What are you watching this Spring?

[vbhoutex]

When Gabby said "Move the creamed corn and do me", I almost rolled on the floor.

That was wrong on so many levels!!!

[Brent]

When Gabby said "Move the creamed corn and do me", I almost rolled on the floor.

I know, right?

Reminder, a Survivor recap airs tonight on a special night, plus 2 hours of Idol

TV Ratings: CBS drama trumps Obama
'NCIS,' 'Mentalist' air later, still get big numbers

March 25, 2009

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, March 24, 2009

CBS' dramas shifted back an hour to accommodate a presidential news conference Tuesday, but the later airtimes didn't affect their ratings.

CBS won the night with a 9.6 rating/15 share among households. ABC finished second at 7.1/11, followed by NBC at 6.0/9 and FOX at 2.7/4. All four nets covered the news conference live, so their ratings will change some in final nationals. The CW, which went ahead with its regular lineup, drew a 1.1/2.

NBC led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 3.5 rating. CBS, 3.2, came in second, and ABC took third with a 2.8. FOX averaged 1.6 and The CW 0.6.

CBS led the way at 8 p.m., scoring a 6.4/10 with its coverage of the news conference. ABC, 5.6/9, edged NBC, 5.4/9, for second. FOX came in fourth for the hour, while "Reaper" delivered a 1.5/2 for The CW.

"NCIS," 11.2/17, kept CBS on top at 9. The "Dancing With the Stars" results scored a 10.1/15 for ABC. "The Biggest Loser: Couples," 5.8/9, put NBC in third, while FOX got a 2.7/4 from a "House" rerun. The CW aired a repeat of "90210."

"The Mentalist," 11.2/18, held steady for CBS at 10. "The Biggest Loser" rose to 6.6/11 in its second hour on NBC, while "Primetime: What Would You Do?" earned a 5.6/9 for ABC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 1729.story

[Pburgh]

I love the Mentalist!!!!!

[Miss Mary]

Survivor episode tonight, at 8. Print version of the TV Guide says another castmate gets voted off and that it's a new episode. Online version says it a recap of the first 15 days. My guess is it is a recap. So I'm probably not even watching it. But let me know if it's new Brent. You're usually up on current TV shows.

Karan - if I didn't have so many shows each week to watch, I'd try the Mentalist. Promos look really good though and the lead actor - heart be still! He's so handsome........could this be why you like this show? he he

[Brent]

Survivor episode tonight, at 8. Print version of the TV Guide says another castmate gets voted off and that it's a new episode. Online version says it a recap of the first 15 days. My guess is it is a recap. So I'm probably not even watching it. But let me know if it's new Brent. You're usually up on current TV shows.

Karan - if I didn't have so many shows each week to watch, I'd try the Mentalist. Promos look really good though and the lead actor - heart be still! He's so handsome........could this be why you like this show? he he

It's a recap with "never before seen footage" It's back on Thursday next week with someone voted out.

[Miss Mary]

Hey, guess what - we watched the recap show. And it wasn't really a recap. Not like the recaps we've seen before (with each tribal). We really saw footage that explained more about each character.

It told me Coach is still a jerk, JT's hard to understand (remember Bobby Jon's southern drawl? LOL), for a school principal Debbie's a little too friendly if you ask me (it'll be hard to live down her behavior back at school!), Steven's still a really nice guy, Taj - eh, her breakdown about her physical appearance got to me a little, Tyson (crazy skinny guy, I think that's his name) - CRAAAAAAZY! But loveable just the same. Sierra - so sweet, not dumb at all and doesn't need Coach to tell her what she should and should not do.

Brendan reminds me so much of Colby Donaldson! I almost want to call him Colby!

[Pburgh]

Oh Mary, you know me so well. He just reminds me of a cute ornary kid with a twinkle in his eyes and a smile that could charm the birds from the trees. LOL

[Brent]

TV Ratings: 'American Idol' mows down competition
Wednesday 'Survivor' suffers some of its lowest ratings ever

March 26, 2009

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Two hours of "American Idol" were better than one for FOX Wednesday, while "Survivor" hit its lowest ratings in a long time.

FOX easily won the night with a 14.6 rating/23 share, drawing more than twice as many viewers as No. 2 CBS, 7.3/12 (FOX had 25.6 million viewers to 11.6 million for CBS). ABC took third with a 4.0/6. NBC managed only a 3.2/5 in finishing fourth, while The CW trailed with a 1.3/2.

FOX also dominated the adults 18-49 demographic with a 9.1 rating. CBS was the best of the rest at 2.9, followed by ABC at 2.7. NBC averaged 1.5 in the demo and The CW 0.9.

