Originally posted by robert: What on Earth it's happening with DH?
IMHO Desperate Housewives is still one of the best written series on TV; and unless I'm missing something, it still was the #1 viewed show for the evening. Everything is relative; it's more appropriate to compare it to what else is on that nite, than to what it was last year, considering the fact that many shows are so accessible to other means of viewing, be it online or dvr. FYI, Cold Case and many CBS shows are not available online, whereas every ABC and NBC show is, I think.
I won't debate you on the first part because I haven't watched it enough this season to comment on the quality of its writing.
However, I will disagree with you on the second part. Getting 12 million viewers on Sunday in not worthy of praise and IS a worrisome sign. DH was getting 16-20 million not that long ago, and there's nothing inherently "low-rated" about Sunday nights. In fact, it is one of the higher HUT nights of the week. I feel the night is ripe for a mega-hit again, the same way DH became one in its first season because it was so fresh and different, at a time when everything else was stale. Sure, ABC had been happy for years to get decent ratings from Alias, Boston Legal, and before that, The Practice, but DH's early days showed that a GREAT show can get GREAT ratings. DH is no longer a GREAT show.
It was the lowest rated Sunday night of the year. Most likely due to Mother's Day. I wouldn't worry about DH. Most shows would do anything to get those ratings.
quote:
Originally posted by Chimera:
quote:
Originally posted by saraday:
quote:
Originally posted by robert: What on Earth it's happening with DH?
IMHO Desperate Housewives is still one of the best written series on TV; and unless I'm missing something, it still was the #1 viewed show for the evening. Everything is relative; it's more appropriate to compare it to what else is on that nite, than to what it was last year, considering the fact that many shows are so accessible to other means of viewing, be it online or dvr. FYI, Cold Case and many CBS shows are not available online, whereas every ABC and NBC show is, I think.
I won't debate you on the first part because I haven't watched it enough this season to comment on the quality of its writing.
However, I will disagree with you on the second part. Getting 12 million viewers on Sunday in not worthy of praise and IS a worrisome sign. DH was getting 16-20 million not that long ago, and there's nothing inherently "low-rated" about Sunday nights. In fact, it is one of the higher HUT nights of the week. I feel the night is ripe for a mega-hit again, the same way DH became one in its first season because it was so fresh and different, at a time when everything else was stale. Sure, ABC had been happy for years to get decent ratings from Alias, Boston Legal, and before that, The Practice, but DH's early days showed that a GREAT show can get GREAT ratings. DH is no longer a GREAT show.
That's exactly what I thought. They must not have a strong comedy development slate if these are looking good to come back.
quote:
Originally posted by mushu_jj: ABC must not have much faith in their new stuff if Scrubs is coming back. Ditto for Better off Ted, which they don't even own.
Originally posted by robert: I never saw DH as a soapy show, GA is one. Maybe that's the problem for DH. Not being soapy now you can't pull a wedding stunt in order for the ratings to go up
Not a soapy show? Really? I know it's no Dynasty or Dallas but DH has plenty of soapy elements. Get rid of some of the humor and jack up the sex and it's basically Knots Landing.
Originally posted by robert: What on Earth it's happening with DH?
I don't know if the viewers care about the plot of this season's villain. Does anyone really think Susan or her child is in jeopardy? The show peaked with that plot by having Edie killed, though not by him.
I doubt the animated shows would hold up all that well against NBC's younger skewing comedy block. The Office does pretty well if i recall among men 18-49 and men 18-34. Actually, Tuesdays are a night I could see them doing well on, but given how Bones is holding up Thursdays now and House seems settled on Mondays, there's no reason to move them around anymore. The Cleveland Show should help recreate some interest and letting KOTH finally die will help too. Til Death as a 7pm series in the spring for burnoff would probably do better than animated repeats too.
quote:
Originally posted by TV-aholic: I turning on my broken record....
Move the Animation block to Thursdays next fall. It would do better than its doing on Sundays.
Move Bones to 8pm Sundays, after The OT and a new show to follow.
quote:
Originally posted by WlcmLAPD: FOX's animation domination is really low. It's lost a lot of steam this year. FOX really has to figure out a way to bring viewers back to the night.
quote:
Originally posted by ConanSimpson: That's all-time lows for The Simpsons and SDSU, maybe even AD and KOTH. The Simpsons lost 1.5 million compared to last Sunday, does anyone have an idea why?
Agreed Twins. DH is in no danger of going away. Its lead in has dipped a lot and I think the new Eastwick could help draw some interest to Sunday nights this fall.
quote:
Originally posted by Twins12: It was the lowest rated Sunday night of the year. Most likely due to Mother's Day. I wouldn't worry about DH. Most shows would do anything to get those ratings.
quote:
Originally posted by Chimera:
quote:
Originally posted by saraday:
quote:
Originally posted by robert: What on Earth it's happening with DH?
