Fox Commits to At Least 5 New Scripted Series for 2010-11

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERThursday, May 13, 2010 Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings:Fox Wins, CBS a Comfortable Second Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time: Not Ready for Primetime________________________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings:Fox Wins, CBS a Comfortable Second Wednesday 5/12/10 HH Rtg/Shr Fox 8.4/13CBS 6.9/11NBC 4.4/ 7ABC 4.2/ 7CW 3.2/ 5 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Wednesday, May 13, 2009):The CW: +52, CBS and NBC: no change, Fox: -10, ABC: -16 ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:American Idol (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS), Modern Family (ABC) -Honorable Mention:America’s Next Top Model (CW), The Middle (ABC) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):Mercy (NBC), Cougar Town (ABC), Happy Town (ABC) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:American Idol-ignited Fox led the Wednesday overnights, with a 1.5 metered market rating point advantage above second-place CBS. Third overall was NBC, followed by ABC and above-average The CW, which featured the season-finale of America’s Next Top Model. American Idol was, of course, the top-rated program of the evening, with a 13.1 rating/20 share in the overnights at 9 p.m. Comparably, that outdelived a repeat of lead-in Lie To Me (#4: 3.8/ 6 at 8 p.m.), which was just renewed for next season, by a whopping 245 percent. Undeserving Carey James made it into the top three opposite Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze, with fourth-place Michael Lynche sent officially packing. While I have been touting Crystal all season, my vote is now for Lee to take this whole thing. In season (or series) finale news, CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine won the 8 p.m. half-hour with a 4.8/ 8 in the overnights. While Old Christine certainly did not fuel all that much interest as the Wednesday anchor this season, CBS would be wise to renew it for 2010-11 given the off-network repeats will begin airing in syndication this fall. Next on the Eye net was a repeat of The Big Bang Theory (#3: 4.4/ 7 at 8:30 p.m.), followed by the always reliable Criminal Minds (#2: 8.8/14) and fading CSI: NY (#1: 7.4/13) from 9-11 p.m. In probable series-finale news, NBC medical drama Mercy went out with a whimper at a fourth-place 2.9/ 4 in the overnights at 9 p.m. Comparably, that was 33 percent below a repeat of lead-in Minute to Win It at 8 p.m. (#3: 4.3/ 7). Capping off the evening for NBC was veteran Law & Order: SVU at a second-place 6.3/11 at 10 p.m. Keep an eye on SVU potentially taking the hour among adults 18-49 over CSI: NY. ABC’s fourth-place overnight finish is a result of week three of drama Happy Town, which dipped to a very last-place 2.5/ 4 in the overnights at 10 p.m. As reported yesterday, Happy Town goes on hiatus until it returns to burn-off its remaining five episodes beginning on Wednesday, June 2. Earlier in the evening on the alphabet net was its 8-10 p.m. comedy rotation of a repeat of The Middle (#2t: 3.9/ 7), the regularly scheduled edition of The Middle (#1: 5.0/ 8), which is poised for 8:30 p.m. time period victory among adults 18-49, standout Modern Family (#3: 7.1/11) and Cougar Town (#3: 4.4/ 7), which held only 62 percent of its lead-in. Given the ongoing success of Modern Family, ABC could do better at 9:30 p.m. All three comedies end their seasons next Wednesday. In season-finale news, a two-hour edition of aforementioned America’s Next Top Model on The CW perked up to a 3.2/ 5, with the half-hour breakdown as follows: America’s Next Top Model (CW)8:00 p.m.: 3.1/ 5 (#5)8:30 p.m.: 3.4/ 5 (#5)9:00 p.m.: 3.0/ 5 (#4)9:30 p.m.: 3.2/ 5 (#4) One year earlier, Top Model concluded with a similar 3.4/ 6 on May 13, 2009. