and 2006 (Nov.3).
A countdown clock on the station's website stated it would flip to Xmas tunes on November 21, but the start date had been "floating".
So get ready for a month of Bing Crosby, sixteen different versions of "Jingle Bell Rock", and more importantly - inflated PPM numbers.
The date this year is later than it was in 2007 (Nov. 2) and 2006 (Nov.3).
A countdown clock on the station's website stated it would flip to Xmas tunes on November 21, but the start date had been "floating".
So get ready for a month of Bing Crosby, sixteen different versions of "Jingle Bell Rock", and more importantly - inflated PPM numbers.
A look inside WBBM-TV's new studios
Arthur Greenwald of TVNewsday reviews CBS-owned WBBM-TV's new digs in the Loop, which brings the station into the 21st century and a long way from its decrepit McClurg Court headquarters.
The new building at 22 W. Washington Blvd. lets the station broadcast its news and local programming in HD and new high-tech equipment - such as Apple's Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Server software (which the station's art department uses), and a lot more I can't explain here.
To read the article, click here (subscription may be required - but it's free.) If you're a tech geek (such as myself), you'll enjoy the article - despite the fact the technically challenged can give less than a darn and rightfully point out this won't do a thing to raise their anemic ratings.
The new building at 22 W. Washington Blvd. lets the station broadcast its news and local programming in HD and new high-tech equipment - such as Apple's Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Server software (which the station's art department uses), and a lot more I can't explain here.
To read the article, click here (subscription may be required - but it's free.) If you're a tech geek (such as myself), you'll enjoy the article - despite the fact the technically challenged can give less than a darn and rightfully point out this won't do a thing to raise their anemic ratings.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
It's official: Sirius and XM are now one
The madness ends here, Part 2
MAD TV got the ax today (see post below); now NBC cancels Lipstick Jungle and My Own Worst Enemy. Ratings troubles are to blame for the demise of both dramas, with Jungle recently being relocated to the Friday Night Death Slot.
The madness ends here
In the "Wait.. this show was still on the air?" department, Fox's long-running Saturday night late-fringe comedy Mad TV was canceled today after fourteen seasons. Oddly enough, of all the late-night shows Fox launched (The Late Show with Joan Rivers, The Wilton-North Report, and The Chevy Chase Show), this program ran the longest.
The sketch comedy show debuted in 1995 during a time Saturday Night Live was struggling in the ratings and was often critically dubbed. But SNL has had a resurgence this year in the ratings and among critics, thanks to the recent Presidential race. SNL once again became the talk around the water-cooler the following Monday morning, while Mad TV became an afterthought.
Alumni from MAD TV include Nicole Sullivan, Alex Borstein, and Frank Caliendo.
No word on a replacement once MAD departs in September, but the program following it - Talk Show with Spike Feresten - is expected to fill the Saturday 10 p.m. time slot. MAD TV's producers are now discussing the possibility of shopping the program to several cable networks.
But it's likely Comedy Central isn't one of them - the cable netork recently decided against renewing its' option on airing reruns of the series. The contract expires at the end of this year.
MAD TV of course, is based on the long-running humor magazine.
The sketch comedy show debuted in 1995 during a time Saturday Night Live was struggling in the ratings and was often critically dubbed. But SNL has had a resurgence this year in the ratings and among critics, thanks to the recent Presidential race. SNL once again became the talk around the water-cooler the following Monday morning, while Mad TV became an afterthought.
Alumni from MAD TV include Nicole Sullivan, Alex Borstein, and Frank Caliendo.
No word on a replacement once MAD departs in September, but the program following it - Talk Show with Spike Feresten - is expected to fill the Saturday 10 p.m. time slot. MAD TV's producers are now discussing the possibility of shopping the program to several cable networks.
But it's likely Comedy Central isn't one of them - the cable netork recently decided against renewing its' option on airing reruns of the series. The contract expires at the end of this year.
MAD TV of course, is based on the long-running humor magazine.
Don't forget: Chicago DTV tests today
Just a friendly remainder from The T Dog Media Blog: All local TV stations are conducting a test today to see if you are ready for the digital TV transition. Between 6:53 a.m. and 6:58 a.m. and again from 5:23 p.m. to 5:28 p.m., they will shut off their analog signals and replace it with a message stating "This TV is Not Ready".
