Comments on: Friday Night 2009-10: TV's Misfits; Dollhouse, Ugly Betty, 'Til Death, Southland...

By: GEORGE 11

GEORGE 11 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:11:02 +0000

if ugly betty has the exactly the same numbers as last year will abc cancel it ot it will be good for their friday night???

my friday nights doesnt have any cw show!!
i will watch

ugly betty
dollhouse
ghost whisperer

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:45:17 +0000

John – This could be L&O’s final season, since it only has 16 episodes, however NBC’s lack of hit drama’s could make it last a little longer.

By: John

John — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:57:45 +0000

I like L&O and hope that it will extend beyond 20th season..It is a show I like because it is upto the point and there are no distractions in the form of parallel stories of lead detectives like that of in Mentalist or Monk

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:25:05 +0000

Janie Jones – CBS WILL without a doubt win friday nights. I believe with the help of Law & Order and the new retooled Southland, NBC could get second with Supernanny and the waning Ugly Betty getting third. Dollhouse will bomb, and while surprising its not that odd that Til Death is still on. Since it premiered, FOX has had no luck with comedies and everything since then has either bombed (Happy Hour, The Winner, Unhitched, Jezebel James, Do Not Disturb) or was too expensive to keep (Back to You) so to prove they still had live action comedies, FOX has paired Til Death with Brothers for fridays this year. Sony offered FOX a really cheap deal for 22 more episodes in syndication so they decided to take it. Despite highly likely low numbers, Brothers will be kept for a full season. If its ratings are slightly better than Til Death, it will be kept just so FOX doesn’t have a repeat of last fall.

By: Holly

Holly — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:19:09 +0000

^Or (more likely) the delay in the premiere was because they are behind.

By: Don J

Don J — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:22:04 +0000

I messaged Michael Cudlitz (Cooper on Southland) on Twitter and they appear to be a little behind schedule. They start shooting episode 4 on Tuesday. It’s September and they only have 3 episodes filmed? So I guess delaying the premiere was a blessing for them.

By: JanieJones

JanieJones — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:26:02 +0000

I will be dvr’ing or watching
8pm-L&O
9pm-Medium/Monk
10pm-Psych/White Collar
I’m glad I have multiple dvr’s.

I think CBS will come out on top on Friday nights. ABC would be my next guess to come in 2nd. NBC could beat ABC.

I do not think Dollhouse will do well. I still can’t believe ‘Til Death is still on. Southland-I’ve never watched but I know that they have retooled the original story. The show does seem to have some strong supporters.
Smallville-I’ll be curious to see it’s ratings when it’s starts. I have not watched the show since the 2nd or 3rd season.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:59:21 +0000

On Friday’s I’ll be watching:

Smallville
and Dollhouse

I will be recording:

Ghost Whisperer
Medium
and Brothers

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:50:16 +0000

Here are my guesses for Friday

8:00
Ghost Whisperer – 9-12 million
Law & Order – 6-8 million
Supernanny – 4-5 million
Brothers/Til Death 3-4 million
Smallville 2-3 million

Ghost Whiperer will easily win with around 10 million average. While ratings have lowered, Law & Order will come in second with average 7 million. Third will be Supernanny with around 5 million and the funny thing is that CW’s Smallville may actually been FOX’s combo of Brothers and ‘Til Death.

9:00
Medium – 9-11 million
Ugly Betty – 5-7 million
Southland – 4-6 million
Dollhouse – 2-3 million
ANTM – 1 million

My favorite time period for friday. Two veterans and two sophomore series. As i’ve said many times CBS will easily win with their recently acquired Medium, ABC’s Ugly Betty will likely get second over Southland (although Betty has been sinking), and Dollhouse will get around 2-3 million if its lucky.

10:00
Numb3rs – 9-12 million
20/20 – 5 million
Jay leno Show – 3-4 million

Numb3rs will win 10pm followed by 20/20 then Jay Leno. Pretty simple.

Bottom line: CBS will easily win the night with their ghostly crime solving trio, which is one of their best friday line ups in a while. ABC and NBC may tie for second but NBC looks to win overall. FOX will bomb with Brothers, ‘Til Death and Dollhouse. It looks like to be the final season for 3 veteran series. Law & Order, Smallville are likely to end after this season as well as Ugly Betty (unless ABC finds no new dramas). Southland will probably hold up for the whole season. While everyone says Brothers looks to be axed it won’t be for a few reasons and i’ll explain that further in my next post. Dollhouse will be gone by December. I’ve said it time and time again. It’s ratings will be too low and it will likely run out all 13 episodes. Other than Dollhouse, I don’t know of other friday night series that will be axed in the next few months.

By: Feinnish Linzel

Feinnish Linzel — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:34:40 +0000

Ugly Betty is a comedy-drama.

By: CP

CP — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:17:28 +0000

Dear lord I hope all of these shows see their last season this year. Smallville hasn’t been good since season 3. I guess I’ll just continue watching Smackdown!

By: Buddy

Buddy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:38:56 +0000

I really can’t believe that the CW is putting their highest rated show on Fridays with a rerun of Top Model. Why waste that lead-in? Smallville could really give a boost to a new or struggling show.

