CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

01/31/05

Good morning. It’s Monday, January 31, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

NBC has ordered up a full complement of episodes for Medium with a total of 16.  NBC has taken the show a step further or rather a season further – it has received an order for 22 episodes next season.  Medium is NBC’s newest drama to join the schedule, airing on Monday nights at 10p.  From Glenn Gordon Caron and Paramount Network TV, the series in its first four weeks has averaged a sizeable 6.2/15 A18-49 rating.

Media Ratings Council, an auditor of television ratings and made up of client members, has sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and to Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont) asking Nielsen Media Research be urged to reaffirm its promise to the MRC that it will follow the decisions and directions of the MRC as it pertains to ratings audits and ratings codes of conduct.  The MRC was formed in 1963 (then called the Broadcast Ratings Council), and at that time Nielsen pledged to follow the directives of the council.  Given all that has occurred in the past 42 years, most particularly in the last 18 months with Local People Meters, the MRC is asking Nielsen to renew that pledge.  The MRC is made up of 70+ media companies including the major broadcast networks.

Albie Hecht has resigned his post as President of Spike TV, due to creative differences, according to a statement from MTVN. Per Herb Scannell, MTVN Networks Group President, ” As Spike TV’s first President, Albie Hecht led the effort to create the first network for men. … Albie has accomplished much as a producer in film and television and we’re beginning discussions about how he might continue working with our company in those capacities.”  Hecht began at Spike TV with the transformation of TNN – The National Network into Spike TV two years ago.  As for his replacement, the good money is on Doug Herzog to add oversight of Spike TV to his presidential duties at Comedy Central.

Casting / Development / Production

• Eddie Izzard is coming to series TV for FX network in an as yet untitled dark comedy wherein he is the head of an Irish family that moves into a small town down south and goes about conning the town, per Variety.  The project comes from Maverick TV and the pilot will be written by Dmitry Lipkin. 
• ABC has ordered a pilot called Adopted (20th) about a man in his 30’s who mother and biological mother compete for his attention.  Also at ABC, a Touchstone comedy project from Jamie Tarses and Karey Burke has rec’d a pilot order, about a group of 30-somethings in the dating phase of their lives.
• WB has ordered a drama pilot from Warner Bros. TV/Class IV Prods., about four sisters living together in NYC.  The pilot is, thus far, untitled.
• Sony Pictures Television has signed comedian Lewis Black to a development deal based on his stage persona, per Hollywood Reporter.

MGM is looking to place its series Dead Like Me on a basic cable net, following its demise at Showtime.  According to published reports, the show is receiving serious consideration, and once it has found a new permanent home and production is once again ramped up, the next step will be syndication. Thus far, MGM has 30 eps in the can.

Elsewhere at Showtime, the premium net is considering syndicating its series Queer as Folk, for which it currently has 86 eps. Nothing further at this point, though a clearance announcement may be forthcoming.

MGM has cleared off-net (Sci Fi) series Stargate Atlantis on the Fox O&O station group, giving the distributor a 40% US clearance. Many of those Fox stations already carry this series forerunner, Stargate SG-1.

Tony Danza‘s daytime show from Buena Vista Television has been cleared in 75% of the country for next season, including on KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles (taking it off KABC).

NBC‘s nearly all original lineup on Thursday led with an overall 7.2/19 A18-49 rating according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research.  The only show repeating on the night was Joey at 8p; both Apprentice and ER were original.  Apprentice delivered a 7.1/18 and ER 9.1/21.  Typically providing solid competition on Thursday nights is the CBS lineup, which was in full wall to wall repeats, and earning a 4.9/13 for its trouble.  It should also be noted that a repeat of CSI at 9p on CBS was just one share point behind The Apprentice for the 9-10p hour.  The O.C. earned a 3.6/10 in the demos at 8p, #2 in the time period after NBC, and Fox’s news drama Point Pleasant fell off by 50%, delivering a 1.9/5.

CBS led on Friday night according to Nielsen Media Research fast affiliate ratings, earning an overall 3.6/11 for the night.  It’s newest drama series NUMB3RS at 10p shined with a 4.9/14, up from its CSI [r] lead-in by four share points, and winning the hour. Jonny Zero on Fox, now in its fourth week, delivered a 1.5/4 at 9p, down two share points from its Bernie Mac back-to-back lead-in.

CBS moved Wickedly Perfect into its new Saturday 8pm time period last weekend and for its trouble earned a 1.5/5 A18-49 rating, though among W18-49 it earned a 2.0/6.  Fox as usual won the night nicely with an overall 3.0/9 in fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

Be sure to check out Stuart Elliot’s column in today’s New York Times titled Best Product in a Leading Role.  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/31/business/media/31adcol.html?oref=login

