Cynopsis

12/15/08

Good morning. It’s Monday, December 15, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Tonight’s Premiere:
A&E Network: Intervention at 9p

Tonight’s Finale:
FOX: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles at 8p

After all the recent executive shifts, NBC Universal President/CEO Jeff Zucker confirmed Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and NBC Universal Television Studio will remain with the company and will soon sign a new contract, reports B&C.

Screen Actor Guild (SAG) leaders in New York are distancing themselves from SAG leaders based in Hollywood and have asked the guild to halt its strike authorization vote, writes Variety. The NY division leaders cite the nation’s crippling financial crisis as their reason to stop the strike vote. In a statement released last Friday, the New York board said: “While issuing a strike authorization may have been a sensible strategy in October, we believe it is irresponsible to do so now, in the face of widespread layoffs, cutbacks and reduced programming. The hardest and most important decision any union member must make is whether or not to go on strike. Before we ask you to make that choice, we feel we must, as your elected representatives, make every move we can to get you a deal.” The NY board further asked for: all plans pertaining to a strike referendum be stopped; asked SAG president Alan Rosenberg to call an emergency national board meeting; at this meeting want a new negotiating task force to replace the current committee; and are in favor of encouraging the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers to come back to the negotiating table. Alan Rosenberg, who has publically disapproved the NY board’s move has agreed to a national emergency board meeting though the date has not been set.

So does Jackman do it for you?  Then you should know … Hugh Jackman, currently starring in the film Australia, will host the 81^st Academy Awards televised live on ABC February 22 from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.  As if you needed another reason to tune in.

Next month HBO brings back a third season of hour-long series Big Love on January 18 at 9p followed on the same night by the second season opener of half-hour comedy Flight of the Conchords at 10p.

New premium television channel and VOD service from Viacom and its Paramount Pictures division, Lionsgate and MGM will be called Epix, according to MediaPost. Programming on Epix will include films produced by Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate and original series. The venture is still slated to debut in fourth quarter 2009.

Screen actor Van Johnson, 92, passed away last Friday of natural causes at the Tappan Zee Manor, an assisted living facility in Nyack, NY. Johnson was a popular actor/heartthrob during the 1940s and 1950s and starred in such films as 30 Seconds over Tokyo, A Guy Named Joe and The Caine Mutiny among many others. In the 1960s, Johnson went back on stage in productions of Damn Yankees and The Music Man in London and for the next thirty years was busy traveling in regional and dinner theaters. He also appeared in several television series such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and McMillan & Wife. His final appearance in a Hollywood film was a cameo in Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo in 1985.

Program Call: If your company will be attending NATPE ’09 with programming, we will send out a special NATPE Shopping Guide edition the Thursday before the conference. To have your programming included, please send only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre and your terms (barter, cash, etc.). If your company is interested in being included, please send the details to
by Friday, January 16, 2009.

Top 10 Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 12-14, 2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still (Fox)               $31.0 million  opening weekend
Four Christmases (Warner Bros./New Line)    $13.3 million  3 wk total $88.0m
Twilight (Summit Entertainment)                  $8.0 million  4 wk total $150.1m
Bolt (Buena Vista)                                       $7.5 million  4 wk total $89.0m
Australia (Fox)                                            $4.3 million  3 wk total $37.9m
Quantum of Solace (Sony)                           $3.8 million 5 wk total $157.7m
Nothing Like the Holidays (Overture Films)    $3.5 million  opening weekend
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Paramount/DW) $3.3 million  6 wk total $170.0m
Milk (Focus Features)                                  $2.6 million  3 wk total $7.6m
Transporter 3 (Lionsgate)                            $2.3 million  3 wk total $29.3m
Source: Box Office Mojo

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM DISH NETWORK MEDIA SALES

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NBC Universal Domestic Television announced the continuation of The Martha Stewart Show in daytime for a fifth season. The syndicated strip series was sold to stations from NBC Local Media, Fox, Hearst, Scripps, LIN and others representing more than 60% of the U.S. for the 2009-2010 season. Specific stations renewing the series include WNBC/New York, KNBC/Los Angeles, WMAQ/Chicago, WJBK/Detroit, WTVT/Tampa, KMSP/Minneapolis, KNXV/Phoenix, WBAL/Baltimore, WISH/Indianapolis and WISN/Milwaukee. The Martha Stewart Show is produced by MSLO Productions, Inc. in association with Mark Burnett Productions.

