The Programming Insider: Monday 7/7/03

Primetime Metered Market Rating

Friday 7/4/03

Household Rating/Share
CBS (4.6/11), NBC (4.5/10), ABC (3.2/7), Fox (2.1/5), WB (1.5/4), UPN (1.3/3)

-Ratings Breakdown:
On this night clearly minus any ratings' fireworks, CBS's combination of The Price is Right Salutes the Marines R (#2t: 3.3/8), 48 Hours Investigates (#2: 4.0/9) and Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular (#1 for the evening: 5.4/12) inched past NBC (Dateline, #1: 3.8/9, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 4.8/11 from 9-11 p.m.), on average, by one-tenth of a rating point. Yes -- a 5.4/12 was the highest-rated show of the evening!

On ABC, repeats of America's Funniest Home Videos (#2t: 3.3/8) and Whose Line is it Anyway? (9 p.m. #3: 2.3/5; 9:30 p.m. #4: 2.2/5) followed by 20/20 (#3: 4.0/8) were all below average. Fourth for the night was repeat theatrical An American Werewolf in Paris (2.1/5) on Fox followed by repeats of Reba (8 p.m. 1.7/4; 9 p.m. 1.5/4), What I Like About You (1.5/3 at 8:30 p.m.) and Grounded For Life (1.3/3 at 9:30 p.m.) on the WB.

Over at UPN, movie L.A. Country 187 scored a mere 1.3/3 from 8-10 p.m.

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Saturday 7/5/03

NBC (5.3/10), CBS (4.5/9), ABC (3.1/6), Fox (2.8/5)

-Ratings Breakdown:
Although these overnight ratings are nothing to boast about, NBC did win Saturday with the NASCAR Winston Cup Pepsi 400 (5.3/10 from 8-11 p.m.) up 18 percent, on average, over CBS's repeat combination of The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular (4.9/10), The District (4.4/8) and The Agency (4.2/8). Repeat theatrical Star Trek: First Contact opened the night for ABC with a 3.1/6 from 8-10 p.m. followed by a repeat of Dragnet at a 3.2/6 at 10 p.m.

On Fox, and in place of the regularly scheduled Cops and America's Most Wanted, was repeat theatrical Scream 2 at a 2.8/5. Just what has happened to Neve Campbell anyway?

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Sunday 7/6/03

Fox (6.3/11), CBS (5.9/10), NBC (5.4/9), ABC (3.2/5), WB (1.6/3)

-Ratings Breakdown:
On this final night of the 4th of July holiday weekend, repeat theatrical Independence Day on Fox ranked first overall with a 6.3/11 from 7-10 p.m. Although a repeat of CBS's 60 Minutes at 7 p.m. (8.5/15) was the highest-rated show, it was downhill for the Eye net from 8-11 p.m. (Without A Trace: 5.5/9, repeat theatrical The Wild, Wild West: 4.7/7 from 9-11 p.m.).

On NBC, the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament bled into prime time on the East Coast with a 3.3/6 from 7-7:45 p.m., followed by a repeat of Cher: The Farewell Tour also at a 3.3/6 from 7:45-9 p.m. At 9 p.m., a repeat of Law & Order: Criminal Intent perked up to a first-place 7.8/12 followed by the compatible Crime & Punishment at a 6.7/11 (also No. 1 in the 10 p.m. hour).

On ABC, a repeat of Dinosaur on The Wonderful World of Disney averaged a 3.6/6 from 7-9 p.m. followed by a repeat of Alias at an almost-invisible (and fourth-place) 2.1/3. Despite the ongoing critical acclaim, the sad reality of Alias remains minimal tune in. At 10 p.m., a repeat of the soon-to-be revamped The Practice ranked third with a 3.5/6.

Over at the WB, it was slim pickings with its repeat combination of Gilmore Girls: Beginnings (1.7/3), Charmed (1.7/3) and Boarding House: North Shore (1.4/2). Keep in mind, though, that the start of the new fall season is now just 77 days away!

