Remembering David Carradine

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERFriday, June 5, 2009 Prime-Time Metered Market Thursday Ratings:Basketball Leads ABC to Victory; Slow Start for The Listener on NBC Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air This Weekend:Prime-Time Programming Options Remembering David Carradine TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time:A Different Susan _______________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Thursday Ratings:Basketball Leads ABC to Victory; Slow Start for The Listener on NBC Thursday 6/04/09 HH Rtg/Shr ABC 7.0/12CBS 5.2/ 9Fox 4.8/ 8NBC 3.8/ 6CW 1.1/ 2 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Thursday, June 5, 2008):NBC: + 6, ABC: - 5, CBS: -15, Fox and CW: -21 each ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:The NBA Finals, Game 1 (ABC) -Honorable Mention:CSI R (CBS), So You Think You Can Dance (Fox), The Mentalist R (CBS) -Disappointing:I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (NBC), The Listener (NBC) -Yesterday’s Losers:Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown: Led by game one of The NBA Finals, ABC dominated this first June Thursday in the overnights, beating second-place CBS by 35 percent. Third overall was Fox, followed by NBC and the CW. ABC opened the evening with a prime-time version of Jimmy Kimmel Live, which finished a distant fourth in the 8 p.m. half-hour with a mere 2.8 rating/5 share in the overnights. Stick to prime-time, Jimmy! Next was the half-hour NBA Countdown tied for second, with a 3.9/ 7 at 8:30 p.m. That, of course, led into game one of Orlando Magic at the Los Angeles Lakers on The NBA Finals, which averaged an approximate 8.8/15 in the overnights for the prime-time portion from 9-11 p.m. (and an overall 8.9 rating from 9-11:45 p.m.). I stress approximate because overnight results for any live sporting event are always estimated. Comparably, this was 14 percent below the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Boston Celtics one year earlier (10.4 on June 5, 2008), but up by 11 percent from the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the San Antonio Spurs in 2007 (8.0 on June 7, 2007). Take a look at the half-hour breakdown: The NBA Finals, Game 1 (ABC) 9:00 p.m.: 7.7/13 (#1) 9:30 p.m.: 9.0/15 (#1)10:00 p.m.: 8.9/15 (#1)10:30 p.m.: 9.5/16 (#1) Second-place CBS aired repeats of The Big Bang Theory (#1t: 4.0/ 7) and The New Adventures of Old Christine (#4: 3.8/ 7) from 8-9 p.m., followed by repeats of CSI (#2: 5.7/10) and relocated The Mentalist (#2: 5.9/10) from 9-11 p.m. While The Mentalist will, no doubt, fit well out of CSI, personally I would have left it in the Tuesday 9 p.m. hour next season. In series-premiere news, two episodes of Canadian drama The Listen did not impress on NBC as follows: The Listener (NBC) 9:00 p.m.: 3.7/ 6 (#4) – series premiere10:00 p.m.: 3.9/ 7 (#3) Considering The Listener faced The NBA Finals, I will avoid labeling it a loser this time. But it is indeed disappointing. Earlier in the evening on NBC was night four of trashy (but addictive) I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! at a third-place 3.8/ 7 in the metered markets. While this is not necessarily impressive, it did manage to build from its Wednesday overnight performance by nine percent. Here is four-night track: I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (NBC)Monday 6/01/09: 4.3/ 7 (from 8-10 p.m.)Tuesday 6/02/09: 4.1/ 7Wednesday 6/03/09: 3.5/ 6Thursday 6/04/09: 3.8/ 7 So long, Angela Shelton. Over at Fox, ongoing summer success So You Think You Can Dance was a healthy third at 9 p.m., with a 5.2/ 9 in the overnights. Comparably, that beat an encore telecast of repeat Bones (#1: 4.4/ 8 at 8 p.m.) by 18 percent. And it will, no doubt, outdeliver CBS’ competing CSI repeat among adults 18-49. Repeats of the CW’s Smallville (#5: 1.2/ 2) and Supernatural (#5: 1.1/ 2) capped off the evening. As a reminder, upcoming CW drama The Vampire Diaries steps into the Thursday 8 p.m. hour in place of veteran Smallville, which moves into the Friday anchor spot. Source: Nielsen Media Research data_______________________________________________________________________________ Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Record Jay Leno Tonight Show Closer:The departure of Jay Leno as host of NBC’s The Tonight Show attracted a hefty 11.9 million viewers and a 3.4 rating/14 share among adults 18-49 on Friday, May 29, according to the final nationals. Comparably, that was the largest Friday audience for The Tonight Show during Leno’s 17-year run as host (and best overall since