Verne Gay of Newsday Writes About DVR Playback Numbers

http://www.newsday.com/share/tv-zone-1.811968/modern-\family-sets-dvr-playback-record-1.3414607?qr=1

'Modern Family' sets DVR playback record

Wednesday December 28, 2011 9:56 AM
By Verne Gay

Photo credit: ABC

Sure it's a catatonic week in TV, but under any circumstances, this merits a note: the Dec. 7 original telecast of "Modern Family" scored what ABC is calling an industry record -- 5 million views on DVR playback.

This, as fans will recall, was the Christmas episode (when the fam thought of spending Chirstmas together a week earlier) titled "Christmas Express."

Adding the 5 million views to the so-called "in pattern" viewership of 12 million gave that episode a total of 17 million viewers. Yes, that's a huge number.

The DVR numbers are now a vital part of industry measurement and are added to a show's total after Nielsen tabulates 'em -- usually takes at least a week -- so that all playbacks can be captured and added to a so-called "live-plus"' figure.

Advertisers don't particularly like the live-plus-7 because they assume that their ads have been fast-forwarded (great assumption) but it's still a figure that can mean the difference between life and death for a more modestly rated series, like "Fringe," for example, which gets excellent playback too.

The Chew Does Well Leading Up to Christmas

For those still following ABC's The Chew vs. All My Children, last week marked the show's most watched week on record.  It was the third consecutive week of growth and surpassed AMC's year-ago weekly average by 10% (2.59 million vs. 2.36 million.


Who is watching?  I couldn't tell you.  I find the program unwatchable with a rag-tag cast of characters who don't mesh with each other or the audience and, who, quite frankly, have nothing interesting to say.

Week of 9/26	Week of 10/3	Week of 10/10	Week of 10/17	Week of 10/24	Week of 11/21	Week of 11/28	Week of 12/5	Week of 12/12	Week of 12/19
2.10	1.78	1.86	1.94	2.15	2.5	2.3	2.38	2.5	2.59

NBC's Chuck Todd Interviews Newt Gingrich

You may be interested in watching Chuck Todd's interview with Newt Gingrich, which was shown the other night on NBC Nightly News.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Failures and Successes of the TV Season: What's Up and What's Down

As the year closes, let's take a look at which shows worked and which didn't during the first half of the 2011-2012 season.

Despite initial reviews, some exceeded initial impressions while others started off well and waned.  Still others, though highly anticipated (and promoted), failed miserably.

First the bad news, led by ABC and NBC, both of which are having a particularly bad year.

The Bombs:

Pan Am, ABC (canceled)
Charlie's Angels, ABC (canceled)
Man Up, ABC (canceled)
Happy Endings, ABC
Suburgatory, ABC
Two and a Half Men, CBS
Up All Night, NBC
Playboy Club, NBC (canceled)
Prime Suspect, NBC (canceled)
Free Agents, NBC (canceled)

ABC and NBC share the same problem, by the way.  Their executives are picking programs with characters written as total jerks.  The comedy and drama fall flat when you don't have any respect for the leads.   

Suburgatory is an example.  In the show, a father moves his teenaged daughter from the city to the suburbs to get her away from negative influences.  But the father, himself, is the problem.  He's a jerk who treats women poorly and leaves his unlikable daughter to clean up his messes. 

Why do the network suits think viewers will keep coming back for that?

Take the successful shows, by contrast:

Two Broke Girls, CBS
Whitney, NBC
The Office, NBC
Rules of Engagement, CBS
Blue Bloods, CBS
NCIS, CBS
NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS
Last Man Standing, ABC

All of the above have struggling characters who may be imperfect, but they are essentially good and likeable.  Take Two Broke Girls.  The women are flawed, but they always do the right thing, even if it costs them.  Much of the humor, in fact, comes from their ability to make miscreants look like morons.  Now that's funny.

There are some mediocre shows that fall between the two categories, of course.  In my book, these include New Girl (doing well, but a little too silly), The Office (finding its way without Steve Carell), Parks and Recreation (stagnant after a couple of seasons), and some of the dramas, like Rizzoli & Isles, Covert Affairs and Body of Proof.  These are pretty good, but not up there with the best.

At the top of the heap, are some older shows that are still going strong - and I can't say enough about these.  They are well-written with the strongest characters, the best acting and superior direction.  They are:

The Closer, TNT
Modern Family, ABC
The Middle, ABC
The Good Wife, CBS
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
White Collar, USA
Royal Pains, USA

Here's to a New Year with more TV programs in the best category and fewer bombs.  With programs like 30 Rock, Cougar Town and Necessary Roughness coming back to the schedule, it may be a fun winter.  Cheers!

Ratings for The Chew on ABC: Week of 12/12

Sorry, All My Children fans.  Ratings for the beloved program's replacement, The Chew, rose again last week, but just slightly.  There were 2.5 million viewers, up from 2.38 million and 2.3 million during the previous two weeks when there was a dip.  

