CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS
01/05/04
Good morning. It’s Monday, January 5, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.
New Year’s Eve apparently was spent by most doing something other than watching broadcast television, at least from 8-11p. Nonetheless, NBC won the evening among A18-49 with a 2.3/8, outpacing ever so slightly ABC 2.2/8, as well as CBS 1.6/6, Fox 1.4/5, WB 1.0/3, UPN 0.5/2, according to fast affiliate ratings fromNielsen Media Research. NBC kick-started the night with a 3.3/12 for Most Outrageous Moments on Live TV posting a 3.3/12; ABC floundered with a 1.7/6 for repeat sitcoms, CBS and Fox each posted a 5 share, with WB and UPN pulling up the rear. At 9p ABC’s back to back repeats of George Lopez earned a 1.9/7, a notion above CBS and NBC’s 6 share, Fox a 5 share, WB a 4 and UPN a 2. At 10p Dick Clark led the group with a 2.9/11, the only big three network acknowledging the holiday in the time period. NBC’s repeat of L&O earned a 1.8/7, and CBS a 1.7/6 for 48 Hours.
ABC‘s airing of the Orange Bowl attracted the largest A18-49 bcst audience onThursday night, New Year’s Evening according to Nielsen Media Research‘s fast affiliate ratings. ABC posted a 5.2/14, followed by CBS 4.2/11, NBC 3.6/9, Fox 2.7/7, UPN 1.6/4, WB 0.9/2. At 8pm ABC began with the final minutes of the Rose Bowl followed by the start of the Orange Bowl, all earning a 6.1/16 for the hour. NBC’s sitcoms ranked #2 with a 4.7/12, and CBS’ repeat of Cold Case delivered a 3.4/9. At 9p, ABC and CBS were in a dead heat, each posting a 5.2/13 for the hour – ABC continuing with the Orange Bowl; CBS a repeat of CSI. Fox’s World Idol special was #4 in the time period with a 3.0/8 behind NBC. At 10p, ABC led with a 4.5/12, with CBS’ Without a Trace following quickly behind with a 3.9/11, NBC and Fox each posting a 7 share.
Again, with live college football, ABC led the pack on Friday night in A18-49according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research, posting an overall4.4/13. NBC was #2 for the night with a 2 hour original Dateline followed by a repeat Third Watch, all earning the net a 3.1/9, followed by CBS 2.6/7, Fox 2.1/6, WB 1.5/4, UPN 0.8/2. At 8pm ABC led with a 4.0/12, CBS a 3.6/10 for its Michael Jackson special, and the first hour of Dateline on NBC a 2.8/8. A repeat of Simpsons and Malcolm on Fox earned a 2.1/6 for the hour. At 9p ABC’s game scored a 4.7/13, followed by the second hour of NBC’s Dateline (3.9/11), then CBS’ 2.4/7 for Joan of Arcadia. Fox held tough for the second hour of prime with another 2.1/6. UPN’s movie was up hour to hour, earning an 0.9/3 for its second hour. At 10p ABC led again with a 4.7/13, NBC’s repeat of Third Watch with a 2.5/7, CBS’ JAG a 1.9/5.
Just nothing like a good NFL game on a Saturday night. ABC took the night with its NFL Wild Card Game drawing a strong 8.4/23 A18-49 in fast affiliate ratings fromNielsen Media Research. Fox was #2 for the night with its standard Saturday night fare (2.6/7), followed by movies on both NBC (2.2/6) and CBS (1.9/5). By a landslide, ABC won each hour of prime. Fox was #2 at both 8p (2.5/7) and 9p (2.8/8), followed by NBC and finally CBS respectively.
Premiering Tonight:
- A&E debuts its newest reality show, Airline (10p). The focus of these 18 half hour eps is the employees of Southwest Airlines and their day to day dealings with weather, unhappy customers, beefed up security procedures, etc. Also premiering on A&E tonight is House of Dreams (9p) with host George Wendt.
