Cynopsis

05.05.09

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 5, 2009, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Tonight’s Premiere:
BBC America: Apprentice UK at 8p
DIY Network: Garage Mahal at 930p

Tonight’s Finales:
ABC: Better Off Ted at 830p
Bravo: The Real Housewives of New York City at 10p

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM VH1

FOX handed frosh series Fringe a full-season order for next season. Fringe has been a consistent time period winner among A18-49 on Tuesdays at 9p and the first season wraps May 12 at 904p with special guest star Leonard Nimoy. Fringe is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Additionally, FOX ordered a second season of the animated Family Guy spinoff, Cleveland even before the series premieres this fall, reports THR. Cleveland adds 13 more episodes to its previous order of 22 episodes, to now total 35. The series, originally targeted to debut this spring, will open fall 2009 allowing the show’s creative team more time for development and production and this new 13-episode order is slated for fall 2010. 20th TV produces the series.

A&E Network debuts Obsessed, a new original nonfiction series focused on those who suffer from extreme anxiety disorders, on May 25 at 10p following the season premiere of Intervention. Through eleven one-hour episodes, Obsessed will relate real-life stories of people who endure fears and repetitive behaviors and how their mental illness affects friends and family. The series is produced by Tijuana Entertainment.

DirecTV will merge into a new incorporated company encompassing Liberty Media’s regional sports networks and Game Show Network (GSN). At the same time, Starz Entertainment and other businesses falling under Liberty Entertainment will be formed into a separate company called Liberty Starz. The deal allows John Malone, his wife and associated trusts to hold shares of DirecTV Class B common stock and gives them nearly 24% of DirecTV’s total voting power. Entities involved expect the split-off to happen prior to the mergers, which is likely to be finalized in fourth quarter 2009. DirecTV President/CEO Chase Carey will continue in his position along with the current executive officers and board of directors. The transaction is pending approval by the SEC, the FCC and the IRS as well as with DirecTV common stock shareholders and Liberty Entertainment tracking stock.

Telemundo received good news from Nielsen as the Spanish-language network tallied its best April ever during Monday-Friday prime and Monday-Sunday prime. Among A18-49, Telemundo saw a +16% gain over last year in Monday-Sunday prime (639,000 vs. 551,000) and a +25% increase in Monday-Friday prime (714,000 vs. 571,000).

In a Cinderella story that will become legend, Saturday’s Kentucky Derby witnessed Mine That Bird and jockey Calvin Borel winning the race after starting in last place with 50-1 odds, catapulting NBC to its highest ratings for the sports event in 17 years. During 6-7p, the race posted a 10.2 rating and a 22 share among households, according to Nielsen’s overnight ratings. This is the best Kentucky Derby performance since 1992 and a +7% increase in viewers compared to 2008.

In my opinion … pretty cool special coming up on Science: Science Channel will air the live special Hubble Live: The Final Mission, documenting the fourth and final space shuttle mission designed to make needed repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope next Monday at 130p (ET)/1030a (PT). Science Channel will also re-air the broadcast at 9p after the special The Ends of the Earth: Hubble’s Final Chapter at 8p. Science Channel notes, though, the live coverage is contingent on NASA’s launch of the Shuttle Atlantis as launch date and/or time is subject to change.

Already shedding numerous positions since the start of 2009, WPP announced it will slice another 6% from its workforce or 7,200 jobs by the end of this year, per the Guardian. Most of the cut positions are located in the UK, Europe and the US. Overall, WPP Group’s like-for-like revenue decreased by -5.8% during first quarter to a little below $3.1 billion.

In other business news, Chrysler listed Omnicom’s BBDO Detroit as its second-largest unsecured creditor in its bankruptcy filing last week, per AdAge. To date, Chrysler owes BBDO Detroit $58.1 million though it is speculated most of the money is due to media outlets, such as local TV stations, for advertising purchases and not to the agency, per se. Currently, Chrysler is having BBDO develop an educational campaign reassuring consumers they are still in business despite the bankruptcy.

