Good morning. It’s Friday, December 17, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.
CBS‘s new drama series NUMB3RS has changed its premiere date to Sunday, January 23 at 10p, immediately following the AFC Championship game. It had originally be scheduled for Friday, Jan 21. The first time the show will air in its regular Friday night 10p time period will be on January 28. NUMB3RS stars Judd Hirsch, Rob Morrow and Peter MacNicol.
WB’s Summerland returns to the schedule on February 28 for a second season, stepping in for Everwood for 7 weeks. Everwood will then return on April 18 to complete its third season. Where Summerland will go from there will depend on its performance and the performances of other WB series going into the May sweep.
Fox has kicked up several notches its premiere of 24 for its return to the schedule on January 9. The premiere will now be four hours long, airing over two nights, Jan 9 and 10, 8-10p both nights. Thereafter, the series will air in its regular time period, Mondays at 9p.
Telemundo will launch a new daily talk show on January 3 at 2pm called Rocio, with host Rocío Sánchez Azuara. Rocio will include advice, inspiring stories and difficult issues, always offering solutions from a variety of experts and specialists to its daytime M-F audience.
Casting / Development / Production
Organized crime family in the southern city of Biloxi, Mississippi, is the setting for a new project in development at Fox with 20th C. Fox TV from producers Joe and Tony Gayton. The drama centers around a woman who has married into this family, not knowing what they’re all about, until one day when she does, per Hollywood Reporter.
Fox is considering a drama pilot called Reunion (Warner Bros. TV/Class V Prods). The project follows a group of friends who graduation from high school in 1986, until they show up for their reunion in 2006. Each episode covers one year of their lives.
Comedy Central is reportedly chatting up D.L. Hughley to host his own evening talk show. Robert Morton (David Letterman’s show) will exec prod. According to Hollywood Reporter, Hughley will likely do two pilot eps, both the standard late night talk show format – monologue, live band, celeb guests, handful of sketches.
A&E is working on a new project series that takes Biography several steps closer to the subject, titled Being (Jagged Films). This time cameras follow the subject everywhere within their professional and personal lives, capturing on tape all that goes into being a top notch actor, musician, sports figure or person in the news.
Fox has ordered a script for a 30m sitcom set in Baghdad in a struggling local TV network operation by Americans, called Spirit of America (20th TV/Watson Pond Prods). The project, according to Variety, is produced by Mort Nathan and Brad Johnson.
Top 10 M-F Syndicated StripSeries for the week of November 29-December 5, 2004 ranked by HH Rtg Wheel of Fortune (King World) 9.8 AA Jeopardy (King World) 9.2 AA Oprah (King World) 7.9 AA / 8.0 GAA Everybody Loves Raymond (King World) 7.4 AA / 9.4 GAA Seinfeld (Sony) 6.7 AA / 8.3 GAA Friends (Warner Bros.) 6.2 AA / 7.8 GAA Dr. Phil (King World) 5.4 AA / 5.4 GAA Entertainment Tonight (Paramount) 5.4 AA / 5.6 GAA Judge Judy (Paramount) 5.2 AA / 7.9 GAA Inside Edition (King World) 3.8 AA / 3.9 GAA Source Nielsen Media Research
Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of November 29-December 5, 2004 ranked by A18-49 Seinfeld (Sony) 4.4 AA / 5.3 GAA Everybody Loves Raymond (King World) 4.3 AA / 5.4 GAA Friends (Warner Bros.) 4.2 AA / 5.3 GAA Oprah (King World) 3.2 AA / 3.2 GAA Jeopardy (King World) 2.9 AA Wheel of Fortune (King World) 2.8 AA That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner) 2.4 AA / 3.0 GAA Entertainment Tonight (Paramount) 2.3 AA / 2.4 GAA Will & Grace (Warner Bros.) 2.2 AA / 2.6 GAA Malcolm/Middle (20th) 2.1 AA / 2.4 GAA Dr. Phil (King World) 2.1 AA / 2.4 GAA Source Nielsen Media Research
New Line Television will introduce its new movie package,New Line 11 at NATPE this year. The straight barter package contains 21 films, and its avail windows begin in 2007. Films include The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, as well as The Butterfly Effect, Laws of Atraction, After the Sunset, John Q. The Notebook, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 remake) and others.
