CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

09/16/04

Good morning. It’s Thursday, September 16, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

CBS won the night on Tuesday with two thirds of its primetime schedule original programming.  CBS delivered an overall 3.8/11 A18-49 rating for the night according to fast HH ratings from Nielsen Media Research.   At 8pm the second half of Fox’s 2-part Trading Spouses led the hour with a 3.3/10, just a share point ahead of a repeat of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. NBC’s Last Comic Standing delivered a 7 share, behind a repeat of NCIS on CBS.  At 9pm CBS was in front with Big Brother (4.2/11), in a dead tie with NBC’s Father of the Pride (8-830p), and two share points ahead of Scrubs. The Next Great Champ on Fox earned a 2.6/7, up slightly week to week by approx 7%.  At 10p CBS was in front with Amazing Race 4.7/13.

Tonight’s Premieres:
ABC:  Primetime Live at 10p
CBS:  Survivor: Vanuato at 8pm
NBC:  Will & Grace at 8:40p

Primetime Live begins its 15th season tonight, returning to its original roots of hard nosed, in depth, investigative reporting and a return to its original LIVE format. The new season includes new graphics and updated Bill Conte music, all distinctly with a younger feel, albeit a subjective feel, and a slightly off-trail musical recap segment called That Was the Week that Was.  The show begins at 10p and while Donald Trump is in the Board Room down the dial, Chris Cuomo opens Primetime Live with the inside deal on Donald Trump and the Donald Trump empire. The program also includes a report from Cynthia McFadden about female teachers accused of inappropriate illicit behavior with their male students. Later on this season will be ABC News polls, including one on Teen S#x, LIVE reporting as events warrant (potentially Hurricane Ivan for instance) and the traditional celebrity interviews.

NBC Universal’s The Jane Pauley Show averaged a 1.8/5 in metered markets on a weighted average basis (including the premiere on 9/6, Labor Day); and in its second week she has averaged a 1.7/5, according to Nielsen Media Research.  A drop of a very mild 6% week to week.  The unweighted average story is a little better since Jane thus far has performed better outside the top markets.  For her premiere week, the unweighted metered market average was a 2.1/6, while the second week was 2.0/6. Also, please keep in mind numbers out of Florida have been interrupted several times due to the unbelievable string of hurricanes in that neck of the woods.  Overall, Jane was down approx 6% week to week in about half of the metered markets, up in approx 18 markets, and flat in eight markets.  Now in her third week, from a viewer’s POV, Jane seems to have found her rhythm and appears to be more comfortable, making the viewing more comfortable as well.

As expected, Bravo has ordered up a new reality series featured the days and times of Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston’s husband.  The series, called Being Bobby Brown,  will include Whitney, as well as their children.  The series is expected to debut in 2nd qtr 2005.

The decision was rumored several weeks ago, and yesterday Martha Stewart confirmed – she will fulfill her 5-month prison sentence beginning as soon as possible, rather than wait for the outcome of her appeal.  The decision was both a business and personal one – needed to move both aspects of her life forward and to put “this nightmare” behind her.  Pretty darn courageous, I’d say.  It is not yet known exactly when her incarceration will begin; that news will come from the prison system once they know where she will spend those five months.

Casting / Production / Development:

• ABC is looking at a sitcom pilot for Tom Arnold, loosely based on his life as a stepfather to Roseanne’s children.  According to Hollywood Reporter, a script has been ordered from That 70’s Show team, Josh Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia.
• Traylor Howard has joined the cast of MONK on USA as Monk’s new assistant.  Her episodes will begin airing midway through the 3rd season which kicks off in January.
• The Jenna Elfman/Chuck Lorre sitcom project for CBS has faded.  Hollywood Reporter sites creative differences led to the demise of what was supposed to be a midseason start.

NHL Hockey fans will have a little extra time on their hands this season, what with the lockout and all.  If you’re not a hockey fan, you should know then that a union dispute has left players and owners at odds, leading to the player lockout which may well put the entire hockey season in the penalty box.  Also ousted in the lockout are those television outlets with expectations of airing the sport this winter.  While contracts don’t require the outlets to pay for hockey they aren’t airing, they will have to fill some significant programming holes.  NBC has hockey on their sports schedule beginning January 8 and hasn’t made any adjustments that schedule as yet, in anticipation this may be resolved by then. However in the event it has not been resolved, that time will go back to NBC affiliates. Other nets, such as ESPN2 with plans to air hockey next month, will likely fill with other fall sports such as college football. Fox Sports Nets regional networks have hockey in several areas, and may well fill with non-pro hockey, classic games, as well as other available programming. Since it’s difficult to predict how long the lockout will go, firm plans have not yet been laid out.  The bigger concern will be the ratings loss from the substitute programming, and the revenue loss.