"American Idol" delivered a 13.9/22 for FOX at 8 p.m. A "Survivor: Tocantins" clip show -- moved to Wednesday because of CBS' NCAA tournament coverage Thursday -- drew only a 5.0/8, one of the show's lowest ratings ever. "Scrubs," 3.5/6, and "Better Off Ted," 3.1/5, came in third for ABC. "America's Next Top Model," 2.1/3, put The CW ahead of NBC and "The Chopping Block."

The second hour of "Idol" rose to 15.3/23 at 9. CBS' "Criminal Minds" (8.7/13) improved a bunch on its lead-in to keep CBS in second. "Lost" scored a 5.2/8 for ABC, and NBC moved up to fourth with "Life," 2.9/4. The CW aired a "90210" rerun.

At 10 p.m., "CSI: NY" drew an 8.1/14 to move CBS into the lead. "Law & Order," 4.9/8, was second for NBC, and "Life on Mars" earned a 3.5/6 for ABC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 8338.story

[Brent]

NBC has canceled The Chopping Block, and FOX has announced some of it's summer schedule

TV Ratings: Thursday 'Idol' carries FOX to top
ABC comedies so-so, 'Grey's' beats basketball

March 27, 2009

Fast National ratings for Thursday, March 26, 2009

An unusual Thursday that featured "American Idol," live sports and a pair of comedy premieres ended up with FOX on top of the ratings.

FOX averaged a 9.7 rating/15 share and 16.65 million viewers for the night to finish well ahead of second-place ABC, 7.3/12 and 10.97 million. CBS, 6.5/10, finished third (its numbers will change some because of live sports). NBC, 4.9/8, came in fourth, and The CW trailed with a 2.2/3.

FOX also led among adults 18-49 with a 6.1 rating. ABC took second in the key ad demographic with a 3.8, followed closely by CBS, 3.5, and NBC, 3.1. The CW earned a 1.4.

The "American Idol" results show scored a 12.9/20 for FOX at 8 p.m., with no other network even within shouting distance. The Sweet 16 round of the NCAA basketball tournament drew a 6.0/10 for CBS. The premiere of "In the Motherhood," 4.6/7, and the return of "Samantha Who?," 4.5/7, put ABC in third, ahead of "My Name Is Earl" and an "Office" rerun on NBC. "Smallville" delivered a 2.3/4 for The CW.

ABC moved in front at 9 p.m. thanks to "Grey's Anatomy," 10.3/16. The NCAA tournament improved to 7.0/11 on CBS. "Hell's Kitchen," 6.5/10, got a boost from the "Idol" lead-in. "The Office," 4.9/7, and "30 Rock," 4.3/7, kept NBC in fourth, ahead of "Supernatural" on The CW.

"Private Practice" drew a 7.1/12 for ABC at 10. Both CBS' college basketball and NBC's "ER" averaged 6.6/11, with CBS getting a few more total viewers.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 4947.story

Thursday, May 21

8 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance" (two hours)

Friday, May 22

8 p.m. "Don't Forget the Lyrics"
9 p.m. "Mental"

Wednesday, May 27

8 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance" (time-period debut; two hours)

Friday, July 3

8 p.m. "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"

Tuesday, July 21

8 p.m. "Hell's Kitchen" (two hours)

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-fox-s ... 1646.story

[Brent]

CBS may soon decide to pull the plug on “Guiding Light,” the longest-running daytime drama in television history.

While no final decision has been made, the network’s deal for the Procter & Gamble-produced drama—the least watched of the eight daytime serials currently on the air—ends in September. But if CBS does drop “Guiding Light,” it likely would lock in a decision within the next month, people familiar with the matter said. That would give writers a chance to tie up storylines.

CBS also would need to finalize new programming for the daytime hour that “Guiding Light” would be vacating.

In the most significant indication that the network is seriously pondering life without “Guiding Light,” CBS has been talking to outside studios about potential replacement programming for the show, sources said.

Possibilities under discussion include both game shows and talk shows. CBS could easily cut its programming costs for the hour in half by switching away from a scripted drama.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/cbs_ ... eplace.php

TV Ratings: CBS hits winning shot Sunday
Eye rolls to victory on 'Housewives'-free night

March 30, 2009

Fast National ratings for Sunday, March 29, 2009

CBS cruised to a ratings win Sunday on a night when ABC gave its drama series a rest.

For the night, the Eye averaged a 7.5 rating/12 share (which includes live sports in the eastern half of the country, so the numbers may change a bit). ABC finished second at 5.5/9, beating out NBC's 4.9/8. FOX, 3.2/5, took fourth, and The CW was way back at 0.8/1.

