WEEKLY RECAP: April 22-28, 2019

Here is the weekly ratings recap looking back at the week in ratings for Week #31 of the 2018-19 season! Please note no repeats, sports, specials, or Saturday airings are counted

TOP 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO) - only 17 this week!
1. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.8    18th week
2. American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.6    9th week
3. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.5    22nd week
4. Young Sheldon (CBS, Thursday 8:30pm) - 1.4    17th week
5. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.2    21st week
    9-1-1 (FOX, Monday 9:00pm) - 1.2    14th week
7. Chicago Fire (NBC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 1.1    18th week
    Empire (FOX, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    16th week
    America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, Sunday 7:00pm) - 1.1   7th week
10. The Neighborhood (CBS, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.0    17th week
    The Amazing Race (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.0    2nd week
    Chicago Med (NBC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.0    18th week
    Chicago PD (NBC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 1.0    13th week
    Mom (CBS, Thursday 9:00pm) - 1.0    19th week
15. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 0.9    6th week
    The Voice (NBC, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.9    16th week
    Star (FOX, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.9    14th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO)
1. Dynasty (CW, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.1    17th week
2. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 8:00pm) - 0.2    12th week
    Arrow (CW, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.2    18th week
    Riverdale (CW, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 0.2    19th week
    Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.2    5th week
    In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.2    4th week
    Charmed (CW, Sunday 9:00pm) - 0.2    19th week
8. Roswell, New Mexico (CW, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.3    13th week
    Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 0.3    5th week
    Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.3    20th week
    Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.3    11th week
    Supergirl (CW, Sunday 8:00pm) - 0.3    18th week

13. 1969 (ABC, Tuesday 10:00pm) - 0.4    1st week (NEW SERIES)
    Whiskey Cavalier (ABC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 0.4    5th week
    A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 0.4    8th week
    The Red Line (CBS, Sunday 8:00pm) - 0.4    1st week (NEW SERIES)

17. The Fix (ABC, Monday 10:00pm) - 0.5    5th week
    Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.5    5th week
    Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.5    5th week
    Gotham (FOX, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.5    9th week
    The Blacklist (NBC, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.5    12th week

TOP 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday 8:00pm) - 11.8 million    18th week
2. Young Sheldon (CBS, Thursday 8:30pm) - 10.5 million    17th week
3. 60 Minutes (CBS, Sunday 7:00pm) - 9.3 million    25th week
4. American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 8.7 million    9th week
5. Chicago Fire (NBC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 8.1 million    19th week
6. Chicago Med (NBC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 7.9 million    18th week
    Mom (CBS, Thursday 9:00pm) - 7.9 million    20th week
8. Blue Bloods (CBS, Friday 10:00pm) - 7.8 million    19th week
9. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 7.6 million    21st week
10. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 7.5 million    20th week
11. Chicago PD (NBC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 7.0 million    16th week
12. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, Friday 9:00pm) - 6.6 million    19th week
13. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Tuesday 10:00pm) - 6.5 million    21st week
14. The Neighborhood (CBS, Monday 8:00pm) - 6.3 million    12th week
    The Voice (NBC, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 6.3 million    16th week
16. 9-1-1 (FOX, Monday 9:00pm) - 6.0 million    6th week
17. Life in Pieces (CBS, Thursday 9:30pm) - 5.7 million    2nd week
    NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, Sunday 9:00pm) - 5.7 million    20th week
19. MacGyver (CBS, Friday 8:00pm) - 5.5 million    9th week
20. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 5.4 million    6th week
      America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, Sunday 7:00pm) - 5.4 million    6th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. Dynasty (CW, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.5 million    17th week
2. Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.6 million    5th week
3. Arrow (CW, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    18th week
    Riverdale (CW, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 0.7 million    19th week
    In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    4th week
    Charmed (CW, Sunday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    19th week

7. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 8:00pm) - 0.9 million    12th week
8. Roswell, New Mexico (CW, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 1.0 million    13th week
9. Supergirl (CW, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.1 million    18th week
10. Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.3 million    20th week
11. Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 1.5 million    5th week

12. The Flash (CW, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.6 million    18th week
13. A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 1.7 million    8th week
    Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 1.7 million    13th week
    Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 1.7 million    10th week

16. Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 1.8 million    6th week
      Bob's Burgers (FOX, Sunday 8:30pm) - 1.8 million    13th week
18. The Simpsons (FOX, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.9 million    13th week
19. Family Guy (FOX, Sunday 9:00pm) - 2.0 million    16th week
20. Gotham (FOX, Thursday 8:00pm) - 2.2 million    11th week

WINNERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - The Neighborhood (CBS)    6th week
Tuesday - None
Wednesday - Survivor (CBS)    5th week
Thursday - The Orville (FOX)    2nd week
Friday - None
Sunday - American Idol (ABC)    4th week

LOSERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - Man with a Plan (CBS)    1st week
Tuesday - The Voice (NBC)    1st week
Wednesday - Whiskey Cavalier (ABC)    2nd week
Thursday - Abby's (NBC)    3rd week
Friday - Proven Innocent (FOX)    4th week
Sunday - The Red Line (CBS)    1st week (NEW SHOW)

UPFRONTS 2019: What FOX Should Do

Continuing my week of suggestions for the networks, here is my FOX suggestion. New FOX is moving more towards live events and animated series. To that end, there is precious little room for scripted programming especially considering they owned the biggest new hit of the season in the unscripted The Masked Singer and have now committed to WWE Smackdown on Friday nights. But they didn't have the worst year for scripted shows either as they have a roster of decent performing dramas and Last Man Standing was successfully revived a year after its ABC cancellation.

Past FOX suggestions: 2018   2017   2016   2015   2014   2013   2012   2011

For a list of FOX pilots, click here

MONDAYS
8:00 9-1-1
9:00 PRODIGAL SON
I was tempted to suggest that The Resident and 9-1-1 stay together on Mondays because they have been a pretty successful pair. But 9-1-1 is one of FOX's strongest shows and I would try to use it to launch another show. The crime drama Prodigal Son seems like it could be a good option.

TUESDAYS
8:00 Last Man Standing
8:30 GENIUSES
9:00 The Resident
With FOX losing its Friday comedy block to wrestling, it's time to move the multi-cam comedy hour elsewhere. Tuesday seems like the only reasonable landing spot although this would pit Last Man Standing against The Conners. I still think it's the best option and I would pair Last Man with the new Geniuses to see if they can find a better companion than The Cool Kids. I would let The Resident take over the 9pm slot because I think it can do pretty decently anywhere.

WEDNESDAYS
8:00 Empire
9:00 FILTHY RICH
I would renew Star but not give it the post-Empire slot in the fall. With the very little juice that Empire has left, let's allow it one more chance to be a lead-in and the soapy drama Filthy Rich seems like an obvious companion.

