Post by detmunchfan on Dec 1, 2005 13:43:04 GMT -5
(I Hope this is acceptable. of not Mods can Delete)
Source: Variety.com VIA SVU Forum on TV.Com
Source: Variety.com VIA SVU Forum on TV.Com
"By JOSEF ADALIAN, MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Fox keeps powerhouse 'American Idol' on Tuesday and Wednesday. NBC's 'My Name Is Earl' might leave Tuesdays for Thursdays.
Now that Fox has decided what it's doing with "American Idol," the other nets are scrambling to finalize their midseason plans. Fox on Wednesday ended weeks of speculation about its scheduling strategy for "Idol" by deciding to do ... pretty much what it said it would do in May. Despite fevered guessing by industryites and some overeager media outlets about a shift to Thursdays, the reality contest will remain on Tuesday and Wednesday nights when it returns for its fifth season in January.
"There was some good, healthy debate as to whether or not we should make more moves than this," Fox Entertainment prexy Peter Liguori said. "But ultimately, we decided to follow what we announced at the upfronts and stick to our knitting. Why move it, why play with it when it's the No. 1 hour and No. 1 half-hour on television? You don't mess with a good thing."
With Fox keeping "Idol" off Thursdays -- save for some possible specials -- NBC may now have a clear path to build a new four-comedy block on the night, most likely anchored by frosh hit "My Name Is Earl." Peathingy was mum on its plans Wednesday, but on-air promos have already announced the premiere of "Four Kings" on Thursday, Jan. 5, and the return of "Scrubs" (to an unspecified night) in January.
If NBC does slot laffers Thursdays from 9-10 p.m., however, it won't be alone. Fox's biggest sked twist Wednesday was its announcement that "That '70s Show" and "Stacked" would move to Thursdays from 9-10. Latter skein has struggled, but "'70s" -- even in what's likely its final season -- has some gas left in the tank and could be helped by following teen-friendly "The OC." Further complicating matters: There was word late Wednesday that ABC is poised to try laffers on Thursday nights as well, using "Dancing With the Stars" as a launching pad. Alphabet has several 90-minute editions of "Dancing" that could be used to boost the already announced January debut of laffer "Crumbs." Once "Dancing" returns to an hour, net may opt to put "Sons and Daughters" on Thursdays as well.
"Bring it on," Liguori said of potential 9 p.m. comedy competish from NBC and ABC. "Competition is heavy on that night; let's see who rises from the dust come May." As for NBC's other Thursday plans, it's widely expected "Joey" will leave its Thursdays at 8 lead-off spot, with "Will & Grace" possibly sliding to 8 p.m. for its last round of episodes and "The Office" perhaps remaining behind "Earl." "The Apprentice," meanwhile, isn't expected to return until after the Olympics -- and may also be leaving Thursdays.
If "Earl" ankles Tuesdays, it's unclear what the net will do to fill the void. "Scrubs" is always an option, and there's even been talk the net may shift "Law & Order: SVU" to 9 p.m. Tuesday in March to make room for one of several midseason drama contenders at 10.
Fox midseason sked, meanwhile, kicks into high gear with the return of "Idol" on Tuesday, Jan. 17. "House" stays put at 9, where it's a solid hit, rather than moving to Mondays, as had been announced in May. On Wednesdays, Fox will air "Idol" audition shows at 8 for a month, giving a boost to "Bones," which will air at 9 starting Jan. 25. Once the voting phase of "Idol" kicks in, "Bones" returns to 8, with "Idol" at 9 and an undetermined comedy -- possibly "The Loop" -- at 9:30. Combo of "The OC" and comedies will kick off March 2. "Reunion" disappears from Fox's sked Dec. 2; it's unclear what will air in the 9 p.m. Thursday timeslot until March, but a combo of specials and repeats is likely. On Fridays, Fox will move unheralded reality hit "Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy" to 9 p.m. on Jan. 2, replacing the just-cancelled "Killer Instinct." "Instinct" airs its final episode this Friday; show averaged a 1.6 rating/5 share in adults 18-49.
As expected, "Prison Break" will return from hiatus in March, airing Mondays at 8 (Daily Variety, Nov. 29). In January and February, Fox will keep the 8 p.m. Monday slot warm with unscripted skein "Skating With Celebrities." "Skating" gets an "Idol" boost by premiering Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 9. Fox has had much success in recent years airing reality shows on Mondays (think "Joe Millionaire"). After sticking mostly to scripted series in the fall, Fox's winter sked boasts six hours of unscripted programming."
When reading this you have to understand how TV works. If a show is a huge hit networks try to put a show afterwards that will hold into as much of the audience from the hit show as possible. Sometimes these shows that follow the hits become hits themselves (like this year's 'Grey's Anatomy' following 'Desperate Housewives' Sunday nights). Since 'SVU' is NBC's highest-rated show it would make sense for NBC to move the show to 9PM to try to get the fans that will follow the show whenever it airs to stay tuned to see the show that will follow. The question is, can NBC move 'SVU' to 9PM Tuesdays and still keep the large audience the show currently enjoys at 10PM on the same night? I'd have to say no. At 9PM you have 'Amazing Race,' 'Commander in Chief,' and 'House' on other networks (not couting whatever crap WB and UPN air at that time). Between 'House' and 'Amazing Race' (who is low-rated but has a high number of 18-49 viewers) 'SVU' would lose a lot of the viewers that like to watch those shows.
