Comments on: Wednesday Ratings: Criminal Minds, CSI: NY and World Series Lead Night

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:29:54 +0000

I think star power can get people to tune in initially. I know that I tried Cane largely because of the stellar cast (didn’t stay though because the writing left a lot to be desired). S would have a point if the numbers were low from the beginning, but PD’s problem isn’t that people didn’t try it, it’s that people who have tried it didn’t stay with it.

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:19:42 +0000

S, I disagree. I don’t think TV shows need star power the way movies do. Whatever reason people aren’t watching PD, it’s not because a big name is not in it.

By: S.

S. — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:12:06 +0000

PD is a great show with adequate actors. That is the problem, the random viewer that tunes in doesn’t stay to watch that person, even if they missed half the show. They all lack that “it” quality that makes an good actor a star. Sometimes even a bad actor a star…

All the beauty of PD, the lighting, the sets is as expensive to set up as the special effects of TSCC.The bee scene probably cost more than an explosion.So to offset costs WBTV went cheap on the cast. Not that they aren’t doing a good job, they are, but the cheap cast without star quality, is now costing them dearly. They can’t keep transient viewers on long enough to get hooked.

By: Johnthemon

Johnthemon — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:40:49 +0000

well it’s clear that every new show on NBC has failed except Knight Rider. Oh and I don’t remember who said it, but I doubt PD costs as much as Lost.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:18:19 +0000

Pushing Daises is a gem of a show with its talented actors and actresses and tremendously gifted writers, but the only things that’s might save it now are its critical accolades and a possible move to Fridays at 8pm. The only problem with that is that both Wife Swap and Supernanny continue to grow in the ratings each week. So, a move may not be an option at all. I’m also wondering about several of the reality ratings hits ABC developed during the strike shortened tv season. Oprah’s Big Give, Here Come The Newlyweds, and Bruno vs Carrie Ann: Dance War all delievered solid ratings. Dance War would fit in nicely on Tuesdays before DWTS Elimination show and the Newlyweds show would be a great lead in to Private Practice, the only solid show on Wednesday nights for ABC. Dirty Sexy Money has potential to close out the night but LOST can always fill that void if it fails.

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:36:50 +0000

Were we talking about two different shows? I’ve never seen life and haven’t seen L&O forever, so I think I guessed the wrong show.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:31:33 +0000

I’m more excited about the peacocks favoring Life over Lipstick Jungle. I’m sure Bill will be happy with the return of L & O, but even last year the original was a franchise “also-ran” compared to offspring SVU.

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:23:53 +0000

It will be interesting to see how it does. It started out really well last season, but it was up against strike-induced repeats. With the exception of Jessie Martin’s last episode, it didn’t fare as well once CSI: NY came back (dropping to 8.5 million/2.6). Still, that’s better than a lot of what NBC has this season. It will loose to CSI: NY, but it will also hurt it.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:08:34 +0000

That’s awesome! Unlike some, I *like* the new and improved wacky boss.

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:06:18 +0000

Looks like CSI: NY might actually be getting some competition this fall:
http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/10/nbc-schedule-sh.html

By: digitalred93

digitalred93 — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:21:42 +0000

My two most favorite shows this year are Pushing Daisies and Bones. Both shows are on at the same time which means I have to download Bones on ITunes (PD begs for a big 27″ screen). I’m particularly worried for PD because it’s numbers jumped up when Bones went on hiatus two weeks ago. I have to wonder if they share the same audience. (Bones has been drop kicked into more different time slots than any other series, IMHO).

By: Rob R

Rob R — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:21:13 +0000

CBS has got to be delighted with “Old Christine” and “Gary Unmarried.” It is very unusual for ratings to keep going up week over week. It was brilliant counter-programming and they are establishing a comedy block on Wednesday as they always wanted. It seems CBS’s only problems are “Worst Week” and “The Ex-List,” but those shows would probably be safe if they aired on one of the other networks.

By: Mike G.

Mike G. — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:16:10 +0000

LG: Thanks for the insights. With that said, it now completely mystifies how people are then reaching conclusions that a show like PD or TSCC is more money than another show (the other show is never mentioned in said postings), especially since no one is offering a cost per episode. Although, I can understand about the special effects being more in a show like TSCC. I would just love to have a true basis of comparison. It seems like a sweeping generalization to say that one show costs more than another given the fact that there are so many variables involved.

