Cynopsis

07/02/08

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, July 2, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

A day has passed after the Screen Actors Guild contract expired and all appears to be quiet in Hollywood. SAG has decided to wait until the results are in from the ratification vote for AFTRA’s contract next Tuesday before it makes another move. Still recovering from the WGA strike, Hollywood TV and film producers seem reluctant to pursue another strike which could shut down production, particularly in the film sector.

Tonight’s Premiere:
DIY Network: Deconstruction at 9p

TV Land renewed the original reality series She’s Got The Look for a second season slated to debut next year. Also in 2009, the 35+ supermodel search series will expand from six episodes to eight. Allison Grodner will continue to executive produce.

MTV introduces a new reality series Buzzin’ on July 23 at 1030p featuring the ensemble of musical artist Shwayze, his friend and producer Cisco Adler, tour manager Warren Gumpel and manager head of Suretone Records, Jordan Schur. The eight-episode series follows Shwayze and Cisco on the brink of launching their new “California sound” album Buzzin’ on August 19. Episode one will make its early appearance on iTunes, Xbox Live and Amazon starting July 15. The series is produced by Suretone Entertainment and Hoosick Falls Productions.

Bravo set the premiere date for its new series Tabatha’s Salon Takeover for August 21 at 10p. The Reveille-produced series centers on Australian-born Tabatha Coffey who revives teetering salons in the Los Angeles and New York areas offering them straight-forward business advice to turn their enterprises around within a week.  You may remember Tabatha from the first season of Shear Genius – a somewhat acerbic, very direct and arguably talented hair stylist, who perhaps made some new friends during the season, but also clearly made a few enemies.

Surging ahead with its theatrical movie-buying, FX bought the rights to air Sony Pictures TV‘s Hancock starring Will Smith from distributor Columbia Pictures, reports Variety. FX’s license term covers four years starting 2010 and the network will pay up to $20 million or 12% of the domestic box office which caps if the movie goes above $200 million.

Journal Communications, Inc., parent company to Journal Broadcast Group, Inc and Journal Broadcast Corporation signed an asset purchase deal to buy KNIN/Boise from Banks-Boise for $8 million. KNIN-TV is the CW affiliate in the Boise market. The agreement is subject to the usual regulatory approval and closing conditions.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM GOSPEL MUSIC CHANNEL

USA Network’s original series The Starter Wife, starring Debra Messing as divorced Molly Kagan, has finalized its cast. Premiering this October with 10 episodes, other regular cast members include David Alan Bashe as Molly’s ex-husband, Kenny Kagan; Danielle Nicolet as Liz Marsh, Molly’s new friend; Brielle Barbusca as Jaden, Molly and Kenny’s daughter; and Hart Bochner as Zach, Molly’s new romantic interest and writing class teacher. Previously announced regulars include Judy Davis as Joan McAllister and Chris Diamantopoulos as Rodney, Molly’s best friends. The series is produced by NBC Universal Cable Studios in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment.

NBC gave a cast-contingent pilot nod for a single-camera comedy called Off Duty about cops who can’t turn off their jobs, per THR. Comedian Jason Mantzoukas will write and co-executive produce the pilot. Scott Armstrong and Ravi Nandan will also executive produce through their company American Work.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY: DirecTV took the wraps off its On Demand service, available to subscribers with the DirecTV Plus HD DVR or the R22 DVR receiver at no extra charge. The catalog pales in comparison to cable in terms of selection, offering some 4,000 free and PPV standard def and HDTV titles. But look for some cool interactive features, including customizable programmer home pages and remote internet scheduling. Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  The creators/founders of Neopets, Adam Powell and Donna Williams, are launching Meteor Games, a new interactive game development studio that is based in West Hollywood.  First up for the indie publisher is a project based on a new Powell and Williams’ new original intellectual property, which combines elements of social networking, casual web-based games and massively multiplayer online games.  Powell will serve as CEO and Creative Director for Meteor Games, with Williams taking on the roles of COO and President.  The two sold Neopets to MTV Networks for $160 million in 2005. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY: The Style Network will added this month to Sky in the U.K., bringing the female-focused channel’s international reach up to more than 9.5 million subscribers (outside of the U.S.).  The channel will be part of Sky’s Lifestyle & Culture package. Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL.

