Thursday, May 31, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/30/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
8:30 Suburgatory (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:30 Happy Endings (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:30 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

CBS
8:00 Dogs in the City
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 CSI (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

NBC
8:00 Stanley Cup Finals Game #1
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

FOX8:00 So You Think You Can Dance
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

On Wednesday night, CBS aired the premiere of summer reality Dogs in the City and it did very little but all things considered, 6.7 million viewers and a 1.3 demo isn't horrible for a summer show especially one called Dogs in the City. NBC got very little mileage out of Game 1 of the NHL Finals as it is nowhere close to the other sports in ratings. FOX had the best night for broadcast TV as So You Think You Can Dance was up nicely from its premiere last Thursday and continued to skew young.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/29/12

ABC
8:00 Cougar Town
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 20/20 Special
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 NCIS (Repeat)
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 48 Hours Mystery
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

NBC
8:00 America's Got Talent (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 America's Got Talent
Viewers: 11.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 Grimm (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

FOX 
8:00 New Girl (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
8:30 New Girl (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 New Girl (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:30 New Girl (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

RATINGS RECAP: 5/28/12

ABC
8:00 The Bachelorette
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Castle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
8:30 2 Broke Girls (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:30 Mike & Molly (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 Hawaii Five-0 (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

NBC
8:00 America's Got Talent
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 American Ninja Warrior
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Grimm (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

FOX
 8:00 House (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
9:00 House (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8 

Monday, May 28, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/27/12

ABC 
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
8:00 Duets (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
10:00 Rookie Blue (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
8:00 Blue Bloods (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.4
9:00 The Good Wife (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5
10:00 CSI: Miami (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7

NBC
7:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6
8:00 Harry's Law
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
9:00 America's Got Talent (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

FOX
7:00 NASCAR Racing
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1

RATINGS RECAP: 5/26/12

ABC 
8:00 NBA Playoffs
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

CBS
8:00 How to Be a Gentleman
Viewers: 1.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.3
8:30 How to Be a Gentleman
Viewers: 1.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.3
9:00 NYC 22
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5
10:00 48 Hours Mystery
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

NBC
8:00 Harry's Law (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.3
9:00 The Firm
Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.4
10:00 The Firm
Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.4

FOX 
8:00 MLB Baseball
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5

RATINGS RECAP: 5/25/12

ABC
8:00 Shark Tank (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Primetime: What Would You Do?
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 20/20
Viewers: 5.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

CBS
8:00 Undercover Boss (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 CSI: NY (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
10:00 Blue Bloods (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

NBC 
8:00 Who Do You Think You Are? (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5
9:00 Grimm (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5
10:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX 
8:00 Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
9:00 Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0 

RATINGS RECAP: 5/24/12

ABC
8:00 Duets
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:00 Rookie Blue
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
8:30 Rules of Engagement (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Person of Interest (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 The Mentalist (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

NBC
8:00 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
8:30 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 1.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
9:00 America's Got Talent (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

FOX8:00 So You Think You Can Dance
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

ABC was all new on the first night of the summer season. At 8pm, the series premiere of Duets got off to a very mediocre start. With so many singing competitions declining, it looks like audiences are having too much of it and this one will not be the next big thing. At 10pm, the season premiere of Rookie Blue did decently for a scripted summer show. FOX aired the season premiere of So You Think You Can Dance which did alright and skewed fairly young. It definitely got the better of Duets. On NBC, the series finale of the cancelled Awake was up eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/23/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
8:30 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.1 million, 18-49 demo: 4.1
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:30 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

NBC
8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:30 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.5 million, 18-49 demo: 6.4 

On the final night of the 2011-12 season, FOX aired the season finale of American Idol. It was of course up a big 3.8 million viewers and 1.5 demo points but it was the lowest rated Idol finale ever and down big year to year. Blame it on an aging franchise and an over-saturation of singing competitions. ABC was full of season finales. At 8pm, The Middle was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. After a Modern Family repeat, the season finale was up seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo while Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 was up nine tenths in viewers and a very strong half a demo point. This was a great rebound and it came against the strongest half hour of Idol. At 10pm, the season finale of Revenge was up a million viewers and four tenths in the demo for its best performance since February 29. How will it fare in the high profile timeslot of Sunday 9pm next season? Finally on NBC, the season finale of Betty White's Off Their Rockers was up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo while Law & Order: SVU benefited from no new crime drama on CBS and it was up a strong 1.6 million viewers and three tenths in the demo.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2011-12 Awards

Earlier this week, I did a review of new sitcoms and a review of new dramas. Now it's time for my other honors, a few miscellaneous awards - some for real and some for fun as we finish the 2011-12 season tonight. Enjoy!


THE "BEST RETURNING SERIES" AWARD - Parks and Recreation (NBC)
I gave this award to the same show last year but season 4 of Parks and Recreation was just as satisfying as season 3. The show is simply the wittiest show on TV with the best ensemble (yes, that's including Modern Family). The story arc of Leslie Knope's run for City Council gave the show so many new avenues to explore and gave us great recurring guest roles from Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn (thank goodness Hahn's dreadful Free Agents was cancelled early in the season because she was brilliant in this). I know people say this is a niche show like 30 Rock and Community but I really think it could have broad appeal. I wish it had a bigger audience.
Runners-Up: Modern Family (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS)

THE "BIGGEST NEW SHOW DISAPPOINTMENT" AWARD - Pan Am (ABC)
ABC's glamorous pilot drama set in the Jet Age of the 1960s got a lot of pre-season buzz due to its high cost pilot from people who had done The West Wing and ER. But ultimately it wasn't anything special. The beautiful settings and high production quality were offset by boring stories that never went anywhere. The show had a real chance but didn't (pardon the pun) take off. I was more excited about this show than any other going in but by the fifth or sixth episode, I had given it up on it. Period dramas can work on network TV but they need to be better than this.
Runners-Up: Terra Nova (FOX), Alcatraz (FOX)

THE "BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT IN GENERAL" AWARD - The Office (NBC)
At one point in time, The Office was hands-down my favorite show on the air and it wasn't even close. Now I wouldn't even put it in my top ten. You can't fault them and NBC for trying to carry on the show after Steve Carell's departure last spring but in my opinion, it was a miserable failure. The show added some new characters but James Spader fizzled out after a promising start and Catherine Tate has only made things worse. The cast seems tired and the show feels stale. It's sad to watch a once great series in its twilight and even more sad that the creators and NBC won't just call it a day and let it go out in dignity. I shudder to think what next season will be like. Right now I watch it out of obligation, I don't even know if I can do that next year.

