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While it hasn’t been as quick on the trigger to cancel underperforming new series as its counterparts Fox and ABC, over the past week NBC has been closely monitoring its schedule, which has not performed as well as the network’s executives had hoped. I hear that the intention is to make as fewer scheduling moves as possible, and if things stay stable this week changes might not be implemented. But with the network’s Monday lineup already setting the tone for a 3rd-week declines last night, we could see NBC going for some scheduling tweaks by the end of the week. Most endangered is freshman drama Outlaw, which drew 1.0 in the 18-49 demo and 4.7 million viewers in the Friday 10 PM slot last week. NBC already has new reality series School Pride launching Fridays at 8 PM next week and could slide the two-hour Dateline from 8-10 PM to 9-11 PM if Outlaw is pulled. I’ve also been hearing that The Apprentice could be moved out of the plum Thursday 10 PM slot after slipping to a 1.3 demo rating there last week. One possible scenario has new Law & Order spinoff, Law & Order: Los Angeles, moving to the Thursday 10 PM slot, with Law & Order: SVU sliding to 10 PM on Wednesdays where the second hour of its two-part premiere preformed very well during premiere week, proving once again that the Law & Order franchise works best at 10 PM. It is not clear if The Apprentice could move to the Wednesday 9 PM slot behind low-rated new spy drama Undercovers. While NBC brass seem to be happy creatively with the civilian edition of The Apprentice, the Donald Trump-starring business competition got hurt by its early launch the week before the beginning of the season and never built momentum in the Thursday 10 PM slot where it was dispatched after production on the new NBC dramedy Love Bites was put on hold.
Meanwhile, in a fallout from the recent axing of ABC’s freshman drama My Generation and Fox’s Lone Star, ABC will air Grey’s Anatomy reruns in the Thursday 8 PM time slot for the next few weeks until it comes up with a permanent replacement for My Generation. And Fox will air reruns of Fringe in the Saturday 11 PM slot where it used to run Lone Star repeats.
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Interesting. I wonder if NBC would consider moving The Event, or leave it to grow (or die) on Mondays. I would’ve thought they give The Event the plum Thursday 10pm slot.
The Apprentice has to be removed from Thursdays though, it is hurting the night I think. But it could do even more damage on Wednesdays, most of all to Undercovers if it airs at 9pm.
The Law & Orders are definitely 10pm shows.
NO!!!! I LOVED MY GENERATION!
The Event belongs at the Thursday 10pm slot. It’s a good show.
Seems like a no brainer to switch Chuck and The Event. Monday at 9PM is brutal and Chuck is all but dead anyway. See if The Event can stabilize in a less crowded slot.
Chuck has been steady, and doing quite well when DVR viewing is factored in, plus it has a huge cult following and a loyal fanbase. The Ev3nt, on the other hand, does not, and the only people who seem to believe in it are those in PR responsible for the obnoxious ads all over the TV and internet. Sorry folks, but Dr. Weaver staring me down from the corner of my browser window does *not* make me want to watch your show. If trends continue, by next week it will be tied with Chuck, only to dip below it the week after.
You know advertisers could give a s@#$ about DVR viewers, right? (Hint: it has something to do with being able to fwd through their commercials…)
Yeah, that’s why they spend millions on product placement. It took them awhile to catch on, but they finally have. Just consciously keep an eye out for brand names while watching your favorite show. Modern Family last year aired an entire episode that was basically a halfhour ad for the iPad, Bones spent more time last season showing off the Honda Prius then actually solving murders, and I know the alcoholic beverage of choice of every single agent on Annie Walker’s team on Covert Affairs. I’m also part of a focus group for NBC/Universal, and over the last 6 months, questions regarding brand awareness have increased steadily.
They should bring back comedy to NBC Tuesdays and have a two comedy block at 8 followed by Chuck at 9.
In the mean time, they should do a bonus Chuck, like they did with Ally McBeal and edit it down to a half hour so The Office viewers could sample it at 9:30pm Thursdays. Always Sunny is living proof that shows can build their audience a few seasons in.
They did that to cash in on the success of “Ally McBeal,” which was at the height of its popularity. And it failed miserably. Cutting “Chuck” down to a 30-minute comedy would do nothing to boost ratings.
Hey Chuck fans, I’ve been reading your incessant chattering on that tvbythenumbers site. One thing you’ve forgotten to mention is that NBC just ordered a pilot from Josh Schwartz. Ghost Angeles to star Rachel Bilson. In your discussions, you haven’t inputted how this might impact Chuck.
