NBC and Fox Announce Plans for 2010-11

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDERMonday, May 17, 2010 NBC in 2010-11:8 New Series; Changes on Four Nights Primetime Ratings:Weekend Highlights On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest TV Trivia Time:Upfront Week _______________________________________________________________________ NBC in 2010-11:8 New Series; Changes on Four Nights NBC, the first network to unveil its 2010-11 primetime schedule plans, will introduce eight new series this fall (five dramas, two comedies and one non-scripted hour), with changes impacting four nights of the week. Aggressive is clearly the observation given the also six new entries slated for midseason (and, of course, the absence of ill-fated The Jay Leno Show as a five-night strip). Chuck, one of the many “on the fence” series, has received a reprieve and will remain the Monday night anchor despite its current fourth-place time period status. Freshman dramas The Event and Chase, a new hour from Jerry Bruckheimer, will air from 9-11 p.m. on Monday. Tuesday will remain intact with another two-hour edition of The Biggest Loser and sophomore returnee Parenthood, while Wednesday is a night of crime dramas, anchored by new J.J. Abrams hour Undercovers, followed by relocated Law & Order: SVU and upcoming spin-off Law & Order: Los Angeles. No specific details are available about Law & Order: Los Angeles at press time. Sophomore sitcom Community, which struggled all season anchoring Thursday, will remain in the 8 p.m. slot, followed by relocated 30 Rock, returning The Office and a new comedy called Outsourced, which incorporates the office theme in a very different setting. Capping off Thursday is hour-long romantic themed comedy Love Bites. Parks and Recreation, currently airing at 8:30 p.m., will be pushed back to midseason, as will current Thursday 10 p.m. occupant The Marriage Ref. NBC will open Friday with returning Who Do You Think You Are? sharing the 8 p.m. hour with a new non-scripted hour called School Pride. Dateline will be pared down to an hour and will air at 9 p.m., leading into new drama Outlaw, headlined Jimmy Smits. Encore programming will remain on Saturday, with Sunday Night Football a welcome returnee and one of the few nights NBC is guaranteed ample sampling. Replacing football in midseason will be Dateline at 7 p.m., followed by returning game show Minute to Win It at 8 p.m. and another two-hour edition of The Celebrity Apprentice from 9-11 p.m. Not returning on NBC are dramas Heroes, Mercy, Trauma and 20-year-veteran Law & Order, which will not surpass Gunsmoke as the longest running scripted drama in the history of television. Here is NBC’s fall 2010, with the new shows capped, followed by the new program descriptions. FALL 2010 Monday 8:00 p.m. Chuck 9:00 p.m. THE EVENT10:00 p.m. CHASE Tuesday 8:00 p.m. The Biggest Loser (two hours)10:00 p.m. Parenthood Wednesday 8:00 p.m. UNDERCOVERS 9:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (new time)10:00 p.m. LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES Thursday 8:00 p.m. Community 8:30 p.m. 30 Rock (new time) 9:00 p.m. The Office 9:30 p.m. OUTSOURCED10:00 p.m. LOVE BITES Friday 8:00 p.m. Who Do You Think You Are? / SCHOOL PRIDE 9:00 p.m. Dateline 10:00 p.m. OUTLAW Saturday 8:00 p.m. Encore programming 9:00 p.m. Encore programming10:00 p.m. Encore programming Sunday 7:00 p.m. Football Night in America 8:15 p.m. Sunday Night Football New Program Descriptions Comedy Love BitesReminiscent of classic anthology Love, American Style, hour-long comedy anthology Love Bites features three loosely connected stories of love, sex, dating and marriage in each episode. Becki Newton and Jordana Spiro (My Boys) will anchor each story, which will feature a rotation of guest stars. OutsourcedA customer service manager (Ben Rappaport) in Kansas City is sent to India to train his replacement after his department is outsourced. Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show), Jessica Gower and Rizwan Manji co-star. Friends With Benefits (midseason)Originally developed for ABC, five Chicago-based people in their twenties navigate the difficult, often confusing and hopefully comical world of dating. The ensemble cast includes Patrick J. Adams, Danneel Harris, Jessica Lucas and Ryan Hansen. The Paul Reiser Show (midseason)Mad About You star Paul Reiser headlines this semi-autobiographical look at the former television star dealing with day-to-day life. The ensemble cast includes Amy Landecker, Andrew Daly, Ben Shenkman and Brock Waidmann. Perfect Couples (midseason)Three very different couples struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship and how to maintain it despite the many inherent obstacles. Kyle Howard, Christine Woods, Dave Walton, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Hayes MacArthur and G4 host Olivia Munn star. ---------- Drama Chase A team of U.S. marshals go in search of America’s most dangerous fugitives in this new crime drama from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Kelli Giddish, Cole Hauser, Amaury Nolasco and Rose Rollins are featured in the ensemble cast. The EventAfter an “everyman” (Jason Ritter) investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancé (Sarah Roemer), he inadvertently exposes the biggest cover-up in U.S. history. Blair Underwood (L.A. Law) plays the newly elected President. Law & Order: Los Angeles Mirroring NCIS, which successful morphed a spin-off in Los Angeles, Tinsel Town is the setting for this new spin-off from Law & Order, which will not be returning after its historic 20-season run. OutlawJimmy Smits returns to primetime as a Supreme Court justice who abruptly quits his job and opens a private practice, determined to represent “the little guy” and use his inside knowledge to take on the biggest cases. Jesse Bradford (West Wing), Carly Pope (24), Ellen Woglom (Californication)and David Ramsey (Dexter) also star. Undercovers A so-called typical married couple (Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who met when they worked for the CIA as spies are reinstated to that world after their fellow spy and friend (Carter MacIntyre) goes missing in this new drama from J.J. Abrams. Gerald McRaney co-stars. The Cape (midseason)A former cop (David Lyons) who gets framed and loses his job and reputation turns himself into a masked super hero called “The Cape,” as he attempts to stop crime, prove his innocence and win back his son. Harry’s Law (midseason)From David E. Kelley, a grumpy ex-patent lawyer (Kathy Bates), a young man trying to figure out who he is (Aml Ameen) and a man recently fired from his job as a high school teacher set-up a law practice in a rundown shoe store. ---------- Non-Scripted School PrideCameras will follow students, teachers and parents as they motivate their community to renovate their school. America’s Next Great Restaurant (midseason)Contestants compete to open a new restaurant chain in three cities across America in this new reality/competition featuring celebrity chef Bobby Flay. ______________________________________________________________________________ Fox in 2010-11:3 New Series; Changes on Four Nights Fox, which boldly announced both its fall 2010 and midseason 2011 plans, will introduce just three new series this fall: drama Lonestar and live action sitcoms Raising Hope and Running Wilde. Lonestar, the story of a con man juggling two lives and two wives in Texas, will air out of House on Monday, while Raising Hope and Running Wilde will launch in the Tuesday 9 p.m. hour out of relocated Glee. This is the first time in the network’s history that Fox will open a fall season with comedies from 9-10 p.m. on Tuesday. Wednesday will feature returning drama Lie To Me at 8 p.m., leading into time period warmer Hell’s Kitchen; while it is back to square one on troubled Friday care of relocated sophomore returnees Human Target and The Good Guys, which officially launches this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. Given there are no rating results to-date for The Good Guys, snagging a spot of the fall schedule for an unproven