THE "MOST CHEATING AND BACKSTABBING THIS SIDE OF REVENGE" AWARD - Smash (NBC)
For a show that's supposed to be about putting on a Broadway musical, there sure is a lot of backstabbing and cheating. I don't know why they feel the need to have more cheating than a daytime soap opera. Just an unofficial count of characters who have cheated on their significant other: Julia, Derek, Ivy, Dev, and Michael Swift. Then there's Ivy's constant sneakiness against Karen and Ellis' all-around creepiness. The show is at its best when its focused on putting on the musical but it has wasted so much time with these silly side stories that only serve to make nearly every character unlikable. On Revenge, that's the point. On Smash, that's the problem.

THE "WORST ACTOR EVER" AWARD - Emory Cohen (Smash, NBC)
While we're on the topic of Smash, I must take a minute to address the single biggest problem with the show and that is Emory Cohen's portrayal of Leo Houston, the teenage son of two main characters. His acting is worse than the worst community theater production. How did he get in this cast and why are they insisting on keeping him there? Nothing he says, I mean nothing, seems natural. I feel like I couldn't be that bad even if I was trying to deliver the lines poorly. I'm not one to pile criticism on one poor person but come on. He ruins every scene he's in.

THE "NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT WAS" AWARD - The Playboy Club (NBC)
Everyone bashed The Playboy Club going into the season and then it was three episodes and out as the ratings were terrible. But I watched all three episodes and I have to say it wasn't that bad. Yes, the pilot dragged but each episode got better and by episode three, I was feeling connected and engaged in the story. In fact, I think it was the better period drama over Pan Am because it seemed like the stories were going somewhere. I think it might have had a chance if people didn't write it off so quickly.

THE "BEST NEW ADDITION TO THE CAST" AWARD - Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Modern Family, ABC)
The people behind Modern Family decided to recast baby Lily this year and they struck gold with Aubrey Anderson-Emmons who added so much to the show and made Lily more than the prop she was in the first two episodes. Her two best moments - cursing during the wedding and saying "kill the baby" offscreen when she didn't want a new brother or sister were two of the best moments of the entire season for the whole show. 

RATINGS RECAP: 5/22/12

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 17.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3

CBS
8:00 NCIS: Los Angeles (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 NCIS (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 NCIS (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

NBC
8:00 America's Got Talent (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 America's Got Talent
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
10:00 Dateline NBC Anniversary Special
Viewers: 5.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX 
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 14.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4
9:00 Glee
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

On Tuesday night, ABC aired the finale of Dancing with the Stars. It was up a strong 4.6 million viewers and 1.1 demo points but still down a lot from the fall's finale and it posted its lowest finale numbers ever. ABC is hoping the all-star in the fall revitalizes this aging franchise. On FOX, American Idol posted decent numbers but nothing like what it did on the final Tuesday last year or in past years before that. At 9pm, the season finale of Glee was up 1.5 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from the 9pm episode last week. It looks like there is only so much of an upside even when there's an Idol lead-in. Finally on NBC, America's Got Talent was down 1.2 million viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week while a Dateline Anniversary Special was on par with the Fashion Star finale last week.

RATINGS RECAP: 5/21/12

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 16.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
9:00 The Bachelorette
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:30 2 Broke Girls (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:30 Mike & Molly (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Clash of the Commercials: USA vs. World
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

NBC
8:00 America's Got Talent 
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:00 American Ninja Warrior
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4 

FOX
8:00 House Retrospective
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 House
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9 

On Monday night, FOX said goodbye to House after 8 years and 177 episodes. The series finale was up 2.2 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo. Though it was the best numbers since January 23, these finale numbers are a far cry from its heyday (it averaged 19.4 million viewers in 2006-07). It was a great show for FOX over the years but it was definitely time to end it. Over on NBC, America's Got Talent was down eight tenths in viewers and half a demo point from its season premiere last week. At 9pm, the series premiere of American Ninja Warrior did alright for summer numbers and could do ok in this slot. Finally on ABC, the final performance night of Dancing with the Stars was up a million viewers and three tenths in the demo while The Bachelorette was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from its season premiere last week.

RATINGS RECAP: 5/20/12

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:00 Billboard Music Awards
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 10.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Movie: Jesse Stone - Benefit of the Doubt
Viewers: 12.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

NBC
7:00 America's Got Talent (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Celebrity Apprentice
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

FOX
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
7:30 The Cleveland Show 
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
8:00 The Simpsons
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
8:30 Bob's Burgers
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Family Guy
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6 

On Sunday night, FOX had a night of season finales for its cartoons. The Cleveland Show was up two tenths in viewers but down three tenths in the demo to a very low 1.0. At 8pm, The Simpsons was up seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo while Bob's Burgers was down a tenth in viewers and the demo despite the better lead-in. At 9pm, a one hour finale of Family Guy was up half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. This whole night needs some freshening up but FOX will keep it as is. NBC aired the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice. Though it was up 1.4 million viewers and four tenths in the demo, it was the lowest rated finale ever. This franchise is getting tired for NBC. On ABC, America's Funniest Home Videos was down half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo for its season finale. The Billboard Music Awards followed and was down some from last year's telecast. CBS aired two episodes of 60 Minutes and a Jesse Stone movie which all skewed incredibly old, particularly the movie.

