> After a full season, it’s still not clear just what HOUSE OF LIES is. The season finale, written and directed by series creator Matthew Carnahan, centered on what became the show’s main storyline in the latter part of its run:  the attempted takeover of the management consulting firm that employs Marty Kaan (Don Cheadle) […]

> The upcoming MEN IN BLACK 3 centers around a time-travel theme, and with co-star Josh Brolin as host, much of this week’s SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE seemed to be saluting the movie with sketches that could have been written anywhere between a year and a decade ago.   Thus, after an MIB3 gag monologue that made […]

World Cup 2014 continued Friday with a well-rated match on ESPN Friday at 3 pm (Netherlands versus Spain), which averaged 3.1 million viewers of any age and a 2.09 rating with men 18-49, well above the ESPN average for Group Stage matches in 2010 (2.1 million total viewers and 1.47 men 18-49 rating) and slightly […]

THE WEEK.  For the recently completed week ending Sunday (February 18-24, 2013), ABC will claim a rare victory with a preliminary 3.42 adult 18-49 rating in prime time, its best weekly showing of the year by far (thanks, of course, to The Oscars).  And even better for ABC, this is better than last year’s Oscar week (3.14 […]

> With two Thursdays down in the young 2011-12 broadcast season, FOX is the #1 network on this important night (especially to heavy spending movie, retail and auto advertisers).  The X Factor is a not inexpensive show with a great pedigree.  Although it is not living up to its lofty expectations, it is getting the job done for […]

      NETWORK FINALS:  EMPIRE and MODERN FAMILY gained 0.1 in final numbers, but NASHVILLE lost its 0.1 bump.         Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  The late game of ESPN’s NBA doubleheader (Houston vs. Dallas) took Wednesday cable honors at 0.62, with 0.41 for the early […]

Ricky who? NBC:  Separately, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are stars of ratings-challenged (although beloved by fans) sitcoms.  Together, though, they’re a powerhouse hosting duo, and between the two of them, some wild surprises (Argo for Best Drama) and some sheer wildness (Bill Clinton presenting a clip from Lincoln, and of course Jodie Foster’s Lifetime […]

        NETWORK FINALS:  BIG BROTHER gained 0.1 in final numbers.           Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  The horsemen of the Apocalypse continued to ride, as TLC’s DR PIMPLE POPPER kept its Wednesday cable throne, down 0.04 to 0.59.  On VH1, BLACK INK CREW gained […]