Fox keeps powerhouse 'American Idol' on Tuesday and Wednesday. NBC's 'My Name Is Earl' might leave Tuesdays for Thursdays.
Now that Fox has decided what it's doing with "American Idol," the other nets are scrambling to finalize their midseason plans. Fox on Wednesday ended weeks of speculation about its scheduling strategy for "Idol" by deciding to do ... pretty much what it said it would do in May. Despite fevered guessing by industryites and some overeager media outlets about a shift to Thursdays, the reality contest will remain on Tuesday and Wednesday nights when it returns for its fifth season in January.
"There was some good, healthy debate as to whether or not we should make more moves than this," Fox Entertainment prexy Peter Liguori said. "But ultimately, we decided to follow what we announced at the upfronts and stick to our knitting. Why move it, why play with it when it's the No. 1 hour and No. 1 half-hour on television? You don't mess with a good thing."
With Fox keeping "Idol" off Thursdays -- save for some possible specials -- NBC may now have a clear path to build a new four-comedy block on the night, most likely anchored by frosh hit "My Name Is Earl." Peathingy was mum on its plans Wednesday, but on-air promos have already announced the premiere of "Four Kings" on Thursday, Jan. 5, and the return of "Scrubs" (to an unspecified night) in January.
If NBC does slot laffers Thursdays from 9-10 p.m., however, it won't be alone. Fox's biggest sked twist Wednesday was its announcement that "That '70s Show" and "Stacked" would move to Thursdays from 9-10. Latter skein has struggled, but "'70s" -- even in what's likely its final season -- has some gas left in the tank and could be helped by following teen-friendly "The OC." Further complicating matters: There was word late Wednesday that ABC is poised to try laffers on Thursday nights as well, using "Dancing With the Stars" as a launching pad. Alphabet has several 90-minute editions of "Dancing" that could be used to boost the already announced January debut of laffer "Crumbs." Once "Dancing" returns to an hour, net may opt to put "Sons and Daughters" on Thursdays as well.
"Bring it on," Liguori said of potential 9 p.m. comedy competish from NBC and ABC. "Competition is heavy on that night; let's see who rises from the dust come May." As for NBC's other Thursday plans, it's widely expected "Joey" will leave its Thursdays at 8 lead-off spot, with "Will & Grace" possibly sliding to 8 p.m. for its last round of episodes and "The Office" perhaps remaining behind "Earl." "The Apprentice," meanwhile, isn't expected to return until after the Olympics -- and may also be leaving Thursdays.
If "Earl" ankles Tuesdays, it's unclear what the net will do to fill the void. "Scrubs" is always an option, and there's even been talk the net may shift "Law & Order: SVU" to 9 p.m. Tuesday in March to make room for one of several midseason drama contenders at 10.
Fox midseason sked, meanwhile, kicks into high gear with the return of "Idol" on Tuesday, Jan. 17. "House" stays put at 9, where it's a solid hit, rather than moving to Mondays, as had been announced in May. On Wednesdays, Fox will air "Idol" audition shows at 8 for a month, giving a boost to "Bones," which will air at 9 starting Jan. 25. Once the voting phase of "Idol" kicks in, "Bones" returns to 8, with "Idol" at 9 and an undetermined comedy -- possibly "The Loop" -- at 9:30. Combo of "The OC" and comedies will kick off March 2. "Reunion" disappears from Fox's sked Dec. 2; it's unclear what will air in the 9 p.m. Thursday timeslot until March, but a combo of specials and repeats is likely. On Fridays, Fox will move unheralded reality hit "Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy" to 9 p.m. on Jan. 2, replacing the just-cancelled "Killer Instinct." "Instinct" airs its final episode this Friday; show averaged a 1.6 rating/5 share in adults 18-49.
As expected, "Prison Break" will return from hiatus in March, airing Mondays at 8 (Daily Variety, Nov. 29). In January and February, Fox will keep the 8 p.m. Monday slot warm with unscripted skein "Skating With Celebrities." "Skating" gets an "Idol" boost by premiering Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 9. Fox has had much success in recent years airing reality shows on Mondays (think "Joe Millionaire"). After sticking mostly to scripted series in the fall, Fox's winter sked boasts six hours of unscripted programming."
When reading this you have to understand how TV works. If a show is a huge hit networks try to put a show afterwards that will hold into as much of the audience from the hit show as possible. Sometimes these shows that follow the hits become hits themselves (like this year's 'Grey's Anatomy' following 'Desperate Housewives' Sunday nights). Since 'SVU' is NBC's highest-rated show it would make sense for NBC to move the show to 9PM to try to get the fans that will follow the show whenever it airs to stay tuned to see the show that will follow. The question is, can NBC move 'SVU' to 9PM Tuesdays and still keep the large audience the show currently enjoys at 10PM on the same night? I'd have to say no. At 9PM you have 'Amazing Race,' 'Commander in Chief,' and 'House' on other networks (not couting whatever crap WB and UPN air at that time). Between 'House' and 'Amazing Race' (who is low-rated but has a high number of 18-49 viewers) 'SVU' would lose a lot of the viewers that like to watch those shows.