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Just how big a fan are you of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT? If CBS dropped it off the top of the Empire State Building, would you jump after it? Because that’s pretty much what they’ve done by (probably only temporarily) airing new episodes on Saturdays. The rest of the night isn’t even worth mentioning…
The networks have proclaimed their Fall schedules, the new series have been (partially) unveiled, so… what now? What will actually be worth watching when network TV comes back to life in a few months? SHOWBUZZDAILY is here to help you out. The good news is that since virtually all TV series are available these days via DVR, on-demand and online streaming, we’re well past the days when you had to choose one show in a timeslot and live with it–so where a slot offers a multitude of worthwhile entries, well, the only thing better than spending an hour watching TV is spending 2. Also, these are “1st Drafts” because once the pilots come to light, some arrivals may look even better than they do now, while others will be far less impressive. So consider this a work in progress.
7PM: The advantage of living on the West Coast is being able to watch football–assuming it still exists this Fall–and also see the regular series that air that night. (And yes, per Woody Allen, the ability to make right turns on red lights.)
8PM: ONCE UPON A TIME looks like a genuinely strange show, and it’s hard to believe it’ll find an audience, especially in a timeslot where THE SIMPSONS still gets a strong rating and AMAZING RACE has a loyal following. Give ABC credit for gall, though, and at least a couple of spins on the DVR. And if ALLEN GREGORY is as uninteresting as its promos suggest, they could get lucky.
9PM: Even though FAMILY GUY is a favorite, and worth DVRing, there’s no question that the class of the evening is THE GOOD WIFE, probably the best network 1-hour currently on TV. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, on the other hand, has entered the twilight of its run, and is already in danger of overstaying its welcome.
10PM: PAN AM looks like classy fun, and a smooth way to end the TV week.
WHAT TO WATCH THE REST OF THE WEEK:
ALSO SEE MITCH METCALF’S PREDICTIONS OF FALL 2011 RATINGS:
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The Sked: SUNDAY Ratings
Sunday preliminary broadcast ratings: 60 Minutes and the CBS 7:00-7:30 half hour specifically inflated by 10 minutes of the end of Masters coverage from 7:00-7:10 pm (mostly the monumentally awkward and amazingly tense ceremony in “Butler Cabin,” where the Green Jacket is awarded).
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THE SKED: Saturday Ratings Projections
>A few notes: these projections are for original episodes (no repeats) aired in the 4th quarter of 2011. Series premieres will likely be .3-.4 higher, thanks to network marketing pushes, and then tend to go down over time. We’ll be updating the numbers after we see full pilots and also…
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The Sked: SUNDAY Ratings Chart
Sunday ratings chart last night, last year and last week. Ratings for NBC 7:30-11:00 and CBS 7-8 pm are adjusted from the fast nationals to estimate the adjustment in the official nationals for these live feed programs.
About the Author
Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."
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