TV’s Turning Japanese!

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Games, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Cable, FOX, Gossip

I think we’re turning Japanese. Flip your TV to ABC and you’ll see weird costumes and almost unbelievable stunts on Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show, two series based on popular Japanese game shows. FOX plans to release a similar show, their version of Japan’s Hole in the Wall, this coming fall.

What do these shows bring to the U.S. gaming table? In two words, shock value. Anyone who has viewed the You Tube clips can see that Japanese games are daring, daunting…and at times very, very bizarre. Hole, for instance, makes competitors face off against solid walls with strangely-shaped openings offering the only survival. And if they fail? They fall into water, and lose the game. Many Japanese game shows require extreme physical exertion, along with an element of the oddly and brutally funny, in equal measure. If you laugh when you see someone fall down and possibly hurt themselves, for instance, Japanese game shows are probably your bag.

Click to continue reading TV’s Turning Japanese!

Read More | CNN

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Post-Strike Television Schedule

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Action, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Food & Home, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Sports, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, Hell's Kitchen, American Idol, Apprentice, The - Donald, Dancing With The Stars, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, House, Lost, Medium, Prison Break, Survivor, The Bachelor

Now that we have come to the end of the writers’ strike, it’s time to once again update our television programming schedules.

Mid-season replacements have had seen their debuts shuffled (e.g. New Amsterdam), some programs are coming back with new episodes (e.g. Scrubs, 30 Rock) while other shows aren’t slated to return until next year (Pushing Daisies).

Here you can find a compilation of the 2008 post-strike schedules for the five major networks.  I would highly recommend printing this out since there are major changes across the board.

Two notes:

1. This is the updated schedule as of May 6.  Be prepared to see more changes and settling in the weeks to come.
2. The list consists of premieres and dates for new episodes.
3. If a particular time slot/network is not mentioned, either nothing has changed or no specific announcement has been made yet.

MONDAY
8pm:

• Dancing With the Stars, ABC
• My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, NBC
• The Big Bang Theory, CBS
• Bones, FOX (new as of 4/14)
• Gossip Girl, CW (new as of 4/21)

8:30pm:

• How I Met Your Mother, CBS

9pm:

• Two and a Half Men, CBS
• House, FOX (new as of 4/28)
• One Tree Hill, CW (new as of 4/14)

9:30pm:

• Samantha Who?, ABC (new as of 4/7)
• Rules of Engagement, CBS (returns 4/14)

10pm:

• The Bachelor, ABC
• CSI: Miami, CBS

Click to continue reading Post-Strike Television Schedule

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Reality Renewals: ‘The Mole’ and ‘The Two Coreys’

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Games, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Cable, Renewals

At what point did A&E become less about Arts and more about Entertainment?  The cable channel - which already boasts quality programs like Gene Simmons Family Jewels - has just chosen to bring back the The Two Coreys, starring Corey Feldman and Corey Haim.  (Apparently it takes more than one season for those Lost Boys to talk about their glory years.)

This spring, the horribly-painful-to-watch series promies to bring “more drama, tension and laughs as they struggle to make their relationship and careers work.” Wasn’t that the theme last year? I’d think it would be safe to blame the writers’ strike for this renewed interest in their sad lives.  As much as I enjoyed watching Haim cry about not having a girlfriend in his life, I don’t think I could do it again.  Well, maybe....

Meanwhile, ABC is dusting off one of their own reality classics: The Mole.  (I don’t think that revival will ever reach American Gladiator-proportions.) The only reason I fondly remember the series was because it brought Anderson Cooper into the primetime spotlight long before he was deemed a credible news source.  (Prior to that, I had been admiring him during the pre-dawn hours on World News Now.)

Click to continue reading Reality Renewals: ‘The Mole’ and ‘The Two Coreys’

Read More | Variety

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This Week on TV (12/31-1/6)

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Comedy, Drama, Games, Late Night, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, CBS, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, Showtime, Apprentice, The - Donald, Desperate Housewives, ER

(Reminder: You can view the whole Revamped TV Programming Schedule here.)