UPFRONT 2009: NBC “Infront”

NBC began rounds of one-on-one client presentations yesterday in Studio 8H, home of Saturday Night Live at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City as part of its “infront”/upfront presentation. NBC will officially unveil its 2009-2010 schedule on May 19, though highlights were revealed at the infront yesterday including the pick-up of six new series plus confirmations of returning series and additional scheduling announcements. NBC will take its infront on the road to Chicago on Thursday and Los Angeles May 12. Also on May 19, NBC will host advertisers and affiliates to a “Night of Comedy” in New York City with appearances by Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Rainn Wilson and Tracy Morgan

First, new NBC drama series pickups:

• Parenthood – Based on the blockbuster film, Parenthood this series is about the Braverman family, four grown siblings who share the joys and headaches of being parents. Cast includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen and Sarah Ramos. From Ron Howard and Brian Glazer, executive producers of the movie and writer/executive producer Jason Katims; produced by Image Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. 
• Trauma – Medical drama centering on first responder paramedics from San Francisco General. Starring Derek Luke, Cliff Curtis, Anastasia Griffith, Aimee Garcia, Kevin Rankin and Jamey Sheridan. Produced by Universal Media Studios and Film 44. Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, Dario Scardapane and Jeffrey Reiner are executive producers.
• Mercy – Another medical drama portraying the lives of nurses at Mercy Hospital, especially Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling) who returns to Mercy after a tour of duty in Iraq and two other nurses she befriends, Sonia Jimenez (Jamie Lee Kirchner) and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg). Series also stars James Tupper, Diego Klattenhoff and Guillermo Diaz. Produced by Universal Media Studios and Berman Braun. Liz Heldens, Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts serve as writers/executive producers; Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun also serve as executive directors.
• Day One – Relates the story of life on earth after a global catastrophe occurs affecting the world’s infrastructures. Survivors face an uncertain future, though they work together to rebuild a new society. Cast members include Adam Campbell, Catherine Dent, Julie Gonzalo, David Lyons, Derek Mio, Carly Pope, Thekla Reuten and Addison Timlin. Universal Media Studios produces with Jesse Alexander as executive producer/writer.

NBC new comedies include:

• 100 Questions (formerly titled 100 Questions for Charlotte Payne) – Comedy about Charlotte who is looking for love and along the way has rejected a number of marriage proposals holding out for Mr. Right. After joining an online dating site, she embarks on a self-discovery lesson as she is required to take a 100-question compatibility test that conjures up poignant and funny times with friends. Sophie Winkleman stars as Charlotte, with Amir Talai as her dating counselor and various friends played by Elizabeth Ho, Joy Suprano, Christopher Moynihan and David Walton. Universal Media Studios and Tagline produce with Ron West, Kelly Kulchak, Michelle Nader as executive producers joining writer/executive producer Christopher Moynihan.
• Community – Comedy series set at Greendale Community College filled with high school losers, newly divorced housewives and older people who want to keep their minds active. Series stars Chevy Chase along with Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi and Alison Brie. Produced by Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap and Russo Brothers in association with Sony Pictures Television and Universal Media Studios. Russ Krasnoff, Dan Harmon, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo and Gary Foster all serve as executive producers.

NBC returning series confirmations include: Heroes, Southland (reported yesterday), Parks and Recreation as well as six additional live 30m episodes of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday.

Other NBC programming announcements:

• The Jay Leno Show will air Monday-Fridays at 10p starting this fall.
• Day One will premiere directly out of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
• Previously announced series pickups include: The Office, 30 Rock, The Biggest Loser, The Celebrity Apprentice, Law & Order: SVU, Friday Night Lights and new alternative series The Marriage Ref, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins and Who Do You Think You Are?

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NICK AT NITE

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD), Fox Television Stations (FTS) and Telepictures Productions are partnering on an eight-week preview trial of Beyond Twisted, a new first-run syndicated 30m strip series. Similar to the limited test run with The Wendy Williams Show last year, Beyond Twisted will roll out July 6 on WNYW/New York, KTTV/Los Angeles, KDFW/Dallas, WJBK/Detroit, KSAZ/Phoenix and KMSP/Minneapolis. The humorous, reality-based series, from the producers of TMZ, will showcase professional and user-generated content involving amazing moments from around the world. Beyond Twisted will also sport several cross-promotional platforms as well as pre-produced segments for local newscasts.