Mondays at 8 is a grenade, that NBC launched Chuck on. It competes with the start of MNF in the East, and the end in the West. MNF is a juggernaught, routinely out-doing all other network shows by big margins. Two weeks ago 17 million viewers watched it. Throw in House and DWTS, and ANYTHING you put there will do poorly.
Chuck probably out-performs (because of die-hard fans) anything else you’d put there. NBC could easily draw 2 million or less on that time.
Is part of the problem with The Event and Undercovers that action/drama just doesn’t play at 8 p.m., or does No Ordinary Family disprove that?
no, the problem is that The Event and Undercovers are two REALLY bad shows. real talk…
Agreed. It’s not the genre or the time slot. If they were well-written shows they would do well in any time slot. The Event blew their wad when they went to the alien well on the second episode. If you’re trying to emulate LOST, which was the best show in this genre, take a lesson from them. Do a little character work upfront, so that people are invested in the characters before the aliens and supernatural crap starts to happen.
Really? LOST was the best show? Did you watch the entire series? Remember all those plot points that they set up which they never found the time in the show’s 108 hours to pay off? LOST was about both the mystery/mythology AND the characters — that’s what made it great. When the writers decided to ignore the pay offs and concentrate on solely on the characters, that’s when LOST became only a good series. “The Event” sets things up in one episode which it ACTUALLY PAYS OFF in the next. THAT’S how you make a good series.
(Did I miss the point? Are you liking the show, but wish you cared about the characters more? Do you like “Dexter”? Remember — that show was mostly about the mystery for its first two seasons; character wasn’t a focus until the third season…)
I really hope The Event gets a better scheduling slot. I’ve been enjoying it. I’d love it to survive the season and be allowed to grow.
NBC should move Jimmy Kimmel to the Mon-Fri 10-11pm slot and let the affliates run infomercials from 8 to 10p.The ratings will be about the same and the affiliates will make more money!
Kimmel is on ABC, not NBC.
Here’s an idea. Instead of “cheapening the product to unwatchability” NBC could instead try for a positive enterprise value by airing not crappy, trite shows like “Outlaw” and “Undercovers” and today’s reality-show-of-the-week but start producing shows that people with IQs at or above room temperature will be likely to watch. Shows like “Southland” or “Law & Order.” Only an idiot would have aired SVU at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. in some markets.) The Apprentice is also pure crap. If NBC lives up to form, they will instead air “The Apprentice” on three nights a week.
Counter programing works every time. NBC should put a female oriented show on Monday at 8 PM, followed by Parenthood at 9 PM, and The Apprentice at 10 PM.
Moving to Tuesday, NBC should stick with The Biggest Looser at 8 PM and
Wednesday should be two comedies at 8 PM and 8:30 PM followed by Chuck and then Law and Order SVU.
Thursday should be left as is but add the Event at 10 PM.
Friday should be reworked completely. CBS is showing that if you put a good show on television, Blue Bloods, people will tune in and watch it.
As for Law and Order LA and Outlaws, both should be put out of their misery.
The Event is really good fun – and with the proper care could be the new 24… but that damn Chuck lead in is killing it… why the heck was that turd renewed in the first place – it’s been on air for three years and still isn’t a hit!
Just bring back Parks & Recreation for cryin’ out loud! Why they pushed this hilarious show to the midseason when they already had 6 extra episodes in the can from last season is beyond me.
maybe because Amy Poehler just had a baby… duh???
For the millionth time, the reason Parks was pushed back was due to Amy Poehler’s pregnancy. They wanted to give her some extra time off to be a mother and they could resume the show during midseason, not because they don’t believe in the show.
Then, for the millionth time, the guys at P&R were surprised that the show was moved to being a mid-season replacement. Amy’s pregnancy had been dealt with by shooting episodes featuring Adam Scott and Rob Lowe after the season finale. If NBC had asked a full season, everybody was ready to deliver it, including Amy.
I thought Undercovers would be better suited for Mondays, putting it with Chuck. You could try Chuck / Undercovers or Undercovers / Chuck followed by The Event or Another show. (Depends on what they got for midseason replacements.)
Wednesday start out with Chase, I think would work better there, or put Apprentice at 8 or 9 then L&O: SVU at 10 where it got better ratings. Move L&O: LA to Thursday at 10. I’m not sure The Event would work at 9 PM there or not?
