Cynopsis

02/12/08

Good Morning.  It’s Tuesday, February 12, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

ABC Entertainment announced pickups of nine primetime shows for the 2008-2009 season: Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who? and Ugly Betty.

The CW has moved forward wtih its post-strike plans and has ordered a handful of new episodes for five of its series: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, Reaper and Smallville. New episodes could be back on the air in late March or early April.  Other CW shows which are expected to hit the air with new episodes include Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, and Aliens in America.

Tonight’s Premieres:
BBC America: Last Restaurant Standing at 8p
CBS: Big Brother 9 at 9p and Jericho at 10p
CNBC: Swoosh! Inside Nike at 10p

While ABC’s order for next season and The CW’s plans for this season answers some questions for viewers, others remain – and the biggest one is when will new episodes of current shows be back on television. The answer – dunno.  Each show is different – depending on where they were in production when the strike was called, and how quickly episodes can be turned out. If the show is beginning with no scripts in the pipe, we’re looking at weeks.  And then each network must decide which shows at this point are worth ramping up again for the remainder of this fitful season, and how many episodes they want to make and air, assuming the season does end in May.  Some are talking about the potential of extending the season into June, and the likelihood of that seems slim given the huge HUT/PUT drop offs post-May. All in all, it’s a wait-and-hopefully-see game.

FX debuts season two of The Riches, starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver starting March 18 at 10p. The network scheduled seven new episodes airing on consecutive Tuesdays at 10p.

Fuel TV drops in with a new reality series Fuel TV presents Camp Woodward on February 17 at 830p. The six-part series gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of three teenage skateboarders as they live and learn at Camp Woodward, the world’s best (and coolest) action sports training facility.

here!, the premium gay television network, opens a new program called The Ben and Dave Show on March 14, an uncensored commentary show focused on a variety of issues hosted by Ben Harvey and Dave Rubin.

GSN will launch a new, live game show called GSN Live airing weekdays from 12-3p ET, starting on February 25th. Hosted by Fred Roggin, the game includes an interactive component wherein viewers at home can participate by calling an 800 number, or by going online at GSN.com. 

USA Network has picked up a bevy of new theatricals from New Line TV – some of which have not yet been released.  According to Variety, the titles include Semi-Pro (release date 2/29), S#x and the City: The Movie (release date 5/30), He’s Just Not that Into You (release date 8/1), and the previously released The Golden Compass, Rendition, Running Scared, The Number 23, El Cantante, Martian Child and Shoot ‘Em Up.  The terms include a 4-1/2 year deal, the flexibility to run the titles on USA’s sister cable nets, and New Line’s retaining the rights to create additional broadcast and/or cable windows during the term.  The majority of the titles will go to USA in 2010, after HBO’s pay TV window.

Completely off topic but since 20%+ of our readers use a blackberry, this may be of interest if you are using a RIM Blackberry:  We’ve been experiencing problems since approx 3pm ET yesterday getting and receiving emails, and this is what our provider is telling us:

Mailtrust’s Managed Exchange service is experiencing issues with the Blackberry Enterprise Servers (BES) that are affecting the activation of the Blackberry services, sending/receiving of email and synchronization of personal information management data on Blackberry devices.

 

Research In Motion (RIM) has announced an ongoing BlackBerry infrastructure outage that is affecting Blackberry users on all North American wireless carrier networks, which includes limited connectivity to Mailtrust’s BlackBerry Enterprise Servers.  Research In Motion is unable to provide an estimated time of service restoral and we will provide further updates as more information is made available.

 

As Research In Motion begins to restore services within their BlackBerry infrastructure, users will experience a delayed delivery of their messages to their BlackBerry handheld devices, and messages pending to be sent from their BlackBerry handheld devices will be delivered or may need to be resent.

A&E ordered its first original scripted drama series in more than six years with Cleaner starring Benjamin Bratt. Beginning production soon, Cleaner is set to debut this summer. Bratt will star as William “The Cleaner” Banks, who after hitting rock bottom during the birth of his twins, makes a deal with God to control his addictions and dedicate his life to help others. The series is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television. Concurrently, A&E is proceeding with the development of additional scripted dramas.

E! will ramp up a new reality show focused on the life and times of actress and now single mom Denise Richards, from Ryan Seacrest Prods. Both Seacrest and Richards are listed as executive productions, reports Variety.