This means you need to get a converter box to convert you analog signals to digital. You can pick up a box at your local electronics store, and you can also get a coupon from the government to help defray the purchase.
Viewers with traditional over-the-air (no cable) televisions with old-fashioned rabbit ears are only affected; viewers who receive their signal via cable, over-the-air digital, or satellite won't be.
WGN-TV meanwhile, plans to go the creative route and haul out Bozo the Clown during those five minutes to lecture us on the DTV transition.
For more information on the digital switchover, scroll down to the "DTV Transition Center" on The Sidebar of this blog.
This means you need to get a converter box to convert you analog signals to digital. You can pick up a box at your local electronics store, and you can also get a coupon from the government to help defray the purchase.
Viewers with traditional over-the-air (no cable) televisions with old-fashioned rabbit ears are only affected; viewers who receive their signal via cable, over-the-air digital, or satellite won't be.
WGN-TV meanwhile, plans to go the creative route and haul out Bozo the Clown during those five minutes to lecture us on the DTV transition.
For more information on the digital switchover, scroll down to the "DTV Transition Center" on The Sidebar of this blog.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
It's official: Sirius and XM are one
Click here for the new Sirius/XM combined channel lineup. It went into effect at 11 p.m. Central tonight.
Updated 7:31 a.m. on 2008-11-12 (changed link)
Updated 7:31 a.m. on 2008-11-12 (changed link)
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
- WLIT has added a new afternoon guy: His name is Kevin Gossett, and he takes over the 2-7 p.m. time slot beginning yesterday at the Clear Channel-owned Adult Contemporary station. One problem, though: he's being voiced tracked from Phoenix, where he works as PD and afternoon personality at KEZ-FM. So if you hear him talk about how nice and sunny it is - but it's snowing outside, now you know.
Gossett should be a name familiar to Chicago radio listeners - he was morning personality on WNND-FM from 1998-2002.
- Heroes hits an another low: Monday's episode of the battered drama drew its lowest audience yet - just 7.8 million viewers, down tremendously from this time last year, and even losing to CBS' Worst Week. And the ending to last night's episode was just utterly disgusting. Is this Heroes or Friday the 13th? The show is just desperate now, and the ratings prove it.
- The Simpsons will have a crossword crossover: This Sunday's episode features a crossover between the show and the New York Times world-famous crossword puzzle. In the episode, Lisa enters a crossword competition. On the same day, The Times features a "Simpsons" themed crossword puzzle. Puzzlemaker Merl Reagle and New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz.
And no, the competition isn't the now-on hiatus (but probably canceled) Merv Griffin's Crosswords - so Lisa won't be bored to death listening to Ty Treadway stumble though questions in front of only 44 viewers.
- Drew or Judge Milan? On Monday, Drew Peterson - the person suspected in the disappearance of his wife Stacy, appeared on Dr. Phil, telling the quack on the CBS Television Distribution program how he can't find love (how about trying to find your missing wife, you jagbag...)
Anyway, the episode on WBBM-TV drew a 2.5 household rating and 6 share - but among adults 25-54, it was Warner Bros.' People's Court on WCIU-TV that drew more viewers in the 4 p.m. time period - 1.1 to Phil's 0.6. Both trailed WLS-TV, which usually leads in households and key demos during the time period.
- Additions: The T Dog Media Blog is proud to add two new links to The Sidebar: a new blog from Chicago Tribune media columnist Phil Rosenthal titled Tower Ticker and Lewis Lazare's Sun-Times column, which now features local TV and radio items, somewhat taking over from Robert Feder, who retired last month.
Gossett should be a name familiar to Chicago radio listeners - he was morning personality on WNND-FM from 1998-2002.
- Heroes hits an another low: Monday's episode of the battered drama drew its lowest audience yet - just 7.8 million viewers, down tremendously from this time last year, and even losing to CBS' Worst Week. And the ending to last night's episode was just utterly disgusting. Is this Heroes or Friday the 13th? The show is just desperate now, and the ratings prove it.
- The Simpsons will have a crossword crossover: This Sunday's episode features a crossover between the show and the New York Times world-famous crossword puzzle. In the episode, Lisa enters a crossword competition. On the same day, The Times features a "Simpsons" themed crossword puzzle. Puzzlemaker Merl Reagle and New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz.
