Good morning. It's
Monday, March 22, 2004,
and this is your first early morning
briefing.
The Contender, the latest project from Mark Burnett
Prods/DreamWorks TV, is set to debut on NBC in January 2005.
If you've been living in a cave and aren't aware, this unscripted series
seeks to find the next great amateur boxer, through a series of
elimination rounds. Involved in this show are Sugar Ray Leonard and
Sylvester Stallone, and the latest news is the George Foreman will also
jump into the ring.
Coming to more than 1100 college campuses in time for the fall semester
is a new cable network called The Destiny Channel. Targeting
college age kids and up to age 34, the channel will begin with a 10p-12m
block, eventually ramping up to a full 24/7 network, according to the
AP. The network will feature original series, films, docs and
off-nets. Two original series planned include Extreme Destiny
Challenge wherein two groups of college kids go to the former Soviet
republic of Moldova and have 30 days to develop and contribute something
positive to the community. The other original series planned is called
Pet Projects with celebrities showcasing their pet causes. The Destiny
Channel is also planning a strong internet component and companion to the
network, providing viewers a place to respond to what they've seen on
television. Check out
http://www.destinychannel.com/
The cast of Columbia Pictures' film Bewitched, based on the
television series, is filling out. As you know, Nicole Kidman will
be the girl with the magic nose, and her mortal husband will be played by
Will Ferrell. Entering the scene as Endora is Shirley MacLaine, and
as Maurice (Sam's father) is Michael Caine. Uncle Arthur .... how about
Steve Martin?
Joining the cast of FX's Nip/Tuck for twelve episodes in season #2
is Famke Janssen (you'll remember her as the Bond girl from the movie
Goldeneye). Season #2 kicks off in June, and Janssen's first
episode will air June 22. She plays a counselor to Julie McNamara,
played by Joely Richardson.
A handful of program changes for UPN - say goodbye to The Mullets
... again. Game Over on Wednesday nights at 8pm will move to
Fridays, airing in combination with repeat episodes from 8-9pm, according
to Daily Variety. Filling the Game Over/Mullets hole on
Wednesdays at 8pm for the time being will be a second airing of Star Trek
Enterprise. Then on Fridays, as the UPN movie steps to the side,
repeat eps of One on One and Rock Me Baby will air 9-10pm, competing
directly with TGIF on ABC and the WB's lineup of Friday night sitcoms.
Independent Film Channel (IFC) will launch a new Friday night
block designed to showcase new programming as well as provide a home for
some of the network's most popular fare, called IFC Fridays,
starting April 9 at 10pm. Dinner for Five will move from Mondays at
10p to Fridays where it will serve as the night's anchor and lead-in to
the rest of the evening at 10pm. Airing at 1030p will be the
network's newest show, Rocked wtih Gina Gershon at 1030p chronicling the
actress's foray into rock and roll. The net's late night film
franchise, Pulp Indies, moves to 11pm on Friday nights (from
midnight). Kicking off each Friday night at 8pm will be IFC's best
of the best from its library of independent films.
New in Development/Casting/Production:
Fox's drama pilot Oahu, newly titled The North Shore
(still a working title) (20th Television) has been given a 13 episode order by the network. The pilot is set in a Hawaiian Beach resort hotel where the mucky mucks stay, and focuses on the young employees of the hotel. Exec Producers Peter Elkoff, Kevin Falls, Peyton Reed.
NBC's comedy project The Mens Room (NBC Studios) has added Suzanne Cryer and Maitland Ward to the cast. The network's comedy pilot Weekends (Spyglass/NBC Studios) has cast Rachel Harris , and D.O.T.S. (Pariah/NBC Studios) has added Chester Gregory and Davenia McFadden to the lineup.
ABC's drama pilot Gramercy Park (Tannenbaum/Warner Bros. TV) has cast Max Martini and Megan Dodds
WB's drama pilot The Mountain (Wonderland Sound & Vision/Warner Bros. TV) has taken on Shaun Cassidy as showrunner/exec prod. Elsewhere at the WB, David Newsom has been cast in the drama pilot Prodigy (Silver Pictures/Warner Bros. TV). Also for WB's pilot remake Dark Shadows (John Wells/Warner Bros. TV), Ivana Milicevic has joined the cats.
UPN's comedy spinoff pilot of One on One (Greenblatt Janollari/Paramount) has cast Rashaan Nall as one of the guys in the barbershop. Boogie has joined the cast of Nikki and Nora (Warner Bros. TV).
