Miramax/Warner Bros. share THE AVIATOR’s 5 wins

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

03/01/05

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, March 1, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Sunday night’s 77th Annual Academy Awards easily won the night for ABC with an overall 11.7/27 A18-49 according to Fast Affiliate Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.  The evening began with the Barbara Walters Special drilling up a 5.6/15 A18-49 with 17.7 million viewers.  At 8p was the Oscar Countdown 30m show, averaging a 12.0/28 demo with 34.6 million viewers.  And the Oscars themselves, 830p-11p, delivered a 14.1/31 with 38.8 million viewers.  Compared with last year’s final numbers, the total viewers are down from 43.5 million.  More on these numbers and how they compare with previous years, when they are updated with national final numbers.

Fox will cut back on its American Idol by making the Wednesday night show a half hour – effective immediately, thereby cutting the chase a lot quicker in the weekly elimination episode.  The show was expected to return to a 30m format at the end of the month with the launch of Life on a Stick, and now the timing has just been moved up by a couple of weeks.  Until that show debuts, repeats of That 70’s Show will air at 930p.  Also launching sooner than expected is the new Pamela Anderson show, Stacked (20th) about a woman working in a bookstore.  That show is now on the scheduled for Wednesday, April 13 at 830p, picking up where Simple Life ends.

Officially ordered by the FCC yesterday:  “ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, that the Complaints filed against the licensees of the ABC Network Stations regarding their broadcast on November 11, 2004, of the film “Saving Private Ryan” ARE HEREBY DENIED.”  In a statement from FCC Chairman Michael Powell, he said in part: 

“… Saving Private Ryan is filled with expletives and material arguably unsuitable for some audiences, but it is not indecent in the unanimous view of the Commission. … The horror of war and the enormous personal sacrifice it draws on cannot be painted in airy pastels.  The true colors are muddy brown and fire red and any accurate depiction of this significant historical tale could not be told properly without bringing that sense to the screen.  It is for these reasons that the FCC has previously declined to rule this film indecent.  … it is the responsible broadcaster that will provide full and wide disclosure of what viewers are likely to see and hear, to allow individuals and families to make their own well-informed decisions whether to watch or not.  I believe ABC and its affiliated stations made a responsible effort to do just that in this case.  … Context remains vital to any consideration of whether profanity or sexual content constitutes legally actionable indecency.  The Commission must stay faithful to considering complaints within their setting and temper any movement toward stricter liability if it hopes to give full effect to the confines of the First Amendment.”

Tonight’s Finales:
ABC     NYPD Blue at 10p

Tonight’s Premieres:
CBS      The Amazing Race at 9p
UPN     America’s Next Top Model #3 at 9p

Casting / Development / Production:

• FX has ordered up two new series: 
  • Set to launch this July, Over There (20th/Steven Bochco Prods) is a contemporary war drama about soldiers of a U.S. Army Unit in Iraq during their first tour of duty, exploring the effects of war on those soldiers on the front, as well as their families at home.  FX has ordered 13 eps.  Cast of Over There includes Josh Henderson, Luke MacFarlane, Erik Palladino, Keith Robinson, Sticky Fingaz, Lizette Carrion, Nicki Aycox, and Sprague Grayden.
  • Thief (Fox Television Studios/Regency Television/Pariah Pictures) stars Andre Braugher as the head of a robbery crew who’s attempting to put together the biggest robberty of his career and at the same time faces personal issues with his teenage daughter among other ordinary life interrupts.  Thief is set to launch in early 2006. FX has ordered 6 eps.  Other cast members include: Yancy Arias, Malik Yoba, Mae Whitman, Will Yun Lee, Michael Rooker, Clifton Collins and Dina Meyer .

Casting Updates:

