CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

03/25/05

Good morning.  It’s Friday, March 25, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

As expected, Peter Liguori has been named President, Entertainment for the Fox Broadcasting Company, overseeing all FOX program development and scheduling, as well as marketing, business affairs and promotions. Peter Chernin, Pres/COO of News Corp. made the announcement.  Prior to the appointment, Mr. Liguori served as Pres/CEO of News Corp.’s FX Networks since 1998, where he oversaw business and programming operations for FX and the Fox Movie Channel.  

Tonight’s Finales:
SciFi:  Stargate SG1 (part 2) at 8p, Stargate Atlantis (part 2) at 9p, Battlestar Gallactica (pt 1) at 10p
USA:    Kojak at 9p

Sunday night Premiere:
ABC      Grey’s Anatomy at 10p

A couple of May finale dates from UPN:
May 10:  Veronica Mars series finale
May 13:  Star Trek: Enterprise – 2 hour series finale

Stiletto Television is shopping a reality series to networks called Aren’t You That Girl? starring last year’s American Idol third runner up, Kimberley Locke. This cameras-following-her-everywhere show will see Kimberley record her second album and continue to make plans for an upcoming wedding to Don Campbell.

CBS:

•  3 LBS. (Paramount Network TV) has signed Mary Lou Kolbenschlag to the cast about a group of brain surgeons.  She plays the role of Dylan McDermott’s daughter. The show cast also includes Mark Feuerstein and Reiko Aylesworth.

FOX:

• Don’t Ask (20th/Phase Two) about a husband/father (Alan Ruck) who announces to his family he is gay, has brought in Tim Doyle as executive producer who will work along side Nicky Silver, Sandy Grushow and Paul Shapiro. Lev Spiro is set to direct.

UPN:

• Wildlife (Paramount/Axelrod/Edwards and UPN) has added Lucas Bryant to the regular cast (he started as a guest star, and then upped his deal to series regular). Appearing in a recurring role is Katie Cassidy.  The regular cast also includes James Stevenson, Denise Richards, Lauren German, Eric Balfour, Omar Benson Miller, Tamara Taylor. Wildlife is about a group of twentysomething friends living in Hollywood’s Silverlake area.

TV Land‘s debut of its 6-part reality series Chasing Farrah (Windmill Prods), delivered 824,000 total viewers last Wednesday evening at 10-11p, in two back-to-back 30m eps. Among A25-54, the network’s target demo, Chasing Farrah drew a .6 rtg, and 537,000 viewers; the 1030p episode delivered a .5 rtg, with 515,000 total viewers.

Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim (Sat.-Thurs 11p-6a) presented is slate of new animated series, as well as new seasons of returning shows, premiere dates and pilots at its upfront presentation held in NYC yesterday.  The shows within the Adult Swim block are not developed for, nor are they targeted to, teen or kids.  Also please note, starting Monday Nielsen will separate Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, reporting them as two separate networks: Cartoon for the Mon-Thurs, Sat/Sun 6a-11p/Friday 6a-6a; Adult Swim for the Mon-Thurs, Sat/Sun 11p-6a.

New Series:

• The Boondocks (Sony Pictures Television/Rebel Base and Hudlin Ent): 30m series based on Aaron McGruder’s popular humorous, family-centric and socially relevant comic strip of the same name.  Set to premiere in October 2005.
• Stroker & Hoop (12 x 30 min.):  Misadventures of John Stroker, a not too smooth private eye (who is still mastering the art of lock-picking and car hood-sliding) and his partner Hoop, a self-proclaimed master of disguise, and of course the disobedient talking hatchback named C.A.R.R..  The show will bow with six episodes, September 2005, with an additional six new episodes in November, 2005.
• American Dad: Stan Smith is an American patriot, vigilantly fighting the war on terror as a CIA agent.  But, Smith has trouble leaving his work at the office, which of course causes problems at home for his doting but independent-thinking wife, liberal daughter, and awkward son, Steve, and the rest of the family members including, an alien rescued from Area 51, and the German-speaking goldfish.  American Dad joins the Adult Swim lineup in May, 2005.
• Squidbillies: A family of cephalopods (that is, squids, octopuses and cuttlefish) stranded in the North Georgia Mountains getting into trouble and generally ticking people off.  Premieres with six episodes, September 2005.
• 12oz Mouse: Fond of beer and caught in a world of espionage and love, 12oz Mouse unknowingly delights in odd jobs.  Premieres in September.
• Perfect Hair Forever: This series comes from Williams St. and follows the adventures of a young, bald boy in a mystical land as he seeks perfect hair.  Perfect Hair Forever will premiere in September, 2005.