THURSDAYS
8:00 Thursday Night Football
As announced.

FRIDAYS
8:00 WWE Smackdown
Again, as announced. It's too bad that this and football couldn't share a slot during the season and keep Fridays open for FOX.

SATURDAYS
8:00 FOX Sports Saturday

SUNDAYS
7:00 Hell's Kitchen/NFL Overrun
8:00 The Simpsons
8:30 BLESS THE HARTS
9:00 Bob's Burgers
9:30 Family Guy
FOX typically uses the 7pm hour in the fall for animated encores since football takes it up half the time. But I think with less real estate, they could use it for a low priority reality show like Hell's Kitchen on the weeks where they don't have the football doubleheader. With multiple animated comedies on deck, an 8-10pm animated block is the smart idea but I would give the younger Bob's Burgers the 9pm slot and slide Family Guy back to 9:30pm. The newbie Bless the Harts can take the 8:30pm slot and see if it can fit in nicely.

MIDSEASON: DUNCANVILLE, UNTITLED ANNIE WEISMAN/JASON KATIMS, Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back, The Cool Kids, The Masked Singer, Masterchef Junior, The Orville, Star
I think the best and most obvious choice for FOX next year is to give The Masked Singer the post-Super Bowl slot and tee it up for a late winter run from there. Maybe pair it then on Wednesdays with the new Jason Katims drama or the new season of Star or maybe they have another reality show up their sleeve. Duncanville can be ready to go on Sundays if Bless the Harts doesn't work or has a shorter season. The Gordon Ramsay shows can go anywhere as usual. The Cool Kids can be a back-up if Geniuses doesn't work and of course FOX will need something for Thursdays at midseason and I'm not opposed to The Orville going back there.

CANCELLED/ENDED: The Gifted, Gotham, Lethal Weapon, Mental Samurai, The Passage, Proven Innocent, Rel

UPFRONTS 2019: What NBC Should Do

It's Upfront season again! This week, I will be making my schedule suggestions for each network followed by predictions next week and then analyzing the actual schedules the week after that!

NBC had an OK year. They had moderate success stories with Manifest and New Amsterdam though both eroded quite a bit as the season went on. They saw a lot of success with their #OneChicago Wednesdays and while it is below its peak, This is Us remains one of TV's top shows. Their midseason fare didn't work out as well with The Village, The Enemy Within, and Abby's all bombing and the newly acquired Brooklyn Nine-Nine not living up to early expectations (though Brooklyn has been renewed). I am always in favor of picking up more pilots and launching more shows in the fall to set up better chances for success so my predictions will probably reflect that.

Past NBC Suggestions: 2018   2017   2016   2015   2014   2013   2012   2011

For a list of NBC pilots, click here

MONDAYS
8:00 The Voice
10:00 PRISM
It doesn't always work for NBC, but their best bet year after year on Mondays is to air The Voice followed by a promising new drama. I think Prism might be that show this year with the unique look at a murder trial.

TUESDAYS
8:00 This is Us
9:00 COUNCIL OF DADS
10:00 New Amsterdam
I think it's time for The Voice to go down to once a week. That was a good thing for Dancing with the Stars and I think it's time. I also think it's time to try their This is Us type show immediately following This is Us in the fall instead of doing the Rise/The Village strategy. The next successor appears to be Council of Dads so I would give that the 9pm slot and keep New Amsterdam at 10pm.

WEDNESDAYS
8:00 Chicago Med
9:00 Chicago Fire
10:00 Chicago PD
The #OneChicago lineup was arguably the most consistently successful lineup on TV this season. I see absolutely no reason to change it.

THURSDAYS
8:00 THE KENAN SHOW
8:30 PERFECT HARMONY
9:00 Superstore
9:30 The Good Place
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
NBC's comedy lineup on Thursdays has been getting pretty dire lately so I think it's time to shake it up and give some multi-cam comedies the lead-off slot. The Kenan Show and Perfect Harmony starring Bradley Whitford seem promising. I would move Superstore to 9pm and pair it with The Good Place leading into the record-breaking and perhaps final season of Law & Order: SVU.

FRIDAYS
8:00 Manifest
9:00 The Blacklist
10:00 Dateline NBC
Manifest to Fridays seems like an obvious choice. The show did well in delayed viewing and it definitely doesn't deserve the Monday 10pm slot back so this makes sense and I would have it lead into The Blacklist.

SATURDAYS
8:00 Encores

SUNDAYS
7:00 Football Night in America
8:30 Sunday Night Football

MIDSEASON: EMERGENCE, LIKE MAGIC, UNINSURED, ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST, America's Got Talent: The Champions, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Ellen's Game of Games, Good Girls, The Titan Games, Will & Grace, World of Dance
Emergence could be a Monday 10pm contender for the spring run of The Voice. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist will be tough to schedule but I think it's worth a chance. Brooklyn Nine-Nine can replace The Good Place and Will & Grace can be on deck if a multi-cam comedy fails. I'm not sure if they can do a "Champions" run of America's Got Talent in the winter, but some sort of AGT run seems like a good choice as both that and Ellen's Game of Games (and even The Titan Games) are solid winter fillers. I would save World of Dance for summer and Good Girls and the other new shows can go where needed or be held for late spring/summer if things go well.

CANCELLED/ENDED: A.P. Bio, Abby's, Blindspot, The Enemy Within, I Feel Bad, Midnight Texas, The Titan Games, The Village

THE WEEK AHEAD: April 29-May 5, 2019

Here's a look at Week #32!

ABC

MONDAY
8:00 The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story (Special)
10:00 The Fix

TUESDAY
8:00 American Housewife
8:30 The Kids Are Alright
9:00 Black-ish
9:30 Bless This Mess
10:00 1969

WEDNESDAY
8:00 The Goldbergs
8:30 Schooled
9:00 Modern Family
9:30 Single Parents
10:00 Whiskey Cavalier

THURSDAY
8:00 Grey's Anatomy
9:00 Station 19
10:00 For the People

FRIDAY
8:00 Screen Nation: Diane Sawyer Reporting (Special)
10:00 20/20

SATURDAY
8:00 NBA Countdown
8:30 NBA Playoffs

SUNDAY
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 American Idol
10:00 Shark Tank

CBS

MONDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
8:30 Man with a Plan
9:00 The Code
10:00 Bull

TUESDAY
8:00 NCIS
9:00 FBI
10:00 NCIS: New Orleans

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Survivor
9:00 The Amazing Race
10:00 SEAL Team

THURSDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
8:30 Young Sheldon
9:00 Mom
9:30 Life in Pieces
10:00 S.W.A.T.