Oxygen ordered an original unscripted series called Addicted to Beauty from RDF USA. The network approved eight episodes of the docu-series about a medi-spa in California where people of all ages and economic levels receive beauty treatments in hopes of fending off old age. RDF Rights has the international rights to the finished program and format. In addition, Oxygen has four other projects in development, per THR:

• Hogs & Heifers – series follows business owner Michelle Dell and her colorful, “fire-blowing bartenders”. Michael Davies and Kim Martin will executive produce.
• The Girls – set in Nashville, this reality series chronicles three females who are descendants of famous people as they attempt to become country music stars. Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez will executive produce.
• The Naughty Kitchen – follows the personal and professional life of Dallas chef Blythe Beck. Lauren Lexton, Tom Rogan, Brandy Menefee and Brad Hall will executive producer.
• Lady and the Champ – features boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley, his wife Jin, their four young children and extended family. Mike Fleiss executive produces.

Warner Horizon Television (WHTV) signed a new exclusive, multi-year development and production deal with Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor) and his Next Entertainment production company. Under the new contract, which continues the 10-year working relationship between Fleiss and WHTV, Fleiss will develop and create new unscripted/reality as well as scripted television projects for broadcast, cable and digital. Warner Bros. International Television Distribution will retain the rights to global distribution and international format productions. WHTV and Fleiss are in the process of working on three projects together: dating series The Cougar for TV Land; 60m unscripted relationship show called Hitched or Ditched for The CW produced in cooperation with RDF USA; and an untitled 60m reality/competition show for CBS involving families living near each other battling for a large cash prize.

Actress Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) will soon be seen again in primetime, this time on ABC as the network okayed a production commitment for a new comedy starring Graham, cites Variety. The yet-to-be-titled half-hour is about a female self-help instructor who fails to follow her own advice when her boyfriend leaves her. Hagada Hey and Tantamount will produce while Sony Pictures TV is the studio. Alex Herschlag executive produces in addition to Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Mitch Hurwitz. Graham will also be a producer on the project.

CMT picked up a third season of My Big Redneck Wedding, per THR. For the new season opening January 9, CMT approved of 16 episodes, doubling season two’s order of eight episodes. Tom Arnold hosts the series showcasing the wedding antics of “down home country couples.” Pink Sneakers Productions produces with Kimberly Belcher Cowin and John Ehrhard as executive producers. 

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  The FCC cancelled its vote originally scheduled for this week to consider a plan to auction off a portion of public airwaves to power a free nationwide wireless internet service. Lawmakers Jay Rockefeller (expected to lead the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee) and Henry Waxman (incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee) wrote personally to chairman Kevin Martin asking him to postpone the meeting in order to focus on the upcoming digital transition instead. The controversial plan, which would have included provisions outlawing adult-themed content, met a broad range of opposition from ISPs, content producers and consumer groups.  Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:   Summit Entertainment confirms that writer/director/producer Chris Weitz will direct the next two Twilight movies, which are of course, based on author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight book series.  Production on the second movie, New Moon, is scheduled to begin in the next few months, with Summit planning to release the film towards the end of 2009 or early 2010.  Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Production will oversee New Moon for the studio, along with the studio’s Director of Production Gillian Bohrer. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL.

Approaching the end of 2008, Nielsen released various top 10 charts; here are two reflecting the top-rated television programs.

Top 10 TV Programs  Regularly Scheduled
Program                                    Network   Rating
American Idol  TUES                 FOX          15.5
American Idol  WED                  FOX          15.3
Dancing with the Stars                ABC          12.3
Dancing with the Stars/Results    ABC          11.4
The Mentalist                             CBS          10.0
NBC Sunday Night Football          NBC          10.0
CSI                                           CBS            8.1
NCIS                                         CBS            8.0
60 Minutes                                 CBS            7.6
Survivor: Gabon                         CBS            7.6
Source: The Nielsen Company
Note Data from Jan 01, 2008- Dec 7, 2008. Household Ratings include Live and Same Day timeshifted viewing. Excludes telecasts under 5 minutes.

Top 10 “Timeshifted” Primetime TV Programs
Program                                    Network   % Increase
                                                                    In Viewership
Heroes                                       NBC           35%
Fringe                                        FOX           26%
Lost                                           ABC           25%
Bones                                        FOX           21%
Grey’s Anatomy                          ABC           20%
House                                        FOX           18%
Survivor: Gabon                         CBS           18%
American Idol  TUES                 FOX           13%
The Mentalist                             CBS           13%
American Idol  WED                 FOX            12%
Source: The Nielsen Company
Note Data from Jan 01, 2008- Nov 23, 2008. Percent Increase in viewership is based on absolute difference between Live Household Ratings and Live+7.