The increase is probably due to all the cooking viewers are doing, or want to do, during the holidays.  Experts are predicting this program about food with some quirky hosts, will fail when America's season of entertaining is over.

Here are the week-to-week numbers:

Week of 9/26	Week of 10/3	Week of 10/10	Week of 10/17	Week of 10/24	Week of 11/21	Week of 11/28	Week of 12/5	Week of 12/12
2.10	1.78	1.86	1.94	2.15	2.5	2.3	2.38	2.5

Kelly Ripa Keeping the Ratings Up

Ripa with Jerry Seinfeld.

You have to give Kelly Ripa credit. In 2001, she filled the shoes of Kathie Lee Gifford and moved into the co-host's seat on Live!, endearing herself both to the show's longtime host, Regis Philbin, and to audiences. 

Through the years, the ratings have remained high.  Ripa, 41, succeeded at doing the show with Regis and with numerous co-hosts who filled in for him at least every Friday, in addition to some Thursdays and many vacation weeks. 

Now, she's in the main host's seat, doing the show with a revolving troupe of men as the show's parent company, Disney, searches for someone to replace Reege permanently. 

Believe me, it's no small task to have to adapt to a new co-host every few days, to conform with different conversational styles and to be up on topics each new person is able to address, topics that also have to be entertaining to the audience. In fact, it must be exhausting. 

In my opinion, Kelly Ripa should receive tremendous accolades, especially now that The New York Times is reporting the latest ratings show Live! has become even stronger since Regis Philbin's departure last month.

The numbers have been better than they were last year at this same time. In fact, Live is up 12% among all viewers and 14% among women, 25-54, the show's target audience. 

True, some pretty high profile guest stars have filled in, like Jerry Seinfeld and Josh Groban, but through it all Kelly Ripa has been there carrying the ball. 

This woman deserves an award for sure.  She brings a level of enthusiasm and work ethic to her job and makes it look like child's play.  Ripa is a consummate professional with just enough ego to be entertaining, but not so much as to usurp those around her.  She allows others to shine.

Ripa, married to an actor with three children, has remained above the fray with regard to the gossip columns.  

Finally, she's pretty funny and good off the cuff, which is what her job is all about. 

Good luck, Kelly. I hope they find you someone to work with who is funny, talented and professional, someone with whom you can work comfortably, to enable your success to continue.  You deserve it!

Greetings of the Season

From TV Takes All and the DJC Communications family to all our readers...

Hugh Jackman, Mary Tyler Moore and More to Fete Betty White on Her 90th Birthday

White with Jimmy Fallon

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars -- including Mary Tyler Moore, Hugh Jackman, Jay Leno, Amy Poehler and Carol Burnett -- will celebrate Betty White’s 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America’s Golden Girl Monday, January 16 (8-9:30 p.m. ET) on NBC.

White, who is white hot with the TV Land show, Hot in Cleveland, and a new NBC hidden camera show, Betty White's Off Their Rockers, will be feted by co-stars Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Mallick and Jane Leeves, her Mary Tyler Moore co-stars Ed Asner, Valerie Harper and Gavin MacLeod and others, including , William Shatner, Joel McHale, Hugh Jackman, Jane Leno, Amy Poehler and Carol Burnett.  (She is the sole surviving member of the Golden Girls cast.)

The special, taping at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, will include special musical performances, surprise appearances and comedy marking the star's six-decade career in show business. White will take the stage to share some memories and give thanks to those who've honoring her.

Immediately following the birthday special will be a sneak preview of Off Their Rockers.

White uttered her first broadcasting words on the radio in 1947.  She has since been featured on numerous game shows (with her late husband Allen Ludden), on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and, now, Hot In Cleveland.  A seven-time Emmy Award winner, she has also been a famously devoted animal rights activist.

Off Their Rockers will feature, according to NBC, "sassy septuagenarians who are hip, sexy...sent to the streets to pull shockingly hilarious pranks on the younger generation."

Ratings for ABC's The Chew - Week of December 5th

The daytime ratings are in the for the week of December 5th.  For those following The Chew, it is beating last year's same-week ratings for All My Children, but not in the important demographics of Women 18-49, 25-54 and 18-34 - and those numbers are important to the network.  Experts are predicting that matters will be worse when One Life to Live departs in January.

Here are the overall ratings for The Chew from its premiere week, but we're now omitting some of the middle weeks because of space.

Week of 9/26	Week of 10/3	Week of 10/10	Week of 10/17	Week of 10/24	Week of 11/21	Week of 11/28	Week of 12/5
2.10	1.78	1.86	1.94	2.15	2.5	2.3	2.38

Russell Brand to Host Late-Night "News" Show

This guy, unvarnished and
unscripted? OMG

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart may be looking over their shoulders today.

FX announced that it has signed a deal with crazy comedian Russell Brand for six half-hour unscripted late night programs to debut next spring.

According to FX, "these will feature Brand’s unvarnished, unfiltered take on current events, politics and pop culture."  

I can't imagine what an "unvarnished, unfiltered" Russell Brand is like.  I blush just thinking about it.

