Idol Gives Back Leads Fox to Victory

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERThursday, April 22, 2010 Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings:Expanded Idol Leads Fox to Victory Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time: Off and Running ________________________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Metered Market Wednesday Ratings:Expanded Idol Leads Fox to Victory Wednesday 4/21/10 HH Rtg/Shr Fox 12.0/19CBS 4.7/ 7NBC 4.5/ 7ABC 2.9/ 5CW 1.7/ 3 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Wednesday, April 22, 2009):Fox: +22, NBC: + 7, CW: -15, ABC: -19, CBS: -29 ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:American Idol: Idol Gives Back (Fox) -Honorable Mention:Criminal Minds R (CBS) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), Accidentally on Purpose (CBS), Mercy (NBC), Fly Girls (CW), High Society (CW) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:Fox led the Wednesday troops, with an approximate two and-one-half hour edition of American Idol (a combination of telethon “Idol Gives Back” and the live results show) at a 12.0 rating/19 share from 8-10:30 p.m. For what it is worth, I think mixing the two does not work and it felt like departed Tim Urban was rushed off the stage. Here is the half-hour breakdown: American Idol: Idol Gives Back (Fox)8:00 p.m.: 11.0/18 (#1)8:30 p.m.: 11.9/19 (#1)9:00 p.m.: 12.6/19 (#1)9:30 p.m.: 12.7/19 (#1)10:00 p.m.: 12.2/19 (#1) In season (or series) finale news, CBS freshman sitcom Accidentally on Purpose concluded with a distant second-place 3.9/ 6 in the overnights at 8:30 p.m. -- three percent above lead-in The New Adventures of Old Christine (#2: 3.8/ 6 at 8 p.m.). Given that CBS has three comedies on the fence for renewal (the third is recent Wednesday 8:30 p.m. occupant Gary Unmarried), the least likely to return is Accidentally on Purpose because it has the least number of episodes (18) already produced. Accidentally on Purpose led into encore telecasts of Criminal Minds (#2: 5.6/ 9), which has a spin-off in the works for next season, and CSI: NY (#3: 4.7/ 8) from 9-11 p.m. Over at NBC, older-skewing medical drama Mercy returned after a three week absence with a third-place 3.6/ 6 from 8-9 p.m. As the networks are busy planning their fall 2010 line-ups, there is no reason to think Mercy will make the cut. Next on NBC was a repeat of Law & Order: SVU (#3: 3.8/ 6), followed the original installment of veteran SVU at a second-place 6.2/10 at 10 p.m. ABC aired back-to-back repeats of already renewed comedies The Middle, Modern Family and Cougar Town and they fared as follows: ABC/Wednesday8:00 p.m. – The Middle (R): 3.0/ 5 (#4)8:30 p.m. – The Middle (R): 3.0/ 5 (#4)9:00 p.m. – Modern Family (R): 3.6/ 6 (#3)9:30 p.m. – Modern Family (R): 3.3/ 5 (#4)10:00 p.m. – Cougar Town (R): 2.3/ 4 (#4)10:30 p.m. – Cougar Town (R): 2.4/ 4 (#4) Midweek news for The CW remained mixed with its combination of perennial America’s Next Top Model (#5: 2.6/ 4) and recent failed entries Fly Girls (#5: 0.9/ 1) and High Society (#5: 0.7/ 1). Thanks to The CW, Mr. TV has two more entries for his annual “TV Turkeys” column! Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Mixed Start for ABC’s Romantically Challenged:No one expected the debut of ABC comedy Romantically Challenged to hold its Dancing With the Stars lead-in on Monday, April 19. But considering it could not beat a repeat of CBS’ competing The Big Bang Theory, 10.67 million viewers and a 2.9 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 for the series-premiere of Romantically Challenged in the Monday 9:30 p.m. half-hour is disappointing. The competing encore of The Big Bang Theory averaged 11.66 million viewers and a 4.1/11 in the demo. And the retention out of Dancing With the Stars (Viewers: 21.07 million; A18-49: 4.8/13) was just 51 percent in totals viewers and 60 percent among adults 18-49. -Speaking of Monday:Here are the live plus same day overall network averages for Monday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 20: Monday 4/19/10 -Total Viewers:ABC: 15.89 million, CBS: 10.27, Fox: 9.88, NBC: 3.95, CW: 930,000 -Adults 18-49:ABC: 3.8 rating/11 share, CBS and Fox: 3.4/10 each, NBC: 12.1/ 3, CW: 0.4/ 1 ---------- Tuesday 4/20/10 -Total Viewers:Fox: 16.38 million, ABC: 9.67, CBS: 9.31, NBC: 8.14, CW: 770,000 -Adults 18-49:Fox: 6.1 rating/16 share, NBC: 3.2/ 9, ABC: 2.8/ 8, CBS: 1.7/ 5, CW: 0.3/ 1 Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options ABC: 8:00 p.m. FlashForward 9:00 p.m. Private Practice 10:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy (R) CBS: 8:00 p.m. Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains 9:00 p.m. CSI10:00 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 CW 8:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries 9:00 p.m. Supernatural (R)______________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -More Ugly Americans:Comedy Central has ordered seven additional episodes of recently introduced animated comedy Ugly Americans, which will begin airing in October. -Minute to Win on NBC This Summer:Recent game show entry Minute to Win It will air on NBC in the Wednesday 8 p.m. hour this summer with a combination of originals and repeats, effective on July 7. It leads into returning America’s Got Talent. -Wanna Feel Old?:Elinor Donahue, who played teenager Betty on classic sitcom Father Knows Best, turned 73 this past Monday. -Cartoon Network Programming Initiatives:Cartoon Network has unveiled an aggressive slate of upcoming new content including a combination of 25 new series, movies and specials; 13 returning series; and Cartoon Network’s Hall of Game, its first ever sports awards event, which will feature professional and amateur athletes. The new animated series include MAD, a sketch-comedy based on the iconic magazine; Robotomy, the story of two robots in high school; Secret Mountain Fort Awesome, which follows a clan of