> DISCLAIMER: These initial impressions are based on the clips (usually 3-5 minutes) released by the networks to use in their Upfront presentations and for promos.  They’re chosen to sell the show, not to accurately represent it.  So take the reactions below with a large satchel of salt–we may well feel differently about these shows […]

    NBC and FOX kick off next week’s parade of network Upfronts on Monday, and now FOX has joined NBC in releasing the titles of at least some of its 2012/13 season pick-ups.  Unlike NBC, which has dribbled out its information over the past couple of days, FOX has issued 5 orders at once, […]

        NETWORK FINALS:  There were no changes from Sunday’s preliminary ratings.         Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD lost 0.11 to 1.66, and TALKING DEAD fell 0.21 to 0.50.  Adult Swim’s HOT STREETS was at 0.34/0.31, compared to last week’s 0.34/0.29.  […]

  A largely downbeat night. DEMOGRAPHIC DETAIL: For each broadcast program (or hour segment), the chart below displays preliminary live+same day key advertiser demographics (adult 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 ratings), audience skews (women 18-49, men 18-49 and adults 50+ shares) and total viewership (thousands of people over the age of 2). Ratings analysis and comparisons follow […]

  SEAN SAVES THE WORLD:  Thursday 9PM on NBC – If Nothing Else Is On… This is the kind of sitcom SEAN SAVES THE WORLD is.  A co-worker of Sean (Sean Hayes), Liz (Megan Hilty), walks into his office already talking, not realizing that he’s actually on speakerphone with their new boss.  When she’s called […]

  Word of mouth on FANTASTIC FOUR (20th) is going to be deadly (the exit polls are dismal, and since they survey ticketbuyers enthusiastic enough to show up on the first day of release, lesser fans are likely to consider it even worse), probably sealing its fate as one of the biggest flops of the […]

      NETWORK FINALS:  BIG BROTHER and MASTERCHEF gained 0.1 in final numbers, but WAYWARD PINES lost the same.           Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  SHARK WEEK again gave Discovery top cable honors, with SHARKS VS DOLPHINS at 0.86, DEADLIEST SHARKS at 0.82, and SHARK […]

  OPENINGS:  Here’s the crazy thing about the official record-busting $238M weekend estimate for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (Lucasfilm/Disney), which smashed the previous weekend record by more than 12%, and nearly tripled the prior December record:  it’s on the conservative side.  Flying in the face of most studio behavior in reporting opening weekends, Disney […]