Hollywood will use any excuse so they won't ever have to admit that their shows may actually suck.
Posted on 09/21/2007 11:35:55 AM PDT by abb
Big debuts fail to bring in big audiences
By RICK KISSELL
If early returns are any indication, it could be a challenging fall for the broadcast networks: Four new series got a jump on the competition with early bows Wednesday night, but none seemed to excite auds. Fox's "Back to You" and "Kitchen Nightmares" looked solid but unspectacular, while CBS' "Kid Nation" fared OK but didn't open to the kind of numbers commensurate with the publicity and controversy it had generated over the summer. And CW's "Gossip Girl" scored big with female teens but didn't do a whole lot in broader demo categories.
One caveat that applies to all shows this season is the DVR factor. With more and more viewing done on viewers' timetables, premiere-night ratings can't be expected to hold up as well as in past years. Also, some pilots this season have been made available to the public on various platforms prior to their television debuts.
According to live-plus-same-day DVR viewing estimates provided by Nielsen, CBS' "Kid Nation" opened with a 3.1 rating/9 share in adults 18-49 and 9.38 million viewers overall from 8 to 9:06 p.m. Show, which drew criticism about child endangerment and exploitation, narrowly won its opening hour in 18-49 -- moving into the lead at 8:30 -- but with an average slightly below what "Jericho" debuted with in the timeslot last fall.
It seemed to draw more family viewing than the typical CBS show, as its kids number was above average (an 8 share), while its 50-plus number was relatively low. "Kid's" success would seem to hinge on getting more kids to start talking about the show, something CBS hoped to spur by offering screenings of its preem at schools in eight cities across the country.
It will also receive a second airing Saturday at 8.
At Fox, Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton laffer "Back to You" bowed at 8 o'clock with a 3.1/10 in 18-49 and 9.48 million viewers overall, making it the top show of the night in 18-49 share and rating (tied with "Kid" and "Kitchen"). "Back to You" beat "Kid Nation" head to head in adults 18-49 (3.1/10 to 2.7/9) and total viewers (9.51 million to 8.55 million).
"'Til Death" followed at 8:30 (2.8/8 in 18-49, 7.76m), dropping off some while auds flipped to the conclusions of the hourlong programs in the time period.
For the hour, Fox was up slightly from its performance in the timeslot a year ago with "Bones," as "Back to You" was up by 24% at 8 (3.1 vs. 2.5 in 18-49) and "Death" was flat.
Competition intensifies in the coming week for "Back to You," "Kid Nation" and the other opening-hour skeins as ABC -- the only network not airing regular firstrun fall programming in the 8 o'clock hour this week -- will join the party with "Pushing Daisies." (A special one-time airing of "Dancing With the Stars" plays Wednesday at 8 next week).
NBC's "Deal or No Deal" kicked off its season with below-par numbers (2.5/8, 9.86m) but did spike up in the second half-hour of an NFL-themed episode as a contestant zeroed in on the $1 million prize.
CW's "America's Next Top Model" looked good as usual kicking off its season at 8 o'clock (2.5/8 in 18-49, 5.22m), winning the hour in persons 12-34 (3.0/11) and dominating in femmes 12-34 (4.7/16).
At 9, "Gossip Girl" (1.7/4 in 18-49, 3.50m) fell off quite a bit in broader categories but held up well in femmes 12-34 (3.6/11), winning its hour and retaining more of its "Model" lead-in (77%) than any other show to bow behind the nonscripted heavyweight.
It's worth pointing out that other long-running teen soaps like "Beverly Hills 90210" and "One Tree Hill" didn't exactly storm out of the gate. Net also has to be pleased that the show hit a bull's-eye in female teens (5.3/17), where it opened higher than the preems of other young-skewing shows like "The OC," "Gilmore Girls" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Fox moved to the 18-49 lead at 9 o'clock with the bow of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 6.61m), which built nicely in its second half-hour but didn't approach the ratings level of the summer show it hatched from, "Hell's Kitchen."
ABC ran third in most categories from 9 to 10 with its spec "From Grey's Anatomy to Private Practice" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 7.14m), a retrospective of Kate Walsh's "Grey's Anatomy" character Addison Montgomery. Walsh leads the ensemble in "Practice," a "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff that bows in the Wednesday-at-9 hour next week.
And NBC's season finale of "Last Comic Standing" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 7.10m) posted the show's best numbers in five weeks, moving to the timeslot lead in key demos from 10 to 11.
ping
I just watch The History Channel.