President Obama’s appearance on March 19, 2009), and highest rated in the demo since Jan. 10, 1997. For the week, The Tonight Show averaged 7.0 million viewers – it’s best since the week President Obama appeared. -Series-High for Chelsea Lately:Based on ratings for Wednesday, June 3, Chelsea Lately on E! rose to its best performance ever in households (.96) and total viewers (1.1 million), more than doubling the network’s 2009 prime-time delivery to-date. Chelsea Lately also finished finish in the 11 p.m. time period among all basic cable networks in key women 18-49. Source: Nielsen Media Research data________________________________________________________________________________ On the Air This Weekend:Prime-Time Programming Options Friday 6/05/09 ABC: 8:00 p.m. Wife Swap (R) 9:00 p.m. Samantha Who? (R) 9:30 p.m. Samantha Who? (R)10:00 p.m. 20/20 CBS: 8:00 p.m. Ghost Whisperer (R) 9:00 p.m. Flashpoint (R)10:00 p.m. Numbers (R) NBC: 8:00 p.m. Howie Do It (R) 8:30 p.m. Howie Do It (R) 9:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours) Fox: 8:00 p.m. Don’t Forget the Lyrics 9:00 p.m. Mental (R) CW: 8:00 p.m. Privileged (R) 9:00 p.m. Everybody Hates Chris (R) 9:30 p.m. The Game (R) MNTV 8:00 p.m. Friday Night Smackdown! --------------- Saturday 6/06/09 ABC: 8:00 p.m. Wipeout (R) 9:00 p.m. Here Come the Newlyweds (R)10:00 p.m. Pushing Daisies CBS: 8:00 p.m. The New Adventures of Old Christine (R) 8:30 p.m. Worst Week 9:00 p.m. Harper’s Island 10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery (R) NBC: 8:00 p.m. Stanley Cup Finals, Game 5 (Penguins at Red Wings) Fox: 8:00 p.m. Cops 9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted --------------- Sunday 6/07/09 ABC: 7:00 p.m. Jimmy Kimmel Live 7:30 p.m. NBA Countdown 8:30 p.m. 2009 NBA Finals, Game 2 CBS: 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes 8:00 p.m. The 63rd Annual Tony Awards NBC: 7:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours) 9:00 p.m. Miniseries: The Last Templar (R, part two) Fox: 7:00 p.m. King of the Hill (R) 7:30 p.m. American Dad (R) 8:00 p.m. The Simpsons (R) 8:30 p.m. King of the Hill (R) 9:00 p.m. Family Guy (R) 9:30 p.m. American Dad (R) CW: 7:00 p.m. Jericho (R) 8:00 p.m. Sunday Movie: Kiss The Bride (R) ________________________________________________________________________ Remembering David Carradine David Carradine, who is best remembered for his Emmy and Golden Globe nominated role in classic drama Kung Fu, was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok of an apparent suicide. He was 72. Born John Arthur Carradine in Hollywood on Dec. 8, 1936, Carradine was the son of actor John Carradine, the half brother of actors Keith and Robert Carradine, and the uncle of actresses Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton. After studying drama at San Francisco State College, Carradine debuted on the big screen in 1964 western Taggart, and headlined short-lived ABC western Shane in 1966. In 1965, he starred in the Broadway version of play The Royal Hunt of the Sun. In 1972, Carradine got his big break as Kwai Chang Caine, a Buddhist monk who was hunted down after being forced to kill a member of the Chinese royal family on western Kung Fu. It aired from 1972 to 1975, and was revived in first-run syndication from 1992 to 1996 as Kung Fu – The Legend Continues. In between the two Kung Fu series, Carradine appeared in dozens of projects including Bound for Glory (1976), Grey Lady Down (1978), Lone Wolf McQuade (1983), miniseries North and South (1986), Bird on a Wire (1990) and Martial Law (1990). Later roles included Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), and guest starring appearances in TV shows Charmed, Alias and Lizzie McGuire. Carradine also produced and appeared in several exercise videos emphasizing martial arts, hosted History Channel series Wild West Tech, and was the spokesman for Yellowbook and Lipton Tea. He was married five times, and had two daughters, Calista Miranda and Kansas. __________________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -The Wendy Williams Show Heads to BET:Cable net BET has acquired Debmar-Mercury’s The Wendy Williams Show to begin airing on Monday, July 13, the same day it debuts in national first-run syndication. Taped live in New York, The Wendy Williams Show will combine the latest buzz and hot topics with a diverse mix of celebrities from the areas of film, music, sports and television. -Summer Changes on ABC:ABC has removed low-rated animated comedy The Goode Family from the Wednesday line-up and will replace it on June 10 with a second original episode of Wipeout at 9 