CBS also led among adults 18-49 with a 3.1 rating. ABC's 2.8 was good for second, followed by FOX, 2.6, and NBC, 2.5. The CW managed only a 0.4.

The conclusion of CBS' afternoon college basketball coverage and "60 Minutes" drew an 8.4/15 at 7 p.m. "Dateline" put NBC in second with a 5.7/10. "America's Funniest Home Videos" drew a 4.6/8 for ABC. Reruns of "American Dad" and "King of the Hill" averaged 1.6/3 for FOX, while The CW aired a "Jericho" rerun.

CBS stayed on top at 8 with the end of "60 Minutes" and "The Amazing Race," 7.8/12. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" drew a 6.0/10 for ABC. FOX moved up to third with a new "Simpsons" and a rerun of the show, averaging 3.7/6. "Kings" earned a 3.0/5 for NBC. The CW aired the movie "War Games."

At 9, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and CBS' "Amazing Race"/"Cold Case" combination each scored a 7.2/11, but ABC had a few more total viewers. "The Celebrity Apprentice" was third for NBC, a little ahead of "Family Guy," 4.8/7, and "American Dad," 3.5/5, on FOX. The conclusion of "War Games" pulled in a 1.0/2 for The CW.

"Cold Case" and "The Unit" averaged 6.4/11 for CBS at 10 p.m., edging the second hour of "The Celebrity Apprentice," 6.2/10, on NBC. A "Desperate Housewives" rerun posted a 4.1/7 for ABC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 4774.story

[Brent]

TV ratings: More big 'Dancing' numbers Monday
ABC gets biggest audience, but FOX wins the demo

March 31, 2009

Fast National ratings for Monday, March 30, 2009

ABC danced away with another ratings win Tuesday, but FOX and CBS overcame managed to sneak ahead of the Alphabet in the demographic race.

For the night, ABC's "Dancing"-fueled lineup averaged a 10.8 rating/17 share. CBS finished second at 7.3/11, just ahead of FOX's 6.9/11. NBC took fourth at 4.0/6, and The CW trailed with a 1.6/2.

FOX led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 4.2 rating. CBS, 4.1, and ABC, 4.0, were right behind. NBC came in fourth with a 2.5. The CW drew a 1.2.

"Dancing With the Stars," 12.1/19, ruled the 8 p.m. hour for ABC. "House" put FOX in second at 7.4/11 (and led the hour among adults 18-49). "The Big Bang Theory," 6.0/10, and "How I Met Your Mother," 5.4/8, gave CBS third place, while NBC's "Chuck" finished fourth. "Gossip Girl" earned a 1.6/3 for The CW.

"Dancing With the Stars" improved to 13.6/20 at 9 p.m. "Two and a Half Men," 8.5/13, and "Rules of Engagement," 6.7/10, moved CBS into second. FOX scored a 6.5/10 with "24." NBC stayed in fourth with "Heroes," 3.9/6, and The CW held steady with "One Tree Hill."

CBS took the lead at 10 with "CSI: Miami," 8.5/14. "Castle" delivered a 6.7/11 for ABC, while "Medium" came in at 4.7/8 for NBC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 7438.story

[lurkey]

Will 'My Name Is Earl' Jump To Fox?
I'm confirmed that NBC is considering cancelling My Name Is Earl due to low ratings and escalating costs. The 20th Century TV show's producers are resisting the drastically reduced licensing fee they're being offered. So word is that Kevin Reilly could pick up the show, which he originally developed when he was NBC Entertainment prez, for the Fox network, where he is now. Fox's own comedy development is weak, with Boldly Going Nowhere dead and projects like the derivative Cop House a better fit for Comedy Central. But 20th TV needs a few more years of Earl for syndication value. As for NBC, everything is low-rated, even its critical hits like 30 Rock. But I bet if NBC owned the show, it would stay on the air. So maybe the network execs will reconsider if they realize the show may head to a competitor.

[Brent]

Interesting.

Osbournes epically bombed last night, more than 15 affiliates as it turns out did not air it and many others moved it to out of primetime.

TV ratings: FOX wins Tuesday, no thanks to 'Osbournes'
'Idol' big enough to overcome steep drop; modest start for 'Cupid'

April 1, 2009

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, March 31, 2009

FOX delivered its usual ratings win Tuesday, despite suffering a precipitous post-"American Idol" ratings drop with the premiere of its variety show "Osbournes: Reloaded."

