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Fall TV Watch
18 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks have announced their schedules for the 2008-2009 season. Take a look at our list to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: Pushing Daisies, America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do?

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural,

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Don't Forget the Lyrics!


Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moved to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, Kid Nation, Power of 10

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, The Next Great American Band, Unhitched


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys, and The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, Opportunity Knocks, The Goode Family, and an Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List,

The CW: 90210, Stylista, Surviving the Filthy Rich

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, The Cleveland Show, Do Not Disturb, Sit Down, Shut Up, Secret Millionaire


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

Fall TV Watch
17 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks have announced their schedules for the 2008-2009 season. Take a look at our list to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: Pushing Daisies, America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do?

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural,

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Don't Forget the Lyrics!


Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moved to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, Kid Nation, Power of 10

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, The Next Great American Band, Unhitched


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys, and The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, Opportunity Knocks, The Goode Family, and an Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List,

The CW: 90210, Stylista, Surviving the Filthy Rich

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, The Cleveland Show, Do Not Disturb, Sit Down, Shut Up, Secret Millionaire


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

Fall TV Watch
16 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks have announced their schedules for the 2008-2009 season. Take a look at our list to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: Pushing Daisies, America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do?

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural,

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Don't Forget the Lyrics!


Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moved to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, Kid Nation, Power of 10

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, The Next Great American Band, Unhitched


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys, and The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, Opportunity Knocks, The Goode Family, and an Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List,

The CW: 90210, Stylista, Surviving the Filthy Rich

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, The Cleveland Show, Do Not Disturb, Sit Down, Shut Up, Secret Millionaire


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

Fall TV Watch
15 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks are announcing their fall schedules this week. Keep an eye on our list, updated daily, to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: Pushing Daisies, America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do?

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural,

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Don't Forget the Lyrics!


Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moved to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, Kid Nation, Power of 10

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, The Next Great American Band, Unhitched


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys, and The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, Opportunity Knocks, The Goode Family, and an Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List,

The CW: 90210, Stylista, Surviving the Filthy Rich

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, The Cleveland Show, Do Not Disturb, Sit Down, Shut Up, Secret Millionaire


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

Fall TV Watch
14 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks are announcing their fall schedules this week. Keep an eye on our list, updated daily, to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: Pushing Daisies, America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do?

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural,

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? TBD


In Limbo

Fox: The Next Great American Band, Unhitched, Don't Forget the Lyrics



Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moved to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, Kid Nation, Power of 10

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, TBD


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys, and The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, Opportunity Knocks, The Goode Family, and an Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List,

The CW: 90210, Stylista, Surviving the Filthy Rich

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, Cleveland, The Inn, Sit Down Shut Up, TBD


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

Fall TV Watch
13 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks are announcing their fall schedules this week. Keep an eye on our list, updated daily, to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: Pushing Daisies, America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do?

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement TBD

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural, TBD

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? TBD


In Limbo
CBS: Kid Nation, Power of 10

The CW: Beauty and the Geek, Farmer Wants a Wife, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Next Great American Band, Unhitched, Don't Forget the Lyrics



Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moving to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, TBD

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, TBD

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, TBD


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys, and The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, Opportunity Knocks, The Goode Family, and an Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List(formerly known as Mythological X), TBD

The CW: The Untitled "Beverly Hills, 90210" Spinoff, Stylista, Surviving the Filthy Rich

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, Cleveland, The Inn, Sit Down Shut Up, TBD


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

Fall TV Watch
12 May 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Is Your Favorite Show Coming Back? The networks are announcing their fall schedules this week. Keep an eye on our list, updated daily, to see which shows made the cut.




Returning
NBC: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Knight Rider, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, Medium, The Office, Sunday Night Football

ABC: America's Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, Eli Stone, Scrubs (moving from NBC)TBD

CBS: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, TBD

The CW: Reaper, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural, TBD

Fox: 24, American Idol, American Dad, Family Guy, Kitchen Nightmares, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death, Bones, Hell's Kitchen, House, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? TBD



In Limbo
ABC: Cashmere Mafia, According to Jim, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Primetime, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

CBS: Moonlight, Kid Nation, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Shark, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Power of 10, Rules of Engagement

The CW: Beauty and the Geek, Farmer Wants a Wife, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Fox: Next Great American Band, Unhitched, Don't Forget the Lyrics


Canceled
NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moving to ABC)

ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, TBD

CBS: Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, TBD

The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, TBD

Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, TBD


New
NBC: America's Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Howie Do It, Kath & Kim, Kings, The Listener, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, Who Do You Think You Are? Momma's Boys and, The Untitled "Office" Spinoff

ABC: Life on Mars, TBD

CBS: Worst Week, Project Gary, The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Harper's Island, The Ex List(formerly known as Mythological X), TBD

The CW: The Untitled "Beverly Hills, 90210" Spinoff, Stylista, How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls

Fox: Dollhouse, Fringe, Cleveland, The Inn, Sit Down Shut Up, TBD


For more on the 2008-2009 schedule, see the TV Hit List.