p.m. One week later, returning I Survived a Japanese Game Show steps in. The Goode Family will move into the Friday 8:30 p.m. time period out of Surviving Suburbia effective on June 12. New episodes of hidden camera series Just For Laughs, meanwhile, will return to ABC on Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m., leading into half-hour repeats of America’s Funniest Home Videos. -Speaking of ABC:The network unveiled the three hosts of new reality/competition The Superstars, which launches on Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET. They are ESPN’s John Saunders, NFL player (and recent Dancing With the Stars competitor) Warren Sapp, and TV host, producer and model Jenn Brown. -2009 TCA Nominations:The Television Critics Association has unveiled its 2009 TCA Award nominations, which will honor the best of the 2008-09 TV season as selected by the association’s 200-plus membership of critics and journalists across the country. The winner’s will be announced at the Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena, California on Saturday, August 1 in an event hosted by Chelsea Handler. NBC leads the pack, with 11 nominations in total, including nods to sitcoms The Office and 30 Rock, drama Friday Night Lights, coverage of The 2008 Summer Olympics and the recently concluded ER. Next is HBO with six. FX’s The Shield, meanwhile, received four nominations for it final season, and ER, MASH, Saturday Night Live, aforementioned The Shield and Star Trek will compete in the Heritage Award category, which recognizes a program that has made a lasting or cultural impact. Here the nominees: PROGRAM OF THE YEARBattlestar Galactica (Sci Fi Channel)Lost (ABC)Mad Men (AMC)Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Shield (FX) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY30 Rock (NBC)The Big Bang Theory (CBS)The Daily Show (Comedy Central)How I Met Your Mother (CBS)The Office (NBC) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMABreaking Bad (AMC)Friday Night Lights (NBC/DirecTV)Lost (ABC)Mad Men (AMC)The Shield (FX) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT MOVIES, MINI-SERIES AND SPECIALS2008 Summer Olympic Coverage (NBC)24: Redemption (Fox)Generation Kill (HBO)Grey Gardens (HBO)Taking Chance (HBO) OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEARFringe (Fox)The Mentalist (CBS)No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (HBO)True Blood (HBO)United States of Tara (Showtime) INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDYAlec Baldwin (30 Rock)Steve Carell (The Office)Tina Fey (30 Rock)Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMAGlenn Close (Damages)Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)Walton Goggins (The Shield)Jon Hamm (Mad Men)Hugh Laurie (House) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING Camp Rock (The Disney Channel) The Electric Company (PBS) Nick News (Nickelodeon) Sid the Science Kid (PBS) Yo Gabba Gabba (Nickelodeon) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION 60 Minutes (CBS) The Alzheimer’s Project (HBO) Frontline (PBS) The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC) We Shall Remain (PBS) HERITAGE AWARDER (NBC) MASH (CBS) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Shield (FX) Star Trek (NBC) ___________________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:A Different Susan Who was Marc Cherry’s first choice to play Susan on Desperate Housewives? Christina ApplegateCourtney Cox ArquetteValerie BertinelliAmy BrennemanSela Ward The answer to yesterday’s trivia question… Who played Bill’s mother on sitcom Still Standing? Kay BallardLainie KazanSally Struthers Renee TaylorBrenda Vaccaro Is: c) Sally Struthers, who had a recurring role on underrated comedy Still Standing (which can currently be seen on Lifetime). -Current kudos goes to:Vanessa Baker, Barbara Berman, Laurie Biddle, Gerry Bixenspan, Peggy Campbell, Larry Collins (3x), Annie Courtney, Reid Davis, Paulette Dittrick, Bob Eisenstaedt, John Ferlazzo, Adam Goldberg, Scott Groneman, Kein Harlan, Phyllis Heller, Barb Hemberger, Melissa Hodgdon, Amy Honig, Greg Janover, Mike Joliffe, Deb Kainer, Marie Lefevre Karp, David Lederman, Michael Lehman, Kathy Martin, Kathy McClung, Tricia McKee, Beverly Morris, Joanne Albrecht Murnane, Michael Murphy, Jim O’Heir, Greg Phelan, Gordon Purcell, Con Rigg, Lisa Tatum-Roehrig, Colleen Roth, Maureen Ruane, Ron Salmon, Kristen Signore, Ronnie Tallant, Jodi Tiktin, Jeanne Yonkers

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Remembering David Carradine

Marc Berman

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