“With “Friends” and “Frasier”
exiting and “ER” and “West Wing” not what they used to be, NBC
needed a strong new programming slate this season to remain in contention
among adults 18-49.
It didn’t get one. Instead, NBC
has had perhaps the most disappointing new season thus far. Its only hit,
“Joey,” is a spinoff that, while certainly not a failure, has lost
about one-third of predecessor “Friends’” Thursday audience.
The network has already outright
canceled two shows, the unintentionally funny dramas “LAX” and “Hawaii,”
after they struggled through early launches designed to take advantage of
a lack in competition.
“Father of the Pride” got
yanked for sweeps. Although several episodes of the CGI show remain in the
can, many think NBC will cancel the show outright instead.
NBC is down nearly 10 percent
compared with last season during the November sweeps and season-to-date
among 18-49s.
There have been some minor
successes. “Medical Investigation” is a surprise timeslot winner on
Friday nights, when it’s often the evening’s top-rated show among
adults 18-49. And reality weight loss show “The Biggest Loser” filled
in so ably Tuesdays at 8 p.m. that NBC super-sized it to fill “Pride’s” 9
p.m. spot during sweeps, too.
Two months into the season we’ve
seen fewer quick cancellations by the networks than last year, when nearly
10 shows were off the schedule in a matter of weeks.
This year’s outright kills have
been unsurprising: NBC’s aforementioned “Hawaii” and “LAX,” CBS’s
dull “Clubhouse” and “dr. vegas” and the WB’s misplaced improv
“Drew Carey’s Green Screen.”
Still, it can be hard to keep up
with what’s still around, what’s awaiting the axe and what has been
renewed.
Here’s an update on the
networks’ new shows, including their status as of Monday and what Media
Life predicted for them when they debuted (see chart for rating scale).
We’ve already looked at ABC and
CBS; today we’ll look at NBC. Later this week we’ll chart Fox, the WB
and UPN.
NBC
“LAX” (Mondays, 10 p.m.; Wednesdays, 8
p.m.)
Status: Canceled. Media Life rating: 15.
During its brief Monday run, “LAX” lost nearly a
third of lead-in “Las Vegas’” 18-49 audience. Wednesdays were no
kinder, as it dipped to a 1.8 rating.
“The Biggest Loser”
(Tuesdays, 8 p.m.)
Status: Second-season order. Media Life rating: 14.
“Loser” is this season’s “Average Joe,” a
low-concept show that’s been a life-saving schedule patch on Tuesday,
where “Last Comic Standing” bombed to start the year. The network has
ordered a second limited-run season that will likely start in January.
“Father of the Pride”
(Tuesdays, 9 p.m.)
Status: On hiatus. Media Life rating: 14.
The much-maligned, extremely
expensive show is gone for sweeps, and NBC is better for it. Fill-in “Loser”
has improved almost 20 percent on its 3.5 18-49 average.
“Hawaii”
(Wednesdays, 8 p.m.)
Status: Canceled. Media Life rating: 11.
The season’s first casualty,
“Hawaii” averaged a dismal 2.2 18-49 rating.
“Joey”
(Thursdays, 8 p.m.)
Status: Full-season order. Media Life rating: 22.
A no-brainer to keep this season,
but next year’s a big question mark. “Joey” has dipped with the
return of Fox’s “O.C.,” and lead-out “Will & Grace” is
outdrawing it by 0.2.
“Medical Investigation”
(Fridays, 10 p.m.)
Status: Full-season order. Media Life rating: 11.
Another of the year’s
surprises, “Investigation” has averaged a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating to
lead all Friday shows. It’s even more popular among 25-54s.
|
The Media Life Meter
Rating fall’s
new shows probability of survival |
|
30-27 |
Odds are this show will make it to next season. |
|
26-22 |
Odds are this show will make it through this
season. |
|
21-15 |
Show may not survive the season. |
|
15-9 |
Show will be canceled sometime this season. |
|
8 or lower |
Catch it while you can – this show may not make
it to four episodes. |
|
Source: Media Life |
|
