The season just started and I already feel ABC will have to fix some broken things. Like it was previously mentioned, midseason will probably feel like launching a new season. As we all expected launching new series too late and (re)launching new-comers from last season after an eternal hiatus is already showing us the result of the writers strike. What will/should be done to stop the bleeding from coming?
Verdict : Don’t feel surprised when I will say that DH is (sort of) doing a great job, averaging 17.19 million viewers. It will be interesting to see how the series manages to survive during the upcoming weeks since the second episode lost about 2.99 million viewers from the premiere. I used to believe that it would have been interesting to see Brothers & Sisters on Wednesday (after PP), but since this season started I cannot help myself but to think I was wrong. It fits well DH, averaging 11.18 million viewers for the two first episodes, and it would (probably) be a bad thing to change that. EXHM is still doing great after the past seasons, bringing something around 11 million viewers per episode. America's Funniest Videos started last Sunday with over 9 million viewers on board, which is still VERY good after all these years.
What can/should we expect? : Not that much from Sunday nights, I hope it will basically stay the same, maybe use DH to launch new series or so but that would be it.
MONDAY (Fall 2008) 8:00-9:31 PM "Dancing with the stars" (Performances) 9:31-10:01 PM "Samantha Who?" 10:01-11:00 "Boston Legal"
Verdict: It was a smart move from ABC to announce the final season of Boston Legal, but did it bring an audience with it? Nope, not really. In fact, the series has never been so low (forgetting ABC’s mistake to send the series to Wednesdays for the end of last season). The first two episodes brought only 8.82 / 8.56 / 8.75 million viewers and an okay performance on the 18-49 part. It seems clear that it doesn’t benefit from the (average) 19.60 million viewers that watched the newest edition of Dancing with the Stars. In fact, it will be interesting to watch the evolution of the season during the upcoming weeks since de reality competition is losing a bit of its steam (a loss of 2.46 million viewers from the first to the second episode).
What can/should we expect? : We definitely have to expect another edition of Dancing with the Stars somewhere in March 2009. It was already made official that Boston Legal will be a goner after only 13 episodes (which seems so short for a final season). That means another (boring) edition of The Bachelor for January. I believe, if ABC wants to make a smart move, they should air Single with Parents right before DWTS will complete its run on Monday nights (November 24). I think this series would fit Samantha Who? (whom will probably do just fine when it’ll return on October 13) perfectly. Since the Friday night slot isn’t working for Wife Swap/Supernanny maybe it would be interesting to see one or the other being back in the 8 PM timeslot, until DWTS returns. I think we should expect a new series right when DWTS returns, I’d pick Castle since I believe it could benefit from this ‘’good’’ lead-in.
TUESDAY (Fall 2008) 8:00-9:00 PM "Opportunity Knocks" 9:00-10:01 PM "Dancing with the Stars" (Results) 10:01-11:00 PM "Eli Stone"
Verdict : For starter, let me say it is a bit disappointing to see how bad Opportunity Knocks is doing since it was an interesting idea of a show that didn’t work out at all. The show only manages to bring something around 6.26 million viewers, ABC will probably stick with it for a little while, but I won’t be surprised when it’ll be gone. DWTS still does a good job, even though the competition is a bit more ''intense'' on Tuesdays right now (especially at 9). The only thing we can expect for Eli Stone is to do just like Boston Legal used to do during the two last seasons before it began to bring poor retention/ratings out of its lead-in.
What can/should we expect? : I believe it would be a massive mistake to air Scrubs and The Goode Family at 9 like ABC previously announced. I didn’t even believe it was a good idea to bring back Scrubs for another season (that HAS to be its FINAL season), I have to say I am a fan of this comedy but every good thing has to come to an end, right? That being said, ABC will probably launch two comedies in that timeslot and I feel like it would be a better fit to put Better Off Ted with Scrubs rather than what they already had planned. In fact, it is clear that when they’ll air these comedies, Eli Stone will suffer from it and it (will) might even kill the show, let’s wait and see… Of course, at 8, they should air the (new) Ashton Kutcher project or Wipeout since it did something great during last summer (from all of the reality craps).