Weekend Box Office Estimates - March 19-21, 2004 Dawn of the Dead (Universal) $27.3 million - opening weekend
Passion of the Christ (Newmarket) $19.2 million - 4 wk total $295.3m
Taking Lives (Warner Bros.) $11.4 million - opening weekend
Starsky & Hutch (Warner Bros.) $10.7 million - 3 wk total $67.7m
Secret Window (Sony) $9.6 million - 2 wk total $33.1m
Eternal Sunshine (Focus) $8.6 million - opening weekend
Hidalgo (Disney) $8.5 million - 3 wk total $48.5m
Agent Cody Banks 2 (MGM) $6.0 million - 2 wk total $17.3m
50 First Dates (Sony) $4.3 million - 6 wk total $113.2m
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (Disney) $1.5 million - 5 wk total $27.6m Source: Box Office Mojo
Donald Trump has filed to trademark the phrase "You're Fired" for clothing, games, playthings and casino services. A quick check of government records indicates that "You're Outsourced" is still available.
Today is National Goof-Off Day. A national survey found that playing video games ranks highest among the ways young men like to goof off and spend their time. Here's the men ages18-34 "goof off" breakdown: 39% like to play video games, 36% surf the internet, 31% watch TV and 23% go to the movies.
NBC walked away with the win on Thursday, March 18, airing regularly programming versus CBS' first night of March Madness NCAA Basketball. NBC averaged a 6.7/19 A18-49 for the night according to Nielsen Media Research, well ahead of CBS' 4.0/11, and ABC 3.3/9, FOX 2.0/5, UPN 2.1/6, WB 1.1/3. At 8pm with Friends/Will & Grace, NBC earned a 6.7/20, ahead of CBS by 9 share points. At 9pm, similar story: NBC earned an 8.2/21, ten share points ahead of CBS, its nearest competitor. At 10pm the gap closed a bit with NBC in front with a 5.4/15, and ABC and CBS tied at 3.9/11 for the hour.
A close game between CBS and NBC on Friday night, each posting an 11 share in fast affiliate ratings among A18-49 according to Nielsen Media Research. CBS was ahead by a tenth of a rating point 3.6/11 vs. NBC 3.5/11, followed by ABC 2.4/8, Fox 1.6/5, WB 1.3/4, UPN 0.8/2. At 8pm CBS led with a 3.5/12 over NBC 2.9/10. ABC sitcoms came in third with a 2.4/8 for the hour. At 9pm the tide shifts slightly with NBC getting a leg up over CBS: 3.9/12 vs. 3.7/11, again with ABC in third place with a 2.6/8. At 10p CB and NBC again were in a virtual tie: 3.6/11 vs. 3.7/11, and ABC's premiere of The D.A. delivered a 2.0/6 demo rating.
CBS and March Madness marched again on Saturday night for a win in the A18-49 demo according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. For the evening CBS averaged a 3.5/12, ahead of Fox 2.8/9, NBC and ABC 1.9/6. At 8pm CBS led with a 3.4/12, while Fox's standard Saturday night fare (Cops, Cops [r]) delivered a 2.6/9. At 9pm the competition between CBS and Fox for the win was markedly close though CBS pulled out the win: 3.5/11 vs. Fox's 3.0/10. ABC's Tarzan movie from 8-10p averaged a 1.9/6. At 10p CBS again wins the hour with a 3.6/11 over NBC's 3.0/9 for a repeat of L&O: SVU.
Atlas Media upped Craig Coffman to VP/Documentary Programming and Emi Macuaga to Director/Development. Both Craig and Emi will report to Bruce David Klein, President and Executive Producer of Atlas Media.
Thursday, March 18, 2004. Fast Affiliate Household Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat NBC 10.2/17Friends [r] 10.3/17, Will & Grace 10.2.16, The Apprentice: A Look Back 11.4/18, ER [r] 9.0/16 CBS 6.8/11 NCAA Basketball (OTO) 6.8/11
ABC 6.5/11 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition [r] 5.4/9, Extreme Makeover 6.3/10, Primetime Thursday 7.9/14
FOX 3.5/6Tru Calling 3.6/6, Wonderfalls [r] 3.4/5
UPN 3.4/5 WWE Smackdown 3.4/5
WB 2.0/3 Steve Harvey's Big Time 3.5/6, Like Family 3.7/6, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment 3.5/6, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment [r] 3.3/5 A18-49 NBC 6.7/19, CBS 4.0/11, ABC 3.3/9, FOX 2.0/5, UPN 2.1/6, WB 1.1/3
Friday, March 19, 2004. Fast Affiliate Household Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat NBC 8.1/14 Dateline NBC 8.3/14, Crossing Jordan 7.9/14 CBS 5.9/10 NCAA Basketball 5.9/10 ABC 4.7/8 George Lopez 4.9/9, Married to the Kellys 4.3/8, Hope & Faith 4.7/8, Life with Bonnie 4.7/8, The DA [p] 4.9/9 FOX 2.5/4Playing It Straight 2.5/4, Wonderfalls 2.6/4 WB 2.5/4 Reba 2.8/5, Reba 2.9/5, Grounded for Life [r] 2.1/4, The Help 2.0/3 UPN 1.4/3 Top Model [r] 1.4/2, Top Model [r] 1.5/3 A18-49 CBS 3.6/11, NBC 3.5/11, ABC 2.4/8, Fox 1.6/5, WB 1.3/4, UPN 0.8/2
Saturday, March 20, 2004. Fast Affiliate Household Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat CBS 6.2/12 NCAA Basketball 6.2/12 FOX 5.1/9 Cops 4.2/8, Cops [r] 5.0/9, AMW 5.6/10
NBC 3.9/7 Tracy Morgan 2.6/6, Tracy Morgan 2.6/5, Average Joe [r] 2.6/5, Law & Order SVU 6.5/12
ABC 3.6/7 Wonderful World of Disney: Tarzan 3.5/7, AFV 3.8/7 A18-49 CBS 3.5/12, Fox 2.8/9, NBC and ABC 1.9/6
A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION
Movies Work On Cable!
