CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

05/09/05

Good morning.  It’s Monday, May 9, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

A quiet morning.

NBC has seen another incident of foul language – this one in late night, which will likely temper the potential outrage.  On Saturday Night Live this past weekend, the guitarist of the guest musical performer ‘System of a Down’ uttered the “f word” at the end of the musical number. Certainly this is not family viewing time, but the question still rises – will there be a brouhaha?

HBO has ordered a new series called American Dream (HBO Independent Prods), starring Louis C.K. is a family sitcom (mom/dad/daughter) that uses real family topics for fodder, per Hollywood Reporter.  The net has ordered 13 eps, including the pilot.  Mike Royce will exec prod; Louis C.K. will write.

HBO has also ordered up Suckers (Edelson Prods), billed as a 60m dramedy.  Once a lovely family, until dad disappears.  Mom tries to steer her young charges on the straight and narrow, which is some times difficult given they are a family of vampires.

Touchstone has signed a two year development deal with Dee Johnson to develop 60m series, with the additional possibility of her joining a current series. Most recently, Johnson was an exec producer on ER, a show she had been with for the past five years.

Warner Bros. has signed Marsh McCall to a two year development deal, per Variety.  This spring, McCall has two projects in the works – Modern Man for The WB, and an untitled sitcom for CBS.

The first and original Law & Order series will have a new showrunner going into the upcoming season – its 16th – with Nicholas Wootton who joins Matthew Penn, per Variety.  As often as the show has changed key cast member, it has also changed showrunners – Wootton will be its 10th.

Topic A with Tina Brown has left the building – at least Tina has.  In a memo to staffers, Brown said she is leaving the show to work on a book deal she has with Doubleday about the legacy of Princess Diana (sked to publish in 2007). Brown’s show was never a barn burner for CNBC – averaging 75,000 total viewers this past season.  The show will end its current production schedule on May 29.

Sundance Channel has acquired home video and U.S. pay television rights to the Canadian comedy Childstar, which will debuts on Sunday in 2006. Co-written, directed by and starring Don McKellar (Last Night, The Red Violin, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould), Childstar is a film within a film that parodies both the world of child actors and the American big-budget film industry, and stars Jennifer Jason Leigh (Single White Female), and child actor Mark Rendall (“Revelations”; The Winning Season).

Weekend Box Office Estimates: May 6-8, 2005
Kingdom of Heaven (Fox)                           $20.0 million – opening weekend
House of Wax (Warner Bros.)                   $12.2 million – opening weekend
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Buena Vista) $9.2 million – 2 wk total $35.1m
Crash (Lions Gate)                                     $9.1 million – opening weekend
The Interpreter (Universal)                          $7.5 million – 3 wk total $54.1m
3X: State of the Union (Sony/Rev)              $5.4 million – 2 wk total $20.8m
Amityville Horror (MGM)                   $3.2 million – 4 wk total $60.1m
Sahara (Paramount)                                   $3.1 million – 5 wk total $61.3m
A Lot Like Love (Buena Vista)                     $3.0 million – 3 wk total $18.8m
Fever Pitch (Fox)                                        $2.0 million – 5 wk total $39.0m
Source: Box Office Mojo

I may not be a movie critic, but I’ve seen my share of films and I have to tell you, if you have not seen Crash as yet – do so.  Absolutely.  One of the best films you will see this year and probably next year too.  And when others tell you it is a “seat squirmer”, they’re right. You’ll definitely squirm, for a variety of reasons.

Discovery Networks has named Michele Solomon as Marketing Director for Discovery Solutions, the division dedicated to large-scale, cross-platform advertising sales partnerships.  In her new role, Michele leads the development of cross-platform partnership deals for TLC and oversees the execution of all elements of the deals, including product integration, custom vignettes and sweepstakes.

Diane Ekeblad has been upped to Executive Director, West Coast Publicity, CBS Entertainment, reporting to Phil Gonzales, VP/Communications, CBS Entertainment. She will continue to spearhead publicity campaigns on behalf of CBS series, movies and specials.  She will also serve as West Coast editorial director, packaging and copy editing CBS Entertainment press information.  Ekeblad will work with Gonzales on broad-based initiatives supporting CBS Entertainment programming.