IMHO Desperate Housewives is still one of the best written series on TV; and unless I'm missing something, it still was the #1 viewed show for the evening. Everything is relative; it's more appropriate to compare it to what else is on that nite, than to what it was last year, considering the fact that many shows are so accessible to other means of viewing, be it online or dvr. FYI, Cold Case and many CBS shows are not available online, whereas every ABC and NBC show is, I think.
I won't debate you on the first part because I haven't watched it enough this season to comment on the quality of its writing.
However, I will disagree with you on the second part. Getting 12 million viewers on Sunday in not worthy of praise and IS a worrisome sign. DH was getting 16-20 million not that long ago, and there's nothing inherently "low-rated" about Sunday nights. In fact, it is one of the higher HUT nights of the week. I feel the night is ripe for a mega-hit again, the same way DH became one in its first season because it was so fresh and different, at a time when everything else was stale. Sure, ABC had been happy for years to get decent ratings from Alias, Boston Legal, and before that, The Practice, but DH's early days showed that a GREAT show can get GREAT ratings. DH is no longer a GREAT show.
All I can say is congrats to NBC and Celebrity Apprentice! This show clearly brought down the shows on every other network. Seriously, it wasn't even that far behind Desperate Housewives and Cold Case, while easily beating out the season finales of Brothers & Sisters and The Unit, and completely killing FOX's animation domination.
As with every Apprentice finale, it was full of fluff, but still very entertaining. I was thrilled to see Joan win - Annie thought she had it in the bag, and she lost!!!!!! Seeing the 8pm numbers, though, that should let NBC know they need to leave it 2 hours 9-11pm next season. With over 10 million at 10pm, clearly this will work best. This could have just about been the best Apprentice since season 1. Now we have to hope next season will be even better!
Back to everything else, DH was hugely disappointing. 12 million viewers, especially compared to the 15 million Grey's Anatomy got this week, is terrible, And next week is the season finale? And B&S - that low for the season finale is terrible. NBC can finally pat themselves on the back, as last night they did a great job.
Cold Case finale deserves props, though, for being right behind DH. Same goes for Amazing Race. And FOX's animation domation - maybe it's time to put this to rest. If Cleveland Show is a bust next season, FOX should just keep Simpsons and Family Guy, cancel the rest, and move on.
Well, I didn't say it was going away, but ABC's Sunday lineup IS having issues. And in my proposed ABC lineup I do mention that the main culprit to ABC's sharp Sunday ratings decline is lead-in EM: Home Edition, which I propose having replaced by the Harry Potter-like family fantasy show Capt Cook's Extraordinary Atlas.
quote:
Originally posted by mushu_jj: Agreed Twins. DH is in no danger of going away. Its lead in has dipped a lot and I think the new Eastwick could help draw some interest to Sunday nights this fall.
quote:
Originally posted by Twins12: It was the lowest rated Sunday night of the year. Most likely due to Mother's Day. I wouldn't worry about DH. Most shows would do anything to get those ratings.
quote:
Originally posted by Chimera:
quote:
Originally posted by saraday:
quote:
Originally posted by robert: What on Earth it's happening with DH?
IMHO Desperate Housewives is still one of the best written series on TV; and unless I'm missing something, it still was the #1 viewed show for the evening. Everything is relative; it's more appropriate to compare it to what else is on that nite, than to what it was last year, considering the fact that many shows are so accessible to other means of viewing, be it online or dvr. FYI, Cold Case and many CBS shows are not available online, whereas every ABC and NBC show is, I think.
I won't debate you on the first part because I haven't watched it enough this season to comment on the quality of its writing.
However, I will disagree with you on the second part. Getting 12 million viewers on Sunday in not worthy of praise and IS a worrisome sign. DH was getting 16-20 million not that long ago, and there's nothing inherently "low-rated" about Sunday nights. In fact, it is one of the higher HUT nights of the week. I feel the night is ripe for a mega-hit again, the same way DH became one in its first season because it was so fresh and different, at a time when everything else was stale. Sure, ABC had been happy for years to get decent ratings from Alias, Boston Legal, and before that, The Practice, but DH's early days showed that a GREAT show can get GREAT ratings. DH is no longer a GREAT show.
Originally posted by WlcmLAPD: I think those ratings guarenteed CC another 13 episodes at least. It almost beat DH in the ratings.
quote:
Originally posted by Seth Plate: I Hope can CBS bring CC for another year...
I Hope so.
Marc, any news about upfront? V, Eastwick...