Barbara Walters will leave the 20/20 anchor desk after the 9/24 airing. She’s not going away altogether – she still has The View (ABC Daytime).  This Friday, the show will look at the more than 700 interviews Barbara has done for 20/20 over the years; and for her last 20/20 outing, she has one more interview to share – Mary Kay Letourneau, the teacher who developed a sexual relationship with one of her sixth grade students.

USA Network’s US Open Tennis coverage earned it a primetime average of 1.1 HH with 1.3 million viewers, up 15% from last year’s ratings average, and up 21% in total viewers vs. last year’s coverage. Top ratings came on the evening of the Williams vs. Capriati women’s quarterfinal match which earned the net a 2.2 national HH rating, with 2.6 million viewers.

Animal Planet has unearthed Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, to host its HOWL-O-WEEN fun the week beginning October 24.  Programming that week will include Nature’s Vampires, Most Extreme Monster Myths and Hollywood’s Creepiest Creatures.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004. Fast National Household 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

CBS     6.9/11  NCIS [r] 6.8/11, Big Brother 6.8/11, Amazing Race 7.0/12

NBC     5.7/9   Last Comic Standing 4.3/7, Father of the Pride 6.0/10, Scrubs 5.0/8, Law & Order: SVU [r] 7.2/12

ABC     4.5/7   Extreme Makeover Home Edition [r] 5.3/9, According to Jim [r] 5.2/8, According to Jim [r] 5.2/8, The Benefactor [r] 3.0/5

FOX     4.0/6   Trading Spouses 4.6/8, Next Great Champ 3.3/5

WB      2.3/4   Gilmore Girls [r] 2.7/4, One Tree Hill [r] 1.9/3

UPN     1.6/3   All of Us [r] 2.0/3, Eve [r] 1.8/3, The Player 1.4/2

A18-49  CBS 3.8/11, NBC 3.2/9, FOX 2.8/8, ABC 2.4/7, WB 1.2/4, UPN 0.9/3

A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION

Source: NTI, Galaxy Explorer.  9/6-9/12/04, or as dated.  Rank and Growth based on HH Cvg Rtg.  Gray = 9/8, 8p.  Ties #2 program = Bliss (9/12, 6p), Roseanne (9/7, 630p; 9/11 2p & 230p); Talk Sex (9/12,11p), Birdcage (9/11, 8p; 9/12 730p); My-Mistake (9/12, 6p). 

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1620:  The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England.  The 102 passengers were ostensibly bound for Virginia, but landed well beyond the bounds of the Virginia Company, in the region John Smith named “New England.”  Fewer than half the passengers were pursuing religious freedom.  The rest, like the financial backers of the venture, hoped to make a profit in the New World.  In the first year, half the settlers died of disease, but the small settlement survived and eventually became self-sufficient, although never wildly profitable.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What U.S. President visited the Maxwell House hotel in New Orleans and declared the coffee was ‘good to the last drop’, thus giving Maxwell House coffee its marketing tag? THEODORE ROOSEVELT (though some have noted the hotel was in Nashville).  Bully for:  Dan Margherita-ICR/Media PA; Bruce Shachat-NBC/NY; Marc Wollis-The Golf Channel/Orlando; Shera Gumnit-Horizon Media/NY; Jason Roland-KMIZ/Columbia MO; Kenny Mueller-NCC/Dallas; Jim Gray-Frog Light Prods/Missoula; Cindy Wilhite-WNDY/Indianapolis; Stan Justice-Litton Ent/Hermosa Beach; Muhammad Eldereiny-RPA/Santa Monica; Mike Kimmel-The Actors Network/Studio City; Noah Pollack-Renegade 83/LA.

A MESSAGE FROM ROGERS MEDIA

Call for Help is Back! Harbourfront Distribution is pleased to announce the production of a new Call For Help starring tech guru Leo Laporte. The 1hour show helps viewers, from the tech savvy to the novice, get the most out of their tech and stay current on the latest products.There are 160 episodes available for all markets. For details call:Malcolm Dunlop 416-260-3601

Today’s Trivia Question:   What frozen food company uses a windmill in its logo?  (click
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 COURT TV

Later — Cyn

Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis
09/16/04  5:27am

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CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS

JOB OPENING:  WRITER/PRODUCER-On Air Promos, Oxygen Media/NY: 5+ yrs exp Spv/write/produce/direct promo & branding campaigns. Strong creative a must. Reel & Resume: Human Resources, Oxygen Media, 75 Ninth Ave, 7^th Fl, NY NY10011  (9/23)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH: ADLINK, LA. Join the nation’s leading cable interconnect and lead us into the future. Broadcast cable and agency knowledge expected. Work hard, have fun. Email resume to:
   (9/23)

JOB OPENING:  CLIENT PARTNER, INVISION/NY. Coll.deg + 2-5 yrs exp. Exc. knowledge of Ad Sales process + DealMaker experience. Manage implementation of DealMaker + manage client relationship. Resume:
(9/23)