'Idol' And 'Dancing' Rule Tuesday Night
30 April 2008 (StudioBriefing)
As usual, Fox's American Idol dominated Tuesday's ratings as the performance edition posted a 14.7 rating and a 23 share during the 8:00 p.m. hour. Nevertheless, CBS's NCIS remained a tough competitor as it placed second with a 9.1/14. ABC's Dancing With the Stars took over the lead at 9:00 p.m. with a huge 11.6/18. The debut of CBS's Shark in the time period posted a 6.7/10, behind second-place Hell's Kitchen on Fox, which drew a 7.4/11. NBC moved into the lead at 10:00 p.m. as Law & Order: SVU with an 8.4/14, murdering ABC's Women's Murder Club which premiered in the time period with a 5.6/10.

Falling 'Idol'?
23 April 2008 (StudioBriefing)
With ratings for last week's performance edition of American Idol falling to a five-year-low and its results edition to a four-year low, Fox barely managed to retain its ratings crown last week. The network averaged 8.8 million viewers for the week, just 300,000 more than CBS. Nevertheless, the two Idol telecasts remained at the top of the heap last week. Somewhat surprisingly, CBS's NCIS became the network's highest-rated show for the week, drawing 15.1 million viewers, despite the fact that it went head-to-head against Fox's Idol.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 13.9/22; 2. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 13.4/21; 3. Dancing With the Stars (Monday), ABC, 11.3/17; 4. Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday), ABC, 10.1/15; 4. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 10.1/16; 6. NCIS, CBS, 9.4/15; 7. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 8.8/14; 8. CSI: NY, CBS, 8.6/14; 9. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 8.5/13; 10. Criminal Minds, CBS, 8.2/13.

'Idol' Rebounds
23 April 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Ratings for Fox's American Idol rose Tuesday night from last week, as the show posted a 14.5 rating and a 23 share in the 8:00 p.m. hour. Once again, CBS's NCIS also provided strong competition as it drew a 9.0/14. At 9:00 p.m. the results show for ABC's Dancing With the Stars, which saw the exit of Marlee Matlin, took over the lead with an 11.9/18. NBC moved to the top spot at 10:00 p.m. as Law & Order: SVU posted an 8.2/13. In the same hour, CBS's Shark, which took over the time slot from Jericho, continued to perform worse than its predecessor, posting just a 3.4/5.

Nets Abandon Primary Coverage
22 April 2008 (StudioBriefing)
The major television networks have no plans to interrupt their regular programming to present reports about results in today's (Tuesday) crucial primary election in Pennsylvania. NBC plans to move Nightly News anchor Brian Williams and other correspondents who have been covering the campaign to its cable outlet, MSNBC, for reports on the voting. CBS and ABC, which operate no cable news outlets, are likely to run a "crawl" at the bottom of the screen for updates. Fox, which airs no regular news programming at all, will leave coverage of the primary voting in the hands of its sibling Fox News Channel. Sam Roberts, chairman of the University of Miami's broadcast journalism department and a former CBS producer, told the Miami Herald that political coverage has become "strictly a cable event." Local stations in Pennsylvania are expected to air brief live cut-ins throughout the night, but Corrie Harding, news director of NBC affiliate WPXI-TV, vowed during an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "We'll really try hard not to mess up people's Law & Order: SVU experience."

Neal And Beach Leaving 'Law & Order: SVU'
21 April 2008 (WENN)
Longtime Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Diane Neal is to leave the force when her contract on the U.S. cop drama ends later this year. Neal, who plays Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak, has been a regular fixture on the TV program since she joined in 2003, replacing Stephanie March. But the star is now exiting at the end of the current series, with her final appearance to air in the season finale, which will be shown next month. A representative for the show tells Tvguide.com, "Diane spent five years on SVU and was a tremendous addition to the SVU team. She is looking forward to new opportunities and she will be missed." The program's creator Dick Wolf is reportedly looking for an up-and-coming actor to fill Neal's high profile role in the show. Also, Neal's co-star Adam Beach is leaving the hit TV show as well. The actor - who plays Detective Chester Lake in the show - decided not to exercise the second-year option on his contract. He says, "I very much enjoyed my year on (the show). Now I'm looking forward to new adventures."