AMC’s third season of original drama Mad Men began production and is slated to premiere this August. Returning cast members include Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones and Christina Hendricks in addition to guest star John Slattery. Lionsgate produces the series for AMC.

Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions signed Jenny McCarthy to a multi-year overall contract to develop various projects involving the actress/author as host, cites THR. One project could include a syndicated talk show however; the first association between the two will have McCarthy blogging on Oprah.com starting this Friday. McCarthy has been a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, promoting her books dealing with her son’s autism and also participated in Winfrey’s Friday Live panels two times.

Casting Call:  The Executive Producers of the hit show “The Bachelor” along with 495 Productions is looking for a leading man for a groundbreaking new show on primetime TV called More to Love. We are looking for a REAL leading man… an outgoing, charming, husky, handsome, big and broad single guy who appears 25-35 who is looking for love!  “In the past it’s been skinny-minis and good-looking bachelors, and that’s not what the dating world looks like,” said Mike Darnell, President of FOX Alternative Entertainment. “This show is going to get a lot of people talking,” Darnell said. “This is so simple and so obvious, yet it has never been done.” contact us directly at
(please include pictures, contact info and why you think you would be the perfect guy for this show).

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Anticipation is building among publishers and gadget lovers alike for Amazon‘s Wednesday press conference, where the company is expected to unveil a new and improved Kindle geared toward delivering electronic editions of textbooks, newspapers and magazines. This e-reader will feature a larger screen better equipped to navigate the pages of publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, which currently cost $13.99/month and $9.99/month respectively to receive daily on the Kindle 2. Publishers are scrambling to embrace new digital distribution platforms and competitors to the Kindle continue to emerge. For instance, News Corp. is reportedly investing in a new device for its publishing properties (also with a bigger screen.) USA Today publisher Gannett is participating in trials with a new tablet in development from Plastic Logic. Yet the WSJ, the #2 most subscribed to daily on the Kindle, has managed only 15,000 or so subscribers according to the paper, compared to (an aggressively discounted) paid circulation of more than 2 million daily. Oh, and don’t forget about those rumors that Apple is working on a larger version of the iPhone sporting a 10″ touchscreen.   Full edition: CYN DIGITAL. 

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY: Vroom! Vroom! NASCAR and Tinseltown Toons are teaming up to produce a new direct-to-video family-targeted movie titled, NASCAR: The Secret life of Cars.  Set for release in 2011 from universal Studios Home Entertainment, the full-length title takes place in a NASCAR garage when all the humans have gone for the day and the cars come alive.  Based on a concept by Tinseltown’s Joshua Wexler, the DVD movie is being penned by screenwriter Tom Rogers (The Lion King 1 1/2).   Full edition: CYN KIDS. 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM MSNBC

CHANGEMAKER (chanjmakr)
n.
1. A person engaged to act to bring forward different positive outcomes by modifying existing norms.

2. The MSNBC audience segment that offers advertisers the best consumer target in the Cable News landscape.

Friday – A18-49 Analysis: CBS maintained its status quo Friday night winning the A18-49 demo at 2.2/7, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research.CBS’ clean sweep began at 8p with Ghost Whisperer at 2.4/9 followed by ABC’s Wife Swap and UNIV’s Cuidado con El Angel tying for second place at 1.4/5 apiece. During 9p, CBS’ Flashpoint clung to #1 with a 2.1/7, followed closely by UNIV’s Manana es para Siempre at 2.0/7. At 10p, CBS racked up its final win with Numb3rs at 2.2/7 ahead of ABC’s 20/20 at 1.8/6 and NBC’s Dateline at 1.7/5.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Friday, May 1, 2009 (May Sweep Day 9) time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD

CBS 6.1/11      Ghost Whisperer 6.2/12, Flashpoint 6.0/11, Numb3rs 6.0/11

ABC 3.5/6         Wife Swap 2.9/5, Supernanny 3.2/6, 20/20 4.4/8

NBC 3.3/6         Howie Do It 2.2/4, Howie Do It 1.8/3, Dateline 4.0/7

FOX 2.0/4         Prison Break 2.1/4, Dollhouse 1.9/3

UNIV 1.9/4        Cuidado con el Angel 1.9/3, Manana es para Siempre 2.3/4, La Rosa de Guadalupe 1.6/3