Source: Nielsen Media Research


Shows Worth Watching This Summer:
Beat the Heat With These Options

In the midst of repeats, reality, newsmagazines and leftover original programming, here are a number of shows worth watching this summer.

-Larry King Live (CNN)
If it's thought-provoking, interesting topics you want to be challenged by, the easy-to-mock Larry King is always game at 9 p.m. ET. No interview show has better guests or topics than his does.

-Scare Tactics (Sci Fi)
If you like Candid Camera, enjoy your laughter mixed with pity and miss former bad-girl Shannen Doherty, Scare Tactics is a show for you. Only this time let's hope Shannen doesn't ditch this series -- it's the perfect vehicle for her.

-Sex and the City (HBO)
With only 17 original episodes left at presstime, now is the time to catch up with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha -- TV's sauciest quartet.

-Monk (USA)
Who do you get if you mix Felix Unger with Lt. Columbo? Oddball Adrian Monk, who just began a new season on USA and deserves a second window on ABC next season.

-Big Brother 4 (CBS)
If you're not claustrophobic and enjoy seeing people scratch and claw for $500,000, Season 4 (complete with ex-mates, lovers -- whatever) begins on CBS this Wednesday.

-The True Hollywood Story (E!)
Although this is nothing new, it fits like a glove in the heat of the summer. Relax, grab a daiquiri and enjoy the scandal, deception and sizzle of The True Hollywood Story.

-The Wire (HBO)
Although it may not be as water-cooler-worthy as The Sopranos or Six Feet Under, The Wire is another regularly scheduled HBO drama you shouldn't miss.

-I Love Lucy (TV Land)
At any time, any day and any season there is no better comedy option than the classic, and timeless, I Love Lucy. Don't miss the Ricardos and Mertzes as they head to California this week.


On the Air Tonight:
Primetime Programming Options

Monday 7/7/03

ABC:
George Lopez (four repeat episodes), Primetime: Columbia -- Final Mission

CBS:
Yes, Dear (R), Still Standing (R), Everybody Loves Raymond (R), King of Queens (R), CSI: Miami (R)

NBC:
Fear Factor (R), For Love Or Money (finale)

Fox:
Anything For Love, Stupid Behavior Caught on Tape, Paradise Hotel

UPN:
The Parkers (R), One On One (R), Girlfriends (R), Half & Half (R)

WB:
7th Heaven (R), Everwood (R)


TV Tidbits:
Notes Of Interest

-Becker In; The Stones Pushed Back Until Midseason:
In the first programming change of the new fall schedule (trust me -- there will be more), CBS will replace new Wednesday 9:30 p.m. comedy The Stones with Becker, which was expected back in midseason. The Stones will debut later in the season. For those of you who thought The Stones would be the first casualty of the season (I was one of them), consider either Threat Matrix (ABC), 10-8 (ABC) or Whoopi (NBC) now the most likely.

-Upcoming Sponsors on NBC's The Restaurant:
American Express, Coors Brewing Company and Mitsubishi Motors will sponsor upcoming NBC series The Restaurant, an unscripted drama that offers a behind-the-scenes look at Italian-American chef Rocco DiSpirito. Look for its debut on Sunday, July 20, at 10 p.m. ET.

-When Casts Collide:
The next time TV Land does a casts collide theme they should include the episode when Dennis the Menace (Jay North) visits the Donna Reed Show. Or the time when Jed (Buddy Ebsen), Granny (Irene Ryan), Jethro (Max Baer) and Elly Mae (Donna Douglas) of The Beverly Hillbillies, and Oliver (Eddie Albert), Lisa (Eva Gabor) and Eb (Tom Lester) of Green Acres heads to Petticoat Junction for Thanksgiving.


Reader Feedback Forum:
Life With Bonnie

"Bonnie Hunt is a real showbiz treasure along the lines of a Jack Benny or Mary Tyler Moore, and I hope she finds the vehicle where she can connect to that wider audience. Bonnie is quirky and yet broadly appealing enough that the most straightforward type of program would be best to showcase her, hence the wisdom in suggesting we stick to her home life in Life With Bonnie. If ABC executives are patient and able to guide her into it, they could have a hit along the lines of Everybody Loves Raymond. CBS seems to be good at those patient builds when they know they have something. Maybe ABC's ratings woes will give them the time to let her find her way.

