Source: NTI Explorer, 04-05=9/20/04–2/1/05 vs, 03-04=9/22/03-1/30/04.  % US Rtg Gain.  Fastest growing claim based on F12-34, F18-34, A18-34 & A18-49

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

02/07/05

Good morning. It’s Monday, February 7, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Go Pats!

NBC led the charge on Thursday night, the first night of the February 2005 sweeps period, with an overall 6.9/17 A18-49 rating according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research.  CBS was a close #2 (6.2/15), followed by ABC (5.2/13).  ABC’s Happy Days reunion special drew a 6.2/15 from 8-10p, ahead of everything else during its first hour.  At 9p the tide shifted to CBS with a 8.9/21 demo rating for CSI, ahead of The Apprentice’s 7.2/17.  Point Pleasant, Fox’s new drama series, delivered a mild 1.5/3.  ER led the 10p hour with an 8.8/22, ahead of Without A Trace (6.0/15) and Primetime Live (3.0/8).

ABC sneaked in a win on Friday night by a tenth of a rating point in fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research, posting a 2.8/8 A18-49 over CBS (2.7/8) and NBC (2.6/8).  CBS won the first hour of prime with its Super Bowl commercials special at 8pm earning a 2.8/9, a win by just 3/10s over ABC’s 2.5/8 for an hour of back to back 8 Simple Rules. ABC led the 9p hour with sitcoms delivering a 2.9/8, again a matter of just one tenth over NBC’s Third Watch.  At 10p the competition was stiff – CBS’ new crime drama NUMB3RS earned a 3.3/10, followed by 20/20’s 3.0/9, and NBC’s Medical Investigation with a 2.9/9.

As tradition, Fox won Saturday night with its standard Cops Cops AMW schedule delivering a 2.8/9 A18-49 according to Nielsen Media Research fast affiliate ratings, ahead of NBC 2.5/8, ABC 2.3/7 and CBS 1.6/5.  NBC and ABC were wall to wall repurposed shows from earlier in the weekly schedule. Fox was fully original programming, while CBS has Wickedly Perfect at 8p and 48 Hours at 10p. Fox won both the 8p hour (2.8/9) and the 9p hour (2.8/9), while NBC won the 10p hour with a repeat of L&O: SVU (3.1/9).

As is the the tradition here Cynopsis, we gathered a small, informal focus group to watch the big game and to rank the commercials.  Truth be known, the Turner Focus Group has shrunk considerable over the years as kids grow up and leave the house – this time it was my husband and I, and our teenage son. Overall the level of humor was just not up to previous years as most took a safer route with their creative, and with a few exceptions nothing got the group really jazzed.  The Best in Game vote went to Anheuser-Busch‘s early commercial Scared Sky Diver, the totally unexpected outcome got rave reviews and this spot set high hopes for the rest of the evening.  Basically, nothing after that even came close. Honorable mentions go to the pregame show spot from DirecTV of television thru the ages (kid didn’t get it); both of Ameriquest Mortgage Company‘s Don’t Judge Too Quickly Convenience Store and Cat spots, Budweiser‘s Clydesdale Horses and Donkey, and Toyota‘s Talking Dog.  Anheuser-Busch’s salute to the military in the airport spot got better reviews, and after time the CareerBuilder.com monkey spots grew on everyone. As for the half time show, very nice, very safe, if not a little dull.  All in all, a good night for Fox.

What you didn’t see on the network last night during the big game was a Miller Brewing Co. ad which questions the need for  Anheuser’s Busch‘s new product, Bud Lite, when there is already Miller Lite. In a statement from Jon Nesvig, President of Ad Sales for Fox, Nesvig explained his decision to not air the Miller ad(s):  “Both Anheuser-Busch and Miller are valued customers of Fox, but Fox has made a decision not to accept specific ads from Miller on Super Bowl Sunday that we consider to portray Anheuser-Busch products, the largest single supporter of the day’s programming, in a negative way.”  Miller, alternatively, purchased time on local Fox affiliates during the game.

And there was another spot originally on the scheduled to air during the game last night, that never made it.  GoDaddy.com, a weblog from Bob Parsons, aired its first spot – you remember, the one with the woman and the broken spaghetti strap in front of a congressional hearing.  Apparently, GoDaddy.com had purchased two spots, the second one was to air during the break after the final two minute warning, but instead was preempted by a promo for The Simpsons. According to GoDaddy.com’s website, Fox told them they pulled the spot after receiving upset phone calls from the folks at the NFL.  GoDaddy.com also said that because they bought two spots, they were entitled to a ‘brought to you by” billboard, which was also pulled.

