Syndication Ads: Are we hooked on Big Macs, Cheetos and Drugs?
Sales are more than 50% complete, with one syndicator, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, more than 70% sold out of its 2008-09 ad inventory, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
What's it all mean? It means that syndication upfront totals are expected to be around $2.4 billion, up 4.5% from last year.
Maybe one reason is that syndicators are incorporating more product integration into their packages, especially with talk and entertainment shows. Strong categories include packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, movies, and fast food.
Hmmm ... I wonder what they're saying. That TV viewers sit around eating Big Macs, doing drugs, and woofing down Cheetos? Yeah, that can't be right.
Continue reading Syndication Ads: Are we hooked on Big Macs, Cheetos and Drugs?
The Arrested Development Award Nominees
Here at TV Squad, we're doing our part to bring attention to cool shows that were axed in the recent upfront announcements. Last week, I put out a call for considerations for The Arrested Development Award, a.k.a. The Show Least Deserving of Cancellation Award.
You made your opinions known - thank you! - and now we're into Phase 2: The Nominees. The Squad will pick our own winner, but we're giving you the chance to pick a Reader's Choice winner. Here are the nominees, and be sure to vote in the poll at the bottom.
Continue reading The Arrested Development Award Nominees
(Almost) all the new shows - VIDEOS
Embedded videos after the jump
Continue reading (Almost) all the new shows - VIDEOS
The five new shows I'm most interested in (based on the upfronts that is)
So the networks have given their upfront presentations. It's not easy to pick which shows look the best. Sure, we can base our judgments on what "type" of show we usually like anyway or a producer that's involved or someone who is in the lead. But we're still just basing it on a description (or a snippet from each show). It really comes down to the writing and the execution in general.
Having said all that, here are the shows that look great to me, based on the upfront description, the cast and crew involved, and how my tastes run in general.
Continue reading The five new shows I'm most interested in (based on the upfronts that is)
Fox trims commercials on Fringe and Dollhouse
Since I write about TV and movies, I have a work-related TV in my office, and I use those few minutes here and there to slam through some work or get caught up on whatever show I'm recapping. In fact, while watching commercial-free shows on HBO and Showtime, I actually miss those little interludes.
But, apparently, Fox hasn't been peering through my window, because at their upfront presentation yesterday morning, they announced their "Remote-Free TV" idea. Two new dramas, J.J. Abrams' Fringe and Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, will air with reduced network commercial breaks -- just five minutes per hour, or about half the usual.
Continue reading Fox trims commercials on Fringe and Dollhouse
TV Week gives a peek at CBS's new shows
Continue reading TV Week gives a peek at CBS's new shows
TNT & TBS have big plans for original content
Among many announcements from TNT at upfront week was the stated goal to dramatically increase original content. The network aims to eventually reach 80% original content, with plans for three original nights a week by 2010. How are they going to reach those goals? With cops. Lots and lots of cops.
We've already heard about the new Donnie Wahlberg DEA series, Morse Code. Three other cop shows are in development at the network, including Delta Blues, from executive producer George Clooney, which follows the story of a Memphis cop who does a little Elvis impersonating on the side. 24 co-creator Joel Surnow is also joining the TNT family with an as yet untitled series built around an ATF agent. Finishing off the law enforcement party is Angel City. Written by L.A. cop Will Beall and Barry Schindel, Angel City is being compared to Adam-12. Read on past the jump for the less cuff-heavy goings on over at TNT.
Continue reading TNT & TBS have big plans for original content
The Upfronts: FOX
Returning: The Moment of Truth, So You Think You Can Dance, The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, American Idol, America's Most Wanted, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Bones, Cops, Don't Forget the Lyrics!, Hell's Kitchen, House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, MADtv, The Moment of Truth, Prison Break, Talkshow with Spike Feresten, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death
Out: Back To You, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, Nashville, New Amsterdam, Next Great American Band, Return of Jezebel James, Unhitched
New: Sit Down, Shut Up; The Cleveland Show; Dollhouse (Midseason); Fringe; Do Not Disturb (formerly The Inn); Secret Millionaire (Midseason)
Schedule and detailed descriptions of the new shows after the jump.
