A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM TURNER ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS

Cynopsis
05.16.12

Good morning. It's Wednesday, May 16, 2012, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Tonight's Premiere:
Utilisíma: Tu vida mas simple at 6p

Tonight's Finales:
ABC: Suburgatory at 830p
Bravo: Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis at 9p
CBS: Criminal Minds at 9p

PBS announced its Fall 2012 lineup including the new series Call the Midwife produced by Neal Street for BBC.   Call the Midwife is a critically-acclaimed British drama that depicts midwifery in 1950s London and debuts with six episodes airing on Sundays starting September 30 to November 4 at 8p.  Other fall programming includes the three-part docu-series Broadway or Bust on Sundays, September 9-23 at 8p; MASTERPIECE Classic: Upstairs Downstairs Season 2 on Sundays, October 7 to November 11 at 9p; Frontline: The Choice is back with a quadrennial election special on October 9 at 9p; and Ken Burns' two-part, four-hour documentary The Dust Bowl airs November 18 and 19 at 8p.  Under PBS Election 2012 umbrella, PBS' news and public affairs shows include the weekly Need to Know Campaign 2012 airing Fridays at 830p; PBS NewsHour featuring the 2012 presidential debates on October 3, 16 and 22 at 9p and the vice-presidential debate on October 11 at 9p; as well as Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal airs weekly on Fridays at 8p.  American Experience returns with the documentary Death and the Civil War on September 18 at 8p.  The series POV spotlighting America's independent filmmakers is back airing on Thursday from September 20 to October 25 at 10p.  PBS additionally has new programming under American Masters and PBS Arts and is returning its long-running series Nature beginning October 10 at 8p, NOVA also starting October 10 at 9p, NOVA scienceNOW at 10p and Independent Lens beginning October 29 at 10p.   For full details on PBS' fall programming lineup, please visit our website at www.cynopsis.com and find PBS' press article under Additional Industry News. 

Highlights of Syfy's summer scheduled include the premiere of three new original series.  Insane or Inspired? produced by Comcast Studios debuts May 25 at 10p; a second season of Haunted Collector from Gurney Productions opens June 6 at 9p; new original series School Spirits from executive producer Mark Burnett debuts June 20 at 10p; Syfy kicks off its Saturday Original Movies with Jersey Shore Shark Attack on June 9 at 9p; a fifth season of Destination Truth from Ping Pong Productions opens July 10 at 8p; new original series Paranormal Highway from BASE Productions bows July 10 at 10p; the series finale of Eureka airs July 16 at 9p produced and distributed by Universal Cable Productions; the fourth season of Warehouse 13 from Universal Cable Productions premieres July 23 at 9p; the second season of Alphas from Universal Cable Productions and BermanBraun Television opens July 23 at 10p; Paranormal Witness debuts a second season from Raw TV on August 8 at 10p; and a third season of Face Off produced by Mission Control Media premieres August 21 at 9p. 

UPFRONT 2012:  A re-cap of the network presentations for today and tomorrow:

Today: TNT/TBS at 930a, Hammerstein Ballroom with a lunch reception following at 1130a at Del Posto; Estrella TV at 930a at Gotham Hall hosted by Daily Show's Al Madrigal with appearances by Latin American superstars Ninel Conde and Hector Suarez; Fox Hispanic Media at 1130a, Ziegfeld Theatre immediately followed by lunch at Remi; CBS at 4p, Carnegie Hall followed by a reception at the Tent at Lincoln Center; Adult Swim at 9p, Roseland Ballroom with a performance by rapper T.I.