FOX's 11.3 rating/17 share and 19.9 million viewers won the night over CBS' 9.8/15 and 15.5 million. NBC, 5.6/9, came in third, a little ahead of ABC's 5.6/9. The CW drew a 1.4/2.

The adults 18-49 race wasn't as close, as FOX's 7.5 rating more than doubled the 3.5 for second-place NBC. CBS, 3.3, finished third. ABC managed only a 2.0, and The CW trailed at 1.0.

"American Idol" scored a 13.4/21 to win the 8 o'clock hour for FOX. "NCIS," 10.6/16, was its usual strong self for CBS. "The Biggest Loser: Couples" earned a 5.0/8 for NBC. ABC took fourth with a pair of "Better Off Ted" reruns, while "Reaper" drew a 1.5/2 for The CW.

CBS took the lead at 9 p.m. with "The Mentalist," 10.5/16. While "American Idol" -- which ended at 9:25 -- delivered a 13.1/19 in the first half of the hour, "Osbournes: Reloaded" tumbled to 5.5/8, giving FOX a 9.3/14 average and second place. The "Dancing With the Stars" results, 8.3/13, moved ABC into third, ahead of "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. The return of "90210" to The CW went largely unnoticed, drawing a 1.4/2.

"Without a Trace" kept CBS on top at 10 with an 8.3/14. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" scored a 6.1/10 for NBC, while "Cupid" premiered to a modest 5.0/8 on ABC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 4047.story

[Brent]

CBS officially canceled Guiding Light yesterday, final episode will air September 18th.

REMINDER: Tonight, Survivor returns, CSI has it's 200th episode, and it's the end of an era as ER ends after 15 years. ABC will be in repeats.

TV ratings: FOX is nobody's fool Wednesday
'Idol' results lead the night; CBS April Fool's special solid

April 2, 2009

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 1, 2009

CBS got pretty good numbers from an April Fool's Day special on Wednesday, but FOX had no trouble taking the night's top spot.

FOX averaged a 9.8 rating/16 share in primetime, beating CBS' 6.4/10 by a pretty wide margin. ABC finished third at 4.2/7. NBC, 3.8/6, came in fourth, and The CW trailed with a 1.9/3.

FOX also ruled the adults 18-49 demographic with a 5.4 rating, doubling the 2.7 for second-place finisher ABC. CBS was a close third at 2.6. NBC averaged 1.5 and The CW 1.1.

CBS' celebrities-undercover special "I Get That a Lot" led at 8 p.m. with a 6.3/11. "Lie to Me," 5.6/9, put FOX in second. A "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" rerun on NBC finished third, a little ahead of "Scrubs," 3.3/6, and "Better Off Ted," 3.2/5, on ABC. "America's Next Top Model" earned a 2.8/5 for The CW.

"American Idol" scored a 13.9/21 for FOX at 9. CBS dropped to second with a "Criminal Minds" rerun, 6.3/10. "Lost" drew a 5.5/8 for ABC, while "Life" delivered a 3.7/6 for NBC. The CW aired a "90210" rerun.

A "CSI: NY" repeat, 6.5/11, moved CBS back to the lead at 10 p.m. NBC's "Law & Order" rerun posted a 4.3/7, while the finale of "Life on Mars" delivered a 3.8/6 for ABC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 5293.story

[Brent]

TV ratings: 'ER' finale goes out on top
NBC wins Thursday as County General goes out

April 3, 2009

Fast National ratings for Thursday, April 2, 2009

The series finale of "ER" drew a big crowd Thursday, giving both the show and NBC its best ratings on the night in a long time.

NBC averaged a 9.2 rating/15 share for the night, beating out CBS, 7.4/12, for the top spot. FOX came in third with a 4.9/8. ABC, 3.1/5, took fourth overall, and The CW trailed with a 2.2/3.

The "ER" finale also pushed NBC to the top of the adults 18-49 heap with a 5.2 rating. CBS, 3.3, took second in the demographic, ahead of FOX's 2.9. The CW, 1.6, beat ABC, 1.4, for fourth.

An "ER" clip show, 7.0/11, led the 8 o'clock hour in households, but "Survivor: Tocantins," 6.6/11, brought in more total viewers. "Bones" earned a 5.6/9 for FOX. "In the Motherhood," 3.4/6, and "Samantha Who?," 3.2/5, put ABC in fourth, ahead of "Smallville" on The CW.

NBC took sole possession of the lead at 9 with the "ER" finale, 9.6/15. "CSI" drew a 9.0/14 for CBS. FOX stayed in third with "Hell's Kitchen," 4.2/7, and ABC held onto fourth with a "Grey's Anatomy" rerun. "Supernatural" scored a 2.0/3 for The CW.