No Football, But Fox Scores Anyway
30 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Fox had no NFL playoffs to buoy its ratings last week, but it did have American Idol, and even though the talent contest's ratings were somewhat off from what they were a year ago, they still looked better than anything else in sight, as Tuesday and Wednesday's telecasts finished first and second for the week among overall viewers and those 18-49. A rerun of Fox's House also crushed the competition on Tuesday night. Overall, Fox averaged a 6.9 rating and an 11 share for the week. CBS followed with a 6.1/10. NBC came in third with a 5.1/8, while ABC trailed with a 4.4/7.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 16.2/24; 2. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 15.1/23; 3. Moment of Truth, Fox, 12.9/19; 4. 60 Minutes, CBS, 9.5/15; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 8.6/13; 5. Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Russell Girl, CBS, 8.6/13; 7. Deal or No Deal, (Monday), NBC, 8.5/13; 7. Deal or No Deal (Wednesday), NBC, 8.5/13; 7. House, Fox, 8.5/13; 10. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 8.4/14.

Fox Leaps Forward
16 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Fox began making its annual mid-season move to the front ranks of the Nielsen ratings last week, scoring strongly among adults 18-49 with NFL football and the debut of its sci-fi drama Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. CBS, however, remained on top overall, drawing big numbers for the miniseries Comanche Moon and its old stand-by, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Overall ratings were down significantly from last year, following a pattern that began well before the writers' strike. Only CBS remained flat with last year. Overall, the network wound up with an average 8.2 rating and a 13 share for the week. Fox placed second with a 7.9/12. NBC followed with a 5.1/8, edging out ABC with a 5.0/8.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. NFC Playoffs, Fox, 18.8/29; 2. AFC Playoffs, CBS, 17.9/30; 3. BCS National Championship, Fox, 14.4/22; 4. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 11.6/17; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 11.2/17; 6. Terminator: Sarah Conover Chronicles, Fox, 11.1/16; 7. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 9.9/17; 8. Comanche Moon Pt. 1, CBS, 9.4/14; 9. Without a Trace, CBS, 9.3/16; 10. Criminal Minds, CBS, 8.9/14.

Peacock Flies High
9 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
The combination of football, a game show, and the two-hour return of Law and Order to Wednesday nights turned NBC, the usual fourth-place network, into last week's first-place network. The network placed six shows in the top ten, including the No. 1 telecast of the week, its Saturday telecast of the NFL playoff game between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. Two episodes of the NBC game show Deal or No Deal also made the top ten. Not quite getting there was NBC's American Gladiators on Sunday night, which marked the season's top premiere among viewers overall and particularly among the key 18-49-year-old demographic. Also noteworthy were big numbers for CBS's 60 Minutes and a new episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives. For the week, NBC averaged a 7.1 rating and a 12 share. CBS was in second place with a 5.7/9, while ABC and Fox tied for third with a 5.3/9.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. NBC NFL Playoff Game 2, NBC, 15.0/25; 2. NFL Playoff Pre-kickoff, NBC, 13.8/24; 3. NFL Playoff Bridge, NBC, 13.6/24; 4. AFC Wildcard Post-Game, CBS, 13.5/22; 5. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 12.0/18; 6. 60 Minutes, CBS, 11.6/18; 7. Law and Order, NBC, 8.9/14; 8. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 8.5/13; 9. Deal or No Deal (Monday), NBC, 8.2/13; 10. Deal or No Deal (Wednesday), NBC, 7.8/12; 10. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 7.8/13.

Christmas Ratings a Late Present for CBS
4 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Nielsen Research got around to releasing ratings for Christmas week Thursday, and no network had much to boast about. CBS dominated the week with six of the top-ten shows, but its average 5.3 rating and 10 share was well off its season average of 7.4/12. NBC took the remaining top-ten slots, averaging a 5.1/9 for the week. Fox placed third with an average 3.6/7, while ABC trailed with a 3.3/6.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. NBC Sunday Night Football (Tennessee Titans vs. the Indianapolis Colts), NBC, 9.7/16; 2. NFL Saturday Night Special (New England Patriots vs. the New York Giants), CBS, 8.7/15; 3. 60 Minutes, CBS, 7.7/13; 3. NFL Special 12/29(S), NBC, 7.7/13; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 7.0/12; 6. Without a Trace, CBS, 6.9/12; 7. Sunday Night NFL Pre-kickoff, NBC, 6.3/11; 8. CSI: NY, CBS, 6.0/10; 9. Amazing Race 12, CBS, 5.9/9; 9. Criminal Minds, CBS, 5.9/10; 9. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 5.9/11.

