Comments on: CBS Announces Mid-Season Programming Plans, Flashpoint To Air 9pm Fridays

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:17:17 +0000

Flashpoint should get a lot of rope in that timeslot. Its low cost to CBS will likely help it also… just as long as Hugh Dillon doesn’t sing again x,x

By: clutz12001

clutz12001 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:47:59 +0000

CBS has good business strategy with the “Flashpoint” Friday slot, IMO. They threw a bunch of stuff at the Tuesdays at 10 timeslot until something stuck (WAT was a long-established show, and viewers apparently stuck with it). Now they’re trying the “what sticks?” approach with Fridays at 9. Close to Home partially stuck, but I guess it lost steam? Moonlight and the Ex-List didn’t stick as well as they’d hoped, so they’ll keep trying. And as long as they’re experimenting, the Canadian co-production is a good option costwise.

This is business strategy, not always in alignment with “keep TV viewers happy” strategy. Doing right by any show’s fans is an entirely different story…

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:39:04 +0000

Flashpoint wasn’t doing great on Fridays, but that was in the summer, at 10:00, after two reruns. I’m sure it will do better at 9 during the regular season with originals before and after it.

Also, Fridays at 9 is one of CBS’s few open spots. Flashpoint is a proven player that they are relatively confident will do well anywhere on the schedule. Since it’s a co-production with a Canadian company, it’s cheap. So it makes more sense to put it on Friday and give Harper’s Island the support of the CSI lead-in.

By: Mandi

Mandi — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:26:50 +0000

I may be completely blanking out here, but wasn’t Flashpoint originally on Friday during the summer? Where it was kinda struggling? Then they switched it with Swingtown and THEN it became a big hit? If so, Why are the exiling it back to Friday again? They think second time’s the charm? I really must be missing something, because that wouldn’t make sense?

By: moonlightfan

moonlightfan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:08:19 +0000

Yeah, but as Flashpoint is ‘top scripted show’ why Friday? Thought they would maneuver it to during the week. If flashpoint pulls NCIS rerun ratings, they might as well put flashpoint during the week and keep the reruns to Friday.

TKS Julia for the link. On the ‘sitcom’ link the description of Cupid describes the show how it was before. But I guess the producers never dreamed it would be picked up again. Looks like they will keep the storyline, but they sure can’t keep that ending now. Though I know on Ausiellio or one of those sites there is a link to the tvshow trailer.

I have always loved fantastical cupid stories. Anything with Cupid or Aphrodite rocks!

Why According to Jim is still there? Can’t believe they dropped George Lopez and kept ATJ.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:57:46 +0000

“Dumb question time – isn’t Flashpoint some manner of Canadian import? Or is it a U.S. developed show that films in Canada to save money? I was under the impression it’s sort of an import.”

Yes. Flashpoint is a Canadian show. Co-Produced by CBS Paramount and CTV up north. You can thank the writers strike for CBS taking intrest in this show. Not the first time CBS looked to the great write north. CBS aired ‘Night Heat’ on late nights back in the mid to late 1980′s, and Due South in the 1990′s.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:19:08 +0000

Robert, if I’d known you guys didn’t have the schedule/release dates, I’d have emailed it to you this morning. Sorry.

By: Pauline

Pauline — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:28:37 +0000

Wow! I am so excited that “Flashpoint” is returning in January instead of a summer relaceme nt, this is really a “great” show, the network has to promote it!

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:09:40 +0000

thanks Julia, and my bad — Bill is out all afternoon, I should’ve posted the ABC press release sooner. I’ve done so now…

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:59:49 +0000

And here’s the link if you’re interested. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1008477,00.html

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:56:17 +0000

moonlightfan, Rob Thomas did an interview a while back where he answered that question, though I’m not sure if they will go that route this time. Also, I don’t think they even tried to get PIven.

By: moonlightfan

moonlightfan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:48:43 +0000

I’m glad ABC is bringing back Cupid. I loved that show, sorry Piven won’t be in it this time around though. Never got to know whether the guy really was Cupid or not. I hope they clear it up this time.

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:27:06 +0000

Rob, shows with 22 episode orders have had their orders cut before. But I agree, it wasn’t in danger. The most danger it’s in is of being moved to a different night.