"ER" improved to 11.1/19 at 10 p.m. "Eleventh Hour" posted a 6.8/11 for CBS, and a "Private Practice" rerun on ABC delivered a 2.7/5.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 1902.story

[Brent]

lots of repeats last night...

Anyone catch The Celebrity Apprentice(the only thing worth watching on NBC these days)? Two of the most bizarre, unexpected, and pointless firings ever. Made zero sense.

TV ratings: Country awards rock Sunday
CBS cruises to a ratings win for the night

April 6, 2009

Fast National ratings for Sunday, April 5, 2009

With ABC running a slate of repeats Sunday night, CBS' broadcast of the Academy of Country Music Awards had little competition for the top spot in the ratings.

CBS averaged an 8.6 rating/14 share for the night and brought in more than double the audience of any other network. NBC, 3.8/6, finished second in households, but ABC, 3.7/6, had a few more total viewers. FOX came in fourth with a 3.0/5. The CW earned a 0.7/1.

The Eye also led among adults 18-49 with a 3.3 rating. FOX finished second in the demographic with a 2.4, followed by NBC at 2.0. ABC averaged 1.8 and The CW 0.4.

CBS started off the night with a 7.8/14 for "60 Minutes." A repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos," 4.0/7, took second for ABC. "Dateline NBC" earned a 3.3/6, while reruns of "American Dad" and "King of the Hill" averaged 1.8/3 for FOX. A "Jericho" rerun aired on The CW.

The ACM Awards drew an 8.5/14 for CBS at 8 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" delivered a 4.3/7 for ABC, while FOX moved into third with "The Simpsons," 3.7/6, and a "Family Guy" rerun, 3.5/6. "Kings," 2.5/4, was fourth for NBC. The CW showed the movie "Rocky III."

CBS peaked at 9 as the ACM Awards drew a 9.1/14. "The Celebrity Apprentice," 4.1/6, moved NBC into second. A "Desperate Housewives" repeat on ABC was third in households, but a second "Family Guy," 3.8/6, and a "Simpsons" rerun, 3.4/5, drew more viewers to FOX. "Rocky III" finished The CW's night.

The ACM awards dipped a little bit to 8.8/15 at 10 p.m. "The Celebrity Apprentice" improved to 5.3/9, while a "Brothers & Sisters" rerun on ABC scored a 2.6/4.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 1729.story

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Two long absent series - "Pushing Daisies" and "Opportunity Knocks" - will help kick off ABC's summer schedule, network sources confirmed to the site today.

Said lineup, to be announced in the coming week, will also include the return of "Wipeout," the premiere of the animated comedy "The Goode Family" and the mini-series "Diamonds," not to mention the previously announced fifth season of "The Bachelorette."

Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

-- "Diamonds," a four-hour event starring Judy Davis and James Purefoy, will premiere Sunday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00/8:00c.

-- "The Bachelorette" will assume its regular Monday, 8:00/7:00c slot on May 25 following its special post-"Dancing With the Stars" premiere on May 18.

-- "Opportunity Knocks," Ashton Kutcher's short-lived game show, will rejoin the schedule on Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00/7:00c. It's understood a half-dozen episodes of the series still have yet to air.

-- Wednesday, May 27 will mark the return of "Wipeout" at 8:00/7:00c followed by the premiere of "The Goode Family" at 9:00/8:00c. Back-to-back episodes of the Mike Judge-created series will presumably lead into "The Unusuals" at 10:00/9:00c.

-- And finally, "Pushing Daisies" will begin its swan song on Saturday, May 30 at 10:00/9:00c. While not confirmed, one assumes the slot will also be used to broadcast the remaining installments of "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone."

The remainder of the Alphabet's summer slate is expected to roll out in late June, following its coverage of the NBA Finals.

http://thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8028

[Brent]

TV ratings: Hoofers, hoops beat 'House' death Monday
NCAA title game down, 'Surviving Suburbia' has decent start

April 7, 2009

Fast National ratings for Monday, April 6, 2009

A surprise death on "House" and the NCAA championship game weren't enough to dislodge ABC from the top of the ratings on Monday, though The Game did score a demographic win for CBS.

ABC led the night with a 9.5 rating/15 share, topping the 8.5/13 for CBS (whose numbers will change some because of the live sports telecast). FOX came in third with a 7.1/11. NBC, 4.1/6, took fourth, and The CW trailed with a meager 0.8/1.