Verdict : As expected, the three returning series (after an eternal hiatus) did poorly when they started their new season last Wednesday. It seems clear to me that ABC didn’t manage to put these series in ''a better position'', so they would start dying. They definitely should have aired the season premiere of Private Practice (averaging 7.71 million viewers) and Dirty Sexy Money (6.49 million viewers/average) a week earlier, so it would have benefited from DWTS’s lead-in, just like they did last season and it worked well! Helping to launch the new season of Pushing Daisies (5.94 million viewers/average)), ABC should have aired the first episode Tuesday night right after DWTC instead of airing that stupid special that only brought an awful 4.88 million viewers (32% retention). They should have aired the specials in a two-hour block somewhere else than after DWTS, why not on Friday nights with 20/20? They didn’t helped that much with the promotion for the (re)launching of these great series.
What can/should we expect? : In my personal opinion, Private Practice should get a full season and see what can be done with this very interesting series. I do not think the ‘’Free Kate Walsh’’ campaign is fair. Come on, it is not yet an amazing series, but it has much more potential than many other series on television right now. I am quite sure that both Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money won’t (sadly) make it to the end of this season and I find it really sad because they should stick on. If I’d have to make a choice between these two, I’d keep DSM because it seems for a larger audience than PD. Like I read on some websites, Lost is expected to return to Wednesday nights and I really agree with this idea since airing it after Grey's Anatomy gave the worst ratings ever to the series. It will also give the chance to a larger audience to watch it. I do believe it would be interesting to see a trio composed of Lost, Private Practice and The Unusuals (which is expected somewhere during midseason). I am still thinking about the possibility of moving PP after GA or on Mondays.
THURSDAY (Fall 2008) 8:00-9:00 PM "Ugly Betty" 9:00-10:01 PM "Grey’s Anatomy" 10:01-11:00 PM "LIFE ON MARS" (New series)
Verdict : Grey's Anatomy started its new season with a strong 18.47 million viewers, which is still good after the post writers strike episodes. The show seems to be right back on track, well we hope, because it really needs too if it wants to stop the bleeding. I just hope that airing the Presidential debate between the premiere and the second episode of GA will not do a lot of damage. Ugly Betty started two weeks ago with an okay 9.81 million viewers and dipped to 8.31, it seems clear that without the lead-out of GA the show isn’t so strong. Life on Mars will probably disappoint a lot, even the highly promotive ways ABC is using won’t help it from dying. I am not quite sure what to expect, one thing is sure : It won’t last more than 13 episodes.
What can/should we expect? : …The return of Kate Walsh on Grey’s, IF Private Practice dies and a new series (Cupid seems to be the last choice, but best bet) to use GA’s lead-in.
Verdict : Even though on surface it seems to be a great cheesy Friday night, it is even worse than that. It is a super-bad line-up and will definitely not give Friday nights a chance to be watched. Wife Swap brought 3.66 million viewers, Supernanny manages to bring a bit more, 4.20 million viewers, and 20/20 did what it could with 6.84 million viewers.
What can/should we expect : A destruction of this line-up and, by that, it means we will have to see much more reruns on Fridays (just like we’ve been used to for the last two seasons). At 8, I could see reruns of Grey's Anatomy or America's Funniest Videos (or both) like they used to do and at 9 maybe stick with sinking Supernanny or another repeat. Of course, 20/20 will stick at 10. Not much will happen on Friday nights this season.
***Bottom line : Many of the returning (shortened) season from last year won’t make the cut and some new series might suffer for starting a bit later during the season. ABC has to find a new hit during this season, it's their goal. It will be interesting to see the fantastic four performs during the season, which is composed by : Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Lost and Grey’s Anatomy. What do you all think about this alarming reality that television is suffering right now?
