CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

04/02/04

Good morning.  It’s Friday, April 2, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

One day after the NAB held its indecency summit, it has announced its plan to form a task force of broadcasters who will ‘self-police’ television and radio content as well as consider devising a code of conduct.  The committee, called Task Force on Responsible Programming, will meet officially for the first time at the NAB conference in Las Vegas later on this month.  In a statement, NAB President/CEO Eddie Fritts said, “Broadcasters are committed to a plan of voluntary action to deal with the issue of responsible programming. Given the serious First Amendment concerns surrounding issues related to program content, it is our strong belief that voluntary industry initiatives are far preferable to government regulation.”

Premiering tonight:  The Big House on ABC at 830p

Tuesday nights this summer on CBS will include Big Brother at 9p and The Amazing Race a 10p.  The two shows will begin with 90m eps, both airing on July 6 with Big Brother 5 at 8p and Amazing Race at 930p, according to Variety.   As has been its habit, Big Brother will air multiple times over the course of the week, this year on Tuesdays at 9p, Thursdays at 8p and Saturdays at 9p.  Amazing Race airs every Tuesday at 10p, falling into that regular weekly spot after the premiere week. 

New in Development/Casting/Production:

• NBC‘s comedy project My 11:30 (Nuance Prods/NBC Studios) has added Connie Britton to the cast which is headed by Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
• Fox‘s sitcom Sweden OH (Warner Bros.) has added Jessica Lundy, Peter MacKenzie and Ashley Johnson
• In ABC‘s comedy project starring Jennifer Love Hewitt (Love Spell/Touchstone), Ed O’Neill returns to comedy to co-star with Hewitt.   In the net’s sitcom project I Married Sofia (DDJ Prods/Touchstone), Victoria Johnson joins the cast led by Sofia Vergara.  In the as yet untitled Lewis Black comedy project (Paramount), Stephanie Childers has been added as the female lead.
• WB‘s remake Dark Shadows (John Wells Prods/Warner Bros. TV)  will add Blair Brown to the cast as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, the role originated by Joan Bennett in the 1966-71 series.

Court TV is launching a legal news service that will offer the network’s legal expertise to news departments of broadcast stations and cable news channels. The network will provide stations with live or taped interviews with Court TV experts, prepackaged national and local trial analysis, wrap-ups of the day’s legal news, and more.  The service will provide perspective on the coverage of high profile trials as well as customized coverage to meet the needs of individual markets to provide compelling legal expert analysis for local trials that are not national in scope.  Court TV Legal News Service will launch July 12, 2004.  It will be available through subscription via satellite or fiber.

MTV announced the return of Punk’d on April 25th at 10pm ET/PT as part of the Sunday Stew line-up.  You’ll recall Ashton Kutcher made a big decision last December that he wasn’t going to return to another season of Punk’d, after he had already said he would return.  Now, he has waffled again, surely to MTV’s great delight, and will come back for 8 more episodes. No comment from either side as to the cause of the waffling.  The show was one of the highest rated cable series of 2003 among P12-34 with more than 50 million fans in its 2nd season. 

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Mar 15-21, 2004 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                 8.9 AA  
Jeopardy (King World)                   7.2 AA
Seinfeld (Sony)                         6.4 AA / 7.8 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                  6.0 AA / 7.2 GAA
Oprah (King World)                      5.6 AA / 5.7 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)    5.3 AA / 5.9 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)       5.3 AA / 5.4 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount)          4.9 AA / 7.4 GAA
Dr. Phil (King World)                   4.4 AA / 4.4 GAA
That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner)  4.0 AA / 5.0 GAA
Source Nielsen Media Research

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Mar 15-21, 2004 ranked by A18-49
Seinfeld (Sony)                         4.3 AA / 5.4 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                  4.2 AA / 4.9 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)    3.0 AA / 3.3 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (King World)           2.8 AA
That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner)  2.7 AA / 3.4 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)       2.4 AA / 2.4 GAA
Will & Grace (Warner Bros.)             2.2 AA / 2.5 GAA
Oprah (King World)                      2.2 AA / 2.2 GAA
Jeopardy (King World)                   2.1 AA
King of the Hill (20th)                 2.0 AA / 2.3 GAA
King of Queens (Sony)                   2.0 AA / 2.3 GAA
Source Nielsen Media Research

On Tuesday, April 6 at 9p, music cable network Fuse will air its 30m special Idol Worship: The William Hung Story which will end with the premiere of Hung’s music video feature, naturally, his rendition of the Ricky Martin tune, She Bangs.  Last week Hung’s She Bangs was in the Top 5 of most downloaded songs in the Apple iTunes store.

