Source: NTI Galaxy Explorer, HH Cvg Rtg, 3/14-3/20/05.  Series=Trackage, Movies=Telecast.  Scooby=Sat 8p, Wyatt=Sat 8p, ties Time Machine (Thu VAR), Blue=Sat 8p, ties South Park (Wed 10p).

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

03/29/05

Good morning.  It’s Tuesday, March 29, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Season Finales:
ABC:  Less Than Perfect – 4/15 at 930p
ABC:  8 Simple Rules – 4/15 at 8p

ABC Family‘s scripted drama Beautiful People (working title) (Sony Pictures Television) has completed casting with a handful of newcomers – Torrey DeVitto, Sarah Foret, Ricky Mabe and Jordan Madley, who will join previously cast Daphne Zuniga.  ABC Family has ordered 8 eps of the 60m series and it’s on schedule to debut in August.  Also coming to ABC Family is Untitled School Project (Endemol), also looking at an August premiere.  The premise is simple – four college kids at Drexel Universal living the carefree college life, until their parents move into the dorms with them, attend classes with them and hang out with their kids and their friends.  A college student’s nightmare.  The network has ordered 8 eps.

Discovery Times Channel will launch a new original series this fall called Finding America (Gabriel Films North) with Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Charlie LeDuff crisscrossing the country and looking at a variety of subcultures. Subcultures?  Yep – from fight clubs to yacht clubs, hidden and closed societies, LeDuff embeds himself to learn more about what drives their passions. David McIlvride and Jonathan Stack are exec producers/directors and Alex Cooke is producer/director. 

Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports has geared up with Original Productions to develop and create new programming for television. Among the projects in develop is a program with Monster Trucks as its centerpiece, which ties in with Clear Channel’s US Hot Rod Assoc Monster Jam events.

ABC:

• Invasion (Warner Bros. TV), the project about a Florida town drastically changed and not because of the hurricane it just suffered, but rather from some sort of alien life, has added Lisa Sheridan to the project. Other cast members include Alexis Dziena, Aisha Hinds, Eddie Cibrian, Tyler Labine and William Fichter.
• The Catch (Touchstone TV) from exec prod JJ Abrams, about a pair of bounty hunters played by Orlando Jones and Greg Grunberg, has added Maximillian Alexander , which also stars Don Rickles, Kym Whitley, Joanne Kelly and Daylia Wallace. 
• Commander in Chief (Touchstone TV/Battle Plan Prods) has added Andrew James Allen as a teenage football player and twin to Caitlin Wachs’ character.  Filling out the cast are Geena Davis, Donald Sutherland, Leslie Hope, Julie Ann Emery, Kyle Secor, Ever Carradine, Caitlin Wachs, Jasmine Jessica Anthony, and Henry J. Lennix.
• Emily’s Reasons Why Not (Sony Pictures TV/Pariah) about a self-help author who could use some help in her personal life and based on the Carrie Gerlach book, has added Khary Payton.  Heather Graham is set to star.

CBS:

• Untitled Diamond-Weissman comedy project (20th/Paramount Network TV/Ratner Ent) about a sports agent and his wife, a magazine editor, has cast Claire Forlani as the wife, opposite John Leguizamo as the husband.  Also added to the cast Michael Pena, Sam Lerner and Craig Bierko.
• Old Christine (Warner Bros. Television) has signed Emily Rutherford as the ‘new Christine’.  Julia Louis Dreyfus plays the “Old Christine”, aka the divorced wife dealing with her ex-husband and the other moms at her son’s school. Rutherford joins Clark Gregg as the ex husband, Hamish Linklater and Trevor Gagnon.
• Conviction (Warner Bros. TV/25C Prods) has added Jenni Baird to join Sally Field and Eriq La Salle.  Field’s character is an attorney who heads up a team of lawyers prosecuting major cases. Lisa Gay Hamilton has also been cast an Assistant District Attorney.