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2011-12 Dramas

This was the "year of the sitcom" but I think broadcast TV had a great year with new dramas. Last year, the only dramas I enjoyed (Detroit 1-8-7, Lone Star, Chase, The Event) were all cancelled but this year there were many new hit dramas full of quality storytelling and production. In fact, when it comes to new shows, I think the dramas were easily better. If interested, check out my season in review for comedies as well as last year's dramas recap.

BEST NEW DRAMA
Person of Interest (CBS) - Before Person of Interest debuted, it was touted as being the highest testing pilot at CBS in over a decade and that has turned into the most thrilling drama on TV. Each week is so full of action and suspense, it is an edge of your seat thriller each week. The show has done a masterful job of painting a grim view of post-9/11 NYC and blending case-of-the-week stories with a fascinating overall story. Each individual case has so many twists and turns and sometimes at the end, you find out that its linked to some other part of the overall story. Basically, it's like watching a mini-movie each week. It is without a doubt the show I look forward to the most every week and it's just getting started.

The Runners-Up
Revenge (ABC) - I was skeptical of Revenge because the plot sounded convoluted and then I wondered how they could sustain it but it has pleasantly surprised me in a season full of backstabbing in the Hamptons. The modern day soap about the filthy rich has kept audiences guessing and made plot turns that make the story much more engrossing. The only problem this show had was selling out in the big "reveal" episode by having enemy Tyler die instead of beloved Daniel. But the show has rebounded from that and had a strong second half of the season.

Scandal (ABC) - The new midseason ABC drama is an interesting mix of political thriller and procedural drama. The show doesn't quite seem to know what it wants to be yet but I like both avenues they are taking. The procedural element is fun because you get to see a team solving a major problem in very creative ways while the political story arc involving the President is equally engrossing. I'm excited to see what season 2 looks like for this show.

Worth Mentioning: Smash (NBC), Once Upon a Time (ABC)

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A NEW DRAMA
Jim Caveizel, Person of Interest (CBS) - As the presumed dead former CIA agent John Reese, Jim Caveizel delivers a thrilling performance each week. As understated as he is when he's talking with anyone, he has done some pretty serious damage to the bad guys each week. But that wouldn't be enough to get him at the top of this list. His character development and back story have been very interesting to watch. He doesn't always have complete control and he's so hardened to the world because of what he has experienced. It's a very dynamic performance given by a great actor.

The Runners-Up
Michael Emerson, Person of Interest (CBS) - John Reese's counterpart Mr. Finch played by Michael Emerson is equally essential to the success of Person of Interest. While Reese is taking care of any thug that comes his way, Mr. Finch is at the controls behind it all. He has a brilliant mind and his back-story has only been touched on a bit. Michael Emerson is completely convincing in this role.

Jack Davenport, Smash (NBC) - Oh Smash, what is there to say about you? This show has been one of the more uneven in recent memory but one character who continues to elevate the sometimes mediocre material is Jack Davenport as hotheaded director Derek Wills. His demands and temper are what you might expect from a Broadway director and I always look forward to his scenes on the show.

Worth Mentioning: Sam Neill (Alcatraz, FOX), Kiefer Sutherland (Touch, FOX)


BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A NEW DRAMA
Kerry Washington, Scandal (ABC) - Kerry Washington absolutely makes Scandal work. Without her, I don't know what I would think of the show. But with her, it's engrossing and compelling at every turn. In just a few episodes, she has created a very dynamic character - one who is in complete control professionally but very vulnerable in her personal life. Seeing her at work when they're trying to solve a problem has been one of the more fun things to watch this season but seeing her personal struggle with the President gives us more connection to the character. All in all, a brilliant performance.

The Runners-Up
Emily Van Camp (Revenge, ABC) - As the vengeful Amanda Clarke/Emily Thorne, all roads in Revenge lead back to Emily Van Camp. It's a tall order for a young actress to carry a show like this but she has done a great job. You never quite know if she's going to be cold-hearted and determined or compassionate and sometimes it seems like the character herself struggles with that. You wouldn't care about Revenge if you didn't care about Van Camp's character and she has won me over.

Katharine McPhee (Smash, NBC) - I struggled with this one and almost moved her down a spot but there's enough good things about Katharine McPhee to get her in the runner-up spot. In a series full of cheaters and hotheads, McPhee's Karen Cartwright is a character that we can actually root for because she's just trying to make it in a world she loves. The only downside to McPhee's performance has been, in my opinion, her scenes with boyfriend Dev where she (or maybe the writing) haven't been that believable.

Worth Mentioning: Lana Parrilla (Once Upon a Time, ABC), Amber Heard (The Playboy Club, NBC)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A NEW DRAMA
Henry Czerny, Revenge (ABC) - Revenge is full of completely unlikable characters who you want to root against and Henry Czerny's Conrad Grayson is one of those. While you occasionally see a softer side of him, most times you see a spoiled CEO whose done very sinister things to keep his empire going. Czerny delivers a great performance that's completely believable. His scenes with estranged wife Victoria are some of the best in the entire series and you just want to see him get his comeuppance. Sometimes shows need characters with no redeeming values.

The Runners-Up
Tony Goldwyn (Scandal, ABC) - As President Fitzgerald Grant, Tony Goldwyn has given a very interesting performance. I'm not sure whether I can understand where his character is coming from or whether I think he's just a sleaze and that means he's giving an interesting performance that can be interpreted in multiple ways. It will be interesting to see where this character goes.