Casting Call: BL4 Productions is casting for NBC’s The Biggest Loser, searching for duos who want to compete together to lose pounds and win $250,000. Open casting calls will happen this Saturday in Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta; on February 23 in Nashville, New York City, Oklahoma City and Miami; on March 1 in Columbus and Suffolk, VA; and on March 8 in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and legal U.S. citizens. More information can be found at nbc.com/casting.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:   Yahoo said thanks but no thanks to Microsoft’s $31/share offer, indicating that $40/share rolled much better off the tongue. Microsoft responded by characterizing its offer as “full and fair” and describing a merged Microhoo as a company “better positioned to compete in the online services market.” Meanwhile Yahoo restarted stalled merger talks with Time Warner’s AOL as a last ditch effort to avoid the deal, reported the Times of London. Full edition: CYN DIGITAL. (Or to listen to the Cynopsis Digital Podcast click here or subscribe to it at iTunes here .)

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY :    The animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be released in movie theaters on August 15, prior to bowing as a half-hour animated series on Cartoon Network and TNT, according to the series to www.starwars.com , the official Star Wars website.  The project is a partnership between Lucasfilm Ltd, Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc.  The international release dates for the movie are TBA. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc. entered into an investment and content deal with Fujisankei Communications International (FCI), a subsidiary of Japan-based Fuji Television Network, Inc. FCI will make a financial investment in IA while also providing news and entertainment programming, including Japanese dramas and variety shows for iaTV in the U.S. Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL. 

Sunday – A18-49 Analysis:  CBS hit the high notes to win Sunday night with 5.8/14 A18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. FOX took the 7p hour as the last of the Pro Bowl game did a 3.2/9. CBS snagged first prize the remainder of the evening as the 50th annual Grammy Awards did a 6.8/16 at 8p; a 7.2/16 during 9p; and a 6.6/16 at 10p.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Sunday, February 10, 2008 (February Sweep Day 11) – time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

CBS: 10.3/16       60 Minutes 8.6/14, Grammy Awards 10.8/16

ABC: 7.2/11         America’s Funniest Videos 5.3/9, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition [2 hours] 9.0/14, Brothers & Sisters 5.8/9

FOX: 4.5/7      AFC/NFC Pro Bowl 5.6/9, The Simpsons [r] 4.1/6, King of the Hill 3.6/5, Family Guy [r] 4.1/6

NBC: 3.4/5       American Gladiators [r] 2.0/3, American Gladiators [r] 2.1/3, 100 Most Outrageous Moments 4.8/7

UNIV: 1.3/2       Hora Pico 1.2/2, Chavo Animado 1.2/2, Gran Noche de los Guapos 1.1/2, Los 5 Magnificos 1.4/2

CW: 0.7/1         CW Now 0.5/1, Everybody Hates Chris [r] 0.6/1, Everybody Hates Chris [r] 0.8/1, Aliens in America [r] 0.8/1, Girlfriends [r] 0.6/1, The Game [r] 0.7/1

TELE: 0.6/1       Cine en Casa 0.7/1, Cine Millonario 0.6/1

A18-49: CBS 5.8/14, ABC 4.3/10, FOX 3.2/8, NBC 2.1/5, UNIV 1.1/3, TELE 0.6/2, CW 0.3/1

NBC Universal named Dan Renaldo as EVP/Television Production in the areas of technology and operations, starting immediately. Dan will lead all television production operations and production efforts for the NBC Television Network, NBC News, NBC Sports, NBC Entertainment and NBCU Cable. He will also have technology and operations oversight of NBC O&Os and Telemundo and will be charged with the creation and execution of new media multi-platform strategies, in addition to short and long-term planning for production and post-production television operations. Dan reports to John Eck, President, NBC Television Network and Media Works.

Discovery Communications appointed Clark Bunting as President/Emerging Networks group, reporting to David Zaslav, CEO. In his new role, Clark will head the programming, marketing, scheduling, development and online efforts for Science Channel, Investigations Discovery and Military Channel. Additionally, Carole Tomko will take over as President/Discovery Studios succeeding Clark, in addition to retaining her current duties as GM of Discovery Health Channel, FitTV and Discovery Kids Channel. Carole reports to Mark Hollinger, COO. Furthermore at Discovery’s global headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, Darin Prill was hired as SVP/Architecture and Development to lead a team of senior IT architects and engineers concentrated on aligning the company’s technology and complete business strategies. Darin will report to David Kline, CIO.

Lynn Kadri advanced to VP/Special Events Marketing with ESPN to supervise all facets of the company’s hospitality and ticket operations including those special events that involve corporate initiatives. Based in New York, Lynn will report to Moira Davis, VP/Media Strategy and Synergy Marketing. In addition, ESPN made Damon Phillips its new VP for ESPN360.com, the broadband network. Damon will lead the strategic product vision, managing the programming and operations. Based in Bristol, CT, Damon will report to John Zehr, SVP/Digital Media Production and John Papa, VP/Strategic Program Planning.

