CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

05/25/04

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 25, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

NBC has greenlit a new reality show where players undergo radical body makeovers, but entirely of their own doing.  The Biggest Loser features a group of overweight people, all looking to drastically change their appearance via weight loss and exercise – no surgery. 8 Eps will be produced by Reveille, 25/7 Prods and 3 Ball. Guided under a team’s supervision, the group will learn more about a healthy lifestyle than the fastest way to shed the extra weight.  Ultimately, he or she who undergoes the biggest healthy change, and is in the best shape overall, wins.

Tonight’s Season Finales:
24 on FOX at 8 pm
One on One on UPN at 8:30 pm
Rock Me Baby on UPN at 9:30 pm
Navy NCIS on CBS at 8pm

Fox is expected to announce as early as today the formation of three “new” regional digital nets, all designed to target the college crowd. “New” only because they are really just new brands and new launches.  These ad supported regional sports networks will focus entirely on college sports, dropping all of their professional sports affiliations, according to Hollywood Reporter.

American Bandstand may be back on our TV sets by summer 2005.  No announcement yet as to which network will air the series.  Simon Fuller (American Idol creator), Dick Clark and Mosaic Media Group president Allen Shapiro are the executive producers on the new version of the 1957-1987 show hosted by Dick Clark.  Mosaic Media Group is a controlling shareholder in Dick Clark Productions.  The original ABC American Bandstand show started as a local Philadelphia TV series in 1952.  

Coca Cola is launching a new campaign beginning this evening within Fox’s American Idol, with its newest product C2 as the focus. The campaign uses classic rock and roll songs, i.e., Rolling Stone’s You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and the tag line: Half the carbs. Half the cals. All the great taste.  C2 is expected in stores in early June, in an effort to beat Pepsi Edge (also a half carb/half cal drink) which is expected to be out by mid-June.

BBC America is offering you the chance to catch up on last year’s Coupling season three storylines on May 30 starting at 6pm.  The Coupling Marathon is sponsored by Avon and Masterfood USA.  The series will return for its US premiere of season four on June 6 at 9p on BBC America.
 
MTV kicks off lucky Season #13 of Road Rules on June 7 which takes place this time in South America.  The premiere ep airs at 10p when the six players begin various challenges in Chile and Argentina.

RCN Corporation and Starz Encore Group LLC signed a new affiliation agreement in a move to increase Starz movie channels and advanced services distribution to almost 400,000 RCN subscribers, MSO-wide.  RCN’s VOD-enabled US markets will start receiving the services this year.  Starz On Demand, Starz’ VOD (SVOD) subscription movie service, STARZ! HD and STARZ! Kids, will be added to the Starz Super Pak lineup.  The STARZ! HD format will be accessible in Boston, Manhattan, Queens, Philadelphia, Washington DC, San Francisco and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania RCN markets.

CSTV: College Sports Television has expanded its affiliate roster with recent carriage deals on Time Warner Cable in
Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cincinnati, Albany, Austin, Hawaii and Columbus, Ohio, as well as on Insight Communications in Columbus, Ohio, on Bright House Networks in Detroit and Indianapolis, and on Qwest Communications in Phoenix and Highlands Ranch, Co.   Additionally, CSTV plans to launch in the upcoming weeks on Time Warner Cable in Houston, Kansas City, Columbia and Florence, S.C., and Akron, Canton and Youngstown, Ohio.  The network is also expected to launch over the next few weeks on Adelphia in Cincinnati, State College, Pa., and Hilton Head.  College Sports TV is now available to more than 20 million cable and satellite households nationwide.

E! Networks will exclusively represent worldwide distribution for G4techTV’s almost 800 hours of original programming.  The programming is mainly geared towards the 12-34 year old males.  E!’s international sales division will add the video game and technology programming shows in a move to offer expanded programming options to their clients worldwide.
 
Interep Interactive, an independent online ad sales company, was named as the exclusive national ad sales representative for Court TV Online.  CourtTV.com, TheSmokingGun.com and CrimeLibrary.com are included under the agreement.  Interep already represents through Winstar Interactive Media a variety of sites including Expedia.com, Nasdaq.com and MapQuest.com to name a few.

Casting Note:  This show is looking for fill all sorts of buckets.  Anything and everything — making mom a star to those in need of a full home makeover; building family reunions to help! I need to get organized. From I’m Over 40 and fabulous to Mom and/or Dad shelved their dreams to raise our family. If you fit into any of these topics of discussion and/or inspiration, then you are just what this show is looking for.  Write to
and tell them why you should be included as a guest, and be sure to include your name and phone number (and a pic if you can).  (Note: whenever casting notes such as this are included, they are checked out by Cynopsis in advance; and while the notice often may not include the name of the show/channel/etc. per the show’s preference, know that it is a bonafide show, no funny business.)

