Studio 60 looks like toast

Published reports say "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is on its last leg, beset by bad ratings and a public that's not very interested in the "inside baseball" doings of a fictional Hollywood TV show. Aaron Sorkin still writes some cool stuff, but having his trusted director (Tommy Shlamme in real life; Brad Whitford here) have the drug problem when it's he who has had the drug problem is tacky. In the photo here, that's Sorkin and Shlamme (whom I've spoken to at press tour in LA years ago) in the back row middle, actually at this year's TV press tour.
The show that is doing well for NBC is "Heroes," which I can't help but watch even though it can be ridiculously out there. In the middle is "Friday Night Lights," which is very good but needs more viewers.

Using tragedy to sell trucks

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/business/media/30carr.html?th&emc=th

Weird Al's "White & Nerdy" parody (on "Ridin' Dirty")

http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=rap&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.bmgonline.com%2Fzombalabelgroup.com%2Fweird_al%2Fvideo%2Fwhite_and_nerdy_300.asx

Texas is half a sandwich short of a picnic

Our fake news post of the week:
President Bush today declared a federal disaster area for three counties in Texas after a marauding group of Northern mercenaries conducted a prime-time raid at a football stadium in Irving, Texas. Several local Cowboys were humiliated, and a large migratory Tuna was speared, but President Bush urged Texans to "stay the course" for "America's team" and hold out for a victory by 2025. At one point, Bush sidled up to pale-as-death owner Jerry Jones and said, "You're doin' a helluva job, Jonesy."
Speaking of which, there is the following news about this most satisfying event for Big Blue.
From ESPN:
ESPN's Monday Night Football, a 36-22 New York Giants victory over the Dallas Cowboys, was seen by the biggest audience in the history of cable television - an average of 11,807,000 homes, based on a 12.8 rating (16,028,000 viewers, P2+). The previous record for a scheduled program on cable television had stood for nearly 13 years, CNN's November 1993 NAFTA Debate between then-vice president Al Gore and Ross Perot on Larry King Live (11,174,000 homes).

Dueling late-night jokes. You decide winner.

"WEEKEND UPDATE" CO-ANCHOR SETH MEYERS -- "If recent polls are correct and Democrats win back control of the House and Senate, President Bush's administration will be transformed into an early lame duck. Worse, Cheney will then shoot it."
or
Conan:
The Iranian government announced this week that they are slowing down Internet access speed because they don't want Iranians to have good Internet service. Apparently, the government is so serious about this they're making all Iranians subscribe to AOL.

MEYERS -- "Mike Tyson has proposed a boxing match between him and Ann Wolfe, a female middle-weight boxer. Many believe the bout would be similar to Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King's famed Battle of the Sexes, but only if Billy Jean King had been punched to death."
or
Conan:
At a press conference yesterday, Mike Tyson announced that he'd like to start fighting women. You wouldn't think a guy with a face tattoo who's lost 200 million dollars could keep coming up with worse ideas.

TV gaming

From Electronic Arts: EA today announced more than 30 games in development for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. When the system launches in November, EA will deliver some of the world’s most popular game franchises including Madden NFL 07, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 07 and Need for Speed™ Carbon. EA will release eight to ten games on the PLAYSTATION®3 by late March including EA SPORTS™ Fight Night Round 3 and Def Jam: ICON™.

"Nova" program on a family in Turkey

This photo goes with my column Sunday in the Register. It has to do with a PBS program on a family that walks on all fours. Not for fun. Because they're just more comfortable doing that.

Bro, Sis and Betty

ABC has given a full-season order to "Brothers & Sisters" and "Ugly Betty," which features Guilford-raised actress Becki Newton as a Betty nemesis. ABC has been pretty supportive of its young programs of late, as evidenced by "What About Brian," which I think should have been shown the door. Pretty people aside, it's too narrow and unsympathetic. Hey Brian, we cared about your obsession with your best friend's fiance for an episode or two. But that's not enough to sustain a series. What about cancellation?

Companies are stealing the Internet

From Bill Moyers' folks about his upcoming Wednesday program:
Moyers on America "The Net at Risk" PBS Airdate: Wednesday, October 18 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). 90 minutes. The future of the Internet is up for grabs. Big corporations are lobbying Washington to turn the gateway to the Web into a toll road. Yet the public knows little about what's happening behind closed doors where the future of democracy's newest forum is being decided. If a few mega media giants own the content and control the delivery of radio, television, telephone services and the Internet, they'll make a killing and citizens will pay for it. America's ability to compete in the global marketplace, the unfettered exchange of ideas online, and broadband services that could improve quality of life for millions are at stake. Some say the very future of democracy itself may hang in the balance. In "The Net at Risk," Bill Moyers and journalist Rick Karr report on the wannabe "lords of the Internet" and examine how promises by the big tel-co companies of a super-high speed Internet in return for deregulation and tax breaks have gone unfulfilled while the public has paid the price. After the documentary, Moyers leads a discussion on media reform to explore the real-world impact of deregulation on communities and citizen participation in democracy.