Weekend Box Office Estimates: January 28-30, 2005
Hide and Seek (Fox)                       $22.0 million – opening weekend
Are We There Yet? (Sony)                 $17.0 million – 2 wk total $39.1m
Million Dollar Baby (Warner Bros.)      $11.8 million – 7 wk total $21.2m
Coach Carter (Paramount)                 $8.0 million – 3 wk total $53.6m
Meet the Fockers (Universal)             $7.8 million – 6 wk total $257.9m
The Aviator (Miramax)                     $7.5 million – 7 wk total $68.2m
Sideways (Fox Searchlight)               $6.3 million – 15 wk total $40.0m
In Good Company (Universal)              $6.2 million – 5 wk total $35.9m
Racing Stripes (Warner Bros.)            $6.1 million – 3 wk total $34.6m
Assault on Precinct 13 (Focus)           $4.2 million – 2 wk total $14.7m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Casting Note:  Lifetime Television is looking for a few good married couples who marital spark has perhaps waned over the years.  A new reality show for Lifetime is taking a light-hearted look at modern relationships and could help get return a little romance to the marriage, and remind you both of brought you together in the first place.  For more information and to apply to be on the show, visit www.optomenusa.com/married.

On the heels of Jim Jimirro’s departure from National Lampoon Network as its Pres/CEO, comes the announcement of his successors: Daniel Laiken as CEO and Douglas Bennett as President.

Clear Channel Entertainment Television named Dennis Spencer as SVP/MD for International Distribution and Programming.  He will oversee CCETV’s expansion of its new music and entertainment international programming and distribution enterprise (launched in the fall) and work with Steve Sterling, SVP of Clear Channel Entertainment TV, on this initiative.  Dennis was previously VP/MD of international programming for CCETV.  He will report to Joe Townley, president of Clear Channel Entertainment TV.

Thursday, January 27, 2005. FINAL Ratings for all Networks – program averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research.
[p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat

NBC     10.3/16  Joey [r] 6.9/11, The Apprentice 9.8/15, ER  13.0/21

CBS     10.3/16  Without a Trace [r] 6.8/11, CSI [r] 14.0/21, Without a Trace [r] 9.9/16

ABC     5.0/8    InStyle: Celebrity Weddings 5.8/9, Extreme Makeover [r] 4.6/7, Primetime Live 4.7/8

FOX     4.1/6    The O.C. 5.2/8, Point Pleasant  3.0/4

UPN     3.3/5    WWE Smackdown  3.3/5

WB      1.6/2    WB Movie: Home Fries  1.6/2

A18-49           NBC 7.2/19, CBS 4.9/13, Fox 2.8/7, ABC 2.4/6, UPN 1.8/5, WB .7/2

Friday, January 28, 2005. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research.
[p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat

CBS     7.9/13   Joan of Arcadia 5.8/10, CSI 8.1/13, NUMB3RS  9.8/17

NBC     6.5/11   Dateline 7.3/13, Medical Investigation  4.8/8

ABC     5.5/9    8 Simple Rules 5.4/9, 8 Simple Rules 5.0/8, Hope & Faith 5.0/8, Less Than Perfect 4.4/7, 20/20 6.6/121

FOX     2.6/4    Bernie Mac  3.0/5, Bernie Mac 2.8/5, Johnny Zero  2.2/4

WB      2.0/3    What I Like About You 1.5/3, Grounded for Life 1.7/3, Reba 2.6/5, Blue Collar TV  2.1/3

UPN     1.3/2    Star Trek Enterprise 1.7/3, Road to Stardom [r]   0.9/1

A18-49  CBS 3.6/11, ABC and NBC 2.8/8, Fox 1.7/5, WB 1.3/4, UPN 0.7/2

Saturday, January 29, 2005. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research.
[p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat

NBC     6.0/10   L&O 5.4/9, L&O: CI 5.5/9, L&O: SVU 7.1/13

ABC     4.8/8    ABC Movie: Snow Dogs 5.1/9, Desperate Housewives [r] 4.0/7

FOX     4.6/8    Cops 4.3/8, Cops [r] 4.7/8, AMW  4.6/8

CBS     3.9/7    Wickedly Perfect 3.0/5, Cold Case [r] 4.2/7, 48 Hours Mysteries 4.5/8

A18-49  Fox 3.0/9, NBC 2.5/7, ABC 2.3/7, CBS 1.8/5

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1990- The first McDonald’s restaurant was opened in Russia.  This was part of a larger reform movement known as “perestroika” which Mikhail Gorbachev hoped would usher in a new culture of open exchange between Russia and the United States.
 
Answer to Friday’s Trivia Question:  What hangs on the wall behind Rob Petrie’s desk in the writer’s room at the Allen Brady Show?  SHEET MUSIC OF “THE DAIRY MAIDS.”  Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan/NY; Steven Wishnoff/NY; Joanne Milano-RJ Palmer/NY; Dale Warshaw-KWBA/Tucson; Tim Rank-Adamson Adv/St. Louis; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; Dennis Aimino-KABC/LA; Dave Sikula-Yahoo!/Sunnyvale.

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question:  What show was nicknamed “America’s Press Conference of the Air”? (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
01.31.05  5:14am

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: JANUARY 31, 2005:

ABC              EMHD: 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: I’ll Be Seeing You
UPN              One on One, Half and Half, Road to Stardom
WB               7th Heaven, Everwood
TELE             La Mujer en el Espejo, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV             Rubi, Amor Real, Cristina