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among A18-49 for the week of: 6/23-6/29/08
Primetime      (000)          Total Pgm Day           (000)
USA               1340         TNT                          658
TBSC             1077          USA                         650
TNT                 957          NAN*                       626
ESPN               880          NICK                        584
BET                 843          ADSM*                     563
FX                   672          TBSC                        560
CMDY              626          ESPN                        405
LIF                  624          FX                            401
DISC               584          LIF                            393
AEN                580          CMDY                         370
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day. Primetime listing only includes those networks broadcasting more than 51% of the primetime hours (M-Su 8p-11p)

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among Total Viewers for the week of: 6/23-6/29/08     
Primetime       (000)         Total Pgm Day              (000)
USA                3117         NICK                          2310
TNT                2124         NAN*                          1554
ESPN              1864         USA                            1432
TBSC              1759         TNT                            1331
NAN               1702         TOON                          1214
LIF                 1585         ADSM*                        1176
BET                1564         LIF                                917
TOON             1429         TBSC                             917
FOXN             1427         FOXN                             830
HIST              1246         ESPN                              726
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day. Primetime listing only includes those networks broadcasting more than 51% of the primetime hours (M-Su 8p-11p)

Top 10 Cable Programs among A18-49 (000) for the week of: 6/23-6/29/08
BET     BET Awards Show                                     3181
USA     WWE Entertainment 10p                            2890
TNT     Sprint Cup Racing/Loudon                          2518
USA     WWE Entertainment 9p                              2514
USA     WWE Entertainment 8p                              1960
LIF      Army Wives                                              1849
USA     In Plain Sight                                            1792
ESPN    NBA Draft                                                1780
ADSM   Family Guy 6/29 11p                                  1690
DISC    Deadliest Catch                                        1676
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes

Top 10 Broadcast Programs among A18-49 rating/share for the week of 6/23-6/29/08
ABC    Wipeout                                                  3.7/12      
FOX    Hell’s Kitchen                                           3.6/10      
NBC    America’s Got Talent                                 3.1/9
FOX    So You Think You Can Dance  THU              3.1/9        
FOX    So You Think You Can Dance  WED             3.1/10
ABC    I Survived a Japanese Game Show               3.1/9     
CBS    Two and a Half Men                                  3.0/9
NBC    Baby Borrowers                                        2.9/9
ABC    The Bachelorette                                     2.5/8
FOX    House  MON 9P                                       2.5/7
CBS    Rules of Engagement                                2.5/7
ABC    Primetime: The Outsiders                          2.5/7
Source Nielsen Media Research, Galaxy Explorer, Live + SD Data

Saturday – A18-49 Analysis:  FOX claimed the top spot Saturday night with 1.5/6 A18-49, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. FOX came out ahead during 8p with its two Cops episodes averaging a 1.1/4 then stayed in the lead through 9p with America’s Most Wanted at 1.9/7. CBS’ 48 Hours Mystery repeat and NBC’s Law & Order: CI encore tied for first during 10p with 1.3/4 apiece.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Saturday, June 28, 2008 – time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.