summer entry is surprising. Even so, you have to give Fox credit for not abandoning Friday. Thursday’s combination of Bones and Fringe; perennial Saturday occupants Cops and America’s Most Wanted; and Sunday’s two-hour animation block out of NFL post-game The OT will remain intact. Missing from the fall schedule -- a wise move -- is dance/competition So You Think You Can Dance, which will stick to the summer only. Also not returning on Fox are sitcoms ‘Til Death and Sons of Tuscon and dramas 24 and Past Life. Without official rating results for the new fall schedule, announcing plans in midseason is always temporary, no doubt. But Fox has four more new series slated after January: Chicago-based crime drama Ride-Along, live action sitcom Mixed Signals, new animated Sunday entry Bob’s Burgers, and a new science fiction entry from Steven Spielberg called Terra Nova. Ride-Along is expected to air in the Monday 9 p.m. time period in place of Lonestar; Mixed Signals, the story of three longtime friends, is slated for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. in place of Running Wilde (and out of revamped American Idol); and Bob’s Burgers will follow The Simpsons at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Fall occupant The Cleveland Show will move to 9:30 p.m. in place of American Dad, which will air Sundays at 7:30 p.m. out of encore telecasts of The Simpsons. At press time, there is no official time period for Terra Nova. To make room for American Idol, Glee will move to Wednesday at 9 p.m. in midseason (out of the live American Idol Results Show), while Kitchen Nightmares will return to the Friday 9 p.m. hour in place of The Good Guys. Fox has also announced that Glee will air following Super Bowl XLV on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. Here is Fox’s fall 2010 and midseason 2011 schedules, with the new shows capped, followed by the new program descriptions. FALL 2010 Monday 8:00 p.m. House 9:00 p.m. LONESTAR Tuesday 8:00 p.m. Glee (new time) 9:00 p.m. RAISING HOPE 9:30 p.m. RUNNING WILDE Wednesday 8:00 p.m. Lie To Me (new day and time) 9:00 p.m. Hell’s Kitchen (new day) Thursday 8:00 p.m. Bones 9:00 p.m. Fringe Friday 8:00 p.m. Human Target (new day) 9:00 p.m. The Good Guys (new day) Saturday 8:00 p.m. Cops 9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted Sunday 7:00 p.m. The OT 8:00 p.m. The Simpsons 8:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show 9:00 p.m. Family Guy 9:30 p.m. American Dad --------------- Midseason Monday 8:00 p.m. House 9:00 p.m. Lonestar / RIDE-ALONG Tuesday 8:00 p.m. American Idol 9:30 p.m. Running Wilde / MIXED SIGNALS Wednesday 8:00 p.m. Raising Hope (new day and time) 8:30 p.m. American Idol Results Show 9:00 p.m. Glee (new day and time) Thursday 8:00 p.m. Bones 9:00 p.m. Fringe Friday 8:00 p.m. Human Target 9:00 p.m. Kitchen Nightmares Saturday 8:00 p.m. Cops 9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted Sunday 7:00 p.m. The Simpsons (R) 7:30 p.m. American Dad 8:00 p.m. The Simpsons 8:30 p.m. BOB’S BURGERS 9:00 p.m. Family Guy 9:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show (new time) New Program Descriptions Comedies Raising HopeA 25-year-old man (Lucas Neff) winds up having to raise an infant with the help of his quirky family (including multiple Emmy winner and recent Dancing With the Stars contestant Cloris Leachman as “Maw Maw).” Running Wilde A rich Beverly Hills jerk (Arrested Development’s Will Arnett) falls in love with a charitable environmentalist (Felicity star Keri Russell) who can’t stand his lifestyle or values. Thirteen episodes have been ordered. Bob’s Burgers (midseason)A third generation restaurateur running a hamburger joint, his nervous wife and their three underachieving children is the focus of this new animated sitcom. Mixed Signals (midseason)Three longtime friends (Kris Marshall, Nelson Franklin and Alexandra Breckenridge) and their attempts to balance their relationships with their need for freedom is the focus. Dramas Lone Star A con artist (Jimmy Wolk) juggles two lives in two Texas