Casting / Development / Production:

• NBC‘s cast contingent order on the drama pilot Book of Daniel (NBC Universal/Sony Pictures TV), has been given an official go with the addition of Aidan Quinn in the lead as Daniel Webster, a minister who speaks directly to God while trying to deal with his dysfunctional family and his flock.
• Another cast-contingent pilot order from NBC goes to All In (Warner Bros. TV/Is or Isn’t Ent) is about a poker playing single mom who can pick out the bluffs at the table as well as at home.  This premise is based on real life poker player Annie Duke.
• ABC‘s pilot Laws of Chance (20th/Roundtable Ink) has signed KaDee Strickland to lead the story about a real life Houston Asst. District Attorney Kelly Siegler.
• Fox has ordered a comedy pilot called New Car Smell (20th TV) is set in a car dealership.
• Also at Fox, its pilot order Reunion (Warner Bros TV/Class IV Prods) have added Amanda Righetti and Dave Annable to the cast. The show follows twenty years in the lives of six people, beginning with their high school graduation in 1986 to their 20 year reunion in 2006. Each episode chronicles one year in their lives.
• Fox has also given a pilot presentation order to a drama project called Anatomy of an Affair (20th) which is an upclose and personal of a workplace affair.
• WB has also placed an order for Charmed (Spelling TV) – a fantasy/drama about a mermaid to decides to give it a go on land in Miami.
• For those keeping track, here’s a name change for you – Grey’s Anatomy, a medical drama coming from ABC, has changed its name to Complications. No premiere date announced yet.
• E! has announced its premiere date of Gastineau Girls as February 15 at 10p.  The reality show trains cameras on the mother/daughter team of Lisa and Brittny Gastineau as they travel across country in search of love.
• UPN‘s drama series Kevin Hill has a new showrunner in Samantha Corbin-Miller.  If you’re not familiar with her name, you are with her work which includes ER, Crossing Jordan and The Practice.  Kevin Hill (Touchstone/Icon Prods) has received a full season pickup from the network, and airs in a difficult time period – Wednesdays at 9p, opposite Alias, West Wing, and King of Queens.  Corbin-Miller’s impact will only be on the final four eps of the season.

A&E Network’s Crime & Investigation Network debuted on Foxtel in Australia on January 1st.  Now A&E plans to bring the digital network it stateside.  Content will include both original and acquired programming and movies as well as shows from A&E including Cold Case Files, Investigative Reports, 100 Centre Street and American Justice.  Thus far, no carriage deals have been finalized.

Entertainment Studios has a new show it will bring to market for Fall 2005 called Fascinating People.  The 30m strip series features “inspirational and motivational stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” More info, call your Ent Studios rep.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: February 4-6, 2005
Boogeyman (ScreenGems)           $19.5 million – opening weekend
The Wedding Date (Universal)             $10.9 million – opening weekend
Are We There Yet? (Sony)                 $10.4 million – 3 wk total $51.1m
Hide and Seek (Fox)                       $8.9 million – 2 wk total $35.7m
Million Dollar Baby (Warner Bros.)      $8.7 million – 8 wk total $34.7m
The Aviator (Miramax)                     $5.4 million – 8 wk total $75.9m
Meet the Fockers (Universal)             $4.9 million – 7 wk total $265.3m
Sideways (Fox Searchlight)               $4.8 million – 16 wk total $46.8m
Racing Stripes (Warner Bros.)            $4.4 million – 4 wk total $40.5m
Coach Carter (Paramount)                 $4.4 million – 4 wk total $59.5m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Film/stage actor and human-rights activist Ossie Davis passed away on Friday in his Miami hotel room just as he began working on his latest film, Retirement.  Over the span of 65-year career, Ossie acted, wrote and directed many screenplays as well as produced over 20 movies.  The 87-year old actor was best known for his marriage to actress Ruby Dee and his numerous key roles in films such as Miss Evers’ Boys, King and Teacher, Teacher (all three for Emmy nominations), No Way Out (his first in 1959), Grumpy Old Men, Doctor Dolittle, I’m Not Rappaport, School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Malcolm X.  His TV acting included CBS’ Evening Shade, Roots: The Next Generation, Martin Luther King: The Dream and the Drum and The Stand.  Ossie directed and co-wrote Cotton Comes to Harlem, Black Girl and Countdown at Kusini.  Jeb Turner (1946), A Raisin in the Sun and many other plays were part of his stage career including a screenplay collaboration on For Us the Living: the Medgar Evers Story (WGA award).

