A number of creatively promising midseason launches landed with a thump this year, including Fox’s “Canterbury’s Law” and ABC’s “Miss Guided.”
The question facing the networks, as they move toward May’s upfront presentations, is whether those shows failed because the writers’ strike hurt their launches or because the shows truly did not connect with viewers. The answer will determine whether they return.
That’s certainly the case for ABC's “Eli Stone,” whose first-season finale airs tonight at 10 p.m.
Renewal would look pretty iffy based solely on the numbers for this surreal but sweet drama. It averaged a 2.8 in adults 18-49, but that’s somewhat inflated because it aired behind fresh episodes of hit drama “Lost” for nearly two months. When “Lost” went into reruns, "Stone's" ratings slipped.
In its penultimate airing Sunday, in a special slot behind a new “Desperate Housewives,” “Stone” averaged a 2.8 rating, winning its timeslot and hitting its best rating since early February.
There’s a small chance that could convince ABC to bring “Stone” back, likely at midseason. Critics generally liked it, their one complaint being that the show, about a lawyer who may be a prophet after he starts seeing aneurysm-induced hallucinations, was overly whimsical.
But also working in its favor is that ABC has a history of renewing one unlikely drama each season, a show with little ratings momentum but lots of creative promise that it thinks deserves another shot, as it did with “What About Brian” and “October Road” these last two years. Like so many midseason shows, "Stone" debuted in the last weeks of the strike, a period of heavy reruns and low viewership.
NBC also recently gave a pickup to a low-rated show that launched in the thick of the strike, “Lipstick Jungle,” hoping that a relaunch next fall could help it grow.
How “Stone” does in tonight's finale may determine whether it joins it next season.
Tonight things go terribly wrong during surgery to remove Eli’s aneurysm.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, APRIL 17
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Deirdre Imus, wife of radio host Don, guests.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“My Name is Earl” (C)
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Randy and Joy try to finish off items on Earl’s karma list.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Survivor” (R)
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The winners of this week’s challenge get a feast and the chance to see a show.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“The Office” (C)
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Michael develops a crush on an office catalog model.
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9 p.m.
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National Geographic Channel
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“Big, Bigger, Biggest” (N)
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A look at various bridges, including the world’s longest suspension bridge.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Eli Stone” (D)
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Season finale. Eli tries to have his brain aneurysm removed, but it doesn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“ER” (D)
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Neela attempts a tough surgery the morning after an all-night shift.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 18
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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Ashlee Simpson performs.
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8 p.m.
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Cartoon Network
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“Ben 10: Alien Force” (K)
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Season premiere. A 15-year-old has the ability to turn into 10 different alien heroes.
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8 p.m.
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HBO
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“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (S)
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Among other things, an interview with Barack Obama, who’s apparently a big basketball fan.
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9 p.m.
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Fox
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“ Canterbury’s Law” (D)
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Season (series?) finale. Elizabeth defends an admitted rapist.
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10 p.m.
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CMT
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“Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search” (R)
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The final four direct their own photo shoots, which may not be a great idea.
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10:30 p.m.
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Versus
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“NHL Hockey” (S)
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A Stanley Cup playoff game, teams to be decided.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 19
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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3 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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Coverage of the first round of the NBA playoffs, teams TBD.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Third-round coverage of The Heritage, live from South Carolina.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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Cops in Kansas City respond to a “shots fired” call.
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8 p.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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Another first-round playoff game.
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9 p.m.
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Sci Fi Channel
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“Warbirds” (M)
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A WWII fighter battles dinosaurs and Japanese adversaries.
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11 p.m.
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Fox
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“Mad TV” (C)
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The crew spoofs The Pussycat Dolls.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 20
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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3 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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More coverage of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Final-round coverage of The Heritage, won last year by Boo Weekley.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Oprah’s Big Give” (R)
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Season finale. The final contestants have one more challenge, but no money.
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8 p.m.
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ESPN
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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The Mets take on the Phillies in an NL East showdown.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Desperate Housewives” (D)
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Gaby is forced to adapt to Carlos’ blindness.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“Sweet Nothing in My Ear” (M)
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Parents debate on whether their deaf child should endure a risky surgery that might help restore hearing.
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10 p.m.
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VH1
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“Viva Hollywood!” (R)
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The contestants take part in nude yoga and a love scene challenge.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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