Gabriel Mann, Revenge (ABC) - As Nolan Ross, a young multi-millionaire with some serious hacking skills, Gabriel Mann has been a real interesting confidante to Emily Van Camp's character. He started a little shaky but over the year, his character has grown on me a lot. Aside from all the cool tech stuff he can do, I still am not quite sure of his motives all the time which makes him continually interesting.

Worth Mentioning: Kevin Chapman (Person of Interest, CBS), Nick Wechsler, (Revenge, ABC)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A NEW DRAMA
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge (ABC) - One of the single best performances of the year on any show, Madeleine Stowe is a scene stealer as Ice Queen Matriarch Victoria Grayson. Sinister to her core, Stowe's character has delivered some of the most memorable lines of the season with a great deal of bite. Just when you think she might have some redeeming qualities, she turns things around and manipulates others. And everything she does is with a sickly sweet smile that you might imagine would come from a society queen who has had the world go exactly the way she wanted it to until Amanda/Emily busted it up.

The Runners-Up
Megan Hilty (Smash, NBC) - Smash was highly touted for its premiere for its all start cast including film and TV veterans Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston but it is real-life Broadway star Megan Hilty who has delivered the best performance on the show as Ivy Lynn. Not only does she give the best musical performances, she also has portrayed a complicated character whose back story makes her the way she is.

Taraji P. Henson (Person of Interest, CBS) - As Detective Carter, Taraji P. Henson had very little to do in the first part of the season while she tried to hunt down John Reese. But since she joined forces with Reese and Mr. Finch (after they saved her life), her character has become much more interesting. This was never more apparent than in the season finale as she secretly helped Reese escape with the feds watching her. I'm interested to see where her character goes next.

Worth Mentioning: Karine Vanasse (Pan Am, ABC), Laura Benanti (The Playboy Club, NBC)

WORST NEW DRAMA
The River (ABC) - Truth be told, I don't think any drama was as bad as some of last year's stinkers such as My Generation. But this was the worst of the bunch because the story was much lamer than you'd expect and the performances left a lot to be desired. On top of that, the thrills were less than thrilling which is why a horror show is hard to sustain on network TV. The River could have been fascinating and I was excited for it to debut but I was very disappointed by the end product. There was nothing to enjoy.

The Runners-Up
The Firm (NBC) - I didn't expect this show to be as good as the awesome movie with Tom Cruise but I also didn't expect it to be so boring. The Firm held my interest during the two hour pilot for the most part but I turned it off midway through episode two because I realized I wasn't paying attention at all. A show like this can only go so far especially when the production is cheap and the performances are mediocre.

Unforgettable (CBS) - What an ironic title for this show which was easily the most forgettable of the season. CBS proved with Person of Interest that they can develop really interesting shows but with Unforgettable, they got themselves a cookie-cutter procedural with a twist that wore off after about 20 minutes.

Worth Mentioning: Charlie's Angels (ABC), Missing (ABC)

Monday, May 21, 2012

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2011-12 Sitcoms

It's time for my Season in Review! If you visit this site regularly, you know that I primarily focus on the new shows each year so here are my awards for the new comedies. Tomorrow will be new dramas while Wednesday will have a mix of awards for old and new shows!

This season has been dubbed the "year of the comedy" as they were all the rage. Many sitcoms are coming back for a second year and paired with the most new sitcoms on the networks in several years. But overall, I think this was a mixed class in terms of quality. There were certainly better sitcoms than last year's bland bunch but there were also some new stinkers to go with some good ones. Overall, I think the best new shows this year were dramas. More on that tomorrow but for now here is my rundown of the sitcoms!

BEST NEW SITCOM
New Girl (FOX) - I was not a fan of New Girl from the start. There were parts I liked but it was all a little too quirky for me at first, particularly Zooey Deschanel in the lead role. I ended up sticking with it longer than I usually do with shows that I'm ho-hum on and I am sure glad I did. The show really found its voice and now I'm a huge fan. I look forward each week to seeing Jess and her roommates and the show has already created its own pop culture references (the douchebag jar, True American). The writers realized early on that this show was about so much more than Deschanel and have really catered to the talents of the strong ensemble. In some ways, it's Friends for a new generation and there is such chemistry. It is, in my opinion, the best new sitcom since Modern Family. I think and hope New Girl will be around for a long time. Plus, it has a catchy theme song!

The Runners-Up
Up All Night (NBC) - I think this show actually went in the opposite direction of New Girl but it was still good enough to land in second on the list. At its best, it was a really funny show with a sweet undertone. It was wildly inconsistent in season one but I'm glad its renewed even if the ratings didn't merit it. It has the talent to be an awesome show, it just needs to put it all together.

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (ABC) - ABC's dark comedy didn't capture me from week one but I have grown to enjoy it even if I don't love it. I think I have to get used to the fact that nothing on this sitcom quite adds up and I think that's the intention of the writers. It's edgy but not because of its title or content, it's edgy because you don't feel all that safe or comfortable watching it and maybe some sitcoms need that.

Worth Mentioning: Last Man Standing (ABC), Bent (NBC)


BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A NEW SITCOM
Jake Johnson, New Girl (FOX) - Much of the discussion revolving around New Girl has been about Zooey Deschanel and breakout Max Greenfield. Both are warranted but to me, the single best performance in the show comes from Jake Johnson as Nick Miller. He has been responsible for many of the biggest laughs on the show all season from his drunk scenes (honestly, he plays one of the best drunks I've ever seen going back to the legendary Bob Newhart and Dick Van Dyke) to his constant attempts to make relationships or inventions and innovations work. He has a sweet side and a real connection with Deschanel's Jess but the writers would be wise to keep them from hooking up for a long time, if ever.

The Runners-Up
Will Arnett, Up All Night (NBC) - Will Arnett made a great career choice in doing Up All Night. After his breakout performance as Gob in the beloved Arrested Development, he's spent much of his time since then playing very similar characters and it was running real thin. But in Up All Night, he shows a softer, subtler side and it works for him.