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Final Tuesday Nationals:Based on the live plus same say nationals, almost 50-million viewers in total tuned into the networks in primetime on Tuesday, May 11, with TV’s now biggest night of the week a reflection of Fox’s American Idol (Viewers: 19.17 million, A18-49: 6.8/18) and Glee (Viewers: 11.57 million, A18-49: 4.8/12); CBS’ NCIS (Viewers: 17.23 million, A18-49: 3.9/11), NCIS: Los Angeles (Viewers: 16.04 million, A18-49: 3.3/ 8) and The Good Wife (Viewers: 12.85 million, A18-49: 2.4/ 7); ABC’s Dancing With the Stars (Viewers: 12.52 million, A18-49: 2.5/ 7) and Lost (Viewers: 10.32 million, A18-49: 4.1/10); and The Biggest Loser on NBC (Viewers: 8.47 million, A18-49: 3.4/ 9). As I always say, there is room for multiple hit shows on one evening. Here are the overall results by network for Tuesday, May 11: Total Viewers:CBS and Fox: 15.37 million each, ABC: 9.56, NBC: 7.62, CW: 1.11 Adults 18-49:Fox: 5.8 rating/15 share, CBS: 3.2/ 8, NBC: 3.1/ 8, ABC: 3.0/ 8, CW: 0.5/ 1 Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options Thursday 5/13/10Night 15 of the May 2010 Sweeps ABC: 8:00 p.m. FlashForward 9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy 10:00 p.m. Private Practice (season finale) CBS: 8:00 p.m. Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains 9:00 p.m. CSI (part one)10:00 p.m. The Mentalist NBC: 8:00 p.m. Community 8:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation 9:00 p.m. The Office 9:30 p.m. 30 Rock10:00 p.m. The Marriage Ref Fox: 8:00 p.m. Bones 9:00 p.m. Fringe (part one) CW 8:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (season finale) 9:00 p.m. Supernatural (season finale)______________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -More 2010-11 Series Commitments:ABC has given its first series order for the 2010-11 season to scripted dramedy No Ordinary Family, which focuses on a so-called typical American family (Michael Chiklis, Julie Benz, Kay Panabaker and Jimmy Bennett) who discover they have special abilities after their plane crashes in the Amazon jungle. Thirteen episodes have been ordered. And NBC has announced its sixth series pick-up, Perfect Couples, a half-hour comedy about three very different couples who struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship and how to maintain it despite the many inherent obstacles. Kyle Howard, Christine Woods, Dave Walton, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Hayes MacArthur and G4 host Olivia Munn star. Fox, which has renewed dramas Human Target and Lie to Me, has given series commitments to five series: single camera comedies Wilde Kingdom, Traffic Light and Keep Hope Alive, and dramas Lone Star and Ride-Along. Wilde Kingdom focuses on a rich Beverly Hills jerk (Arrested Development’s Will Arnett) who falls in love with a charitable environmentalist (Felicity star Keri Russell) who can’t stand his lifestyle or values. Traffic Light, based on an Israeli series, tells the story of three childhood friends (Nelson Franklin, David Denman and Kris Marshall), now in their early 30s, who are in different stages of their relationships. And Keep Hope Alive follows a 25-year-old man (Lucas Neff) who winds up having to raise an infant with the help of his quirky family (including Cloris Leachman as “Maw Maw.”). In the new drama department at Fox, Lone Star revolves around a con artist (Jimmy Wolk) juggling two lives in two Texas cities with two different women (Adrianne Palicki and Eloise Mumford) who are not aware each other exist. Academy Award winner Jon Voight is featured in the ensemble cast. And Ride-Along is a crime drama set in Chicago that follows three sets of law enforcement officers including uniformed beat cops and the female chief of police. Jennifer Beals, Billy Lush, Delroy Lindo, Devin Kelley, Jason Clarke, Matt Lauria and Todd Williams star. ---------- -Fear Factor Heads to Chiller TV:Former NBC reality/competition Fear Factor, hosted by Joe Rogan, will begin airing in repeats on cable net Chiller effective on Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m. ET. Back-to-back episodes will air each Saturday. -Gossip Girl in Paris:CW serial Gossip Girl will feature scenes from episodes one and two of the upcoming fourth season in Paris as series stars Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick head to France in early July. Although The CW will not announces its 2010-11 plans for primetime until next Thursday (at Madison Square Garden in New York), Gossip Girl is expected to remain on Monday. But will it be paired with on-the-fence freshman drama Life Unexpected? Stay tuned. -2010 Daytime Emmy Award Nominations:Nominations have been announced for The 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which will air on CBS live from The Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 27 at 9 p.m. ET. Leading the pack is ABC serial All My Children, with 13 nominations including Outstanding Drama Series. Of note in syndication were two nominations for Sony Pictures’ Dr. Mehmet Oz: Outstanding Talk Show – Informative and Outstanding Talk Show Host, and a nod to Warner Bros.’ Judge Pirro, a Mr. TV favorite, for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program. Agnes Nixon, who created All My Children and One Life to Live will be the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Key nominations include: Outstanding Drama SeriesAll My Children (ABC)The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)General Hospital (ABC)The Young and the Restless (CBS) Outstanding Talk Show – EntertainmentThe Ellen DeGeneres Show (syn. – Warner Bros.)Rachael Ray (syn. – CBS Television Distribution)Live with Regis & Kelly (syn. – Disney-ABC) – 19th nomination in the category Outstanding Talk Show – InformativeDr. Phil (syn. - CBS Television Distribution)The Doctors (syn. - CBS Television Distribution)The Dr. Oz Show (syn. - Sony Pictures Television) Outstanding Game/Audience Participation ShowAre You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (syn. – Twentieth Television)Cash Cab (Discovery Channel)Jeopardy (syn. – CBS Television Distribution)The Price is Right (CBS)Wheel of Fortune (syn. – CBS Television Distribution) Outstanding Legal/Courtroom ProgramCaso Cerrado (Telemundo)Cristina’s Court (syn. – Twentieth Television)The People’s Court (syn. - Warner Bros.)Judge Judy (syn. - CBS Television Distribution)Judge Pirro (syn. – Warner Bros.) Outstanding Morning ProgramCNN/American Morning (CNN)Good Morning America (ABC)The Today Show (NBC) Outstanding Children’s SeriesDesign Squad (PBS)The Electric Company (PBS)Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman (PBS) Outstanding Children’s Animated ProgramThe Backyardigans (Nickelodeon)Curious George (PBS)Sid the Science Kid (PBS)Wordgirl (PBS) Outstanding Culinary ProgramAmerica’s Test Kitchen (PBS)Gourmet’s Adventures with Ruth (PBS)Giada at Home (Food Network)Tyler’s Ultimate (Food Network) Outstanding Talk Show HostBonnie Hunt (The Bonnie Hunt Show, syn. – Warner Bros.)Dr. Mehmet Oz (The Dr. Oz Show, syn. – Sony Pictures Television)Regis Philbin & Kelly Ripa (Live with Regis & Kelly, syn. – Disney-ABC)Rachael Ray (Rachael Ray, syn. - CBS Television Distribution)Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters (The View, ABC) – 13th consecutive nomination Outstanding Game Show HostBen Bailey (Cash Cab, Discovery Channel)Wayne Brady (Let’s Make a Deal, CBS)Pat Sajak (Wheel of Fortune, syn. - CBS Television Distribution)Alex Trebek (Jeopardy, syn. – CBS Television Distribution)Carnie Wilson (The Newlywed Game, GSN) _________________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:Not Ready for Primetime Which one of the following sitcoms did not feature a former cast member from Saturday Night Live? a) According to Jimb) The Jamie Foxx Showc) Kath & Kim d) Modern Mene) NewsRadio The answer to yesterday’s question… Remember Wilson, the Taylor’s neighbor who we never fully saw on sitcom Home Improvement? What was his first name? a) Elliotb) Henryc) Hugod) Jamese) Wilson Is: e) Wilson. Wilson’s name was Wilson Wilson, Jr. How is that for creativity? -Current kudos goes to:Steve Albright, Michelle Yarborough-Bauer, Gerry Bixenspan, Barbara Bloomfield (2x), Larry Collins, Leslie Creason, Reid Davis, Sylvia Davis, Bob Eisenstaedt, John Ferlazzo, Maureen Goldman, Martha Gonzalez, Michelle Harrington, Carolyn Becker Hayes, Barb Hemberger, Shannon Herlihy, Brad Hight, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Greg Janover, Mary Kinoshita, Kristopher Koller, Synda Kollman, Steve Kurtzer, Tom Lawrenson, Howard Lieboff, Rick Locke, Patty Lynch, Debbie Mirr, Michael Murphy, Tony Naldrett, Stephen Narissi, Alan Perris (2x), Gordon Purcell, Mark Riney, Susan Rogers, Colleen Roth, Joe Rubi, David Ruckman, Paul Rule, Ron Salmon, Maxine Shulman, Michelle Stanton, Joe Swaney, Stephanie Watson, Meredith Wayne, David Williams

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Fox Commits to At Least 5 New Scripted Series for 2010-11

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