CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

08/25/05

Good morning.  It’s Thursday, August 25, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing – on time and early in the morning!

The Writers Guild of America, west has assisted ten reality show writers and editors in filing a class action lawsuit against Fox Broadcasting Company and Rocket Science Laboratories (producers of many reality shows including Joe Millionaire, Trading Spouses, which all aired on Fox). The suit alleges various violations of California labor laws, including plaintiffs were required to falsify their time cards to hide that they were working in excess of 40-hour weeks and were not compensated with time and a half overtime pay. Additionally, the suit alleges the Plaintiffs were not given proper meal breaks, also in violation of the state’s labor laws. The suit is seeking unpaid wages and overtime premiums, together with interest and punitive damages.  This is the second suit of this kind filed by writers/editors from reality shows. The first was filed last month and named CBS, ABC, TBS, the WB and four production companies as co-Defendants. No comment from either Fox or Rocket Science.

“The difference between the broadcast networks and cable networks is shrinking” says Chief Research Office Dr. Jack Wakshlag of Turner Broadcasting.  Wakshlag presented his annual look at summer cable vs. broadcast performance review yesterday in New York, highlighting the time frame of May 30 thru August 21. Looking across the ad-supported cable networks, the total audience share in primetime was 61; while the seven broadcast networks was 32.1.   Collectively, the six major broadcast networks are down this summer vs. last summer among A18-49 by 14%. Of those broadcast networks, only two did not decline – ABC (flat year to year) and Fox (+5%).  NBC’s year to year decline is significant, particularly if you include the 2004 Olympics; however, pulling that component out of their mix, they were still down 24%.  As for the Top 20 ad-supported entertainment cable nets, the biggest year-to-year gainers in primetime among A18-49 were Spike +60%, AMC +24%, BET +23%, Lifetime +9%, VH1 +8%, A&E +8% and TNT +8%.  Those cable nets seeing the greatest year-to-year declines in the same demo were FX -7%, ESPN -16%, TLC -19% and Discovery -19%.

After just three and a half weeks on the air, Weekends with the D.L., a late night talker starring D.L. Hughley, the Sunday night episode has been pulled from the Comedy Central lineup. The show had been airing Friday-Sun at 11p.  After much tweaking these few weeks, the show averaged 626,000 viewers, with Sundays being its weakest of the three nights.  Comedy Central had originally ordered 13 weeks of episodes, adn will continue to air the show on Friday and Saturday nights.

In 4th Qtr 2005 VH1 will premiere its new reality series, Celebrity Pop Superstar.  Eight celebs are all looking for the opportunity to prove they aren’t just another pretty/chiseled face – they can be great pop singers too!  Produced by Granada America, this show will air weekly . No announcement yet on who will be participating.

In a story that has a payoff similar to the film Catch Me If You Can, A. Smith & Co. has signed a deal with Barry Minkow to develop television show(s) and a film based on his life story, per Variety.  Minkow was in jail for 8 years on fraud charges. Once he got out of jail, he created the Fraud Discovery Institute and began working with the FBI, SEC and other legal authorities, to help them investigate various white collar financial fraud schemes.

Disney Channel has ordered 20 episodes of a new comedy called Hannah Montana (It’s A Laugh Prods / Disney Channel), about a widowed dad and his young daughter, played by Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley.  She is a young pop star in the program, who develops an alternate life to continue living as a normal kid. Disney Channel is looking at a 1st qtr 2006 premiere.

TBS‘ reality series Loser Leaves Town (Nash Entertainment) will not go forward as originally planned.  The series featured two feuding neighbors, where the loser actually has to move away. 

Fox has given a put pilot commitment to a project from Josh Berman called Vanished, which follows the story of a woman who is suddenly missing, the season-long search for her, the suspects in her disappearance, and the broad media attention.  Berman has a four year development deal with 20th TV, and this is the first project from that deal.

Fox has also given a put pilot commitment to a comedy project called Paging Dr. Freed, from writer Michael Feldman, Watson Pond Prods and 20th. The show is about brothers/doctors who are still quite attached to their mother.  Fox is looking at this show for midseason placement.

Greg Willis has joined Ascent Media Systems & Technology Services as SVP/Sales. Greg will oversee the combined sales organizations of Ascent’s systems integration unit (formerly A.F. Associates), as well as its satellite systems engineering and service organization based in Palm Bay, FL. He will report to Tom Canavan, EVP.