ABC began Wednesday night with the 2-hour premiere episode of Lost, and as a result won the night with an overall 4.1/12 A18-49 rating according to final national numbers from Nielsen Media Research. CBS was a reasonably close #2 with a 3.5/10, followed by NBC 3.3/9, Fox 2.9/8, UPN 2.1/6, WB 1.2/3. At 8pm Lost posted a 4.3/12 for the 2-hour premiere. America’s Next Top Model finale delivered a 2.9/8, on par with last year’s numbers. In other demos, Model drew a 4.8/14 among W18-34, and among A18-34 with a 3.4/11, scored the net’s best numbers in the time period in more than three years. Fox’s sitcoms delivered a 3.0/9 A18-49 for That 70’s Show,and a 2.3/6 for Quintuplets. At 9p West Wing earned a solid 3.9/10 for an original episode, while King of Queens on CBS found a 3.7/10. The premiere of Big Man on Campus delivered a 1.1/3 among A18-49, and earned its highest numbers among female teens 12-17, posting a 1.8/6. CSI: New York won the 10p hour by a five share margin: 5.4/15 vs. ABC’s 3.8/10 and CBS’ 3.6/10.
Top 5 Broadcast Spanish Language Primetime Programs for the week of December 6-12, 2004 ** UNIV Amor Real (M-F 9p) 25.2 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Rubi (M-F 8p) 24.7 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Cristina (Mon 10p) 19.8 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Veremos Todo Miurka Bobby (Tue 10p) 18.3 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Escuelita VIP (Fri 10p) 17.7 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Don Francisco Presenta (Wed 10p) 17.7 NHTI HH Rtg Source: Nielsen Media Research Note: NHTI Ratings are based on 10.57 million Hispanic TV Homes ** Please note that Nielsen Media’s rating parameters are listed for some shows that air Monday-Friday to include the 5 day average instead of listing each individual weekday.
Top 10 Broadcast English Language Primetime Programs in Hispanic TV Homes for the week of December 6-12, 2004 ABC NFL Monday Night Football (Mon 907p) 7.0 NHTI HH Rtg CBS CSI (Thu 9p) 7.0 NHTI HH Rtg ABC Desperate Housewives (Sun 9p) 7.0 NHTI HH Rtg FOX Simpsons (Sun 8p) 6.8 NHTI HH Rtg UPN WWE Smackdown! (Thu 8p) 6.6 NHTI HH Rtg ABC Lost (Wed 8p) 5.5 NHTI HH Rtg CBS CSI: Miami (Mon 10p) 5.3 NHTI HH Rtg ABC NFL Monday Showcase (Mon 9p) 5.2 NHTI HH Rtg NBC Law & Order: SVU (Tue 10p) 5.1 NHTI HH Rtg ABC Extreme Makeovere: Home Edition(Sun 8p) 5.0 NHTI HH Rtg FOX Billboard Music Awards (Wed 8p) 4.9 NHTI HH Rtg CBS Without a Trace (Thu 10p) 4.9 NHTI HH Rtg FOX Family Guy Special (Fri 930p) 4.8 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 13,170,000 households. Here are the rankings for the week of December 6-12, 2004 – highest rated primetime network programs in African American TV homes according to Nielsen Media Research CBS CSI (Thu 9p) 14.8 HH Rtg UPN America’s Next Top Model 3 (Wed 8p) 13.8 HH Rtg ABC Desperate Housewives (Sun 9p) 13.3 HH Rtg CBS Without a Trace (Thu 10p) 12.9 HH Rtg ABC NFL Monday Night Football (Mon 9p) 12.7 HH Rtg FOX NFL Sunday Post (Sun 750p) 12.6 HH Rtg UPN Eve (Tue 830p) 12.4 HH Rtg UPN Girlfriends (Mon 9p) 12.3 HH Rtg CBS CSI: Miami (Mon 10p) 11.5 HH Rtg UPN Second Time Around (Mon 930p) 11.4 HH Rtg Source Nielsen Media Research
Casting Note: Pilot casting and shoot – Think American Idol … for Actors. Experienced actors and not so much. Non Union, no pay. New York. Interested? Okay – here are the particulars: Go to The Barrow Group, 312 W. 36th St., 3rd Floor, btwn 8th and 9th Avenues this Sunday, December 19. Auditions begin at 12n and end at 3p – arrive early. You must agree to be filmed. Prepare a 3 min monologue which you will perform in front of a panel of 3 well known and opinionated (again, think Amer Idol) casting directors. Call backs are the same day. Bring a resume and a photo or headshot (they won’t be returned). No tapes. If you are chosen, you’ll stay at a private resort in NY state for the 7 day shoot, January 17-23, all expenses paid. Good luck!