Thursday: The CW at 1030a, New York City Center; USA Network at 245p, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center with performances by Jennifer Hudson and Mark Ronson

UPFRONT 2012: UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Yesterday morning, Univision Communications hosted its Upfront presentation in New York.  The network unveiled its mantra Latinos live here, at Univision. The company, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary also boasts a 94% live viewership rate and a 68% unduplicated reach.  Univision also revealed several digital initiatives such as Uvideos Digital Network housing thousands of hours of on-demand content set to launch this summer; the launch of new, genre-specific broadband channels; and for the first time Televisa and Univision Studios will join forces to co-produce a webnovela targeting US Hispanics with production beginning this fall; in addition to expanded distribution and discovery across its platforms via partnerships with Dish, AT&T, Hulu, YouTube, Fanhattan, iOS and Android. 

Highlights of Univision Network's 2012-2013 Programming Lineup include:

• Novelas: Univision continues to program engaging stories from its exclusive production partnership with Televisa.  Two new novelas include: Amor Bravio (When the Heart Commands) and Por Ella Soy Eva (For Her, I'm Eva) with both airing Monday-Friday in primetime.
• Reality genre brings back Mira Quien Baila! (Look Who's Dancing!) for a third season on Sundays in primetime from Univision Studios and Endemol; Nuestra Belleza (Our Latin Beauty) for a seventh season on Sundays in primetime from Univision Studios; Parodiando (Parody) for a second season on Sundays in primetime from Televisa; and Pequenos Gigantes (Little Giants) for a second season on Sundays in primetime from Televisa.
• In daytime, Univision on Fridays this summer offers up Despierta America Concert Series at 7a.

TeleFutura Network has one drama series: La Otra Cara (The Other Face) which is a re-imagining of the network's successful novela, La Usurpadora (The Pretender).  La Otra Cara will air in primetime.   TeleFutura also will air movies in primetime each night including such Hollywood hits as X-Men: The Last Stand, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Tron: Legacy and more.

Galavision Network has two series for primetime, both from Televisa: the comedic adventure Los Heroes del Norte 2 (Heroes of the North 2) and a series focused on boxing, Cloroformo.  In addition, Galavision has an original docu-reality series, Mistico (Mystic) in primetime as well as the half-hour info-tainment series Detras del Saber (Behind Knowledge) airing Monday-Thursday.

UPFRONT 2012:  ABC

ABC's Upfront presentation was led yesterday by Paul Lee, President/ABC Entertainment Group at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York.  ABC is welcoming ten new series for the 2012-2013 season along with many returning series.

ABC's returning series include America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Body of Proof, Castle, Dancing with the Stars, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Grey's Anatomy, Happy Endings, Last Man Standing, The Middle, Modern Family, Once Upon a Time, Primetime: What Would You Do?, Private Practice, Revenge, Scandal, Shark Tank, Suburgatory, 20/20 and Wife Swap. 

ABC Fall 2012 Primetime Schedule: (new shows in italic and bold)

Monday: Dancing with the Stars, Castle
Monday (January): The Bachelor, Castle
Tuesday: Dancing with the Stars the Results Show, Happy Endings, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Private Practice
Tuesday (January): How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) at 8p, The Family Tools at 830p
Wednesday: The Middle, Suburgatory, Modern Family, The Neighbors, Nashville
Thursday: Last Resort, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal
Friday: Shark Tank, Primetime: What Would You Do?, 20/20
Friday (November): Last Man Standing, Malibu Country, Shark Tank, 20/20
Saturday: Saturday Night College Football
Sunday: America's Funniest Home Videos, Once Upon a Time, Revenge, 666 Park Avenue

ABC's new fall and mid-season dramas:

• 666 Park Avenue  Drama focuses on the ominous address of 666 Park Avenue where the residents of The Drake have made a Faustian contract that comes with a price.  An idealistic young Midwest couple Jane Van Veen (Rachael Taylor) and Henry Martin (Dave Annable) become the managers of this historic apartment building where they fall prey to the machinations of Gavin Doran (Terry O'Quinn) and his mysterious wife, Olivia (Vanessa Williams).  Based on the book series by Gabriella Pierce, the series also stars Robert Buckley, Mercedes Masohn, Helena Mattsson and Samantha Logan. Produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Alloy Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.
• Last Resort  Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) leads the US ballistic missile submarine Colorado which received the order to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan.  Series also stars Scott Speedman, Daisy Betts, Dichen Lachman, Daniel Lissing, Sahr Ngaujah, Camille de Pazzis, Autumn Reeser and Jessy Schram; Robert Patrick is a recurring guest star.  Produced by Middkid Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.
• Mistresses  Drama based on a UK series about the scandalous lives of a sexy and sassy group of four girlfriends.  Series stars Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim, Rochelle Aytes, Jes Macallan, Jason George, Brett Tucker and Erik Stocklin.  ABC Studios is producing.
• Nashville  Musical drama from Callie Khouri about Rayna James (Connie Britton), a country music legend whose popularity is beginning to wane.  Up-and-coming newcomer Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) is young and sexy and is set to steal Rayna's spotlight.  Series also stars Powers Booth, Charles Esten, Eric Close, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio and Robert Wisdom.  Produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Gaylord Entertainment. 
• Red Widow  After her husband is murdered, Marta (Radha Mitchell) takes on organized crime and ruthless drug business to protect herself and her three children.  Based on the Dutch series Penoza.  Series also stars Wil Traval, Erin Moriarty, Lee Tergesen, Jakob Salvati, Mido Hamada, Luke Goss, Jaime Ray Newman, Suleka Mathew and Rade Serbedzija.  Produced by ABC Studios.
• Zero Hero  Confessed paranormal junkie, Hank Galliston (Anthony Edwards) finds his wife Laila (Jacinda Barrett) abducted from her antique clock shop and Hank gets pulled into one of the most compelling mysteries in human history.  Series also stars Carmen Ejogo, Scott Michael Foster, Addison Timlin and Michael Nyqvist.  Produced by ABC Studios.

• Paul Lee said yesterday on the conference call prior to the formal presentation that he would like to "see some Marvel projects come to television."  A series based on the Hulk is in development at ABC though the project could not be readied in time for next season.  Guillermo del Toro is developing the project for ABC after Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment in 2009. 
• The 15th edition of Dancing with the Stars this fall will feature former competitors making it an "All-Star" season.

UPFRONT 2012:  Telemundo Media

Telemundo announced its 2012-2013 programming lineup containing more than 800 hours of original content which increases the network's original programming roster by close to 40%.  The new programming consists of six new telenovelas, two daytime shows and a reality competition series. 

Telemundo's new telenovelas include:

• El Rostro de la Venganza (The Face of Revenge)  After spending most of his life in jail for a crime he cannot remember of committing, 30 year-old Diego is released from jail and takes on the persona as Martin with help from his psychiatrist Antonia.  Martin and Antonia become romantically involved and Antonia tries to dig into the past to uncover the truth and prove Diego/Martin's innocence.  A Telemundo Studios production.
• El Senor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Heavens)  Damian transforms himself from a humble peasant into one of the world's richest men and a powerful drug trafficker wanted by the DEA.  Damian's life turns into a quest for survival when his enemies start hunting him down and the DEA closes in.  The only way out is to start a new life as a completely different man which means he goes through facial reconstruction.  A Telemundo Studios production.
• La Patrona (The Patron)  Adriana Ordonez's life has been hardship after hardship and following the death of her parents, she is taken in by Mari Cruz Perez, the distinguished Beltran family's chef.  Mari becomes a foster mother to Adriana and her takes a turn for the bad when she falls in love with the fiance of one of the Beltran family's daughters.  A Telemundo Studios production.
• Pasion Prohibida (Forbidden Passion)  Mariana is driven by hatred for her mother, Deborah who blames her for her father's death.   Mariana marries Juan Pablo, an older wealthy widower whom her mother has her eyes on.  Instead of loving Juan, Mariana falls in love with her husband's nephew, Bruno.  A Telemundo Studios production.
• Nace un Idolo (An Idol is Born)  A serialized biography on the real-life story of Jose Sosa Ortiz, best known as Jose Jose, "El Principe de la Cancion" (The Prince of Song).  The series highlights his passion and the excitement of the superstar.   A Telemundo Studios production.
• Fina Estampa (Fine Pedigree)  Griselda is determined to provide for her family after her husband apparently disappears at sea.  She becomes a handyman and leads a hard-working and humble woman.  One of her sons gets engaged to the daughter of a wealthy woman who thinks Griselda is beneath her.  Griselda then wins $25 million in a lottery and her life suddenly changes and her supposedly dead husband returns. A Telemundo Studios and TV Globo co-production.
• La Reina del Sur 2 (Queen of the South 2)  Telemundo also announced it has acquired the rights to the sequel of La Reina del Sur the network's big hit and one of the highest-rated novella in the company's history.  Production and air dates TBA.