And no, the competition isn't the now-on hiatus (but probably canceled) Merv Griffin's Crosswords - so Lisa won't be bored to death listening to Ty Treadway stumble though questions in front of only 44 viewers.
- Drew or Judge Milan? On Monday, Drew Peterson - the person suspected in the disappearance of his wife Stacy, appeared on Dr. Phil, telling the quack on the CBS Television Distribution program how he can't find love (how about trying to find your missing wife, you jagbag...)
Anyway, the episode on WBBM-TV drew a 2.5 household rating and 6 share - but among adults 25-54, it was Warner Bros.' People's Court on WCIU-TV that drew more viewers in the 4 p.m. time period - 1.1 to Phil's 0.6. Both trailed WLS-TV, which usually leads in households and key demos during the time period.
- Additions: The T Dog Media Blog is proud to add two new links to The Sidebar: a new blog from Chicago Tribune media columnist Phil Rosenthal titled Tower Ticker and Lewis Lazare's Sun-Times column, which now features local TV and radio items, somewhat taking over from Robert Feder, who retired last month.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
"Help us CNN. You're our only hope."
On Tuesday night, CNN introduced a new way of interviewing people, via "hologram". Yes, hologram.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer spoke with both Jessica Yellin and Anderson Cooper spoke with Will I Am from The Black-Eyed Peas using the technology which looked something out of Star Wars:
Here's how it was created: Yellin was shot in a tent filled with green screens in Chicago using 35 high-def cameras, or so. A screen with Blitzer and Yellin was constructed, a bunch of computers created Yellin's image and made it ready for the camera with infrared technology - and volia! You see an image of Yellin at CNN election headquarters, but she's not really there.
Yes, it's like Princess Lela speaking with Luke Skywalker.
And the tent was meant from the crowd from taking over the shot in Chicago (or in sci-fi speak, the "stormtroopers") so that's another reason why they put her in the specially constructed tent.
No word on how much the holographic fun cost CNN, but it's believed to be quite expensive - in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. You think Blitzer will end up with the bill?
Use the force, Wolf Blitzer. Use the force.
No word on when the "hologram" will be used again, but I hear it might be used later this year in The CNN Clone Wars Christmas Special.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer spoke with both Jessica Yellin and Anderson Cooper spoke with Will I Am from The Black-Eyed Peas using the technology which looked something out of Star Wars:
Here's how it was created: Yellin was shot in a tent filled with green screens in Chicago using 35 high-def cameras, or so. A screen with Blitzer and Yellin was constructed, a bunch of computers created Yellin's image and made it ready for the camera with infrared technology - and volia! You see an image of Yellin at CNN election headquarters, but she's not really there.
Yes, it's like Princess Lela speaking with Luke Skywalker.
And the tent was meant from the crowd from taking over the shot in Chicago (or in sci-fi speak, the "stormtroopers") so that's another reason why they put her in the specially constructed tent.
No word on how much the holographic fun cost CNN, but it's believed to be quite expensive - in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. You think Blitzer will end up with the bill?
Use the force, Wolf Blitzer. Use the force.
No word on when the "hologram" will be used again, but I hear it might be used later this year in The CNN Clone Wars Christmas Special.
T Dog's 4 Pack
It's another edition (and another new name) of the weekly winners and losers list, now called The T Dog's 4 pack. Let's hope this one sticks, as the last two titles were quite clunky. There are two 4-packs: one Fab, another Flop. Simple for you? I know it is for me...
- T Dog's Fab Four-Pack:
President-Elect Barack Obama. Yes, he can and he did. The first African-American elected to the White House. And change is coming. You hear that, Big Media?
Adult Swim picks up King of the Hill. Well, only repeats of the long-running Fox show. Beginning in January, AS will double-run the show every night from 9 to 10 p.m. This deal is separate from the current deals it has with FX and in broadcast syndication. The pickup comes as another Twentieth product (Futurama) shifted to Comedy Central last January.
The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror: The nineteenth edition of The Simpsons' annual Halloween show drew a 6.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, and 12.5 million viewers, the highest in several years. As for the episode itself, great job, especially the hilarious "It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse".