Mets ratings in Hartford-New Haven market

From WTIC-61, aka Fox-61:
* The MLB NLCS Game 1 between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. NY Metsdelivered a solid 7.1 HH Rating / 10 HH Share In Hartford-New Haven.* The game topped the HH Ratings of these prime programs;* WVIT: My Name is Earl - 8p (5.8), The Office - 830p - (5.2), Deal orNo Deal - 9p (6.3).* WTNH: 6 Degrees - 10p (5.9).

Nancy, you need to run for dog catcher

Sunday's column in the Register will be about campaign ads. Here's one that figures into the mix, and infuriates us because it's fear-mongering bull.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAwYe570PAc&NR

Dr. Phil's "wired" crib makes neighbors "crack"!

http://www.tmz.com/2006/10/10/dr-phil-house-shut-down-by-angry-residents/

Reason 5,468 to avoid daytime TV

From a press release:
Cathie Jung, 69, of Mystic shows off her unbelievably pencilthin waist - one that would give any Barbie Doll a run for her money - to agasping audience on The Tyra Banks Show this Wednesday at 5:00 PM on The NewCW 20, WTXX.

Conan O'Brien's recent jokes

A group of students at Arizona State University has caused a controversy because they've been going by the name, "The Campus Causcasian Club." Administrators have asked the group to go back to using its original name: "The Golf Team."
Elton John announced he will be selling his own line of scented candles. Elton insists that the candles aren't just for gay men, but for any man who loves Elton John and scented candles.
New evidence shows that former Congressman Mark Foley once engaged in Internet sex with a former page while a vote was being taken in the House. Apparently, instead of voting, "Aye," Foley voted, "OH GOD YES!"

Smith, Kidnapped... nearly gonzo

CBS has yanked the pointless "Smith" series after three episodes. No surprise there. Another low-rated series, "Kidnapped," will see its remaining original broadcasts moved to TV's version of Death Valley, Saturdays at 9, beginning Oct. 21. According to a published report, the network has advised producers to wrap up the story, about a private prober trying to find the kidnapped son of a rich Manhattan family, by Episode 13.

Thaaaaaa Yankees lose!

To close out the Yankees situation, I would just say that baseball is a humbling game. Even for guys who make $25 million a year. There are only two good things about the Yankees' loss to Detroit: This should mean fewer homicides in Detroit during October, and we won't have to listen to Joe Buck for another series.

Now to TV: Fox has announced some changes post-baseball:

The new game show "The Rich List" will premiere Nov. 1. Oh, good, another show that worships at the altar of the Almighty Dollar. I saw the Spanish version of "Deal or No Deal" over the weekend. Almost exactly the same, except they have a vault thing where they showcase the offer from the banker (if I was following it correctly). I think it was called "Vas, No Vas." And the top amount was like $400. (Kidding! But it was less.)

"Justice" will move to Mondays and "Vanished" will move to Fridays. I don't like that one.
"House" and "Standoff" will switch time slots as of Halloween.

Say what?

In a New York Times review of the new show "The Nine," the reviewer used the phrase "Talmudic exegesis." It was some kind of "Lost" reference, I think. But in a TV review? I had to look up exegesis, which "involves an extensive and critical interpretation of a text, especially holy scripture," according to wikipedia.
see http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/04/arts/television/04stan.html?th&emc=th

Derek, Bobby, Johnny and Theo

No one wants to hear a Yankee fan gloat but that was some playoff opener. Five hits for Derek Jeter, two run-scoring smashes by Bobby Abreu and another decent outing by Chen Ming King of Taiwan Wang. The Red Sox, meanwhile, lost the pennant the day Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees. Who cares if Damon can't pronounce "Bobby Abreu"? The Sox are sprinting backward, thanks to a terrible job by Theo Epstein after the championship year. Injuries mounted, yes, but he had no one ready to step in. We like winning easily; it's so much less stressful...

some ratings

Last week in nielsens for some shows I mentioned:
monday
8:00-9:01 PRISON BREAK: (A18‑49: 3.4/9, 8.4 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 5.4/8)
9:01-10:00 VANISHED: (A18‑49: 2.1/5, 6.5 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 4.2/6)
and then the following Sunday:
SUNDAY
7:00-7:29 THE SIMPSONS (RS): (A18‑49: 1.4/4, 3.1 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 1.9/3)
7:29-7:49 TIL DEATH (RS): (A18‑49: 1.7/5, 3.7 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 2.2/4)
7:49-7:59 TIL DEATH (RS): (A18‑49: 2.7/8, 5.6 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 3.5/6)
7:59-8:30 THE SIMPSONS (R): (A18‑49: 3.7/10, 7.7 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 4.5/7)
8:30-9:00 TIL DEATH (RS): (A18‑49: 2.8/7, 6.3 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 4.0/6)
9:00-9:31 FAMILY GUY (R): (A18‑49: 3.5/8, 7.0 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 4.2/6)
9:31-10:00 WAR AT HOME: (A18‑49: 2.7/6, 5.6 Mil Total Viewers, HH: 3.5/5)

Lost on a Prison Break? Or just Desperate?

A look at the returning network TV shows:
As much as we're rooting for the New Haven woman on "The Bachelor: Rome," this is one horrible development for a TV editor who tries to never watch such drivel. But it's my job to watch it now, since Ellen DeMaio successfully advanced to the final 12 women. The prince seems affable enough, except he's an Italian prince who doesn't know any Italian. Managgia.
Prison Break killed off its youthful fugitive last night, which was graphic but not fully unexpected. Then the companion Fox show "Vanished" seemed to kill off its main FBI agent. Geez Louise, does no one get a five-year contract anymore? Prison Break is so over-the-top unbelievably contrived that it's good; we enjoy the ride even when it asks you to believe that the vice president of the U.S. becomes president through assassination, and also runs a ruthless and murder-filled conspiracy involving a framed man, the Veep's (faking-death) brother, a slain governor, a slain reporter, the framed man's murdered wife..." But the show knows how to take you on an involving ride for an hour, so we go for it (even when "T-Bag" is at his snarling worst).
Desperate Housewives: Yesterday's darling of the ladies (and those in touch with their feminine sides). Now it's mostly passe, athough creatively it seems to be rebounding a bit from last season.
Grey's Anatomy: New queen of the ladies' shows! I try to watch this from time to time but I can't stand Sandra Oh's Kabuki face or Ellen Pompeo, for that matter. I like Katherine Heigl, whom I've met, and would watch her if she was 50 percent of the show. And if the show were science fiction. Of course that would make it "Roswell," which was canceled.
Lost: Like "Prison Break," it is complete and utter nonsense spun creatively into an involving hour. I guess you can't talk about jumping the shark after a polar bear romped through the first few episodes and no one bolted.
Nip & Tuck: Older people are asking me about this show since they saw Rosie O'Donnell hump it on "The View," apparently (or they saw a promo). Here's the thing: This show is pay-cable soft porn being aired on basic cable when kids can see it. Very nasty stuff. If you have any sensitivity to crude content, avoid it like a neocon dodging responsibility.

Amended look at the new shows

Time to take stock of the young fall season.
Before we get started, what the heck are "Cheaters" and "Girls Behaving Badly" doing in prime time on WCTX-59? (Sunday nights.) I guess they match up with MyNetworkTV's soaps, but yikes theyre sleazy.
It was a strong development year for dramas, but none has leaped forward as the new hit yet.
If I was into family melodrama, I might be hooked on "Brothers & Sisters."
"Vanished" isn't bad, fitting well with the conspiratorial serial "Prison Break" Mondays on Fox.
"Runaway" and "Jericho" are pretty watchable (also "Justice" if you like Victor Garber) but I thought "Smith" (with Ray Liotta, right) should have been done as a comedy (I roared watching "The Pink Panther Strikes Back" Sunday morning). "Shark" is just "House" set in the legal system, but it has its moments.
"Friday Night Lights" (Tuesdays on NBC) features some great work by Kyle Chandler (a nice guy whom I've interviewed in person) and solid football action. But I was disappointed with the teen angst stuff. It's heavy handed, and the girls are a bit too Hollywood. Connie Britton is also good as the coach's wife.
"Ugly Betty" featured a sweet pilot hour but a disappointing second episode. Ratings are just OK, so we'll see if it can build any momentum.
"Six Degrees" also has its moments of interest, but the concept is somehow annoyingly contrived.
"Men in Trees" falls short of compelling TV but at least it's not heavy handed over-the-top.
"The Nine" arrives this week with its much-touted premiere hour. My expectations were a little too high; I ended up unimpressed.
Comedies? What comedies? I'll check in on "The Class" (which Pat Ferrucci loathes because of the whiny sister character), which somehow amuses me. Otherwise it's pretty sad out there.
"The Knights of Prosperity" arrives on Oct. 17 with a very thin premise, although there is one great ethnic cab driver character on it. I'm not a Donal Logue fan, however.
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is very well done, although it's more of a dramedy. I'd be content to watch this every week, given its topical references and nods to network and entertainment industry foibles (cocaine, ratings, meddling, pressure groups, content issues...)
"30 Rock" premieres next week and is a solid effort from Tina Fey, but you have to be able to stomach Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan. Just so-so.
Let me know your impressions of the new shows.