FRIDAY
8:00 MacGyver
9:00 Hawaii Five-0
10:00 Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8:00 Million Dollar Mile
9:00 Ransom
10:00 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 The Red Line
10:00 NCIS: Los Angeles

NBC

MONDAY
8:00 The Voice
10:00 The Enemy Within

TUESDAY
8:00 The Village
9:00 The Voice
10:00 New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY
8:00 2019 Billboard Music Awards

THURSDAY
8:00 Superstore
8:30 A.P. Bio
9:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
9:30 Abby's
10:00 Law & Order: SVU

FRIDAY
8:00 The Blacklist
9:00 Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
8:00 NHL Hockey Playoffs
10:00 Saturday Night Live (Repeat)

SUNDAY
7:00 Ellen's Game of Games (Repeat)
8:00 World of Dance (Season Finale)
10:00 Good Girls

FOX

MONDAY
8:00 The Resident
9:00 9-1-1

TUESDAY
8:00 Masterchef Junior
9:00 Mental Samurai

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Empire
9:00 Star

THURSDAY
8:00 2019 Miss USA Competition

FRIDAY
8:00 Last Man Standing
8:30 The Cool Kids
9:00 Proven Innocent

SATURDAY
8:00 Masterchef Junior (Repeat)
9:00 9-1-1 (Repeat)

SUNDAY
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
7:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
8:00 The Simpsons
8:30 Bob's Burgers
9:00 Family Guy
9:30 Family Guy (Repeat)

CW

MONDAY
8:00 DC's Legends of Tomorrow
9:00 Arrow

TUESDAY
8:00 The Flash
9:00 The 100 (Season Premiere)

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Riverdale
9:00 Jane the Virgin

THURSDAY
8:00 iZombie (Season Premiere)
9:00 In the Dark

FRIDAY
8:00 Dynasty
9:00 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)
9:30 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)

SUNDAY
8:00 Supergirl
9:00 Charmed

PILOT REVIEW: The Red Line

THE RED LINE

Starring: Noah Wyle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Aliyah Royale, Noel Fisher, Howard Charles, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Vinny Chhibber, Michael Patrick Thornton

Created by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss
Written by Caitlin Parrish & Eric Weiss, Directed by Victoria Mahoney

IN SHORT: Some Important Things to Say and Some Fluff

THE PREMISE:
The Red Line is a new drama airing four two-hour installments on CBS over the next month. The show is set in Chicago where a white cop, Paul Evans (Noel Fisher) shoots a black doctor to death in a misunderstanding at a convenience store robbery. The death leaves behind the doctor's husband, Daniel Calder (Noah Wyle) and daughter Jira (Aliyah Royale). Meanwhile, we also meet up and coming politician Tia Young (Emayatzy Corinealdi) and her husband, Ethan (Howard Charles). Rounding out the main cast is Evans' partner, Vic (Elizabeth Laidlaw) and his brother, Jim (Michael Patrick Thornton) as well as Daniel's colleague and Jira's teacher, Liam (Vinny Chhibber).

THE REVIEW:
There were some really compelling moments in the pilot of The Red Line. I have only watched the first hour so far which is the technical pilot, but I do plan to watch the second hour soon. The best part of this show centered on the main plot, the shooting death and aftermath of Harrison Brennan. The show did a great job making Brennan a compelling character in just the few minutes we saw him on screen before his death so it made us care more about his family after his death. That's not an easy thing to do so credit to the writers and guest star Corey Reynolds.

There are certainly good intentions in The Red Line and it succeeds some of the time. They want to say something about race relations in a city where there are a lot of problems with that very issue. The show did a nice job of showing the grief and anger from an innocent man's family but also humanizing the cop who shot him and is dealing with his own form of grief. In today's culture when these stories pop up, it's very easy to take sides and make it a, pardon the expression, black and white issue. But the reality is it's a lot more complicated than that and this show at least recognizes that even if it doesn't fully explore it in a completely satisfying or thoughtful way yet.

The cast is solid, especially Wyle and Fisher. But some of the other characters weren't as instantly compelling including Royale as Wyle's daughter. The show was purposefully keeping the Tia/Ethan storyline separate before bringing them together, but I don't know that her story and foray into politics in its own right really was interesting without connecting it to the main story clearly. I was pretty intrigued by the dynamics between Fisher & his partner, especially in their final scene. I'm curious to see where the show goes from here and how much it stays focus on the overall concept of the pilot and how much it becomes more of a relationship drama. I hope it's the former.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Red Line is certainly noble in its attempt. Between some really good moments and a very compelling lead performance from Noah Wyle, it's enough for me to make time for this late spring entry. As the final scripted show premiering in the 2018-19 season, it may be an afterthought to its network but it's far from the worst offering.

PILOT REVIEW: Bless This Mess

BLESS THIS MESS

Starring: Dax Shepard, Lake Bell, JT Neal, with Pam Grier, and Ed Begley Jr.

Created by Lake Bell and Elizabeth Meriwether
Written by Lake Bell & Elizabeth Meriwether, Directed by Lake Bell

IN SHORT: Green Acres: Nebraska

THE PREMISE:
Mike and Rio (Dax Shepard and Lake Bell) have been married for a year when they decide to give up their busy and stressful New York lives to become farmers in Nebraska when they are left a farmhouse by Mike's dead Aunt Maggie. When getting there, they realize they know very little about farming and also deal with some interesting locals including Rudy (Ed Begley Jr.), a neighbor of Aunt Maggie's who lives in her barn, and Jacob (JT Neal), a perhaps dim-witted son of neighbors. Rounding out the main cast is the local sheriff and store owner, Constance (Pam Grier).

THE REVIEW:
Bless This Mess seemed like an afterthought to ABC as the project, originally tied to FOX, was picked up very late and then thrown on the schedule with a mid-April premiere. But there was promise in the ratings and there's promise in the show too. It's not a perfect show but with a premise that hasn't really been seen since 1971 (when Green Acres left the air), it feels a little bit different than anything else even though the classic TV fans will immediately see the similarities to Acres.

Lake Bell is the creator, writer, director, and star of this pilot and she's solid as Rio, but the best casting might have been Dax Shepard who is instantly likable and natural as Mike. Shepard has a natural ease on camera that was evident in his role on Parenthood and he shines again here. I'm kind of surprised it's taken this long to get him back on TV. Shepard's strength doesn't mean Bell is weak, but he is clearly the stronger performer of the two. I'm always a little leery of someone who is doing as much in a show as Bell and she had a couple moments that didn't ring true, but she also had a couple funny line deliveries and made a pretty ridiculous moment with a cow actually work.

This show is also going to benefit from building up the community of this rural area in a way that other rural sitcoms back to The Andy Griffith Show have done successfully. Ed Begley Jr. was a little bizarre. I know that's the point of the role but I'm not sure Begley was the right casting choice. Pam Grier is very strong as the sheriff and store owner and had a great scene with Shepard in the pilot. The ending of the episode where the small community came to help gave me a good indication of where this show can go and left me optimistic about its future.