ABC won the night on Sunday with an overall 3.7/10 A18-49, just two tenths of a rating point ahead of Fox, according to Nielsen Media Research.  NBC was hot on Fox’s trail with a 3.4/9, followed by CBS 2.5/7 and WB 1.3/4.  At 7pm Fox and ABC tied, each posting a 2.7/9 for the hour, while NBC earned a 2.1/7, CBS 1.9/6 and WB 0.9/3.  At 8pm ABC jumped up to a 5.2/14 for Extreme Makeover Home Edition season finale (show has me crying like a baby every time), while the Simpsons and Malcolm earned a 4.0/11; and CBS’ Cold Case a 3.1/9.  At 9pm NBC was in front with L&O: CI’s 4.4/10, while Fox and ABC tied again at 3.8/9. NBC held its lead for the 10p hour with a 4.7/12 for Crossing Jordan. ABC delivered a 3.1/8 for Super Millionaire; CBS averaged a 2.5/6 for Part 1 of its Scott Turow movie, Reversible Errors.

Michele Ganeless, EVP/GM of USA Network, is reportedly leaving.  Following the merger of NBC and Vivendi Universal, Ganeless’ responsibilities changed as Bonnie Hammer’s expanded to include oversight of USA. Co-EVP Jeff Wachtel is staying.

Susan Wine was named as Director/Advertising Sales Sponsorships for Discovery Networks, U.S.  She will oversee Discovery’s 14 domestic networks’ sponsorship opportunities including sales packages and the MAPS database in a drive to increase ad sales and client service levels.  She will be based in New York and report to Ian Parmiter, VP/Advertising Sales Marketing and Partnerships. 

Ian Valentine has been named SVP for  GSN (fka Game Show Network) reporting to Rich Cronin, President/CEO in the Santa Monica offices.  Ian will oversee the net’s production, development, acquisitions and program planning as well as the company’s casting and production departments. His mandate will be to produce and acquire game/competition-related programming in a variety of genres, including reality series, casino/gaming programs, game shows, video game programs, specials and documentaries.

Correction:  TBS‘ new reality show from Evolution Film & Tape is titled All American Man (not All American Male).
Correction II:  Pax Sunday night primetime lineup (7-11p) was incorrect in yesterday’s edition; it should be America’s Most Talented Kids, Doc, Sue Thomas F.B.Eye and Cold Turkey.

Sunday, May 23, 2004. Fast Affiliate 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     8.5/14  60 Minutes 7.7/15, Cold Case 9.2/15, Reversible Errors, (Part 1) 8.5/14

NBC     6.8/11  Dateline NBC 5.0/9, L&O: Criminal Intent 8.3/13, Crossing Jordan 8.8/14

ABC     5.7/10  America’s Funniest Home Videos 4.6/9, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 7.2/12, Alias 5.1/8, Super Millionaire 6.0/10

FOX     4.8/8   The Simpsons [r] 3.4/7, King of the Hill 3.8/7, The Simpsons 5.6/10, Malcolm in the Middle 4.9/8, American Idol Phenomenon 5.7/9

WB      2.0/3   The WB’s Superstar USA [r] 1.4/3, Movie: There’s Something About Mary 2.2/4

A18-49  ABC 3.7/10, FOX 3.5/10, NBC 3.4/9, CBS 2.5/7, WB 1.3/4

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
On a trip to Venice in 1911, future Nobel Prize-winning writer Thomas Mann visits the long, thin island called the Lido, inspiring him to write the novella Death in Venice, one of his best known works.

Answer to yesterday’s Trivia Question:  On what show might you win the dreaded Zonk ? LET’S MAKE A DEAL – a Zonk was a bad deal!  Kudos to: Niki Melcher-Time Inc./Atlanta; Julius Picardi-US Open Championship Journal/NJ; Jason Unger-WOTV/Battle Creek; Christine Sciacca-Weather Channel Media Solutions/NY; Kristin Staskowski-Marketron; Pam Massey-GSD&M/Austin; Chris Parker-Viacom Station Sales/Dallas; Kyle Rabinowitz-Idea Planet/Dallas; Vickie Broughton-KTTC/Rochester MN; Debbi Gourley-Olympic Promotions/Sacramento; Lou Dennig-Judge Joe Brown/LA; Susan Goldberg-Beverly Park Prods/LA; Marc Freden-On the Marc/LA.

A MESSAGE FROM SUPERSTATION WGN

The most sought-after demographics are within easy reach on Superstation WGN. Viewers know we’re the network with the winning lineup of movies, comedy, action, and sports. Families, young adults, and sports fans are within reach on Superstation WGN.

Today’s Trivia Question:  Why is there a statue of Jack Benny in the little town of Rancho Cucamonga? (click here 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 NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH

Later — Cyn

Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis
05/25/04  5:06am
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2004

COURT TV:       The I-Zone, Forensic Files, The Investigators
ABC             ABC Extreme Bloopers, According to Jim, According to Jim, Super Millionaire
CBS             Navy NCIS [season finale], Scott Turow’s Reversible Errors, Part 2
FOX             American Idol, 24 [season finale]
NBC             NBC Special: The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments 4, L&O: SVU, Dateline NBC Special
PAX             AFV, AFV, Early Edition, Diagnosis Murder
UPN             One on One, One on One [season finale], Rock Me Baby, Rock Me Baby [season finale]
WB              Angel [r],  The WB’s Superstar USA
TELE            Prisonera, El Alma Herida, Mujeres Apasionadas
UNIV            Mariana de la Noche, Bajo la Misma Piel, Al Filo de la Ley