cities with two different women (Adrianne Palicki and Eloise Mumford) who do not know each other exist. Academy Award winner Jon Voight is featured in the ensemble cast. Ride-Along (midseason)Set in Chicago, this crime drama will follow three sets of law enforcement officers including uniformed beat cops and the female chief of police. Jennifer Beals, Billy Lush, Delroy Lindo, Devin Kelley, Jason Clarke, Matt Lauria and Todd Williams star. Terra Nova (midseason)An ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as part of an experiment to save the human race is the focus of this new science fiction drama from executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga and David Fury. __________________________________________________________________________ Prime-Time Ratings:Weekend Highlights Friday 5/14/10Note: The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data). HH Rtg/ShrCBS 4.1/ 8ABC 3.8/ 7NBC 3.4/ 7Fox 2.0/ 4CW 1.1/ 2 -Total Viewers:CBS: 6.19 million, ABC: 5.66, NBC: 5.09, Fox: 3.33, CW: 1.70 -Adults 18-49:ABC: 1.7 rating/6 share, CBS: 1.4/ 5, NBC: 1.3/ 5, Fox: 1.2/ 5, CW: 0.7/ 3 -------------------- Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 30 percent at this same point last year to approximately 36 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted. ---------- -Friday’s Winners:Nothing -Friday’s Losers (excluding repeats):Wife Swap (ABC), Friday Night Lights (NBC), Smallville (CW), Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), Miami Medical (CBS) ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:It was a Friday of typical low-rated leadership, with CBS the most-watched network (at just over 6-million viewers) and ABC No. 1 among adults 18-49 (at an average 1.7 rating). CBS, which unveils its fall 2010 line-up on Wednesday, is likely to renew only one of its Friday dramas, which performed as follows: CBS/Friday8:00 p.m. – Ghost WhispererViewers: 6.43 million (#1), A18-49: 1.5/ 6 (#1) 9:00 p.m. – MediumViewers: 6.22 million (#1), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2t) 10:00 p.m. – Miami MedicalViewers: 5.93 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#3) Most likely to be canceled: Miami Medical, which has performed considerably worse than former occupant Numb3rs. ABC had nothing unusual to report, which is not a positive, with its combination of Wife Swap (Viewers: #2, 4.32 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.3/ 5), Primetime: What Would You Do? (Viewers: #2, 6.03 million; A18-49: #1, 1.8/ 6) and veteran 20/20 (Viewers: #1, 6.64 million; A18-49: #1, 1.8/ 6). Expect changes on ABC from 8-10 p.m. on Friday next season. NBC opened with bland Friday Night Lights (Viewers: #3, 3.97 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.3/ 5 at 8 p.m.), followed by another two-hour edition of Dateline, which averaged 5.65 million viewers and a 1.4/ 5 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown for Dateline: Dateline (NBC)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.73 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#4)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 5.73 million (#3), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#4)10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 5.98 million (#2), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2)10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 6.16 million (#2), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2) One of NBC’s priorities for next season is, needless to say, a Friday 8 p.m. anchor. Elsewhere, Fox populated the evening with a repeat of House (Viewers: #4, 3.06 million; A18-49: #4t, 1.0/ 4) and Kitchen Nightmares (Viewers: #4, 3.61 million; A18-49: #2t, 1.5/ 4). And The CW aired the season-finale of Smallville (Viewers: #5, 2.45 million; A18-49: #4t, 1.0/ 4) and a repeat of overused America’s Next Top Model (Viewers: #5, 956,000; A18-49: #5, 0.4/ 1). Expect changes aplenty on Friday next season. Thankfully, the broadcast networks are not giving up…yet. Source: Nielsen Media Research data -------------------- Saturday 