BOTTOM LINE:
It's tough for a late premiere to get renewed so who knows what will happen to Bless This Mess even with its decent premiere numbers. But it did enough for me to want to watch more and felt a little bit out of the ABC comedy vein in a good way. I'm rooting for it.

WEEKLY RECAP: April 15-21, 2019

Here is the weekly ratings recap looking back at the week in ratings for Week #30 of the 2018-19 season! Please note no repeats, sports, specials, or Saturday airings are counted

TOP 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO)
1. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.9    17th week
2. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.5    21st week
3. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.3    20th week
    Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.3   21st week
    American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.3    8th week
6. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.2    5th week
    The Amazing Race (CBS, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 1.2    1st week (New Season)
8. 9-1-1 (FOX, Monday 9:00pm) - 1.1    13th week
    NCIS (CBS, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    20th week
    Empire (FOX, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    15th week
11. The Neighborhood (CBS, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.0    16th week
    The Voice (NBC, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.0    15th week
    Life in Pieces (CBS, Thursday 8:30pm) - 1.0    Special Airing (New Season)
    Mom (CBS, Thursday 9:00pm) - 1.0    18th week
15. Man with a Plan (CBS, Monday 8:30pm) - 0.9    5th week
    Bless This Mess (ABC, Tuesday 9:30pm) - 0.9    1st week (NEW SERIES)
    FBI (CBS, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.9    7th week
    Star (FOX, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.9    13th week
    Superstore (NBC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.9    4th week
    Last Man Standing (FOX, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.9    16th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO)
1. Arrow (CW, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.2    17th week
    Roswell, New Mexico (CW, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.2    12th week
    Riverdale (CW, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 0.2    18th week
    Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.2    4th week
    In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.2    3rd week
    Dynasty (CW, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.2    16th week
    Charmed (CW, Sunday 9:00pm) - 0.2    18th week
8. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 8:00pm) - 0.3    11th week
    Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.3    19th week
    Supergirl (CW, Sunday 8:00pm) - 0.3    17th week
11. Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 0.4    4th week
    Blindspot (NBC, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.4    19th week
    Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.4    10th week
    Madam Secretary (CBS, Sunday 10:00pm) - 0.4    18th week
15. The Fix (ABC, Monday 10:00pm) - 0.5    4th week
    The Code (CBS, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.5    1st week
    Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.5    4th week
    The Flash (CW, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 0.5    13th week
    Whiskey Cavalier (ABC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 0.5    4th week
    For the People (ABC, Thursday 10:00pm) - 0.5    7th week
    A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 0.5    7th week
    Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.5    4th week
    Good Girls (NBC, Sunday 10:00pm) - 0.5    6th week

TOP 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. NCIS (CBS, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 11.9 million    20th week
2. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday 8:00pm) - 11.4 million    17th week
3. FBI (CBS, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 8.8 million    19th week
4. 60 Minutes (CBS, Sunday 7:00pm) - 8.5 million    24th week
5. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 7.9 million    19th week
6. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 7.7 million    20th week
7. The Voice (NBC, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 7.2 million    15th week
8. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 7.1 million    5th week
    American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 7.1 million    8th week
10. Bull (CBS, Monday 10:00pm) - 6.7 million    13th week
     Life in Pieces (CBS, Thursday 8:30pm) - 6.7 million    Special Airing
12. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Tuesday 10:00pm) - 6.5 million    20th week
     Mom (CBS, Thursday 9:00pm) - 6.5 million    19th week
14. Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 6.2 million    16th week
15. The Neighborhood (CBS, Monday 8:00pm) - 5.7 million    11th week
      The Amazing Race (CBS, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 5.7 million    1st week (New Season)
17. 9-1-1 (FOX, Monday 9:00pm) - 5.6 million    5th week
18. Man with a Plan (CBS, Monday 8:30pm) - 5.1 million    5th week
      S.W.A.T. (CBS, Thursday 10:00pm) - 5.1 million    4th week
20. Life in Pieces (CBS, Thursday 9:30pm) - 5.0 million    1st week (New Season)

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. Dynasty (CW, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.5 million    16th week
2. In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.6 million    3rd week
3. Arrow (CW, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    17th week
    Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    4th week
    Charmed (CW, Sunday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    18th week
6. Riverdale (CW, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 0.8 million    18th week
7. Roswell, New Mexico (CW, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.9 million    12th week
8. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.0 million    11th week
    Supergirl (CW, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.0 million    17th week
10. The Flash (CW, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.3 million    17th week
     Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.3 million    19th week
12. Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 1.5 million    4th week
13. Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 1.7 million    5th week
14. A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 1.8 million    7th week
     Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 1.8 million    12th week
16. Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 1.9 million    9th week
17. Gotham (FOX, Thursday 8:00pm) - 2.0 million    10th week
18. Good Girls (NBC, Sunday 10:00pm) - 2.1 million    8th week
19. Masterchef Junior (FOX, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 2.5 million    4th week
20. For the People (ABC, Thursday 10:00pm) - 2.7 million    2nd week
     The Orville (FOX, Thursday 9:00pm) - 2.7 million    6th week

WINNERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - The Voice (NBC)    4th week
Tuesday - Bless This Mess (ABC)    1st week (NEW SERIES)
Wednesday - The Amazing Race (CBS)    1st week (New Season)
Thursday - Superstore (NBC)    4th week
Friday - Dateline NBC (NBC)    2nd week
Sunday - American Idol (ABC)    3rd week

LOSERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - The Code (CBS)    1st week
Tuesday - New Amsterdam (NBC)    2nd week
Wednesday - Riverdale (CW)    2nd week
Thursday - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)    3rd week
Friday - Proven Innocent (FOX)    3rd week
Sunday - Good Girls (NBC)    3rd week

WEEKLY RECAP: April 8-14, 2019

Here is the weekly ratings recap looking back at the week in ratings for Week #29 of the 2018-19 season! Please note no repeats, sports, specials, or Saturday airings are counted

