> Today’s announcement that CBS extended its rights to the Grammy Awards for another 10 years and NBC’s recent winning bid for the next four Olympic Games are evidence that broadcast networks are doing everything possible to keep first-class specials programming on their air.  Specials account for about 20% of a network’s yearly schedule (approximately […]

        NETWORK FINALS:  OLYMPICS coverage stayed steady with the preliminary 5.8, and there were no other adjustments in final numbers.         Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Bravo took Wednesday cable with 0.61 for REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC at 0.61, although that lead-in didn’t do […]

  HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER will continue parsing out its precious nuggets of mother-related information for one more season.  CBS very badly wanted the show back, especially with 2 Broke Girls not proving to be the Monday blockbuster the network had hoped, and deals have been made with 20th Century Fox Television (which owns […]

> CBS was so confident in its returning schedule this season that it barely ordered any back-up shows (and it wasn’t far wrong).  Its sole midseason drama, the high-profile cop drama now known as NYC 22 (after previous flirtations with Rookies and The 2-2) will hit the network’s schedule starting April 15 on Sundays at […]

> BEING FLYNN:  Watch It At Home – Troubling Story That Doesn’t Go Deep Enough There’s a scene in Paul Weitz’s new film BEING FLYNN where Jonathan Flynn (Robert DeNiro), the alcoholic, narcissistic, pitiful, self-destructive father of Nick (Paul Dano), reads to his son from a publisher’s rejection letter.  Jonathan sees himself as one of […]

  BROADCAST FINALS ABC:  THE ROOKIE slipped 0.02 to 0.37, THE ROOKIE: FEDS lost 0.03 to 0.24, and WILL TRENT was down 0.05 to 0.20. CBS:  The FBI franchise included the mothership up 0.02 to 0.43, FBI: INTERNATIONAL up a tick to 0.37, and FBI: MOST WANTED down a tick to 0.37. NBC:  Back from […]

  BROADCAST FINALS ABC:  A MATTHEW PERRY INTERVIEW special was at 0.47, followed by 20/20 up a tenth to 0.38. CBS:  SWAT ticked up to 0.41, FIRE COUNTRY gained 0.02 to 0.47, and BLUE BLOODS was down 0.04 to 0.41. NBC:  The season finale episodes of COLLEGE BOWL were at 0.22/0.21 compared to last week’s […]

  BROADCAST FINALS ABC:  STATION 19 dropped 0.09 to 0.42, and GREY’S ANATOMY was down 0.07 to 0.38.  The special THIS IS REVENGE was at 0.22. CBS:  YOUNG SHELDON ticked up to 0.56.  The season finale of GHOSTS was at 0.62, up 0.12 from last week and up 0.06 from last season’s finale.  SO HELP […]