Source: NTI, Galaxy Explorer, Cov Rtg. 9/27/04-3/25/05. Gilmore = M-F 5p. Tie #1 Teens w/ Full House M-F 6:30p.  Tie #1 W18-34 w/Whose Line M-F 9p & 9:30p.  Rank excludes Movies, 5+ T/C.

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

03/30/05

Good morning.  It’s Wednesday, March 30, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

The WB Network has announced the return for a second season of the sketch comedy show BLUE COLLAR TV, starring comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.  Blue Collar TV’s second season will kick off this summer.

The long time expected divorce and separation agreement between Disney Studios and the Miramax‘s co-chairs, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, has been completed.  The Weinsteins will step down from the CEO’s at Miramax right away, but will hold their co-chair office until the end of September 2005, finishing up completed projects.  Bob and Harvey will from The Weinstein Co., and will take the Dimension Film label with them.  The new company will be ‘fully integrated’, providing content for television and the internet, in addition to films.  Additionally, The Weinstein Co., says it will collaborate with Disney on several co-productions of sequels to Miramax hit films including Spy Kids and Scarey Movie.  Meanwhile, Disney retains Miramax Films and the libraries of both Miramax and Dimension.

Court TV has announced it will develop a split personality — daytime known as Court TV News; evenings beginning at 6p it will be known as Court TV: Seriously Entertaining.  With two different audience groups, this decision is not different from other networks who have followed a similar route (Cartoon Network & Adult Swim; Nickelodeon and Nick-at-Nite), all designed to distinguish both dayparts as stand alones, and clarify the demographics of each daypart thereby assisting in the sales and marketing efforts of the channel.  Both dayparts will carry their own art work, promos and marketing spots.  The change over is scheduled to occur in July.

Tonight’s Premieres:
ABC:     Eyes at 10p
Bravo:  Showdog Moms and Dads at 10p

Tonight’s Season Finale:
NBC:  American Dreams at 8p

2004-05 Season Finales:
ABC:     Lost on May 25 (8-10p)
Fox:     American Idol on May 25 (8-10p)
ABC:    Alias on May 25 at 10p

Showtime has ordered up a new anthology series: Masters of Horror, with 13 one hour eps, per Hollywood Reporter.  A bevy of horror genre related film directors will participate including Roger Corman, John Landis, George Romero and Tobe Hooper. No start date announced yet, though production begins in April.

ABC:

• love life (Touchstone TV/Untitled) has added Tom Everett Scott to the line up replacing Mark Umbers. The announcement coming just one day after he left Fox’s new series Stacked.  This comedy project about two 30-something groups of friends who meet, also stars Julie Bowen, Michael Landes, Alan Tudyk, Lucy Davis and Sophina Brown.
• Untitled Chris Kattan Project (20th/3 Arts) about a consumer reporter (Kattan) and a fledging cable news network, has added Chris Williams and Kate Hodge to the cast.  Also on board are James Patrick Stewart and Tinsley Grimes.

CBS:

• Untitled Yuspa-Goldsmith comedy project (Sony Pictures TV/Paramount Network TV), aka Stroller Wars, has added Rhea Perlman signed Benjamin King to join Darren Ritchie and Tiffani Amber Thiessen, in a project about a young couple who are dealing with being new parents.
• Everything I know About Men (Touchstone TV/Paramount Network TV) starring Jenna Elfman has added Dabney Coleman to the cast as Elfman’s father.

FOX:

• Queen B (Imagine TV) has added Rand Holdren to the cast of the comedy pilot, which is led by Alecia Silverstone as a self centered woman who manipulative powers don’t work as well now as they did in high school.  Holdren will play the self absorbed neighbor and best friend to Silverstone’s character. The pilot will be directed Danny DeVito.

WB:

• The Evolution of Man (Warner Bros. TV/Jerry Bruckheimer Films) has added Wendie Malick to the lineup as a guest star. The cast already includes George Wendt, Eric Lively, Max Greenfield and Josh Braaten in a comedy about three life long friends who hire a life coach (Malick).
• Twins (Warner Bros. TV/KoMut) has signed Christopher Fitzgerald to join Sara Gilbert and Molly Stanton in a comedy about fraternal sisters who could not be any more different.
• Untitled Camryn Manheim Project (Warner Bros. TV/Tannenbaum Co.) has added Heather Paige Kent to the comedy about a hippy single mom (Manheim) who moves to a neighborhood of soccer moms.