FOX:

• The new Pamela Anderson show, Stacked (20th) about a woman working in a bookstore, scheduled to debut on Wednesday, April 13 at 830p, is scrambling to re-shoot the pilot due to a last minute casting change.  Out is Tom Everett Scott; in is Elon Gold as the owner of the bookstore, per Variety.
• Don’t Ask (20th/Phase Two) about a husband/father (Alan Ruck) who announces to his family he is gay, has signed Harry Van Gorkum.

NBC:

• All In (Warner Bros. TV/Is or Isn’t It Ent) which stars Janeane Garofalo as a professional poker player and full time single mom, has added Jackie Debatin as a Las Vegas showgirl and half sister to Garofalo’s character.  Geoff Pierson appears as Garofalo’s father.
• The Dennis (20th/Adelstein-Parouse Prods) a comedy about a former child prodigy who is now forced by his parents to move out of the house, has cast its lead role with Donal Logue

SCI FI:

• Eureka (USACE) has added Colin Ferguson to the pilot cast as US Marshall who discovers all the geniuses in the world have been herded by the government into this small town, creating the ultimate Think Tank.

Additional A Current Affair (20th Television) clearances for Fall start:  KUSI/San Diego, WTVH/Syracuse, WVRF/Green Bay; KOB/Albuquerque and KFRE/Fresno.

Rumors are swirling – and mind you, still just rumors and nothing official – that two syndicates series from Sony Pictures Television, Pat Croce: Moving In and Life & Style, won’t be back for a second year.  Production for both series have been completed for the current season.

Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. will launch its new TV Guide Spot, a VOD network created to entertain and assist viewers in finding their programming choices.  The new network is scheduled to launch in second qtr 2005, featuring short-form original programs.  At launch, TV Guide Spot will be available to more than 14 million Comcast and Time Warner digital subscribers, as well as on broadband at www.TVGuide.com, and to one million TIVO subs.

Elsewhere in the short-form arena: Two Minute Television Network presents Genius on a Shoestring, a series of 2-minute reality programs available to run on websites, on broadcast or cable nets (primarily as hour-enders) and on cellphones. New series within the Genius on a Shoestring reality group are News with a Punchline, Cinderella Stories, a new dating show and Mobile Mobs which invites interactive cellphone participation.  Two Minute Television Network recently completed an evaluation run of its first two eps of Genius on a Shoestring, available on more than 100 websites and on Sprint PCS Vision.   The network will now move forward with a full series of 26 eps.

Starz Entertainment Group LLC has launched a re-branding effort for all of its 11 channels as well as three new channels: Starz Kids & Family Starz Edge, Starz Comedy.  Each of the Starz and Encore channels has its own new logos and on-air design, and both will incorporate elements that dove-tail back to either the Starz or Encore master brands.  Starz Kids & Family channel is the result of merging two previous channels, Starz Kids and Starz Family into one; Starz Edge, an ‘urban’ and ‘hip’ channel targeted to males 18-34; and Starz Comedy that will showcase comedy movies.  On the other side, channels in the Encore package have had ‘Encore’ added to their titles (e.g. the Western channel in now Encore Westerns).  Other channel changes include, the True Stories channel has been renamed Encore Drama and Starz! HD, the high definition version of Starz Channel, has been renamed Starz HDTV. The Starz Theatre channel has been dropped from the pack. Additionally, launching this Friday is an upgraded website for Starz, http://www.starz.com/ , and a new site for Encore, http://www.encoretv.com/ . The new Starz logos were designed by Landor & Associates, San Francisco office.  The new on air look was created by PMcD Design, NYC.

