Benjamonster's TV

GOOD WEEK: "SCANDAL" This season has seen an impressive rise by Scandal . After a modest debut season of seven episodes last spring, Scandal was renewed but seemed to be the next Private Practice - a show that always did well enough due to a strong lead-in from the same creator ( Grey's Anatomy ). Then something happened - Scandal caught fire thanks in large part to the twisty path it has been on creatively. And the ratings have reflected the uptick in quality as it keeps rising, tying a series high this week. It is now TV's top 10pm drama and easily beating CBS' Elementary . It seems like it hasn't even reached its ceiling yet. BAD WEEK: "SMASH" After last year's buzzy season full of promise and disappointment including lots of hate-watching, we have heard for months about Smash 's re-launch. For the second season in a row, NBC has spent half the year promoting this show before actually premiering it. It has gotten magazine covers, ...

NBC made the inevitable move on Friday by cancelling the Jekyll and Hyde themed medical drama Do No Harm after a mere two episodes. That was probably two too many however as the show premiered to historic low numbers with a 0.9 demo. Some thought the show might be one and done but NBC gave it one more week where it dropped two tenths in the demo. The show was originally slotted for Sundays at midseason but NBC instead opted to air it on Thursdays at 10pm and then it premiered to very little buzz and laughable ratings. I still wish NBC had picked up Jason Katims' medical drama County instead of this one. Do No Harm joins recent flops Work It, The Paul Reiser Show, Lone Star, and My Generation as two and done shows. It's possible that Harm will get burned off in the summer but I think that's unlikely. NBC has a lot of decisions for next season. Among its dramas, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Fire, Grimm, Parenthood, and Revolution seem like sure bets for renewal. Likely j...

ABC 8:00 Shark Tank (Repeat) Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3 9:00 Grey's Anatomy Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 10:00 Scandal Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8 CBS 8:00 The Big Bang Theory Viewers: 19.0 million, 18-49 demo: 6.2 8:30 Two and a Half Men Viewers: 14.1 million, 18-49 demo: 4.1 9:00 Person of Interest Viewers: 14.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 10:00 Elementary Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2 NBC 8:00 Community Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9 8:30 Parks and Recreation Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 9:00 The Office Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 9:30 1600 Penn Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1 10:00 Do No Harm Viewers: 2.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7   FOX   8:00 American Idol Viewers: 13.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.1 9:00 Glee Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2 On Thursday night, The Big Bang Theory continued to amaze. I thought it was down the 6 demo ratings this year now that American ...

Midseason means... some shows are phased out of my weekly lineup and other shows join. I am completely hooked on The Following and I am sticking with Smash for now as well as the surprising 1600 Penn (see below). Getting the boot so far is Vegas , which I have finally given up on. FOX was also able to make a bubble decision for me by cancelling Ben and Kate . I'm surprised that I enjoy... 1600 Penn. I gave a lukewarm review to the pilot but I have stuck with this show and I enjoy it  much more now. I found Josh Gad extremely annoying in the pilot but he has become much more endearing. The characters are finding themselves and it's funnier than you might think. I'm not completely attached though and its ratings show that I shouldn't be. But the best new show at midseason is... The Following . This show has not disappointed. It is a truly thrilling show on broadcast TV and it has an excellent story to tell. I hope the intensity and quality keeps up. My Top 5 Comedi...

ABC 8:00 The Middle Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 8:30 The Neighbors Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7 9:00 Modern Family Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7 9:30 Suburgatory Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 10:00 Nashville Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7 CBS 8:00 Person of Interest (Repeat) Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 9:00 Criminal Minds Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8 10:00 CSI Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4 NBC 8:00 Whitney Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 8:30 Guys with Kids Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 9:00 Law & Order: SVU Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5 10:00 Chicago Fire Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9 FOX   8:00 American Idol Viewers: 14.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.6 On Wednesday night, American Idol took a hit from the competition as it is now just one of the pack and not towering above the competition. It was down 1.5 million viewers and nine tenths in the d...

ABC 8:00 The Taste Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8 9:00 The Bachelor Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7 CBS 8:00 NCIS Viewers: 21.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7 9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles Viewers: 16.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 10:00 Vegas Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5 NBC 8:00 Betty White's 2nd Annual 90th Birthday Special Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4 9:00 Smash Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 FOX   8:00 Raising Hope Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6 8:30 Raising Hope Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5 9:00 New Girl Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6 9:30 The Mindy Project Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9 Tuesday night marked the return of Smash to NBC. But first a new Betty White birthday special didn't come anywhere close to last year's special. Betty White is still beloved but the nationwide obsession with her seems to be wearing off now. But then it was bad news for Smash with a two hour premiere th...

ABC 8:00 The Bachelor Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4 10:00 Castle Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8 CBS 8:00 How I Met Your Mother Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0 8:30 Rules of Engagement Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 9:00 2 Broke Girls Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7 9:30 Mike & Molly Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2 10:00 Hawaii Five-0 Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 NBC 8:00 The Biggest Loser Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 10:00 Deception Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1   FOX 8:00 Bones Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4 9:00 The Following Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9   On Monday night, CBS aired its comedy lineup after tons of promotion but there didn't seem to be a huge Super Bowl halo effect like there was last year for NBC. The news was good at 8pm though where How I Met Your Mother was up two tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for a season high. At 8:3...