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USA’s ‘Royal Pains’ & ‘Necessary Roughness’ Season Premieres Down

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Thursday June 13, 2013 @ 1:47pm PDTTags: Necessary Roughness, Royal Pains, TV Ratings, USA Network

The Season 5 premiere of USA Network’s Royal Pains last night was watched by 3.682 million viewers. That’s down from the 3.95 million total viewers who tuned in for the Season 4 debut of the Hamptons-based medical drama back on June 6, 2012. The show was also down among the key demos too. Last night’s Royal Pains drew 901,000 viewers among Adults 18-49, down from the 1.24 million that Season 4′s opener garnered. The show pulled in 1.07 million viewers from the Adults 25-54 demo. That was down from the 1.44 million that its Season 4 debut had. Having said that, last night’s debut was the top show in basic cable in overall viewership. Besides returning for another cycle, last night also saw Frances Conroy join stars Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Costanzo in the cast of Royal Pains as a suspicious socialite.  Royal Pains was renewed for a sixth season last September. The series’ executive producers and showrunners Andrew Lenchewski and Michael Rauch recently renewed their individual overall deals with Universal Cable Prods and have set up new projects at USA.

Following Royal Pains at 10:01 PM, Necessary Roughness was back for a third season with 2.610 million tuning in. That’s down from the 3.015 million viewers that the Season 2 premiere received on June 6, 2012. The sports therapist drama was also down among key demos from its second season starter. Necessary Roughness got 904,000 viewers last night among Adults 25-54 compared to 999,999 for last season’s debut. The series also pulled in 817,000 viewers among Adults 18-49 down from the 1.001 million it got for its Season 2 debut. This decline comes despite the revamp that Necessary Roughness underwent between seasons, bringing on John Stamos and David Anders for major recurring roles. The show also added Karissa Lee Staples as a regular. 

Both Royal Pains and Necessary Roughness were the two top original shows on basic cable in the key demos and USA was tops for the night.

Related: USA’s ‘Burn Notice’ Season Premiere Up, ‘Graceland’ Debuts Solid.  

UPDATE: Incorrect Season 2 data for Necessary Roughness was obtained for an earlier version of this story. The correct results have now been placed in the story. 

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Yves Simoneau To Direct USA Pilot ‘Horizon’: Video

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday June 12, 2013 @ 3:03pm PDTTags: Horizon, USA Network, Yves Simoneau
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: It is only fitting that Yves Simoneau, who directed the pilot for USA Network‘s last genre series, sci-fi drama The 4400, has been tapped to helm the network’s re-entry in the genre arena, period alien … Read More »

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USA’s ‘Burn Notice’ Season Premiere Up, ‘Graceland’ Debuts Solid

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Friday June 7, 2013 @ 1:13pm PDTTags: Burn Notice, Graceland, TV Ratings, USA Network

After seven seasons USA’s Burn Notice can still light a fire. Last night’s season premiere of the spy drama was up double digits in viewers from last year.  With 4.319 million watching, the season opener rose … Read More »

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Matt Rogers Set As Host Of USA Competition Series ‘Summer Camp’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday May 23, 2013 @ 9:17am PDTTags: Matt Jones, Summer Camp, USA Network

Matt Rogers will be the host of USA Network‘s new competition reality series Summer Camp, which will pit 16 die-hard campers in over-the-top competitions inspired by classic camp games. The final competitors eventually face off in an … Read More »

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USA Orders Family Comedy Pilot From Peter Ocko

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 22, 2013 @ 9:00am PDTTags: Divide & Conquer, Peter Ocko, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

USA Network has greenlighted Divide & Conquer, a half-hour comedy pilot written and executive produced by Peter Ocko (Fairly Legal, The Office). The pickup comes on the heels of USA last week making its … Read More »

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USA Network Unveils Drama Development Slate And Plans For Daytime

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday May 16, 2013 @ 8:45am PDTTags: Cat Greenleaf, Gale Anne Hurd, Horizon, USA Network

USA Network unveiled its drama development slate today and said it will start production this summer on the pilot Horizon, the period genre drama from The Walking Dead producer Gale Anne Hurd that the network pushed in February. The new slate (see the full list below) includes Complications, the latest from Burn Notice‘s Matt Nix; the new Rob Thomas project Blanco County; and works from Doug Liman and David Semel. The news comes on the heels of the network’s newest original series, the Jeff Eastin-created Graceland, joining the summer drama schedule with a premiere set for June 6.