• Lauren German has been cast in UPN‘s Wildlife (Paramount Network TV/Axelrod Edwards) in the role of Rose. Wildlife is about twentysomething friends living in Hollywood’s Silverlake area. Cast already includes Denise Richard, Eric Balfour, Tamara Taylor and Omar Benson Miller and directing is David Straiton.
• ABC‘s comedy pilot Joint Custody (20th) has signed Marilu Henner as the mother of a college student returning home to find things aren’t quite as he had left them. Also recently cast were Nick D’Agosto and Will McCormack; and directing the pilot is Shawn Levy.
• Soccer Moms (Touchstone TV) for ABC has added Gina Torres to star opposite Kristen Davies as the two soccer moms who in their spare time are private investigators.
• WB‘s drama pilot Haley’s Comet (20th/David E. Kelley Prods) has nearly completed casting with the addition of Audrey Marie Anderson in the title role, Adam LaVorgna as the romantic interest, Marika Dominczyk as Haley’s friend, and Sean Maher as Chief Resident at the hospital where Haley is attending medical school.
• WB has added Laura San Giacomo to its untitled drama cast about four sisters living in NYC and making their way in love and careers. The project is from Liz Tuccillo, produced by Warner Bros. TV and Classic IV Prods.
• Another untitled comedy project for WB is about two twin sisters with nothing in common from David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Cast as one of the sister is Sara Gilbert.
• WB drama pilot Grown Men about five frat brothers reuniting more than a decade after college years, has added Dean Cain as one of the brothers.  Thus far, no studio is attached, and the project still has a cast contingent restriction on it.
• Fox‘s Amy Coyne (20th) drama pilot, about a woman (Ashley Williams) who inherits her father’s sports agency, has added Bill Bellamy to the cast that already includes Tom Berenger, Kate Jennings Grant and Phillip Vaden
• NBC drama pilot Book of Daniel (NBC Universal/Sony Pictures TV) starring Aidan Quinn has added Susanna Thompson as the minister’s wife.  Other cast members include Christian Campbell and Alison Pill as the minister’s children; Dylan Baker as the church warden and Garrett Dillahunt will play God.
• NBC‘s Blue Skies (NBC Universal Studios) has added Anna Faris in the lead role, about a stockbroker turned YMCA lifeguard.
• CBS has added David Arquette to the cast of the comedy pilot The Commuters (Paramount Network TV), which also includes Jeri Ryan.

Buena Vista Television has cleared The Tony Danza Show in Chicago for next fall – moving the show from its current late night berth on WLS, to a noon time period on WMAQ.  This is the second top five market where the show has switched stations and earned an upgrade as a result – the other being LA where it moved from KABC to the duopoly KCBS/KCAL.  Thus far in the February sweep, Danza has averaged a 2.4 HH Rtg on big three network affiliates airing the show between 9a and 4p.

Lifetime has ordered a second season of its freshman reality series How Clean is Your House? (FremantleMedia North America), with cleaning wizards Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie. Currently the show airs on Mondays at 11p and thus far this season has averaged 1.4 million total viewers. Also coming in April is a new reality series, I Married a Princess, an upclose and personal look at the lives of Catherine Oxenberg and her husband Casper Van Dien, the so-called Hollywood royal, and their brood of children. Princess debuts on 4/18 at 8p.

Casting Notice:  How tough are these three questions:

• Who holds the MLB record for grand slams in a career?
• What college did Jerry West attend?
• Name the quarterback who led the Packers to wins in Super Bowls 1 & 2?

If they seem easy to you, perhaps you are just what ESPN is looking for.  Stump the Schwab will be back for a second season, and ESPN needs folks to challenge the world’s greatest sports mind.  Auditions will be held through February and March 2005, with open auditions in NY and other cities to be announced soon. Visit ESPN.com and click on Stump The Schwab to download the audition application. Fill it out and send it back via regular mail or e-mail to
  Call The Schwab hotline 888-748-8070 for updated information.
Quiz answers: Lou Gehrig, West Virginia, Bart Starr

Hank Close has been named EVP/Ad Sales, for MTV Networks’ Music and Comedy Group – which includes MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Espanol,VH1, VH1 Classic, CMT, Comedy Central, and LOGO – based in NYC and reporting to Larry Divney, President, MTV Networks Ad Sales.  Hank will be responsible for managing the channels’ On-Air and On-Line sales teams, working with Divney to ensure that MTV Networks provides its advertisers and marketing partners with high value and customer service as well as creating new sales opportunities for our clients to reach their consumers.  Sue Danaher, Close’s counterpart, will continue as EVP Sales of the MTVN Entertainment sales team which includes all the NICKELODEON  TV and on-line brands including Spike TV, Nick at Nite, TV Land. CBS/Kids, Noggin, The “N” and G.A.S.

Dr. Libby Haight O’Connell has been named Chief Historian, SVP/Corporate Outreach, AETN.  In her new position, Dr. O’Connell will continue in her role as historical adviser for The History Channel programming department. In addition, she develops and produces educational and community-based initiatives for A&E Television Networks, oversees onsite video production for A&E and The History Channel with organizations such as the Smithsonian and the National Park Service.  Dr. O’Connell and her staff also provide educational content for the websites of the AETN networks. 

Brown Johnson has been upped to Executive Creative Director/Preschool Television, Nickelodeon.  Johnson will continue to oversee Nick Jr., and will now also oversee development and production at Noggin.  Johnson is known for establishing the Nick Jr. (9a-2p) programming block as a preschool haven where young children learn through play, with programs including Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer (to name a few).

Marv Albert will join the YES Network this year after signing a multiyear deal to be the play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Nets, starting this fall.  Albert will call approx 50 games in the upcoming season, as well as host a 13 ep series that will launch in September.