MONDAY (12/31)

• Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2008 (ABC, 10pm):  Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will co-host the event.  Is Miley Cyrus old enough to be associated with a drinking holiday?
• New Year’s Eve Live (FOX, 11pm):  Idol alums Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis will perform.  In just a few short weeks, we’ll start caring about a new batch of idols.
• Tila Tequila’s New Year’s Eve Masquerade (MTV, 11pm):  NYC masked ball will include Kid Rock and Mary J. Blige.  Has it already been a year since we were forced to watch Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo kiss?
• NBC’s New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly (NBC, 11:35pm):  Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz will be performing.  This may be the first time in a while someone has stayed awake to watch Daly’s show.

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (12/31-1/6)

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This Week on TV (12/24-12/30)

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Animation, Award Shows, Games, Kids, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, ABC, Cable, CBS, FOX, The CW, Amazing Race, The

MONDAY (12/24)

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8pm):  Am I the only one who still gets creeped out when I see the Grinch?  He’s not exactly kid-friendly.
• It’s A Wonderful Life (NBC, 8pm):  You officially have one last chance to be grateful before Christmas officially begins.
• Cheaper by the Dozen (FOX, 8pm): In case you need a reminder why having more kids during the holidays might not be a good thing.
• Madagascar (ABC, 9pm):  If you don’t want to get your child a pet, force them to watch this movie and convince them that animals were meant to be free.

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (12/24-12/30)

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Friday Ratings: ABC Wins the Ratings ‘Duel’

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Drama, Games, Music, Specials, Sports, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, Ratings

After five attempts, Duel finally scored the most chips of the evening.  When the night was over, ABC had the most viewers while NBC had a slight edge on the demos.

8pm

• With 6.71 million, Duel (1.7/6 in 18-49) was Friday’s most-watched show.
• Friday Night Smackdown (5 million, 1.5/5) put up a good fight.
• Don’t Forget the Lyrics* (4.6 million, 1.6/6) was steady with last week.
• CBS’ Home for the Holidays special (0.8/2) entertained 4.3 million.
• Approx. 3.41 million sang along with The Singing Bee (3.4 million, 1.0/3).

9pm

• A 2-hour Dateline (1.9/6 in 18-49) averaged 6.5 million.
• Women’s Murder Club* (5.8 million, 1.3/4) was down about 400,000.
• Moonlight* (1.0/3) drew in a bloody 4 million.
• Only 2.7 million watched the birth of the The Next Great American Band (1.0/3).

10pm

• Numb3rs* (6.1 million, 1.3/4 in 18-49) was down from last week’s new episode.
• 20/20 (5 million, 1.3/4) placed last in the hour.

*denotes repeat

(You can review last Friday’s ratings here.)

Read More | Programming Insider

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Wednesday Ratings: Viewers Prefer CBS Leftovers

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Games, Kids, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, Ratings

Despite the continuation of newbies Duel and Choirs, repeats on CBS were the most appealing thing of the evening.

8pm

• Clash of the Choirs (8.3 million, 2.4/7 in 18-49) found 600,000 more followers.
• Duel (7.4 million, 2.2/7) was practically even with yesterday.
• Frosty the Snowman* (7.6 million, 2.4/8) and Frosty Returns* (7 million, 2.1/6) found more kids to entertain.
• Back to You* (1.6/5) was up almost 600,000; ‘Til Death (5.2 million, 1.8/5) gained almost 1 million.
• Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants (1.8 million, 0.8/2) lost 700,000.

9pm

• Criminal Minds* (11.6 million, 2.9/8 in 18-49) was easily the hour’s top performer.
• Private Practice* (1.7/5) came in second with 5.5 million.
• Kitchen Nightmares* (2.1/6) grossed out 4.5 million.
• About 1.8 million saw Blair’s father return on Gossip Girl (0.8/2).

