Remembering Leslie Nielsen

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERMonday, November 29, 2010 Primetime Ratings:Weekend Results Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time:An Odd Question_______________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Ratings:Weekend Results Friday 11/26/10Note: The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data). HH Rtg/ShrCBS 4.5/ 8ABC 2.9/ 5Fox 2.4/ 4NBC 1.9/ 3CW 1.0/ 2 -Total Viewers:CBS: 7.19 million, ABC: 4.92, Fox: 3.94, NBC: 3.11, CW: 1.51 -Adults 18-49:ABC, CBS and Fox: 1.2 rating/4 share each, NBC: 0.9/ 3, CW: 0.5/ 2 -------------------- Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 33 percent at this same point last year to approximately 38 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted. ---------- -Friday’s Winners:Nothing -Disappointing:20/20 (ABC) -Stuck in the Night After Thanksgiving Doldrums:Movie: Happy Feet (ABC), TV’s Funniest Moments: A Paley Center for the Media Special (Fox) -Friday’s Losers (excluding repeats):School Pride (NBC), Movie: Enchanted (NBC) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:There was little of note, as expected, on this Friday after Thanksgiving. A night of repeats on the CBS, which fared as follows, led the evening in total viewers, tying ABC and Fox for first among adults 18-49, each with a mere 1.2 rating/4 share in the demo. CBS/Friday8:00 p.m. – CSI: NY (R)Viewers: 6.68 million (#1), A18-49: 1.2 rating/4 share (#1t) 9:00 p.m. – Blue Bloods (R)Viewers: 7.34 million (#1), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#1t) 10:00 p.m. – Blue Bloods (R)Viewers: 7.56 million (#1), A18-49: 1.1/ 3 (#3) ABC opened the evening with theatrical Happy Feet, which averaged a not-so-happy 4.53 million viewers (#2) and a 1.2/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#1t) from 8-10 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown: Movie: Happy Feet (ABC)8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.35 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#1t)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 4.30 million (#2), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#1t)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.75 million (#2), A18-49: 1.3/ 4 (#1)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 4.73 million (#2), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#1t) Veteran newsmagazine 20/20, featuring Barbara Walter’s interview with President Obama and Mrs. Obama, followed with 5.69 million viewers (#2) and a third-place 1.1/ 3 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Not much, unfortunately, for our country’s President. Over at Fox, two-hour special, TV’s Funniest Moments: A Paley Center for the Media Special, which counted down the funniest holiday moments, came in at 3.94 million viewers (#3) and a 1.2/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#1t) from 8-10 p.m. Personally speaking, I do not think that Joey’s head stuck in the turkey on Friends should have been No. 1. Here is the half-hour breakdown: TV’s Funniest Moments: A Paley Center for the Media Special (Fox)8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.03 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#1t)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.76 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#1t)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.76 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#3)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 4.22 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#1t) NBC featured the series-finale of colossal non-scripted dud School Pride (Viewers: #4, 2.28 million; A18-49: #4t, 0.6/ 2 at 8 p.m.), followed by theatrical Enchanted at a not-so-enchanting 3.52 million viewers and a 1.1/ 3 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown: Movie: Enchanted (NBC) 9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 2.87 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 2 (#4) 9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.38 million (#4), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#4)10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.94 million (#3), A18-49: 1.3/ 4 (#1)10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.88 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#1t) The CW capped off the lackluster evening with repeats of soon-to-conclude Smallville (Viewers: #5, 1.58 million; A18-49: #4t, 0.6/ 2) and Supernatural (Viewers: #5, 1.43 million; A18-49: #5, 0.5/ 2). Source: Nielsen Media Research data ---------- Saturday 11/27/10Note: The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data). HH Rtg/Shr ABC 4.2/ 8CBS 4.0/ 7NBC 2.1/ 4Fox 1.7/ 3 -Total Viewers:ABC: 6.90 million, CBS: 6.27, NBC: 3.85, Fox: 2.93 -Adults 18-49:ABC: 2.0 rating/6 share, CBS and NBC: 1.2/ 4 each, Fox: 1.0/ 3 --------------- Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 33 percent at this same point last year to approximately 38 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted. --------------- -Saturday’s Winners: Nothing -Saturday’s Losers (excluding repeats):The night overall ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:ABC led the low-rated Saturday troops with perennial Saturday Night Football at an above-average 6.90 million viewers and a 2.0 rating/6 share among adults 18-49 from 8-11 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown: Saturday Night Football (ABC) 8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.99 million (#1), A18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#1) 8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 6.76 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#1) 9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.98 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#1) 9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 6.83 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#1)10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 6.61 million (#2), A18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#1)10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 7.24 million (#1), A18-49: 2.2/ 7 (#1) CBS was also above-average with its combination of repeats of CSI (Viewers: #2, 5.36 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.0/ 3) and CSI: Miami (Viewers: #2, 6.27 million; A18-49: #3, 1.2/ 4) from 8-10 p.m., and underrated 48 Hours Mystery (Viewers: #1, 7.06 million; A18-49: #2, 1.4/ 5) at 10 p.m. But keep in mind that ratings on the Eye network could be inflated by football potentially spilling into primetime. Next was NBC with encores of holiday specials Merry Madagascar (Viewers: #3, 3.49 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.0/ 3) and Kung Fu Panda (Viewers: #3, 3.35 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.0/ 3) from 8-9 p.m., and Jerry Seinfeld animated theatrical The Bee Movie (Viewers: #3, 4.06 million; A18-49: #3, 1.3/ 4 from 9-11 p.m.). Fox pre-empted its veteran pairing of Cops and America’s Most Wanted for a repeat of theatrical Click, which finished last for evening with just 2.93 million viewers and a 1.0/ 3 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) ------------------------- Sunday 11/28/10Note: The overnight data now includes DVR playback until 3 a.m. local time. One year earlier it was based on Live data only. HH Rtg/Shr NBC 10.0/15CBS 8.1/12Fox 7.4/11ABC 3.5/ 5 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Sunday, November 29, 2009):Fox: +10, NBC: + 6, CBS: + 5, ABC: -42 ---------- Note: The fast affiliate results for Sunday will be posted at PIFeedback.com by 12 p.m. ET. Go to the website, click on Ratings Box (the first category), then Last Night’s Results, and Sunday, November 28, 2010 ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:Sunday Night Football: San Diego at Indianapolis (NBC), Football Night in America, part 3 (NBC) , The OT (Fox) -Honorable Mention:60 Minutes (CBS), The Amazing Race (CBS), Hallmark Hall of Fame’s November Christmas (CBS) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats): Nothing…33 percent of the line-up was in repeats. ---------- -Ratings Breakdown: NBC closed the week on a typically winning overnight note, with a 23 percent advantage over second-place CBS. San Diego at Indianapolis on NBC’s Sunday Night Football averaged an estimated 13.0 rating/19 share in the overnights from 8:30-11 p.m., with the half-hour breakdown as follows: Sunday Night Football (NBC) 8:30 p.m.: 12.7/19 (#1) 9:00 p.m.: 13.6/20 (#1) 9:30 p.m.: 13.2/19 (#1)10:00 p.m.: 12.9/19 (#1)10:30 p.m.: 12.5/20 (#1) Earlier in the evening on NBC was pre-game Football Night in America as follows: Football Night in America7:00 p.m. – part one: 2.1/ 3 (#4)7:30 p.m. – part two: 4.0/ 6 (#4)8:00 p.m. – part three: 8.9/14 (#1) Keep in mind, of course, that results for any live sporting event are always approximate. Over at CBS, granddaddy 60 Minutes kicked-off the evening with a respectable second-place 8.6/14 in the overnights at 7 p.m., followed by The Amazing Race (#2: 7.4/11), which brings in a younger audience, and Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for November Christmas (#2: 8.2/13), which is expected to skew older. The ongoing Hallmark Hall of Fame movies always attract an older crowd (which I personally think are still valuable to advertisers). Fox got a boost courtesy of a half-hour primetime football overrun (#1: 16.9/27 at 7 p.m.), followed by post-game The OT at a second-place 8.9/14 in the overnights at 7:30 p.m. Next on Fox was already renewed The Simpsons at third-place 5.9/ 9 at 8 p.m., followed by The Cleveland Show (#3: 4.4/ 6 at 8:30 p.m.) and repeats of Family Guy (#3: 4.3/ 6) and American Dad (#3: 4.1/ 6) from 9-10 p.m. Effective on Feb. 13, Fox’s revised Sunday night line-up will appear as follows: 7:00 p.m. The Simpsons (combination of originals and repeats)7:30 p.m. American Dad (new time)8:00 p.m.: The Simpsons8:30 p.m.: Bob’s Burgers (new)9:00 p.m.: Family Guy9:30 p.m.: The Cleveland Show (new time) ABC capped off the evening with encore telecasts of America’s Funniest Home Videos (#3: 4.3/ 7), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (#4: 4.0/ 6), Desperate Housewives (#4: 3.4/ 5) and Brothers & Sisters (#3: 2.6/ 4). Source: Nielsen Media Research