“Kid Nation” is a terrible idea for a show, and I wish it nothing but failure.
None of the big shot returners are on yet. It will be interesting to see how they do.
What will happen is the networks trying desperately to have fast forward removed from tivos. Either that or every show is going to look like The Truman Show with all of the product placement.
I’m looking forward to Journeyman as the new show I watch until it is canceled three episodes in. It stars Lucius Vorenus from Rome, which I’m watching Series 2 on DVD now so that is probably a huge influence on wanting to see Journeyman.
That's all I used to watch but I gave up because I'm sick of their limited offerings. I'm totally burnt on "Modern Marvels" which they show about 10 times a day and during the entire primetime period every night. Now that it's football season I doubt my set will ever leave the "NFL Network" unless it's to watch a game on a different channel.
I agree. Only a total blithering idiot would watch it. I’m insulted by the commercials alone that lie “all kids, no adults”. Oh really? Are kids the camermen, crew, etc?
Then there ARE adults involved.
About as stupid as calling staged programming “reality shows”.
The whole kid nation concept seemed to be an open invitation for leftists to make all sorts of goofy connections to leftist pipe dreams. “If only the adult world could be so pure... AAAAAaaaaaa...”
No thanks. Let the little peckerheads create heaven on earth. Not interested.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Prison Break have started their new season so there is at least something worth watching on tv.
I VERY briefly saw Kid Nation, and found it to be the biggest pack of sludge ever recorded on film. Came across as scripted, a socialist’s dream. The primary winners of contest win $1 each, and they are the “Elites”. 2nd group were “Merchants” with .50 each, 3rd level got .25 each, and the last got .10 each. But what made me change enough was an interview with a 7 or 8 year old who points out one of his teammates and said something like “She really knows how to motivate us, get us to reach down deep and rise to the occasion”. I just don’t think a 7 year old would normally use the word motivate, let alone come up with the cliched lines he did without a lot of prompting.
Hollywood will use any excuse so they won't ever have to admit that their shows may actually suck.
I don't know about this show, but the PBS show ZOOM used to make similar claims (although you knew behind the scenes adults were making the show). It was a great show too.
I used to watch the History Channel, but then, every once in a while, I would see a show based on a subject of which I happened to have some knowledge. Those shows tended to be, at best, politically correct, or at worst, completely innaccurate.
Then I started to wonder about all those other shows I saw on subjects about which I knew very little. How many of these were inaccurate as well?
I don’t watch the History Channel as much any more.
Last night as per usual I turned to the guide for the evening on direct t v and once again there was not a thing I’d watch.
I ended up with the Miami football game on with no sound as I read a book/
I do this most evenings where I look for ANYTHING watchable and find NOTHING worth my time.
Oh how I long for the days when we had only 5-6 channels. It seems like we had so much more to watch in the 1960’s
The Invaders
Gunsmoke
Hogans Heroes
The FBI
Adam 12
Bonanza
Get Smart
Lost In Space
Star Trek (the original)
and on and on and on.
with the exception of 24 I mean, which won't start up again until January.....
Here’s a closely related thread I posted early this morning. Think of advertising as ‘dinosaur food.’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900021/posts
Nielsen: Ad Spend In First Half Of 2007 Tumbles (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)
snip
Many of the TV platforms were also in the red, with spot TV taking the worst hit—down 4.6%. Network TV didn’t have much to cheer about either; it was off 3.8%. Cable TV was the least hit, slipping just 0.3%. One bright spot for TV was the spot TV business in small markets—DMAs 101 to 210—up 3.2%.
snip
I caught “Back to You”; I can say is that it’s better than the average sitcom but that’s damning with faint praise. I expect better from Kelsey Grammar. At this point it looks like the only comedies on network TV worth watching is “The Office” and “Corner Gas”. On the drama side, I look forward to the new season of “Jericho”, “Battlestar Galactica” and “24” but that’s about it. It seems that every new TV season engenders in me a greater appreciation for books.
What’s happend to Titus Pullo (Ray Stephenson)? Is he going to turn up anywhere else on TV this year?