The programs will be shot in front of a live audience and the format will draw heavily on "interaction with that audience."

“I am so excited I'm on the point of climax; in fact I will put the "O" into FX, which spells FOX, which is actually the channel's real name,” said Brand. “That's the only thing that worries me about all this to be honest. At least I'll be able to have a Christmas drink with Bill O'Reilly.”

The series will be produced by FX Productions in association with Branded Films (Brand's company) and Dakota Films.

Brand began his career doing stand-up in the UK and launched his first nationwide tour, Shame, in 2006; the show was released on DVD as Russell Brand: Live. In 2009, he toured the U.S. with Russell Brand: Scandalous. On the big screen, Brand is best known for his role as rocker ‘Aldous Snow’ in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.  His other film credits include Disney's hit, Bedtime Stories and the remake of Arthur (which marked Brand’s first role as a producer) and he lent his voice to the animated films Hop and Despicable Me.

Brand has written two books, My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs and Stand-Up, which was on The New York Times best-seller list for five weeks in a row, and the follow up, Booky Wook 2: This Time It’s Personal.

Golden Globes 2012 Announced

Woody Harrelson made the announcements.

The Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning.  The stand-outs in the television category are Homeland (Showtime), Boardwalk Empire (HBO) and Modern Family (ABC).

Some newcomers to the acting nominations are Callie Thorne of Necessary Roughness (USA) and Zooey Deschanel of New Girl (FOX).

Surprisingly, Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory (CBS), last year’s winner, was not nominated, but his co-star, Johnny Galecki, was.

The Golden Globes will be broadcast on Sunday, January 15^th on NBC, beginning at 8 p.m.

Here’s the full list of Television nominees:

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)
Twentieth Century Fox Television
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
BOSS (STARZ)
Lionsgate Television in association with Grammnet NH Productions, Roya Productions and Old Friends Productions
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
Bighead, Littlehead, 360 Television, Grok and Generator Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)
SHOWTIME Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

CLAIRE DANES

HOMELAND

1.  

MIREILLE ENOS

THE KILLING

2.  

JULIANNA MARGULIES

THE GOOD WIFE

3.  

MADELEINE STOWE

REVENGE

4.  

CALLIE THORNE

NECESSARY ROUGHNESS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

STEVE BUSCEMI

BOARDWALK EMPIRE

1.  

BRYAN CRANSTON

BREAKING BAD

2.  

KELSEY GRAMMER

BOSS

3.  

JEREMY IRONS

THE BORGIAS

4.  

DAMIAN LEWIS

HOMELAND

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

ENLIGHTENED (HBO)
Ripcord Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
EPISODES (SHOWTIME)
SHOWTIME Presents, Hat Trick Productions, Crane Klarik Productions
GLEE (FOX)
Ryan Murphy Television in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
NEW GIRL FOX
Chernin Entertainment in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

LAURA DERN

ENLIGHTENED

1.  

ZOOEY DESCHANEL

NEW GIRL

2.  

TINA FEY

30 ROCK

3.  

LAURA LINNEY

THE BIG C

4.  

AMY POEHLER

PARKS AND RECREATION

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

ALEC BALDWIN

30 ROCK

1.  

DAVID DUCHOVNY

CALIFORNICATION

2.  

JOHNNY GALECKI

THE BIG BANG THEORY

3.  

THOMAS JANE

HUNG

4.  

MATT LEBLANC

EPISODES

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

CINEMA VERITE (HBO)
A Pariah Production in association with HBO Films
DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE) (PBS)
A Carnival/Masterpiece Co-production
THE HOUR (BBC AMERICA)
Kudos Film and Television/BBC America co-production.
MILDRED PIERCE (HBO)
A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
TOO BIG TO FAIL (HBO)
A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

ROMOLA GARAI

THE HOUR

1.  

DIANE LANE

CINEMA VERITE

2.  

ELIZABETH MCGOVERN

DOWNTON ABBEY

3.  

EMILY WATSON

APPROPRIATE ADULT

4.  

KATE WINSLET

MILDRED PIERCE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

HUGH BONNEVILLE

DOWNTON ABBEY

1.  

IDRIS ELBA

LUTHER

2.  

WILLIAM HURT

TOO BIG TO FAIL

3.  

BILL NIGHY

PAGE EIGHT (MASTERPIECE)

4.  

DOMINIC WEST

THE HOUR

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

JESSICA LANGE

AMERICAN HORROR STORY

1.  

KELLY MACDONALD

BOARDWALK EMPIRE

2.  

MAGGIE SMITH

DOWNTON ABBEY

3.  

SOFIA VERGARA

MODERN FAMILY

4.  

EVAN RACHEL WOOD

MILDRED PIERCE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

PETER DINKLAGE

GAME OF THRONES

1.  

PAUL GIAMATTI

TOO BIG TO FAIL

2.  

GUY PEARCE

MILDRED PIERCE

3.  

TIM ROBBINS

CINEMA VERITE

4.  

ERIC STONESTREET

MODERN FAMILY