Thursday – A18-49 Analysis: CBS ushered in a clean sweep Thursday night at 4.5/12 A18-49, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. CBS began by winning with a 4.0/11 for Survivor: Gabon at 8p, followed by NBC’s comedies My Name Is Earl/Kath & Kim averaging a 2.5/7. CBS’ CSI was first at 9p with 5.8/15 while the second set of NBC’s sitcoms The Office/30 Rock came next with an average of 4.2/10. CBS won the final 10p hour with Eleventh Hour at 3.8/10 with NBC once again in second place as ER delivered a 3.5/9.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Thursday, December 11, 2008 time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.
CBS: 9.7/16       Survivor: Gabon 7.7/12, CSI 12.7/20, Eleventh Hour 8.7/15

NBC: 4.7/8           My Name is Earl 4.0/7, Kath & Kim 3.3/5, The Office 5.2/8, 30 Rock 4.5/7, ER 5.8/10

ABC: 3.8/6          Ugly Betty [r] 3.7/6, Grey’s Anatomy [r] 4.6/7, Private Practice [r] 3.1/5

FOX: 3.2/5           Secret Millionaire 3.4/5, Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? 2.9/5

UNIV: 2.1/3          Cuidado con el Angel 2.3/4, Fuego en la Sangre 2.4/4, La Rosa de Guadalupe 1.7/3

CW: 1.4/2            Smallville [r] 1.5/2, Supernatural [r] 1.3/2

MNT: 1.2/2           My Thursday Night Movie: National Lampoon’s Vacation 1.2/2

TELE: 0.7/1          Dona Barbara 0.7/1, El Rostro de Analia 0.7/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 0.9/1, Cartel 0.8/1

A18-49: CBS 4.5/12, NBC 3.4/9, UNIV 1.7/4, ABC 1.6/4, FOX 1.6/4, CW 0.8/2, MNT 0.8/2, TELE 0.7/2

Andrea DeCordova joined Katz Media Group as VP/Strategic Planning for the Clear Channel Radio’s Marketing Solutions group.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM PEABODY AWARDS

This day in History:  1877 – Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: On the Mary Tyler Moore Show, man-hungry Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) was the host of her own show. What was it called? THE HAPPY HOMEMAKER Kudos to: Andrew Goldman-HBO/NY; Bob Von Kohorn-INVISION Inc./NY; Stacey Kaufman-Zenith Direct/NY; Rev.Mark Wajda-Annunciation Catholic Church/Altamonte Springs, FL; Keith Paxton-KDFW/KDFI/Dallas; Don Tapani-FOX4/My27/Dallas; Crystal Roberts-BET Networks/Chicago; Debi Burton-Hoak Media/CTZ; Steve Howard/Glendale, CA; Patti Clements-KXRM /KXTU/Colorado Springs; Lorrie Shilling-DIRECTV/El Segundo, CA; Arnie Meissner-PopJax.com/Lake Balboa, CA

Today’s Trivia Question:  : The role of Christine Cagney in the TV series Cagney & Lacey was played by Sharon Gless, after the first six episodes, but who had this role in the in the original television movie (1981)?   (Email
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.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE ’09

Later — Cyn
12.15.08

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JOB OPENING: SR MGR PROG PUBLICITY/A&E TV/NY: Dev History PR strategies on print/electronic & internet props. Mng Public Affairs & Mktg prtnships & talent. BA & 5+ yrs TV publ cable/b’cast/news. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (12/20)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH ANLYST/Lifetime (LA): Analyze & prdce reprts- daily ratings & compet perfmnce to guide Prgm, Mktg, & Aff Mktg strat. Exp TV Rsrch/data anlyst/Star Trak/Nielsen/math/stats. Res:
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JOB OPENING: RESCH MGR/TLC/MD: Work w/Dir/Int clients to design/manage Net resch efforts, utilizing Nielsen data, other consumer data to develop programming, scheduling, and mktg strats. Apply: www.discovery.com #8255 (12/19)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH STRATEGIST/TLC/MD: Analyzes & reports on Nielsen TV ratings data and market research statistics to support the programming, scheduling and marketing depts. Apply: www.discovery.com #8254 (12/19)

JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER/TV SALES & DIST/BBC/NYC: hit sales targets, ID new clients, pitch and conclude deals w/ cbl ntwrks. Scripted & nonscripted programs. To apply, www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (12/18)

JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER AUD DEV/BBC/NYC: Grow Mrkt for BBC.Com, drive traffic, manage syndication relationships w/ 3rd party partners. Create mrktng & aud dev strat. To Apply, www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (12/18)

