Ok. Ok. I got an (actually very nice) e-mail that expressed surprise that there was no info about NBC’s Life being picked up for the full season. Also, LOST has been scheduled for Wednesdays at 9pm starting in January. We predict there will be many other announcements about ABC’s schedule in the near future.
This site is a ratings site. We know there is a *lot* more interest in TV shows and TV show scheduling and development than the ratings, and so we often will include such information. But we’re just two guys, and Bill has a family and the last couple of days I’ve been cheating on you with Tiger Woods ‘09 on the PS3 (I hadn’t turned the thing on since August ‘07 when I started working on TVbytheNumbers). A lot of interesting content winds up in the comments on posts, but we realize most of our readers never see them.
Sometimes it’s fun to do the blog thing and go chasing traffic, but the fact is there are many other web sites with very talented people who are paid to bring you the latest and greatest news about what’s going on. It’s not our goal to be an up-to-the-second site for things not ratings related and for that type of info other sites do a much better job than we could ever hope to do.
While it’s sometimes very easy to fall into the trap of being a “me too” web site and chase the memes that everyone else is chasing, it’s not our goal. This site was first conceived out of the idea that there was no really great repository of publicly available ratings info on the Internet.
There are several sites that produce overnight ratings data as well. Where we tried to be unique there was in the presentation of the data so that it was easier to read. Some sites are doing that now too, but I still think our stuff is the easiest to read. Plus it has the added benefit of allowing you to skip completely over any prose and get right to the numbers, and usually except on the weekends we include the 18-34 data. I’m sure others will start doing that too.
We also try to offer our own unique brand of insight around the numbers and tools for figuring out which shows will be renewed or cancelled based on ratings data. Thank goodness NBC sucks so badly that I don’t have to worry about any of the shows I’m watching on it being cancelled before the season ends. I’m very happy Life was picked up for the full year, but given that it’s NBC, I can’t even be that surprised if Lipstick Jungle gets a full pick up at this point (I’m not suggesting that I think that will happen, only that I won’t be shocked if it does).
We’ll definitely be interested in seeing how Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dollhouse perform on Fridays. I’d give it a 100% chance that Dollhouse will get some better promotion – I’m not sure it will be ready in time to air an episode after the NFC championship playoff game, so I’d look for it to air once after American Idol, even though nothing of the sort has been announced so far.
We’ll follow the ratings closely and do our best to make whatever ratings info we can available. But if your goal is to get the latest skinny on shows and show development I recommend the following sites:
- Ausiello Files (Entertainment Weekly )
- James Hibberd’s Live Feed (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Watch With Kristin (E Online)
- The Futon Critic
- TV Guide
FOX is already airing promos for both DOLLHOUSE and LIE TO ME. So that has started. I don’t think the LOST info is news for this site, but a show being renewed is generally mentioned here since it does relate to your index.
Indeed, shows being renewed is definitely info for this site. A full-season pickup isn’t quite a renewal and we haven’t generally posted separate announcements for them, though Bill very promptly updated the “Renew or Cancel” post as soon as he saw the info on ‘Life’.
Once all the Mid-season schedules are announced and a little more rock solid than they are right now, I’m sure we’ll do posts on all of the nets’ schedules. But it’s not our goal to be first with such info, or even necessarily speedy. edit: except where by virtue of the schedule info, renew/cancel decisions are made clear.
a House rerun did not beat Life last Wednesday?
it did, and somewhat resoundingly in the demos. But ‘Life’ is on NBC, not Fox.
Robert, you’re quite correct. With others getting on my case for little semantic things, I will not be doing the same. You’re quite right, full season pickups aren’t renewals. You guys were also very prompt with your index update with the LIFE news.
I appreciate you guys for the numbers!
Yea for “Life”!
Awesome news for Life!
This is a cool site you two have cooked up — I’m glad someone linked to it and brought me here. I especially appreciate the following statement:
“While it’s sometimes very easy to fall into the trap of being a “me too” web site and chase the memes that everyone else is chasing, it’s not our goal. This site was first conceived out of the idea that there was no really great repository of publicly available ratings info on the Internet.”
I honestly believe you’re providing a better service by (mostly) sticking to the numbers and insights about the ratings. Keep up the good work, fruitcakes!
9 on Wednesday? That’s cool. It could use a good lead-in like Pushing Daisies.
Lost and 24 in the new year! I can’t wait.
Don’t ever change! Your site is great.
i think NBC will do better midseason; this fall has been a disaster for it.
NBC should’nt have cancelled Scrubs
ABC will have a better wednesday
and Lost has a better timeslot compare to their thursday10pm!