5/15/10Note: The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data). HH Rtg/Shr Fox 2.8/ 6NBC 2.5/ 5ABC 2.4/ 5CBS 2.3/ 4 -Total Viewers:Fox: 4.36 million, ABC: 3.60, CBS: 3.58, NBC: 3.55 -Adults 18-49:Fox: 1.3 rating/5 share, CBS: 0.9/ 4, ABC and NBC: 0.8/ 3 each --------------- Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 30 percent at this same point last year to approximately 36 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted. --------------- -Saturday’s Winners: Nothing -Saturday’s Losers (excluding repeats):Movie: The Bourne Ultimatum (CBS), 48 Hours Mystery (CBS) and the night overall, as usual. ---------- -Ratings Breakdown:Fox finished first on this third Saturday in May with its perennial combination of Cops (Viewers: #1, 4.20 million; A18-49: #1, 1.3 rating/5 share) and America’s Most Wanted (Viewers: #1, 4.53 million; A18-49: #1, 1.3/ 5). But just 4.36 million viewers and a 1.3/ 5 in the demo, on average, for the “winning” network is very alarming, no doubt. ABC opened the evening with repeat theatrical Just Like Heaven, which was barely on the charts with an average 3.63 million viewers and a 0.9/ 4 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown: Movie: Just Like Heaven (ABC)8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.06 million (#2), A18-49: 0.7/ 3 (#2)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.34 million (#2), A18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#3)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.82 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#3)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 4.32 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#2t) Next on ABC was a repeat of Castle at a third-place finish in both total viewers (3.53 million) and adults 18-49 (0.8/ 3) at 10 p.m. NBC aired repeats of Parenthood (Viewers: #4, 2.06 million; A18-49: #4, 0.5/ 2), canceled Law & Order (Viewers: #4, 3.73 million; A18-49: #4,0.8/ 3) and Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #1, 4.86 million; A18-49: #1, 1.2/ 4). And CBS closed the night with theatrical The Bourne Ultimatum (Viewers: 3.57 million; A18-49: 0.9/ 4 from 8-10:30 p.m.) and a later edition of 48 Hours Mystery, which averaged 3.66 million viewers (#2) and a 0.9/ 3 in the demo (#2) in the 10:30 p.m. half hour. (Results for the 11 p.m. half-hour are not available). Here are the half-hour results for The Bourne Ultimatum. Movie: The Bourne Ultimatum (CBS)8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 2.69 million (#3), A18-49: 0.6/ 3 (#3)8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.30 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#2)9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.90 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#2)9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.96 million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#2t)10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.98 million (#2), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#2) The sad reality of Saturday is there is no reason to believe the networks will step up to the plate next season, or beyond. Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat) ------------------------- Sunday 5/16/10 HH Rtg/Shr CBS 7.7/13ABC 6.7/11NBC 4.4/ 7Fox 3.4/ 6 ---------- -Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Sunday, May 17, 2009):CBS: +20, NBC: +19, Fox: +10, ABC: - 3 ---------- Note: The fast affiliate results for Sunday will be posted at PIFeedback.com by 12 p.m. ET. Go to the website, click on Ratings Box (the first category), then Last Night’s Results, and Sunday, May 16, 2010. ---------- -Yesterday’s Winners:60 Minutes (CBS), Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (CBS), Desperate Housewives (ABC), Family Guy (Fox), Brothers & Sisters (ABC) -Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats): The 58th Annual Miss USA Pageant (NBC), ‘Til Death (Fox) -----------Ratings Breakdown:CBS led this third Sunday in May (and 18th night of the May sweeps) with its combination of granddaddy 60 