The TV Guide Channel will team up with NBC in an effort to make navigating the Summer Olympic Games a little easier for viewers.  In additional to providing NBC a special area on the channel for Olympic event listings, TVG will air special programming on the Olympics.  I return, during the games NBC will direct viewers to TVG for more information on event listings.  The summer games air on NBC from August 13-29 from Athens, includes more than 1200 hours of programming, airing on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo and Bravo, each net carrying its own distinct lineup, not just retreads of NBC coverage.

VH1 is looking at a new series, a sort of game show where celebrity guests try to figure out if someone is gay or not, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Gaydar (UR TV) is overseen by Michael Davies (Who Wants to be a Millionaire) and is currently in production in LA. Brian Dunkleman hosts.

GSN has ordered a 7-ep reality series called American Dream Derby, says Variety, which will take six regular horse racing fans and put them in position of horse owner and trainer.  They’ll each hire a jockey and work with professional trainers.  He or she whose horse wins the final race, wins all six horses and a trainer as well as a quarter million to build a stable for all the horses.  Production is slated to begin this summer with a target air date set for first qtr 2005.

This sounds like an new reality show but it’s not – it’s real reality.  The Portland based ad agency of Wieden & Kennedy is starting their own advertising school, called “12.”, according to The New York Times. Students will work on real projects for real clients who sign up specifically for the students to work on their campaigns.  For the client’s part, they pay a vastly reduced rate compared to the usual for W&K clients. Thousands of potential students applied, but in the end just a lucky dozen were chosen.  The inaugural class will have just 12 students, and tuition runs approx $13k.  Thus far, clients have signed up or 12:  Ecotrust, Groxis, National Voice and the City of Portland.

CSTV: College Sports Television is nearly one year old, having launched on April 7 last year.  And for their birthday, they’re getting carriage in a slew of new market with more being added next week on a variety different MSOs.  When it finishes opening up all its presents, CSTV will be in approximately 20 million cable and satellite households nationwide.  In addition to its cable carriage, CSTV is expanding its advertising base adding several new clients to its roster:  Coca Cola, Nike, Miller Lite, Cingular, Geico Insurance, Advil, Pontiac, US Army, US Navy, EA Sports, Hersheys and others. More information, check the net site at www.collegesports.com

Top 5 Broadcast Spanish Language Primetime Programs for the week of March 22-28, 2004
UNIV    Mariana de la Noche (Wed 8p)            21.6 NHTI HH Rtg
UNIV    Mariana de la Noche (Tue 8p)            21.0 NHTI HH Rtg
UNIV    Mariana de la Noche (Mon 8p)            20.0 NHTI HH Rtg
UNIV    Mariana de la Noche (Thu 8p)            19.4 NHTI HH Rtg
UNIV    Amar Otra Vez (Mon 7p)                  18.8 NHTI HH Rtg
Source  Nielsen Media Research
Note  NHTI Ratings are based on 10.57 million Hispanic TV Homes

Top 5 Broadcast English Language Primetime Programs in Hispanic TV Homes for the week of March 22-28, 2004
Fox     American Idol (Tue 8p)          9.3 NHTI HH Rtg
NBC     Fear Factor (Mon 8p)            8.2 NHTI HH Rtg
Fox     American Idol (Wed 830p)        7.1 NHTI HH Rtg
NBC     Apprentice (Tue 9p)             6.9 NHTI HH Rtg
UPN     WWE Smackdown (Thu 8p)  6.8 NHTI HH Rtg
Source  Nielsen Media Research
Note  NHTI Ratings are based on 10.57 million Hispanic TV Homes