Sunday, February 27, 2005. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

ABC     20.1/30  Barbara Walters Special 10.8/17, Oscar Countdown 21.1/31, 77th Annual Academy Awards 23.7/35

NBC     6.3/9    Dateline 5.9/9, L&O: CI 4.8/7, L&O 6.9/10, L&O: SVU 7.5/12

FOX     5.6/8    Movie:  Independence Day 5.6/8

CBS     4.7/7    60 Minutes 6.0/10, Cold Case [r] 5.6/8, Movie: Collateral Damage 3.6/5

WB      1.3/2    Summerland 1.6/3, Summerland 1.2/2, Summerland 1.0/1

A18-49  ABC 11.7/27, Fox 3.9/9, NBC 3.0/7, CBS 1.9/4, WB 0.7/2

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1954 – The US produces the biggest man-made explosion the world has yet known when it detonates a hydrogen bomb in the Bikini archipelago in the Marshall Islands. Six hundred times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, the explosion sent up a mushroom cloud 100 miles wide; 265 people were accidentally exposed to radiation fallout.
 
Answer to Yesterday’s Post-Oscar Movie Trivia Question: Only twice has one man won Best Actor Oscar two years in a row.  Tom Hanks won for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.  Who was the other man to win back-to-back?   SPENCER TRACY – CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937) AND BOYS TOWN (1938).  Kudos to: Bret Rice-Comcast Spotlight/Pittsburgh; Evan Kutner-WNBC/NY; Ed O’Donnell-Alfred Haber Distribution/Palisades Park; Sharon Cauthen-WNYC Radio/NY; Candace Heathington-Time Warner Cable Media Sales/Houston; Jason Roland-KMIZ/Columbia MO; Laura Treacy-NCC; Amanda Kilman-The Journal Record/Oklahoma City; Kelly Shacklett-Mai Prods/Burbank; Tammy Brown-Disney & ESPN Media Nets/Burbank; Muhammed Eldereiny-RPA/Santa Monica; Donalee Nelson-Nelson Comm/Santa Maria.

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s TV Trivia Question:  TV Quote — what TV Character said this:  “After all, one man’s goose is another man’s dander.”   (click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone with your answer. 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 MESSAGE FROM ABC FAMILY

Later — Cyn
03.01.05  5:24am

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change a subscription for any Cynopsis edition: www.cynopsis.com

Archived Editions: www.Cynopsis.com
Cynopsis Ad Sales 203-526-8978
Press Release Fax: 203-381-9318
All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free.
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2005

Cyn opsis  CLASSIFIEDS – read by 101,600+ Cynopsis & Cynopsis Kids! readers every day.

JOB OPENING:  HGTV CREATIVE SERV WRITER/PROD. Graphics, sound design, editing & ad sales promotion exp. req. 4+ yrs exp in cable or local station. Send resume/reel: HGTV, 9721 Sherrill Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37932 ATTN: Job 4258-U   (3/8)

PRODUCTION OFFICE SPACE: Turnkey Production Space, West 37th Street NYC, 7,000 sq. ft. space w/ Exec. Offices, Conf. Room, 5 edit suites, and phone & furniture for 50 included. Below Market & Ready-To-Move In! Contact: Alison 917-351-8432  (3/8)

JOB OPENING:  CLIENT SERVICE ASSOC/Nielsen, New York. Service National cable networks in the area of Nielsen LOCAL products. 3+yrs research industry exp. Sales exp. a must. Cable experience a+. www.NielsenMedia.com (200502369-JL)   (3/5)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH MANAGER, MTV Networks, LA. Pro-active team leader w/3-5 yrs media research exp supp. Ad sales, etc. using tradtl. research & innovative category,consumer resources. Apply: www.mtvncareers.com (3/5)

JOB OPENING:  SALES ASSISTANT/BET, NY. Detailed-oriented, organized, multitasker, exc comm & math skills.Prof w/excel, BA/BS. Email resume:
(3/5)

JOB OPENING:  MGR- PHOTOGRAPHY/ONLINE-Disneyland Resort, Anaheim. min 5 yrs prof newsroom exp in Top 30 mkt, exp in news photog/online media/multimedia prod; mgmt exp; Deg in Comm, PR or rel field. Apply: www.DisneyCareers.com (3/4)

JOB OPENING:  SR ANALYST, SALES RESEARCH/ABC FAMILY-NY. 2-3 yrs exp media research, esp cable; savvy w/Nielsen, app. software; track net perf/competitors,adding perspective; develop/track estimates. Email:
  (3/4)

JOB OPENING:  PROGRAM SALES COORD, OLN, Stamford, CT- Assist w/admin of sponsored time buy programming. 2+ yrs sales env exper w/in media industry; programming background a +. See www.olntv.com . Resume/salary:
   (3/4)