By: Rob R

Rob R — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:22:38 +0000

“Christine” always had a 22 episode order, so it was never in danger of a mid-season cancellation. I understand that “Million Dollar Password” will air in the Sunday “Amazing Race” time slot from mid-December to mid-February.

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:08:07 +0000

Re: ABC

It looks like they are holding Cupid until March, so it has the post DWTS spot. Hopefully it can take advantage of that. I also am holding out hope that Castle is decent (though I fear the lead female will again make me stop watching), and it gets the post SW? spot, so it might be able to do okay. I may have TV to watch again!

By: Rachel P

Rachel P — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:02:53 +0000

Ooh? ABC schedule? Can’t you just post it here Nick? Pretty please?

By: Nick C

Nick C — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:45:34 +0000

ABC has finally made their plans known too. I’d email the schedule over to the guys here, but I think they already have it.

By: Jeff G

Jeff G — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:42:09 +0000

One thing to be said for this announcement from CBS, not a ton of retooling occurring.

By: clutz12001

clutz12001 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:15:05 +0000

Hmmm….looks like CBS is still searching for the “show that works” Fridays at 9 p.m. I’ve heard good things about Flashpoint, though I’ve never seen it myself.

Dumb question time – isn’t Flashpoint some manner of Canadian import? Or is it a U.S. developed show that films in Canada to save money? I was under the impression it’s sort of an import.

By: coco

coco — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:00:57 +0000

does this mean that Eleventh Hour will be coming back next fall?

By: cool

cool — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:39:46 +0000

BC ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATES FOR NEW DRAMAS

“CASTLE,” “CUPID” AND “THE UNUSUALS”

ABC News’ “Primetime: What Would You Do?” Returns Tuesday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m.

Three new dramas will be joining the ABC lineup: “Castle” on Monday, March 9 at 10:00 p.m.; “Cupid” on Tuesday, March 24 at 10:00 p.m.; and “The Unusuals” on Wednesday, April 8 at 10:00 p.m. In addition, ABC News’ “Primetime: What Would You Do?” will return on Tuesday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m. (all times ET).

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4076872&postcount=473

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:22:49 +0000

Happy to see Flashpoint back on the schedule! Loved that show when it debuted in the summertime. The Friday Night timeslot kinda sucks, but that’s what DVR is for! Plus, it excelled there during the summer.

The Harper’s Island event seems neat. Interesting concept. I especially liked the Fear Itself concept on NBC over the summer as well. I think when you have a new show, or event, like this, with a definitive start and end point, it’s a little easier to invest the time from the beginning to the end…

By: sam

sam — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:47:39 +0000

YES CHRISTINE MAY BE SAFE!!!!!!!!!

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:42:29 +0000

Eleventh Hour’s numbers bear watching – while they received a full season order, their early April finale date screams bubble show. I suspect CBS is looking to see how the show does in the March sweeps (once ER signs off) to decide whether it returns next year.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:39:59 +0000

Chris, I had the same thought. and it looks like they are trying to burn them up quick (two thirty minute episodes per night).

By: Chris the TV sage

Chris the TV sage — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:36:52 +0000

Game Show in My Head must be DOA.

Surprised they didn’t announce anything re: Million Dollar Password, unless something’s already been announced and I missed it.

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:35:45 +0000

Oh goodie. (Another) game show/reality *piece of crap* AND it’s from Ashton Cutcher.

Yeah. I’ll be finding something else more entertaining to do during that hour. Like cleaning the lint trap in my dryer.

Didn’t they make a B-horror movie about the same thing Harper’s Island is covering?

By: richard

richard — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:28:04 +0000

If anything without Football and all the other shows in reruns anticipate TAR’s ratings should hold up..You are right its no Survivor…Its better than Survivor!
It also has the emmys to prove it. Will give you this, without Survivor and or The Real World there would be no reality TV!

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:19:13 +0000

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:15:42 +0000

damn, she beat me by 11 seconds again…

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:14:59 +0000

ah, the mystery. So either CBS isn’t changing a thing on Wednesdays or…they haven’t announced all the mid-season plans yet.

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:14:36 +0000

So they are leaving their comedies all as is?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:09:47 +0000

TAR back in February? Ratings are gonna be down for sure…it’s no Survivor IMO.