The next installment of The Surreal Life on VH1 is set to debut on September 4, 2005, and joining the cast this season will be:  former supermodel Janice Dickinson; Jose Canseco; hip hop’s Sandi Denton (Pepa of Salt-n-Pepa); Bronson Pinchot; Omarosa; UK glamour model Caprice; and motorcross’ Carey Hart.

USA Network‘s premiere of KOJAK last Friday night delivered 4.5 million viewers (P2+) and a 3.9 HH Rtg, making it the highest rated non-sports basic cable program in primetime among total viewers for the week. Among A25-54, the premiere was up 21% in its time period versus qtr to date averages, and +12% among A18-49.

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has renewed Starting Over in more than 92% of the country for its upcoming third season in syndication.  Among those clearances are 35 market upgrades, including Chicago on WGN at 2p, Philadelphia on WCAU at 11a, Baltimore on WJZ at 9a and Cleveland on WKYC at 12n.

Sony Pictures TV has cleared 70% of the country with its re-offering of off-net sitcoms Mad About You and The Nanny, both available on a barter only basis. According to Variety, the one-hour package has been cleared in 12 of the top 20 markets including WPIX/NY and WCIU/Chicago.

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among Total Viewers for the 1st QTR 2005:
Primetime       (000)   Total Pgm Day   (000)
TNT              2589     NICK              2173
USA              2351     NAN*              1583
NAN              1995     TNT               1401
CARTOON 1853     CARTOON 1385
TBS              1806     LIFETIME         1144
LIFETIME         1784    USA               1128
FOXNEWS 1609     TBS              1044
SPIKE            1562     FOXNEWS 884
ESPN             1550     ESPN              760
SCIFI            1296     SPIKE            750
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 109,600,000 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 A18-49 for the 1st QTR 2005:
Primetime       (000)   Total Pgm Day   (000)
TNT              1199     TNT               739
TBS              1084     NAN*              661
USA              1072     TBS               623
SPIKE            823      USA               565
LIFETIME         743     LIFETIME         534
ESPN             680      NICK              500
SCIFI            660      ESPN              419
COMEDY  636      SPIKE             409
MTV              604      FX                379
FX               589      CARTOON 376
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 109,600,000 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 Broadcast Network Programs among A18-49 for the week of 3/21-3/27/05:
Fox      AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY         11.6/31
ABC     DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES        10.7/24
Fox     AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY  9.0/21
Fox     AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY      8.6/22
CBS     SURVIVOR: PALAU WED SP       7.3/19
ABC     GREY’S ANATOMY                        7.2/18
Fox      HOUSE                                          6.8/17
ABC     EM:HE 8P                                      6.6/16
NBC      ER                                                  6.5/17
CBS     CSI: MIAMI                                      6.5/17
Source:  Nielsen Media Research, Galaxy Explorer

Carat Americas announced they have secured the media assignment for Rent-A-Center. The account will be headed by Kamela Yates-Niemyski, Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Carat USA’s office in Dallas, TX.

UPN has a new affiliate in Gray Television Inc. for WCTV-DT/Tallahassee, Fla., it was announced today by Peter Schruth, President, Affiliate Relations, CBS/UPN. The affiliation is effective April 1.  Tallahassee is the 109th largest market in the country.  UPN’s previous affiliate, WTLS owned by Pegasus, will become a WB affiliate and change its call letters to WFXU as of April 1.

You knew when Kenny Solomon left Fine Living Network he’d show up somewhere else pretty quickly, and he has.  Ken has been named Chairman/CEO of The Tennis Channel, starting April 1st.  He succeeds David Meister who has been with Tennis since its launch two years ago. Tennis Channel is currently available in 50+ million homes, and with a new deal signed with Comcast expects to add another 8-10 million homes by year end. Nice landing, Kenny.

Oxygen Media announced two new SVP appointments, both reporting to Debby Beece, President/Programming and Marketing. Aaron Meyerson was named as SVP/Development and Production, based in LA. Cynthia Ashworth was named as SVP/Marketing.  Based in New York, she will be responsible for the networks consumer, affiliate, ad sales and internet marketing.  