Here's my suggested line-up which I think is pretty good :
I honestly beleive putting lost on wendsdays at 8:00 will regain the numbers, and get back what it lost. this show was always a good anchor. last season they were airing it after reapeats half the season and then greys which was pulling about 15mil at the time, but Lost could not retain. so i would love to see it return to wendsday. and if that doesnt work out i would kinda like to see it on tuesdays at 10:00
MONDAY 8:00 PM "Dancing with the stars / Wife Swap 9:00 PM "Dancing with the stars / Samantha Who? 9:30 PM Samantha Who?" / Single With Parents 10:01-11:00 "Boston Legal" / "The Unusual" (New Series)
TUESDAY 8:00-9:00 PM "Pushing Daisies" (New Time) 9:00-10:01 PM "Dancing with the Stars" (Results) / Lost 10:01-11:00 PM "Eli Stone" / "Castle" (New Series)
THURSDAY 8:00-9:00 PM "Ugly Betty" 9:00-10:01 PM "Grey’s Anatomy" 10:01-11:00 PM "LIFE ON MARS" (New series) / "Cupid" (New Series")
FRIDAY 8:00 PM Opportunity Knocks or various encores / The Goode Family 8:30 PM Opportunity Knocks or various encores / Never Better (new series) 9:00 PM The Goode Family (new series) / Scrubs (network premier) 9:30 PM According to Jim / Better Off Ted (new series) 10:00-11:00 PM "20/20"
It sound interesting, but WAY too many moving around or (just) a bit unrealistic. ABC desperatly needs something realistic that WILL bring (or keep) viewers tuned. Moving Pushing Daisies on Tuesdays (against American Idol) when it's not even doing great on Wednesdays and the competition in that time-slot isn't so harsh. I also believed it would have been great to move Diry Sexy Money, but it is SURE it won't bring as much viewers as Brothers & Sisters, so it'd be a waste of a ''good lead-in''. What killed these series really was the never-ending hiatus. Another thing, where's Lost?!
Here is the part where we should be worried about Wednesday nights.
Let me just say. OUCH! I still believe Private Practice could do better with a better lead-in. I believe it is already time to patch some things. It seems clear that not having an original episode next week for PP and DSM won't help at all... I'm really sad to see these show fading because they're not bad (unlike NBC's bad line-up (or series) on the same exact night).
This message has been edited. Last edited by: a_lex89,
Posts: 37 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 15 April 2007
I've been checking out ABC's website and I just realized The Bachelor isn't on their official shows, although The Bachelorette still is, does this mean will would get another edition of this in january? It wouldn't be such a bad thing since it averaged 7.5 million viewers during its summer run and brough about 10 million viewers for the finale (which is better than the premiere that aired right after the first part of DWTS.
Posts: 37 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 15 April 2007
The Bachelor is the one that will return midseason, I believe with the guy that finished second on the last Bachelorette.
Wouldn't be surprised to see another Bachelorette in the summer, though. The Bachelor franchise isn't that strong of a regular season option anymore, but for an ABC summer show, it did well.
The Bachelorette is coming back next summer. I believe ABC is currently casting for one. The Bachelor as you mentioned will be back in January, and right now is slated to replace Boston Legal but if I were ABC, I'd use it as Dancing's Monday replacement into either SW or use is as a 2 hour series into a new drama like Cupid. Perhaps the Ashton Kutcher-Tyra reality show could go in Mondays at 9 with it too.
quote:
Originally posted by spotupj: The Bachelor is the one that will return midseason, I believe with the guy that finished second on the last Bachelorette.
Wouldn't be surprised to see another Bachelorette in the summer, though. The Bachelor franchise isn't that strong of a regular season option anymore, but for an ABC summer show, it did well.
Originally posted by a_lex89: I still believe Private Practice could do better with a better lead-in. I believe it is already time to patch some things. It seems clear that not having an original episode next week for PP and DSM won't help at all... I'm really sad to see these show fading because they're not bad (unlike NBC's bad line-up (or series) on the same exact night).
Agreed it sucks the shows are sucking in the ratings, but its time for ABC to use this week off as a chance to move things around. Slate the first two eps of PP for this Friday at 8 and then next week move Wife Swap to Tuesdays at 8 and Supernanny to Wed. at 8. Fridays could then be Pushing Daisies into 2 hour 20/20.
Originally posted by a_lex89: I still believe Private Practice could do better with a better lead-in. I believe it is already time to patch some things. It seems clear that not having an original episode next week for PP and DSM won't help at all... I'm really sad to see these show fading because they're not bad (unlike NBC's bad line-up (or series) on the same exact night).
Agreed it sucks the shows are sucking in the ratings, but its time for ABC to use this week off as a chance to move things around. Slate the first two eps of PP for this Friday at 8 and then next week move Wife Swap to Tuesdays at 8 and Supernanny to Wed. at 8. Fridays could then be Pushing Daisies into 2 hour 20/20.
Yeah. I've been thinking about Pushing Daisies moving to Friday nights if its situation doesn't change very soon, but I doubt ABC would change so much right away like this. I'm pretty much sure they will keep the wednesday night schedule like this until January comes.