As for the rest of it, I can usually program the dvr in about 15 minutes, using the guide in the Sunday paper. I don’t watch any network TV, and I especially don’t watch the Law & Order channels. Old movies and home shows, mostly. All in all, TV is shriveling and dying because it’s just so darn BAD. The only original show I’ve seen in the last few years is the Beauty and the Beast reality (my first!) show. It’s an original concept, it’s got endearing qualities, and the contestants are very real young adults who impact each other in a positive way. It’s kind of like a Cinderella story for both the guys and gals. OTT, it’s whatever is in the dvr!
Having seen pictures of the new Supergirl on Smallville I’m at least a little curious about that.
There are actually several shows returning that I like, NBC is streaming the premiere of Friday Night Lights and it is becoming one of my favorites for sure. I don’t know that I have seen a show better capture small town life in the midwest.
Did you watch it? I liked it.
Nope. But then again I don’t need to smell sh-t to know that it stinks.
Too many shows to keep track any more. Sitcoms and dramas almost seem quaint these days after reality tv.
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/kid_nation/video.php?mode=episodes&episode=1
You can watch it online if you wish. When I saw all the critics panning it about unleashing kids in the wild with no supervision, that kind of commentary lacked any kind of common sense in my mind, as there are always camera and sound people, producers, etc. around.
I found it interesting watching the different kids personalities, and trying to identify the traits of their parents that they are showing.
Apparently CBS ran it on the East Coast coming in 6 minute into the next hour, and a lot of people complained because there Tivos were all off track. The West Coast ran without commercials at least 30 minutes....which was surprising....
According to IMDB, he is in pre-production to play Marvel Comics The Punisher in 2008 and is in some sort of upcoming UK movie call Outpost.
I’ll miss them both on Rome. I still have to get to the end of the DVD’s so I’m hoping they wrap everything up. I just watch the one called The Tortoise and the Hare. I think that’s half-way through the season. I try to only watch one a night but last night I watch two.
Best new shows I have found so far this year are:
My Boys on TBS... this is a truly funny and entertaining show. It just finished its season and not sure when new shows will be returning, but I will be watching when they return.
Corner Gas just started playing on WGN.. while not a new TV show technically, its been on the air in Canada for 4 or 5 seasons, its just now getting aired int he states, and I find it quite amusing. Definately the best show out of Canada since Red Green, and refreshingly funny.. Better than most everything Hollywood has offered lately. Think of it as sort of a northern exposure (without the political pontificating) meets Red Green.
Back to You I plan on watching online tonight... the premise looks great we’ll see how it executes.
I don’t mind Til Death... its hit or miss, episode by episode. General concept is good.
I really can’t think of any other new show coming out that has even piqued my interest... Sorry Kid Nation, but watching what is effectively child neglect go on in front of a camera, I have no incentive to watch or let my children watch that claptrap.
Rome was about the best thing ever to hit television, along with Deadwood. It’s a shame that HBO screwed up both. I enjoyed Kevin McKidd along with Ray and hope that they both go on to successful careers.
That said, Ian McShane was my all-time favorite as Al Swearengen!
oh, hell... wrong thread.
Check out Corner Gas on WGN.... captures quite well small town life from a comical/sarcastic lense.. not insulting at all.. but very very funny.
‘Survivor: China’
debut takes a tumble
CBS series falls 16 percent from last spring’s premiere
By Toni Fitzgerald
Sep 21, 2007
CBS’s “Survivor” continued its long slide last night with its 15th season debut, posting its worst fall premiere numbers ever, though the show still dominated its timeslot.
“Survivor: China” averaged a 4.9 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, down 16 percent from a 5.8 for last spring’s most recent premiere. It was also way down from a 6.3 for its debut this time last year.
“Survivor” has been slipping for several cycles. Last spring was the show’s lowest-rated ever, though that mirrored spring viewership losses seen by many hits across the networks.
Still, “Survivor” seems likely to remain No. 1 in its 8 p.m. timeslot when the other broadcast competition premieres next week. Last night it still outpaced the combined total for the hour’s No. 2 and No. 3 shows, Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” and NBC’s “My Name Is Earl” repeat.
And among total viewers, “Survivor” averaged 15.1 million total viewers, which is pretty good for a show in its 15 season.
Meanwhile, CBS finished first for the night among viewers 18-49 with a 3.9 average overnight rating and an 11 share. Fox was second at 2.6/8, NBC third at 2.1/6, Univision fourth at 1.8/5, ABC fifth at 1.6/5 and CW sixth at 0.8/2.