Dick Clark Still Rockin' on New Year's Eve
2 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Although his speech remained noticeably affected by the stroke that felled him in 2004, Dick Clark kidded co-host Ryan Seacrest and, as always, counted down the moments to 2008 in New York's Times Square Monday night. (The program actually made news when Mayor Michael Bloomberg told Seacrest that he would not run for president.) Orlando Sentinel TV columnist Hal Boedeker defended ABC's decision to bring Clark back each year despite his rather feeble appearance. "His presence offers several reminders," Boedeker wrote. "We're all growing older. We need to respect the aged. We're witnessing a TV icon setting a good example, growing old gracefully and not hiding." The primetime segment of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) landed in first place in the ratings, posting a 4.8 rating and a 10 share, beating reruns of CSI: Miami on CBS and Law & Order: SVU on NBC. It then went on to score an 8.8 rating/20 share from 11:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m.

Xmas Eve Will Find You ... Away from TV
26 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Christmas eve turned out to be the lowest-rated night of the season (and perhaps the lowest-rated Tuesday of the year) as CBS won with an lowly average 3.2 rating and a 7 share. NBC ranked second with a 2.7/6, edging out ABC's 2.6/6. Fox trailed with a 1.6/4. Amazingly, the umpteenth rerun of 61-year-old It's a Wonderful Life finished first in the 8:00 p.m. hour and stayed a competitive second at 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. In fact the final hour of the Jimmy Stewart starrer drew a 3.1/7 rating, the second-highest rating of the night. (The highest-rated show was CBS's CSI: Miami, which registered a 4.0/9 in the same hour.) Audiences returned to their sets on Christmas Day with NBC's Deal or No Deal averaging a 6.1/12 between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., followed by a Law & Order: SVU repeat at 10:00 p.m., which drew a 5.2/10.

ABC's Losses Are CBS's Gain
12 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
CBS regained the title of most-watched network last week after ABC had to do without Dancing With the Stars, which has ended its current run, and Desperate Housewives, which has gone into hiatus due to the writers' strike. NBC also savored a week to boast about as it won Sunday and Monday and tied for first place on Tuesday. For the week, CBS averaged a 6.6 rating and an 11 share. ABC slipped to second place with a 5.7/9. NBC was close behind with a 5.2/8, while Fox trailed with a 4.1/6.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 11.6/17; 1. (Tie) Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 11.6/18; 3. 60 Minutes, CBS, 10.6/17; 4. ABC Premiere Event: Mitch Albom's For One More Day, ABC, 8.3/13; 4. Without a Trace, CBS, 8.3/14; 6. Survivor: China, CBS, 8.2/13; 7. NBC Sunday Night Football, NBC, 8.1/13; 8. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 8.0/13; 9. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC, 7.7/11; 10. Barbara Walters Presents, ABC, 7.6/13; 10. (Tie) Cold Case, CBS, 7.6/11; 10. (Tie) Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, CBS, 7.6/12.

DeGeneres Banned From Using Her Own Sitcom Clips
17 September 2007 (WENN)
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has been refused access to clips from her own former sitcom. The comedienne asked ABC/Disney bosses to let her show a segment from her old program, which featured a guest appearance from actress Mariska Hargitay - and was told the footage was off limits. DeGeneres, who hit the headlines a decade ago when she 'came out' as a lesbian on the sitcom and in real life, was hoping to use the clip to show Hargitay when the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star made her debut on DeGeneres' show on Friday. she was a guest star on my original sitcom and it was a hilarious scene... I wanted to show it today... but Disney will not let me have any clips of my show to show, unless we pay a whole lot of money. "It was my show... We'd be advertising it, it would help them." Instead Ellen showed a clip of Hargitay in soap Falcon Crest, acting alongside the late Jane Wyman, who died last week.