10pm

• CSI: NY* (2.9/8 in 18-49) was down about 3 million from last week.
• A Holiday Celebration at Ford’s Theatre (1.2/3) dazzled 4.9 million.
• Journeyman (1.7/5) closed shop with 4.6 million.

*denotes repeat

(You can review last Wednesday’s ratings here.)

Read More | Programming Insider

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Tuesday Ratings: ‘The Biggest Loser’ Inches Past CBS

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Comedy, Drama, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, House, Ratings

Although NBC narrowly lost in the viewers to CBS, it outweighed its competitors in the demos.

8pm

• NCIS* (2.8/8 in 18-49 demo) was easily the hour’s largest draw.
• Clash of the Choirs (7.7 million, 2.4/7) was down 200,000 in its second showing.
• Duel (2.4/7) challenged 7.3 million.
• Bones* (5.9 million, 2.0/6) was about even with last week.
• Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants* (0.6/2) strutted to 1.4 million.

9pm

• Approx. 11.4 million watched Bill crowned The Biggest Loser (4.6/13 in 18-49).
• The Unit (2.8/7) weighed in second with 10.8 million viewers.
• House* (9.9 million, 3.3/9) did slightly better than one week ago.
• According to Jim* (4.4 million, 1.5/4) dropped about 1.3 million.
• Reaper (1.4 million, 0.6/2) did just as well as its lead-in.

10pm

• Boston Legal (7.7 million, 2.1/6) saw a decrease of 1.3 million.
• Cane (7.2 million, 1.8/5) was off by 600,000.

(You can review last Tuesday’s ratings here.)

Read More | Programming Insider

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Monday Ratings: CBS Survives ‘Clash’, ‘Duel’

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Comedy, Drama, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, Everybody Hates Chris, House, Ratings

A new crop of reality entries couldn’t take down the comedy/CSI combo on CBS.  The Eye Network was victorious with the viewers and the 18-49s.

8pm

• Approx. 8 million watched a repeat of House* (2.6/8 in 18-49).
• Clash of the Choirs (2.4/6) sang to the tune of 7.9 million.
• Duel (2.5/7) narrowly came in third with its 7.7 million.
• How I Met Your Mother* (2.3/7) kicked off CBS’ evening with 6.6 million; The Big Bang Theory* (2.4/10) had 6.7 million.
• Everybody Hates Chris* (1.9 million, 0.7/2) and Aliens in America* (1.4 million, 0.5/1) were both down from last week.

9pm

• An hour-long Two and a Half Men* (3.7/9 in 18-49) easily beat its competitors with 11.4 million.
• K-Ville (5.3 million, 1.7/4) did a tad bit better than last week.
• Notes from the Underbelly (5 million, 1.9/5) was up about 400,000.
• Girlfriends* (1.4 million, 0.6/2) and The Game* (1.4 million, 0.6/2) were both down about 1 million.

Click to continue reading Monday Ratings: CBS Survives ‘Clash’, ‘Duel’

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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This Week on TV (12/17-12/23)

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Comedy, Drama, Games, Kids, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, Amazing Race, The, Nip/Tuck, The Office

MONDAY (12/17)

• Duel (ABC, 8pm):  The first of six-airings this week.  In this game show, the contestants ‘challenge each other’s intellect and skill, but a single wrong answer disqualifies them from trying for the $1.5 million prize.’ Seriously - if a show is going to be named ‘Duel’, it should involve body blows.
• Clash of the Choirs (NBC, 8pm):  This four-part series brings us Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey and Kelly Rowland.  Surprisingly, this combo is not part of some VH1 program.
• Notes from the Underbelly (ABC, 9pm):  “Eric must organize a baby party without ruining friendships.” His pals are all hoping they don’t have to come.
• Journeyman (NBC, 10pm):  “Dan is sent to rescue a mother and son in an RV hanging from a cliff.” Just for clarification—do his travels always predate the existence of 911?

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (12/17-12/23)

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