Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings, Reality-Free

Here are the weekly TV ratings, by number of viewers.

Last week I mentioned that Lost wasn’t in the top 20. Well, this week it returns. Not to the highs it was earlier this year, but hey, I wouldn’t mind nearly 11 million people watching what I do each week (I’m talking about writing, not going to the bathroom or eating a sandwich). Survivor’s finale and regular episode both made the top 20, although it was the lowest-rated finale in the history of the show.

1. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
2. American Idol - Tues (FOX)

Continue reading Nielsen ratings for the week ending May 11

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Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Cancellations, Moonlight, Reality-Free

This is it, Moonlight fans. Vampires might be immortal, but this cult favorite is not. This day, sources at CBS have confirmed (though this is “not truly official” yet): The bubble has been popped, and the network has decided not to renew the series for a second season. You can’t state the fans haven’t tried to save this show, hosting nationwide blood drives and showering the network with garlic cloves. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, the show couldn’t sustain viewers after Ghost Whisperer on Friday nights. Rabid, repeat viewings by diehard fans don’t really count as multiple viewers, I guess.

This will cast a pall at this month’s Moonlight Convention, I’ll bet.

Continue reading Moonlight done, say CBS sources

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings, Reality-Free

Here are the weekly Television ratings, by number of viewers.

Last week I mentioned that Lost wasn’t in the top 20. Well, this week it returns. Not to the highs it was earlier this year, but hey, I wouldn’t mind almost 11 million people watching what I do each week (I’m talking about writing, not going to the bathroom or eating a sandwich). Survivor’s finale and regular episode both made the top 20, even though it was the lowest-rated finale in the history of the show.

1. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
2. American Idol - Tues (FOX)

Continue reading Nielsen ratings for the week ending Might 11

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Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Cancellations, Moonlight, Reality-Free

This is it, Moonlight fans. Vampires might be immortal, but this cult favorite is not. This day, sources at CBS have confirmed (though this is “not truly official” yet): The bubble has been popped, and the network has decided not to renew the series for a second season. You can’t say the fans haven’t tried to save this show, hosting nationwide blood drives and showering the network with garlic cloves. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, the show couldn’t sustain viewers after Ghost Whisperer on Friday nights. Rabid, repeat viewings by diehard fans don’t really count as multiple viewers, I guess.

This will cast a pall at this month’s Moonlight Convention, I’ll bet.

Continue reading Moonlight done, say CBS sources

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Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry

As you know, we get press kits here at the Television Squad offices all the time. Sometimes they are useful items, but most of the time they’re useless and emblazoned with promotion brew-ha-ha wherever there is a blank space.

This week brought us the So You Think You Can Dance press kit, complete with Bjorn Borg terry headband, long thin sweat-mopping towel (or perfect for rat-tailing), and plastic water bottle, most likely loaded with phthalates and Bisphenol-A.

As you can see, my son was very excited to dress up and pose for this picture. He found the branded products enchanting, irresistible, even super-cool. So there might be something to this whole promotional press kit deal. Heck, they caught the attention of a three-year-old.

When we explained to Owen what break dancing is, he was jumping out of his skin excited to see So You Think You Can Dance. It premieres on Thursday, May 22 at 8 PM ET on Fox, and you know we’ll be DVR-ing that for our little Nick Lazzarini-to-be.

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Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry

As you know, we get press kits here at the Television Squad offices all the time. Sometimes they are useful items, but most of the time they are useless and emblazoned with promotion brew-ha-ha wherever there’s a blank space.

This week brought us the So You Think You Can Dance press kit, complete with Bjorn Borg terry headband, long thin sweat-mopping towel (or perfect for rat-tailing), and plastic water bottle, most likely loaded with phthalates and Bisphenol-A.

As you can see, my son was very excited to dress up and pose for this picture. He found the branded products enchanting, irresistible, even super-cool. So there may be something to this whole promotional press kit deal. Heck, they caught the attention of a three-year-old.

When we explained to Owen what break dancing is, he was jumping out of his skin excited to see So You Think You Can Dance. It premieres on Thursday, May 22 at 8 PM ET on Fox, and you know we’ll be DVR-ing that for our tiny Nick Lazzarini-to-be.

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, How I Met Your Mother, Pickups and Renewals, Upfronts, Reality-Free

Well, it looks like fans of How I Met Your Mother (me! me!) and The Unit (maybe my parents?) have some early good news ahead of CBS’s upfront, which is scheduled for tomorrow: The LA Times‘ Show Tracker blog is reporting that both shows will be renewed (thanks to Greg for leaving a comment with the link last night).

The article talks more about HIMYM, of course, mentioning that Britney Spears’ first appearance gave the show the boost it needed to carry it to a fourth season. I wish that wasn’t true, but I’m pretty sure it is. As much as fans of HIMYM (me! me!) hated the distraction Brit Brit brought to the show, and really hated her wooden performance (especially last night, according to many of the commenters on my review of “Everything Must Go”), they have to admit that without the pop tart, the show might not have made it.

Sigh. Oh, well. Whatever gets the job done, right? I’ll see if I can confirm the renewal when I talk to Carter Bays and Craig Thomas later today.

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, How I Met Your Mom, Pickups and Renewals, Upfronts, Reality-Free

Well, it looks like fans of How I Met Your Mom (me! me!) and The Unit (maybe my parents?) have some early good news ahead of CBS’s upfront, which is scheduled for tomorrow: The LA Times‘ Show Tracker blog is reporting that both shows will be renewed (thanks to Greg for leaving a comment with the link last night).

The article talks more about HIMYM, of course, mentioning that Britney Spears’ first appearance gave the show the boost it needed to carry it to a fourth season. I wish that wasn’t true, but I’m pretty sure it is. As much as fans of HIMYM (me! me!) hated the distraction Brit Brit brought to the show, and really hated her wooden performance (especially last night, according to many of the commenters on my review of “Everything Must Go”), they’ve to admit that without the pop tart, the show might not have made it.

Sigh. Oh, well. Whatever gets the job done, right? I’ll see if I can confirm the renewal when I talk to Carter Bays and Craig Thomas later today.

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Upfronts, Reality-Free

ABC released its 2008-09 prime-time schedule this morning during a press conference call conducted by Steve McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment. I listened in and got the rundown:

Returning: Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost (Midseason), Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Unsightly Betty, According to Jim (Midseason), Samantha Who?, America’s Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor (Midseason), Dancing With The Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, Wife Swap, Saturday Night College Football, Primetime: What Would You Do?

Out: October Road, Notes from the Underbelly, Men in Trees, Massive Shots, Carpoolers, Cashmere Mafia, Cavemen, Miss/Guided, Women’s Murder Club, Oprah’s Massive Give

New: Life on Mars, The Goode Family (Midseason), Scrubs (Midseason), Opportunity Knocks, Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project (Midseason)

Continue reading The Upfronts: ABC

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Upfronts, Reality-Free

ABC released its 2008-09 prime-time schedule this morning during a press conference call conducted by Steve McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment. I listened in and got the rundown:

Returning: Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost (Midseason), Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Hideous Betty, According to Jim (Midseason), Samantha Who?, America’s Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor (Midseason), Dancing With The Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, Wife Swap, Saturday Night College Football, Primetime: What Would You Do?

Out: October Road, Notes from the Underbelly, Men in Trees, Huge Shots, Carpoolers, Cashmere Mafia, Cavemen, Miss/Guided, Women’s Murder Club, Oprah’s Massive Give

New: Life on Mars, The Goode Family (Midseason), Scrubs (Midseason), Opportunity Knocks, Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project (Midseason)

Continue reading The Upfronts: ABC

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