No good news for the shows that most needed it. ABC:  The second week of HAPPY ENDINGS‘ Big Friday Dump was even worse than the first, its two half-hours scoring 0.8/0.6, down from last week’s 1.1/1.0.  Creatively, the show is still in fine shape, so while its ABC career is clearly over, the question […]

  BROADCAST FINALS:  NBC’s TRANSPLANT gained 0.02 to 0.11.  FOX’s MLB game was at 0.49.  CW’s originals were at 0.03/0.03.  Univision’s LIGA matches were at 0.20/0.28.   Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart   CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  On ESPN, UFC FIGHT NIGHT was at 0.24/0.17, and WIMBLEDON coverage was at 0.21/0.16.  On ESPN2, a FORMULA 1 […]

  BROADCAST FINALS ABC:  A Monday edition of AMERICAN IDOL was up 0.08 from Sunday’s episode to 0.73, and THE GOOD DOCTOR was down 0.06 to 0.38. CBS:  THE NEIGHBORHOOD ticked down to 0.63, and BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA was down 0.09 to 0.51  NCIS ticked down to 0.55, and NCIS: HAWAII was up 0.06 to […]

      NETWORK FINALS:  MASTERCHEF, REVERIE and the rerun of AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE gained 0.1 in final numbers.  As expected, baseball adjustment reduced the CW reruns to 0.1/0.1.       Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  VH1’s BLACK INK CREW led Wednesday cable at 0.53, down a tick from last […]

> 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 […]

      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 […]

> From the Department of “Duh”:  CBS has worked out deals with Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones to return for another season of  2 1/2 MEN.  There had been reports that the cast and show creator Chuck Lorre wanted the new 10th season to be the finale, while CBS wanted 2-year deals, […]

  Less than 24 hours after its airing as an episode of The Vampire Diaries, CW has ordered the spin-off series THE ORIGINALS for the 2013-14 season.  (My review is here.)  Last night’s rating was a lackluster 0.9, but it was an awful night overall for the networks, and the response to the pilot has […]