Related: USA Picks Up ‘Sirens’ And ‘Playing House’, Orders Half-Hour Pilot Read More »

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Latest On The Future Of ‘Happy Endings’, ‘Paging Dr. Freed’ And ‘Psych’ At USA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 16, 2013 @ 7:10am PDTTags: Happy Endings, Modern Family, Upfronts, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

Comedy is expected to take center stage at USA Network‘s upfront presentation this afternoon as the cable network touts to advertisers the fall launch of its big off-network acquisition, Modern Family, and unveils its newly picked up original comedy series Sirens and Playing House. The cable network has been getting extra attention from comedy fans in the past week following ABC’s decision last Friday to cancel cult series Happy Endings. Talks between USA and leading Happy Endings producer Sony TV continue. At this point, I hear a pickup appears unlikely but the network is carefully exploring the opportunity to migrate a show with some success on broadcast TV and a dedicated fan base the way ABC’s Cougar Town moved to TBS.

Related: ‘Happy Endings’ Cancelled At ABC, Will USA Step In?

Of its three comedy pilot/presentations it had in consideration, USA picked up two, Sirens and Playing House. The third, Paging Dr. Freed, which was the first one ordered almost two years ago, is still in contention. I hear USA brass liked the pilot for the family medical comedy but thought it felt more like a season finale and didn’t properly introduce the characters. I hear the network approached Paging Dr. Freed creator Michael Feldman and studio Fox 21 about redeveloping the project and writing a new pilot script. If USA likes the new script, I hear it is intent on picking up the project straight to series. The options on the Paging Dr. Freed producers have been extended while those on the cast have lapsed. I hear USA is keen on bringing Annie Potts back if she is available. (Her ABC pilot Murder In Manhattan did not get picked up but is being considered by cable networks.) Read More »

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USA Picks Up Comedy Series ‘Sirens’ And ‘Playing House’, Orders Half-Hour Pilot

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 16, 2013 @ 4:00am PDTTags: Playing House, Sirens, Upfronts, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

Three years after USA Network signaled a move into half-hour comedy with the off-network acquisition of Modern Family and three months before the ABC comedy is to launch on the cable network, USA has greenlighted its first original half-hour comedies in some 15 years: the single-camera Sirens from Denis Leary and Bob Fisher and Playing House, from Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham. Additionally, USA, which is holding its upfront today, has picked up single-camera half-hour comedy pilot Love Is Dead, from writer Zev Borow. USA’s other half-hour pilot, Paging Dr. Freed, is still alive. And USA is in conversations about picking up ABC comedy series Happy Endings.

Sirens and Playing House will premiere in the first quarter of 2014 as companions to Modern Family, which is set to bow on USA on September 24. “With Modern Family joining our lineup in the fall, we can leverage television’s most popular comedy to serve as a powerful launch pad for new originals in this genre,” said USA’s co-president Chris McCumber. Added co-president Jeff Wachtel, “Our new series come from some of the best comedic talent in the business, and reflect USA’s style — with great characters, strong execution and compelling storytelling.” USA ran several half-hour comedies under the network’s old regime in the 1990s, including Weird Science, USA High and Campus Cops, before USA rebuilt its brand as a home of light, character-driven hourlong series over the past decade. Read More »

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‘Happy Endings’ Cancelled At ABC, Will USA Step In?