TOP 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO) - only 18 this week!
1. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.5    20th week
    Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.5    20th week
3. American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.3    7th week
4. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.2    19th week
    NCIS (CBS, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.2    19th week
    The Voice (NBC, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.2    14th week
    Modern Family (ABC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 1.2   20th week
8. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.1    4th week
    The Goldbergs (ABC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    19th week
    Empire (FOX, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    14th week
11. Schooled (ABC, Wednesday 8:30pm) - 1.0    7th week
12. Star (FOX, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.9    12th week
      Station 19 (ABC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.9    7th week
      Superstore (NBC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.9    3rd week
      60 Minutes (CBS, Sunday 7:00pm) - 0.9    12th week
16. Single Parents (ABC, Wednesday 9:30pm) - 0.8    4th week
      Fam (CBS, Thursday 9:30pm) - 0.8    4th week
      Shark Tank (ABC, Sunday 10:00pm) - 0.8    4th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO) - only 15 this week!
1. Roswell, New Mexico (CW, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.2    11th week
    Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.2    3rd week
    In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.2    2nd week
4. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 8:00pm) - 0.3    10th week
5. Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 0.4    3rd week
    Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.4    18th week
    Blindspot (NBC, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.4    18th week
    Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.4    9th week
    Madam Secretary (CBS, Sunday 10:00pm) - 0.4    17th week
10. The Fix (ABC, Monday 10:00pm) - 0.5    3rd week
    Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.5    3rd week
    For the People (ABC, Thursday 10:00pm) - 0.5    6th week
    A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 0.5    6th week
    Speechless (ABC, Friday 8:30pm) - 0.5   21st week
    The Blacklist (NBC, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.5    11th week

TOP 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. NCIS (CBS, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 11.8 million    19th week
2. 60 Minutes (CBS, Sunday 7:00pm) - 8.7 million    23rd week
3. The Code (CBS, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 8.1 million    Special Airing (NEW SERIES)
    Blue Bloods (CBS, Friday 10:00pm) - 8.1 million    18th week
5. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 7.6 million    19th week
    Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 7.6 million    18th week
7. The Voice (NBC, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 7.3 million    14th week
    American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 7.3 million    7th week
9. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, Friday 9:00pm) - 6.9 million    18th week
    God Friended Me (CBS, Sunday 8:00pm) - 6.9 million    19th week
11. Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 6.8 million    15th week
      NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, Sunday 9:00pm) - 6.8 million    19th week
13. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Tuesday 10:00pm) - 6.7 million    19th week
14. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 6.5 million    4th week
15. MacGyver (CBS, Friday 8:00pm) - 6.1 million    8th week
16. Station 19 (ABC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 5.4 million    3rd week
17. Madam Secretary (CBS, Sunday 10:00pm) - 5.0 million    3rd week
18. Fam (CBS, Thursday 9:30pm) - 4.9 million    4th week
19. Modern Family (ABC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 4.8 million    2nd week
20. New Amsterdam (NBC, Tuesday 10:00pm) - 4.6 million    8th week
    The Goldbergs (ABC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 4.6 million    4th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.6 million    3rd week
2. In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.7 million    2nd week
3. Roswell, New Mexico (CW, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.8 million    11th week
4. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 8:00pm) - 0.9 million    10th week
5. Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.5 million    18th week
6. Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 1.6 million    3rd week
7. Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 1.7 million    8th week
8. Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 1.8 million    4th week
9. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 1.9 million    11th week
10. A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 2.0 million    6th week
11. Speechless (ABC, Friday 8:30pm) - 2.3 million    20th week
12. Good Girls (NBC, Sunday 10:00pm) - 2.4 million    7th week
13. Splitting Up Together (ABC, Tuesday 9:30pm) - 2.5 million    13th week
14. The Orville (FOX, Thursday 9:00pm) - 2.6 million    5th week
15. Masterchef Junior (FOX, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 2.7 million    3rd week
16. Black-ish (ABC, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 2.8 million    6th week
17. The Kids Are Alright (ABC, Tuesday 8:30pm) - 2.9 million    3rd week
      Blindspot (NBC, Friday 8:00pm) - 2.9 million    18th week

19. Whiskey Cavalier (ABC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 3.1 million    1st week
    Star (FOX, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 3.1 million    2nd week
    For the People (ABC, Thursday 10:00pm) - 3.1 million    1st week
    Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, Friday 8:00pm) - 3.1 million    9th week

WINNERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - American Idol (ABC)    1st week
Tuesday - NCIS (CBS)    5th week
Wednesday - Schooled (ABC)    2nd week
Thursday - Superstore (NBC)    3rd week
Friday - MacGyver (CBS)    2nd week
Sunday - American Idol (ABC)    2nd week

LOSERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - The Enemy Within (NBC)    1st week
Tuesday - The Code (CBS)    Special Airing
Wednesday - Empire (FOX)    3rd week
Thursday - Abby's (NBC)    2nd week
Friday - Blindspot (NBC)    3rd week
Sunday - God Friended Me (CBS)    3rd week

THE WEEK AHEAD: April 22-28, 2019

I apologize for being behind on some things as I am away. I will review Bless This Mess and update other posts later this week! Here's a look at Week #31!

ABC

MONDAY
8:00 American Idol
10:00 The Fix

TUESDAY
8:00 American Housewife
8:30 The Kids Are Alright
9:00 Black-ish
9:30 Bless This Mess
10:00 1969 (SERIES PREMIERE)

WEDNESDAY
8:00 The Goldbergs (Repeat)
8:30 Schooled (Repeat)
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
9:30 Single Parents (Repeat)
10:00 Whiskey Cavalier

THURSDAY
8:00 2019 NFL Draft (Special)

FRIDAY
8:00 2019 NFL Draft (Special)

SATURDAY
8:00 American Idol (Repeat)
10:00 20/20

SUNDAY
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 American Idol
10:00 Shark Tank

CBS

MONDAY
8:00 The Neighborhood (Season Finale)
8:30 Man with a Plan
9:00 The Code
10:00 Bull (Repeat)

TUESDAY
8:00 NCIS (Repeat)
9:00 The Code (Repeat)
10:00 NCIS: New Orleans

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Survivor
9:00 The Amazing Race
10:00 SEAL Team

THURSDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
8:30 Young Sheldon
9:00 Mom
9:30 Life in Pieces
10:00 S.W.A.T.

FRIDAY
8:00 MacGyver
9:00 Hawaii Five-0
10:00 Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8:00 Ransom
9:00 FBI (Repeat)
10:00 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 The Red Line (SERIES PREMIERE)
9:00 The Red Line
10:00 NCIS: Los Angeles

NBC

MONDAY
8:00 The Voice
10:00 The Enemy Within

TUESDAY
8:00 The Voice
9:00 The Village
10:00 New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Chicago Med
9:00 Chicago Fire
10:00 Chicago PD

THURSDAY
8:00 Superstore
8:30 A.P. Bio
9:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
9:30 Abby's
10:00 Law & Order: SVU

FRIDAY
8:00 The Blacklist
9:00 The Blacklist
10:00 Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
8:00 NHL Hockey Playoffs

SUNDAY
7:00 Ellen's Game of Games (Repeat)
8:00 World of Dance
10:00 Good Girls

FOX

MONDAY
8:00 The Resident
9:00 9-1-1

TUESDAY
8:00 Masterchef Junior
9:00 Mental Samurai

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Empire
9:00 Star

THURSDAY
8:00 Gotham (SERIES FINALE)
9:00 The Orville (Season Finale)