- NBC: Average Joe Hawaii kicks off tonight at 10p. This show apparently was produced immediately after the first installment and before the first one aired, maintaining its kicker.
- PBS: Tavis Smiley Show debuts tonight with his guest Bill Cosby. This show is billed as “intelligent entertainment. ” future guests include News Gingrich, General Wesley Clark, Essie Mae Washington, Howard Dean, Magic Johnson, Jesse Jackson. Also on local PBS station WNET, Lara Spencer kicks off her new TV job as host of Antiques Roadshow.
Fox has scheduled its newest reality show to premiere on January 19. The six eps of My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance is billed as a cross between The Bachelorette, Average Joe and The Joe Schmo Show. Here’s the deal – young bride Randi is attempting to convince her family that her fiance Steve is for real. If she does bowl them over, she wins the million bucks. The catch is ol’ Steve is nothing short of ghastly. And because one twist is never enough, what Randi doesn’t know is all of Steve and his ‘family’ are actors, hired to play the part of the potentially ghastly new relatives.
Court TV will launch a new series in April 2004 with noted forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee. Each 60m ep of Trace Evidence: the Case Files of Dr. Henry Lee(KLS Comm/Fox Television Studios) will take Lee back to the crime scene and to his own crime lab to explain the evidence presented that helped bring each case to its logical conclusion. Other shows coming to Court TV are Psychic Detectives on February 18 at 930p; House of Clues premieres in April; and the return of Al Roker with his limited series Al Roker Investigates.
Deborah Norville will return to primetime on MSNBC later on this month with her own interview show scheduled to air nightly at 9p. Her current contract with King World’s Inside Edition continues through the current season and next.
Universal Music Group, in conjunction with adult movie prod. co. Vivid Entertainment, reportedly is talking with DirecTV to launch a channel of uncensored music videos, called 1AM. The business model is a subscription based channel, with ownership split largely between Universal with Vivid, with two smaller partners – Shady Records and Endeavor talent agency.
You know Vince Van Patten, if not from his acting days (remember Apple’s Way?), perhaps from his more current co-hosting days on Travel Channel’s World Poker Tour. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Van Patten has signed with LMNO Prods to develop and host a new reality show called Poker Dogs wherein professional poker players compete in a series of elimination rounds for the final and big pot. The show is reportedly being shopped.
Weekend Box Office Estimates – January 2-4, 2004
LOTR: Return of the King (New Line) $30.8 million – 3 wk total $291.1m
Cheaper by the Dozen (Fox) $21.9 million – 2 wk total $86.0m
Something’s Gotta Give (Sony) $12.5 million – 4 wk total $81.7m
Cold Mountain (Miramax) $11.7 million – 2 wk total $43.9m
Paycheck (Paramount) $10.0 million – 2 wk total $38.8m
Mona Lisa Smile (Sony) $8.7 million – 3 wk total $50.2m
Peter Pan (Universal) $8.5 million – 2 wk total $33.8m
The Last Samurai (Warner Bros.) $7.5 million – 5 wk total $90.1m
Calendar Girls (Disney) $4.5 million – 3 wk total $7.1m
Bad Santa (Dimension) $3.0 million – 6 wk total $57.0m
Source: Box Office Mojo
Ozzy Osbourne has sworn off ATVs. Now I think that’s smart.
USA Network is taking on gorilla marketing tactics for its new project, Traffic: The Miniseries which debuts on January 26. On behalf of USA, GoGorilla Media is now distributing $1 bills with a sticker ad to bars and restaurants in the two largest markets, where they in turn will be circulated to patrons. Early field testing of this particular tactic proved nearly everyone noticed the sticker (duh), and more than half left the sticker on the bill and passed it on to someone else. The campaign continues up until January 26.
