> When AMC was done confirming (but not explaining) Frank Darabont’s ex-showrunner status at The Walking Dead and swearing they’ll never, ever do anything like the season finale of The Killing again, they found time at the Television Critics Association gathering today to announce a premiere date for their new drama HELL ON WHEELS.  The […]

Weekend #23 of 2015 is looking like $154 million for the top 12 films this weekend, very much on par with the same weekend the past few years. Spy from Fox should open with a $39.5 million three-day weekend. Early reviews at RottenTomatoes are loving: 96% positive overall so far. Spy is on track for around $133 million domestic. Overseas the […]

  Seasonal Note:  Good Friday is traditionally a strong day for moviegoing, which explains the generally solid Friday-to-Friday holds below.  Easter Sunday, though, is less of a movie day, potentially bringing down weekend multiples. OPENINGS:  HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (TriStar/Sony) is impressively overperforming, its $7.9M Friday added to $7M from Wednesday and Thursday for a […]

> This marks the conclusion of SHOWBUZZDAILY‘s pre-Upfronts survey of the broadcast networks, as they reach the conclusion of the current season and decision-making time for the next.  Previously this week, Mitch Metcalf, veteran programming executive Ted Frank and I reviewed the challenges and potential strategies for FOX, ABC, and NBC, which leaves us with […]

  By superhero movie standards, SHAZAM (DC/New Line/Warners) was moderately priced, with around $225M in production/marketing costs.  Preliminary numbers at Deadline put its opening day at $20M (including $5.9M from Thursday), and although that’s a cut below comic book blockbusters like Captain Marvel ($61.7M), Spider-Man: Homecoming ($50.8M) or Wonder Woman ($38.2M), it’s solidly in line with […]

  9-1-1 needed no emergency assistance. DEMOGRAPHIC DETAIL: For each broadcast program (or hour segment), the chart below displays preliminary 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 the […]

Ratings for the Top 25 original cable telecasts Sunday (plus a few other lower-rated but noteworthy programs): Being Tyler Posey MTV 10:00 pm 0.19 P18-49, 0.45 F12-34, 0.25 P18-34, 0.12 P25-54, 0.00 M50+, 420,000 P2+ Ratings for the Top 25 original cable telecasts Saturday: The Brittany Murphy Story Lifetime 8:00 pm 0.64 P18-49, 0.75 F12-34, […]

        NETWORK FINALS:  FOX’s NASCAR race gained 0.1 in final numbers, and the 8PM half-hour of 60 MINUTES lost the same.         Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  On HBO, LAST WEEK TONIGHT slipped 0.02 to 0.19, the season finale of INSECURE was at 0.18, […]