Steve Soldinger has been named GM of WGNT/Norfolk, a Viacom owned station.  Steve makes the move to Norfolk from Little Rock where he was COO/VP of Equity Broadcasting.

ABC Television Group announced the resignation of Sue Binford, SVP/Corporate Communications, Disney-ABC Television Group. Sue began at ABC Television Network two years ago as the network’s senior corporate communications executive, assumed her current role this past September following a reorganization of all Disney non-sports television properties, under Co-Chair Disney Media Networks and President Disney-ABC Television Group, Anne Sweeney.

With that said, Kevin Brockman has been elevated to SVP/Communications, Disney-ABC Television Group, announced Anne Sweeney, co-chairman, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company and president, Disney-ABC Television Group, and Zenia Mucha, SVP/Communications, The Walt Disney Company, to whom he will report.  Kevin will be responsible for all corporate and entertainment communication efforts on behalf of The Disney-ABC Television Group, which includes the ABC Television Network and the Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group. In addition, he’ll also be responsible for all communication efforts on behalf of Touchstone Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, ABC Corporate Initiatives, ABC owned stations and the ABC Radio division, and he will continue to oversee the network’s Photography/New Media and Talent Relations departments.

Say hello to Trish Pihonak, the most recent hire at Cynopsis.  Trish starts today as Office Manager Extraordinaire and is based in the Connecticut office. Among her many responsibilities, she will be handling all accounting responsibilities including invoicing, and will work with you from start to finish on your classifieds ads.  You can reach her at the main office (203.381.9096) or via email (
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Thursday – A18-49 Analysis- May Sweep Day #8:  CBS handily won the night on Thursday with a 7.1/19 A18-49, according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research, in front of NBC’s 5.4/15 average for the night.  Fox delivered a 3.3/9, followed by ABC 2.1/6, UPN 1.8/5, WB 1.2/3.  At 8p Survivor posted a sizable 7.1/21, more than double NBC’s Joey/Will & Grace average of 3.2/10.  The O.C. at 8p was close behind with a 3.1/9.  At 9p CSI was strong with a 9.0/23, while NBC’s The Apprentice narrowed its contestant list down to two and delivered a 5.8/15 for the hour. The special airing of The O.C. on Fox, originally scheduled last week when the President preempted it, earned a 3.4/9. ER topped the 10p programming with a 7.1/19 for NBC, while CBS’ Without A Trace earned a 5.2/14

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS:   Thursday, May 5, 2005, for all Networks – program averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     13.5/22  Survivor 12.0/20, CSI 16.3/25, Without a Trace 12.1/20

NBC     8.2/13   Joey 5.2/9, Will & Grace 5.5/9, The Apprentice 8.7/13, ER 10.6/17

ABC     5.3/9    Thursday Night Movie:  Sweet Home Alabama 5.3/9, Primetime Live 5.2/9

FOX     4.7/7    The O.C. 4.6/8, The O.C. 4.8/7

UPN     3.0/5    WWE Smackdown 3.0/5

WB      1.7/3    Blue Collar TV 1.7/3, Blue Collar TV [r] 1.8/3, Blue Collar TV [r] 1.7/3, Blue Collar TV [r]  1.7/3

A18-49                CBS 7.1/19, NBC 5.4/15, Fox 3.3/9, ABC 2.1/6, UPN 1.8/5, WB 1.2/3

Friday – A18-49 Analysis- May Sweep Day #9: CBS was in front on Friday night with a 2.6/9 A18-49 rating, just a share point ahead of NBC’s 2.4/8 and ABC’s 2.3/8, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research.  At 8p ABC led the hour with a 2.2/8 for a repeat of AFV, CBS followed with a 1.9/7 for a CSI Miami repeat.  At 9p CBS repeat of CSI and the series finale of Third Watch on NBC tied at 2.8/9, while the season finale of Hope & Faith delivered a 2.2/7 for the hour. At 10p CBS’ NUMB3RS delivered a 3.1/9, while NBC’s L&O: Trial by Jury was a notion behind with a 2.9/9.