CBS led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 4.9 rating. FOX came in second with a 4.4. ABC, 3.6, took third, followed by NBC, 2.3, and The CW, 0.5.

"Dancing With the Stars," 11.9/18, ruled the 8 p.m. hour for ABC. "House," 7.7/12, grabbed second for FOX. Reruns of "The Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother" averaged 5.5/8 for CBS. "Chuck" drew a 3.7/6 for NBC, and The CW brought up the rear with a "Gossip Girl" rerun.

ABC held the lead at 9 p.m. with the final half-hour of "Dancing," 13.4/20, and the premiere of "Surviving Suburbia," which scored a decent 7.8/12. The NCAA title game between North Carolina and Michigan State earned a 9.9/15. FOX dropped to third with " 24," 6.6/10. "Heroes" managed only a 3.8/6 for NBC. "One Tree Hill" closed out the night for The CW.

The North Carolina-Michigan State game scored a 10.1/16 for CBS at 10 p.m. "Castle" posted a 6.2/10 for ABC, and "Medium" drew a 4.8/8 for NBC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 8338.story

[Brent]

TV ratings: CBS nips at FOX's heels Tuesday
'American Idol' still carries the night, but it's close

April 8, 2009

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, April 7, 2009

FOX and "American Idol" racked up another ratings win Tuesday night, but CBS came tantalizingly close to the top spot overall.

FOX averaged a 9.8 rating/15 share in households, just beating CBS' 9.7/15 (the margin in total viewers was a little wider, with FOX drawing just under 17 million people and CBS 15.5 million). ABC and NBC tied for third at 5.3/8. The CW earned a 1.5/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX's 6.2 rating was far and away the night's best. CBS, 3.3, took second, followed closely by NBC at 3.2. ABC averaged 2.1 and The CW 1.0.

"American Idol" snagged a 12.8/20 for FOX at 8 p.m. "NCIS" delivered a strong 10.8/17 for CBS. "The Biggest Loser: Couples," 4.4/7, took third for NBC, beating ABC's special "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown." The CW got a 1.5/2 from "Reaper."

CBS took the lead at 9 with "The Mentalist," 10.3/16. ABC jumped up to second thanks to the "Dancing with the Stars" results, 8.9/13. "Fringe" (and the end of "American Idol," which ran about 10 minutes long) earned a 6.9/10 for FOX. "The Biggest Loser" improved to 5.4/8 on NBC, while "90210" held steady for The CW.

"Without a Trace," 8.0/13, kept CBS on top at 10. "Law & Order: SVU" scored a 6.0/10 on NBC. ABC's "Cupid" fell from its premiere last week, drawing a 4.1/7.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 4947.story

ABC ANNOUNCES ITS SUMMER SCHEDULE, WITH THE RETURN OF “THE BACHELORETTE,” “WIPEOUT,” “HERE COME THE NEWLYWEDS” AND “I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAME SHOW,” AND THE PREMIERE OF THREE NEW SERIES, “THE GOODE FAMILY,”

“THE SUPERSTARS” AND “DATING IN THE DARK”

ABC announces its summer schedule, with the return of “The Bachelorette” on Monday, May 18; “Here Come the Newlyweds” on Monday, May 25; “Wipeout” on Wednesday, May 27; and “I Survived A Japanese Game Show” on Wednesday, July 8. Also premiering are three new series, animated comedy “The Goode Family” from Mike Judge on Wednesday, May 27; “The Superstars,” based on the classic Wide World of Sports series, on Tuesday, June 23; and alternative series “Dating in the Dark” on Monday, July 20.

Following is a list of the upcoming programming in chronological order (all times ET):

THE BACHELORETTE – SPECIAL TWO-HOUR PREMIERE MONDAY, MAY 18 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), AND REGULAR TIME PERIOD PREMIERE MONDAY, MAY 25 (8:00-10:00 p.m.) – Jillian Harris, the intelligent, independent, passionate woman who fell just short of her goal – hoping that Jason Mesnick could be her best friend, soul mate and future husband on the just completed hit series of “The Bachelor” – will have her own opportunity to find true love, starring in the fifth edition of “The Bachelorette.” An instant fan favorite on “The Bachelor,” Jillian, 29, a restaurant interior designer, will get to choose from among a group of the country’s most eligible bachelors and is confident that she can find the love of her life on the series.

Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelorette” is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.