Heroes. For not airing this past week and not making us sit through another mind-numbing episode!
T Dog's Flop Four-pack:
Deal or No Deal (network version). For the second week in a row, no less. At the beginning of last Monday's show, the producers promised to show The Banker's face as part of the show's 200th episode celebration. Instead, we get Howie Mandel falling into a cake, thus coining the phrase "Jump the Cake". At least he didn't put try to blow up a plastic glove over his head.
South Park vs. Family Guy. Personally, I'm tired of this inane rivalry. Not to defend Family Guy, but can Trey Parker shut up about how much the show sucks? Look, this isn't WLS-WCFL in 1973 or Tampa-St. Pete's Q105 and The Power Pig (WFLZ) in 1989 and 1990, as those Top 40 wars were more compelling - and interesting. In this DVR age we live in, TV show rivalries are quite outdated. And yes, this also includes Lost vs. Heroes. Let's keep the rivalries to Cubs vs. White Sox, Yankees vs. Red Sox, and Bears vs. Packers (when the teams are good) - you know, the ones people actually care about.
NBC picks up Kath & Kim and Life for full season. Man, does this network ever cancel anything? With Ben "partying while sniffing white powder up my nose" Silverman and Marc "I'm Dick Cheney, the real Dick Cheney" Graboff in charge, no wonder the network is still in fourth place. Must-Flee TV, indeed.
ESPN. For those Presidential Candidate interviews during halftime on Monday Night Football with Chris Berman lobbing softie questions about sports to Barack Obama and John McCain. Talk about pointless, which pretty much describes Chris Berman...
Toss Up
DeAnna Pappas breaks up with Jesse. Yep, another Bachelor/Bachelorette breakup. But the cute DeAnna is now available... Woo Hoo!
- T Dog's Fab Four-Pack:
President-Elect Barack Obama. Yes, he can and he did. The first African-American elected to the White House. And change is coming. You hear that, Big Media?
Adult Swim picks up King of the Hill. Well, only repeats of the long-running Fox show. Beginning in January, AS will double-run the show every night from 9 to 10 p.m. This deal is separate from the current deals it has with FX and in broadcast syndication. The pickup comes as another Twentieth product (Futurama) shifted to Comedy Central last January.
The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror: The nineteenth edition of The Simpsons' annual Halloween show drew a 6.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, and 12.5 million viewers, the highest in several years. As for the episode itself, great job, especially the hilarious "It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse".
Heroes. For not airing this past week and not making us sit through another mind-numbing episode!
T Dog's Flop Four-pack:
Deal or No Deal (network version). For the second week in a row, no less. At the beginning of last Monday's show, the producers promised to show The Banker's face as part of the show's 200th episode celebration. Instead, we get Howie Mandel falling into a cake, thus coining the phrase "Jump the Cake". At least he didn't put try to blow up a plastic glove over his head.
South Park vs. Family Guy. Personally, I'm tired of this inane rivalry. Not to defend Family Guy, but can Trey Parker shut up about how much the show sucks? Look, this isn't WLS-WCFL in 1973 or Tampa-St. Pete's Q105 and The Power Pig (WFLZ) in 1989 and 1990, as those Top 40 wars were more compelling - and interesting. In this DVR age we live in, TV show rivalries are quite outdated. And yes, this also includes Lost vs. Heroes. Let's keep the rivalries to Cubs vs. White Sox, Yankees vs. Red Sox, and Bears vs. Packers (when the teams are good) - you know, the ones people actually care about.
NBC picks up Kath & Kim and Life for full season. Man, does this network ever cancel anything? With Ben "partying while sniffing white powder up my nose" Silverman and Marc "I'm Dick Cheney, the real Dick Cheney" Graboff in charge, no wonder the network is still in fourth place. Must-Flee TV, indeed.
ESPN. For those Presidential Candidate interviews during halftime on Monday Night Football with Chris Berman lobbing softie questions about sports to Barack Obama and John McCain. Talk about pointless, which pretty much describes Chris Berman...
Toss Up
DeAnna Pappas breaks up with Jesse. Yep, another Bachelor/Bachelorette breakup. But the cute DeAnna is now available... Woo Hoo!
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