Fast Affiliate Ratings:   Friday, May 6, 2005, for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     6.7/12   CSI: Miami [r] 5.5/11, CSI [r] 7.1/13, NUMB3RS 7.4/13

NBC     5.8/11   Dateline 4.6/9, Third Watch [f] 6.0/11, L&O: Trial by Jury 6.8/12

ABC     4.5/8    AFV [r] 4.4/9, Hope & Faith [f] 4.1/7, 20/20 5.1/9

FOX     2.9/5    Movie: Rush Hour 2 2.9/5

UPN     1.9/3    Star Trek Enterprise 2.0/4, Top Model [r] 1.7/3

WB      1.8/3    What I Like About You 1.3/3, Reba [r] 1.8/3, Reba 2.4/4, Living with Fran  1.8/3

A18-49                CBS 2.6/9, NBC 2.4/8, ABC 2.3/8, Fox 1.7/4, WB and UPN 1.1./4

Saturday – A18-49 Analysis- May Sweep Day #10:  NASCAR on Fox gave them the win on Saturday night with a 3.4/12 A18-49, according to Nielsen Media Research, and did even better among M18-49 with a 4.2/15 for the night. ABC followed with a 2.4/8 A18-49 for it’s 8-11p airing of the second Harry Potter movie.  CBS earned a 1.9/6 overall, and NBC a 1.8/6.  Repeats of CSI at 8p (1.7/6) and CSI: NY at 9p (2.0/7), led into an original 48 Hours Mystery at 10p (2.0/6) on CBS; and an evening of repeats on NBC delivered a 1.0/4 for Crossing Jordan at 8p, 1.9/6 for L&O: SVU at 9p; and 2.5/8 at 10p for L&O.

Fast Affiliate Ratings:   Saturday, May 7, 2005, for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

FOX     5.4/10   NASCAR ’05:  Darlington 500 5.4/10

ABC     4.7/9    Movie: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  4.7/9

CBS     4.7/9    CSI [r] 4.4/9, CSI: NY [r] 4.8/9, 48 Hours Mystery 4.9/9

NBC     4.5/8    Crossing Jordan [r] 2.7/5, L&O: SVU [r] 4.6/8, L&O [r] 6.1/11

A18-49                Fox 3.4/12, ABC 2.4/8, CBS 1.9/6, NBC 1.8/6

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1994 – After spending many years in prison for his efforts to end apartheid, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first  South Africa’s first black president.

Answer to not-necessarily-about-TV trivia question:  Where is Yorba Buena?  Hint: It’s here in the US, so I need a state/city location.  In 1847, the coastal city of Yorba Buena in California changed its name to San Francisco. The city took its new name from St. Francis of Assisi, who is recognized as San Francisco’s patron saint. Kudos to:  Ethan Green-Dew Action Sports Tour/NY; Elena Dembala-Lifetime/NY; Nina Shapiro-Primedia/NY; Laura Carver-Carat USA/NY; Kathy Yarbrough-The Graham Group/New Orleans; Tom Chapman-WKRG/Mobile; Jim Gray-Froglight Prods/Missoula; Daniel Thomson-Media First Int’l/Minneapolis; Ira Sperling-The WB/Burbank; Stuart McFaul-Big Pictures Prods/LA; Gene Lavelle-Modern Ent/LA; Cyndie Klingensmith-ON TV/Sacramento; Monica Marcott-KYES/Anchorage; Karen Markham-KYES/Anchorage; and Elohor Pedro-Knowles-Discovery/London.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s trivia question:  Drawn by cartoon Bob McKay on the sitcom Bob starring Bob Newhart, this veterinarian superhero was the centerpiece of Bob’s comic book world.  What was this character’s name? (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.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM SUPERSTATION WGN

Later — Cyn
05.09.05  5:26am
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  MONDAY, MAY 9, 2005

ABC              EM: HD How’d They Do That?, The Bachelor, EM: Wedding Edition
CBS              King of Queens, Raymond, Raymond, 2-1/2 Men, CSI: Miami
FOX              Nanny 911, 24
NBC              Fear Factor, Las Vegas, Medium
PAX              Xtreme Fakeovers, Movie: Try to Remember
UPN              One on One, Cuts, Girlfriends, Half & Half
WB               7th Heaven, Everwood
TELE             La Mujer en el Espejo, Los Platedos, La Ley del Silencio
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra,  Christina