I also think Supernanny should stick on friday nights and maybe air an encore of America's Funniest Videos before it, it gave decent ratings last year (well bette than what GA did).
I do believe it would be interesting to see something evolve in the formula of The Bachelor, since it's always the same thing all over season after season... It's getting boring. Why not add a twist to it? Like making the girls chose for one of two proposed bachelor? Who knows? Something to change this boring thing it has become. I also think it's hard to considere Boston Legal a ''loser'' since it brings more viewers than TB did.
Posts: 37 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 15 April 2007
I've been reading some stuff about Scrubs coming back before January, could this mean really soon, like really soon in time for November sweeps?
Here's my idea where it should be launched :
TUESDAY (November-January) 8:00-8:30 PM "Scrubs" 8:30-9:00 PM "According to Jim" / "Christmas specials" (?) 9:00-10:02 PM "Dancing with the Stars" (Results) 10:02-11:00 PM "Eli Stone"
I am soo tired of seeing ATJ on ABC's schedule but for some reason it still is, so I guess it could be the only two comedies ready to air for November. Actually, ABC could also air some Christmas specials like they do so very well years after years. I'd say a month from today to promote it a bit and then it could start around November 18, sounds good? The only thing I don't want to see is Scrubs airing on Wednesday nights (and take-over PD's time slot). Then, in January I would move the comedy block (or else) at 9 and give a brand new season of Wipeout right on January 6. It seems obvious that a comedy block WILL fail if it doesn't have any lead-in. So, that's my bet.
Posts: 37 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 15 April 2007
I just read about a possible idea of having an 8th edition of Dancing with the Stars : All-Star. I do believe it would be a great idea. I think it would be a great way to save the series from losing its viewers.
It would be interesting to see a 3 night-premiere starting on March 16 (7 guys VS 7 girls and eliminate the guy and a girl with the lowest scores on Wednesday) and then bringing back the competition to Mondays and Tuesdays.
I've just read about ABC's upcoming programming for Pushing Daisies. Let me just start by saying, definitly everything seems to be working against their Wednesday night line-up. Private Practice will certainly benefit from having Dancing with the Stars's result show airing at 8, but having too many things moved around won't help them at all. It just seems really awful to have to wait eternally because of the Debates or specials.
Based on the actual programming :
October 22 - 29 : Original episodes for Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money
November 5 : Original episodes for Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money, adding to that the Result show of Dancing with the Stars at 8.
November 12 : The 42nd Annual CMA Awards
November 19 - 26 : Original episodes for Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money
And then what? I really hope ABC will air 3 original episodes of these series in December, so it would benefit from having no competition at all (or almost) and give viewers a bit more of what we've had waited for 9 months! Plus, they could air an original episode of Pushing Daisies on November 18 at 8 and bring back Scrubs on November 25 with a full-hour premiere. They could also plan a two-part episode of Extreme Makeover : Home Edition and air the first part on Sunday November 9, then the conclusion on Tuesday November 11 at 8.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: a_lex89,
Posts: 37 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 15 April 2007
Sunday 8.00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 9.00 Desperate Housewives 10.00 Dirty Sexy Money - NEW TIMESLOT
I think DIRTY SEXY MONEY has a better chance at keeping the audience flow alive on Sundays than BROTHERS & SISTERS has. I would definitely try the show here. It's probably the only way to save it (even though I dislike this season so much that I would not like to save it, but of most of ABC's sophomore hits, it's one of few that really have a chance). Apart from that, keep it as it is, EM and DH work good on Sundays.
Monday 8.00 Dancing With The Stars 9.00 Samantha Who? - NEW TIMESLOT 9.30 Single With Parents - NEW 10.00 Brothers & Sisters - NEW TIMESLOT
BOSTON LEGAL ends, so they have to put another new show at 10. Brothers & Sister definitely would lose a lot of its audience through a move to another night, but I think they certainly can keep their 8 million viewers. Put it on Mondays. Single With Parents looks awful, but compatible with Samantha Who?, so put in on after SW. I don't know what ABC usually airs in-between the DANCING WITH THE STARS seasons, so I won't even try to come up with something.