So My Generation got the axe yet old-ass Tom Selleck is ruling Friday nights (which networks before this had written off) with Blue Bloods. It’s official: nobody cares about this B.S. twentysomething hipster generation. The box-office death of Scott Pilgrim also underscores it. All internet hype, no substance. Get off my lawn.
I’m sorry but My Generation was a disservice to my generation. As a twenty-something, I can honestly say this show was horrible. Not as bad as Shit My Dad Says but down there for sure. It was a good premise with horrible execution. “Oh my god, who’d know all these kids would turn out the complete opposite of what they dreamed of becoming!” Seriously, with the exception of the people who worked on this turd losing their jobs, this show is better off canceled than allow to exist. It’s a surprise it was even picked up in the first place. Just the second casualty in what’s looking to be the worst fall tv season I have ever lived through.
I thought My Generation could have been really great…but then I started looking at those billboards and stopped looking forward to the show. A much better version of this idea is a documentary series called, “7-up” they two groups of school kids from two different social classes are followed through life every 7 years. It’s fantastic.
Yes, I’m arrogant. I have some idea why this show failed AND what could have made it a hit.
First off and mentioned several times — the advertising on this show just blew…My Generation is currently unemployed and losing their fucking homes. They could give a rats ass about making good with dad. If anything they want him to retire so they can get a job and start their own screwed-up family.
Second, they never gave the audience a sincere true reference to who the hell these kids were individually — GIVE US a specific reason just why the hell we should care about any one of these assholes. Pandering with cliche story arcs alienates your fucking audience dip shit. Make it personal and get the hell out of their way.
Make viewers uncomfortable you pussies. And not with gratuitous network porn or violence, but with hard-hitting real-life relevant fucking issues.
This was just a wonderful opportunity do something great that was spoiled by…who the hell knows. But I’ll tell you one thing — they’re pussies who are disconnected with their audience and throwing shit in our faces hoping something sticks.
Bitter? You bet. You should be too.
Moving the ‘Law & Orders’ would most certainly profit SVU. I guess LOLA can also do decent numbers on Thursdays at 10 atleast with a mid 2s.
Why there are no plans for Monday night is beyond me. Although come to think of it: Overhauling the Line-up (Mon Wed Thur Fri) would signal panic and desperation to viewers and ad buyers. How about a femme-centric Monday come Midseason with ‘Love Bites’?
Not really interested in The Event, I’m suffering from Lost burnout. I am averse to any season-long brain-twisting mysteries with unsatisfying endings, blah blah blah. Good luck, NBC.
Event will do no better at 8pm. 8pm is a tougher time slot than 9pm. Chucks numbers have remained contstant while the event has free falled so Chuck as a poor lead in is a non stater of an arguement. Event = Flash Forward
Umm… NBC -has- put on smart shows like Southland, Law & Order, Kings, Life, Friday Night Lights on the air, but no one watched them. Blame NBC for whatever, but blame America as well for choosing what shows they want to watch.
Fringe is the best show on TV right now (not just the best sci-fi show). Such a shame that Fox has to use it as a doorstop on Thursdays at 9 pm.
I eagerly await the cancellation of “Outsourced.”
keep waiting. look at longevity of “Community”- about as funny, no?
I can’t imagine LOLA getting any better. Skeet is an absolute bore and the other guy is just horrendous to look at. I can’t believe they canceled the original for this dreck.
Isn’t HARRY’S LAW ready to jump in?
Isn’t that the old Jerry Orbach spin-off of Murder She Wrote?
Outlaw deserves a time slot earlier than Friday that has always been a graveyard. Undercovers should be moved to see if a better slot would keep a worthy show alive. The Event is harder to figure out, but should not see an early crash.
Agreed. Good show. NBC should hold on to it – but for sagging ratings???? Needs to go to a different time slot where it has a chance.
Harry’s Law is from the brilliant mind of David E. Kelley. I can’t wait to see his original storytelling all over again. I hear Harry is a WOMAN, played by Kathy Bates (first enchanting surprise), that she is fired by a big law firm and starts helping needy clients from the her offices inside a shoe store (whacky!). It seems that a legal drama from D.E.K’s repeatedly unique point of view can’t not fail to not score big style.
this is a perfect summation.
Bombs-ville to a good show, I am sorry to say.
NBC should BEG dick wolf to do a final season of Law & Order. That would be such good pr for them at a point when they desperately need it.
What about Friends with Benefits? Good replacement ready to go. Take them off the bench, coach!