Linda Narbey has been named SVP/Group Planning Director on the ConAgra Refrigerated Frozen and Snack Foods accounts at MediaCom. She reports to Jim Porcarelli, CMO, making the move from MPG Arnold Adv in Boston.
Larry Divney has been appointed President/MTV Networks Ad Sales. Judy McGrath, Chairman/CEO made the announement. Also, Doug Rohrer has been named EVP/Senior Advisor to Divney. Larry will be responsible for managing the entire sales organization and its systems for all the company’s cable television networks and online businesses, including MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, CMT, Spike TV and LOGO. In addition, Divney will help to craft new sales strategies and ad sales systems for the company’s many successful brands and businesses.
David Lyle will head up the new Fox Reality Channel, per Tony Vinciquerra, Pres/CEO fo the Fox Networks Group. On its current pace, Fox Reality Channel is set to premiere in more than 17 million homes in 2005. Only four new networks in the history of cable or satellite television (FX, Fox News Channel, Animal Planet and National Geographic Channel) have surpassed 20 million homes in their initial year, according to Nielsen data. Lyle makes the move to Fox after most recently being President/Entertainment for FremantleMedia.
Suzanne Kolb has been named SVP/Marketing, E! Networks, it was announced by Ted Harbert, Pres/CEO, and Ken Bettsteller, COO, E! Networks, to whom she will report. In her new role that begins January 18, 2005, Suzanne will head up the creative services, advertising, strategic brand partnerships, on air promotions and design, as well as online marketing and promotions for E! Networks, including E!, The Style Network and E! Online. Additionally, she will work with the company’s international division in directing brand strategies worldwide.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004.FINAL Ratings for all Networks – program averages.Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat
CBS 7.2/12 60 Minutes 4.8/8, King of Queens 6.5/10, Center of the Universe 6.1/9, CSI: NY 10.4/17
ABC 7.1/11 Lost [r] 7.4/12, Wife Swap 6.5/11
NBC 6.9/11 NBC Special: The Seinfeld Story [r] 4.9/8, The West Wing 8.2/13, Law & Order [r] 7.6/13
FOX 4.1/7 That 70’s Show 3.9/6, Quintuplets 3.3/5, Nanny 911 4.7/7
UPN 3.4/5 Top Model [finale] 4.4/7, Kevin Hill 2.4/4
WB 1.9/3 Smallville [r] 2.1/3, Big Man on Campus [p] 1.7/3
A18-49 ABC 4.1/12, CBS 3.5/10, NBC 3.3/9, Fox 2.9/8, UPN 2.1/6, WB 1.2/3
A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION
Nominated for 5 Golden Globe Awards
MILLION DOLLAR BABY Starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman
Best Picture – Drama
Best Director – CLINT EASTWOOD
Best Actress – HILARY SWANK
Best Supporting Actor – MORGAN FREEMAN
Best Original Score – CLINT EASTWOOD
Available exclusively from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution MOVIES MAKE BASIC BETTER
Friday Fun Fact: In the mid 1880s, until approximately 1910, American undertakers sold “Grave Alarm” Devices. These were elaborate rope and bell/pulley arrangements allowing those buried alive to summon help. The rope was placed into the hand of the (supposed) deceased, and it wound through a series of tubes to the bell outside the grave. Yikes.