"Like the old Jack Benny Show, she can come out in front the audience for part of the half-hour directly (no elaborate fictional sub context as she has now), in front of a stage curtain as Bonnie Hunt who is putting on a show for us, then switch to fictional stories at home just as they did in the Jack Benny Show. Those old programs are as breezy, charming and delightful as ever to watch thanks to a likeable star with amazing comic timing. And that's Bonnie!"

-The PI:
Since ABC is not in the best shape ratings-wise, the good news for viewers is a second season of the minimally sampled but potentially prosperous Life With Bonnie. Although moving Bonnie out of Tuesday and into Friday could open the door to a new, and potentially younger audience, airing at the tail end of the network's returning T.G.I.F. comedy block means the show might become more family-oriented. If it were up to me the office setting would be the priority. And if I were programming ABC, Bonnie would air Friday at 8:30 p.m. out of George Lopez and into Hope & Faith.


TV Trivia Time:
And the Oscar Nominee Was ...

Which of the following former stars from Cheers was once nominated for an Academy Award?

a) Kirstie Alley
b) Ted Danson
c) Woody Harrelson
d) Shelley Long
e) Bebe Neuwirth

The answer to Friday's question ...

How many people have hosted game show Family Feud?

a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five
e) Six

... is c) four. Following Richard Dawson was Ray Combs, Louie Anderson and former Home Improvement co-star Richard Karn, who is now the fourth host.

Current kudos go to:
Dick Alpert, Mark Amato, Jeanne Anderson, Greg Armstrong, Mary Bancroft, Shelly Baxter, Natalie Beck, Woodie Belk, Mikki Beno, Doug Benson, Robert Berman, Sheila Berman, Linda Breg, Robert Berman, Lori Birnbaum, Gerry Bixenspan, Mindy Bloom, Jay Bobbin, Jocelyn Brandeis, Jordan Breslow, Lillian Buchman, Kevin Burrow, Roseanne Cacciola, Carol Callahan, Denise Carroll, Riley Ray Chiorando, Vanessa Coates, Jamieson Cochrane, Sid Cohen, Charlie Conner, Harold Cooper, Amy Coor, Eric Cristall, Audrey Davis, Andrew DeBenedictis, Mitzi Ducker, Deborah Duncan, Bob Eisenstadt, Gregg Fleishman, James Foard, Holley Ford, Natasha Gaines, Maya Garner, Rita Gazitano, Jerry Gibbons, Steve Gleason, Jaime Grasso, John Harper, Peggy Harris, Nancy Herman, Jessica Hernandez, Rob Homa, Amy Horowitz, Bob Ingersoll, Tony Intelisano, David Jackino, Ed James, Greg Janover, Ken Jobe, Marshall Johnson, Shawn Jones, Eric Kabakoff, Mary Kinoshita, Sherrie Lambie, Eric Lavey, Steve Leblang, Cynthia Mackley, Richard Mann, Melissa Martin, Cliff Matis, James Maxim, Kathy McClung, Lisa Menin, Jamie Miller, Jeff Mirkin, Christina Monaghan, Jim Moore, Ashley Nasser, Karen Neal, George Norberg, Bob Oliva, Felice Palmer, Alan Perris, Jodi Perris, Gary Press, Ted Putman, Robert Ramsey, Andrea Regusters, Todd Rein, Steve Repsher, Brian Robinette, Steve Robinson, Jay Rossi, Colleen Roth, John Sandwell, Dave Schleier, Lisa Schmidt, Simcha Schwartz, Michael Shaw, Brooke Shira, Sally Sluss, Richard Sobel, Ray Stevens, Kristin Strauss, Sylvia Sultan, Shirley Thompson, P. Kellach Waddle, Donna Wasserman, Jennifer Weingroff, Myndi Weinraub, Renee Williams, Tracie Williams