NBC's a Must-See Again
25 July 2007 (StudioBriefing)
For one week, it must have seemed like 2004 again to NBC executives. After falling into the ratings cellar during the regular season, three of the network's summer shows landed in the top ten, with one of them, The Singing Bee, holding on to the No. 1 position for the second week in a row, according to Nielsen Research. (In its third outing last night, the show slipped significantly, coming in second for the night behind its lead-in, America's Got Talent.) Nevertheless, despite NBC's comeback, CBS remained the most-watched network overall for the week as it registered an average 4.3 rating and an 8 share. NBC was close behind with a 3.9/7. Fox placed third with a 3.5/6, edging out ABC's 3.2/6.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. The Singing Bee, NBC, 6.8/11; 2. America's Got Talent, NBC, 6.5/11; 3. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 6.3/11; 4. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.1/10; 4. CSI: NY, CBS, 6.1/11; 6. So You Think Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 5.9/10; 7. Shark (Thursday), CBS, 5.7/10; 8. Criminal Minds, CBS, 5.5/9; 8. (Tie) Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.5/9; 10. CSI: Miami, CBS, 5.4/9.

Emmy Nods: 'Sopranos' Gets More Bang for the Blank
19 July 2007 (StudioBriefing)
The Sopranos may have ended with a blank screen, but it filled up the list of Emmy nominations announced today (Thursday) with 15 bids, including best drama, best actor (James Gandolfini) and best actress (Edie Falco) in its categories. Nevertheless, the made-for-TV movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee counted up the most nominations, 17. Three new shows also made the list of contenders -- Heroes, Ugly Betty, and 30 Rock.

Nominees for best comedy series: The Office, Entourage, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men and Ugly Betty

Best drama series: Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House and The Sopranos

Best actor in a drama series: Hugh Laurie, House; James Gandolfini, The Sopranos; Kiefer Sutherland, 24; Denis Leary, Rescue Me; James Spader, Boston Legal

Best actress in a drama series: Edie Falco, The Sopranos; Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer; Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters; Minnie Driver, The Riches; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU

Best actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Steve Carell, The Office; Tony Shalhoub, Monk; Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men; Ricky Gervais, Extras

Best actress in a comedy series: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine; Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds.

NBC's 'Singing Bee' Becomes Biggest New Hit of Summer
18 July 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Tuesday night's Major League Baseball All-Star Game may have topped the overall ratings last week, but it was a new show from NBC, The Singing Bee, that drew more 18-49-year-olds. The debut of Singing Bee, which captured an 8.1 rating and a 13 share, marked the best opening for any new show this summer. For the week, CBS once again kept the crown by being the most consistent winner. It posted an average of 4.4/8, but NBC was close behind in second place with a 4.3/8. Fox came in third with a 3.8/7, while ABC trailed with a 3.0/5.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fox, 8.4/15; 2. The Singing Bee, NBC, 8.1/13; 3. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.1/12; 4. NCIS, CBS, 6.5/11; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.4/11; 6. CSI: NY, CBS, 6.0/11; 6. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 6.0/10; 8. MLB All-Star Game Pregame, Fox, 5.9/11; 8. So You Think Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 5.9/10; 10. Shark, CBS, 5.8/10; 10. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.8/10.

Even With All-Reruns, CBS Wins
4 July 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Although it aired a virtually uninterrupted schedule of reruns last week, CBS remained the most-watched network overall. But NBC, the lowest-rated network during the regular season, rose to second place, thanks in large measure to America's Got Talent -- the No. 1 show of the week -- and the Concert for Princess Diana special. Fox also scored strongly with two editions of So You Think You Can Dance and its game show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. ABC, however, was left out in the cold, placing only one show in Nielsen's top 20 -- Wednesday night's unscripted The Next Best Thing, at No. 18. (The finale of Univision's Spanish-language La Fea Mas Bella ranked higher, coming in at No. 15.) In overall ratings for the week, CBS led with an average 4.6 rating and a 9 share; NBC placed second with a 3.7/7. Fox followed with a 3.5/6, while ABC trailed with a 3.0/6.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.2/13; 2. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.6/11; 3. CSI: Miami, CBS, 6.2/11; 4. So You Think You Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 6.0/10; 4. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 6.0/10; 6. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 5.9/10; 6. Concert for Diana, NBC, 5.9/11; 6. So You Think You Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 5.9/10; 9. NCIS, CBS, 5.8/11; 10. CSI: NY, CBS, 5.7/10; 10. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Fox, 5.7/11.