TV producer Paul Faulhaber was named Executive Producer of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution‘s syndicated daytime talk show Maury.   The announcement was made by Linda Finnell, SVP/Programming and Development, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.

The Horse Channel, the first 24/7 television channel devoted exclusively to horses and the equestrian lifestyle, is rapidly expanding its executive team to facilitate its fall launch. Rachel Falleroni has joined The Horse Channel as VP/Programming and Planning. The announcement was made by George Greenberg, Chairman and CEO.

Tuesday — A18-49 Analysis: CBS led on Tuesday night in the A18-49 demo posting a 2.9/8 overall, according to final household numbers from Nielsen Media Research.  Fox was #2 with a 2.4/7, followed by NBC 2.3/7, ABC 1.8/5, WB and UPN .9/3.  At 8p CBS wins by a skosh, posting a 2.4/7 for a repeat of NCIS, just a share point ahead of ABC, NBC and Fox.  At 9p Big Brother on CBS led with a 3.2/9, again tho by the slimmest margin – Fox’s House drew an 8 share. And at 10p Rock Star: INXS tied with a repeat of Law & Order SVU, each pulling an 8 share.

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS: Tuesday, August 23,  2005, for all Networks – program averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     5.4/9    NCIS [r] 6.5/11, Big Brother 5.4/9, Rock Star: INXS 4.2/7

FOX     4.6/8    House [r] 3.6/6, House [r] 5.6/9

NBC     4.3/7    Tommy Lee Goes to College [r] 3.2/6, Tommy Lee Goes to College [r] 3.3/6, Tommy Lee Goes to College 3.7/6,  The Office [r] 2.6/4, L&O: SVU [r] 6.4/11

ABC     3.6/6    According to Jim [r] 3.5/6, Rodney [r] 3.4/6, According to Jim [r] 4.0/6, Rodney [r] 3.9/6, Boston Legal 3.4/6

WB      1.7/3    Gilmore Girls [r] 1.6/3, Gilmore Girls [r] 1.7/3

UPN     1.5/3    One on One [r] 1.6/3, Eve [r] 1.5/2, R U The Girl [r] 1.5/2

A18-49            CBS 2.9/8, Fox 2.4/7, NBC 2.3/7, ABC 1.8/5, WB and UPN .9/3

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1944 – After more than 4 dark years of Nazi occupation, Paris is liberated by the United States 4th Infantry Division and the French 2nd Armored Division.  Fortunately, German General Dietrich von Choltitz defied Hitler’s order to burn the city and all its monuments to the ground prior to any surrender.  After the signed surrender, French General Charles de Gaulle led a joyous liberation march down the Champs d’Elysees.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  This commercial featured a bunch of women looking out of an office window during their work break at a slender yet muscular construction worker, who had just taken off his shirt. What was this an advertisement for? DIET COKE featuring the buffed Lucky Vanos.  Kudos to:  Tara Canny-WE/NY; Maureen Ruane-NBC Universal Syndication/Atlanta; Amy Gordon-Showtime Networks/NY; Kathy Quinn-The WB/NY; Chris Schwieterman-Raycom Media/Montgomery AL; Amanda Kilman-Ackerman McQueen/Oklahoma City; Jessica Young-Turner Broadcasting/Chicago; Pamela Mapua-GSD&M/Austin; Daniel Dise-GREY Entertainment/Burbank; Sonny Anyaso-The Media Edge/LA; Micki Sackler-Fox Movie Channel/LA; Claudine Unterman-Nielsen Media Research/LA

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question: Where would one find a Fish, a Cage, and a female attorney? (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.)

Later — Cyn
08.25.05  – 5:11am
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Copyright Cynthia Turner 2005

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  Thursday, August 25, 2005

ABC              Movie:  Evolution, Primetime Live
CBS              Big Brother, CSI [r], Without A Trace [r]
FOX              Movie: Sweet Home Alabama
NBC              Joey [r], Will & Grace [r],  Scrubs [r], Scrubs [r],  ER [r]
PAX              Doc,  Diagnosis Murder, Early Edition
UPN              WWE Smackdown
WB               Smallville [r], Everwood [r]
TELE             El Cuerpo del Deseo, Los Plateados, El Principe Azul
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra,  Aqui y Ahora