Great article on product integration from Stuart Elliott in today’s New York Times, More Products Get Roles in New Shows, and Marketers Wonder if They’re Getting Their Money’s Worth.  If you’ve registered for their website, you can read it here:    http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/business/media/29adco.html

VOOM has expanded its hi-def offerings, adding WealthTV to the lineup, effective immediately.  WealthTV, available in both hi-def and standard def, is a 24/7 net “dedicated to personal enrichment”, and providing “invaluable insights on what every American dreams of–from travel secrets to fast cars, from better etiquette to better investing, and much more.”  www.wealthtv.net

According to Nielsen/NetRatings, the Top 20 Online Current Events & Global News Destinations is led by Yahoo News with a Feb unique audience of 20.8m.  Filling out the top five are: CNN 20.6m; MSNBC 19.4m; AOL News 16.0m; and Gannett Newspaper Division with 10.7m. The New York Times comes in at #7 (9.5m), USA Today at #10 (8.2m), ABC News Digital at #12 (7.2m); CBS News #14 (5.5m); and Fox News at #20 (4.4m).

Turner Entertainment Ad Sales & Marketing has named Joe Hogan SVP/NSM and Frank Sgrizzi SVP/NY Ad Sales and Operations.  In a related move, Cartoon Network has upped Thalia Doherty to VP/NSM.  Both Joe (based in Chicago) and Frank (in NY) will focus on strategic business development for Turner’s Entertainment Ad Sales division, reporting to Linda Yaccarino, EVP/Ad Sales & Ops.  Thalia is responsible for overseeing the daily management of Cartoon Network/Kids’ WB! sales offices, including Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles.  She is based in Los Angeles and reports to Kim McQuilken, EVP/Animation Sales and Marketing Division.

Robin Seidner D’Elia has been upped to SVP/National Television Promotions and Marketing for New Line Cinema, it was announced today by David Spiegelman, Sr. EVP/Domestic Television Distribution & Marketing, New Line Television. Based in New Line’s NY office, Robin continues as a liaison between the company’s television and film groups by creating and securing television promotions for all New Line theatrical releases. In this capacity, she oversees promotional partnerships with the broadcast and cable networks, including long-form television specials, talent hosted events and stunts, and interstitial programming on behalf of New Line’s films. Seidner D’Elia also oversees all marketing, promotion and publicity efforts for New Line Television’s syndication division.

National Lampoon Inc. has announced Sara Rutenberg has been named EVP/Business Affairs.  Reporting directly to National Lampoon President Douglas S. Bennett, Sara will oversee negotiations on behalf of National Lampoon, including National Lampoon Networks, National Lampoon Tours, all associated theatrical and home video titles as well as additional National Lampoon branded properties.

Saturday – A18-49 Analysis:   Thanks in large part to its NCAA Basketball coverage, CBS scored on Saturday night in fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research, measuring time period averages (not programs).  Among A18-49, CBS delivered a 4.0/12, beating Fox 2.7/8, ABC 2.5/7 and NBC 1.9/6.  The first hour of prime time on CBS earned a 4.4/14, and the 9p hour a 4.7/14.  Fox was #2 at 8p (3.0/9) and ABC’s second hour of Little House on the Prairie was #2 at 9p (2.7/8).  At 10p CBS and NBC tied, each posting an 8 share, with a repeat of Desperate Housewives delivering a close 7 share.

Fast Affiliate Ratings:  Saturday, March 26, 2005, for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     7.3/13   NCAA Basketball (8-9p) 7.8/14, Cold Case [r] 8.3/14, 48 Hours [r] 5.8/11

ABC     4.8/9    Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie 5.3/9, Desperate Housewives [r] 3.9/7