By: Sylvia Knowles

Sylvia Knowles — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:38:56 +0000

Guess I will be reading a book Friday nights. Absolutely nothing here appeals other than perhaps watching the end of Law and Order…

By: Shem

Shem — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:49:25 +0000

All NBC has to do is put Law& Order on cable along with L&O:CI on USA or they have a deal where TNT airs the episodes first and NBC air repeats in Summer.

A continued successful Sunday night on USA (they could air repeats of Burn Notice @ 7) or even SVU:

8pm- L&O
9pm-L&O:CI
10pm- In Plain Sight

By: SleeperActiveCompass

SleeperActiveCompass — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:26:45 +0000

When I saw Dollhouse in the title I had to brace myself. I will say this does make Fridays relatively interesting because it is CBS vs. the Island of the Misfit Network shows. Who knows, maybe we’re in for some surprises.

By: rick

rick — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:54:39 +0000

fridays will probabaly be one of the more interesting nights as the networks are putting more establshed shows on fridays instead of reality shows and soon to be canceled shows.

cbs will win but law and order should help nbc gain some ground while abc could also grow if ugly betty doesnt fall too much

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:47:26 +0000

I’m excited for SGU even though i have only the big 4 i am definatly watching on hulu

By: Eric (Ohio)

Eric (Ohio) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:45:45 +0000

Smallville, Dollhouse, Stargate Universe, I assume Sanctuary…

Caprica in January.

Wooo, the return of “Sci Fi” Fridays! (it’s just not limited to “SyFy” now!).

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:43:39 +0000

TSCC and Dollhouse were a good mix i just think that with problems from the writing and the FOX promotion it flopped.

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:42:35 +0000

I maybe treading on dangerous ground here. But I think Dollhouse will collapse on itself in rating. TSCC (uh-oh) although had lower ratings kept dollhouse steady. When it went off and they burned off prison break with it. It collapsed way down past TSCC levels.

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:09:28 +0000

I hope Law & Order and Southland do well, because I love Southland. It should hang in there. If Dollhouse has 1.5 in the demo, I think Fox is happy, so I’m happy too.

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:39:05 +0000

House Addict: I guess I didn’t duck in time (owww!)…

…if there is not a Monday analysis, I predict this is what would have happened, and would follow:

1) Bill, Robert, Julia, and Holly would all have been incapacitated, either physically, or legally (say, Nielsen getting a permanent injunction closing TVBTN)…

2) …Chuck fans would run amok throughout Burbank, not realising that NBC moved to the Universal lot…

3) …Subway sales would treble while the Chuck fans ran amok…

4) …Chuckie Sheen would chat up and seduce several hundred of the prettiest girls from the Chuck protests…

5) …Chuck Lorre would fight Nielsen’s permanent injunction, or send Kevin Tighe and Randolph Mantooth to the TVBTN HQ, depending on circumstances, since he would like the good ratings predictions for his two shows to go out…

6) …and Adult Swim would air a 60 minute special, interspersing Chuck protests with voices and footage from the classic Chuck Jones cartoon, “Duck Amuck”…

…oh, btw, my middle name is Charles – or, as the Nerd Herd would say, Chuck

Yes, Virginia, there will be a Monday analysis – bank on it.

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:24:15 +0000

Dave: the demo numb3rs will tell the tale, I would predict – if it stays level or goes down marginally, and they had budget cuts for this season, it should be as safe as anything can be on Fridays…

…unless CBS does an NBC and starts airing CSI repeats there

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:20:34 +0000

Rick Holy: Misfit Toys? I could see that, and frequent crossovers with Lost and Fantasy Island (original voices required)…

…and a 2.0 demo, for both 18-49 ad 18-34, on Adult Swim…

…and Rankin-Bass thanks you – the royalty checks will follow shortly

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:12:06 +0000

Holly: I definitely wasn’t questioning your logic re: Southland…I agree that they will not go up unless something totally weird happens, given the lower Friday HUT levels…

…as for L&O, it is NBC’s version of CSI, and there is some opportunity for a decent ratings finish, despite the lower HUT…

…and as Bill or Robert (I forget – brainwave aide memoires, please, Bill, while you’re about it!) noted elsewhere, a 5 percent drop or so in the demo ratings is basically even these days, so even is the new improvement – and L&O could manage that early on if they get very good performances in writing and acting, and excellent promotion (three big “ifs”)…

…I must have overdosed on Sarcasma and Damitol last night – sorry

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:10:21 +0000

I predict CBS will dominate like they did almost every Friday last year.

My only concern is about Numb3rs. I know it was “on the bubble” last year and may have only got renewed because it’s cheaper to make than other shows but I read somewhere that CBS have told the excellent Peter MacNicol (Larry) that there’s not enough budget to have him in every episode this year. Is that cause for concern regarding any possible 7th season of Numb3rs in 2010/11? You know, could the 6th season of Numb3rs be the final season?

By: House Addict

House Addict — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:09:56 +0000

thanks! I love these analyses (sp?) Is there going to be one for the monday too?