New Pilots in Development:

• Moral Orel:  A stop-motion series from Dino Stamotopolis; pilot will air in October.
• Saul of the Mole People: American explorer Saul encounters the Mole People, who do not understand his ways.  The series features live actors and costumed characters (think The Banana Splits-1968).  Created by writer Craig Lewis, it will premiere in October.
• Lucy: Daughter of the Devil: A CGI animated series about Lucy, a young girl and her Dad who have just moved to town.  Here’s the thing, her father is Satan, and soon enough she starts dating some guy her father doesn’t care for named Jesus (Spanish pronunciation). Premiere October 2005.
• Minori-Team: A team of super heroes, composed exclusively of members of minority groups, joins forces to fight against discrimination, one slur at a time.  Created by Alex de la Pena, Todd Peters and Peter Gerardi, the pilot will air in October 2005.

Additional Seasons of Existing Series:  The Venture Bros.; Aqua Teen Hunger Force; Family Guy (new eps ordered for Fox, repurposed on Cartoon); Tom Goes to The Mayor; Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

Did you happen to catch The Office last night on NBC?  Seriously funny business.  Seriously.

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of March 7-13, 2005 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                  9.6 AA
Jeopardy (King World)                                8.1 AA
Oprah (King World)                                    7.0 AA / 7.1 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)  7.0 AA / 8.9 GAA
Seinfeld (Sony)                                           6.3 AA / 7.8 GAA
Dr. Phil (King World)                                  6.0 AA / 6.0 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)          5.5 AA / 5.6 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                              5.4 AA / 6.9 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount)                            5.2 AA / 8.1 GAA
Inside Edition (Paramount)                         3.7 AA / 3.8 GAA
Source Nielsen Media Research

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of March 7-13, 2005 ranked by A18-49
Seinfeld (Sony)                                           4.3 AA / 5.2 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)  4.0 AA / 5.0 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                              3.7 AA / 4.7 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                  2.8 AA
Oprah (King World)                                    2.7 AA / 2.7 GAA
Jeopardy (King World)                                2.4 AA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)           2.2 AA / 2.3 GAA
Dr. Phil (King World)                                  2.2 AA / 2.3 GAA
Malcolm/Middle (20th)                                 2.1 AA / 2.5 GAA
That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner)              2.1 AA / 2.6 GAA
Source Nielsen Media Research

Correction :  In Wednesday’s Cynopsis, it was reported that all Hallmark Channel ratings would be reported in national numbers.  Not so.  Ratings reported to the advertising community  will be based on the national television universe; ratings data issued by Hallmark Channel to the press will continue to be based on the network’s household universe. 

Beauty & Fashion Channel, owned by The Networks Group, has named Jim Morrison as General Manager.  Jim will be charged with transforming the channel from a direct response advertising service into a content and commerce channel.  The programming will focus on apparel, fashion, beauty and cosmetics.  Similar to other Networks Group channels, Beauty & Fashion Channel will integrate transactional elements with its content and feature interactive television capabilities. The channel is currently available to more than 11 million households nationwide on DISH Network.

Angie Kucharski has been  named VP/Station Mgr for Viacom’s WBZ and WSBK stations in Boston.  She makes the move from VP/News and Station Mgr at Viacom’s Denver station, KCNC.  The announcement was made by Julio Marenghi, Pres/GM of the New England Viacom station group.