Quick look at what happened while Cynopsis was on vacation (12/20-1/4): Starting Over (NBC Enterprises) has been renewed for Season #2 on the NBC O&Os; Bravo has picked up the cable rights to the 13 eps of Keen Eddie, 6 of which have not been seen before (debuts Jan 20); ABC announced a time period for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for Sundays at 8p beginning February 15; TCM will roll out its 31 Days of Oscar for the ninth year in a row starting Feb 1; the FCC approved the News Corp / Hughes transaction with a variety of specific conditions; Discovery’s The Science Channel announced two new series: Discoveries this Week (magazine series) premiered 12/26 and Mars Rocks: The Geology of the Red Planet debuted Jan 2; TV One, set to launch on January 19, picked up two new off-nets: 227 and Good Times; MSNBC cancelled Jesse Ventura’s show; Season #2 of The Bachelorette will get underway on January 14 at 9p on ABC with Meredith Philips in the host seat.
AARP has named Dick Kurlander as Television Program Development Executive, based in Charlotte. Dick will be working with station groups, syndication, and cable companies to identify programming opportunities targeting the 76 million baby boomer audience.
After 2-1/2 years, Michael Cascio resigned as EVP/GM of Animal Planet effective Dec. 31, 2003. Mike’s plan is to explore other opportunities that interest him. Billy Campbell, President/Discovery Networks, US, has begun the search for Mike’s replacement.
Starz Encore Group has named Allyson Taylor Manager/Public Relations in theStarz Corporate Communications department. Allyson will report to Eric Becker, Exec director/Corporate Communications for Starz. She will be responsible primarily for coordinating and implementing local public relations campaigns, including working with cable and satellite affiliates to generate publicity for Starz On Demand, STARZ! HD, and other advanced new product offerings from Starz as they enter the marketplace
Philip J. Lane has been named VP/GM of Media General’s WSPA/Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson in addition to having responsibility for WASV in the same market and WNEG in Tocca, Georgia. Philip makes the move from WJBF/Augusta.
As in previous years, this January Cynopsis will provide its NATPE Syndicated Program Guide listing of NEW SERIES coming to market in preparation for this year’s conference in Las Vegas. If you have information you’d like listed for a newstrip or weekly series, please send it to me at [email protected] (with NATPE listing in the subject line), and provide the name of the series, #/eps, distributor name/phone/booth or suite number, terms (cash, cash+, barter split), and frequency. Because of space, no OTOs, specials. quarterly shows or returning series are included in the listing. For Children’s Programming, please send your new series information (please add if its live action/animation and target age group) to Gwen Billings for the Cynopsis Kids NATPE Syndicated Program Guide at[email protected]. Please have your information in no later than January 9, 2004.
Wednesday, December 31, 2003. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [r] = Repeat
NBC 5.1/10 Most Outrageous Moments 6.5/13, Law & Order [r] 3.8/8, Law & Order [r] 5.0/11
CBS 4.8/10 60 Minutes II 5.1/10, King of Queens [r] 4.8/10, Becker [r] 4.5/9, 48 Hours 4.8/10
ABC 4.0/8 My Wife & Kids [r] 4.4/9, It’s All Relative [r] 3.4/7, George Lopez [r] 3.7/8, George Lopez [r] 3.7/8, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve 4.4/9
Fox 2.0/4 Arrested Development [r] 1.9/4, Arrested Development [r] 1.9/4, Arrested Development [r] 2.1/4, Arrested Development [r] 2.1/4
WB 1.7/3 WB Movie: Love & Basketball 1.7/3