FRIDAY
8:00 Last Man Standing (Repeat)
8:30 The Cool Kids (Repeat)
9:00 Proven Innocent

SATURDAY
8:00 Masterchef Junior (Repeat)
9:00 9-1-1 (Repeat)

SUNDAY
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
7:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
8:00 The Simpsons
8:30 Bob's Burgers
9:00 Family Guy
9:30 Family Guy (Repeat)

CW

MONDAY
8:00 DC's Legends of Tomorrow
9:00 Arrow

TUESDAY
8:00 The Flash
9:00 Roswell, New Mexico (Season Finale)

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Riverdale
9:00 Jane the Virgin

THURSDAY
8:00 Supernatural (Season Finale)
9:00 In the Dark

FRIDAY
8:00 Dynasty
9:00 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)
9:30 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)

SUNDAY
8:00 Supergirl
9:00 Charmed

TV NEWS & THOUGHTS
- NBC has renewed Manifest for a second season. The show premiered to big ratings in the fall, but it eroded continuously through the first season. It has continued to do well in delayed viewing though so this is not much of a surprise. I wouldn't expect it back in the Monday 10pm slot though.

THE WEEK AHEAD: April 15-21, 2019

Here's a look at Week #30!

ABC

MONDAY
8:00 American Idol
10:00 The Fix

TUESDAY
8:00 American Housewife
8:30 The Kids Are Alright
9:00 Black-ish
9:30 Bless This Mess (SERIES PREMIERE)
10:00 The Rookie (Season Finale)

WEDNESDAY
8:00 The Goldbergs (Repeat)
8:30 Schooled (Repeat)
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
9:30 Single Parents (Repeat)
10:00 Whiskey Cavalier

THURSDAY
8:00 Grey's Anatomy
9:00 Station 19
10:00 For the People

FRIDAY
8:00 NBA Basketball Playoffs

SATURDAY
8:00 Movie: The Ten Commandments

SUNDAY
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos (Repeat)
8:00 American Idol
10:00 Shark Tank

CBS

MONDAY
8:00 The Neighborhood
8:30 Man with a Plan
9:00 The Code
10:00 Bull

TUESDAY
8:00 NCIS
9:00 FBI
10:00 NCIS: New Orleans

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Survivor
9:00 The Amazing Race (Season Premiere)
10:00 SEAL Team

THURSDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
8:30 Life in Pieces (Season Premiere)
9:00 Mom
9:30 Life in Pieces
10:00 S.W.A.T.

FRIDAY
8:00 I Love Lucy Funny Money Special (Special)
9:00 Hawaii Five-0 (Repeat)
10:00 Blue Bloods (Repeat)

SATURDAY
8:00 Ransom
9:00 48 Hours
10:00 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration (Special)
10:00 Madam Secretary (Season Finale)

NBC

MONDAY
8:00 The Voice
10:00 The Enemy Within

TUESDAY
8:00 The Voice
9:00 The Village
10:00 New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Chicago Med (Repeat)
9:00 Chicago Fire (Repeat)
10:00 Chicago PD (Repeat)

THURSDAY
8:00 Superstore
8:30 A.P. Bio
9:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
9:30 Abby's
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)

FRIDAY
8:00 Blindspot
9:00 The Blacklist
10:00 Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
8:00 NHL Hockey Playoffs

SUNDAY
7:00 Ellen's Game of Games (Repeat)
8:00 World of Dance
10:00 Good Girls

FOX

MONDAY
8:00 The Resident
9:00 9-1-1

TUESDAY
8:00 Masterchef Junior
9:00 Mental Samurai

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Empire
9:00 Star

THURSDAY
8:00 Gotham
9:00 The Orville

FRIDAY
8:00 Last Man Standing
8:30 The Cool Kids
9:00 Proven Innocent

SATURDAY
8:00 Boxing

SUNDAY
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
7:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
8:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
8:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
9:00 Family Guy (Repeat)
9:30 Family Guy (Repeat)

CW

MONDAY
8:00 DC's Legends of Tomorrow
9:00 Arrow

TUESDAY
8:00 The Flash
9:00 Roswell, New Mexico

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Riverdale
9:00 Jane the Virgin

THURSDAY
8:00 Supernatural
9:00 In the Dark

FRIDAY
8:00 Dynasty
9:00 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)
9:30 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)

SUNDAY
8:00 Supergirl
9:00 Charmed

TV NEWS & THOUGHTS
- ABC announced many summer premiere dates. Their trust Sunday game show lineup of Celebrity Family Feud, The $100,000 Pyramid, and To Tell the Truth gets underway on June 9. A second game show lineup will bring the new Press Your Luck and Card Sharks and the return of Match Game starting Wednesday, June 12. Even more unscripted newbies, Holey Moley and Family Food Fight are joined by the scripted Poppy Montgomery drama Reef Break starting Thursday, June 20.

- CBS has renewed NCIS for a 17th season. The long running CBS drama continues to be the most watched drama and in an ever declining world of demos, it actually doesn't do all that badly comparatively. It is a very valuable property to CBS that also includes two spinoffs, which have yet to be renewed but seem likely renewals.

PILOT REVIEW: The Code

THE CODE

Starring: Luke Mitchell, Anna Wood, Ato Essandoh, Phillipa Soo, Raffi Barsoumian, and Dana Delany

Created by Craig Sweeny and Craig Turk
Written by Craig Sweeny & Craig Turk, Directed by Marc Webb

IN SHORT: NCIS: The Code

THE PREMISE:
The Code is a military/legal drama where a team of captains seek to expose some of the more sinister sides of the military while protecting the brave men and women who serve. At the center of the legal team is Captain John Abraham (Luke Mitchell), Captain Maya Dobbins (Anna Wood), and Major Trey Ferry (Ato Essandoh). Rounding out the main cast is their boss, Colonel Glenn Turnbull (Dana Delany) and Hamilton alum Phillipa Soo as Lt. Harper Li.

THE REVIEW:
In 2017-18, we had an influx of military dramas with The Brave, SEAL Team, and Valor all premiering within weeks of each other. Only the struggling SEAL Team remains and I didn't watch any of them past their first episode. I don't see myself really getting into The Code either, but it's slightly more intriguing to me due to the legal angle even though it appears to be a by the book legal drama, just with a military setting.

The cast is solid here. Luke Mitchell and Anna Wood have good chemistry with each other as the sparring captains who actually have some respect for each other (and, of course, some sexual tension). The best addition to the cast is Dana Delany who brings some gravitas to the proceedings. It's good to see Delany back on network TV and she always exudes a strong presence. Ato Essandoh and Phillipa Soo have a couple comedic moments in the pilot too so overall, it's a pretty strong cast.

