CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

08/19/05

Good morning.  It’s Friday August 19, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Hallmark Channel for sale? The network’s owner Crown Media Holdings, and its Board of Directors has authorized a consideration of alternatives. David Evans, President/CEO of Crown said in a statement: “After considering various factors, including the strong performance of the Hallmark Channel and the prevailing current economic realities of being a one-channel business in our industry, the board unanimously determined that now is the time to look at all alternatives.” The Hallmark Channel is currently available in approx 70 million homes.

Attention MSOs and DBS operators – you’ve probably figured this was coming, but nonetheless here’s the news.  OLN will be looking for higher fees when it comes around for its renewal, visiting some of you at the end of the year.  The increase can probably be linked first and foremost to the recent acquisition of NHL Hockey, but is also in part a result of an expected increase in subscribers.  Earlier this week OLN won the bid to carry hockey games for the next three years, to the tune of $207 million.  The first game airs on October 5 (NY Rangers vs. Philly Flyers), with games planned on Mondays and Tuesdays thru the hockey season.   And as part of its deal with the NHL, Comcast will launch a 24/7 all hockey digital channel some time in the next two years, so they’ll be knocking on your door with that deal as well.

So you say John O’Hurley was robbed on Dancing with the Stars by Kelly Monaco? No?  You think Monaco earned and deserved her trophy?  Well then, just wait until September 20 when ABC brings back the two finalists in a 90m rematch covering Latin, ballroom and freestyle dancing.  Viewers will decide who should win, and results will be announced on a 9/22 half-hour broadcast.

Showtime‘s debut of Barbershop: The Series last Sunday evening drew 515,000 total viewers.  How does that stack up with other recent airings on Showtime?  Weeds pulled in 540,000 for its launch last week.  Both shows delivered considerably less than the Fat Actress debut in early 2005 with 924,000, but to be fair that one launched on a free-weekend.  And both shows delivered more viewers that the premiere of Huffs last fall which pulled in a 456,000 viewers, and also received a season season order. Of course, that doesn’t mean either Barbershop or Weeds will get a second season, and certainly we’d all agree it may be a little early to call that one, but there is precedent.  I’m just sayin’.

And for those keeping track, Over There on FX in its third outing delivered 2.5 million viewers (Aug 10), on par with its second episode.  Both are down from the premiere which pulled in a very strong 4.1 million viewers.

Note to self:  Inside 9/11 premieres on National Geographic Channel this weekend, a deconstruction of the events leading up to and occurring on that day nearly four years ago.  It’s a two-parter, beginning Sunday at 9p and finishing up on Monday.  If you can and if you’re ready, a good watch. 

Broadcast Daytime Ratings Rankings – Women 18-49, week of Aug 8-14, 2005:
CBS:    Young & Restless         2.2/14
ABC:    General Hospital                 1.9/12
NBC:    Days of Our Lives       1.8/11
ABC:    All My Children          1.7/10
CBS:    Bold & Beautiful                 1.7/10
ABC:    One Life to Live                 1.7/10
CBS:    Price is Right 2                 1.5/10
NBC:    Passions                  1.4/9
CBS:    As the World Turns      1.3.8
CBS:    Price is Right 1                 1.2/9
CBS:    Guiding Light            1.2/7
ABC:    The View                 1.2/8
Source: Nielsen’s Galaxy Explorer, NTI as dated

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Aug 1-7, 2005 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                  7.2 AA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                              6.7 AA / 9.4 GAA
Jeopardy (King World)                                5.9 AA
Seinfeld (Sony)                                           5.6 AA / 7.1 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)  5.5 AA / 6.9 GAA
Oprah (King World)                                    5.5 AA / 5.6 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount)                            4.6 AA / 7.2 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)          4.2 AA / 4.3 GAA
Dr. Phil (King World)                                  4.1 AA / 4.1 GAA
Regis & Kelly (Buena Vista)                       3.3 AA
Millionaire (Buena Vista)                         3.2 AA / 3.6 GAA
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Aug 1-7, 2005 ranked by A18-49
Friends (Warner Bros.)                              4.6 AA / 6.4 GAA
Seinfeld (Sony)                                           3.8 AA / 4.7 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)  3.2 AA / 4.0 GAA
Oprah (King World)                                    2.2 AA / 2.2 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                  1.8 AA
That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner)              1.8 AA / 2.2 GAA
King of the Hill (20th)                                  1.8 AA / 2.1 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount)                            1.7 AA / 2.5 GAA
Will & Grace (Warner Bros.)                      1.7 AA / 2.1 GAA
King of Queens (Sony)                     1.7 AA / 2.2 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)          1.7 AA / 1.7 GAA
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Comedy Central:  A second season has been ordered of the network’s game show series Distraction.  14 new episodes have been ordered. Season #2 is looking at a first qtr 2006 start.

WB:

• Cult (Warner Bros. TV):  The network has given a cast contingent put pilot commitment to the sci-fi thriller project.  Written by Rockne O’Bannon, the show is about two people investigating deaths and disappearances that may be connected to a television show called Cult. 

TNT:

• Saved (Fox 21 / Imagine Television): This 60m drama project has been given a pilot order. It’s described as a procedural drama that centers around a young EMT, who while he’s saving people, is also struggling with his gambling addiction and what it is he wants to do with his life.