MNT 1.9/3         WWE Friday Night Smackdown 1.9/3

CW 1.0/2           Everybody Hates Chris 1.1/2, The Game 1.2/2, America’s Next Top Model [r] 0.9/2

TELE 0.7/1        Dona Barbara 0.6/1, El Rostro de Analia 0.7/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 0.6/1, El Cartel 0.6/1

ION 0.3/1         Reba 0.3/1, Reba 0.3/1, Movie: Rocky IV [r] 0.3/1

A18-49:  CBS 2.2/7, ABC 1.6/5, UNIV 1.6/5, NBC 1.3/4, FOX 1.1/4, MNT 1.1/4, CW 0.7/2, TELE 0.5/2, ION 0.2/1

NBC Universal advanced Jennifer Santos to VP/Advertising Standards to oversee the review of all advertising for NBC and select advertising for NBCU’s cable networks. Additionally, Anca Cornis-Pop was promoted to Manager/Advertising Standards and Melissa Chan to Editor/Advertising Standards.

Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc. announced CEO Gerry Noble resigned from his position, effective immediately, per CNNMoney. The company will name a replacement CEO in the near future.

Tony Ponturo, CEO of Ponturo Management Group LLC made a minority ownership stake in the Leverage Agency, a brand sports and entertainment company based in New York City with locations in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Beijing. In so doing, Tony will become Chairman of Leverage Agency. Ben Sturner serves as CEO of Leverage Agency.

ION Media Networks elevated Brett Jenkins to VP/Technology where he will be immersed in ION’s development and analysis of advanced television technology business models. Brett will additionally supervise the strategic direction and execution of digital television and mobile products. Brett has been with ION Media Networks since 2007, joining as Director/Technology Strategy and Development.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE from ABC

•  engaged viewers who see your commercials
•  $100K+/$150K+ households
•  people who live in major markets
•  women and families

www.abcstagepass.com
.

This day in History:    1925 – John T. Scopes, a biology teacher in Dayton, TN, was arrested for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question submitted by Hamilton Fisher/BBC America:  Who was the first African-American man to kiss an African-American woman on American TV?  BILL COSBY on I SPY  Kudos to: Pete Gautieri-Lifetime/New York; Ray Giacopelli-Rainbow Networks/NY; Barbara Rosenthal-Tiffany Outdoor/NY; Steve Weinshel-Loica/Chicago; Frank Belcastro-High Noon Entertainment/LA; Steve Rubin-Fast Carrier Pictures/Los Angeles; Bob Ramsey-KTXL/Sacramento; Dennis Treleven-Fox Cable Networks/Los Angeles

Today’s Trivia Question:  Nick Moore was engaged to whom on primetime TV?   (Email
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.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE from THE WEATHER CHANNEL

Later — Cyn
05.05.09

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM GolTV

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JOB OPENING: DIR POST PROD OPS/NYC: 7 yrs exp. Tech savvy w/strong technical writing sk and knwldg graphical/editorial technology. Fluent in current HD/SD broadcast technology. EOE/M/F/D/AAP Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/12)

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN: Assist with designing and creating broadcast design and interactive media. Must know Photoshop, Illustrator and either Flash, A/E or Dreamweaver.
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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Orchard Films, a documentary film production company/DUMBO, Brooklyn: Looking for summer interns to help with several projects. Email cover letter & resume to Amanda:
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2009

ABC: Scrubs, Better Off Ted [f ], Dancing with the Stars, Cupid
AZTECA: Los Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Los 25 Mas, Al Extremo
CBS: NCIS, The Mentalist, Without a Trace
CW: Reaper, 90210
FOX: American Idol, Fringe
ION: Boston Legal, Boston Legal, Boston Legal
MNT: Street Patrol, Street Patrol, Jail, Jail [r]
NBC: Biggest Loser: Couples, L&O: SVU [r]
PBS: Nova, Frontline, Independent Lens
TELE: Dona Barbara, El Rostro de Analia, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso, El Cartel
UNIV: Cuidado con el Angel, Manana es para Siempre, Aqui y Ahora

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