Max Greenfield, New Girl (FOX) - Max Greenfield's Schmidt has already undergone quite a transformation in the first season and the result has been a more layered character. In the beginning, he was the roommate who constantly had to add to the douchebag jar. Now he's shown a sentimental side in his relationship with Cece and a fat side in flashbacks.

Worth Mentioning: Tim Allen (Last Man Standing, ABC), Lamorne Morris (New Girl, FOX)

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A NEW SITCOM
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl (FOX) - As the season was getting started, Deschanel was TV's "adorkable" breakout star and it worked at first for a lot of people but not me. The writers still seemed to make a decision (maybe based on viewer response) to tone down some elements of Deschanel's Jess and I think it has worked like a charm. She is still funny and unique but she's not annoying and that makes her such a better character. The strength of the ensemble has allowed her to be one of five rather than the stand alone star and that seems to suit her better too. What started as annoying for me has turned endearing and I am officially on the Zooey Deschanel bandwagon long after everyone else joined. Don't be surprised to see her get an Emmy nomination for this role.

The Runners-Up
Dreama Walker, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (ABC) - More people are probably talking about Krysten Ritter than Dreama Walker in this show but I think Walker has done a stellar job in a role that doesn't have too many dimensions yet. She could just play the wide-eyed blonde to Ritter's dark roommate but I think she put some bite behind the role which made it much more interesting.

Christina Applegate, Up All Night (NBC) - I think Christina Applegate has followed the same trajectory as the show for me. If I had done this list in December, she would have won. She's very good and enjoyable to watch but I sometimes find myself getting bored with her and the show. Still, she deserves to be on this list for a consistent, if not spectacular, performance.

Worth Mentioning: Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, ABC), Amanda Peet (Bent, NBC)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A NEW SITCOM
James Van Der Beek, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (ABC) - This category wasn't the easiest to come up with a list of superlatives but James Van Der Beek deserves to be on top for playing a much more conceited and much more unlikable version of himself. It takes a confident actor with a good sense of humor to make fun of himself, much less being a teen idol who hasn't done nearly as much as recent years. But Van Der Beek doesn't just go along with that, he goes after it with gusto and an over the top attitude that fits this over the top show. If Apartment 23 can stay afloat next season, a teen heartthrob may indeed experience a career renaissance.

The Runners-Up
Garrett Morris, 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - 2 Broke Girls was the breakout hit of the season for network comedies but I honestly don't get it. I watched it for awhile and found it increasingly unfunny. But because this is a weaker category, a runner up slot goes to arguably the best part of the show, Garrett Morris who has several scene-stealing moments as the wise old cashier.

Hector Elizondo, Last Man Standing (ABC) - In a better year for supporting actors, Elizondo may not have cracked the Top 5. But he's serviceable enough as Tim Allen's boss in the painfully generic Last Man Standing. Traditional comedies are all about playing it safe and Elizondo does so it works for the most part.

Worth Mentioning: Dan Fogler (Man Up!, ABC), Cheech Marin (Rob, CBS)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A NEW SITCOM
Cheryl Hines, Suburgatory (ABC) - I really wanted to like Suburgatory and watched it for several weeks but ultimately felt it was a bland show. The only reason I stuck with it as long as I did was to watch Cheryl Hines whose scene-stealing Dallas was by far the best part of the show. As the larger than life suburban mom, Hines is simply a hoot. As I mentioned in my original pilot review, she's taken a character that is largely a caricature and somehow made her believable. If she and onscreen daughter Dalia has their own show, I'd probably watch each and every week.


The Runners-Up:
Hannah Simone, New Girl (FOX) - Simone's Cece didn't even start the year as a regular but she went from being Jess' hot friend to being a member of the best new ensemble on TV. Her Cece is a great female foil for Jess and her relationship with Schmidt has elevated both characters from being one dimensional.

Maya Rudolph, Up All Night (NBC) - As the Oprah-flavored Ava, Maya Rudolph is doing her usual shtick on Up All Night. She lands in third on this list because sometimes its funny and other times its way too out of control. But when she is being funny, she can really steal a scene or an entire episode. It's all about balance.

Worth Mentioning: Kristin Chenoweth (GCB, ABC), Allie Grant (Suburgatory, ABC)

WORST NEW SITCOM
Work It (ABC) - In some ways this was a tough category because there were several sitcom clunkers this year. But in other ways, it was so simple because ABC gave us Work It this year. The juvenile attempt at recreating Bosom Buddies was so horrendous, it's hard to imagine what made ABC want to greenlight the show in the first place. This show would have been a sitcom bomb ten years ago even when multicamera sitcoms were grasping for straws. But in today's day of witty, smart sitcoms, it stuck out like even more of a sore thumb. It was arguably one of the worst sitcoms in the last decade, not just the 2011-12 season. Again, what was ABC thinking here? It was so obviously not going to work on any level.

The Runners-Up
How to Be a Gentleman (CBS) - Remember this show that only lasted two episodes in the fall? I barely do either but I remember hating the pilot because it was so formulaic and full of bad acting that it was hard to sit through a 22 minute episode. Again, you have to wonder what the shows that these networks passed on looked like if this got through.

I Hate My Teenage Daughter (FOX) - FOX got another multicamera stinker with this one and that may be part of the reason they went all single camera for next season. Jamie Pressley and Kate Finneran were so horribly unbelievable as the moms of bratty teenagers. The best part about this show by a mile was its clever title.