Former Tennis Channel sales executive, Timothy Russell joins TV Guide Network as VP/National Advertising Sales. Timothy is charged with increasing advertising revenue for the network, TV Guide Broadband, TV Guide On-Demand and Gemstar-TV Guide’s interactive programming guide. Starting immediately, he will report to Richy Glassberg, SVP/Director Advertising Sales.

Taffy Entertainment, the global distribution and brand management division of MoonScoop Group, announced staffing changes in its Consumer Products and Marketing Group: David DiLorenzo was promoted to VP/Consumer Products and Marketing based in Los Angeles to head the company’s North American consumer products and marketing efforts. Marc Grossman was elevated to Senior Director/Worldwide Corporate Communications. Based in Los Angeles, he will work with the Paris team to coordinate European efforts as well as supervising all corporate messaging, advertising, publicity and events. In the company’s Creative Services department, Armelle Madelin was upped to Senior Director/Worldwide Creative Services based in Paris; and David Aragon was upgraded to Senior Manager/Creative Services, North America based in Los Angeles. David Aragon will report to Armelle Madelin, who along with David DiLorenzo and Marc Grossman all report to Cynthia Money, President/Worldwide Consumer Products and Marketing, who continues to report to Nicholas Atlan, co-CEO of the MoonScoop Group based in Paris.

Andy Epstein is now Managing Editor/News for the Dr. Phil Show. Previously, he was Supervising Producer at TMZ where he helped launch the syndication television show.

Lifetime Networks recruited Lori Conkling as EVP/Distribution beginning March 1. Lori will manage all distribution for Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network as well as Lifetime Real Women. Reporting to Andrea Wong, President/CEO, Lori will also lead the expansion of new and current product platforms including Lifetime VOD, Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network HD and Lifetime Movie Network en Espanol on demand. Since 2004, Lori has been VP/National Accounts for Disney and ESPN Media Networks.

TV One added Scott Perkins to the new position of VP/Creative Services to spearhead the company’s brand efforts to ensure consistency across all marketing activities and platforms. Scott will also manage design and brand direction for all on-air and off-air graphics and campaigns and manage design and production of corporate brand materials. Prior to this appointment, Scott was Design Director at CNN in Atlanta for ten years.

Don Scotti and Joe Takats are Co-Founders of the new Hollywood full-service marketing agency Sweet Spot Productions which will develop and produce consumer and trade campaigns to promote feature films and videogames.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CABLEU

This day in History:  2004 – Mattel announced that Barbie and Ken were breaking up. The dolls had met on the set of their first TV commercial together in 1961.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What was the name of the song by a popular Motown group that was used as the theme song for the Vietnam War based show China Beach?  REFLECTIONS (sung by Diana Ross and the Supremes)    Kudos to: Janet Patterson-CMI Research/Atlanta; Jon McNally-Nicktoons Network/NY; Tony Reynolds-Select Film Fund Management, LLC/Columbus, Ohio; Cheryl Lightfoot-WT05/Toledo, OH; Judy Margolis-The Ad Place/Dallas; John G. Smith-KUOK-TV Univision/Oklahoma City; Pamela M. Tierney-MMT/Chicago; Jack Hodgson-School of Journalism & Broadcasting Oklahoma State University/Stillwater, OK; Yvonne Yuro-Haworth Marketing & Media/LA; Alicia Lewis/LA; Evan Weinstein-Hippodrum Entertainment/LA; Jocelyn Reyes-JR Data Management/Santa Clarita, CA; Jack Krayson-SCTV/Toronto; Geraldine Anne Gately-Spotzer Media Inc./Amsterdam

Today’s Trivia Question:  A classic TV show’s theme song called him “a soldier of fortune” and a “knight without armor in a savage land.” Which character was this?     (
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
02.12.08

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT – Tuesday, February 12, 2008

ABC: Just for Laughs, Just for Laughs [r], According to Jim, Carpoolers, Boston Legal   
CBS: NCIS [r], Big Brother 9 [p ], Jericho [p ]
CW: Reaper [r], One Tree Hill
FOX: American Idol
ION: Mama’s Family, Mama’s Family, Drew Carey Show, Drew Carey Show, Who’s the Boss?, Who’s the Boss?
MNT: Street Patrol, Street Patrol [r], Jail, Jail [r]
NBC: The Biggest Loser, Law & Order: SVU [r]
PBS: Nova, The Mormons [r]
TELE: La Traicion, Victoria, Pecados Ajenos
UNIV: Al Diablo con los Guapos, Pasion, Aqui y Ahora

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