Minutes (#1: 8.3 rating/15 share), the two-hour season finale of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (7.9/12 from 8-10 p.m.) and the live Survivor reunion show (#2: 6.4/10 at 10 p.m.). Compared to the season-finale of Survivor: Tocantins on the year-ago evening (6.2/10 on May 17, 2009), this was an improvement of a considerable 27 percent. Take a look at the half-hour breakdown: Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (CBS)8:00 p.m.: 7.9/13 (#1)8:30 p.m.: 7.7/12 (#1)9:00 p.m.: 8.1/12 (#2)9:30 p.m.: 7.9/12 (#2) SPOILER ALERT: If you have not seen the season-finale of Survivor yet, stop reading now. But I applaud Mark Burnett and company for the best season to-date and Sandra Diaz-Twine for becoming the first two-time Survivor winner. As predicted, villain Russell received no votes, while flirty Parvati managed to snag three. After two seasons of Russell completely dominating the airtime, it will be nice to see a new set of faces next season. Over at ABC, it was a night of season-finales as follows, including an above-average performance for Brothers & Sisters at 10 p.m. ABC/Sunday7:00 p.m. – America’s Funniest Home Videos: 4.5/ 8 (#2)8:00 p.m. – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: 6.0/10 (#2)9:00 p.m. – Desperate Housewives: 9.2/14 (#2)10:00 p.m. – Brothers & Sisters: 7.3/12 (#1) Coming up on ABC this Sunday: the series finale of Lost. NBC got minimal mileage out of The 58th Annual Miss USA Pageant (3.9/ 7 from 7-9 p.m. – did you hear that, Donald Trump?), while Celebrity Apprentice took a backseat to CBS’ competing Survivor with a 4.9/ 8 in the overnights from 9-11 p.m. Here are the half-hour breakdowns for both NBC entries: The 58th Annual Miss USA Pageant (NBC)7:00 p.m.: 3.0/ 6 (#3)7:30 p.m.: 3.5/ 6 (#3)8:00 p.m.: 4.3/ 7 (#3)8:30 p.m.: 4.9/ 7 (#3) The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)9:00 p.m.: 4.9/ 7 (#4)9:30 p.m.: 5.0/ 8 (#3)10:00 p.m.: 4.7/ 7 (#3)10:30 p.m.: 5.0/ 8 (#3) Fox, which is never dependent on the overnights, performed as follows: Fox/Sunday7:00 p.m. – ‘Til Death: 1.5/ 3 (#4)7:30 p.m. – The Simpsons R: 2.0/ 4 (#4)8:00 p.m. – The Simpsons: 4.1/ 7 (#4)8:30 p.m. – The Cleveland Show: 3.7/ 6 (#4)9:00 p.m. – Family Guy: 5.0/ 8 (#3)9:30 p.m. – American Dad: 3.8/ 6 (#4) As always, Family Guy was the standout. Source: Nielsen Media Research data____________________________________________________________________________ Ratings Box:What’s Hot/What’s Not Source: Nielsen Media Research data____________________________________________________________________________ On the Air Tonight:Prime-Time Programming Options Monday 5/17/10Night 19 of the May 2010 Sweeps ABC: 8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars (90 minutes) 9:30 p.m. Romantically Challenged 10:00 p.m. Castle (season finale) CBS:8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother 8:30 p.m. Rules of Engagement 9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men 9:30 p.m. The Big Bang Theory 10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami NBC: 8:00 p.m. Chuck 9:00 p.m. Law & Order (two hours) Fox: 8:00 p.m. House (season finale) 9:00 p.m. 24 CW: 8:00 p.m. One Tree Hill (season or series finale) 9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (season finale) _____________________________________________________________________ TV Tidbits:Notes of Interest -Network Upfront Presentation Week:Fasten your seatbelts folks, as the broadcast networks, plus Turner Entertainment unveil their programming plans for 2010-11 as follows this week: NBC – Monday 11 a.m.: Hilton HotelFox – Monday 4 p.m.: The New Beacon TheatreABC – Tuesday 4 p.m.: Avery Fisher HallTurner – Wednesday 10 a.m.: The Hammerstein BallroomCBS – Wednesday 4 p.m.: Carnegie Hall The CW – Thursday 11 a.m.: Madison Square Garden -The Big Bang Theory Heads to Off-Network:Hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, primetime’s top-rated comedy among adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, has snagged its first set of time period clearances for its off-network launch in