Worth Mentioning: Free Agents (NBC), Best Friends Forever (NBC)

Sunday, May 20, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/19/12

ABC 
8:00 Movie: Spiderman 3
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

CBS
8:00 CSI (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.4
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
10:00 48 Hours Mystery
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

NBC
8:00 America's Got Talent (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX
8:00 MLB Baseball
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

Saturday, May 19, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/18/12

ABC 
8:00 Shark Tank
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Primetime: What Would You Do?
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 20/20
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

CBS
8:00 Undercover Boss (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
9:00 CSI: NY (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
10:00 Blue Bloods (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

NBC
8:00 Who Do You Think You Are?
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Grimm
Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1 

FOX
8:00 Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat)
Viewers: 1.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
9:00 Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

Only NBC and ABC were new on Friday night. At 8pm, the series finale of the cancelled Who Do You Think You Are? was up six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. At 9pm, Grimm's season finale was up six tenths in viewers and a strong four tenths in the demo as it really benefits from less competition. At 10pm, Dateline NBC was down a tenth in viewers and in the demo. Over on ABC, the season finale of Shark Tank was down a tenth in viewers and the demo. ABC made the right move by making this a full season next year because it does well for a Friday and repeats well. At 9pm, Primetime: What Would You Do? was down four tenths in viewers and the demo while 20/20 was down two tenths in viewers and the demo at 10pm.

RATINGS RECAP: 5/17/12

ABC
8:00 Missing
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.1
10:00 Scandal
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 13.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 13.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Community
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:30 Community
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 2.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 16.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4
9:00 Touch
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7


Thursday brought a night of many finales. On ABC, the series finale of the cancelled Missing started off the night up a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo. I didn't stick with this show so I don't even know if she found her son. At 9pm, the season finale of Grey's Anatomy was up 1.6 million viewers and a strong half a demo point for its best numbers since January 6. Grey's has had a revival this spring to become the top drama in the demo, not bad for a show entering its ninth season next year. At 10pm, the season finale of Scandal was up nine tenths in viewers and a good four tenths in the demo for its highest numbers ever. Looks like ABC made the right choice in bringing this back instead of GCB but how will it do in the fall against Elementary?

On CBS, a repeat of The Big Bang Theory started off the night and it hurt the season finale of Rules of Engagement which was down 1.6 million viewers and six tenths in the demo for a season low. This was not a good performance for a show that is still in talks for a midseason renewal. At 9pm, the season finale of Person of Interest was up half a million viewers and down a tenth in the demo. The last couple weeks of this show have been down after a winter of growth. Some of that might be due to the resurgence of Grey's. At 10pm, the season finale of The Mentalist was up half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo as it is Sunday bound next year.  

NBC saw terrible numbers with a trio of shows that do next to nothing in the ratings. Three episodes of Community including the season finale all registered a 1.3 demo while the 9:30pm episode hit a series low in total viewers. I have no idea why anyone whose ever seen these numbers can question NBC's decision to move this show to Friday. It's lucky to be there, it should have been cancelled. The season finale of 30 Rock was in the middle of the Community block and down a tenth in viewers and the demo while Awake was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. Finally on FOX, American Idol was up eight tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo for its best demo since March 29. At 9pm, Touch was down eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo despite the lead-in being up. I predict this show will wither and die on Friday nights in the fall.

Friday, May 18, 2012

RATINGS RECAP: 5/16/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS
8:00 Mike & Molly (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
8:30 Rules of Engagement (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 13.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6

NBC
8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 17.7 million, 18-49 demo: 4.9
 
On Wednesday night, CBS got great numbers from its two hour season finale of Criminal Minds which was up a big 1.9 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo for its best performance since January 25. The 10pm numbers were particularly strong as this was a great way to end the season for the veteran show which is quietly one of the most consistent performers on TV. Over on NBC, two episodes of Betty White's Off Their Rockers were mixed as the 8pm episode was down but the 8:30pm episode was up. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

ABC had a down night nearly across the board as its sitcoms lineup suffered. At 8pm, The Middle was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. This show always seems to suffer from the spring swoon more than others. At 8:30pm, the season finale of Suburgatory was down half a million viewers and a not-so-good three tenths in the demo for a series low despite less competition and a steady lead-in. It's a good thing this show is staying where it is next season because it's not ready to be an anchor yet. At 9pm, Modern Family was down 1.2 million viewers and a rough half a demo point for a season low. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 followed and was down a million viewers and four tenths in the demo for a series low. I know it isn't compatible with Family but I don't think ABC is going to be thrilled with the numbers this and Happy Endings pull on Tuesdays in the fall. At 10pm, Revenge was down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo. I still don't think moving this to Sundays was the right idea. On FOX, American Idol was up a good 1.2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo ahead of next week's finale.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

UPFRONTS 2012: CBS' Official Fall Schedule

And finally here is CBS!

MONDAY
8:00 How I Met Your Mother (8th season)
8:30 PARTNERS
9:00 2 Broke Girls (2nd season)
9:30 Mike & Molly (3rd season)
10:00 Hawaii Five-0 (3rd season)
CBS is making a couple big moves on Tuesday by sliding 2 Broke Girls to the 9pm anchor position after just one season. This slot has been held by Two and a Half Men since Everybody Loves Raymond went off the air in 2005. CBS wisely realizes that its two Monday anchors are nearing their end but I'm still a bit surprised by this move. I'm just not sure if Girls is ready to be an anchor quite yet. If it is then this is a great gamble by CBS. In Girls 8:30 slot is the new comedy Partners and that seems like a tonal fit on the night. The rest of the night stays in tact and it could be the final season for How I Met Your Mother. It makes sense to keep Mike & Molly at 9:30pm with the new 9pm anchor.

TUESDAY
8:00 NCIS (10th season)
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles (4th season)
10:00 VEGAS
In what I think is CBS's worst move, they are choosing to keep NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm for a fourth season. If CBS wants to spin off its franchise shows, they should be able to stand on their own and I think Los Angeles is more than ready. Plus I think there is a chance for a new drama to take hold at 9pm with comedies on the other three networks. Instead, they are keeping the NCIS twins together and launching the promising new drama Vegas at 10pm. Will it be able to do better than The Good Wife or Unforgettable in this slot? It might be a tall order for a show that's a bit outside of CBS brand but boasts a great cast.