It seems like everybody's got a different story about leading contenders for Fall. Variety's info sounds realistic, but if they are correct about Scrubs and Better off Ted being renewed while making no mention of V, it could indeed be another disappointed lineup from ABC. Two of my least favorite projects, Inside the Box and Empire State are described as having good odds:
Who's got the wind at their back as the Big Four and CW begin the seven-day countdown to upfront week? The hot sheet of pilot contenders as of the weekend included projects featuring Alyssa Milano (ABC's "Romantically Challenged"), Kim Raver (ABC's "Inside the Box"), Courteney Cox (ABC's "Cougar Town"), Julianna Margulies (CBS' "The Good Wife), Jenna Elfman (CBS' "Accidentally on Purpose"), Alex O'Loughlin (CBS' "Three Rivers") and Jackie Earle Haley (Fox's "Human Target").
Also, several bubble shows were closer to earning a reprieve from their respective networks over the weekend, as "Ghost Whisperer" scored a renewal at CBS, and "Scrubs" continued to look good for another year at ABC.
The Alphabet net, which presents its fall '09 slate to advertisers on May 19, has already been getting down to business, handing out a pickup on Friday evening to drama "Flash Forward," from ABC Studios and scribes Brannon Braga and writer-helmer David S. Goyer. Joseph Fiennes leads an ensemble cast in the time-bender centering on what happens after everyone in the world blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds.
That reps the second new series order for the Alphabet net, which had also picked up the comedy "Modern Family" last week.
Beyond that, insiders continue to suggest that "Scrubs," which wrapped its season last week with an episode that could have easily doubled as a series finale, will be back after all.
Also among Alphabet's bubble shows, "Better Off Ted," which has developed a following among TV critics, is looking good to return.
On the drama side, Jerry Bruckheimer is poised to land a skein about amateur gumshoes ("The Forgotten") , while the TV news drama "Inside the Box," starring Raver as an aggressive femme producer in D.C., has been gaining steam.
It doesn't hurt that "Box," written by former ABC News producer Richard Robbins, is exec produced by Shonda Rhimes.
Also considered strong contenders are murder mystery "Happy Town"; "Eastwick," an adaptation of "Witches of Eastwick"; and the untitled legal ensemble from writer Dave Hemingson. "Empire State," from "Grey's Anatomy" exec producer Mark Gordon, is seen as a dark horse.
Comedy-wise, Cox's "Cougar Town" is hot, as are Milano's "Romantically Challenged" and Cedric the Entertainer's cop comedy "The Law."
The Kelsey Grammer starrer "Awesome Hank" is still in the mix, with some predicting an order. Lauren Graham starrer "Let It Go" was said to have mixed reviews but shouldn't be counted out. Same goes for Patricia Heaton starrer "The Middle."
CBS has had strong buzz for more than a week for its "NCIS" spinoff (which aired as a planted two-part pilot seg on April 28-May 5) starring LL Cool J, which many predict will air on Tuesdays in the fall, alongside the "NCIS" mothership with "The Mentalist" moving to 10 p.m.
Also earning strong marks at CBS is "Good Wife," the femme defense attorney drama starring "ER" alum Margulies.
The verdict looks promising for another legal-driven vehicle, the untitled U.S. Attorney drama starring Melissa George and Jason Clark. Former "Moonlight" star O'Loughlin could be back on the Eye next season in "Three Rivers," about organ transplant donors and recipients. The poll numbers for "House Rules," which follows the frosh class of Congress as they acclimate to D.C., were moving in the right direction during the weekend. Also mentioned on some lists: "Eastmans."
The Eye's finally tally of drama pickups will hinge on its renewal decisions. It's understood that CBS on Friday reached an agreement to bring "Ghost Whisperer" back for a fifth season, after speculation that the show might be on the move. CBS vet "Cold Case" is expected to return, but "Without a Trace" remains up in the air, and "The Unit" looks unlikely to squeak out another season.
Among comedies, CBS' likes and dislikes were characteristically hard to read. It's an open secret that execs are smitten with Elfman starrer "Accidentally on Purpose," about a femme film critic who accidentally gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a younger man.
The heat for Jason Biggs starrer "Happiness Isn't Everything," written by Mitch Hurwitz and Jim Vallely, was easing up a bit during the weekend while a different buddy comedy that also has Hurwitz as an exec producer (but not writer), "Waiting to Die," has begun to get some traction.
At Fox, the chatter over the weekend was the sudden push for "Brothers," starring former NFL player and Fox gridiron commentator Michael Strahan.
Laffer "Sons of Tucson," about a hustler who becomes dad to three rich brothers after their real father is sent up the river for a white-collar crime, remains a cinch for a spot on the sked, as does comicbook-derived fantasy drama "Human Target," according to insiders. Drama "Past Life" has its fans at the net but is still considered a lukewarm contender.
Fox's drama needs are especially light because it already has Ryan Murphy's "Glee," which will be sneaked after "American Idol" on May 19, ordered for next season. On the comedy side, Fox has the animated laffer "Cleveland" set for fall, while "'Til Death" is also returning -- but might sit on the bench until being called for active duty.