fall 2011. The Fox-owned stations The Fox-owned stations have acquired the exclusive off-network broadcast television rights in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Orlando and Baltimore. On cable, TBS will be the exclusive provider, also beginning in fall 2011. ---------- -ABC Swings the Axe:ABC, which unveils its new programming plans tomorrow, is clearing its schedule for the upcoming freshman class. Not returning next season will be sitcoms Scrubs, Better Off Ted and the recently introduced Romantically Challenged; and drama FlashForward, which never rebounded from its ill-fated three month hiatus. As reported on Friday, the remake of V, currently the last-place option in the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour, has received an unexpected reprieve. -ABC Summer Series Premiere Date Changes:ABC has changed the series/season premiere dates for upcoming summer entries Downfall, Wipeout and Shaq Vs. New game show Downfall will bow on Tuesday, June 22 at 9 p.m. ET, leading out of the season-premiere of Wipeout at 9 p.m. ET. Shaq Vs., featuring Shaquille O’Neal as he faces off against top athletes in their respective fields opens season two on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 9 p.m. ET. -Also at ABC:The network has picked up two additional dramas for the 2010-11 season: Body of Proof and Off the Map. Body of Proof features a brilliant neurosurgeon (Dana Delany) who shifts to solving murders after her career is cut short. And Off the Map focuses on three medical residents (Caroline Dhavernas, Mamie Gummer and Enrique Murciano) who decide to leave the comforts of the United States to work at a barely staffed medical clinic in a small South American town. ______________________________________________________________________ TV Trivia Time:Upfront Week Which one of the following Academy Award winning actresses will be headlining a new NBC drama next season? Kathy BatesJane FondaMarcia Gay Harden Anjelica Huston Marisa Tomei The answer to Friday’s question… What was the name of the dog on sitcom Mad About You? BernieGeorgeIrving Marvin Murray Is: e) Murray. All together now… Tell me why, I love you like I do, Tell me who, Can stop my heart as much as you, Tell me all your secrets and I'll tell you most of mine, They say nobody's perfect but it is really true this time, I don't have the answers, And I don't have a plan, All I have is you, So darling help me understand, What we do, You can whisper in my ear, Where we go, who knows what happens after here, Let's take each other's hands, As we jump into the final frontier, I'm mad about you, I'm mad about you, so mad about you... -Current kudos goes to:Suzanne Ackley, Mark Amato, Michelle Amundson, Pauline Aridas, Janice Barney, Michelle Yarborough-Bauer, Bert Benoliel, Lauren Bergman, Barbara Berman, Carolyn Bisson, Gerry Bixenspan, Kimay Bloch, Barbara Bloomfield, Mavis Chow, Kay Copeland, Audrey Davis, Reid Davis, Phyllis Epstein, Navid Falahpour, John Ferlazzo, Paul Fox, Michael Fruchtman, Bob Goldman, Maureen Goldman, Michael Grewe, Brad Hight, Sherry Hirsh, Melissa Hodgdon, Heidi Hoffmeister, Bob Ingersoll, Tony Intelisano, Greg Janover, Ken Jobe, Mike Joliffe, Deb Kainer, Kathryn Kieser, Tom Kilgallon, Mary Kinoshita, Irene Kirschner, Kristopher Koller, Synda Kollman, Andi Kupersmith, Steve Kurtzer, Roy Laurie, Rick Locke, Michael Lynch, Keith Marder, Tricia McKee, Debbie Mirr, Allen Moore, Michael Murphy, Ken Penney, Sandra Pettway, Greg Phelan, Walter Pophin, Amy Preisendefer, Gordon Purcell, Michael Ratliffe, Arthur Reinstein, Con Rigg, Colleen Roth, Harley David Rubin, David Ruckman, Judy Schrader, Russell Schwartz, Hakimah Shah, Kristen Signore, Susan Rogers, Mary Ryan, Neal Sabin, Tracy Speed, Michelle Stanton, Bruce Starin, Julie Stowell, Julie Syers, Margaret Thomas, Trenna Underhill, Meredith Wayne, Myndi Weinraub, Tammy Wiard, David Williams, Jeanne Yonkers, Ted Zawislak

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NBC and Fox Announce Plans for 2010-11

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