Network Ratings Plummet to Lowest Levels Ever
27 June 2007 (StudioBriefing)
It was the worst of weeks for the television networks last week as they produced some of their lowest numbers since the modern ratings system began some 20 years ago. Surprisingly, the top-rated show of the week was NBC's Monday-night edition of Dateline, the magazine show that has become mostly a place-keeper for shows that have been canceled. But Monday night's show in which Matt Lauer interviewed British princes William and Harry attracted 12.2 million viewers -- the largest number of viewers to tune in since an interview with Amber Frey, the girlfriend of convicted killer Scott Peterson, aired more than two years ago. NBC also scored with its Deal or No Deal game show, which pulled in 12.1 million viewers. Nevertheless, CBS once again led in the ratings with an overall 4.8 average and a 9 share. Fox placed second with a 4.2/8. NBC came in third with a 3.5/6, while ABC trailed with a 2.7/5.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. Dateline (Monday), NBC, 8.4/14; 2. America's Got Talent, NBC, 8.0/14; 3. Deal or No Deal (Monday), NBC, 7.8/14; 4. NCIS, CBS, 6.4/11; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.3/11; 5. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 6.3/11; 7. CSI: Miami, CBS, 6.2/10; 8. 60 Minutes, CBS, 5.9/12; 8. So You Think Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 5.9/10; 8. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.9/10.

NBC's Got No. 1 Again
20 June 2007 (StudioBriefing)
NBC, which struggled during the regular season just to place any of its shows on Nielsen Research's top-ten ratings list, had the No. 1 show on the list for the second week in a row. The show, America's Got Talent, drew 11.82 million viewers. Among adults 18-49, Fox's Hell's Kitchen took top honors. Nevertheless, CBS won the week among overall households, thanks to a strong assortment of regular shows -- mostly reruns -- and the NBA finals, which pulled strong ratings by ordinary standards but not by the standards of past NBA telecasts.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.4/13; 2. NBA Finals Game 4, ABC, 6.5/9; 3. NCIS, CBS, 6.5/12; 4. So You Think Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 6.5/11; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.4/11; 6. NBA Finals Game 3, ABC, 6.4/9; 7. CSI: Miami, CBS, 6.3/11; 8. Cold Case, CBS, 6.2/11; 9. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 6.1/7; 10. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 6.1/10.

Peacock Plunges
31 May 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Only a day after NBC fired Kevin Reilly, its entertainment president and chief programmer, the network got word that its ratings for the previous week had sunk to embarrassing levels -- the worst ever during a regular season. (The season ended on Thursday.) A special embarrassment accompanied the return of its Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The Aaron Sorkin "dramedy," which network executives had once predicted would be a huge hit for the 2006-07 season, drew fewer than four million viewers. (Media buyers said Wednesday that they doubted that the schedule Reilly had unveiled for next season would lift the network out of fourth place. Susan Hajny, broadcast research manager for media buyers GSD&M, told Media Life magazine that the programs represented the "quirky, offbeat stuff that [Reilly's] been supporting, but I don't think it fits the image NBC still has of itself from when they were No. 1." Serge Del Grosso of Lowe New York told the trade publication, "You can argue that Reilly invested in the quality of content but it wasn't popular enough to draw in the masses.") NBC placed only two shows in the top 20 last week -- Heroes at No. 10 and Law & Order: SVU at No. 16. Thanks to the season finale(s) of American Idol, Fox finished the week in the lead with an average 6.9 rating and a 12 share. CBS placed second with a 6.0/11. ABC came in third with a 5.8/10, while NBC trailed with a 3.7/7.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 17.8/28; 2. Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday), ABC, 15.0/24; 3. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 14.9/23; 4. Dancing With the Stars (Monday), ABC, 13.4/22; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 9.1/15; 6. NCIS, CBS, 9.0/14; 7. The Bachelor, ABC, 8.6/13; 8. CBS Tuesday Movie: Jesse Stone: Sea Change, CBS, 8.3/13; 8. (Tie) Two and a Half Men, CBS, 8.3/12; 10. Heroes, NBC, 8.0/12; 10. (Tie) Lost, ABC, 8.0/14.

'Law & Order: CI' Series To Move to Cable
14 May 2007 (StudioBriefing)
All-new episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent will air next season on the USA cable network, the first time an established broadcast network series has moved to cable, it was reported over the weekend. However, NBC which has aired the series in the past, is expected to slot reruns in the time periods of any failed shows next season. Recently, the network has been packing those vacated periods with episodes of its magazine series Dateline -- as many as six hours of its 22 primetime hours each week. In a statement referring to his L&O strategy NBC President/CEO Jeff Zucker said, "By changing the traditional way programs are rolled out, we have reinforced NBC Universal's forward thinking approach to new programming strategies and our willingness to embrace bold thinking." Meanwhile, the network said that the original Law & Order will return for its eighteenth season in the fall and that it will also bring back Law & Order: SVU, its highest-rated L&O series, for a seventh season.