JOB OPENING:  EXEC/ADMIN ASST/Comcast Networks/NY: Asst Sr execs w/ daily admin duties.3-5 yrs exp asst Sr execs.Strong writ/verbal comms skills; det-oriented. MS Off. knwlg a must. Must Apply @ www.comcast.com . EEO/AA/Drug free (12/17)

JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC PLANNING ANALYST/NY: Resp for digital avail rpts, contracted/billed rev rpts, support VP/Mgr on ad hocs. Finance exp preferred, strong excel. TimeWarner.com  # 99308. Cover/resume:
(12/17)

JOB OPENING:  NATIONAL TV Supervisor & Buyer/LA: Top Agency, Excellent Group ,need negotiating experience with National TV& Cable Networks. Excel Benefits, will relocate – pls send resume to
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WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: HR INTERN POST-PROD CO/Burbank, CA: Gain exp. in all facets of HR: Benefits, Recruiting, Employee Relations, Compensation, Training. Submit resume:
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WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MKTG INTERN POST-PROD CO/Burbank CA: Gain exp. in all facets of Marketing: PR, Online, Graphic Design, Copyrighting, Advertising. Submit resume to
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SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: IN SESSION INTERNS/truTV/NY: Assist in production of daytime trial coverage and booking department. Skills: Writing, Computer, Research. Apply online: www.turnerjobs.com Req#109741BR (12/19)

WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: COMEDY TALENT MANAGEMENT INTERN/ LA: Assist w/ office duties, covering shows, helping run live monthly show. For more info/submit resume, email
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WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Thirteen/ WNET/NY:Daily animated kids’ series seeks interns w/ interest in online educational media and web analytics. Must be available 12-20 hrs/wk. Stipend offered. Res/cvr lttr w/ availability to
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WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Fuel TV music dept: INTERNS interested in learning about music sprvsn for TV/film. Will learn about licensing, placement, rights & all aspects of how music fits into prod. Resume to:
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SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: IN SESSION INTERNS/truTV/NY: Assist in production of daytime trial coverage and booking department. Skills: Writing, Computer, Research. Apply online: www.turnerjobs.com Req#109741BR (12/18)

WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  EDITORIAL VIDEO INTERN/NY, NY:  Assist Editorial Director w/ writer paperwork, assignments, photo gallery production & copywriting and editing. For more info/submit resume, visit www.cablevision.jobs req ID 6886BR (12/17)

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SITUATION WANTED: Results oriented ACCT MGR DIST/SYND (19 yrs) seeks opp. w/ agency/network/studio/prod. co. Worked@ Disney, Ascent & Visual Data- Resume & client references avail. LA Based
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SITUATION WANTED: TV/ONLINE CFO or VP FINANCE, LA/NYC: Experience spans Financial Analysis, Strategy,M&A and Accounting in cable networks and online. Over 10 years with Disney and MTVN. Contact:
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SITUATION WANTED: BROADCAST DESIGNER..Multiple BDA/ Promax award winner. Art Direction/Motion Graphics/ print / webdesign.  See site at www.eqdesign.com –
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SITUATION WANTED: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER or ASSOCIATE STORY PRODUCER (L.A.), 9+ yrs in all aspects of production, exp. in reality, inc. game, & scripted. Valid passport – willing to travel.
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SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR guts+passion+excellence! tons o’ experience connecting w/all kinds of audiences, all media. FREE COPY @ https://freebeaaron.wordpress.com contact:
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SITUATION WANTED: EXP. PRODUCER/WRITER/FIELD DIRECTOR:  Non-Scripted. NBC, Discovery, VH1, CMT, TLC, E!, CNN; Field and Post; Excellent Story Teller; Compelling interviewer; 3 Emmy Noms. LA based, will travel.
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SITUATION WANTED: INNOVATIVE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR:Award winning and highly creative. Major network experience, across all genres: Childrens, Youth, Reality, Lifestyle. In NY but will travel. View reel & CV: www.kirstynordal.com (12/16)

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  Monday, December 15, 2008

ABC: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown [r], 20/20
AZTECA: Camino a la Fama  Gran Final, Historia Detras del Mito, Al Extremo
CBS: The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Worst Week, CSI: Miami
CW: Gossip Girl [r], One Tree Hill [r]
FOX: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles [f ], Prison Break
ION: Boston Legal, NCIS, NCIS
MNT: My Monday Night Movie: Grumpier Old Men
NBC: Chuck, Heroes, My Own Worst Enemy
PBS: Antiques Roadshow, Get Ready for Digital TV [r], Richard Tucker Gala: An Opera Celebration
TELE: Dona Barbara, El Rostro de Analia, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso
UNIV: Cuidado con el Angel, Fuego on la Sangre, Cristina

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