• Yo Me Llamo (My Name Is)  Based on an international hit, Yo Me Llamo is a talent competition where talented amateur singers/performers compete to win a grand prize by transforming themselves into their favorite musical icon.  

UPFRONT 2012:  Discovery U.S. Hispanic

Yesterday, Discovery U.S. Hispanic, home of Discovery en Espanol and Discovery Familia revealed its 2012-2013 Upfront roster.  (Please see our sister publication, Cynopsis Kids for details on Discovery Familia kids' programming.)

This year's theme for the Discovery U.S. Hispanic is "Discover How Far Curiosity Can Take You" which permeates the network's new slate of programming.  John Hendricks, Founder/Chairman, Discovery Communications was on hand at the afternoon presentation to help unveil the programming lineup.

Discovery en Espanol 2012-2013 Programming:

• Norteamerica (North America) is described as the "most ambitious documentary to date on the North American continent." Filming began in 2009 and offers a comprehensive look at the continent's wonders.
• Volando Por El Mundo (Earth Flight) uses birds as guides on an epic journey exploring spectacular wildlife and physical wonders of the world.  Unlike a satellite image, the filming is constantly moving, like a bird in flight and is three-dimensional.
• 2111: Season 2 is back hosted by Mexican journalist, Idzi Sanchez and is a follow-up to the series that offered a view into what the future holds for Latin America in the year 2111.  A US Hispanic Production.
• Batalla de Ingenios marks the network's first original game show designed as an engineering competition series where 12 highly-skilled people in an 8-stage elimination challenge each other to compete for the grand prize of time.  The winner will get a full year off to do as they please.  The challenges are based on Discovery's programming genres such as science, nature, survival and real-life experiences.  A US Hispanic Production.
• Hard Kicks is a one-hour series focused on everything soccer.  The action follows a professional soccer club battling for championships in towns where winning is supreme.  A US Hispanic Production.
• Rinocerontes: Caceria Ilegal (Rhino Wars) centers on a group of private game reserves in South Africa that are fighting back against illegal rhino poachers by employing former US Special Forces operatives.
• Pescadores Extremos (Top Hooker) is an energetic competition series where 10 fishermen are put into two teams and they go head to head in a series of crazy fishing challenges.
• Hasta que la Mafia Nos Separe (I Married a Mobster) introduces viewers to women who married into big mafia families.  Lorraine Bracco narrates and executive produces the docu-series.
• Vivir para Contario relates stories of ordinary people who have been caught in dangerous situations by accident, natural disasters and natural occurrences and survive.  A US Hispanic Production.
• Amor Asesino (Scorned: Love Kills) delves deep into sordid stories of betrayal and deception and gives viewers a voyeuristic look into the lust and obsession that generates violent acts.
• Fiebre del Oro (Gold Rush) is back and follows Todd and Jack Hoffman, two determined guys in search of gold in the wilds of the far north.
• Monstruos de Rio (River Monsters) is back on the network with seasons 4 and 5.