Exactly what makes this show a little more interesting to me than the other military dramas from last year is also what it makes it such a typical CBS procedural. As someone who watches a handful of the CBS procedurals, I can get on board. But don't mistake that for me saying this is a great drama or one with top notch writing or character development. It's pretty basic in every sense of the word even if it might have something to say about the inner workings of the military. The slightly fresh setting for a legal drama and more importantly, the winning performances, help to mask the utter average-ness of this drama.

BOTTOM LINE:
If it lasts, this feels like one of those shows that I'll record 2-3 times a year if the premise sounds interesting. I probably won't have missed much with character development in the meantime.

WEEKLY RECAP: April 1-7, 2019

Here is the weekly ratings recap looking back at the week in ratings for Week #28 of the 2018-19 season! Please note no repeats, sports, specials, or Saturday airings are counted

TOP 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO)
1. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday 8:00pm) - 2.0    16th week
2. This is Us (NBC, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 1.9    18th week
3. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.5    18th week
    Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.5    19th week
    Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.5    19th week
    Young Sheldon (CBS, Thursday 8:30pm) - 1.5    16th week
7. 9-1-1 (FOX, Monday 9:00pm) - 1.3    12th week
8. Ellen's Game of Games (NBC, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.2    11th week
9.  Empire (FOX, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.2    13th week
10. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.1    3rd week
    NCIS (CBS, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    18th week
    The Goldbergs (ABC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.1    18th week
    Modern Family (ABC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 1.1    19th week
    Chicago Fire (NBC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 1.1    17th week
    Mom (CBS, Thursday 9:00pm) - 1.1    17th week
16. The Neighborhood (CBS, Monday 8:00pm) - 1.0    15th week
      Chicago Med (NBC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 1.0    17th week
      Chicago PD (NBC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 1.0    12th week
      Star (FOX, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 1.0    11th week
      American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.0    6th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (18-49 DEMO)
1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.1    17th week
2. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.2    9th week
    Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.2    2nd week
    In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.2    1st week (NEW SERIES)
5. Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 0.3    17th week
6. Blindspot (NBC, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.4    17th week
    Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.4    8th week
8. The Fix (ABC, Monday 10:00pm) - 0.5    2nd week
    For the People (ABC, Thursday 10:00pm) - 0.5    5th week
    A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 0.5    5th week
    Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 0.5    2nd week
    Speechless (ABC, Friday 8:30pm) - 0.5    20th week
    The Blacklist (NBC, Friday 9:00pm) - 0.5    10th week
    Dateline NBC (NBC, Friday 10:00pm) - 0.5    23rd week
15. Bull (CBS, Monday 10:00pm) - 0.6    5th week
      Splitting Up Together (ABC, Tuesday 9:30pm) - 0.6    11th week
      Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 0.6    2nd week
      Whiskey Cavalier (ABC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 0.6    3rd week
      SEAL Team (CBS, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 0.6    3rd week
      Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.6    16th week
      MacGyver (CBS, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.6    6th week
      Good Girls (NBC, Sunday 10:00pm) - 0.6    5th week

TOP 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday 8:00pm) - 12.2 million    16th week
2. NCIS (CBS, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 11.9 million    18th week
3. Young Sheldon (CBS, Thursday 8:30pm) - 10.5 million    16th week
4. 60 Minutes (CBS, Sunday 7:00pm) - 9.5 million    22nd week
5. FBI (CBS, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 9.1 million    18th week
6. The Voice (NBC, Monday 8:00pm) - 8.5 million    18th week
7. This is Us (NBC, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 8.2 million    18th week
   Chicago Fire (NBC, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 8.2 million    18th week
9. Chicago Med (NBC, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 8.0 million    17th week
10. Blue Bloods (CBS, Friday 10:00pm) - 7.9 million    17th week
11. Mom (CBS, Thursday 9:00pm) - 7.6 million    18th week
12. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday 8:00pm) - 7.4 million    17th week
13. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Tuesday 10:00pm) - 7.0 million    18th week
14. Chicago PD (NBC, Wednesday 10:00pm) - 6.9 million    15th week
     Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursday 8:00pm) - 6.9 million    14th week
16. Bull (CBS, Monday 10:00pm) - 6.8 million    12th week
      Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, Friday 9:00pm) - 6.8 million    17th week
18. American Idol (ABC, Monday 8:00pm) - 6.2 million    3rd week
     9-1-1 (FOX, Monday 9:00pm) - 6.2 million    4th week
20. The Neighborhood (CBS, Monday 8:00pm) - 6.1 million    10th week
      American Idol (ABC, Sunday 8:00pm) - 6.1 million    6th week

BOTTOM 20 SHOWS (TOTAL VIEWERS)
1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW, Friday 8:00pm) - 0.5 million    17th week
2. Jane the Virgin (CW, Wednesday 9:00pm) - 0.6 million    2nd week
3. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Monday 9:00pm) - 0.9 million    9th week
    In the Dark (CW, Thursday 9:00pm) - 0.9 million    1st week (NEW SERIES)
5. Supernatural (CW, Thursday 8:00pm) - 1.2 million    17th week
6. The Simpsons (FOX, Sunday 8:00pm) - 1.6 million    12th week
7. Proven Innocent (FOX, Friday 9:00pm) - 1.7 million    7th week
8. Bob's Burgers (FOX, Sunday 8:30pm) - 1.8 million    12th week
9. Mental Samurai (FOX, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 1.9 million    3rd week
    A.P. Bio (NBC, Thursday 8:30pm) - 1.9 million    5th week
11. Abby's (NBC, Thursday 9:30pm) - 2.1 million    2nd week

12. Splitting Up Together (ABC, Tuesday 9:30pm) - 2.3 million    12th week
     Speechless (ABC, Friday 8:30pm) - 2.3 million    19th week
14. Good Girls (NBC, Sunday 10:00pm) - 2.4 million    6th week

15. Black-ish (ABC, Tuesday 9:00pm) - 2.7 million    5th week
      Masterchef Junior (FOX, Tuesday 8:00pm) - 2.7 million    2nd week
17. Blindspot (NBC, Friday 8:00pm) - 2.9 million    17th week
18. The Fix (ABC, Monday 10:00pm) - 3.0 million    1st week
    Will & Grace (NBC, Thursday 9:00pm) - 3.0 million    9th week
    Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, Friday 8:00pm) - 3.0 million    8th week

WINNERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - 9-1-1 (FOX)    3rd week
Tuesday - This is Us (NBC)    4th week
Wednesday - None
Thursday - None
Friday - Blue Bloods (CBS)    3rd week
Sunday - None

LOSERS OF THE NIGHT
Monday - DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW)    2nd week
Tuesday - Mental Samurai (FOX)    1st week
Wednesday - Schooled (ABC)    3rd week
Thursday - Supernatural (CW)    2nd week
Friday - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)    4th week
Sunday - The Simpsons (FOX)    2nd week

THE WEEK AHEAD: April 8-14, 2019

Here's a look at Week #29!