African American television homes in the US represent 12,870,000 households.  Here are the rankings for the week of  March 22-28, 2004 – highest rated primetime network programs in African American TV homes according to Nielsen Media Research
FOX     American Idol (Tue 8p)                  18.5 HH Rtg
UPN     Eve (Mon 830p)                          15.4 HH Rtg
UPN     Girlfriends (Mon 9p)                    15.3 HH Rtg
UPN     America’s Next Top Model 2 (Tue 9p)     15.1 HH Rtg
FOX     American Idol (Wed 830p)                            14.4 HH Rtg
UPN     Half & Half (Mon 930p)                  14.1 HH Rtg
ABC     My Wife & Kids (Wed 830p)               14.1 HH Rtg
ABC     My Wife & Kids (Wed 8p)                 13.2 HH Rtg
UPN     The Parkers (Mon 8p)                    12.5 HH Rtg
CBS     60 Minutes II (Sun 730p)                        12.1 HH Rtg
Source Nielsen Media Research

Today, April 2, 2004, marks three – count them three! – major milestones for Cynopsis:

• Seven years ago today, Cynopsis launched its first edition.  Originally called News of the Day, this daily was originally an interoffice memo, and on its first day had just the 6 readers in the Research Dept at MMT Sales in NYC.  By the end of year one, there were 100 readers (all of you still here!).  In January 1999 there were 450 subscribers and it’s grown by amazing amounts year every year thereafter:  January 2000 there were 2,200 subs … Jan 2001: 3409 …  Jan 2002: 8,032 … Jan ’03: 13,651 and by this year, January 2004: 20,332.  Today there are over 23,300 subscribers, and when you add in the pass-along readership, Cynopsis is read by more than 60,000 people every day.  And you’re a good looking bunch too!
• Cynopsis has recently hired its very first employee –  Ariana Rawls (our favorite Cynopsis Kids writer Gwen Billings isn’t technically an employee). Ariana is working in the office here in Connecticut as an Administrative Assistant/Part Time Writer.  When you subscribe to Cynopsis, she’s the first person you’re likely to hear from, and if you have questions and I’m not here – she’ll be able to help you out.  She’s terrific and you’re gonna love her.
• And – what some would call burying the lead – the biggest news: Cynopsis is launching a new edition —

Cynopsis Multi-Cultural Edition (aka M-CE).  Today you’ll receive the inaugural issue  – the only copy of the M-CE edition you’ll be sent until you chose to subscribe.  This edition will launch on a daily basis on Monday, April 12.  If you’re interested in subscribing, it is a separate opt-in; just hit reply, put C-ME in the subject line, and Ariana and I will take care of it for you.  If you’re not interested, no worries.

Even with just one 30m American Idol show, Fox again ruled the night handily on Wednesday with an overall 6.2/17 according to Nielsen Media Research.  NBC was #2 with a 3.9/11, followed by ABC 3.2/9, CBS 2.6/7, WB 1.1/3, UPN 0.9/3.  At 8pm Fox owned the hour with a 7.3/21 for That 70’s Show (5.3/16) and American Idol (9.4/26).  ABC with back to back My Wife & Kids followed with a 3.3/9, followed further in the distance by NBC’s repeat of The Apprentice (2.5/7).  At 9p The O.C. held onto 50% of the American Idol lead-in, delivering a time period winning 5.1/13.  ABC again was #2 with a repeat of Extreme Makeover (3.9/10), with NBC and CBS close behind posting a 9 and 8 share respectively.  At 10p NBC’s Law & Order delivered a 6.0/16, doubling 48 Hours share and trouncing Kingdom Hospital (2.4/6).

NYTimes.com is bringing back the theatre section with Critics’ Picks featuring reviews and recommendations from Ben Brantley and Margo Jefferson.  The site will also offer integrated ticket purchasing for various Broadway and off-Broadway shows.  Here’s the part I particular like — the site will introduce the Hirschfeld Archive, a collection of the life and works of the wonderfully talented Al Hirschfeld and his Ninas.  The collection includes 93 drawings created specifically for the NY Times over the past 75 years, including his very first drawing for the Times (Scottish Vaudevillian Harry Lauder, January 29, 1928) and is last (Tommy Tune, December 15, 2002).

It’s probably a good bet many of you are regular listeners and supporters of NPR Radio. And also a good bet you are intensely aware of NPR’s decision last week to move Morning Edition host Bob Edwards to a senior correspondent position with NPR News.  Bob Edwards has been the host of Morning Edition since its launch nearly 25 years ago, and the decision to make a change has created heated discussion and debate. To that end, NPR’s SVP/Programming, Jay Kernis yesterday sent a letter to all NPR member stations and to the 22,000 listeners who wrote in with questions/comments regarding Morning Edition. In that letter Kernis invited all interested parties to a live online web chat on Monday, April 5 at 1pm ET at www.npr.org/morningeditionchat. During that discussion, Jay will take questions regarding Morning Edition as well as any other topics raised.  You are all invited.

