James Hibberd reports
that NBC is shaking up it’s Wednesday night lineup and dubbing it “Crime Night”, with Knight Rider, and one of my faves Life improving its scheduling lot in life by moving to 9pm Wednesdays, and Law & Order at 10pm. This lineup will debut during the November sweeps on November 5.
Ratings disaster Lipstick Jungle is being sent to the purgatory that is Fridays at 10pm effective October 31 (Halloween!). Here’s the full press release from NBC which also involves reality series Momma’s Boys:
‘Momma’s Boys’ Premiere Moves to Tuesday, December 16 After ‘The Biggest Loser’ Finale
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — NBC adds more drama to its Wednesday night schedule when an all-new season of “Law & Order” premieres Wednesday, November 5, (10-11 p.m. ET), following “Knight Rider” (8-9 p.m. ET) and “Life” (9-10 p.m. ET) in its new day and time period. Likewise, the network also re-shapes Fridays with “Lipstick Jungle” stepping in behind “Crusoe,” (9-10 p.m. ET) beginning Friday, October 31 (10-11 p.m. ET).
In addition, “Momma’s Boys” – from executive producers Ryan Seacrest and Andrew Glassman — will now debut Tuesday, December 16 (10-11 p.m. ET) after the season finale of “The Biggest Loser” (8-10 p.m. ET). The alternative series will then return in its regular day and time of Mondays beginning December 22 (9-10 p.m. ET) after “Heroes” ends its current volume on December 15. (”Momma’s Boys’” previously announced debut date was Wednesday, November 12).
The announcements were made by Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairmen, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
“These moves will play to the shows’ mutual strengths and will help us to reinforce our lineup,” said Silverman and Graboff. “A Wednesday night with wall-to-wall satisfying mysteries and great dramas — paced by the return of the original ‘Law & Order’ to its home on Wednesdays – will provide creative continuity that night. Fridays will feature escapist drama with ‘Lipstick Jungle’ joining ‘Crusoe.’ Additionally, this strategy for ‘Momma’s Boys’ offers the show a more favorable launch platform.”
“Law & Order,” the longest-running crime series and the second-longest-running drama series in the history of television, enters its 19th season with returning characters Detective Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and partner, Detective Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson), who investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and the Executive Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) are back manuvering within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston).
The show is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Rene Balcer, Fred Berner and Peter Jankowski are the executive producers.
Airing in the Wednesday 10-11 p.m. (ET) hour last season, “Law & Order” averaged a 3.3 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 10.8 million viewers overall, a 22 percent increase in 18-49 and a 20 percent jump in total viewers versus its results for the prior season, when it ran on Friday nights.
The Wall Street Journal called “Life” “…a steady burn – of talent, of smart writing, of chemical reactions.” The New York Daily News called it “brilliant” and “sizzling” and the Dallas Morning News called it “a new-age ‘Rockford Files.’”
The New York Daily News said “Lipstick’ stands alone this year as heir to the ‘Sex and the City’ legacy – glamorous, successful women living, losing, loving and most of all bonding in the big city.” In Touch Weekly said of “Lipstick Jungle”: “The sexy, stylish show hits its stride in its second season.”
October 24th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Good move for NBC. Neither Life nor L&O are going to get great ratings, but it will be better than what NBC has now. While CBS will be hurt most by this on Wednesday (especially at 10), it would push NBC over ABC in the demos for the season.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I agree, at least if ABC maintains its current Wednesday schedule. Although ABC might improve in the demos if it did something similar (move Wife Swap to 8pm Weds, and Supernanny to 10pm Wednesdays and jettison PD and DSM to the Friday night graveyard). Wife Swap and Supernanny never pulled a ton of viewers, but they have showed better demo success in the past (though neither show ever aired at 10pm as far as I know).
October 24th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Superanny premiered last season at 10 and hit a 4.0 in the demo.
October 24th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I’m very happy that they decided to move Life to Wednesday nights! Hopefully the ratings will improve with this move.