ABC
ABC is pretty much all new this week with season finales from Splitting Up Together, Fresh Off the Boat, and Speechless. All three comedies are on the bubble but I'd venture a guess that two of them return. Which two? I'm not so sure.

MONDAY
8:00 American Idol
10:00 The Fix

TUESDAY
8:00 American Housewife
8:30 The Kids Are Alright
9:00 Black-ish
9:30 Splitting Up Together (Season Finale)
10:00 The Rookie

WEDNESDAY
8:00 The Goldbergs
8:30 Schooled
9:00 Modern Family
9:30 Single Parents
10:00 Whiskey Cavalier

THURSDAY
8:00 Grey's Anatomy
9:00 Station 19
10:00 For the People

FRIDAY
8:00 Fresh Off the Boat (Season Finale)
8:30 Speechless (Season Finale)
9:00 20/20

SATURDAY
8:00 NBA Basketball Playoffs

SUNDAY
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos (Repeat)
8:00 American Idol
10:00 Shark Tank

CBS
CBS has the NCAA Championship Game on Monday night and several repeats mixed in this week including Wednesday at 9pm where they have already yanked Million Dollar Mile and banished it to Saturdays. It will be replaced by a quicker season premiere of The Amazing Race starting next week. Tuesday night has the series premiere of The Code, getting a special Tuesday premiere before settling in on Mondays next week. I think it'll get a decent sampling but that probably won't help it on Mondays. Thursday has the season finale of Fam, which is unlikely to return and Sunday has the season finale of God Friended Me, which has already been renewed.

MONDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
8:30 Capital One Championship Central (Special)
9:00 2019 NCAA Basketball Championship

TUESDAY
8:00 NCIS
9:00 The Code (SERIES PREMIERE)
10:00 NCIS: New Orleans

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Survivor
9:00 NCIS (Repeat)
10:00 SEAL Team

THURSDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
8:30 Young Sheldon (Repeat)
9:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
9:30 Fam (Season Finale)
10:00 S.W.A.T. (Repeat)

FRIDAY
8:00 MacGyver
9:00 Hawaii Five-0
10:00 Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8:00 Ransom
9:00 The Code (Repeat)
10:00 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 God Friended Me (Season Finale)
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles
10:00 Madam Secretary

NBC
NBC has repeats on Wednesday with the Chicago shows, but the rest of the week is all new.

MONDAY
8:00 The Voice
10:00 The Enemy Within

TUESDAY
8:00 The Voice
9:00 The Village
10:00 New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Chicago Med (Repeat)
9:00 Chicago Fire (Repeat)
10:00 Chicago PD (Repeat)

THURSDAY
8:00 Superstore
8:30 A.P. Bio
9:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
9:30 Abby's
10:00 Law & Order: SVU

FRIDAY
8:00 Blindspot
9:00 The Blacklist
10:00 Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
8:00 NHL Hockey Playoffs

SUNDAY
7:00 Ellen's Game of Games (Repeat)
8:00 World of Dance
10:00 Good Girls

FOX
FOX has a mix of repeats and new episodes this week.

MONDAY
8:00 The Resident (Repeat)
9:00 9-1-1 (Repeat)

TUESDAY
8:00 Masterchef Junior
9:00 Mental Samurai

WEDNESDAY
8:00 Empire
9:00 Star

THURSDAY
8:00 Gotham (Repeat)
9:00 The Orville

FRIDAY
8:00 Last Man Standing (Repeat)
8:30 The Cool Kids (Repeat)
9:00 Proven Innocent

SATURDAY
8:00 NASCAR Monster Energy Series

SUNDAY
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
7:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
8:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
8:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
9:00 Family Guy (Repeat)
9:30 Family Guy (Repeat)

CW
The CW also has a mix of repeats and originals.

MONDAY
8:00 DC's Legends of Tomorrow
9:00 Arrow (Repeat)

TUESDAY
8:00 The Flash (Repeat)
9:00 Roswell, New Mexico

WEDNESDAY
8:00 In the Dark (Repeat)
9:00 Jane the Virgin

THURSDAY
8:00 Supernatural
9:00 In the Dark

FRIDAY
8:00 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)
8:30 Whose Line is it Anyway? (Repeat)
9:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (Repeat)

SUNDAY
8:00 Supergirl (Repeat)
9:00 Charmed (Repeat)

TV NEWS & THOUGHTS
- NBC announced that new drama The InBetween will premiere Wednesday, May 29 at 10pm. Additionally, The Wall will return Thursday, June 20 at 8pm and Hollywood Game Night will return Thursday, July 11 at 9pm.

PILOT REVIEW: In the Dark

IN THE DARK

Starring: Perry Mattfield, Rich Sommer, Brooke Markham, Casey Deidrick, Keston John, Morgan Krantz, Thamela Mpumlwana, with Derek Webster, and Kathleen York

Created by Corinne Kingsbury
Written by Corinne Kingsbury, Directed by Michael Showalter

IN SHORT: What?

THE PREMISE:
Murphy (Perry Mattfield) is a blind woman in her twenties who spends her life drinking, smoking and having one night stands. That's all well and good until she discovers a corpse that she believes to be a teenage drug dealer she befriended but the body has disappeared by the time she reports it. But that's only part of it. Much of the pilot just basically dealt with us meeting Murphy as we met the many people she encounters in her life, none of whom could really be considered close friends.

THE REVIEW:
Well, I got whiplash from the wild jumping around that happened in the pilot and I'm left here trying to figure out what the show's intention was and what kind of show it wanted to be. I mean it was literally all over the place. There was broad comedy, dark comedy, depressing sadness, suspense, and sentimentality. And none of it was particularly effective. I'm all for a show that has different layers to it, but this was like they threw all those layers into a blender and just whipped up something that didn't work.

Perry Mattfield is intriguing in the main role, but she was a little too brooding and unlikable for the first part of the show and that kind of got things off to a bad start. I am a big fan of the dog though. The rest of the cast was hard to get to know with a wide variety of characters each with only a little bit to do. This was poor storytelling on the writers' part because they introduced so many different avenues of Murphy's life and they couldn't even develop any of them. Perhaps the best developed side story was with Chloe's dad, Dean (Rich Sommer) but that's not saying too much.

I guess I just don't get the point of this all. I think it's interesting to put a blind woman at the forefront of a TV show, it's an underrepresented group of people on TV, but this is not the vehicle to push things forward. There also seemed to be some attempt to make this a little bit of an antihero show with a very flawed protagonist at the center. But the attempts were a little too blatant to do so and Murphy's character oscillated too much to really be a true antihero.

BOTTOM LINE:
Well, I am not going to watch this again. It's a misguided show on a network where it seems to be an ill fit. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some record low ratings with this one.