"MALCOLM X" Starring Academy Award winner Denzel Washington
TOP CHOICE FOR BET'S VIEWERS!
#1 Program of the week!
&
#1 Movie of the week!
Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution
Your #1 Choice for Movies
The History ChannelpresentsThis Day in History: 1974 - The Equal Rights Amendment is passed in the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification. First proposed by the National Women's Party in 1923, the amendment prohibiting any discrimination based on sex went on be ratified by thirty-one states within the year but failed to achieve the necessary thirty-eight needed to make it the 27th Amendment.
Answer to yesterday's Trivia Question:Whose Pappy was often quoted with words of advice such as: "No use crying over spilled milk, it could have been whiskey." and "You can tell more about a town by looking at its gambling emporium than any other building." The MAVERICK brothers.. Kudos to: Jeff Grimshaw-American Ingenuity/DC; RT Harris-WFTX/Ft. Myers; Cara Holland-Carat USA/NY; Sue Funke-About.com/NY; Priscilla Morgan-Media Independence/Dallas; Chuck Lomis-Starz/Englewood; Larry Cazavan-KWBM/Springfield MO; Luke Hoene-Datamark/LA; David Pearlman-Fox Movie Channel/LA; James Keenley-Doc, FBEye Prods/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Prods/LA.
A MESSAGE FROM COMCAST SPOTLIGHT Comcast Spotlight now covers 72 DMAs, including 22 of the top 25, reaching over 30 million subscribers. And now, with a nationwide footprint of 55 interconnects, buying individual markets or multiple markets is a breeze. Comcast Spotlight - Spot cable finally delivers.
For more information click here.
Today's Trivia Question: You've seen Patrick Swayze on television from time to time - miniseries North and South, and the upcoming made-for TV movie King Solomon's Mines for Hallmark, but did he ever appear as a regular character on a television series, and if so, which one(s)? (
to respond to the trivia question and please be sure to include with your answer your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four correct responses from each time zone will be listed in tomorrow's kudo list.)
Later -- Cyn
Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis
03/22/04 5:13AM
Free Subscriptions to Cynopsis: email
Archived Editions Check out any previous copy of Cynopsis, or search via keywords at www.Cynopsis.com Click
to subscribe toCynopsisKids! and put Kids! in the subject line. Cynopsis Ad Sales 203-526-8978
Press Release Fax: 203-381-9318 All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free.