HERE COME THE NEWLYWEDS – PREMIERES MONDAY, MAY 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) -- The one-hour romantic comedy alternative series returns for a second season with nine just-married couples competing for a life-changing cash prize to help kick-start their new lives together and realize their dreams. Hosted by comedian Pat Bullard, “Here Come the Newlyweds” is all about relationships, the differences between men and women and the universal issues that every couple must face. In this eight-episode series, each couple faces a variety of mental and physical challenges that will test the love and passion they have for one another, as well as their competitive spirit. At the end of each episode, the field will be narrowed as the newlyweds vote to send one couple home. The stakes get higher as the potential nest egg grows, until one couple ultimately wins the grand prize.

The executive producers of “Here Come the Newlyweds” are Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh (“The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott,” “Dane Cook’s Tourgasm”). The series is produced by The Jay and Tony Show in association with Warner Horizon Television.

WIPEOUT – PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m.) – Bigger, better, wilder than ever! ABC’s hit series “Wipeout,” the #1-rated summer series across all networks, returns for season two as wide-eyed and energized contestants compete in the world’s largest extreme obstacle course, providing the biggest spills and best wipeouts ever seen on television.

The Qualifier boasts amazing new obstacles including: Plank in the Face, Hurtles and Gyro Sweeper. Brace yourself in the all new Wipeout Zone with the Catapult, Gears of Doom and more high stakes challenges. And the fan favorite obstacle -- the Big Balls -- will return but with a twist: “The Motivator” a massive anvil sneaks up on contestants propelling then onto the Big Balls if they dare to hesitate.

Each week, 24 daring new contestants of all ages, shapes and sizes go head to head through four rounds of demanding but hilarious obstacle courses to win the title of “Wipeout Champion” and the $50,000 grand prize. In the end, only one contestant will win, while everyone else will Wipeout!

“Wipeout” is hosted by John Henson (E! Entertainment’s “Talk Soup”) and John Anderson (ESPN’s “SportsCenter”). Jill Wagner is co-host. Executive producers are Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen (“Fear Factor”). Shye Sutherland, Kevin Wehrenberg, Trice Barto and J. Rupert Thompson are co-executive producers. The series is produced by Endemol USA. David Goldberg is the Chairman of Endemol North America.

THE GOODE FAMILY – PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 (9:00-9:30 p.m.) – “The Goode Family” is a new animated series from Mike Judge (“King of the Hill,” “Beavis and Butt-head,” “Office Space”), John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky (“King of the Hill,” “Blades of Glory”). With standards always changing, no matter how hard you try to be good, it’s virtually impossible these days . . . especially for the Goode family. Meet Gerald and Helen Goode, a couple who live by the motto WWAGD (“What Would Al Gore Do?”). Gerald, a college administrator, and Helen, a community activist, are determined to obliterate their carbon footprint on the planet: They’re zealous vegans, they drive a hybrid, and they recycle everything possible. Even the family dog, Che, is vegan. In the words of Helen, all the Goodes want to do is buy organic apples and call minorities by their right names. But despite their best efforts, something always goes haywire with their politically correct plans.

“The Goode Family” is voiced by Mike Judge as Gerald, Nancy Carell as Helen, Dave Herman as Ubuntu, Linda Cardellini as Bliss, and Brian Doyle Murray as Charlie.

John Altschuler, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky, Michael Rotenberg, and Tom Lassally are executive producers of the series, which is produced by MRC and 3 Arts Entertainment.

THE SUPERSTARS – PREMIERES TUESDAY, JUNE 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m.) -- “The Superstars,” a fresh take on an old favorite, is based on ABC’s classic “Wide World of Sports” series, “The Superstars,” which pitted athletes from all different sports against each other to determine the best athlete in the world. Eight celebrities are paired with eight professional male and female athletes to compete against each other in varying sporting events. Each week a team will be eliminated until one team is ultimately crowned the winner. Competitors’ athletic prowess will be put to the test, with events including swimming, biking, running and kayaking, in addition to other head-to-head athletic challenges that will test strength, speed, stamina, agility, as well as an element of strategy. The 6 episode series will be shot entirely on location at the Atlantic Resort in the Bahamas.

“The Superstars” is produced by Juma Entertainment and Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST). Robert Horowitz, president, Juma Entertainment, Lewis Fenton, head of production, Juma Entertainment, Dennis Spencer, executive vice president, BEST and Michael Principe, managing director, BEST, are the executive producers.

I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAME SHOW – PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – Going into its second season, “I Survived A Japanese Game Show” is an unscripted reality/game show -- actually a show within a show -- taking an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at 12 Americans who are whisked away to Japan to compete in the ultimate Japanese game show. The results are sure to be hilarious as this season will be even bigger and funnier than the last. The final winner will take home $250,000. Returning will be the witty Game Show Host Rome Kanda (“Pink Panther,” “Saturday Night Live”), who leads the contestants through all of the zany challenges; Mamasan, a house mother and resident pot stirrer; and Judge Bob, the rarely dynamic but always entertaining referee of the games.