'Idol' Roars Back
2 May 2007 (StudioBriefing)
American Idol, featuring guest star Jon Bon Jovi, once again dominated the ratings race Tuesday night, improving slightly from last week to a 16.2 rating an a 25 share, although it was off from the comparable week a year ago when it posted a 17.3/26. CBS's NCIS provided solid competition as it scored a 9.1/14 in the same (8:00 p.m.) time period. Fox's House also continued to score strongly at 9:00 p.m. with a 13.1/19, but ABC's Dancing With the Stars results show gave it plenty of competion, registering an 11.4/17. NBC's Law & Order: SVU took the lead at 10:00 p.m. with an 8.8/14, just ahead of ABC's Boston Legal, which drew a 7.4/12.

Producers Preparing for Possible Writers Strike
24 April 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Anticipating a possible strike by members of the Writers Guild of America this fall, the television networks are making decisions on renewals far earlier than usual and some shows have already begun shooting for the 2007-2008 season, the Los Angeles Times observed today (Tuesday). The newspaper said that Gary Scott Thompson, who writes and exec produces NBC's Las Vegas, plans to begin production for the coming season on Monday -- three months earlier than usual. The show "will be strike-proof," Thompson told the newspaper. Another series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is currently shooting its ninth season. Dick Wolf, the show's executive producer, told the Times, "I firmly believe that the potential for a strike is much greater and more ominous than many people are saying. ... Therefore, we're going to make as many episodes as possible before a strike takes place."

CBS Overcomes 'Idol'
4 April 2007 (StudioBriefing)
It may only have placed two regular shows in the top ten last week -- plus the NCAA basketball semifinals -- but CBS nevertheless commanded the highest overall ratings of any network, averaging a 7.3 rating and a 12 share. Fox, which has just about everything riding on American Idol, placed second with a 6.3/11. ABC, whose numbers were bolstered by Dancing With the Stars, placed third with a 5.7/10, while NBC trailed with a 4.9/8.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 16.2/26; 1. (Tie) American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 16.2/25; 3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 14.0/22; 4. Dancing With the Stars, ABC, 13.0/20; 5. House, Fox, 12.1/19; 6. Dancing With the Stars Result (Tuesday), ABC, 11.6/18; 7. Shark, CBS, 9.6/17; 8. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 9.0/16; 8. Til Death, Fox, 9.0/14; 10. NCAA Basketball Championships, CBS, 8.9/17; 10. (Tie) CSI: Miami, CBS, 8.9/15.

Broadway and TV Actor McDonald Dies
21 February 2007 (WENN)
Tony Award-nominee and TV actor Daniel McDonald died of brain cancer on Thursday in New York City. He was 46. McDonald received a 1997 Tony Award-nomination for his performance in Steel Pier and also appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia! as Sam Carmichael and High Society as CK Dexter Haven. He was also seen in the US tour of Contact, the music and dance show, in 2002. McDonald often worked in television, appearing in such popular series as Sex And The City, Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Law & Order SVU: Special Victims Unit and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared in the feature films The Ice Storm and What's Love Got To Do With It.

Fox Crushes Competition
18 January 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Not only did Fox come from nowhere to beat all of its competition last week, it ended up with the highest ratings of any network for any week of the season. Football, college and professional, drew the biggest numbers for the network, with the BCS faceoff between Ohio State and the University of Florida drawing 28.8 million viewers and the NFC playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints attracting 27.4 million. Add to that, strong numbers for the medical drama House and the two-hour season opener of 24, and Fox could forget about the rest of its largely ignored programming. For the week, Fox led with an average 9.1 rating and a 14 share. CBS followed with an average 8.3/13. ABC finished third with a 5.7/9, while NBC -- last week's leader -- fell to fourth place with a 5.5/9. Meanwhile, Fox appeared poised to repeat for a second week after American Idol overwhelmed the competition for the second night in a row Wednesday. Although its figures did not match Tuesday night's, the network's 20.2 rating and 30 share for the show was greater than all of the other networks' numbers combined.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. BCS Championship: Ohio State vs University of Florida, Fox, 17.4/27; 2. NFC Playoff: Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints, Fox, 16.3/27; 3. AFC Playoffs Post-game New England vs San Diego, CBS, 15.0/23; 4. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 14.7/22; 5. 60 Minutes, CBS, 11.2/16; 6. CSI: Miami, CBS, 10.7/17; 7. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 10.6/15; 8. House, Fox, 10.4/16; 9. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 9.7/16; 10. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 9.6/14.

