By Lisa de Moraes
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Looking to get a jump on competitors and give the sense NBC is a network on the move, its execs will unveil their prime-time schedule plans in New York today -- six weeks ahead of the broadcast networks' traditional Upfront Week, when ABC, CBS, Fox and CW are still scheduled to trot out their new lineups to advertisers.
It'll be the first prime-time slate under NBC's out-there Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman, and it's likely to be heavy on escapist fare -- no heavy lifting.
Indeed, NBC's other co-chairman, Marc Graboff, recently told the trade paper Variety that "Ben's programming strategy is to find some shows where people can tune in and then mentally tune out."
Here's a good point at which to note everyone's got money on Silverman announcing a remake of the '80s talking-car hit "Knight Rider" among the new series on NBC's prime-time slate.
Silverman's "Knight Rider" made-for-TV movie, which aired in February as a so-called "back-door pilot," was very successful. It clocked nearly 13 million viewers, making it the second-most-watched scripted program that week, behind only ABC's "Lost." More important, it copped the biggest crowd of 18-to-49-year-olds -- NBC's target age bracket -- of any made-for-TV movie or theatrical on any network in nearly three years.
Among the more interesting shows considered likely for NBC's slate: "Kings," starring Ian McShane, which is loosely based on the story of King David -- you know, the guy who made a perfect fool of giant Goliath, using only a sling and a rock.
Also "My Own Worst Enemy," starring Christian Slater, which keeps getting described as a Jekyll/Hyde story: suburban guy/spy alter-ego, blah, blah, blah.
And, "The Philanthropist," from Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana, described as a drama about a hedonistic billionaire who helps those in need. Take a minute to chew that one over.
"Kath & Kim" also is considered a certainty. Silverman bought the U.S. rights to the international sitcom format and has cast Molly Shannon and Selma Blair as dysfunctional mother and daughter.
Among the reality show projects to be announced are a couple from the network's multiple-series deal with "Ice Road Truckers" creator Thom Beers: "America's Toughest Jobs" and "Sharktaggers."
The network is billing today's presentation as a discussion of its new year-round programming strategy. Fox did something similar several seasons ago; it was the longest upfront presentation in the history of network TV. But NBC's presentation is promised to come in at one hour. Which doesn't leave a lot of time for detail.
But no one's expecting NBC to announce wholesale changes to its prime-time lineup. Industry navel-gazers said they'd be surprised if NBC makes changes to its Thursday; Sundays will, of course, be devoted to football; and, they note, "Biggest Loser" has been faring well on Tuesdays and "Heroes" seems to have planted its flag in the Monday 9 o'clock time slot, possibly preceded by "Chuck," which, like several freshman series cut down by the writers' strike this season, is getting a do-over next fall.
Among other NBC series likely to be brought back based on their ratings: "30 Rock," "My Name Is Earl," "The Office," "ER," "American Gladiators," "Deal or No Deal," "Friday Night Lights," "Life," "Medium" and one or more "Law & Order" shows.
Fox logged 2 1/2 hours of "American Idol" last week and once again finished first in the ratings race. It cost CBS more than nine prime-time hours of NCAA basketball play to score a close second.
Here's a look at the week's nothing-but-nets and air balls:
WINNERS
Kids' Choice Awards. Nickelodeon's trophy show rode the Miley Cyrus wagon to ratings supremacy Saturday, copping its biggest audience ever -- 7.5 million viewers -- and beating every broadcast network except March Mad CBS. It was the week's No. 1 telecast among kids and teens. For Miley, it was a bittersweet evening; she nabbed the KCA blimp for fave female singer and TV actress, for which she thanked her mother, father, agent, manager and "my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," but her "Hannah Montana" got beat for fave TV show by "Drake & Josh."
"How I Met Your Mother." CBS's sitcom hopped on the Britney Spears Crazy Train last Monday and wound up with its biggest crowd ever among younger viewers and its season best among viewers of all ages -- nearly 11 million viewers.
"CSI: Miami." More good news for broadcast networks in the post-writers'-strike era. Returning "CSI: M" jumped back with its first original episode since the strike started in November and claimed its biggest audience of the season -- more than 16 million viewers.
"Celebrity Apprentice." Donald Trump crowned Piers Morgan, host of another NBC reality series, winner in this edition's final episode Thursday as more than 12 million looked on -- the biggest haul for a finale since December '05 and up 51 percent over the most recent finale.
"The Hills." MTV faux-reality show's Season 3B opened to 4.8 million viewers -- a series high -- and was Monday's top-rated show among 18-to-34-year-olds and teens.
LOSERS
"Unhitched." Unimpressive: season finale audience of 4.2 million on Sunday. Unhinged: Fox if it orders another season.
"New Amsterdam.""Canterbury's Law" got tossed overboard so "House" repeats could serve up a larger Monday lead-in audience for Fox's new Monday drama "New Amsterdam." "House" repeat did just that -- and "New Amsterdam" lost more than 1 million viewers week to week.
" 'Til Death." Despite Fox's best effort to shove this sitcom down "American Idol" viewers' throats -- last week the cast once again chewed some scenery in the "Idol" audience -- about 15 million "Idol" viewers said "no thanks!"
"Tracey Ullman's State of the Union." About 532,000 curious Showtime viewers caught Sunday's opening of Ullman's latest manic-comic series, following the season debut of "The Tudors," which logged about 770,000 viewers -- down from Season 1 opening 870,000.
The week's 10 most watched programs, in order, were: Fox's Wednesday and Tuesday "American Idol"; ABC's Monday "Dancing With the Stars" and Tuesday results show; CBS's "CSI: Miami," "Two and a Half Men" and "60 Minutes"; ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"; and NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" finale and Thursday "Deal or No Deal."
View all comments that have been posted about this article.