Continue reading The Upfronts: FOX
The Upfronts: CBS
Returning: The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, The Unit, Cold Case, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, The Ghost Whisperer, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, NCIS, 60 Minutes, Without A Trace, Survivor, The Amazing Race
Out: Shark, Moonlight, Cane, Kid Nation, Power of 10, Secret Talents of the Stars, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain
New: The Worst Week, Project Gary, The Ex List, Eleventh Hour, The Mentalist
Mid-season: Harper's Island, Rules of Engagement
Schedule and detailed descriptions of the new shows coming soon, after the jump.
Continue reading The Upfronts: CBS
The Upfronts: The CW
Returning: Reaper, Smallville, Supernatural, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game
Out: Aliens in America, Life is Wild, Girlfriends
New: 90210, Surviving the Filthy Rich, Stylista
More after the jump...
Continue reading The Upfronts: The CW
TV Squad Poll: Who the heck watches According to Jim?
Once again, According to Jim gets to continue on ABC for another season. If you read the comments here, though, it's not as though anyone is particularly happy about it. "WTF" and "you've got to be kidding me" are common reactions to this news. So, I have to wonder: if so many people seem to hate this show, despise it so much as to make it the brunt of many TV-related jokes, and to be shocked -- SHOCKED, I tell you -- that the network could continue to allow such an atrocity to linger on, then who is watching it?
Joel asked this question before, but now I want to know. After the jump I've put a poll in place to get some idea of who's behind the ratings that keep breathing life into Jim Belushi's career.
Continue reading TV Squad Poll: Who the heck watches According to Jim?
How I Met Your Mother and The Unit renewed?
The article talks more about HIMYM, of course, mentioning that Britney Spears' first appearance gave the show the boost it needed to carry it to a fourth season. I wish that wasn't true, but I'm pretty sure it is. As much as fans of HIMYM (me! me!) hated the distraction Brit Brit brought to the show, and really hated her wooden performance (especially last night, according to many of the commenters on my review of "Everything Must Go"), they have to admit that without the pop tart, the show might not have made it.
Sigh. Oh, well. Whatever gets the job done, right? I'll see if I can confirm the renewal when I speak to Carter Bays and Craig Thomas later today.
The Upfronts: ABC
Returning: Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Grey's Anatomy, Lost (Midseason), Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Ugly Betty, According to Jim (Midseason), Samantha Who?, America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor (Midseason), Dancing With The Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, Wife Swap, Saturday Night College Football, Primetime: What Would You Do?
Out: October Road, Notes from the Underbelly, Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cashmere Mafia, Cavemen, Miss/Guided, Women's Murder Club, Oprah's Big Give
New: Life on Mars, The Goode Family (Midseason), Scrubs (Midseason), Opportunity Knocks, Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project (Midseason)
Continue reading The Upfronts: ABC
The Upfronts: NBC
Actually, NBC already had its upfront over a month ago. This is a "spotlight event," a Part 2, if you will (a walk-thru set up at 30 Rock for advertisers and the media), but they did make some interesting announcements today.
This biggest announcement (though hardly a surprise at this point) was that Jimmy Fallon will take over on Late Night when Conan O'Brien takes over for Jay Leno. This will happen next year.
Here are some of the other announcements made at today's even and a recap of the new shows and the shows that have been canceled. And in this post, I promise not to fail you, rainbow chicken.
Continue reading The Upfronts: NBC
Telemundo loves breasts
I'll have the NBC upfront info later today, but I had to post some news about the upfront from NBC Univeral-owned network Telemundo. They announced their new schedule today too, and one of the new shows is titled Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso. We've reported on this show before. The English translation is Without Breasts There Is No Paradise.
That's right, Telemundo is going to have a TV show about breasts. This gives the term "upfront" a whole new meaning.
When this show was first announced last year, I thought it was something that Ben Silverman grabbed to air on NBC itself, but it doesn't look like that's the case.
If Telemundo really wants a hit on their hands, they should come up with a companion show to go along with this one. Maybe call it Without Beer There Is No Heaven. Really get the young guy demographic. And old guy demographic too. Judging from the photo above, it's not only about breasts but also cell phones and skirts.