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Fox's challenge:
Reviving 'Terminator'


Slides to not from hot after a smashing premiere

Oct 6, 2008

“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” was one of last year’s top new shows in adults 18-49, thanks mostly to a post-NFL playoff game premiere that brought in huge numbers. But the drama remained a modest success for Fox, building a loyal audience among younger viewers and growing stronger creatively as the season progressed.

This season, however, has been a tougher slog. The show, which airs at 8 p.m. tonight, has seen its ratings tumble to series lows, averaging a mere 2.0 adults 18-49 Nielsen rating in its most recent outing last week.

That was just 0.2 ahead of timeslot competitor “Gossip Girl” on the CW, and way behind ABC, CBS and NBC in the hour. It was also off 41 percent from the show’s first-season average of 3.4.

But “Terminator” could still have a future on Fox, just not in this timeslot. The network has a valuable property in the show, with another theatrical “Terminator” starring “The Dark Knight’s” Christian Bale due out this spring, which could significantly raise the drama’s profile.

“Terminator” isn’t getting much lead-out support from “Prison Break,” a fourth-year drama that has also slumped to series lows at 9 p.m. That’s led to speculation that Fox will shake up the night.

One solution might be to replace “Terminator” with “House” reruns, which averaged an impressive 3.9 rating last season, according to Horizon Media data. The network could then move “Terminator” to Wednesdays at 9 p.m., taking the place of the low-rated sitcom “’Til Death,” which managed a mere 1.7 for two episodes last week.

Action drama “Terminator” would be a much better fit with 8 p.m.’s “Bones,” a procedural that wins its timeslot but has seen those numbers squandered by the thematically incompatible “Death.”

On tonight’s episode, John and Derek infiltrate a military academy.

 

A look at this week’s top TV draws

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6

Time

Network

Program

Description

8:30 p.m.

CBS

“How I Met Your Mother” (C)

Stella tells Ted she wants to live in New Jersey after they’re married.

8:30 p.m.

ESPN

“Monday Night Football” (S)

The Vikings versus the Saints in New Orleans.

9 p.m.

NBC

“Heroes” (D)

Claire tries to track down a villain from her dad’s files.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Two and a Half Men” (C)

Alan attempts to date two women at the same time, while Charlie gives cooking a try.

9 p.m.

VH1

“I Want to Work for Diddy” (R)

Season finale. Diddy interviews the finalists and a winner is selected.

9 p.m.

TNT

“The Closer” (D)

Brenda investigates the suicide of a teen girl who had claimed she was raped.

10 p.m.

CBS

“CSI: Miami” (D)

The daughter of Delko’s therapist is murdered.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

NBC

“Today” (N)

Russell Crowe guests and The Pretenders perform.

8 p.m.

Fox

“House” (D)

A film crew follows House while he works.

8 p.m.

CBS

“NCIS” (D)

A senator persuades Gibbs to investigate the murder of a Navy officer.

8 p.m.

ABC

“Dancing with the Stars” (R)

Another contestant is eliminated during the third-round results show.

9 p.m.

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS

“Presidential Debate” (N)

John McCain and Barack Obama in a town-hall style debate, this moderated by Tom Brokaw.

9 p.m.

Bravo

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” (R)

Series premiere. The reality series heads south for the latest season.

10 p.m.

FX

“The Shield” (D)

Vic and Ronnie set up another meeting between the Mexicans and Armenians but don’t give Shane all the details.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

CW

“America’s Next Top Model” (R)

Tyra tries to get the models to discover their best poses.

8 p.m.

Fox

“Bones” (D)

The remains of a Chesapeake Bay community’s pastor are found, but they’re hard to identify.

8 p.m.

MyNetworkTV

“The Tony Rock Project” (C)

Series premiere. Chris Rock’s brother hits the streets to examine how people act.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Criminal Minds” (D)

Prentiss and Reid go undercover, but then they’re held captive by a cult.

9 p.m.

Bravo

“Project Runway” (R)

The penultimate episode of the season has the remaining designers preparing for Fashion Week.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Dirty Sexy Money” (D)

Jeremy finds out what Nola does for a living, and Kenny G guests.

10 p.m.

CBS

“CSI: NY” (D)

A murdered air marshal is found on Mac’s flight, and he thinks the killer’s still on the plane.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

ABC

“Good Morning America” (N)

Actor and producer Ashton Kutcher guests.

7:30 p.m.

ESPN

“College Football” (S)

ACC matchup between Clemson and Wake Forest.

8 p.m.

Fox

“Major League Baseball” (S)

Game one of the National League Championship Series.

8:30 p.m.

NBC

“Kath & Kim” (C)

Series premiere. A daughter moves back in with her dysfunctional mother.

9 p.m.

CBS

“CSI” (D)

Season premiere. Warrick is shot and Grissom and the team investigate.

9 p.m.

NBC

“The Office” (C)

Holly leads an ethics meeting after Ryan’s scandal.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Life on Mars” (D)

Series premiere. An NYPD detective is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

NBC

“Today” (N)

Richard Branson and Paula Deen both guest.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)

One of Melinda’s high school classmates dies unexpectedly.

8 p.m.

NBC

“America’s Toughest Jobs” (R)

The remaining six take part in a monster truck challenge.

8 p.m.

TBS

“Major League Baseball” (S)

Game one of the American League Championship Series.

9 p.m.

CBS

“The Ex List” (D)

Bella runs into a guy who used to be a slacker but is now obsessed with exercise.

10 p.m.

History

“In the World of… Jack the Ripper” (N)

Reexamining the 1888 murderer and life in 19th century London.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Time

Network

Program

Description

Noon

ABC

“College Football” (S)

Huge Big 12 game between Oklahoma and Texas.

3:30 p.m.

ABC

“College Football” (S)

Either Arizona St.-USC or Purdue-Ohio St.

7 p.m.

ESPN Classic

“Soccer” (S)

The U.S. men’s team takes on Cuba in a World Cup qualifier.

7:25 p.m.

ABC

“NASCAR Racing” (S)

The Bank of America 500 from Concord, N.H.

8 p.m.

TBS

“Major League Baseball” (S)

Game two of the ALCS.

8 p.m.

CBS

“College Football” (S)

LSU versus Florida in an important SEC matchup.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

Fox

“Major League Baseball” (S)

Game three of the NLCS.

8:15 p.m.

NBC

“Sunday Night Football” (S)

The Patriots take on the Chargers in San Diego.

9 p.m.