For 'Emeril,' same flash, different pan

TV This Week
For 'Emeril,' same flash, different pan
By Diego Vasquez
Jul 7, 2008 - 1:00:34 AM

Bam! goes glam: Starting tonight, “Emeril Live” switches from the Food Network to the Fine Living Network, where it will air daily at 7 p.m. The first week kicks off with five all-new episodes, after which new shows will premiere on Mondays and reruns will air other nights.

Food Network decided to unload chef Emeril Lagasse’s program late last year, after contract negotiations between them broke down. In 10 years with the network, Lagasse helped grow awareness of the Food Network brand and drew some of the channel’s top ratings. But his viewership had declined some 20 percent after he signed his latest contract in 2003.

This past year, the show moved from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m. where it averaged 579,000 total viewers for Food, according to Nielsen. “Live” showcases the chef’s over-the-top personality, including his trademark “Bam!” when he spices up a dish and a band that plays for the live studio audience.

Though Lagasse continues to host Food Network’s “Essence of Emeril,” a less-showy version of “Live,” he will have a much smaller potential audience on Fine Living, which like Food is owned by Scripps. FLN is available in 50 million households to Food’s 90 million.

Still, the deal will undoubtedly give Fine Living a boost. And it will bring Lagasse closer to new business partner Martha Stewart, whose Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia acquired the chef’s media and merchandising business in April.

On weeknights, reruns of Stewart’s syndicated talk show will air behind “Live,” giving FNL its two highest-profile personalities in years as the network prepares to be measured by Nielsen for the first time starting next season.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
MONDAY, JULY 7
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Twins battle the Red Sox in Boston.
8 p.m.	ABC	“The Bachelorette” (R)	Season finale. DeAnna takes the final two to meet her family in Georgia, and later picks a winner.
9 p.m.	TLC	“Jon & Kate Plus 8” (R)	The sextuplets turn 4, and in a messy twist, they get to decorate their own cupcakes.
9 p.m.	USA	“WWE Monday Night Raw” (S)	Preparing wrestling fans for the Great American Bash.
10 p.m.	ABC	“The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose” (R)	A look back at the season, as well as an update of the last season of "The Bachelor."
10 p.m.	Travel Channel	“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” (R)	Bourdain takes his shtick to Laos.
10 p.m.	Showtime	“Weeds” (C)	Nancy wants Andy to come with her on another mission.
TUESDAY, JULY 8
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	R&B singer Keyshia Cole guests.
8 p.m.	Fox	“The Moment of Truth” (G)	The summer season finale has more contestants spilling secrets for money.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Celebrity Family Feud” (G)	Keepin’ it in the NBC family: "The Office" cast members play against some "American Gladiators."
8 p.m.	ABC	“Wipeout” (G)	Has been one of summer’s top new shows, can it keep the momentum?
9 p.m.	Fox	“Hell’s Kitchen” (R)	Season finale. The final two put together their last suppers.
9 p.m.	Discovery	“Deadliest Catch” (R)	Captain Phil’s health casts doubt over the future of his boat.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Shot at Love with Tila Tequila: One Shot Too Many” (R)	Tila and the final two rehash the second season.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Media Life fave Martha Stewart guests.
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Cards take on the Phillies in Philly.
8 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The top 12 dancers give their latest performances.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Baby Borrowers” (R)	The teens try to potty train toddlers, and then they throw them birthday parties.
9 p.m.	Biography Channel	“Biography” (N)	A look at the life and career of funnyman Eddie Murphy.
10 p.m.	truTV	“Black Gold” (R)	A rookie irks the leader of the Big Dog.
10 p.m.	TV Land	“She’s Got the Look” (R)	Season finale. The final four pose for a possible cover spot at Self magazine.
THURSDAY, JULY 10
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Brooke Hogan, daughter of the Hulkster, guests.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Greatest American Dog” (R)	Series premiere. Twelve dogs and their owners move in together and compete in their first challenge.
8 p.m.	National Geographic Channel	“Under the Sea” (N)	A U.S. Navy nuclear submarine faces an emergency.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The field is trimmed to 10 after tonight’s results show.
9 p.m.	TBS	“The Bill Engvall Show” (C)	A visit from Susan’s best friend shows her and Bill just how much of a rut they’re in.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Swingtown” (D)	Tom’s jealous when Trina meets with her high school sweetheart.
10 p.m.	USA	“Burn Notice” (D)	Season premiere. Michael tries to obtain some heavily guarded information.
FRIDAY, JULY 11
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Country group Rascal Flatts perform.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Dance Machine” (R)	A Virginia farmer and a yoga instructor are among tonight’s contestants.
8 p.m.	MTV	“FNMTV Premieres…” (A)	Hey, what’s this? Music videos on MTV?
9 p.m.	Nickelodeon	“Queen Bees” (R)	Series premiere. Sort of like “ Charm School” for youngsters.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Flashpoint” (D)	Series premiere. New cop drama follows an emergency police unit.
10 p.m.	Showtime	“Penn & Teller: Bull!” (C)	The duo examines some of the buzz surrounding dolphins.
SATURDAY, JULY 12
Time	Network	Program	Description
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third round of the John Deere Classic, from Silvis, Ill.
3:30 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	It’s Giants-Cubs, Twins-Tigers or Rockies-Mets.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Florida patrol a flea market crawling with shady characters.
8 p.m.	TNT	“NASCAR Racing” (S)	The Lifelock.com 400 from Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
9 p.m.	Biography Channel	“Mobsters” (N)	A profile of New York’s Paul Castellano.
10 p.m.	HBO	“Boxing” (S)	Heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko defends his title against Tony Thompson.
SUNDAY, JULY 13
Time	Network	Program	Description
12:30 p.m.	ESPN2	“Minor League Baseball” (S)	The Futures Game minor league all-stars, from Yankee Stadium.
2 p.m.	CBS	“Tour de France” (S)	A review of the first nine stages of the race.
2:30 p.m.	ABC	“SportsCenter at the Open Championship” (S)	A preview of next weekend’s British Open.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the John Deere Classic, won last year by Jonathan Byrd.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	Season premiere. The cast of the 10th season moves into the compound.
9 p.m.	VH1	“I Love Money” (R)	The teams compete in a joust-like game over the ocean.
10 p.m.	USA	“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (D)	A groupie turned TV star is murdered.
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.