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday May 10, 2013 @ 5:41pm PDTTags: ABC, Happy Endings, Sony TV, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

As expected, ABC has cancelled Happy Endings after three seasons. But not all is lost for the cult comedy. Sony TV, the leading studio behind the underrated comedy series, had reached out to a couple of networks, including USA, about the possibility of continuing the comedy there … Read More »

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‘Burn Notice’s Upcoming 7th Season To Be Its Last, Creator Matt Nix Developing New Series For USA: Video

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday May 10, 2013 @ 11:00am PDTTags: Burn Notice, Complications, Matt Nix, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

USA Network‘s flagship drama Burn Notice is coming to an end. The upcoming 13-episode Season 7 of the spy series will be its final one (the network makes it official with the … Read More »

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USA Buys Comedy From Writers Jeremy Miller & Dan Cohn, Producer Peter Traugott

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday April 26, 2013 @ 10:15am PDTTags: Jeremy Miller & Dan Cohn, Smother, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

USA Network, Jeremy Miller, Dan Cohn, Peter TraugottUSA Network continues its push in half-hour comedy. The cable network has bought Smother, a project from writers Jeremy Miller & Dan Cohn, Universal TV and Peter Traugott’s studio-based TBD Prods about a 30-year-old man who has three moms after his mother and father both marry other women. When he has to go back to living at home, all three moms take control of his financial, professional and personal life. Miller and Cohn executive produce alongside Traugott and Rachel Kaplan of TBD, Brad Epstein of Panther Films and Margaret Riley of Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Traugott and Riley began working on the idea while Traugott was still at Brillstein, with the project ultimately landing at Uni TV after Traugott set up shop there. Read More »

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Fox News Tops All Cable For 1st Time Since 2005

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Tuesday April 23, 2013 @ 8:37am PDTTags: CNN, Fox News Channel, TV Ratings, USA Network

Fox News Channel’s coverage of the bombing at the Boston Marathon last week propelled the network to the top of the cable rankings for the first time in nearly a decade. In both total day and primetime for the week of April 15-April 21, the News Corp-owned news network pulled ahead of usually top-ranked USA Network. Excluding election coverage last year, the last time Fox News was in the top position was August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. In primetime, FNC garnered 2.874 million viewers on average for the week compared with No. 2 USA’s 2.621 million. CNN also climbed the cable ladder to finish No. 3 with 1.985 million viewers overall on average. History Channel was in fourth with 1.937 million viewers and A&E was fifth with 1.928 million.

Related: Fox News Tops Viewership in Boston Manhunt Capture; CNN No. 1 In Demo Read More »

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USA Network Eyes ‘Happy Endings’ Pickup If Cult Comedy Isn’t Renewed By ABC

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday April 3, 2013 @ 2:19pm PDTTags: ABC, Happy Endings, Sony Pictures TV, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Despite ratings hardship and real and clear danger of cancellation, Happy Endings may live up to its title even if ABC opts not to order a fourth season. I hear that Sony TV, the leading studio behind the underrated comedy series, has quietly reached out to a couple of networks, including USA Network and NBC, about the possibility of continuing the comedy there if ABC does not renew it. I hear USA, which has been looking to break into the half-hour original series space, has expressed interest and has had discussions about picking up Happy Endings in case of a cancellation by ABC.

If the financials can be worked out, a Happy Endings pickup would be fortuitous for USA, which has been actively developing half-hour comedies and has ordered several pilots but has yet to greenlight a half-hour series. USA had been looking to have an original comedy on tap for the fall premiere of its marquee off-network series Modern Family. Happy Endings would be a suitable companion for Modern Family as it already spent two seasons on ABC paired with the Emmy-winning family comedy. Happy Endings did well behind Modern Family, but its fortunes changed this past fall when it was moved to Tuesday to form a comedy block with Don’t Trust The B—- At Apt. 23 in a crowded comedy hour. Despite strong cult following and critical praise, Happy Endings struggled mightily on Tuesday and was recently relocated to Fridays. ABC brass had been strongly supporting the show from Day 1, but they will likely won’t be able to keep the series on broadcast TV at these ratings levels. In a last-ditch effort, the network recently launched a Save The Show-themed promo campaign for Happy Endings‘ move to Friday. The call to arms didn’t help, with the two back-to-back Friday originals drawing a 0.9/3 and a 0.7/3 in adults 18-49, down 25% and 46% from the show’s last Tuesday airings on January 29.