Fox also has a number of other animated projects at various stages of development; net probably won't make a decision on those until summer.
At CW, the surprise last week was the cooling heat behind the 1980s-set "Gossip Girl" spinoff "Lily," which airs tonight. Insiders insisted the spinoff is still a contender, but not as much of a sure thing as the "Melrose Place" redo, which is considered a lock.
CW is also expected to bite into the vampire genre by greenlighting drama "Vampire Diaries." The net is expected to order at least one more new drama, and "Lily" is facing strong competish from the male-models-in-NYC vehicle "A Beautiful Life."
Finally, word is that NBC is looking to add at least one more comedy, possibly an overhaul of the Bradley Whitford/Romany Malco buddy-cop entry "Off Duty." NBC got a head start on its 2009-10 pickups of four dramas and two comedies with its "infront" presentation to advertisers last week (Daily Variety, May 5).More than one option(Co) Daily Variety Filmography, Year, Role (Co) Daily Variety
Over at the Alphabet, the "Flash Forward" greenlight wasn't a surprise; the network has been teasing the show via a series of viral marketing spots during "Lost."
That's led most to assume that "Flash Forward" will bow in the fall to satisfy "Lost" fans as they wait for that show to return in January.
V is another show that would work well in the Sunday @ 8pm timeslot.
In the meantime, like I said earlier, this close to upfronts, everybody will tell you something about anything. The real answer is that nobody (except the very few in the decision-making process), really know what's gonna happen.
Here's an interesting article from zap2it that seems to reinforce that:
Since it's a week before the upfronts, you can probably find someone willing to tell you that any given pilot is a strong contender for next season. After surveying the latest from the trades and elsewhere on the web, though, here's a rundown of what shows have a pretty good chance of hearing their names called next week.
ABC
The network has already picked up two newbies for 2009-10 -- a comedy, "Modern Family," and a drama, "Flash Forward." Other comedies on the short list include the aforementioned "Cougar Town," starring Courteney Cox, and "Romantically Challenged," which stars Alyssa Milano and Eric Christian Olsen. The Lauren Graham vehicle "The Bridget Show" is maybe a step behind after reportedly getting a mixed reception in screenings.
The drama situation is pretty fluid. Depending on whom you ask, any of several pilots -- "Eastwick," "The Forgotten," "Inside the Box," "Happy Town," "V" or David Hemingon's legal show -- is high on the list. My guess is that the network will announce two or three comedies (including "Modern Family") and about the same number of dramas.
Originally posted by robert: I never saw DH as a soapy show, GA is one. Maybe that's the problem for DH. Not being soapy now you can't pull a wedding stunt in order for the ratings to go up
Not a soapy show? Really? I know it's no Dynasty or Dallas but DH has plenty of soapy elements. Get rid of some of the humor and jack up the sex and it's basically Knots Landing.
Well if you get rid of the humor than it's not DH anymore. Excellent episode last night BTW
V is another show that would work well in the Sunday @ 8pm timeslot.
In the meantime, like I said earlier, this close to upfronts, everybody will tell you something about anything. The real answer is that nobody (except the very few in the decision-making process), really know what's gonna happen.
Here's an interesting article from zap2it that seems to reinforce that:
Since it's a week before the upfronts, you can probably find someone willing to tell you that any given pilot is a strong contender for next season. After surveying the latest from the trades and elsewhere on the web, though, here's a rundown of what shows have a pretty good chance of hearing their names called next week.
ABC
The network has already picked up two newbies for 2009-10 -- a comedy, "Modern Family," and a drama, "Flash Forward." Other comedies on the short list include the aforementioned "Cougar Town," starring Courteney Cox, and "Romantically Challenged," which stars Alyssa Milano and Eric Christian Olsen. The Lauren Graham vehicle "The Bridget Show" is maybe a step behind after reportedly getting a mixed reception in screenings.
The drama situation is pretty fluid. Depending on whom you ask, any of several pilots -- "Eastwick," "The Forgotten," "Inside the Box," "Happy Town," "V" or David Hemingon's legal show -- is high on the list. My guess is that the network will announce two or three comedies (including "Modern Family") and about the same number of dramas.
Originally posted by robert: I never saw DH as a soapy show, GA is one. Maybe that's the problem for DH. Not being soapy now you can't pull a wedding stunt in order for the ratings to go up
Not a soapy show? Really? I know it's no Dynasty or Dallas but DH has plenty of soapy elements. Get rid of some of the humor and jack up the sex and it's basically Knots Landing.
Well if you get rid of the humor than it's not DH anymore. Excellent episode last night BTW
Agreed! The humor and the one-liners from the main characters are the attraction. I honestly don't think there is better writing for women anywhere than on this show. All the characters bring something to the table. And the best part, no one should take any of it seriously.