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:22:07 +0000

Liah, While I do not care for Pushing Daisies, I don’t dislike it either. I do understand that there are people who do enjoy the show, but the fact remains that the numbers are just too low to justify keeping it on the air.

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:22:36 +0000

Liah, calm down. Holly is not “hating” on PD. She is discussing the ratings, which are not pretty at all. I am a fan of the show and would say the exact same things.

By: Liah Terkie

Liah Terkie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:09:12 +0000

(not)sorry for all these posts,
i had to make a small correction.

By: Liah Terkie

Liah Terkie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:05:00 +0000

Ok, first off:

WHO IS THIS CHICK HOLLY?! SHE NEEDS TO STOP HATING ON MY PD. OK, HOLLY? JUST TAKE SOME MIDOL.

Second,

I think this Rob guy is an idiot, personally. He doesnt know EXACTLY what the networks are going to do with their shows, these networks have not made statements yet or anything. So you can take some midol too!

By: Liah Terkie

Liah Terkie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:49 +0000

Ok, first off:

WHO IS THIS CHICK HOLLY?! SHE NEEDS TO STOP HATING ON MY PD. OK, HOLLY? JUST TAKE SOME MIDOL.

Second,

I think this Rob guy is an idiot, personally. He doesnt know EXACTLY what the networks are going to do with their shows, these networks have made statements yet or anything. So you can take some midol too!

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:57:54 +0000

Even though Lipstick Jungle is an NBC Universal production I would be very surprised if NBC kept it during November sweeps. Maybe Medium or Law&Order might get an earlier launch date.

As far as the young male demo that Knight Rider delivers is very important to all networks since those demos are considered very difficult to get. But in Rider’s case they are so puny it doesn’t even matter. But then again is not as if NBC has anything else to put there.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:30:11 +0000

LG, for what it’s worth, we appreciate the input.

By: LG

LG — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:14:01 +0000

It would seem that I have way too much time on my hands.

By: LG

LG — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:13:13 +0000

@Mike G. – As far as it goes for production cost on a one hour show, it’s hard to put an “average” price tag on it, cause it really depends on the show. First and foremost, film or digital? That’s seems to be the question these days, it makes a substantial difference. It also depends on cast size, as well as “stars”. If you have a large cast or a “name” on the show, thats gonna jack the price up. Even for people you wouldn’t consider to be famous. As much as SAG likes to complain they make pretty good money. Another concern of course is Special Effects/VFX (if your talking a show like 24 or Heroes, that makes a difference. Unfortunately, explosions and super powers are not cheap.) You’ve also gotta count the producers/creators in the mix, the more shows under their belt, the more money they get.

Bottom line…For a 1HR Drama that shoots on film, I’d say BALLPARK around 1.2 to 1.5 per episode. On digital maybe 950K-1.2. Some shows go up to 2.0 of even 2.5 million, hard to believe but its true. Again, BALLPARK based on shows I’ve worked on.

It also depends on the relationship b/w the production and the broadcasting companies. On a show produced and broadcast on fox like 24, you can consider a chunck of the budget as being soft money, meaning, if the show rents space/equipment from company thats broadcasting it, it’s basically moving money around, not spending it. When the broaddcasting company “buys” the final cut, well you get the idea. On the other hand, you get a show produced by one company and broadcast on another it’s a different story. Hope this makes sense.

By: Quiddity

Quiddity — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:43:36 +0000

Unfortunately I think as simple a mistake as not airing a preview for PD last week hurt it big time. I don’t know about the rest of you, but if I watch a TV show this time of year and there’s no preview for next week’s episode, what do I think? That there won’t be a new episode next week. I’m big enough a fan of PD to know exactly whether there will be a new ep each week, but I’m sure casual fans don’t do that. If it was for example Fringe, a show I think is okay, but not great, I probably wouldn’t do the extra due diligence to make sure a new ep was on the next week.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:18:24 +0000

@Julia, generally I really don’t think the performance of Pushing Daisies and DSM helps out Eli Stone much. Eli has a much better lead in than DSM, and Eli had about a 10% better 18-49 rating. It might help though because depending on what ABC has in its development queue it may not be as quick to nix *all* of them, but soley based on ratings (no comment on quality) all three shows seem to merit cancelation.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:05:30 +0000

before everyone starts waving the cancelation flag on pushing daisies remember what James Hibberd said about daisies. Chances are it will get a run on a different date probably friday where if it can put up the same numbers would probably get a renewal.