underground monsters; The Looney Tunes Show, an update of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck; and Young Justice, about a teenage super hero. New in the live action arena is Run It Back Sunday, which takes The NBA on TNT’s game of the week and remixes it for basketball fans of all ages. Soon-to-debut series at Cartoon Network include Unnatural History, the net’s first live-action mystery series; Generator Rex, the animated story of a young super agent; Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, the animated tale of a mega-star super hero; live-action scripted drama Tower Prep; Sym-Bionic Titan, a hybrid of robot battles and high school comedy; and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Unnatural Heroes kicks-off on Sunday, June 13 at 8 p.m. ET. Movies slated to debut are Firebreather, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster, and Totally Spies! The Movie. In the specials/movie department are KROG; Lords of Bad Axe and a new season of My Dad’s a Pro, which will now feature Atlanta Falcons Tight-End Tony Gonzalez and his eight-year-old son Nikko. Returning series at Cartoon Network are Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Battle Force 5, Batman: The Brace and the Bold, Destroy Build Destroy, Flapjack, Johnny Test, 6Teen, Stoked, Nakugan, Pokemon, Pink Panther & Pal, Totally Spies, and Dude, What Would Happen. -----------Sad News:Ron Scalera, Executive Vice President and Creative Director of the CBS Marketing Group, died suddenly yesterday in Los Angeles. He was 49."It is a day of profound sadness, shock and loss at CBS," said Leslie Moonves, President & CEO, CBS Corporation. "We have lost a gifted colleague and a friend whose work graced the air of CBS every day, and whose engaging personality touched our lives. The creativity, energy and passion Ron put into his work will be sorely missed – from his brilliant on-air work and upfront presentations, to new and innovative forms of promotion. The level of admiration and respect he has here is exceeded only by the number of close friends who will remember a wonderful person who did everything at full speed, energizing and inspiring those around him. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his wife Elizabeth and his children, Rachel and Michael, whom we all know so well through the many loving and prideful conversations Ron shared about his family everyday. One of the true good guys has left us far too early and we grieve with all our hearts.""We are all in shock. Ron's talent, imagination and creativity knew no bounds," said George Schweitzer, President, CBS Marketing Group. "He blazed an incredible trail in our company and our industry and he leaves a rich legacy. His fierce devotion to his job, his family and his friends touched us all. Simply put, Ron was a great guy and a great friend and we will miss him terribly."Mr. Scalera, who joined CBS in 1997 as Senior Vice President/Creative Director of Advertising and Promotion, was promoted to his current position in 2004, and was instrumental behind the branding and launch campaigns of shows like the CSI franchise, NCIS, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife and, most recently, Undercover Boss. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and children Rachel, 13, and Michael, 10, of Encino, and his mother, Kathy, and brother, Paul, both of New Jersey.Arrangements are pending. _________________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:Off and Running Which one of the following sitcoms finished first overall in all of primetime (in households) in its debut week? a) All in the Familyb) Bewitchedc) Friends d) Laverne & Shirleye) Maude The answer to yesterday’s question… Which one of the following dramas featured the opening theme song “Reflections” sung by Diana Ross and the Supremes? a) Call To Gloryb) China Beachc) I’ll Fly Awayd) Quantum Leape) A Year in the Life Is: b) China Beach, which aired on ABC from April 1988 to July 1991. All together now… Through the mirror of my mindTime after timeI see reflections of you and meReflections ofThe way life used to beReflections ofThe love you took from meOh, as I peer through the windowOf lost timeLookin' over my yesterdaysAnd all the love I gave all in vain(All the love) All the love that I've wasted(All the tears) All the tears that I've tastedAll in vain...Through the hollow of my tearsI see a dream that's lostFrom the hurtThat you have causedEverywhere I turnSeems like everything I seeReflects the love that used to beReflections ofThe way life used to beReflections ofThe love you took from meReflections ofThe way life used to beReflections ofThe love you took from me -Current kudos goes to:Dave Aiken, Mark Amato, Mary Bancroft, Gerry Bixenspan, Barbara Bloomfield, Michael Cascio, Paul Certo, Larry Collins, Tom Condosta, Harold Cooper, Larry Corsa, Leslie Creason, Roy Cuylan, Dee Davis, Scott Dickson, Sue Doron, Audrey Davis, Holley Escobar, Connie Falcone, John Ferlazzo, Serri Ferrante, Stephen Ferrara, Arleen Fong, Karen Gardner, Leon Gittens, Maureen Goldman, Geoffrey Gordon, Kevin Harlan, Kathleen Herbst, Barb Hemberger, Sherrie Henstchel, Shannon Herlihy, Brad Hight, Brian Holland, Mark Howorth, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Cliff Jackson, Michael Johnson, Deb Kainer, Tom Kilgallon, Jen Burdell-King, Irene Kirschner, Synda Kollman, Steven Kurtzer, Stephen LaRue, Kathy McClung, Becky McIntyre, Michael Murphy, Tony Naldrett, Cindy O’Connor, Kimberley Orti, Aaron Paquette, Alan Perris, Greg Phelan, Gordon Purcell, Colleen Roth, David Ruckman, Mary Ryan, Greg Salerno, Ron Salmon, Maxine Shulman, Bill Smith, Michelle Stanton, Andrew Stearn, Kristen Strauss, Ivan Tafur, Ronnie Tallant, Carol Teichman, Nina Tomlinson, Myndi Weinraub, Evan Weinstein, Tammy Wiard

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Idol Gives Back Leads Fox to Victory

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