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Survivor (25th edition)
9:00 Criminal Minds (8th season)
10:00 CSI (13th season)
CBS is keeping the status quo on Wednesday nights. In the last two years, they have moved Survivor and CSI to the night and shored up two difficult timeslots. Throw in Criminal Minds, which has never known any other timeslot and you have a solid but not spectacular lineup with veteran shows that can hold up against ABC's comedies and FOX's singing franchises.


THURSDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (6th season)
8:30 Two and a Half Men (10th season)
9:00 Person of Interest (2nd season)
10:00 ELEMENTARY
CBS made its best move by resisting the temptation to go to two hours of comedy on Thursday. As I said numerous times, their shows are getting too old to do that and while The Big Bang Theory would do great numbers at 9pm, the 8pm hour would likely suffer. The big move is sending Two and a Half Men to 8:30pm Thursday for what is likely its final season. CBS needed to get younger on Mondays and the 8:30pm slot has had bad retention this year with Rules of Engagement and Rob. This move makes them much stronger in the hour. How the tables have turned as a few years ago, Big Bang was reaping the rewards of a Men lead-in. CBS is wisely keeping Person of Interest at 9pm where it grew this year and using it to launch the new Sherlock Holmes drama Elementary at 10pm which seems like a good fit.

FRIDAY
8:00 CSI: NY (9th season)
9:00 MADE IN JERSEY
10:00 Blue Bloods (3rd season)
CBS is shuffling Fridays around a little bit as they have had no luck launching dramas at 8pm. Instead, they will slide CSI: NY up an hour. While the show seems dark for 8pm, it's probably smart to move a veteran drama there rather than let another rookie die. At 9pm is the new drama Made in Jersey which will help create a trio of NY dramas. It should have a better chance at 9pm. Blue Bloods closes out the night as Fridays are more competitive than they have been in years with multiple scripted shows on each of the big four networks. 

SATURDAY
8:00 Encores
10:00 48 Hours Mystery (26th season)
CBS is once again airing encores at 8pm with 48 Hours Mystery at 10pm. I still think they could try scripted programming here but I guess CBS doesn't agree.

SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes (45th season)
8:00 The Amazing Race (21st edition)
9:00 The Good Wife (4th season)
10:00 The Mentalist (5th season)
CBS is opting to keep all returning programs on Sundays but they will add The Mentalist to replace the cancelled CSI: Miami. Some thought they might move The Good Wife to 10pm but CBS is always reluctant to switch times for its dramas. Instead, they will bring The Mentalist to 10pm where it will take the biggest brunt of the NFL overruns. I'm not sure if this was the right move because I think The Mentalist has more of a chance to succeed at 9pm. 

MIDSEASON: Undercover Boss, FRIEND ME, GOLDEN BOY, THE JOB
As usual, CBS doesn't have much on its bench for midseason as most shows run full seasons even when they get cancelled at the end. They have one comedy, one drama, one reality show, and the returning Undercover Boss on deck. Rules of Engagement could still join that list as nothing has been decided yet on the perennial bubble show.

CANCELLED/ENDED: CSI: Miami, A Gifted Man, How to Be a Gentleman, NYC 22, Rob, Unforgettable
No big surprises here but as usual, the most successful cancelled shows reside on CBS as CSI: Miami, Rob, and Unforgettable would most likely be renewed on other networks.

My Thoughts:
Overall, I think this is a good schedule for the most stable network and their new shows look right on brand (with the exception of Vegas which could be a big hit or a big miss). The one move I really think is wrong is keeping NCIS: Los Angeles at 9pm Tuesday. I think that's a major missed opportunity by CBS. Some of their other choices however, should pay off nicely. If 2 Broke Girls is indeed ready to be an anchor than they will have struck gold on Monday nights. Overall, I see another good year for CBS where consistency is king. 

RATINGS RECAP: 5/15/12

ABC
8:00 Cougar Town
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
8:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Dancing with the Stars Results
Viewers: 13.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

CBS
8:00 NCIS
Viewers: 19.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles
Viewers: 15.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0

NBC
8:00 America's Got Talent
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
10:00 Fashion Star
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6 

FOX
8:00 Glee
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Glee
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5 

There were more finales on Tuesday night. At 8pm, the season finale of NCIS was up nine tenths in viewers and a big half a demo point for its best demo since February 21. Still a star after nearly a decade on the air. At 9pm, a two hour NCIS: Los Angeles season finale was up six tenths in viewers and even in the demo with last week. On NBC, America's Got Talent had a strong second night that was just slightly below its Monday number. The season finale of Fashion Star followed and was up half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo. For some reason, NBC is bringing this show back next midseason.

Numbers were troubling on ABC. At 8pm, double episodes of Cougar Town posted miserable series lows. If this is what it gets on ABC, I don't want to see the numbers it will get on TBS next year. At 9pm, the results edition of Dancing with the Stars was down half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo for a season low. This show has really been slipping this spring which is probably why they're doing an all-star edition in the fall. At 10pm, the season finale of Private Practice rebounded from last week's low against The Voice. It was up a million viewers and four tenths in the demo. FOX aired two episodes of Glee ahead of next week's season finale. Both episodes were down from last week. Will the move to 9pm Thursday help this show from the downward trend its been on?

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

UPFRONTS 2012: ABC's Official Fall Schedule

Here we go with ABC!

