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December 16, 2005
RENT
Wow. That was really good. I've never seen the play. I've never read the script. The most meaningful thing I've ever read about Rent (Broadway, music, or movie) was at Ali's blog. And today, finally, I had my play date with Dawn to go see the movie. And we did eactly what we were supposed to do: We cried and cried and cried. And laughed. And tapped various body parts to the beat. And we really enjoyed the story (even though we knew what to expect, just based on being media-consuming humans with brains), REALLY enjoyed the music, and I, now, have a non-sexual, I-must-cast-her-in-something-someday girlcrush on Idina Menzel. Dear GAWD! How could I live my life and not know who she is?
Oh, wait. I know. I live in Hollywood. That would cover most of the slip-up. But believe me, I will do what I can to put her in something I cast someday. Even though she's repped by the official number-one assholiest agency in LA, I will do what it takes!
Okay, so now that I've seen the movie, none of the press about its controversial marketing tactics (selling it as a feel-good friend/romantic comedy musical romp through NY when it's actually all about... no spoilers here... something else) bother me. It's just a good movie. Great music. And a great way to cry in the middle of the afternoon on a Thursday when everything else is going just fine.
Posted by bonnie at 12:15 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
December 01, 2005
Midseason TV News
NBC to shuffle primetime lineup in January
Dec. 02, 2005
By Andrew Wallenstein
It's a new "Earl" order at NBC.
The peacock announced an aggressive reshuffling of its primetime schedule Thursday, including the move of new hit comedy "My Name Is Earl" from Tuesday to Thursday beginning Jan. 5.To reverse its sagging fortunes on a night it once dominated, NBC also will remove "Joey" and "The Apprentice" from the Thursday lineup. Both series are expected to return to the schedule later this season on a different night, but the timing has not been determined.
"Will & Grace" will finish out its final season in the 8 p.m. slot once reserved for "Joey," followed by "Four Kings," a new comedy from "Will & Grace" creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. "ER" remains at 10 p.m.
The addition of "Kings" will give NBC four consecutive comedies scheduled on Thursday, hearkening back to the powerhouse Must-See TV lineups of yesteryear.
"Certainly destination comedy has been part of NBC's identity for a long time, and reassembling those blocks is a priority," NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly said. "With the success of 'Earl' this year and with 'Office' finding its legs, we have the makings of a block of shows we felt perfectly fit the profile of an NBC Thursday night comedy lineup."
The Thursday shake-up represents a dramatic shift in strategy from the conservative approach NBC surprisingly took in May, when it left "Joey," "Will & Grace" and "Apprentice" in place despite drooping ratings. Their declines only continued this fall, with "Joey" off 43% in the 18-49 demographic 10 weeks into the season, and "Will & Grace" down 35% and "Apprentice" 38%.
Sensing vulnerability at NBC and opportunity to reap Thursday's bountiful advertising revenue, competitors had begun making bold moves. ABC is returning summer hit "Dancing With the Stars" to 8 p.m. Thursdays beginning Jan. 5. There were rumblings that Fox would move the "American Idol" results show to Thursday as well, but the network said Wednesday that the top-rated series would remain on Wednesday.
The removal of the "Idol" threat on Thursday freed up Reilly to make a bold move of his own. "We didn't want to go out into the jaws of 'Idol,' " Reilly said. "Frankly, we were waiting to see what they did."
Also in January, NBC will fill the "Earl"/"Office" void Tuesdays with back-to-back episodes of "Scrubs." "Fear Factor" also will return to NBC's schedule in the 8 p.m. Tuesday hour.
On Wednesday, the peacock plans to fill the 9 p.m. hour after the finale of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" this month with special themed episodes of the reality series "The Biggest Loser," which wrapped its second cycle Tuesday with strong ratings.
On Friday, NBC is benching its reality series "Three Wishes" for episodes of "Most Outrageous TV Moments" at 8 p.m., followed by newsmagazine "Dateline" and the new limited series "The Book of Daniel," about an unconventional minister, in the 10 p.m. slot that in recent weeks has carried repeats of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
Switching nights midway into its first season is a risky gambit for "Earl," but Reilly thinks the show's fans will find it easily. "Earl" has averaged a 5.5 rating/13 share among adults 18-49 and 12.5 million viewers overall, making it the season's No. 1 comedy.
Moving "Earl" might be more of a defensive move on Tuesday than it is on Thursday given the increasingly competitive nature of the former night. In addition to new ABC hit "Commander in Chief," Fox's "House" is likely to grow only stronger once "Idol" slips in as its 8 p.m. lead-in. "Earl" also was about to lose its own lead-in, "The Biggest Loser."
While the retention rate of "Office" out of "Earl" is an underwhelming 71% this season, Reilly was encouraged by a steady uptrend in that number and its passionate, young core audience.
The new Thursday lineup will be supported by a new marketing campaign that will be apparent both on and off the network. The "Must-See TV" tagline will not be revived, said Reilly, who added that he is not likely to tinker with the new Thursday foursome. "This is clearly not a short-term ratings play with this lineup."
January won't be the last of Reilly's rearrangements. The period after the Olympics in February could see the addition of anywhere from three to six new series. The field of possibilities include comedies "Thick and Thin" and "Teachers"; dramas "Kidnapped," "The Black Donnellys," "Heist" and "Windfall"; and the unscripted series "Treasure Hunters."
"Apprentice" also is expected back on after the Olympics, according to Reilly, who gave no such timetable for "Joey."
The midseason benching of "Joey," currently in its second season, might signal an ignominious end for a comedy NBC was counting on to keep the lights on on Thursday. But Reilly said he hasn't given up on the series, nor does he report receiving negative feedback from "Joey" producer Warner Bros. Television. "They understood, nobody's squawking," Reilly said.
WBTV declined comment.
Asked what reaction he was anticipating regarding the new strategy, Reilly is resigned to riding out the vagaries of the TV business.
"You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't," Reilly said. "Conservative and stable didn't play in May. Now it's going to be, 'What, are they crazy, moving everything?' In this environment, it's hard to look smart."
...and...
CYNTHIA TURNER'S Cynopsis
12/01/05
Good morning. It's Thursday, December 1, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.UPN has announced the launch dates of two if its midseason series: South Beach on Wednesday, January 11 at 8p (2-hour premiere); and Get This Party Started on January 24 at 9p. Also, Get This Party Started will repeat each Tuesday night at 8p, with a new episode at 9p, starting January 31st.
Fox's Midseason schedule kicks off in January, thusly:
* Mondays: Skating with Celebrities (as of 1/23), 24 (as of 1/15)
* Tuesdays: American Idol (as of 1/17), House
* Wednesdays: American Idol (1/18), Bones (1/25)
* Thursdays: The O.C., That '70s Show (as of 3/2), Stacked (as of 3/2)
* Fridays: The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle, Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy (as of 1/6)
* Saturdays: Cops, Cops, AMW: America Fights Back
* Sundays: Encore Fox Comedies, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, The War at Home, Family Guy, American Dad
Two notes regarding the Fox midseason schedule:
Prison Break will return with original episodes on March 20.
Killer Instinct will have its last airing on December 2.That's it. On your mark, get set .... Program your TiVos!