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Repeats or no, the young folks keep flocking to NBC on Thursday night. Last night the network won four of the six primetime half-hours among adults 18-49. The only two losses were at 8:30 p.m., when a new “Spy TV” lost to the second half of a new “Big Brother 2” on CBS, and at 9:30 p.m., when a repeat of “Just Shoot Me” lost to a repeat of “CSI” on CBS. CBS won households for the evening. The preliminary Nielsen household rating and share and adult 18-49 rating for Thursday night were: CBS 7.0/12 and 3.6, ABC 6.4/11 and 2.8, NBC 5.7/10 and 38, and Fox 3.3/6 and 2.1. On Wednesday, CBS and ABC, as the only two networks with original programming, split the night in households and adults 18-49. CBS easily won the 8 p.m. hour in households with a fresh “60 Minutes II,” and the audience carried over to give a repeat of the movie “The Rockford Files: If it Bleeds...It Leads” a strong household rating. ABC won three of the evening’s half-hours among adults 18-49, with a repeat of “My Wife and Kids,” a repeat of “Drew Carey” and the second-half of a new “20/20 Downtown.” But it wasn't enough to edge NBC, which also won three in the demographic for the night. The preliminary Nielsen household rating and share and adult 18-49 rating for Wednesday night were: CBS 6.1/11 and 20, NBC 5.6/10 and 2.9, ABC 5.3/10 and 3.1, and Fox 3.8/7 and 2.8.
Senators renew call for raunch-free TV hour
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) joined Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) yesterday in signing a public letter calling for the six major networks to adopt a "family hour" during primetime. The signing of the letter followed the release earlier this week of a study by the Parents Television Council, which found that incidences of violence, profanity and vulgarity on network television are up between 8 and 9 p.m., the time period during which most young children are viewing. The senators blasted the UPN network for its abundance of objectionable material, but applauded CBS, which is also owned by Viacom. Sen. Lieberman even floated the idea of empowering the FCC to fine networks like it does radio stations for violation of indecency laws. The PTC has pledged to create a family-friendly hour on its own by funneling $3.2 million into running ads, pressuring the networks and publicly exposing advertisers that pay for air time during objectionable shows. The three worst offenders, according to the PTC, are "Boston Public" on Fox, "Dawson's Creek" on the WB and "WWF Smackdown!" on UPN.
Comedy Central impeaches 'That's My Bush!'
If only real presidents were so easy to get rid of. Comedy Central has pulled the plug on "That's My Bush!," the Oval Office spoof from the creators of "South Park." At $700,000 per episode, it was one of the most expensive shows on the comedy network. Buoyed by the controversy of making a show satirizing a sitting president, "Bush!" started out with a 3.0 household rating, but could not keep it up, eventually averaging a 1.5 rating. A spokesperson for the network has said that the decision to cancel was made purely on financial considerations. The less expensive "Primetime Glick" has been renewed, even though its rating has dipped as low as a 1.1. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of "Bush!" and network anchor "South Park," are reportedly talking about giving "Bush!" the feature film treatment as they did with "South Park." If so, look for them to revive their original plan to portray the Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, as lesbian lovers.
CNN-er nabbed for seeking sex with a minor
CNN producer Alan Audet was charged Tuesday morning with soliciting sex from a minor in an internet chat room, according to published reports. The 44-year-old, Atlanta-based producer was arrested after he allegedly arranged to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old girl. As it turned out, Audet was chatting with FBI agents from the Innocent Images Task Force. Audet was the executive producer of Bill Hemmer’s new 6 p.m. weekday newscast. He may face up to 15 years in prison. Disney Go Network executive Patrick J. Naughton, 35, was arrested on similar charges in August 2000 and was sentenced to nine months of home detention and electronic monitoring, a $20,000 fine, and five years probation.
'Becker' actors fake sick in salary dispute
There seems to be an epidemic among TV stars at the moment: paycheck disgruntlement. Five cast members of CBS sitcom “Becker” called in sick on Wednesday after failing to renegotiate their salaries, according to reports. Alex Desert, Terry Farrell, Saverio Guerra, Shawnie Smith and Hattie Winston were no-shows, leaving star Ted Danson and guest star Rhea Perlman, his former "Cheers" crony, to conduct the first read-through of the season without them. Paramount executives reportedly sent a team of doctors to the houses of the absentees to confirm their infirmities. Earlier this summer, Four “West Wing” actors sat out the season's first rehearsal in an ultimately successful attempt to command bigger salaries.
August 3, 2001 © 2001 Media Life
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