FOX     4.6/8    Cops 4.3/8, Cops [r] 5.2/9, AMW 4.4/8

NBC     4.6/8    LAX 3.2/6, L&O: SVU [r] 4.7/8, L&O: CI [r] 6.0/11

A18-49                CBS 4.0/12, Fox 2.7/8, ABC 2.5/7, NBC 1.9/6

Sunday – A18-49 Analysis:  According to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research – measuring time period averages, not program averages, ABC was well in front on Sunday night with a 6.7/17 A18-49.  CBS was #2 with a 4.3/11, followed by NBC 3.0/8, Fox 2.2/6, WB 0.8/2.  It should be noted CBS’ NCAA coverage infringed on its primetime schedule by approx 8 minutes, pushing back its schedule by that amount.  CBS led the 7p hour with a strong 7.7/23 A18-49, followed distantly by AFV on ABC with a 2.7/8.  At 8p ABC moved in front, which is where it stayed for the remainder of the night.  EM: Home Edition pulled a 6.5/16; an original ep of Desperate Housewives delivered a 10.7/24, and the premiere of Grey’s Anatomy at 10p earned a solid 7.2/18.  NBC’s two eps of The Contender at 7p and 8p averaged a 2.3/6. Arrested Development on Fox at 830p, the show on the proverbial bubble, averaged a 2.4/6 A18-49, but a higher 2.9/8 among M18-34 (down from Simpsons’ lead-in of 4.0/12).

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

ABC     9.8/16   AFV 5.5/10, EM: Home Edition 9.1/15, Desperate Housewives 14.4/22, Grey’s Anatomy [p] 10.0/17

CBS     9.5/16   60 Minutes 13.8/25, Cold Case 10.4/17, Movie: Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas 7.0/11

NBC     5.1/8    The Contender 2.6/5, The Contender 4.1/7, L&O: Criminal Intent 6.6/10, Crossing Jordan  7.1/12

FOX     2.9/5    King of the Hill 2.4/4, Malcolm 2.7/5, Simpsons [r] 3.9/6, Arrested Development 3.0/5, Simpsons [r] 3.1/5, The Sketch Show 2.4/4

WB      1.3/2    Charmed [r] 1.3/2, Charmed [r] 1.4/2, Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge [r] 1.4/2

A18-49                ABC 6.7/17, CBS 4.3/11, NBC 3.0/8, Fox 2.2/6, WB 0.8/2

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1971- William Calley, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, is found guilty of murder in a court martial for the 1968 massacre of more than 500 unarmed civilians in the South Vietnamese village of My Lai. Initially sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor, Calley eventually had his sentence reduced to ten years and was paroled in 1974, three years after his conviction.
 
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question courtesy of Jim Bono/Hallmark Channel, NY: Garry Marshall developed a comedy pilot called New Family in Town in the early 1970’s.  That pilot never went to series, but it did become a sketch for Love American Style.  From there, it was then turned into a series.  What was the name of this series? HAPPY DAYS.  Kudos to:  Dave Metz-Scripps Prods/Knoxville; Art Chung-Stump the Schwab Prods/NY; Alan Anarch-Pearson Education/Parsippany; Brian Teta-Late Show with David Letterman/NY; Cathy Guy-Pastech/Auburn Hill; Jason Roland-KMIZ/Columbia; Les Stipp-GSD&M/Chicago; Margaret Branshaw-WFAA/Dallas; Taylor Loeb-Mirage; John Amato-KTTV/LA; Stuart Jay Weiss-Studio City/LA; Lisa Tatum-Style Network/LA; Jillianne Reinseth-Chorion/London.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question courtesy of Ann Carrigan-WAWS/WETV, Jacksonville: Two primetime shows on Fox have characters with the same first and last name – what are they and what shows are they on?     (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
03.29.05  5:17am

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  MARCH 29, 2005:

ABC              My Wife & Kids, George Lopez, According to Jim, Rodney, Blind Justice
CBS              NCIS, Amazing Race (2-hr ep)
FOX              American Idol, House
NBC              Will & Grace [r], Scrubs [r], Scrubs, The Office, Law & Order: SVU
PAX              Young Blade, Lie Detector, Diagnosis Murder
UPN              All of Us, Eve, Veronica Mars
WB               Gilmore Girls [r], The Starlet
TELE             La Mujer en el Espejo, Los Plateados, La Ley del Silencio
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra, Casos de la Vida Real