NBC: 2.8/6            Olympic Trials: Track & Field 2.2/5, Law & Order [r] 2.7/5, Law & Order: CI [r] 3.4/7

CBS: 2.7/6            Crimetime Saturday [r] 2.5/6, Crimetime Saturday [r] 1.9/4, 48 Hours Mystery [r] 3.8/7

FOX: 2.6/5           Cops 1.3/3, Cops [r] 2.5/5, America’s Most Wanted 3.2/6

ABC: 2.0/4            Wonderful World of Disney: The Haunted Mansion [r] 2.2/4, Eli Stone [r] 1.8/3

UNIV: 1.2/2          Sabado Gigante 1.2/2

TELE: 0.3/1          Cine Nuestro [r 7p] 0.3/1, Cine de Impacto 0.3/1

A18-49: FOX 1.5/6, NBC 1.0/4, ABC 0.9/3, CBS 0.8/3, UNIV 0.8/3, TELE 0.3/1

Sunday – A18-49 Analysis:  NBC retained its Sunday night #1 status with 1.9/6 A18-49, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. ABC’s new Wipeout took out the competition at 7p with a 1.7/6. At 8p, NBC’s Olympic Trials raced to first place with a 2.0/6. Then it was back to ABC at 9p as Extreme Makeover won with 2.1/6. The teeter-totter ratings were in NBC’s favor for the last hour as Dateline delivered a winning 2.4/7.  

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Sunday, June 29, 2008 – time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.

CBS: 5.2/9        60 Minutes [r] 6.4/13, Million Dollar Password 5.6/10, Cold Case [r] 4.5/8, Cold Case Special [r] 4.2/7

NBC: 4.1/7      Olympic Trials: Track & Field/Swimming 3.4/7, Dateline 4.8/8

ABC: 3.0/5     Wipeout 2.9/6, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition [r] 3.5/6, Desperate Housewives [r] 2.0/4

FOX: 2.5/4      FOX Movie: Lost World: Jurassic Park 2 2.5/4

UNIV: 0.9/2     Horo Pico 0.9/2, Familia P. Luche 1.0/2, Gran Querida Enemiga 0.7/1, La Rosa de Guadalupe 1.1/2, Pantera 0.9/2

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

TELE: 0.4/1       Cine Nuestro 0.4/1, Una Noche Con Lucero 0.4/1

A18-49: NBC 1.9/6, ABC 1.6/5, FOX 1.6/5, CBS 1.4/4, UNIV 0.7/2, CW 0.3/1, TELE 0.3/1

 
Monday – A18-49 Analysis:  It was a three-way tie as ABC, CBS and FOX all landed at #1 Monday night with 2.2/7 A18-49, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. ABC’s The Bachelorette was in charge at 8p with 2.4/8 and ABC remained in the lead through 9p with a second installment of The Bachelorette at 2.6/7. The CSI: Miami rerun on NBC outdid the competition at 10p with a 2.1/6.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Monday, June 30, 2008 – time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.

FOX: 4.7/8           Bones [r] 4.3/8, House [r] 5.1/8

CBS: 4.6/8            The Big Bang Theory 3.4/6, How I Met Your Mother [r] 3.3/6, Two and a Half Men [r] 5.4/9, Rules of Engagement [r] 4.5/7, CSI: Miami [r] 5.5/10

ABC: 4.4/8            The Bachelorette 5.2/9, The Bachelorette 5.4/9, The Mole 2.7/5

NBC: 3.3/6           American Gladiators 2.9/5, Nashville Star 3.5/6

UNIV: 2.1/4          Al Diablo con los Guapos 2.4/4, Fuego en la Sangre 2.2/4, Cristina 1.7/3

CW: 0.7/1            Gossip Girl [r] 0.7/1, One Tree Hill [r] 0.6/1

TELE: 0.7/1          Juramento [p] 0.4/1, Victoria 0.8/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 0.8/1

MNT: 0.5/1           Celebrity Expose [r] 0.5/1, Celebrity Expose [r] 0.4/1

A18-49: ABC 2.2/7, CBS 2.2/7, FOX 2.2/7, UNIV 1.7/5, NBC 1.6/5, TELE 0.5/1, CW 0.4/1, MNT 0.2/1

Pamela Howell advanced to VP/Corporate Communications with ReelzChannel, and her new promotion is effective immediately. Based in the Twin Cities, Pamela will head communications strategies for the company in the following areas: consumers, affiliates as well as the entertainment and ad sales. She will report to Gary Thorne, President/COO.

Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) announced it put in place a new production and operations management tier and has upgraded Brett Paul to the new position of EVP and Sue Palladino to EVP/Production. Paul has been EVP/Business Affairs, Operations and Finance since January 2006 and he will continue to oversee these areas plus manage WBTV’s physical production efforts. He will assume the company’s top executive position on the business side. In her new role, Sue will supervise daily production operations for primetime series, TV films and miniseries. Sue replaces production executive Judith Zaylor who recently retired. Both Sue and Paul report to Peter Roth, President, WBTV.

Carolyn McIntyre was appointed President of the California Cable & Telecommunications Association (CCTA), selected by the Executive Committee. Carolyn will become CCTA President as of July 14 and will be only the fourth person in this position since the organization began in 1958. Based in Sacramento, Carolyn follows Dennis Mangers who is retiring after 28 years with the organization.

Air America Media tapped Bennett Zier as CEO. Based in New York, Bennett will head the executive team and be involved with the implementation of strategic objectives. He is also charged with growing the Air America brand by leading on-air, online and video initiatives. Previously, Bennett was a founder of Umansky, Wyatt, Zier, a Washington, D.C.-based management and marketing consulting company where he worked with many brands, including Air America, helping them transition into new media. He will continue to be a director for that company.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CABLEU

This day in History:  Born on this day: Thurgood Marshall (1908), Dan Rowan (1922), Imelda Marcos (1929), Dave Thomas (Wendy’s) (1932), Richard Petty (1937), Lindsay Lohan (1986)

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: On the sitcom Still Standing, Bill Miller’s manipulative mother is played by what actress?  SALLY STRUTHERS   Kudos to: Megan Morahan-NBCU/NY; Carol Accetta-Active International/Pearl River,NY; Kathy Raab-Retirement Living TV/Baltimore, MD; Matt Meachem-Tribune Media Services/Queensbury, NY; Buffy Johnson-Charter Media/St. Louis; Chad Kelley-KTHV/Little Rock; Yvette Clark-Azteca America/Dallas; Murad Kirdar  Telemundo/Dallas; Rachel Griffin-RHG Consulting/LA; Dara Monahan/Studio City, CA; Cathy Korda-ABC Entertainment/Burbank; Carrie R. Wheadon-Common Sense Media/San Francisco

Today’s Trivia Question:  On the series Pushing Daisies, what is the name of the pie shop that Ned owns? (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 WE tv

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live Data, Prime M-Su 8p-11p, delivery percent change for W18-34, W18-49 and W25-54 from 2Q07 (4/2/07-6/24/07) to 2Q08 (3/31/08-6/22/08) among ad supported cable networks with universes of 65 million or more households and excluding sport  networks, subject to qualification upon request.

Later — Cyn
07.01.08

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT – Wednesday, July 2, 2008

ABC: Wife Swap [r], Supernanny [r], Primetime: Crime
AZTECA: Vidas Al Limite, Historias Engarzadas, Bellezas Indomables
CBS: Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular [r], Criminal Minds [r], CSI: NY [r]
CW: America’s Next Top Model [r], Pussy Cat Dolls Present: Girlicious [r]
FOX: So You Think You Can Dance
ION: Quantum Leap, The Dead Zone, ER
MNT: Under One Roof, Whacked Out Videos [r], Twilight Zone [r], Twilight Zone [r]
NBC: Baby Borrowers (Part 1)[r], Baby Borrowers (Part 2), Celebrity Circus
PBS: Great Lodges of the National Parks, Nova Science Now, Carrier [r]
TELE: El Juramento, Victoria, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso
UNIV: Al Diablo con los Guapos, Fuego en la Sangre, Don Francisco Presenta

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