Kentucky Derby rides to best viewership since 2004
Overnight ratings indicated that the Kentucky Derby was down slightly from last year, but it turns out those early numbers were misleading. In fact, Saturday’s race on NBC was the most-watched Derby since 2004 and the second-most-watched in the past 17 years, according to final data released yesterday. Coverage from 5:43 p.m. to 6:39 p.m. averaged 14.2 million total viewers, 3 percent better than the 13.8 million who watched last year. The race averaged an 8.8 household rating and 21 share, even to last year when, NBC points out, the race had the much-hyped appearance of the Queen of England. Big Brown won Saturday’s race, though the victory was overshadowed by the tragic demise of filly Eight Belles, who had to be euthanized on the track after breaking her front ankles. Accusations have since arisen that the late horse was on steroids, a charge trainer Larry Jones denied yesterday.
Programming notes: Oxygen no longer talking '#%^'
Those who enjoy listening to a 77-year-old woman discuss sex will soon have to do it on the internet. Oxygen said yesterday it’s ending the six-year run of “Talk Sex” with Sue Johanson, with the final episode airing Sunday at midnight. The series finale will cover the year’s top 10 sex toys. She’ll continue dispensing advice on Oxygen.com. Meanwhile, in other cable programming, CMT will premiere the second season of “Gone Country,” in which celebrities try their hand at singing country music, in August, while Bravo’s “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List” will launch its fourth season on June 12 at 9 p.m. On May 25 at 7 p.m. TV One will preview its Saturday morning Lifestyle Zone block of programming, which includes the shows “Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin,” “Divine Restoration,” “Makeover Manor,” “Living It Up with Patti Labelle” “Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin: Celebrity Dish” and “G. Garvin: The Road Tour.” Finally, MTV said yesterday it has picked up a 19-episode fourth season of “The Hills,” with the new season beginning in August. And on the broadcast side, Univision this fall will launch “El Juego Supremo (The Ultimate Match),” in which five Mexican and five South American soccer stars recruit and train a team of wannabes.
TV guider: Birnbaum takes over amid unclear future
TV Guide's search for a new editor didn't last long as the magazine yesterday named executive editor Debra Birnbaum editor in chief, effective immediately. West Coast bureau chief Craig Tomashoff will succeed Birnbaum as executive editor. The moves had been expected after last week’s bloodletting, in which 10 editorial staffers lost their jobs following Macrovision’s acquisition of parent company Gemstar-TV Guide International, including editor in chief Ian Birch. Birnbaum previously served as editor in chief of Life & Style and the short-lived Inside TV, which gives her a strong background in the sort of celebrity-focused reporting that has become TV Guide’s focus over the past two years since redesigning and slashing its rate base. Rumors have been flying over what Macrovision plans to do with the title. The tech-focused company is reportedly interested in keeping the web site and Gemstar’s electronic programming guide technology while selling off the magazine.
Ex-anchor Rather files yet another suit against CBS
Dan Rather has always been known as a reporter who won’t back down, and that appears to hold true as much in the courtroom as on camera. The former “CBS Evening News” anchor has filed another lawsuit against CBS News, claiming that it prevented him from finding a new job when his reputation took a hit following his dismissal from the anchor chair. Earlier this year, a New York judge dismissed several of Rather’s original complaints but said he could refile if he desired. CBS News waved off the revised suit in a statement, saying, “Mr. Rather is trying to put forth fraud complaints that the court has already determined to be legally unfounded. We believe he will fail a second time.” Rather has said he wants to press on with the suit in order to put forth his side of the infamous “60 Minutes II” disaster that led to his exit, when errors were discovered in a report Rather filed on President Bush’s Vietnam War military service. Rather, who now works for HDNet, says that networks such as ABC, NBC and CNN declined to work with him following his dismissal, saying he had “too much baggage.”
Hot mama: Harris says June Cleaver's top TV mom
Who’s your favorite TV mom? It turns out your answer may depend on your political leanings. Carol Brady of “The Brady Bunch” comes out tops for Republicans, while Democrats go for Claire Huxtable, the lawyer mom from “The Cosby Show,” according to a survey of 2,529 adults from Harris Poll. Independents favor June Cleaver from the 1950s show “Leave it to Beaver.” Overall, Americans would seem to hanker for a time when things were simpler, according to the Harris Poll, which found no mom from the last decade or so made the top five. The top mom overall was June Cleaver. She’s followed by Huxtable in the No. 2 slot and Brady at No. 3. Also in the top five are Marion Cunningham, aka Mrs. C from “Happy Days,” and Donna Stone of “The Donna Reed Show.” But the list isn’t entirely moms from days gone by. Tied with Roseanne Connor of “Roseanne” at No. 8 are Lorelai Gilmore of the “Gilmore Girls” and Marge Simpson of “The Simpsons.” The Harris Poll survey doesn’t entirely tally with another mom survey last week from TiVo. That survey pegged Huxtable at No. 1, while Cleaver only managed fifth place.
