Ratings in key demos for the Top 25 original cable telecasts (plus a few other lower-rated but noteworthy programs): There’s not much doubt about what tops the ratings on Sunday cable, and AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD did so again, although it was down 0.26 to a mere 7.27.  TALKING DEAD followed as usual, down 0.06 […]

  OPENINGS:  The only question for LONE SURVIVOR (Universal) to ponder as all concerned count their entirely unexpected riches this weekend (a $14.4M Friday and a weekend that could hit $40M) is whether they miscalculated by waiting to go wide until after polls were closed for the Oscar nominations.  Survivor is very much on the […]

  BROADCAST FINALS ABC:  After a rerun AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS at 0.37, the line-up returned from an off-week with CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD up 0.07 to 0.58, THE $100,000 PYRAMID up 0.02 to 0.44, and THE FINAL STRAW up 0.07 to 0.28. CBS:  BIG BROTHER jumped 0.28 to 0.82, sandwiched between reruns at 1.05 (swollen […]

>With network on-air promotion activity tracked in hit summer shows (those at or above a 2.0 Adult 18-49 rating) for the second half of July, each network’s marketing strategies are becoming clearer. FOX, with only a 15-hour a week schedule to support, continues to pound away at three new series: X-Factor and New Girl at a […]

  Just a day after NBC announced the end of its Thursday Must-See-TV block of comedies, FOX is breaking up its Animation Domination Sundays with a pair of live-action sitcoms.  There are plenty of changes to the FOX line-up on the way, and here’s a quick breakdown: MONDAY:  Matching the new Batman prequel GOTHAM with […]

>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 […]

    There’s no half-hour on network television more consistently accomplished than MODERN FAMILY.  The show may not reach for the demented highs of a Community (at least, you know, the old Community), 30 Rock or Happy Endings–it traffics instead in a heightened but very relatable emotional reality, and does so, virtually every week, with […]

  BROADCAST FINALS ABC:  Game 4 of the NBA FINALS continued to be consistent at 3.63. CBS:  COME DANCE WITH ME gained 0.02 to 0.20, followed by reruns at 0.17/0.21. NBC:  After a rerun AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR at 0.23, DATELINE jumped 0.12 to 0.40. FOX:  WWE SMACKDOWN dipped 0.02 to 0.44. CW:  The series finale […]