ABC Family:

• Breadwinners: A 30m comedy project ordered to pilot about three highly successful career women, who all make significantly more than their significant others. The project is from Gale Anne Hurd and Steve Tao.  Production begins next month and will star Elizabeth Bogush, Christina Chang and Amy Laughlin.
• Just a Phase: Another 30m project in contention at ABC Family will also go to the pilot phase, says Variety.  This show focuses on a young teenager who is wondering about his own s#xuality and preferances. This project is from Carter Covington and Bill Masters.

NBC:

• ER:  Scott Grimes’ character, Dr. Archie Morris, has been picked up as a “regular,” upping his status from “recurring.”

FOX:

• Head Cases:  Caroline Aaron has been signed as a recurring character for this series which debuts on Fox, September 14 at 9p.

UPN:

• South Beach:  Michael Pare has been added to cast which will debut as a midseason drama.  Pare’s character is the father of one of the two lead characters.

Casting Note:  Bravo is casting a new show and is looking for talented chefs to compete to become the next Top Chef. They are looking for trained and self-taught – professional or non-professional – chefs who are creative and highly skilled.  More info is at BravoTV.com.  Must be 18 years or older, legal resident of the US. Show is being produced by the same folks who brought you Project Runway and Last Comic Standing.

Casting Note Correction!! – The auditions dates I gave you in yesterday’s edition were incorrect for Pulpit Masters.  Auditions will be held on Friday, August 26 at 5pm and on Saturday, August 27th at 11am at Original Prods, 308 West Verdugo Blvd., Burbank.  Good luck!

Joe Paglino has been named VP/Ad Sales in the Detroit region for Discovery Networks.  He’ll have a particular emphasis on the automotive industry, as well as lead strategic development and negotiations with clients and agencies in the region.  Joe reports to Ben Price, SVP/National Ad Sales.

Wednesday — A18-49 Analysis: In fast affiliate numbers from Nielsen Media Research for Wednesday night, Fox led and won both hours of prime, averaging a 3.2/10 A18-49 for its two hour So You Think You Can Dance show. CBS followed with a 2.2/7, and then ABC 2.0/6, NBC 1.7/5, UPN 0.9/3, WB 0.7/2.  For the first hour at 8p, Fox averaged a 2.7/9, which then built to a 3.6/10 for the second hour.  ABC and CBS tied at 8p with a 6 share, and the second hour of Brat Camp on ABC picked up in the second hour at 9p to a 7 share.  Meanwhile, NBC’s four back-to-back eps of The Office averaged a slow 1.4/4. At 10p CBS was in front with a 2.6/7.

Fast Affiliate Ratings: Wednesday, August 17,  2005, for all Networks – time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

FOX     5.2/9    So You Think You Can Dance [2hrs]  5.2/9

CBS     4.3/7    Still Standing [r]3.8/7, Yes Dear [r] 4.0/7, Rock Star: INXS 3.6/6, The King of Queens [r] 3.6/6, CSI: NY [r] 5.3/9

ABC     3.8/7    Brat Camp 4.2/7, Lost 3.1/5

NBC     3.2/5    The Office 2.4/4, The Office 2.1/4, The Office 2.4/4, The Office 2.4/4,  Law & Order [r] 5.0/8

UPN     1.6/3    R U THE GIRL 1.9/3, Veronica Mars [r] 1.3/2

WB      1.2/2    One Tree Hill [r] 1.1/2, Smallville [r] 1.4/2

A18-49            Fox 3.2/10, CBS 2.2/7, ABC 2.0/6, NBC 1.7/5, UPN 0.9/3, WB 0.7/2

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM IFC

Hopeless Pictures is an animated comedy about a dysfunctional movie studio that EW called “a shoebox greeting on Xanax”.   Click here for a preview.

Friday Fun Fact:  The film crews for Armageddon (1998) had unprecedented access to NASA facilities and filmed actual launch sequences of the space shuttle. Fifteen cameras were specially outfitted to withstand the hydrochloric exhaust left in the shuttle’s wake.

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1812-The 44-gun U.S. Navy frigate Constitution defeats the British frigate Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia.  The Constitution’s nickname, “Old Ironsides,” was earned in this battle, in which the British shot was said to have bounced harmlessly off the American ship’s timbers.  The success of American frigates, especially the Constitution, in single-ship actions was a source of tremendous pride amid the generally disheartening news of the War of 1812, one of the low points of which occurred when British soldiers burned the White House.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:    On the hit TV show The Odd Couple, Felix often talked about his ex-wife and their life. Where did Felix and his ex live before they split?  NEW ROCHELLE, NY    Kudos to: Lee Stein-TMS/Philadelphia PA; Ken Colen-Colen Research & Consulting/Montclair NJ; Jodi B Katzman-Jodi B Katzman Productions/NY; Brock-FrogPhi Prod/LA.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question: Who lives at 3344 Oak Hills Drive, Fairfield CT?   (click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Cyn
08.19.05  –  5:21am
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Copyright Cynthia Turner 2005

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: Friday, August 19, 2005

ABC              8 Simple Rules [r], Hope & Faith [r], Less Than Perfect [r],  20/20
CBS              NFL  Preseason:  Minnesota at New York Jets
FOX              Arrested Development  [2hrs]
NBC              Dateline, Crossing Jordan [r]
PAX              America’s Talented Kids [r], Movie: The Legend of Johnny Lingo
UPN              Movie:  Double Take
WB               What I Like About You [r], Blue Collar TV [r], Reba [r], Living with Fran [r]
TELE             El Cuerpo del Deseo, Los Plateados, El Principe Azul
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrasta, Asies Gilberto Gless, Par de Ases