Peter Schlossmacher upped to Director of Sales at NCC’s American Division of the Atlanta office. Peter will lead the development and growth of the spot sales business in NCC’s Southeastern American Division markets and the American Division.

Chris Linn has been named to the newly created position of VP & Executive in Charge/Production, Development and Animation, MTV.  Linn will maintain his NYC base and will report directly to Tony DiSanto, SVP/Production, MTV.  In his new role Linn is responsible for the managing the physical production of live action and animated series, specials, events, pilots and all animation efforts.  He will work closely with MTV’s Liz Gateley, VP/Production Development; Tony DiBari, VP/Production; and Joelle Charlot, VP/Studio Production & Administration.  Additionally, the production management team will report to Linn on logistics, budgets, and various negotiations (e.g. production entities, animation houses, talent, and venues).

David Doebler has been named Pres/GM of NBC O&O WVIT/Hartford.  David hails from WVTM/Birmingham, also an NBC owned station.

Monday – A18-49 Analysis:  A tightly competitive night on Monday with CBS and NBC tying for #1 with a 4.3/11 A18-49, and Fox as close as you can be without tying at a 4.2/11 A18-49, according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research.  ABC was third with a 3.6/9, followed by UPN 1.5/4, WB 1.2/3.  At 8pm Fear Factor and Nanny 911 tied at 3.7/10, and ABC’s EM: how’d They Do That following with a 3.5/9.  At 9p CBS was in front with a 5.0/12 for Raymond and a 5.1/12 for 2-1/2 Men. 24 was a close #2 with a 4.8/11, immediately followed by Las Vegas at 4.2/10.  NBC’s Medium eked out a win over a repeat of CBS’ CSI Miami, 5.0/13 vs. 5.0/12.  The 2-hour premiere of The Bachelor on ABC tallied a 3.7/9.

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS:  Monday, March 28, 2005, for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     8.3/13   Still Standing [r] 5.8/9, Listen Up [r] 5.1/8, Raymond [r] 9.7/14, 2-1/2 Men [r] 9.6/14, CSI: Miami [r] 9.9/16

NBC     7.3/11   Fear Factor 5.8/9, Las Vegas 7.4/11, Medium 8.9/14

FOX     6.4/10   Nanny 911 6.0/9, 24  6.8/10

ABC     5.8/9    EM: HD How’d They Do That? [r] 5.7/9, The Bachelor [p] 5.8/9

UPN     2.4/4    One on One 2.3/4, Cuts 2.3/4, Girlfriends 2.6/4, Half & Half 2.5/4

WB      2.1/3    7th Heaven [r] 2.0/3, Summerland 2.1/3

A18-49                CBS and NBC 4.3/11; Fox 4.2/11; ABC 3.6/9, UPN 1.5/4, WB 1.2/3

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1981 – President Ronald Reagan is shot by 25 year- old John Hinckley, who attempted the assassination in order to impress the actress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed. Quickly arrested, Hinckley was later found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Answer to Yesterday’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? ERIC FOREMAN on That 70’s Show and on HOUSE. Kudos to: Ed Jones-Millennium Sales & Mktg/NY; Valencya Tucker-WAGA/Atlanta; Amy Gordon-Showtime/NY; Brandi Wisman-Fox/NY;Tim Rank-Adamson Adv/St. Louis; Heidi Strock-KDFW/Dallas; Ryan Moore-Buena Vista Television/Burbank; Bria Dotson-Warner Bros. Television Prod./Burbank.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question:  The slogan of this on-TV network is “The Network that Means Business”.  Which network is this?  (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
03.30.05 5:26am

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  MARCH 30, 2005:

ABC              Lost, Alias, Eyes [p]
CBS              60 Minutes, King of Queens, Yes Dear, CSI: NY
FOX              That 70’s Show, Simple Life, American Idol, Life on a Stick
NBC              American Dreams, West Wing, Law & Order
PAX              Doc, Sue Thomas F.B.Eye, Diagnosis Murder
UPN              Top Model, Kevin Hill
WB               Smallville [r], Smallville [r]
TELE             Rumbo al Mundial (Pre-Game); Rumbo al Mundial: Panama v. Mexico (USA v. Guatemala at 12m)
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra, Don Francisco Presenta