The History Channel presents This Day in History: 1903: Bicycle repairmen Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully test their historic flying machine near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville was at the controls for the 12-second flight, which covered 120 feet. Although earlier devices had been proven to fly, the Wrights’ contraption was the first self-propelled, heavier-than-air craft to manage the feat.
Answer Yesterday’s Trivia Question: If you were attending the Marlin Military Academy, who is a likely student you’d run into? FRANCIS from MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. Kudos to: Deanna Gallucio-First North American Bank/Glen Rock NJ; Tracy Pruzan-USA Network/NY; Tim Sullivan-iVillage/NY; Mark Morano-Cablevision News 12 Ad Sales/NY; Kelly Dulin-A.Eicoff & Co/Chicago; Bob derBoghossian-NCC/Chicago; Tim Rank-Adamson Adv/St. Louis; Joanna Kuebel-Spotplus/Dallas; Ken Dubow-Modern Ent/LA; Jesse Dienstag-Hall & Partners/LA; and Helene Goujet-France2/France.
A MESSAGE FROM TVSPY
Trade Your Gossip In TVSpy’s Hollywood Network Watercooler
Think of it as karma – trade some dirt, get some dirt. Who’s getting fired? Who’s getting hired? Hear rumors of any new projects starting up?
Today’s Not Necessarily TV Trivia Question: In the history of the Oscars, only three films have swept all five categories in Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Writing. They are It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), and do you know the third? (click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone with your answer. 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.)
A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV
A cash register receipt. A broken fingernail. Can these items yield forensic evidence to help solve a case?
You better believe it.
Ten episodes of Forensic Files. Starting at 7PM tonight. Fans’ Favorite airing at 11:30PM.
Only on Court TV. The Investigation Channel.
Believe this, too: Court TV delivers great ROI. Go ahead. Investigate us.
Later — Cyn 12.17.04 4:53am
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CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS
JOB OPENING: KUVN 23/ KSTR 49 RESEARCH ANALYST. Compile & analyze Nielsen ratings data & syndicated market research info. Min 2 yrs research/ marketing/sales exp. Bilingual (Engl/ Span) is pref. KUVNHRDept
. EOE. (12/22)
JOB OPENING: SR. RESEARCH ASSOC./PBS-DC area. Oversee nat’l Nielsen orders and database. Attn to detail. Grad degree/Research methods, stats pref. D-base mgt. 1-3 yr exper. Excel, Access, SPSS. Info/apply at www.pbs.org/jobs. EOE (12/21)
JOB OPENING: DIR, ON DEMAND CONTENT & DEV-MTV/NYC. 4-6yrs exp in television, Strng working knowledge of TV production/scheduling, Experience w/new media platforms esp VOD EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (12/18)
JOB OPENING: SUPERVISING PRODUCER, mtvU/NYC. 7yrs TV prod exp, Exp in managing freelance/staff, Exp with casting/shooting/scripting/editing Strng organizer, multi-tasker & fast paced EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (12/18)
JOB OPENING: MGR, INTEGRATED MRKTG, MTV/NYC. 4+yrs exp in TV/Ad/Mrktg Agency with onair/online/off channel branding, Strg written/oral skills, multi-tasking a heavy/fast paced workload, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (12/18)
JOB OPENING: MANAGER, SALES SYSTEMS SUPPORT-MTV/NY. Support/train Ad Sales. Write specs for system enhancements. Partner w/IS on testing/implementation. 3 yrs+ exp TV adv and JDS or Gabriel a +. www.mtvncareers.com EOE/M/F/D/AAP (12/18)
JOB OPENING: ANALYST, MTV/NY-Analyst Ad Sales Planning; Produce standard reports, ad hoc analyses, maintain data integrity in multiple systems. Strong Excel, Detail oriented, good comm skills. www.mtvncareers.com EOE/M/F/D/AAP (12/18)
JOB OPENING: GENERAL SALES MANAGER/FOX SPORTS NET NEW ENGLAND, Burlington, MA. 10+ years exp leading network ad sales team, setting strategy, developing budget and business plans. Email executivena@aol.com (12/18)
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —
SITUATION WANTED: MBA Candidate with specialization in Media Management is seeking full-time job opportunity. 7+ years experience in TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING – looking to transition into TVBroadcast in NYC. E-Mail: (12/23)
SITUATION WANTED: Experienced SCREENWRITER/ PROMO WRITER seeking script rewriting assignment. Experience at Universal/NBC and reality TV. I can make any script a red hot rocket destined for box office glory. Email:
(12/23)
SITUATION WANTED: BIZ DEV, STRATEGY, PLANNING & OPS EXEC, MBA + 20yrs exp, Cable/Program Distribution (VOD), Interactive Media & Consumer Electronics, seeks consulting/interim/FT assignment. NYC based. Travel OK
(12/23)
SITUATION WANTED: Female mktg. guru and sales person seeks freelance gig for NATPE. Will work from LA and help in LV. References and proven track record. Email me at
or cel (954) 270-1725 (12/23)
SITUATION WANTED: 15 yr+ LA Coordinating Producer relocated to DC Metro area. Available for work ASAP in DC Metro, LA or elsewhere – casting,talent relations, publicity, clearances and S&P. Email
(12/23)
SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE AWARDS COORDINATOR: 6 yrs exp. managing awards entries for major cable nets. Highly familiar w/ all major awards comps: Emmys, Peabodys, Promax, etc. Will process entries & materials.
(12/18)
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: DECEMBER 17, 2004:
ABC 8 Simple Rules, Complete Savages, Hope & Faith, Less than Perfect, 20/20 CBS Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, JAG, 48 Hour Mysteries FOX The Simpsons, Popeye’s Voyage, Jingle Ball Rock ’04 NBC Movie: Secret Santa, Law & Order: CI PAX Talented Kids, MGM Movie: A Rumor of Angels UPN Star Trek [r], America’s Next Top Model [r] WB What I Like About You [r], Grounded for Life [r], Reba [r], Blue Collar TV [r] TELE La Mujer en el Espejo, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer UNIV Rubi, La Gran Noche de Amor Real
A MESSAGE FROM TVSPY
Trade Your Gossip In TVSpy’s Hollywood Network Watercooler
Think of it as karma – trade some dirt, get some dirt. Who’s getting fired? Who’s getting hired? Hear rumors of any new projects starting up?
Monday December 9, 2024 Meta Platforms has partnered with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Vision to scale the creation of “world-class 3D entertainment,” including live sports, concerts and TV series, for Quest headsets. Meta said that in addition to co-producing Lightstorm Vision’s original content, it plans to use its product line of Quest headsets to improve “content […]
Monday December 9, 2024 IN THE NEWS A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the sell-or-ban law that calls for TikTok to shed its Chinese ownership. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” wrote Judge Douglas Ginsburg for the court. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom […]
Sunday December 8, 2024 COUNSEL, LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS >> MLB NETWORK/SECAUCUS, NJ: Responsible for a variety of matters, including services agreements, production related agreements, talent agreements, software and other technology related agreements, licensing and programming agreements, third party rights clearances, distribution agreements, contract summaries, confidentiality, and general contract matters. Full info
Friday December 6, 2024 IN THE NEWS A new Senate bill, the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act, would enable copyright holders to subpoena training records of generative AI models to find out if their work was used to train the model. “This is simple: if your work is used to […]
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM HALLMARK CHANNEL Hallmark Channel Simply Having a #1 Christmastime #1 Most Watched Network Thanksgiving Week with W18-34, A18-49, W18-49, A25-54, W25-54, W18+, P18+, P2+ & HHs Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story #1 Most Watched Cable Movie of the Year 4M Unduplicated Viewers Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Click
Cynopsis 11/20/24: Apple TV+ sets premiere date for Seth Rogan's "The Studio" https://www.cynopsis.com/cynopsis-11-20-24-apple-tv-sets-premiere-date-for-seth-rogans-the-studio/