JOB OPENING: ON-AIR PROMO SCHEDULER, OLN,Stamford, CT- Schedule all on-air and internet promos and handle contractual obligations. 1-2 yrs prior exp req’d.See www.olntv.com . Resume/salary:
   (3/4)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST-King World/CBS-Short Hills, NJ. 1-3 yrs exp analyzing local mkts data, writing research-based sales pres.; knwldg of Nielsen, WRAP Sweeps, Ovnt systems; Pwrpnt, Excel. Resume:
  (3/10)

JOB OPENING:  MEDIA RELATIONS MGR, MSNBC/NJ: 5-7 yrs publicity exp, preferably in TV.  Excellent written & verbal skills.   Apply to www.gecareers.com and search by job#400916  (3/3)

JOB OPENING:  SR. RESEARCH ANALYST-Lifetime TV/NY (PT-3 days/wk). TV research exp req. Able to analyze data, write assessment & discuss w/clients. Must have MS Office, Nielsen sftwr. Email resume to
   (3/3)

JOB OPENING:  SR. MGR, PROGRAM PLANNING/SCHEDULING, Colorado, Min 5 yrs prgm exp. Manage/support prgm/scheduling for up to 6 SEG domestic Pay-TV movie channels, incl 1 Flagship channel. www.starzsuperpak.com Ref 404 78  (3/2)

JOB OPENING:  VP OF CONSUMER MARKETING & ADVERTISING – Court TV, NY., For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (3/2)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR CONSUMER ADVERTISING/MEDIA BUYING – Court TV, NY., For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (3/2)

JOB OPENING:  SR. ART DIRECTOR – Court TV, NY., For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (3/2)

JOB OPENING:  PRINT JOURNALIST (FT)-CYNOPSIS. 5+ yrs exp rprting on business of bcst/cable; feature/trend(s) stories. Up on industry issues, flexibility in topics covered. Solid contacts list. Resume/cvr ltr:
  (3/2)

JOB OPENING:  PROGRAM SCHEDULING, NY. Cable net seeks program exec. Track record of scheduling success. Strategic thinker w/research bckgrd, strong comm. skills.Interest in music & entertainment. Email:
  (3/2)

JOB OPENING:  3 DIRECTORS/PGM PROD-HGTV (Knoxville or NY). Manage orig comm’d prods & acq. 7+ yrs mjr mkt exp; hands on prod exp in variety of formats or 5+ yrs net pgm mgmt/dev. Email:
, REF #4262-U  (3/2)

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

SITUATION WANTED:  INTERATIVE MEDIA PROF.  w/6 yrs work exp. looking for job in Aff. Rel. or Online Mktng/Adv.  Exp. w/ proj. managmnt, & Client Services. Based in NYC, would relocate. Also an MBA student. E-mail:
  (3/8)

SITUATION WANTED:  EVENT MARKETING PRO with 15 yrs. experience in PR, Media Buying, Promotions, Publicity, Sponsorships. Experience with Concerts, TV (WWE), Theater.Email:
  (3/5)

SITUATION WANTED:  PRODUCTION MGMT/PLANNING/SALES/GLOBAL ad sales planner w/international network at major studio seeks LA/OC job w/agency, network or studio. Previous tv/film programming, production & ad sales exp.

  (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED:  TV DIRECT RESPONSE, CORP SALES, BUSINESS MGT, NYC, Extensive senior mgt. exp. Est DRTV division of major media corp. Exp TV producer.Hands-on DRTV Ops, p&l,marketing creative, media. E-Mail:
   (3/3)

SITUATION WANTED:  Business analyst with exp./from Cablevision, looking for ENTERTAINMENT/MEDIA ANALYST WORK in Ad Sales, or Finance.  Hardworking, great spreadsheet and problem solving skills. Email:
  (3/2)

SITUATION WANTED:  MEDIA BUYER/MARKETING ANALYST: D/R Media Buyer with background in tv/radio/print sales-support seeks job in advertising or marketing in Connecticut. Please email
  (3/2)

E-mail
for rates and specs for Job Openings. Your ad will be read by 101,600+ Cynopsis & Cynopsis Kids! readers every day. No wonder Cynopsis ads get results.

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  MARCH 1, 2005:  February sweep 2/3/05 – 3/2/05

ABC              My Wife & Kids, George Lopez, NYPD Blue: Final Tribute, NYPD Blue [series finale]
CBS              NCIS, The Amazing Race [p]
FOX              American Idol, House
NBC              Law & Order: CI, Scrubs, Committed, Law & Order: SVU
PAX              Young Blades, Early Edition, Cold Turkey
UPN              All of Us, Eve, America’s Next Top Model #3 [p]
WB               Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill
TELE             La Mujer en el Espejo, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV             Rubi, Amor Real, Jugando al Amor