Pat Plays Scheduler! The CW - Part One

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. Tonight:

The CW:

Monday

8:00PM: 90210

10:00PM: Gossip Girl

Analysis: While neither drama is doing extremely well here, they aren’t doing any worse than the dramas on other nights, so nothing will change on Mondays

Tuesday

8:00PM: One Tree Hill

9:00PM: NEW DRAMA

Analysis: Hellcats, current 9PM occupant, is all but dead, but the 8-years-young One Tree Hill is alive and well....for at least one more season.

Wednesday

8:00PM: America's Next Top Model

9:00PM: NEW DRAMA

Analysis: While fading, ANTM is still one of The CW's highest rated series, so it'll conitnue to lead off Wednesday nights. The net will try a new drama out of the reailty vet, but for years they have tried and failed to get a show to catch on in this slot.

Pat Plays Scheduler! NBC - Part Two

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. Today:

NBC:

Thursday

8:00PM: Community

8:30PM: NEW COMEDY

9:00PM: The Office

9:30PM: Parks & Recreation

10:00PM: 30 Rock

10:30PM: NEW COMEDY

Analysis: Outsourced and Perfect Couples are sure to be cancelled. This will leave two slots open for new comedies. Airing 30 Rock in the 10PM hour has greatly improved the hour, even though the vet's rating have dropped a bit. To be fair, Rock is more about prestige than ratings, so as long as it stays at its current level, which is about a 30% improvement over what the net was averaging this fall, its likely to stay put.

Friday

8:00PM: Who Do You Think You Are?

9:00PM: Dateline

Analysis: Who Do You Think You Are? Has done well for a cheap-Friday-night reality skein, so it will lead off the night. A two-hour Dateline will fill the rest of the night.

Saturday

8:00PM: Repeats

9:00PM: Repeats

10:00PM: Repeats

Analysis: Like every other network, NBC has pretty much given up on this night, so no new programming will crop up on this night.

Sunday

7:00PM: Sunday Night Football

Analysis: Sunday Night Football is huge for NBC, so it will obviously be back in the Fall. The Spring schedule will be decided later, but will almost certainly include Celebrity Apprentice, which is NBC's highest rated show.

Midseason

Minute To Win It may return for filler, but with the weak ratings lately its not a done deal.

Pat Plays Scheduler! NBC - Part One

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. Today:

NBC:

Monday

8:00PM: Chuck

9:00PM: NEW DRAMA

10:00PM: Harry's Law

Analysis: Chuck has fallen to new lows lately, however it's still the highest rated show on it's Monday Schedule most weeks. Harry's Law does well with older viewers, and does ehhhhh with the 18-49 crowd. Either way, with LOLA DOA, Law should be a lock for a second season. A new drama will round out the night.

Tuesday

8:00PM: Biggest Loser

10:00PM: Parenthood

Analysis: NBC's Loser ironically continues to be one of the lone bright spots on it's schedule, however it has been seriously waning lately. Hopefully they can build some kind of buzz for the next season, and bring back the fans who've strayed this season. Parenthood straddled the bubble for most of the season, but the finale got the highest rating (2.5) for an NBC drama since The Event premiered last Fall, so it will be back.

Wednesday

8:00PM: NEW REALITY SHOW

9:00PM: NEW DRAMA

10:00PM: Law & Order: SVU

Analysis: Minute to Win It was doing well for the net earlier this year, but something happened this Spring, and the show has been at series-lows for the last few months. It won't be back, except maybe for cheap filler at some point this Summer. Since the ill-fated Jay Leno experiment in Fall 2009, NBC has started every season with SVU at 9PM with a new drama leading out. And every season, the 10PM drama dies, and SVU is pushed back an hour later, where it flourishes. HOPEFULLY, NBC will start it off at 10PM, so it can build some ratings momentum in its 13^th(!) season. So, a cheap reality show will fill the 8PM slot, and a new drama will follow at 9.

Pat Plays Scheduler! FOX - Part Two

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. Tonight:

FOX:

Thursday

8:00PM: THE X-FACTOR/American Idol

9:00PM: UNTITILED BONES SPINOFF

Analysis: The results shows for the reality series will play in the 8PM hour, while the lead-in will be used to launch a new series, most likely the Bones spinoff. Once again, FOX could use a new hit drama, so hopefully this will develop into that hit.

Friday

8:00PM: Bones

9:00PM: Fringe

Analysis: Bones has been an extremely consistent performer for the net since its debut in 2005. FOX has been toying with the idea of moving the series to Fridays for years, and with The X-Factor likely taking up residence with in its current 8PM time-slot, now may be the time. Bones finally gave FOX decent ratings on the most important night to advertisers, Thursday, and, while a modest hit, if it could bring those viewers to Fridays, FOX would be ecstatic. Fringe somehow escaped cancellation, and will be back for a full 22-episode season next year. So it will likely stay in this low-profile time-slot.

Saturday

8:00PM: Cops

8:30PM: Cops

9:00PM: America's Most Wanted

Analysis: Maybe this will be the night when FOX makes some big changes! Oh wait, this night hasn't changed in two decades. Next!

Sunday

7:00PM: Bob's Burgers

7:30PM: American Dad!

8:00PM: The Simpsons

8:30PM: NEW ANIMATED COMEDY

9:00PM: Family Guy

9:30PM: The Cleveland Show

Analysis: Fox has done well with Animation Domination for years, so other than shuffling the comedies around a bit, this night won't change too much.

Midseason

Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares will likely make an appearance on the schedule at some point. These shows work great as filler, and can be moved anywhere, so FOX will keep these two as a contingency plan.

Pat Plays Scheduler! FOX - Part One

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. Tonight:

FOX:

Monday

8:00PM: House

9:00PM: NEW DRAMA

Analysis: House has, like most formerly strong vets on broadcast has weakened considerably as of late, however it still manages decent ratings and will probably stay put. Nothing has really flourished after House since Fringe, so FOX will likely try something new – for the umpteenth time – and try to actually launch a new hit out of House while its still a viable lead-in.

Tuesday

8:00PM: Glee

9:00PM: Raising Hope

9:30PM: NEW COMEDY

Analysis: Glee exploded in its second season, becoming FOX's number one scripted show. To toy with the time-slot now would not be wise, so Glee isn't going anywhere. Raising Hope is the first live-action sitcom to reach a sophomore season on FOX in years, so they will look to expand its audience this Fall. A new comedy will round out the night.

Wednesday

8:00PM: THE X-FACTOR/American Idol

9:00PM: TERRA NOVA

Analysis: With The X-Factor premiering this Fall, FOX may finally be able to have a stable schedule. Every season since American Idol began airing from January to May, the Fall schedule changed radically as soon as the juggernaut premiered. However, if The X-Factor can air alternately with AI, then they can share a time-slot, and present a stable schedule. Terra Nova, the big budget project from Steven Spielberg needs to be a hit, so FOX will give it the biggest push possible by airing after X and AI.

Using Twitter To Advertise on Television: Smart or ANNOYING?

          So many people, myself included, likely follow their favorite celebrities to see what they are doing right now. “I'm making some eggs, I wonder if Eric McCormick is doing the same thing?”, or something like that. Oh course, these people aren't stupid. They realize that their fan base will hang on their every word, and what better time to advertise an upcoming project! For every Busy Phillips, who tweets about her daughter, cast members on Cougar Town, and just general goings on during the day, there's an Alyssa Milano, who is CONSTANTLY hawking the new movie she's doing, or the TV show she just taped a guest spot for. Don't get me wrong, it makes is a lot easier to catch her few and far between guest stints on this week's Castle, but still, I'd like to hear more about her daily activites than what she's working on. Of course, I just proved the point. By seeing what she'll be on this week, I make a concious decsion to watch that episode of Castle, giving that show a boost in ratings, and showing Alyssa that its a great idea to advertise via Twitter.

          As a person who hates to see someone pandering for an audience, I should stop following celebrities that do such things......Oh, shoot, Alyssa just posted about a new television movie she's starring in....Do as I say, not as I do, OK??

Pat Plays Scheduler! ABC - Part Two

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. This week:

ABC: Part Two -

Thursday

8:00PM: NEW DRAMA

9:00PM: Grey's Anatomy

10:00PM: Private Practice

Analysis: ABC struck out hard with My Generation last Fall, so it's likely the net will try something a little more Grey's-esque this time around. This meaning a drama, with a voiceover, guiding silly young people as they navigate through there VERY hard lives. The fading Grey's will continue to lead-in to the never-that-strong-anyway Practice for the time being, although the latter may be on thin ice if it slips any further next season.

Friday

8:00PM: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

9:00PM: Brothers & Sisters

10:00PM: 20/20

Analysis: Friday mainstay 20/20 will remain in the 10PM slot. Extreme Makeover's ratings have waned considerably from its heyday, as has fellow Sunday nighter Brothers & Sisters. ABC has done well with reality on this night, so Makeover may have a new permenant home. Sisters on the other hand is getting old, and will likely play out a shortened season to eek out a few more bucks in syndication profits in a less high-profile time period, and wrap up the veteran drama after six seasons.

Saturday

8:00PM: Repeats

9:00PM: Repeats

10:00PM: Repeats

Analysis: Like every other network, ABC has pretty much given up on this night, so no new programming will crop up on this night.

Sunday

7:00PM: America's Funniest Home Videos

8:00PM: Secret Millionaire

9:00PM: Desperate Housewives

10:00PM: NEW DRAMA

Analysis: Secret Millionaire premiered this Spring to very respectable numbers, and will likely return on the night. America's Funniest and Housewives have been mainstays on the night for years, and are likely to stay put. ABC will try to capitalize on the (dropping like a rock) respectable audience the veteran drama still pulls to launch a new drama, with Brothers & Sisters moving to Fridays to finish its 6-year run.

Midseason

Shark Tank returned this season after a very short (and low-rated) freshman run last season. Its audience has continually risen, and last week actually achieved a series-high and Friday-leading 1.6 in Adults 18-49. So a repeat appearance next year is becoming more and more likely. Recent Primetime spinoff What Would You Do? has performed well on Fridays, and will likely be used as filler at some point during the new season. Better With You may also be return at midseason, depending on how confident the net is in its comedy pilots.

Pat Plays Scheduler! ABC - Part One

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like. Tonight:

ABC:

Monday

8:00PM: Dancing With the Stars

10:00PM: Castle

Analysis: Dancing has been performing well for ABC on Mondays for years, so no change there. Castle seems to have finally solidified its spot on the Monday schedule, considering its actually winning its timeslot, and holding up well even when not being preceded by a new Stars.

Tuesday

8:00PM: Dancing With The Stars: Results

9:00PM: Cougar Town

9:30PM: NEW COMEDY

10:00PM: Body of Proof

Analysis: Following the success of Modern Family, ABC has been talking about opening a second night of comedy. Unless they pull a 2009, and start a brand new, two-hour comedy block, they are really more likely to start with an hour, and maybe expand it the following season depending on the level of success. The Middle has done well in the 8PM hour on Wednesdays, and they're not moving Modern, so they're best bet is to move the lower-rated Cougar to this timeslot, and follow it with a new comedy. With the Stars boost, Cougar should fare just fine, and provide a decent lead-in to a freshman laffer. Body of Proof has held up well after three airings, so going on the (limited) data available, it looks like a keeper.

Wednesday

8:00PM: The Middle

8:30PM: NEW COMEDY

9:00PM: Modern Family

9:30PM: NEW COMEDY

10:00PM: NEW DRAMA

Analysis: Other than The Middle and Modern Family, nothing has really struck a chord with viewers on this night. Sure, Cougar Town rates OK, but considering its ample lead-in, it could do much better. So ABC will continue trying to round out the evening with two freshman comedies, and a new drama.

Pat Plays Scheduler! CBS - Part Two

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like:

CBS: Part Two - 

Thursday

8:00PM: Mike & Molly

8:30PM: NEW COMEDY

9:00PM: The Big Bang Theory

9:30PM: NEW COMEDY

10:00PM: The Mentalist

Analysis: Moving CSI off the night will pave the way for CBS to officially open up a second night of comedy. Moving Bang to Thursdays this season was a great success, but moving it into the 9PM hour will improve the hour, while also exposing the show to a wider audience, and hopefully raise ratings back to the level it achieved in its third season. Mike & Molly has performed well on Mondays this year, so it could be used to lead off the night. A couple of new comedies thrown in for good measure, and CBS could be a very competitive second on the night, now dominated by American Idol.

Friday

8:00PM: The Good Wife

9:00PM: CSI:NY

10:00PM: Blue Bloods

Analysis: CBS still dominates this night, and veteran CSI: NY has held up well in its move from Wednesdays, often ranking as the number one series on the night. Blue Bloods is one of the highest rated new shows in total viewers, and even though the demos are low, it ranks perfectly fine for Friday. The Good Wife may well drop like a rock with this move, but, to be fair, it wasn't doing very well on Tuesdays anyway. This will give CBS the right to say “we tried.” to the rabid fan base, before finally canceling the show at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season.

Saturday

8:00PM: Repeats

9:00PM: Repeats

10:00PM: 48 Hours Mystery

Analysis: Like every other network, CBS has pretty much given up on this night, so not really anticipating any changes here.

Sunday

7:00PM: 60 Minutes

8:00PM: The Amazing Race

9:00PM: Undercover Boss

10:00PM: CSI: Miami

Analysis: This will be the only night that remains unchanged for the net. 60 Minutes has been a mainstay on this night for more the three decades, so it'll stay put. The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss have done well here as well, so they'll remain in their respective timeslots as well next season. CSI: Miami has performed well since the move to Sundays last season, so it'll probably remain here for the foreseeable future.

Midseason

Rules of Engagement: This show has been an incredible utility player for the net rating well throughout a myriad of time slot changes. So, entering its sixth season, the Eye will likely order another 13-episode season. 

Pat Plays Scheduler! CBS - Part One

With upronts less than a month away, I will use my television expertise (and imaginary crystal ball) to predict what the new network schedules will look like:

CBS: Part One - 

Monday

8:00PM: How I Met Your Mother

8:30PM: NEW COMEDY

9:00PM: Two and a Half Men

9:30PM: NEW COMEDY

10:00PM: Hawaii 5-0

Analysis: Mother has been opening the night for years, so theres very little chance that CBS will make a change there. Nothing has really clicked in the 8:30 hour for the net in recent years, so they'll likely try something new to see if it catches on. Theres a .0000001% chance Men won't return for a ninth season, whether Sheen returns or not, so it'll stay put. Like seasons past, CBS will use it's highest rated comedy to launch a new skein. Hawaii 5-0, while performing below predecessor CSI: Miami, has consistently ranked among their highest rated 10PM shows, so it won't be moved.

Tuesday

8:00PM: NCIS

9:00PM: NCIS: LA

10:00PM: NEW DRAMA

Analysis: NCIS has blossomed into the most watched drama on television, averaging nearly 20 million viewers a week, so CBS wouldn't dare move it, lest its ancient audience get confused. NCIS: LA has also performed well in this slot, so its probably there for one more season, before CBS decides to share spread the wealth to another night. The Good Wife is arguably the Eye's most buzzed about series, and though its low-rated, its likely the net will try to eek at least one more season out of the sophomore drama. However, its squandering a prime NCIS: LA lead-in, so they'll likely premiere something new in this time-slot come Fall.

Wednesday

8:00PM: Survivor

9:00PM: Criminal Minds

10:00PM: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Analysis: Survivor and Criminal Minds have been solid performers for CBS, so they'll stay put. With CSI fading in its 11^th (!) season, a move to less high-profile slot is in order, and since nothing has really struck a cord in this slot, this could be a perfect solution.

Updates!

House moving to NBC? Not so fast!

So, worried that FOX will lost House to rival NBC? Not so says an insider. Apparently there was a clause put into the contract for the series that says NBCU is not allowed to shop the show to any network under their umbrella, including NBC, USA, Bravo, etc. Of course, a renegotiation could change all of that, and the contract stipulation is open to interpretation. However, the legal issue could defiantly make is harder for the Peacock to steal the show away from FOX.

Brothers & Sisters: The Final Season?

Every year for the last few seasons, ABC has aired something of a “Brothers & Sisters Movie”, essentially a special, two-hour episode in the early Spring. Most years, that episode is one of the highest rated of the season. This past Sunday, however, Sisters fell to just 6.5 million viewers, and a near series low 1.5 rating in Adults 18-49. Its still possible ABC could bring back the vet for a final, shortened sixth season to wrap up story lines, but with ratings cratering as of late, theres a very good chance the show could be airing its series finale this May.

Mike & Molly without Two and a Half Men Stumbles

This week, CBS decided to try out freshman hitcom Mike & Molly in the 9PM slot long occupied by Two and a Half Men, and the results weren't pretty. Molly fell to a series low 7.9 million viewers, and a 2.5 in Adults 18-49, while the Men rerun that followed only mustered a 2.0 in the demo, which, even for a repeat, was low for the skein. Any hope that CBS could use the freshman as the tent-pole of its Monday lineup ay have been dashed, but time will tell. 

Sunday TV Ratings: 'The Cleveland Show' Improves, While Most Others Hit Season/Series Lows

         The 7PM was full of repeats and a 13 minute Masters overrun on CBS, with a new American Dad on FOX averaging a 1.6 in Adults 18-49, 60 Minutes, averaging around a 2.2, and Dateline NBC with a 0.9 being the only original programming in the hour.

          8PM saw the finale of ABC's Secret Millionaire, which fell to a series low 2.3 and 9.1 million viewers. On FOX The Simpsons also dropped to a series low 2.3 and just a hair under 5 million viewers. That was followed by Bob's Burgers, which posted a 1.9. The bad news continued, with NBC's The Next Great American Restaurant pulling a series low 1.2. Leading the hour was The Amazing Race, which averaged a time-slot winning 2.8.

          An episode of Family Guy won the night, with a 3.3 in the Adults 18-49 demo. That was followed on FOX by The Cleveland Show which actually increased week-to-week, up 14% to a 2.4. CBS aired a new Undercover Boss, which averaged a 2.9, NBC went with the first hour of Celebrity Apprentice, which pulled a 2.6, and ABC pulled up the rear with a 1.8 for the first hour a special Brothers & Sisters episode.

          At 10PM, NBC lead with a 3.2 for the second half of Celebrity Apprentice, while the second hour of ABC's Brothers & Sisters didn't fare nearly as well, averaging another 1.8. Cancellation continues to look more likely for the vet, as ratings continue to slide. CBS played the middle, with CSI: Miami averaging a decent 2.4 and about 10 million viewers.

Could 'House' be making it's NBC Debut?

          House has been a mainstay on the FOX schedule for the last seven seasons, and even with waning ratings it still ranks as the second highest rated drama on the net, behind only the surging Glee. So, a renewal should be a virtual certainty right? Guess again.

          The show is actually owned by rival NBC, under NBCU/Comcast Studios, and the studio is looking to keep the terms of the licensing deal intact as of the last renegotiation, which occurred following the much more highly rated fifth season. The current deal calls for FOX to pay all production costs, as well as a fee to air the program. Now, a show going into its eighth season isn't cheap, with ballooning salaries and contract renewals with the principal cast. So, for NBC to expect FOX to continue to pay all the bills while NBCU rakes in syndication profits seems a little unrealistic.

          While some believe that NBCU feels that since the ratings have weakened, by not upping the licensing fee and adding extra fees they are doing FOX a favor. However, an emerging motive sees NBCU trying to dissuade FOX from picking up the long-running hit so that NBC can air the series. It's no secret that the Peacock could sorely use a hit drama, and this is certainly a quick, if not underhanded, way to accomplish that goal.

          Still, the most likely outcome will see FOX bending to NBCU for the rights to continue airing the series. But, in the world of television, who knows? You could soon be seeing ads for the new NBC series House, M.D.

Life Under the Radar: The Rules of Engagement Story

          Rules of Engagement, for those who don't watch, follows two couples, the long married Jeff and Audrey (Megan Pryce and Patrick Warburton) their friends, the newly engaged Adam and Jennifer (Oliver Hudson and Bianca Kajlich), and single, and proud of it Russel (David Spade). The show can be amusing, but it's nothing special, and basically follows all the cliches associated with a multi-cam sitcom. Considering its lack of critical love, one would think this show shouldn't last very long. Wait....it's been on for five years?

          Premiering as a mid-season replacement on February 5, 2007, Rules was not the critical darling CBS was hoping for. However, following a heavily promoted and highly rated premiere, the show settled into a very respectable 12.4 million viewer average. CBS renewed the hitcom for a second season, which premiered in September 2007. Due to the writer's Strike, the show was briefly replaced by The New Adventures of Old Chrisitne, but returned in March 2008. For the following two seasons, the show premiered during midseason, replacing a struggling sitcom in CBS Monday lineup. The show proved to be a real utility player for The Eye, garnering decent ratings despite being moved to different time-slots throughout its run.

          To this day, I've watched maybe 10 episodes of the 67 that have aired since the series began. Often enough, I enjoy it, but its never something I need to watch. While not appointment television, the fact the show manages to make people laugh while not offending the casual viewer is the reason it's gearing up to a sixth season renewal. While there is a case to say that this rather run-of-the-mill sitcom should have never seen a second season, having a utility player like this in their back pocket is reason enough for CBS to continue to produce this under-the-radar hit.