Niels Schuurmans was named SVP/Creative Director for Spike TV.  He will report to Albie Hecht, President, Spike TV.  Niels will manage all creative aspects relating to the visual presentation of the network.

Philippe Bernard has been named President/Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for Initiative Worldwide.  Philippe will report to Marie-José Forissier, Chairman, Initiative Worldwide, and CEO EMEA, Latin America & Asia Pacific.  He will be based in London.  Philippe will take over from Sergio Lorca, Initiative’s COO, EMEA.  Sergio expressed interest in returning to expressed his home base, Madrid, and has asked to be released from his role.  He will launch a new concept channel communication agency which will remain closely tied to Initiative and the Interpublic group.

Wednesday, March 31, 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

FOX     8.8/14  That 70s Show 7.1/12, American Idol 13.1/21, The O.C. 7.5/12

NBC     8.0/13  The Apprentice [r] 4.3/7, West Wing 7.4/12, Law & Order 12.3/21

CBS     6.6/11  60 Minutes II 7.0/12, The King of Queens [r] 6.9/11, The Stones 5.2/8, 48 Hours 6.8/11

ABC     5.2/8   My Wife and Kids 5.8/10, My Wife and Kids [r] 5.4/9, Extreme Makeover [r] 6.5/10, Kingdom Hospital 3.5/6

WB      1.9/3   Smallville [r] 2.0/3, Smallville 1.9/3

UPN     1.5/2   Enterprise [r] 1.5/2, Enterprise [r] 1.5/2

A18-49  FOX 6.2/17, NBC 3.9/11, ABC 3.2/9, CBS 2.6/7, WB 1.1/3, UPN 0.9/3

A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION

Source:  NTI Explorer, 3/26/04 or as noted.  Key demos: 18-34/18-49/25-54. US Ratings.  Friday sitcom rank ties Hope & Faith w/A18-34, A18-49, A25-54.  ABC week rank ties My Wife-Kids w/M25-54. 

Friday Fun Fact:   Soap was considered a frivolous luxury of the British aristocracy from the early 1700s until 1862, and there was a tax on those who used it in England.

The History Channel presents This Day in History: 
1998 – At the end of the longest trial in French history, a court finds 87-year-old Maurice Papon guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity for his role serving France’s pro-Nazi Vichy government during World War Two.

Answer to yesterday’s Trivia Question: The wedding of this primetime couple took place on December 2, 1969, and it was truly magical.  Who were they?    JEANNIE AND MAJOR ANTHONY NELSON on I DREAM OF JEANNIE.  For those wondering, Luke and Laura were married in 1981, and Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show on December 17, 1969.  Talk about appointment television!  Kudos to:  Albert Lewitinn-AOL Studios/NY; Linda McLoof-ABC/NY; Amy Woltz-Empower MediaMarketing/Cincinnati; Barry Brown-WXLV/Winston Salem; Amanda Killman-The Journal Record/Oklahoma City; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; Maureen Sullivan-NCC/Chicago; Randy Wilkes-Kaleidoscope Prods/Nashville; Evan Weinstein-The Amazing Race/LA; Alex Petrilli Jr.-KBHK & KPIX/San Francisco; Jennifer Tingle-KFMB/San Diego; John Whitlock-BET/LA.

Today’s Trivia Question:  What is the full name of the guy to founded Nielsen Media Research? (click here 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
04/02/04  5:34am
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  Friday, April 2, 2004

COURT TV:       Forensic Fridays
ABC             George Lopez, The Big House [p], Hope & Faith [r], Life with Bonnie, The DA
CBS             Joan of Arcadia, JAG, The District
FOX             Totally Outrageous Behavior, The World’s Craziest Videos, Forever Eden
NBC             Dateline NBC, Law & Order: Criminal Intent [r]
PAX             MGM Night at the Movies: California Casanova, Diagnosis Murder
UPN             Game Over, Game Over, One on One [r], Rock Me Baby [r]
WB              Reba [r], Reba [r], Grounded for Life [r], The Help
TELE            Prisonera, El Alma Herida, Mujeres Apasionadas
UNIV            Mariana de la Noche, Bajo la Misma Piel, Casos de la Vida Real: Edicion Especial