The executive producers are Arthur Smith and Kent Weed for A. Smith & Co. (“Kitchen Nightmares,” “Hell’s Kitchen”); and David Sidebotham, Karsten Bartholin and Tim Crescenti for Babyfoot APS Denmark. “I Survived A Japanese Game Show” is one of only four US shows nominated for a Rose D’Or Award, plus the series received a DGA nomination for Best Reality Competition Show.

DATING IN THE DARK – PREMIERES MONDAY, JULY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) – “Dating In The Dark” is the unique alternative series that asks the age-old question, “Is Love Blind?” Each week, three single men and three single women, all looking for love, will move into a house together, but be totally sequestered from the opposite sex. While they will have no chance of seeing each other in the light, they will have the opportunity to date in a completely dark room. Looks will be taken out of the equation as the men and women get to know each other and form bonds in total darkness. After several days of dating in the darkroom, the participants will select the one member of the opposite sex that they want to see revealed in the light. For the first time, the participants will see who they have been dating, wooing, kissing, snuggling with and forming bonds with. And after they see each other in the light for the first time, they have to make the difficult decision...do they stay with the person they fell for in the dark, or leave them behind. Hosted by Rossi Moreale (“Can You Duet?,” “Temptation”).

“Dating in the Dark” is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol holding, along with Talpa Content, the format department of Dutch media entrepreneur John’s de Mol’s company. David Goldberg is the North America Chairman of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Tom Shelley and the co-executive producer is Richard Devinki.

Airdates for the remaining episodes of “Pushing Daisies,” “Eli Stone,” and “Dirty Sexy Money” were also announced, with “Pushing Daisies” returning to the schedule as of Saturday, May 30 through Saturday, June 13 at 10:00 p.m.; Eli Stone” on Saturday, June 20 through Saturday, July 11 at 10:00 p.m.; and “Dirty Sexy Money” on Saturday, July 18 through August 8 at 10:00 p.m.

Comedy “Surviving Suburbia” will move to a new night and time as of Wednesday, May 27, airing behind “The Goode Family” at 9:30 p.m.

http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR. ... =040809_03

[Brent]

THREE series premieres tonight, NBC with Parks and Recreation at 8:30 between two new episodes of The Office. Then at 10, Harper's Island on CBS, a 13-week horror anthology with a group of people going to a wedding on an island and someone getting murdered each week that will end on July 2nd, and on NBC, Southland, from the ER creator going behind the badge of a Los Angeles police officer go head-to-head. In addition there's new episodes of Survivor and CSI on CBS, and Bones and Hell's Kitchen on FOX. ABC is in repeats again.

Big news last night is how Lost has fallen.

TV ratings: 'Idol' results carry FOX again
'Unusuals' premiere so-so for ABC

April 9, 2009

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 8, 2009

"American Idol" brought another ratings win to FOX Wednesday, while ABC's new cop show "The Unusuals" got off to a mediocre start.

FOX led the night with a 9.2 rating/15 share. CBS, 7.0/11, came in second. ABC's 4.1/7 was good for third, while NBC took fourth with a 3.3/5. The CW earned a 2.0/3.

The adults 18-49 crown also went to FOX, which scored a 5.2 rating in the advertisers' favorite demo. CBS, 2.9, took second, followed by ABC at 2.6. The CW's 1.3 beat NBC's 1.2 for fourth.

"Lie to Me," 5.3/9, won a soft 8 p.m. hour for FOX. CBS finished second as "Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" each drew a 4.6/8. A "Law & Order" rerun on NBC grabbed third. "Scrubs," 3.1/5, and "Better Off Ted," 2.8/5, put ABC in fourth, while "America's Next Top Model" earned a 2.6/4 for The CW.

The "American Idol" results show delivered a 13.2/20 for FOX at 9. "Criminal Minds," 8.4/13, kept CBS in second. "Lost" drew a lower-than-usual 5.0/8 for ABC. The season finale of "Life" posted a 2.9/5 for NBC. The CW aired a "Top Model" clip show.

"CSI: NY," 7.9/13, moved CBS into the lead at 10 o'clock. The premiere of "The Unusuals" scored a 4.5/8 for ABC (though it dropped in its second half-hour), which was good enough to beat the 3.3/6 for a second "Law & Order" repeat on NBC.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv ... 1556.story

[lurkey]

Dollhouse has pretty much been cancelled.. . no official word yet though.