Related: ABC’s Bid To Save ‘Happy Endings’: Video Read More »

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USA Announces ‘Burn Notice’, ‘Suits’ Return Dates & Summer Premieres

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Wednesday April 3, 2013 @ 9:32am PDTTags: Burn Notice, Graceland, Suits, USA Network

USA Network today set a series of return and premiere dates for the summer. Burn Notice will be back for its seventh season on June 6 at 9 PM. The spy drama will be followed that … Read More »

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USA’s ‘Necessary Roughness’ Adds New Regular

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 27, 2013 @ 2:45pm PDTTags: Karissa Lee Staples, Necessary Roughness, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

Karissa Lee StaplesUSA Network‘s Necessary Roughness continues to staff up for the upcoming third season. After booking John Stamos and David Anders for major recurring roles, the series has cast Karissa Lee Staples as a … Read More »

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‘Royal Pains’ Andrew Lenchewski & Michael Rauch Ink New Overall Deals With Universal Cable Prods, Set Up Projects At USA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday March 26, 2013 @ 3:53pm PDTTags: Andrew Lenchewski, Big Deals TV, Michael Rauch, Royal Pains, Universal Cable Productions, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: As production on the fifth season of USA Network hit Royal Pains begins, the series’ executive producers and showrunners Andrew Lenchewski and Michael Rauch have renewed their individual overall deals with the studio behind it, Universal Cable Prods. Under the pacts, Lenchewski and Rauch will continue to oversee the series starring Mark Feuerstein. Additionally, Rauch and Lenchewski each have projects in development at USA.

Rauch will executive produce a family drama, written and co-executive produced by Ken Lin, following two brothers (one an ex-con, the other a small-town cop) who inherit their failing family business and turn it into a multibillion-dollar cult pyramid scheme. As they reunite and re-tie family bonds, they navigate the dangers inherent in selling the most addictive, seductive, and volatile substance in the world: hope. Lenchewski will executive produce and write drama American Confidential, in which a principled Secret Service agent is forced by the White House to cover up secret after secret. The show explores the toll that deception takes on him. UCP will produce with Doug Liman and Dave Bartis’ studio-based pod Hypnotic. Additionally, Lenchewski executive produces previously announced USA half-hour single-camera comedy project Speak American, written/co-exec produced by Benjamin Brand. Read More »

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USA’s ‘Royal Pains’ Adds Francis Conroy For Season 5

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday March 26, 2013 @ 10:30am PDTTags: Ben Shenkman, Frances Conroy, Royal Pains, USA Network

USA NetworkRoyal Pains, which stars Mark Feuerstein as the go-to Hamptons “doctor for hire”, has cast Frances Conroy (American Horror Story, Six Feet Under) in a multi-episode story arc for Season 5 of the USA … Read More »

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Jack Coleman & Stephen Martines Join USA’s ‘Burn Notice’ As Recurring

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday March 15, 2013 @ 4:15pm PDTTags: Burn Notice, USA, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: USA’s Burn Notice is beefing up the cast for the upcoming seventh and potentially final season. Jack Coleman (Heroes) and Stephen Martines (The Closer) … Read More »

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John Stamos Tapped For Season-Long Arc On USA’s ‘Necessary Roughness’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 13, 2013 @ 10:38am PDTTags: John Stamos, Necessary Roughness, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of signing on for the lead in the NBC drama pilot I Am Victor, John Stamos has been tapped for … Read More »

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