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2004
CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS JOB OPENING:RESEARCH ANALYST, Tribune Ent./NY: Support distribution/programming/ad sales. Presentations, competitive analyses. Strong MS Office & writing skills. Familiarity w/Nielsen software a plus!. Email:(3/27)
JOB OPENING:MKT RESEARCH ANALYST/SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO/NY. Min 3 yrs mkt res. exp. Org/analyze primary/secondary data, monthly tracking; various add'l res projs. Strong analytic/communication skills. Info: www.sirius.com/careers (3/27)
JOB OPENING:Director/On-Air Promotions-ABC TV Network/Burbank. Resp for creative direction, scheduling & production of on-air daytime promos. Job requires mgmt, admin. & creative skills. Submit resumes to (3/27)
JOB OPENING:ACCOUNT EXEC/Nielsen, New York. Sell Nielsen products to Local Stations/Agencies. Focus on the Washington, DC and Raleigh markets. 5+ years research/sales industry experience a must. www.NielsenMedia.com (200401752-JL) (3/26)
JOB OPENING:MSNBC is seeking experienced PRODUCERS (EXECUTIVE, SENIOR, LINE AND SEGMENT), as well as qualified BOOKERS. Applicants should email resume to or fax to 201-583-5819. (3/25)
JOB OPENING:DIR., PGM RSCH, NYC. Provide info/insight for pgm dvlopmt, strategic planning, ntwk positioning, sched & acq decisions. 10+ yrs exp in TV rsch w/ focus on pgm rsch. Email or fax 212-907-9402 (3/25)
JOB OPENING:ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/Galavision cable ntwk, Dallas. 2-3 yrs TV ad sales; excellent written/ verbal skills reqd. Natl Nielsen data and dealmaker software knowledge helpful. Email: specify Dallas (3/25)
JOB OPENING:WRITER'S ASST-Dora The Explorer, NY. Sched all writers mtgs, dist. scripts/notes, mge consultant note process; small script re-writes when nec. Spanish lang. proficiency. Fax ltr & resume to Marc Amiel: 212-654-4735 (3/24)
JOB OPENING:DIR/SALES MARKETING-NCC, NY. Media industry pro (agcy/net/station/rep). Dvlp sales strategy, materials and presentations. Team mgmt exp, proj mgmt exp & Nielsen research kwlge req. Email: (3/23)
JOB OPENING:AD SALES SERVICES ANALYST, AMC/WE ad sales/NY. 1-2 yrs nat'l ad sales exp.Monitor AMC's short/long term inventory to maximize supply, minimize liability, thereby, growing revenues. Email: (3/23)
INTERNSHIP - SCHOOL CREDIT ONLY: Evolution Film & Tape/LA.CASTING INTERNneeded. Hard worker, punctual, organized, able to multitask, and handle fast paced environment. Email resume to:
(3/25)
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED --
SITUATION WANTED: Seeking Position in Children’s TV PROGRAMMING/DEVELOPMENT/OR LIVE THEATRICAL SHOWS. 11 years of experience. Creative, Hardworking, great PR Skills and people person: (3/26)
SITUATION WANTED: Interactive Media Professional with 8 yrs work exp. seeks CLIENT SERVICES/AFFILIATE RELATIONS/BIZ DEV. POSITION in NYC. P/T MBA Student. Contact: (3/26)
SITUATION WANTED: ENTRY LEVEL: Willing to do whatever it takes to work in television, movies, music and radio industry. Willing to start from the bottom. hard-worker. Some experience. (3/25)
SITUATION WANTED: PA AVAILABLE ASAP, jack of all trades, master of none. TV/MSO experience seeks tv/film prod work-entry level. Final Cut Pro/limited AVID, SpherOus, straight cut editing skills. (3/25)
SITUATION WANTED: NYC - MEDIA RESEARCHER w/ 8+ years exp. in prgm. & ad sales rsrch seeks new challenges. Skilled in Nielsen apps, strategic planning & analysis, and have worked w/ primary research studies. Email: (3/23)
SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA BUYER/PLANNER position, Atlanta. Four years experience in every type media. Very organized, multi-tasker. (3/23)
E-mail
for rates and specs for Job Openings. Your ad will be read by 71,650+ Cynopsis & Cynopsis Kids! readers every day. No wonder Cynopsis ads get results.
Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here --Email
for specs.
WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2004
INVESTIGATE COURT TV'S ADVERTISING ENVIRONMENT
OUR ADULT VIEWERS ARE RECEPTIVE TO ADVERTISING
RANKED #3 IN CABLE
Court TV The Investigation Channel Source: 2003 Advertising Receptivity Index. A18+. Indexed to Total US. Based on all-product average. Nets with 50+MM subs included.
COURT TV: The I-Zone, Forensic Files, The Investigators
ABC ABC Premiere Event: NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323, 20/20 (oto)
CBS Yes, Dear, Still Standing, Everybody Loves Raymond, Two and a Half Men, CSI: Miami
FOX Bernie Mac Show (UFN), Cracking Up, That 70s Show [r], That 70s Show [r]
NBC Fear Factor, Las Vegas, Average Joe: Adam Returns
PAX AFV, AFV, Early Edition, Diagnosis Murder
UPN The Parkers [r], Eve [r], Girlfriends [r], Half & Half [r]
WB 7th Heaven [r], Everwood [r]
TELE Prisonera,El Alma Herida, Mujeres Apasionadas
UNIV Mariana de la Noche, Bajo la Misma Piel, Cristina
A MESSAGE FROM TVSPY.COM Share Your Work Experiences In Television On TVSpy.com
Help your fellow colleagues better understand their careers options and better evaluate media companies they may want to work for by filling out an Employer Survey at TVSpy.com!
Enter a chance to win $100 each month for the most in-depth survey about your past or present work experience in media.
It's completely anonymous! Only provide your e-mail if you wish to enter for the $100 price, so we can contact you if you win.
TVSpy will announce its first winner on Wednesday, April 14, 2004.