data____________________________________________________________________________ Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not -Above-Average Macy’s Parade:Based on the overnights, The 84th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade averaged a hefty 12.8 rating/27 share from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25. Comparably, this was the highest rated Macy’s parade in the local markets since 2004, with growth of two percent from one year earlier (12.5/27 on Nov. 26, 2009). -Holiday Rating Results:While we were out enjoying the long holiday weekend, here were the network averages for Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Thursday, Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving: Wednesday 11/24/10 -Total Viewers:CBS: 8.19 million, ABC: 7.36, Fox: 5.32, NBC: 5.21, CW: 1.44 -Adults 18-49:ABC: 2.3 rating/7 share, Fox: 1.8/ 6, CBS: 1.7/ 6, NBC: 1.6/ 5, CW: 0.5/ 2 ---------- Thursday 11/25/10 -Total Viewers:Fox: 7.57 million, CBS: 6.87, ABC: 4.43, NBC: 4.07, CW: 2.72 -Adults 18-49:Fox: 2.7 rating/9 share, CBS: 1.7/ 5, ABC: 1.4/ 4, NBC: 1.0/ 3, CW: 0.9/ 3 Source: Nielsen Media Research data____________________________________________________________________________ On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options Monday 11/29/10 ABC: 8:00 p.m. Skating With the Stars (90-minutes) 9:30 p.m. CMA Country Christmas CBS: 8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother (R) 8:30 p.m. Rules of Engagement (R) 9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men (R) 9:30 p.m. Mike & Molly (R)10:00 p.m. Hawaii Five-O (R) NBC: 8:00 p.m. Chuck 9:00 p.m. The Event10:00 p.m. Chase Fox: 8:00 p.m. House (R) 9:00 p.m. Lie to Me CW: 8:00 p.m. 90210 9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl _____________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -V Fans Mark Your Calendars:The final three episodes of the V revival from season one will encore on Saturday, Jan. 1 from 8-11 p.m. ET in anticipation of the second season-premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. ET. -Sad News:Canadian native Leslie Nielsen, “the Laurence Olivier of spoofs,” died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 84. Born on Feb. 11, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Nielsen came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after honing his craft in live television dramas in New York. At the time, he was cast as the commander in sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet, and traveled the guest star route on a variety of series including Playhouse 90, Rawhide, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Thriller, Naked City, Route 66, The Fugitive, Wagon Train, The Defenders, Ben Casey and The Wild, Wild West. Nielsen also headlined short-lived dramas The New Breed (1961-62) and The Protectors (1969-70). As the years progressed, Nielsen appeared on a recurring basis on dramas Dr. Kildare and Peyton Place in 1965, and remained active in more guest starring roles, a recurring part in 1970 on drama Bracken’s World, and a variety of TV movies and B-level theatricals until his breakout role in 1980 theatrical spoof Airplane! That led to the lead in short-lived comedy classic Police Squad the spring of 1982, and theatrical continuation The Naked Gun 2 /12: The Smell of Fear in 1991. In later years, Nielsen peppered his resume with more guest starring TV roles, TV movies and theatricals, including Scary Movie 4 in 2006. Nielsen is survived by his fourth wife, Barbaree Lee Nielsen, and two daughters, Maura Nielsen Kaplan and Thea Nielsen Disney, who both appeared alongside him in comedies, Dracula: Dead and Loving Itand Wrongfully Accused. ______________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:An Odd Question In 1970-75 classic The Odd Couple, Felix and Oscar’s ex-wives were Gloria and Blanche. But what was the name of Felix’s soon-to-be ex-wife in the 1968 theatrical that spun-off the sitcom? a) Arlene b) Bethc) Francesd) Gwene) Margie The answer to Friday’s question… Which one of the following TV characters came to Thanksgiving dinner in full pilgrim gear? a) Jan Bradyb) Diane Chambers c) Victor Ehrlich d) Faith Fairfield e) Cliff Huxtable Is: b) Diane Chambers on Cheers, which featured that classic food fight. All together now… Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows Your name. You wanna go where people know, people are all the same, You wanna go where everybody knows your name. -Current kudos goes to:Mark Amato, Michelle Amundson, Barbara Berman, Gerry Bixenspan, Kimay Bloch, Mitch Burg, Paul Certo, Larry Collins, Leslie Creason, Audrey Davis, Andy Ehlen, Phyllis Epstein, John Ferlazzo, Maureen Goldman, Scott Hamula, Michelle Harrington, Shannon Herlihy, Brad Hight, Bob Ingersoll, David Jackino, Ken Jobe, Carrie Kittrell, Valerie Langan, Michele McAleer, Matt Moore, Aaron Paquette, Alan Perris, Amy Preisendefer, Gordon Purcell, Colleen Roth, Jack Schabel, Carly Schinzing, David Shearer, Mindy Staley, Eric Steinberg, Kristen Strauss, Joe Swaney, Meredith Wayne, David Williams

Convergent TV

Remembering Leslie Nielsen

Marc Berman

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Marc Berman