MONDAY
8:00 Dancing with the Stars (15th edition)
10:00 Castle (5th season)
ABC is choosing to keep the status quo on Mondays as Castle will continue to have the lead-in of Dancing with the Stars. Stars will be an all-star edition which should help it build from a disappointing spring. Given that, it's surprising that ABC wasn't more aggressive at 10pm. I think they really had an opportunity to try a new drama such as Nashville or Mistresses but they blew it by giving one of the best lead-ins to a fifth year show.

TUESDAY
8:00 Dancing with the Stars Results (15th edition)
9:00 Happy Endings (3rd season)
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2nd season)
10:00 Private Practice (6th season)
With NBC and FOX launching many new shows on Monday and Tuesday, ABC is opting for all returning shows on Tuesday as well. The results edition of Dancing with the Stars will slide up an hour to compete directly with The Voice, which also slid up to 8pm. At 9pm, ABC is trying to carve out a new comedy lineup with its younger, hip comedies that have buzz but don't fit on Wednesday. It's not a bad idea but it has to compete with similar genres of comedy on both NBC and FOX. That will be quite a dogfight in that timeslot. At 10pm, Private Practice returns to its new Tuesday slot for a 13 episode, possibly final, season. If all goes well with the comedies, the plan is to launch new sitcoms How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life and The Family Tools in the 8pm hour in January.


WEDNESDAY
8:00 The Middle (4th season)
8:30 Suburgatory (2nd season)
9:00 Modern Family (4th season)
9:30 THE NEIGHBORS
10:00 NASHVILLE
ABC is continuing to perfect its sitcom lineup on Wednesday and they fixed the 8:30pm this season with Suburgatory. Now they will focus on the 9:30pm slot to follow their top show - Modern Family. They made a very odd choice with The Neighbors, an alien comedy that seems like it could be the new Work It. ABC passed over some real interesting pilots including ones starring Kirstie Alley, Portia DeRossi, Mandy Moore, and Judy Greer. What made them pick up this show? I think the Modern Family audience is going to think The Neighbors is idiotic. ABC made the bold move of sending Revenge away from Wednesday night. In its place is Nashville which could find an audience against procedurals on the other channels. There are a lot of country fans out there.


THURSDAY
8:00 LAST RESORT
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (9th season)
10:00 Scandal (2nd season)
It looks like ABC is going to keep trying with the Thursday 8pm hour. FlashForward, The Deep End, My Generation, Charlie's Angels, and Missing have all failed here in recent years but their newest attempt, Last Resort, looks promising even if it doesn't really fit with other ABC shows. Much like FlashForward a few years ago, this is a big swing by ABC in this hour and they're hoping it turns out better this time. Unless they moved Castle here, I can't really think of a better option. There's nothing else like it in the time period. ABC will keep 9-11pm in tact and give Scandal a chance to grow behind Grey's Anatomy after a very steady but unspectacular season one performance. I think that is the right move.

FRIDAY
8:00 Last Man Standing (2nd season)
8:30 MALIBU COUNTRY
9:00 Shark Tank (4th season)
10:00 20/20 (31st season)
Fridays are turning into quite the competitive night! Like NBC, ABC will try to bring comedies to the night starting in November (Shark Tank/Primetime: What Would You Do? airs for the first two months). Unlike NBC, ABC has a track record of comedies on this night with their very successful TGIF lineup in the 1990s. The older-skewing family show Last Man Standing will be joined by a very tonally similar sitcom in Reba McEntire's Malibu Country. If there is enough of an audience left on Fridays, this is a good move for ABC.

SATURDAY
8:00 College Football
As usual.

SUNDAY
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos (23rd season)
8:00 Once Upon a Time (2nd season)
9:00 Revenge (2nd season)
10:00 666 PARK AVE
Sundays are interesting for ABC. They will keep 7-9pm in tact as Once Upon a Time became a new anchor in a very successful first season. The biggest move on the whole schedule is the move of Revenge to Sunday nights. This could certainly pay off for ABC but I have my reservations. While Revenge is buzzy, it wasn't a runaway hit and they have had such a hard time with Wednesday 10pm only to move the first show to work there. Still, they needed something big to take over for Desperate Housewives and they're hoping Revenge can grow here. They are adding the spooky 666 Park Avenue to 10pm which sounds like a good fit with the other two shows on the night. This lineup after Once could sink or swim for ABC. It's a big gamble for sure.

MIDSEASON: The Bachelor, Body of Proof, Wife Swap, THE FAMILY TOOLS, HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, MISTRESSES, RED WIDOW, ZERO HOUR
ABC doesn't have as much on reserve as it usually does. Besides the comedy slots already mentioned, they are tentatively planning Mistresses for May 2013 but it wouldn't surprise me if it turned up sooner than that. No specific plans for Red Widow or Zero Hour yet.

CANCELLED/ENDED: Charlie's Angels, Cougar Town (moved to TBS), Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, GCB, Man Up!, Missing, Pan Am, The River, Work It, You Deserve It
Nothing unsurprising on this list. I haven't been able to find whether Wipeout has been renewed or not but it wouldn't shock me to see it as a filler yet again.

My Thoughts:
I was very critical of ABC's scheduling before last season but then I felt like they made a lot of good moves going into last season and much of it paid off thanks in part to good scheduling and part to a very strong freshman class. However, this year I think both the shows and the scheduling are weaker. There are several things I don't get - why continue to air Castle in one of their best timeslots when its more than ready to be on its own? Why move Revenge from a slot that has been horrible for ABC for years? Why pick up The Neighbors, much less give it the best comedy timeslot? I just don't understand a lot of this. Nashville seemed like it would fit tonally with Dancing with the Stars while 666 Park Avenue probably would have been better for 9pm than 10pm. And none of the comedies look particularly great. ABC had a great year for freshmen in 2009-2010 and this past season but in-between (2010-2011) was a bad year for their new shows. I have a feeling 2012-2013 could be closer to the bad year than the good years.