What are we? Chopped Liver?

Edit: Indeed, closer to chopped liver than not perhaps.

Yes, I see your point. And, sorry, I was being more than a little clumsy in trying to make mine.

But isn’t that what the principles of advertising are all about? Especially surround-sound advertising? “Persuasion,” to use the euphemism.

Keep repeating the same message over and over until people start believing it. And granted, “people like what they like and watch what they like,” but a statistically significant portion of the population apparently also cares about sitting at the cool-kids table in the cafeteria.

So that if the network marketing and the entertainment press cooperate to create a momentum of “buzz,” they hope that enough viewers will jump on to ride the wave.

However, I think what I am really cranky about is that there no longer seems to be, for the most part, any independent entertainment press. And no marketplace of differing opinions. Because of conglomerates, they end up all being owned by the same companies. JMHO.

When it first started, it was my favorite show. The very obvious decline in the quality of its writing would have made me root for it to be great again. Except that all of my good will is being drained away by press reports not only describing The Naked Emporer’s outfits but actually labeling them in florid detail as couture.

I resent the spin. The first episode of this season was awful. Why didn’t the press say so. Isn’t that their job? They are not supposed to be publicity hacks.

The episode with Jennifer Aniston was 3rd lowest in the ratings for the night. Even after all of the endless hype. Granted, it was a well-written episode, but the obvious story was that Movie-star Aniston could not pull in the numbers. But I think you had to go to India Press to read that.

Tina Fey is a talented performer, and seems to be a genuinely nice person. But as a writer, for me at least she falls short. SNL was mostly awful during her reign as head writer.

I think NBC has decided that 30 Rock is the new Seinfeld and is determined to make people believe it. The heck with the quality of the writing.

@ Bill Gorman: Wahoowa indeed! Go Hoos!

B) It’s going to be so nice not to have to worry anymore about 30 Rock getting renewed.

Agreed!!!

Also to consider, look at the lead out retention of other networks top shows:
Life on Mars after Greys Anatomy: 52%
Bros & Sis after Housewives: 64%
Fringe after House: 73%
Worst Week after TAHM: 67%

So yeah 85% is significant.

And to the fact that it didn’t take much to improve. You’re right. But you could say the same to any other show on NBC right now. The fact is 30 Rock’s average this season is 2 million above last season’s. That’s 132% of last years audience. And considering every other returning show on NBC besides ER are down this season: huge. (What’s ER’s lead in? (Just kidding, I know it’s ‘last season hype’ or whatever))

Gaining 2 million viewers on a network that’s falling fast? Kudos are in order.

Also, NBC has spent way more money on promoting The Office. Maybe not during October/November. But overall. Remember the big Olympic campaign? Just wait till you see the post-Superbowl campaign.

Equally outstanding was the entire lineup on ABC last night. Ugly Betty doesn’t get the Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives ratings for some reason, but when it comes down to great writing they are right up there with the best scripted shows. With its incessant wittiness and intrigue, at times UB beats Desperate Housewives writing, and in the dramedy category that is asking for the impossible. Last night was a showcase of cleverness in the areas of plot and humor. I still believe that if the overall tone of Pushing Daises hadn’t been so abstract, it would have been able to pull Ugly Betty type numbers and won the 8pm time slot on Wednesdays. Nonetheless, on a highly competitive night, Ugly Betty is still one of the highest rated shows and I can’t imagine that ABC would even be considering getting rid of it.

Finally, I’m starting to realize ABC might strike gold with Private Practice after Grey’s. Barbara Walters pulled one of the biggest audiences that hour has seen all season on any network. If Private Practice can develop into the solid drama that GA is, obviously the viewers are there and waiting for something to motivate them to want to watch tv at 10pm.

Wahoowa!

As far as the quality is concerned, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion. I don’t agree with you at all. The show has only improved since Season 1, and it’s definitely one of the funniest shows on TV.

The numbers are so much better than last year from just about every metric. in relative terms, it is now NBC’s third best scripted program season-to-date among 18-49 year olds.

It only retains almost 80% of NBC’s number one scripted show among 18-49 year olds? Oh boo hoo. This week that will still make it NBC’s 3rd best 18-49 year old program.

While not breathlessly amazed, I am impressed. From going from a show that if cancelled, nobody (including Bill or I) would’ve blinked to NBC’s third best scripted show among 18-49 year olds is pretty impressive.

And why all the breathless amazement concerning the fact that 30 Rock has increased its numbers over last year’s? When you start from “abysmal — scraping the bottom,” it doesn’t take much to improve on it.

The show was great when it first went on the air and Buck Henry was helping to write it. Sadly, it has gone into steep decline in quality since. Although last night’s downright flaunting of its contempt for the audience did have a certain entertaining quality to it. Considering that the koolaid drinkers don’t even realize that they’re among those being mocked. JMO.

CSI had more viewers and many more viewers 50 and over than The Office. In very round numbers, only 1/3rd of CSI’s audience is age 18-49, while around 75% of The Offices audience is 18-49.

NBC, when are you going to deliver us to the Promise Land and put Top Gear America on?!?!

IMHO, the BW special garnered the 18-49 hit rating because of Will Smith, not because of Barbara herself. Perhaps Ms. O’Donnell needs to run a variety special with Will Smith, Miley Cyrus, and other fascinating younger people – instead of Liza ?

NBC’s problems are so bad that a 2.2 demo for a new series is a hit for them, lol.

Barbara Walter’s specials are new programming. She had Will Smith. He always pulls in the viewers.

Man alive, though, the total viewership for Thursdays is way down this week. Only Survivor got over 10m viewers. I can remember ten years ago when NBC just dominated Thursdays. What was it, “must see tv” night or something?