JOB OPENING:  WRITER/PRODUCER ON-AIR PROMOTIONS/NY. Leading sports TV/online company in search of a key player to write/produce promos for our on-air and on-line businesses. 3 yrs exp in on-air promotions. E-mail:
(9/23)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT/EVENT COORDINATOR/LA. Solid Travel bckgrnd, research/create travel pgms, write proposals, assist w/event execution. Email:
; full desc @ http://www.tpeinc.com/helpwanted/ (9/23)

JOB OPENING:  SALES ASSISTANT/Outdoor Life Network, NY. Entry-level Ad Sales. Assist sales staff in all aspects of order process. 4-yr degree, strong computer/interpersonal skills req. Email resume/salary
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JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE-National Lampoon Networks/LA. Min 5 yrs bcst sales and/or sponsorship sales. Extensive agency/direct client contact list. Creative, promotional driven. Email:
(9/22)

JOB OPENING:  TRAFFIC & DIGITAL ASSETS MGR, HALLMARK CHANNEL/LA. Manage Design Dept in project development; traffic & budget. 2 yrs related exp. Full posting www.hallmarkchannel.com. Send resume to
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JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST/NBC TVSD, NY. Minimum 1 year rep or related Exp.  Generate reports, sales estimates. Knowledge of NSI systems & qualitative data a plus. Email Resume: www.nbcjobs.com, ref #376092 (9/21)

JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXEC/Nielsen, Atlanta. Sell Nielsen products to Southeast Regional Local Stations/Agencies and Atlanta agency list. 5+years research/sales industry experience a must. www.NielsenMedia.com ref:(200402250-JL)  (9/18)

JOB OPENING: CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER/Comcast Spotlight, Union NJ. Work with sales force to create innovative advertising for clients. Shooting/Editing exp; kwldg of Avid. Resume:
. EOE/AA  (9/18)

JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXEC/Warner Bros. TV Dist. Inc./NY. Pgming sales or media research exp pref; extensive travel req’d; degree req’d. Exc comm & presentation skills. Email resume to:
  RE:UCTC/25569BR (9/18)

JOB OPENING:  SR. RESEARCH ANALYST-Nat’l Ad Sales/NICKELODEON-NY. Exp w/Nielsen sftwre, MRI/Simmons. Team player, exc analysis, comm., presentation & writing skills. Cable, online &/or Kids exp A+.  Apply: www.mtvncareers.com EOE (9/18)

JOB OPENING:  BILINGUAL ANCHOR/PRODUCERS/INN, Davenport, IA. Truly Bilingual preferred but will consider proper Spanish w/some English. Excellent Spanish copy writing a must.IMMEDIATE OPENINGS. Email
EOE (9/18)

JOB OPENING:  ASST PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR, NYC. Work w/ the Promo Mgr to develop, negotiate, secure & track promos.  Prof. negotiator w/ excel verbal & written comm skills.  Knwldg of Lotus Notes & Word.  Send res to
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JOB OPENING:  PRODUCER/EDITOR, MTVN Creative Services, NY. Min 5 yrs of professional hands-on experience w/video production, Avid and Final Cut editing, After Effects, design, writing and budgets. Email:
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JOB OPENING:  FIELD MARKETING MANAGER, OLN – Stamford/Chicago/LA. Develop/implement grass roots mktg tactics for targeted systems. Sell mktg & LAS promos to assigned customers.Resume/Salary:
(9/17)

JOB OPENING:  SALES ASSISTANT/Galavision, NY. Detail-oriented, exc comm/math/MS Office skills; to asst Sales Team w/presentation prep/rpts/clerical work. Spanish speaking highly pref. Resume:
, fax 212-953-0191  (9/21)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —

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SITUATION WANTED:  REALITY TV PRODUCER. Network credits. Experience in story, field, and post. LA Based. Can travel. Creative, good with people, a great collaborator.
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SITUATION WANTED:  LA based, POST PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE with over 15 years experience working for a major studio. Experience in operations, sales and digital asset management. E-mail:
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SITUATION WANTED:  Exp. COMPOSER/SOUND DESIGNER for kids TV and games. Music Dir. for Barney 10 years, work for Marvel Animation, Sony Wonder and others. Info: http://singletonproductions.com or
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A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS AD SALES

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  SEPTEMBER 16, 2004:

ABC             Secrets of Extreme Makeover, The Benefactor, Primetime Live [p]
CBS             Survivor: Vanuato [p], CSI [r], Without a Trace [r]
FOX             The O.C.: Obsess Completely (OTO), Totally Outrageous Behavior, World’s Craziest Videos
NBC             Joey, Will & Grace [p] (8:40-9:20), The Apprentice (9:20-11p)
PAX             On the Cover, Balderdash, Early Edition, Diagnosis Murder
UPN             WWE Smackdown
WB              Blue Collar TV, Blue Collar TV [r], Jack & Bobby [r]
TELE            Prisonera, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV            Mariana de la Noche, Amarte es mi Pecado, Aqui y Ahora

END OF PAGE MESSAGE FROM INTERMAT, INC.