EMG (Ethnic Marketing Group, Inc.) upped Steve Roth to VP/New Business Development.  He was previously Director of the same department and has been with the company since 1999.

WPP Group’s Y&R has upped Gord McLean to CEO for North America.  He will continue in his current position as president of global client services for Young & Rubicam Brands as well.  Gord has been with Y&R for 16 years.

Thursday, February 3, 2005. FINAL Ratings for all Networks – program averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research.  [p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat

CBS     12.0/19  CSI [R] 7.6/12, CSI 15.9/23, Without a Trace 12.6/20

ABC     10.4/16  Happy Days 30th Anniv Reunion 12.5/19, Primetime Live 6.2/10

NBC     9.5/15   Joey 6.6/10, Will & Grace 6.8/10, The Apprentice 9.5/14, ER 12.2/20

FOX     3.6/5    The O.C. 4.7/7, Point Pleasant 2.3/3

UPN     3.4/5    WWE Smackdown 3.4/5

WB      1.8/3    WB Movie: Dr. Dolittle 1.8/3

A18-49  NBC 6.9/17, CBS 6.2/15, ABC 5.2/13, Fox 2.4/6, UPN 1.8/4, WB .9/2

Friday, February 4, 2005. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research.  [p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat

CBS     6.8/12   The Greatest Commercials: Super Bowls vs. The World 6.0/11; JAG 6.7/11, NUMB3RS 7.8/14

NBC     6.2/11   Dateline 6.0/10, Third Watch 6.7/11, Medical Investigation 5.7/10

ABC     5.6/10   8 Simple Rules 5.6/10, 8 Simple Rules [r] 5.2/9, Hope & Faith 5.6/9, Less Than Perfect 5.1/9, 20/20 6.1/11

FOX     2.5/4    Bernie Mac Show 2.8/5, Bernie Mac Show [r] 2.7/5, Jonny Zero 2.3/4

WB      2.4/4    What I Like About You 1.9/3, Reba [r] 2.2/4, Reba 3.3/6, Blue Collar TV 2.3/4

UPN     1.4/2    Star Trek Enterprise 1.7/3, Road to Stardom [r] 1.1/2

A18-49  ABC 2.8/8, CBS 2.7/8, NBC 2.6/8, Fox 1.6/5, WB 1.5/5, UPN 0.8/2

Saturday, February 5, 2005. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research.  [p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat

NBC     6.3/11   L&O [r] 5.7/10, L&O: CI [r] 5.9/10, L&O: SVU [r] 7.1/13

ABC     4.5/8    AFV [r] 4.1/7, Desperate Housewives [r] 4.2/7, Desperate Housewives [r] 5.2/9

FOX     4.4/8    Cops 4.0/7, Cops 4.7/8, AMW 4.4/8

CBS     3.9/7    Wickedly Perfect 2.8/5, CSI: Miami [r] 4.1/7, 48 Hours 4.8/8

A18-49  Fox 2.8/9, NBC 2.5/8, ABC 2.3/7, CBS 1.6/5

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1905 – Oklahoma officially becomes the 46th state; known for its oil, people from all over the United States flock west seeking fortune.
 
Answer to Friday’s Trivia Question:  Who said:  “If it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the television, we’d still be eating frozen radio dinners.”? JOHNNY CARSON.  Kudos to:  Steve Robertson-Marketron Int’l; Bob Sieber/Atlanta; Alesia Redding-South Bend Tribune/South Bend; Lori Shecter-Kaboose Network; Chris Coffee-KLFY/Lafayette; Amanda Killman-The Journal Record/Oklahoma City; Lorrie Shilling/Centennial CO; Liz Tracey-Echostar/Denver; Andrea Archer/Valley Village CA; Kate Mucci-Out There TV/Las Vegas; Mark Rosenberg-KCLV/Las Vegas; Brian Dozer-KSTW/Seattle.

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question:   What primetime television character says he’s allergic to microwaves because they ‘release space hamsters into my bloodstream”? (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.)

Later — Cyn
02.07.05  5:29am

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: FEBRUARY 7, 2005:  February sweep 2/3/05 – 3/2/05

ABC              EM: How’d They Do That?, The Bachelorette, Supernanny
CBS              Still Standing, Listen Up, Raymond, 2-1/2 Men, CSI: Miami
FOX              Trading Spouses, 24
NBC              Fear Factor, Las Vegas, Medium
PAX              AFV, AFV, Mary Higgins Clark Movie: Crime of Passion
UPN              One on One, One on One, Girlfriends, Half and Half
WB               7th Heaven, Everwood
TELE             La Mujer en el Espejo, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV             Rubi, Amor Real, Cristina