'Monk' fails to pull crowds to ABC
ABC probably deserves credit for experimenting with USA Network’s “Monk” and more so for pitting it against Fox’s “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar.” But bold moves don’t necessarily make for strong ratings as “Monk’s” third place finish at 9 p.m. proved on Tuesday.  “Monk” averaged a 2.6 adult 18-49 rating, compared to NBC’s 2.8 with repeats of “Frasier,” and “Idol’s” 6 rating. “Monk,” and an equal rating for two repeats of “According to Jim” at 8 p.m., gave ABC a third place finish for the night. The network was saddled by “Widows” at 10 p.m. The short-run series averaged a 1.7 rating in the demo and fell 11 percent in its second half-hour. Fox ranked No. 1 for the night with a 4.7 adult 18-49 rating to NBC’s 3, ABC’s 2.3 and CBS’s 1.7.  Fox and NBC tied for No. 1 among households with a 5.6 rating and 10 share, based on Nielsen overnight ratings. CBS had a 5.4/9 and ABC had a 4.3/8.

NY Post gossip Neal Travis, 62, dies of cancer
Neal Travis, the famed gossip columnist and former editor of the New York Post's Page Six, died yesterday of cancer. He was 62. Over the course of his career, Travis, who was born in New Zealand, wrote for and edited a number of Rupert Murdoch’s Australian newspapers. He first came to New York in 1966 as a correspondent for the Sydney Daily Mirror, and in 1977 he became the first editor of the Post’s signature gossip column. He also worked briefly for New York magazine editing its gossip column, Intelligencer. Travis wrote "Neil Travis’ New York," from 1993 until shortly before his death. His last column appeared July 29.

Comedy Central cancels 'Ben Stein's Money'
Come this December, if you want Ben Stein's money, you’ll have to take it by force. Comedy Central has canceled "Win Ben Stein's Money," its four-year-old quiz show. What made the series unique was that the contestants' winnings purportedly came directly out of the host's paycheck. Stein, a well-known character actor, appeared in "The Wonder Years" and the film "Ferris Buehler's Day Off," and he served in the Nixon and Ford administrations. He was working in the White House at the time of the scandal that ended Nixon's presidency. "Win Ben Stein's Money" also helped launch the career of Jimmy Kimmel, who will host a new late-night talk show on ABC next season. New episodes of "Win Ben Stein’s Money" will air from late October through December.

AOL exec behind sketchy ad deals is out 
It’s unclear whether he quit or was fired, but America Online business affairs chief David M. Colburn was locked out of his Dulles, Va., office, last Friday, days after new AOL head Jonathan F. Miller came aboard. The company refused to discuss the reasons or circumstances surrounding Colburn’s ouster, but he was involved in several transactions that have led to accounting probes by the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission. Under Colburn’s direction, the business affairs unit negotiated many of AOL’s big-time deals. The lockout came just weeks after Colburn’s move from overseeing day-to-day operations to a more strategic planning-oriented position. Lance Conn will fill in for Colburn in the meantime, though AOL promises a shakeup in the division. Meanwhile, AOL admitted yesterday that three deals worth a total $49 million may have been improperly accounted for.

Moyers pleads guilty to bad driving charges
Bill Moyers has pleaded guilty to charges of negligent driving stemming from his arrest last month in Vermont for driving while under the influence. The plea reduced the original charge against the veteran PBS journalist, who was fined $750 and must either perform 200 hours of community service or donate $1,000 to a state program that discourages underage drinking. Moyers has insisted he wasn't drunk at the wheel, although his lawyer has publicly admitted his client did consume “a certain amount of alcohol.” The plea means Moyers must also undergo an alcohol-education class either in Vermont or in New Jersey, his state of residence. Apologizing before the court, Moyers said, "I thought I was driving carefully, but I obviously made a mistake. I give you my word that the first time will be the last time."

August 15, 2002© 2002 Media Life

Printer-Friendly Version |  Send to a Friend
Cover Page | Contact Us