CBS led each hour of the night, starting with a 4.9 at 8 p.m. for “Survivor.” Fox was second with a 2.3 for “Smarter,” NBC third with a 2.2 for an hour of “Earl” repeats, ABC fourth with a 1.4 for a repeat of “Ugly Betty,” Univision fifth with a 1.2 for “Amar sin Limites” and CW sixth with a 0.6 for the first hour of a “Beauty and the Geek” repeat.
At 9 p.m. CBS led again with a 3.9 for a repeat of “CSI,” followed by Fox with a 2.9 for “Don’t Forget the Lyrics.” NBC was third with a 2.4 for an hour of “The Office” repeats, Univision fourth with a 2.1 for the first hour of the special “Latin Grammy Celebra: Marco Antonio Solis,” ABC fifth with a 1.9 for a “Grey’s Anatomy” rerun and CW sixth with a 0.9 for the second half of its “Beauty and the Geek” repeat.
At 10 p.m. CBS was first with a 2.9 for a repeat of “Without a Trace,” with Univision second with a 2.0 for the second half of its “Latin Grammy” special. NBC was third with a 1.6 for a repeat of “ER” and ABC fourth with a 1.4 for a “Men in Trees” rerun.
Among households, CBS comfortably finished first for the night with an 8.6 average overnight rating and a 14 share, followed by Fox at 5.1/8. ABC was third at 3.4/6, NBC fourth at 3.2/5, Univision fifth at 2.2/4 and CW sixth at 1.3/2
For the kids to be on the show they had to sign waivers saying they would not sue CBS if their child got pregnant, injured, caught a sexually transmitted disease etc etc etc...
What they basically did was child neglect with the cameras rolling.... Loopholed around the law by trying to claim it was a “Summer Camp”.. etc etc...
Its despicable they are trying to market this act of immoral behavior by their producers as a “family show”
Oh, I watched Rome 2.
Its not really wrapped up.
OF COURSE ITS SCRIPTED!!!
its “REALITY TV”.... which is in itself an oxymoron.
HBO has some of the best shows on TV. In my opinion The Wire is the best show on tv. I am glad it gets its last season. It would have been interesting if that had gone to a sixth season though. The idea they had for it was to focus on immigration but because none of the writers knew enough about they estimated 2 years of research before writing. So they decided to just end at 5 which will focus on the media. Should be interesting.
I plead guilty to recording the shows for later viewing, but do plan to give “Back to You” a shot, since it may be the only Tv Sitcom, or possibly any type show, with two conservatives in the leads! ;>)
I can understand where you’re coming from. We pick out a few shows then do pretty much what you do.
The show you’re talking about is ‘Beauty and the Geeks’, at last I think it is. If so, we watched it this week also.
I think the participants truly do learn some things from each other. The Geeks are brilliant but social leppers, and the Beauties make rocks look like Mensa Candidates.
It’s a reality check for both groups to interact.
My one complaint would be that I wouldn’t want to see anyone leave the show until the end. They could still participate but not be eligable for the prize at the end.
These folks have too much to gain from interacting with each other IMO.
Thanks for the comments.
How about Survivor: Cambodia? We can bring back Pol Pot to host the show! Otherwise, how about Survivor: Zimbabwe? I gave my son $4.00 last week and told him that he’d be a millionaire if he lived in Zimbabwe, considering the exchange rate!
I don’t own a TV, so I hadn’t heard of this show. So I Google’d it. Talk about a big steaming pile of garbage! Don’t people realize that civilzation has grown and adapted because of our ability to pass on wisdom and protocol from generation to generation? Younger kids are not capable of grasping these things yet apart from the fact they probably aren’t aware of alot of things. And the older segment? Well, they’re teenagers, they don’t care about wisdom, hahaha.
How about Survivor: The South Bronx.
I haven’t seen a new show yet that was worth watching. The one about the cops in New Orleans nearly made me barf. There wasn’t a single person who wasn’t a lib stereotype.
In a fit of confusion, I taped the show. Although I kind of agree with you, the premise of the show seemed too contrived, fake and boring.
One way I know a show is doing bad is that, as a Blogger, just one of the many faceless millions, the networks get my blog and/or email address. Then I get all the hype email about their shows. The ones I get a lot of email about are usually doing badly.
Already they’ve filled my in-box with Kid Nation hype. Now they’re airing it again tomorrow night.
I gave Fox's new "K-Ville" a shot on Monday -- I may watch it again to see how it turns out. Other than that, the big three networks don't get much time in our house.
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