'Idol' Returns -- Bigger Than Ever
17 January 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Defying TV critics' predictions that it would not be able to sustain its enormous popularity, American Idol returned to the air on Fox Tuesday with ratings that exceeded those for its season debut a year ago. According to Nielsen Research 37.3 million viewers tuned in to the two-hour premiere versus 35.5 million last year. The 8:00 p.m. hour recorded a rating of 18.8 and an audience share of 28. The second hour at 9:00 p.m. averaged a 21.3/32. CBS's NCIS once again proved to be a solid competitor at 8:00 p.m. as it delivered a 10.2/15. But NBC's Dateline and ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos were barely blips on the ratings chart. At 9:00 p.m., CBS remained in second place with The Unit, which recorded a 7.6/11. But a rerun of Law & Order: Criminal Intent drew only a 5.5/8 for NBC, while a second hour of Videos drew a 3.8/6 for ABC. With Idol out of the competition at 10:00 p.m., NBC moved to the top with a 9.2/15 for Law & Order: SVU. ABC's Boston Legal placed second with a 6.4/10, while CBS's 48 Hours Mystery finished third with a 5.6/9.

NBC Scores Its First Win Of Season
10 January 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Demonstrating yet again what a difference a single program can make in the ratings race, Sunday's NFL playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, which attracted 27 million viewers, pushed NBC into first place. CBS had led every previous week of the current season. The victory, although razor thin (NBC drew 11.5 million viewers, just 40,000 more than CBS), was particularly impressive since NBC had essentially been out of the football game since 1998 when it refused to renew its contract with the NFL. At the time, NBC chief Bob Wright said that he had done so because he couldn't continue to take a $150-million annual loss that the NFL deal represented. However, NBC's victory this week would appear to demonstrate football's importance to the network's overall ratings health. Indeed, three football games landed in Nielsen's top 20 last week, including the college Fiesta Bowl at No. 7 and Sugar Bowl at No. 12. (Football returned again as a force to be reckoned with on Monday as the BCS National Championship Game between the Florida Gators and the Ohio Buckeyes on Fox dominated the night.)

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. NFL Playoff, NBC, 16.4/27; 2. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 15.8/24; 3. NFL Playoff Pregame, NBC, 12.6/23; 4. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 11.7/17; 5. NFC Wildcard Postgame, Fox, 10.6/16; 6. Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 10.0/16; 7. Sugar Bowl, Fox, 9.3/16; 8. Without a Trace, CBS, 9.2/15; 9. Shark, CBS, 9.1/15; 10. Cold Case, CBS, 9.0/13; 10. Law and Order: Criminal Intent, NBC, 9.0/14.

CBS Eyes Another Ratings Sweeps Win
29 November 2006 (StudioBriefing)
CBS is a sure bet to win the November ratings sweeps, which end tonight (Wednesday), giving it its sixth straight November win in overall households and viewers. In a press release it noted that 85 of 88 hours of primetime during the month were comprised of regular programs -- "the most by a network in a major sweep since at least 1993." But ABC appeared set to triumph among adults 18-49, the demographic group prized by advertisers, thanks in large measure to the huge success of Dancing With the Stars, whose season finale drew the largest audience of any program during the month. NBC could claim certain bragging rights as well, as it did in a news release boasting that it was the most-improved network -- it was up 9 percent in total viewers and 12 percent among adults 18-49 -- and that it in fact was the only network to report a year-to-year audience gain. Only Fox was left with little to crow about, finishing a distant fourth and waiting for the return of American Idol in January to put it back into contention (It did score strong ratings for the Chicago Bears-New England Patriots NFL telecast on Sunday). Last week, the final full week of the November sweeps, the networks finished in typical order. CBS led with a 7.7 average rating and a 13 share. ABC followed with a 6.6/11. NBC was close behind with a 6.2/10, while Fox trailed with a 5.1/8.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 13.5/20; 2. CSI: Miami, CBS, 11.9/20; 3. NFL Sunday Run-over, Fox, 11.1/18; 4. Deal Or No Deal (Monday), NBC, 10.5/16; 4. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 10.5/19; 6. NCIS, CBS, 10.3/17; 7. Criminal Minds, CBS, 10.2/17; 8. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 9.9/18; 9. NBC Sunda