Wednesday – A18-49 Analysis:   Fox inched CBS out of the win on Wednesday night by a tenth of a rating point, thanks to Fox’s need to re-do its American Idol round from Tuesday night due to an on-screen glitch in the voting numbers.  Fox delivered a 6.5/16 A18-49 rating, over CBS’ 6.3/16, according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research.  Each of the other nets was 10 share points or more behind Fox and CBS.  At 8p CBS’ Survivor (special airing due to NCAA coverage Thursday night) earned a 7.3/19.  Fox’s pairing of That 70’s Show and Simple Life earned a 3.8/10.  UPN’s Top Model episode earned a 2.3/6 A18-49, but excelled in the W18-34 category, ranking third behind CBS and Fox with a 4.2/11.  At 9p American Idol delivered a 9.0/21, while a repeat of CSI on CBS earned a 5.7/14.  CBS’ CSI: NY at 10p won the hour handily with a 5.8/16.  ABC’s back door pilot Vacation Swap managed a 2.2/6, behind Law & Order [r] 2.8/8.

FINAL HOUSEHOLD Ratings:  Wednesday, March 23, 2005, for all Networks – program averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     10.5/17  Survivor (OTO) 10.9/17, CSI (OTO) [r] 10.0/15, CSI: NY 10.7/18

FOX     8.7/14   That 70’s Show 5.2/8, Simple Life 5.1/8, American Idol (do-over ep) 12.3/19

NBC     5.7/9    American Dreams 4.3/7, West Wing 6.0/9, Law & Order [r] 6.6/11

ABC     4.6/7    Lost [r] 5.6/9, Alias 4.5/7, Vacation Swap (OTO)  3.5/6

WB      1.8/3    Smallville [r] 1.9/3, Smallville [r] 1.7/3

UPN     2.4/4    Top Model 3.2/5, Kevin Hill 1.6/2

A18-49                Fox 6.4/16, CBS 6.3/16, ABC 2.5/6, NBC 2.4/6, UPN 1.7/4, WB 1.2/3

Friday Fun Fact:  According to baseball lore, the term “sandlot baseball” originated in San Francisco. The term dates to the 1860s when a cemetery that stands where the Civic Center is now located was converted into a park. A sand hill was leveled to create a 17-acre park, which became known as the sandlots.

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1911 – One of the worst tragedies in America labor history, the Triangle Shirtwaist factory Fire, takes the lives of 147 sweatshop workers in New York City, mostly women and girls. Occurring on the top floors of a ten-story building. The workers are unable to escape because exit doors have been locked to prevent “the interruption of work.” The owners of the factory are later indicated – and then acquitted – of manslaughter
 
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  The exterior shots of these two primetime detective series were actually the Century Plaza Towers at 2029 and 2049 Century Park East off Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City.  What are the two series that used this location as their detective offices?  REMINGTON STEELE and MOONLIGHTING.  Kudos to:   JJ O’Brien-NEAN/NY; Jennifer Hayoun-Saatchi & Saatchi Adv/NY; Paul Gluck-WHYY/Philadelphia; Corinne Waldheim-SOAPnet/NY; Joe Feldman-Effective Media Services/LA; Dean Lavine-Disney Channel/Burbank.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question:  Quoting whom, here:  “We’re sugar and spice and everything nice.  So bite me!” (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
03.25.05   5:02am

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  MARCH 25, 2005:

ABC              It’s the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown, 8 Simple Rules, Hope & Faith, Less than Perfect, 20/20
CBS              NCAA Basketball (12n-5p and 7p-12m)
FOX              2005 NAACP Image Awards (OTO)
NBC              Dateline, Medical Investigation, L&O: Trial by Jury
PAX              America’s Talented, MGM Movie: There Goes My Baby
UPN              Star Trek Enterprise, Top Model [r]
WB               What I Like About You [r], What I Like About You [r], Reba [r], Reba [r]
TELE             Cinemundo Especial: Los Amigos de Jesus: Judas (7-9p); Cinemundo Especial: Un Nino Llamado Jesus (9-11p)
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra, Joan Sebastian … La Trayectoria (OTO)