• 10 anos Menos (10 Years Younger) is an original makeover show where women who are have let themselves go are transformed.  A US Hispanic Production.
• Sexy y Saludable (Eat Yourself Sexy) returns for a new season led by international nutrition expert, Gillian McKeith who teaches 13 women how to eat right into a sexy new body in just eight weeks.
• Enigmas Medicos (Mystery Diagnosis) profiles people who have undiagnosed or misdiagnosed ailments.
• El Localizador (The Locator) centers on Troy Dunn who specializes in finding missing people.

Mark your calendars! Help us salute the year's most outstanding communications initiatives and kids programming in the dynamic Kids media industry on Thursday, June 7 from 8  10:30 a.m. at Le Parker Meridien NY. Register: http://www.cynopsis.com/events/kids-awards/.

  A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM TELEMUNDO MEDIA

Production commenced this week in Israel on the second season of Showtime's drama series Homeland starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.  After filming for two weeks in Israel, production will move to Charlotte, NC for the rest of the principal photography.  Season two is set to premiere on Showtime September 30 at 10p.

Casting Call: GSN (Game Show Network) and the creators of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is looking for Bible fans to apply to appear on The American Bible Challenge, a new game show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.  Casting sessions are taking place across the US beginning this weekend in Sacramento on May 18-19; Los Angeles May 18-June 3; Atlanta May 25-26; Chicago June 1-3; and Dallas June 1-3.  The American Bible Challenge is a studio-based game show produced by RelativityREAL for GSN.  Interested participants can visit: http://tv.gsn.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/casting/.

Casting Call:  Cooking Channel from CBS Eye Productions and hosted by Mo Rocca, is casting for the series My Grandmother's Ravioli.  The show is looking for grandmothers and grandfathers of all ethnicities aged 50 to 100 years old.   Big personalities that are warm, fun, outgoing, sweet and even curmudgeonly are welcome.  Be ready to share interesting family histories and/or grandmotherly/grandfatherly advice.  Accents and English as a second language is not a problem.  Applicants from the Tri-State area are preferred.  Please send an email to: Realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com and include a recent photo and your contact information (email, phone number and address). 

  A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM ESPN

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among A18-49 for the week of: 5/7-5/13/12
Primetime    (000)        Total Pgm Day     (000)
TNT              1590          TNT                  746
USA               912          ADSM*               700                    
TBSC             886          USA                    459                      
HIST              720          HIST                   444
ADSM             640          TBSC                  423
FX                  635          NICK                  412
AEN                592          ESPN                  378
ESPN              535          NAN*                  375
DISC              521          FX                      368
NBCS             516          AEN                     348
Source: Turner Research from The Nielsen Company data.
All ratings based on Total US Television Universe of 114,700,000 homes.
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day.
Notes: Program-based, strict daypart averages. Primetime is Mon-Sat 8P-11P and Sun 7P-11P. Total day is Mon-Sun 6A-6A for household and demographic performance.

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among Total Viewers for the week of: 5/7-5/13/12       
Primetime    (000)      Total Pgm Day            (000)
TNT               2972        NICK                      1637
USA               2478        DSNY                     1474
DSNY             2200        TNT                       1457
HIST              1760        ADSM*                   1303
FOXN             1737        USA                       1089
TBSC             1631        TOON                     1074
ADSM            1381        FOXN                      1017
FX                 1239        HIST                        987
AEN               1224        NAN*                       848
FOOD             1116       TBSC                         744
Source: Turner Research from The Nielsen Company data.
All ratings based on Total US Television Universe of 114,700,000 homes.
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day.
Notes: Program-based, strict daypart averages. Primetime is Mon-Sat 8P-11P and Sun 7P-11P. Total day is Mon-Sun 6A-6A for household and demographic performance.