Tuesday 8.00 Scrubs - NEW SERIES / The Goode Family - New Series 8.30 Better Off Ted - NEW SERIES 9.00 Dancing With The Stars 10.00 Eli Stone
I don't even think ABC expects much of its ordered comedies and Tuesdays might be the only place where they can go (and die). I wouldn't change anything at 9 and 10. ELI STONE probably won't survive this season, but keep it until the end, maybe it can improve with time. It's a decent show. Quick cancellation rarely does anything.
Wednesday 8.00 Castle - NEW SERIES 9.00 Private Practice 10.00 Lost - NEW TIMESLOT
As much as it hurts me to say this: I don't see any chance for Pushing Daisies to gain more viewers and survive. Unless the ratings increase until midseason, I'd try CASTLE at 8. Crime shows usually do good or decently and there isn't much crime competition on at 8. So, ABC might fill a void there. Keep PRIVATE at 9. ABC shouldn't make too many moves around midseason, since it usually confuses viewers and kills everything. Bring LOST on at 10 to give more strength to the night.
Thursday 8.00 Ugly Betty 9.00 Grey's Anatomy 10.00 Cupid - NEW SERIES / Life On Mars
Keep it as it is. UGLY BETTY is losing steam, but moving it might cost the show even more viewers. Keep GREY'S at 9 and try CUPID at 10 which could technically be a good fit with GREY'S given its love/relationship-blahblah-premise.
Mondays 8- Dancing / Ashton-Tyra Reality Show 9- Dancing continued / Scrubs (network premier) 9:30- In The Motherhood (new series) 10- Private Practice (new time) CSI Miami on CBS slaughters the competition on a bad day. The early 2 hour dancing episodes and a few 90 Private Practice special episodes could re-energize the series and give ABC a much stronger Monday.
Tuesday 8 - Samantha Who (new time) 8:30 - Married with Parents (new series) 9 - Dancing Results / Dirty Sexy Money (new time) 10 - Brothers & Sisters (new time) Assuming Samantha gets some momentum from Dancing, give trasnplant it and put the Alyssa Milano sitcom behind it. For the 10 hour, anything but a cop drama since Without a Trance and Law & Order SVU have that covered, so provide audiences with an alternate.
Wednesdays 8 - Pushing Daisies 9 - Lost (new time) 10 - Life on Mars (new time) Make Wednesdays your sci-fi/action/adventure night. Lost viewers might actually stick around for the other shows.
Thursdays 8 - Ugly Betty 9 - Grey's Anatomy 10 - The Unusuals (new series) Maybe a police drama with a young female lead (Amber Tamblyn) and can be keep some Grey's audiences and possible get some CSI audience to flip channels.
Fridays 8 - The Bachelor / Batchlorette (new time) 9 - Cupid (new series) 10- 20/20 Fluffy fuffy relationship drama TV, then news. If The Unusuals fail and Cupid is doing well, maybe test the waters with encores on Thursdays.
Saturdays: Non-Competitive movies and various encores
Saturdays: Competitive movies and various encores 8 - The Goode Family (new series) 8:30 - Better Off Ted (new series) 9 - Super Nanny or Super Manny 10 - ABC News Primetime 20/20 and a The Practice, one of ABC's biggest hits and the father series of Boston Legal, came from Saturday night programming.
Sundays 7 - AFV 8 - Extreme Makeover 9 - Desperate Housewives 10 - Castle (new series) I think maybe a new mystery series would benefit behind Desperate Housewives. It stars a former actor from the show, so I think the audiences might stick around.
I stick to what I said, having too many things moved around isn't gonna make ABC benifit from anything at all (and moving some pretty weak series after "bigger series", so it would benifit from it, doesn't seem to be a super great idea since pretty much everything fails).
I've been wondering, what about Eli Stone's upcoming programming?
Episode 1 : October 14 Episode 2 : October 21 Episode 3 : October 28 *Not airing on November 4 since it is a Presidential evening. Episode 4 : November 11 Episode 5 : November 18 *Not airing on November 25 since it is Dancing with the Stars's grande finale from 9 - 11. Episode 6 : December ?
So what's up with that? I doubt it will stay for a very long time on ABC's schedule after that, it's awful though...
Posts: 37 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 15 April 2007
Yeah. I've been thinking about Pushing Daisies moving to Friday nights if its situation doesn't change very soon, but I doubt ABC would change so much right away like this.
thats actualy not that bad of an idea! January-may 8:00 pushing daisies 9:00 The unusuals 10:00 20/20