October 24th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Life against Criminal Minds will not do good but Law & Order against CSI:NY might take some viewers and demo from CSI:NY.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Robert,
Since when has “Life” been one of your favs? I never heard you write about this show.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
BTW,
Watching “Life” now–already turning into a great episode. NBC should never have taken this from Weds at 10pm. It still belongs there.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Andrea, there are a few shows I like that I don’t write much about. A month ago I watched all of the Eureka episodes and really enjoyed them a lot, but haven’t said a peep about it yet.
Last spring I watched all of Life, and I really liked, but didn’t LOVE it (and I did write that on here, but it’s been months). This year — and I’ve caught up on all episodes other than tonight’s, I’m enjoying it even more.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Tonight’s episode one of the best of the series, IMO.
I hope NBC makes the switch and puts L&O at 9pm and Life at 10. Life should lead out of L&O, which I think can compete at 9pm.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I THINK LIFE IS A FANTASTIC SHOW, I hope they will give it time to develop. I just found out about this show. where was nbc hidding it?
October 24th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
This post illustrates the basic Yin and Yang of Robert and I. Had I written it, the title would have been: “Lipstick Jungle Given Up For Dead, Moved to Friday”
October 24th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I still dont get why it matters what night of the week something is on or what show it goes up against. With DVR’s and Tivo everything records at least 2 channels if not 3 or 4 at a time now.
every day more people get DVRs and Although i realize some people get them and do not understand the concept of one i can see in a few years time it wont matter what time things are on or what day because most people will have DVR’s or TIvos
October 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
every day more people get DVRs, but almost 3/4ths of the homes in the US still don’t have them.
When even 2/3rds do have them (which will be years away still) there might not be much in the way of scripted programming to worry about recording anyway.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:33 am
I don’t think NBC realise what a gem they have in ‘Life’. It keeps getting given terrible time slots -against well established shows with top 50 Nielsen’s- that will no doubt lead to being exiled to the USA ‘Characters Welcome’ loony bin. I thought it had a great slot when it premiered on Mondays after ‘Heroes’ this season but the move to Friday night opposite ‘Numb3rs’ shows just how out-of-touch the NBC scheduling wonks are. Vying for the same demographic as that of an established rating winner…not too clever. Going against “Criminal Minds” is just as stupid; it’s a different demo but “Life” isn’t likely to grab the broader audience it needs to save it from being sandwiched between lamers like “Monk” and “Psych”.
October 25th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Maybe they won’t outstand Criminal Minds, but I’m sure it is better than Friday night. It will only do good in my opinion. Let’s just hope it is not too late!
October 25th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Great, I love this show! Lasts night’s episode was awesome.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Maybe more Mikeys watch tv Wednesdays at 9E.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am
When I seen the news last night after the episode finished I was so happy. It is good news and Life deserves better than friday even if it’s up against “Numbers”.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I’m surprised by this. I thought they were just gonna kill Life. It’s been dead on air for pretty much it’s entire run.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
HAHA Bobby, RU kidding?
This is the best News DSM and ABC could get!
DSM waxed LIFE last year and We are beating LG, posiitives in a sub-par ratings performance so far.
LG was leeching our audience much more so than LIFE did previously. ABC will take the demo at 9 and 10 now especially 18-34 WOMEN
October 25th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Uh. DSM will face off with Law & Order at 10pm. Life will air at 9pm just like I wrote above
Life has to battle Private Practice and Criminal Minds, but it still beats Fridays.
October 25th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
@Dirtysexyj Granted, this thread has turned into a convo about Life’s time-slots vis-a-vis ‘ratings’ but I’m going to steer this back to were Robert’s original post had this thread heading: that a fine show -”Life”- has a chance to shine and hopefully thrive given a decent shot in the scheduling.
I’ve not looked into DSM’s ratings or demographic, but I’ve watched it a handful of times and it’s -let’s be honest now- a shallow night time soap opera without an iota of originality and average-to-bad acting that will end up in that graveyard of shows nobody can remember when they’re trying to cite it along with Dallas to compare to DSM.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:45 am
guess Its not that great for DSM facing LAO is not as bad as CSI NY.. DSM is much better than a light hearted soap, you obviously are not watching. The cast is amazing, best cast on TV.