Top 10 Cable Programs among A18-49 (000) for the week of: 5/7-5/13/12
TNT     Denver/L.A. Lakers 5/12                3825
TNT     L.A. Lakers/Denver                       2721
TNT     Denver/L.A. Lakers 5/8                  2605
TNT     L.A. Clippers/Memphis                   2527
TNT     New York/Miami                            2478
ESPN   Memphis/L.A. Clippers                    2279
TNT     Philadelphia/Boston                       2245
USA     WWE Entertainment 9p                  2147
TNT     Boston/Atlanta                             2124
TNT     Memphis/L.A. Clippers                    2115
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total US Television Universe of 114,700,000 homes

Top 10 Broadcast Programs among A18-49 rating/share and (000) for the week of 5/7-5/13/12
FOX    American Idol  WED                                4.5/13             5727
CBS    The Big Bang Theory                               4.4/15             5622
NBC    The Voice Results Show                          4.4/12             5601
ABC    Modern Family                                       4.4/12             5587
FOX    American Idol  THURS                             4.0/13              5168
CBS    Two and a Half Men                                3.8/10             4824
NBC    The Voice                                             3.8/10             4881
ABC    Grey's Anatomy                                      3.5/10              4429
ABC    Once Upon a Time                                  3.3/10              4230
CBS    2 Broke Girls                                          3.3/10              4257
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Galaxy Explorer, Live + SD Data

Broadcast Evening News Weekly Average Ratings (week of May 7, 2012)
NBC:     7.93 million total viewers; 1.8/7 and 2.12 million A25-54
ABC:     7.37 million total viewers; 1.6/7 and 1.95 million A25-54
CBS:     5.73 million total viewers; 1.4/6 and 1.66 million A25-54
Source: Nielsen, NTI Total Viewers and A25-54 Live + SD

Saturday A18-49 Analysis:  FOX raced to the finish line first on Saturday posting a 1.7/6 A18-49, according to final primetime national ratings from Nielsen.  At 8p, FOX's NASCAR race won at 1.6/7 followed by a tie between ABC's movie and CBS' CSI: Miami rerun at 0.5/2 each.  FOX continued its winning streak through 9p with more of the Live from Darlington race at 1.7/7 and CBS' Crimetime Saturday was next at 0.8/3.  FOX's NASCAR ratings ended on a surge at 10p with a 2.0/7 and CBS was once again trailing in second place with 48 Hours Mystery at 1.2/4.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Saturday, May 12, 2012  (May Sweep Day #17) time period averages.  Source: NTI, Galaxy as dated. Live+SD.

Paul Butler was appointed GM of ASPiRE, the new African American network ready to launch next month that counts Earvin "Magic" Johnson as its Chairman.  Based at the network's headquarters in Atlanta, Paul will oversee all operations of ASPiRE and report to Johnson and the network's Board of Directors.  Paul joins from GMC TV where he most recently served as GMC's SVP/General Counsel.  He will continue to fulfill his duties at GMC until he transitions full-time to ASPiRE in June.

Millennium Sales & Marketing, a division of the Katz Television Group elevated Grant Covell to SVP.  Grant will manage all Sinclair stations repped by Millennium Sales & Marketing.  Grant is based in Chicago.

Nicola Drago takes on the new responsibility as SVP/Strategy and New Business at Zodiak Active, the digital unit of Zodiak Media.  This new role for Nicola is in addition to her current position as CEO of Zodiak America Latina. 

Effective immediately, BBC Worldwide, the commercial unit of the BBC promoted Parul Patel to VP/Factual Co-Productions and Sales. Parul will continue to supervise co-production and sales efforts with broadcast partners on a variety of programming genres including natural history, news and current affairs, lifestyle and general entertainment titles.  Parul reports to Greg Johnson, SVP/TV Sales, Factual. 

KWHY-TV, the independent Spanish language TV station in Los Angeles, hired Jon Dubin as the new NSM.  Jon, who is an experienced industry veteran, will lead the station's national sales efforts as they TV station transitions to MundoFox 22.

 A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE