>The ugly second half of the 2011-12 television season rolls on, and its not getting any prettier for the broadcast networks.  In fact, the combined rating for the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) the past two weeks are down a stunning 17% and 14% from the same weeks last year.  The current week […]

This is already an Oscars like no other, thanks to the Academy’s decision–at the behest of ABC and its concern over ratings–to give out 8 awards before the telecast begins, with brief taped excerpts to air throughout the show.  (Spoiler alert:  Dune took Original Score, Production Design, Editing and Sound, with Eyes of Tammy Faye […]

  The major studios didn’t try to seriously challenge HALLOWEEN (Blumhouse/Miramax/Universal) on its titular weekend, and despite a 69% Friday-to-Friday drop to $10.3M according to preliminary numbers at Deadline, it will easily win its 2nd weekend with around $33M.  At this rate, it could top $175M in the US, which would put it neck-and-neck with […]

  Despite the fact that star/co-creator Danny McBride had talked about the 2012 season of EASTBOUND & DOWN as being (voluntarily) its last, and the season’s conclusion seeming to end the show’s story in a fairly satisfying way… like its antihero Kenny Powers, it’s ready for a comeback.  Vulture reports that a new 8-episode season […]

  BROADCAST FINALS:  With the exception of CW, all the broadcasters carried the STATE OF THE UNION address and its response (ABC had the bragging rights for those), so there was limited original programming.  ABC:  A rerun of JUDGE STEVE HARVEY at 0.41. CBS:  An FBI rerun at 0.40. NBC:  AMERICAN AUTO dropped 0.06 to […]

> Two of the fall’s most publicized new shows premiered last night, to very different results. FOX:  The House of Murdoch won the night, as well as the biggest headline:  all those ads showcasing the goofy charm of Zooey Deschanel paid off big-time, and NEW GIRL‘s 4.8 rating (slightly updated from Mitch Metcalf’s report) was […]

Weekend #5 of 2016 is looking like $129 million for the top 12 films this weekend, much stronger than normal (see comparisons below). Kung Fu Panda 3 from Fox and DreamWorks Animation should open with $49.5 million Friday-Sunday. The film is on track for around $165 million domestic in its run. Overseas the film could bring in $560 million, giving it […]

NOTE: A Presidential address at 9:00 pm ET delayed the start time for broadcast programs at 9 and 10 pm ET Friday by about 15 minutes. More accurate ratings will be available Monday afternoon with the official nationals for broadcast and cable Friday.  Today we’ll limit our comments to the 8PM shows, with more detailed […]