UPN 1.0/2 Enterprise [r] 1.1/2, Jake 2.0 [r] 0.9/2
A18-49 NBC 2.3/8, ABC 2.2/8, CBS 1.6/6, Fox 1.4/5, WB 1.0/3, UPN 0.5/2
Thursday, January 1, 2004. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat
ABC 9.2/15 Rose Bowl ending 11.5/18, Orange Bowl (830-11p) 8.7/14
CBS 8.9/14 Cold Case [r] 8.0/13, CSI [r] 10.2/16, Without a Trace [r] 8.5/15
NBC 5.7/9 Friends [r] 6.9/11, Will & Grace [r] 6.8/11, Will & Grace [r] 5.6/9, Scrubs [r] 4.5/7, ER [r] 5.1/8
Fox 4.3/7 American Idol: Life on the Road 3.8/6, World Idol 4.8/8
UPN 2.8/4 WWE Smackdown 2.8/4
WB 1.6/3 Steve Harvey [r] 1.8/3, JKX, [r] 1.4/2
A18-49 ABC 5.2/14, CBS 4.2/11, NBC 3.6/9, Fox 2.7/7, UPN 1.6/4, WB 0.9/2
Friday, January 2, 2004. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat
ABC 7.9/14 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 7.9/14
NBC 7.2/12 Dateline (8-10p) 8.0/13, Third Watch [r] 5.5/10
CBS 5.7/10 Michael Jackson Number Ones 6.7/11, Joan of Arcadia [r] 5.3/9, JAG [r] 5.1/9
Fox 2.8/5 Simpsons [r] 3.2/5, Malcolm [r] 2.6/5, That 70’s Show 2.8/5, Arrested Development [r] 2.5/4
WB 2.3/4 Reba [r] 3.0/5, What I Like About You [r] 2.4/4, Grounded for Life [r] 2.0/3, Like Family [r] 1.9/3
UPN 1.7/3 Movie: Fled 1.7/3
A18-49 ABC 4.4/13, NBC 3.1/9, CBS 2.6/7, Fox 2.1/6, WB 1.5/4, UPN 0.8/2
Saturday, January 3, 2004. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat
ABC 13.6/23 NFL Wildcard Game 13.6/23
NBC 5.1/8 Movie: Heartbreakers
CBS 4.2/7 The King of Queens [r], CBS Movie: Mask of Zorro
Fox 4.6/8 Cops, Cops [r], AMW
A18-49 ABC 8.4/23, Fox 2.6/7, NBC 2.2/6, CBS 1.9/5
A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION
CABLE’S #1 MOVIE FOR THE WEEK!
- #1 Cable Movie for the week
- w/A18-49, A25-54, W25-54 & all Key Men
- out of over 600+!
- TBS’ #1 Program for the week
- w/all Key Men, Women and Adult Demos!
- Movies Work on Cable
- Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution
Source: NTI Explorer, 12/15/03-12/21/03. Sun 8-10:15pm telecast. Ad supported cable only. Key Demos: 18-34/18-49/25-54. US Ratings.
The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1929 – The United States and Canada reached an agreement on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls.
Today’s Trivia Question: Who is Morty the Moose? (click here to respond to the trivia question and please be sure to include with your answer your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four correct responses from each time zone will be listed in tomorrow’s kudo list.)
A MESSAGE FROM INFOTAINMENT MEDIA
Infotainment Media is offering advertising in a primetime special targeting young urban demo. The show will feature interviews and music from major hip-hop artists and pro athletes. There are exclusive product integration opportunities, inclusion in the DVD and CD which will be released at major retailers, sweepstakes, website giveaways and more.
Call Eileen Simms at (310) 312-9570 for more info.
Later — Cyn
Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis
01/05/04 5:21am
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2004
COURT TV’S FORENSIC FACT:
Fingerprint identification relies on a minimum of twelve matching characteristics in the ridge patterns.
WATCH PREMIERE EPISODES OF
FORENSIC FILES
ALL MONTH LONG!
COURT TV
THE Investigation Channel
COURT TV: Extreme Evidence, Masterminds, Forensic Files, The Investigators
ABC ABC Movie of the Week: Castaway
CBS Yes Dear, Still Standing, Raymond, Two & a Half Men, CSI Miami
FOX Fox Movie: Billy Madison
NBC Fear Factor, Las Vegas, Average Joe: Hawaii [p]
PAX AFV, Early Edition, Diagnosis Murder
UPN The Parkers [r], Eve [r], Girlfriends [r], Half & Half [r]
WB 7th Heaven, 7th Heaven [r]
TELE Amor Descardo, El Alma Herida, Presencia de Anita
UNIV Velo de Novia, Te Amaré en Silencio, Cristina