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:01:24 +0000

Bill: I can see it now, with individual brainwave transmissions – advertisers could embed the ads, so you could not skip them, ever…

…but Nielsen would have to embed us all with individual “people meter” chips, as the advertisers would not permit Nielsen to provide estimates in that case…

…and how would Nielsen count people who have multiple personalities – say, someone who likes Ugly Betty AND Dollhouse AND Medium AND Smackdown AND Just Shoot Me (local syndication at that hour for me) at the same time…

…and Gorman/Seidman Optimedia will be the next Microsoft with their brainwave transmission technology: “…an audience of one…”

By: Mumbo

Mumbo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:51:13 +0000

CBS a clear first, NBC a clear second, ABC a clear third, and Fox a very, very clear fourth in my book.

But it seems like there’s actually some decent effort being put into the Friday night programming this year. Look at the relatively low percentage of reality programming compared to past seasons. Just Supernanny, Top Model reruns, and I guess 20/20, but that’s different.

I could see Fox’s Friday night blown up at midseason. Although with their lineup it looks like they may have given up on ever being compoetitive on that night. They’re doing just fine every other night of the week, so.

By: e. carson

e. carson — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:48:26 +0000

I can’t believe they canceled Goode Family. Basterds!

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:18:30 +0000

Tom, L&O may move to originals on cable as L&O: Criminal Intent did, but this is certainly its last season on NBC. And I’m sure our great grandchildren will be watching Law & Order syndicated repeats though some manner of direct brainwave transmission well after all of us have left this mortal realm.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:49:04 +0000

Law and order will not end this season. With the deal with TNT, syndication and international markets it’s like a money machine for NBCU.
And even if NBC won’t pick it up, TNT had stated several times they would pick it up.

By: Lizardman

Lizardman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:30:36 +0000

Syfy will have some good shows Friday nights and may pull some viewers with Sanctuary and Stargate Universe. Also USA is putting their new drama White Collar on Friday nights as well.

So I think my Friday will be:
6:00 In my region with Dish Network View Stargate Universe
7:00 View Sanctuary
7:00 DVR White Collar
7:00 DVR Brothers
8:00 View Dollhouse

Lizard

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:19:43 +0000

UB has already been bought into syndication by the TV Guide network, so the extra episodes are not necessary.

Syndication pays off much better with more episodes. It doesn’t matter if one network has already purchased the show. They’ll want to sell it to other nets as well. Plus, the more episodes they make, the more TV Guide will have to pay.

By: CK

CK — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:14:21 +0000

I’m with you on Ugly Betty. If the writers and producers can get their “mojo” back and we get compelling episodes once again (Can’t rely on Wilhemina quips alone), the 18-49′s will watch at 9:00 and then go out for the evening.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:59:54 +0000

I’m an ardent Ugly Betty booster, even if the last part of the second season was crap and the first half of the third season was not much better.

UB has already been bought into syndication by the TV Guide network, so the extra episodes are not necessary.

The ratings were remarkably consistent in 2009. Here they are, from January onwards:

7.5/2.4
7.4/2.3
7.3/2.3
7.4/2.3
7.7/2.3
6.7/2.0*
6.4/1.7*
7.2/2.1
7.6/2.1 DST
Hiatus
6.8/2.0
7.5/2.1
6.8/2.0
6.3/1.9*

* = when it was followed by a GA repeat, or not by GA at all. DST = Daylight Savings Time.

DST is typically very hard on 8pm series, yet UB didn’t lose a whole lot of audience because of it. And even after coming back from hiatus, the show maintained when from an average of 7.3/2.1 to a 6.9/2.0 – a loss of 5% in viewers and adults – not much. Even this summer, Friday repeat ratings are just slight off par with Thursday repeat ratings.

I really think that UB has a reached its base audience. While Fridays can be seen as tougher as there are lower HUT levels, being at 9pm could very well help, as could the lack of established competition (outside of Medium). I predict 6.5 million viewers and a 1.8 rating for the series, off of a 5.0/1.4 for Supernanny, numbers that ABC can be happy about.

I’m also could be grasping at straws. Please excuse from fandom.

By: Isabel

Isabel — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:44:17 +0000

Oh whoops, Ugly Betty is coming into it’s fourth season, see I haven’t watched it in years, either way, it’s quite the goner or huge budget cuts if it doesn’t do well this year, but i think it’s a goner, I don’t think Vanessa Williams will accept a drastic salary decrease.

By: Isabel

Isabel — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:39:22 +0000

Either that or a major budget cut by halting shooting on film in favor of shooting direct to video a la daytime soaps or Rescue Me or Dollhouse.

By: Isabel

Isabel — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:36:42 +0000

I’m guessing that Medium could possibly or probably get a higher number than Ghost Whisperer.

They only extended Ugly Betty to next season (it’s 5th) to complete the recommended 100 episodes for syndication, expect it to falter in ratings next season, and then be canceled by ABC.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:36:06 +0000

My guesses: CBS first, ABC a decent second, NBC doing okay with L&O, Southland flopping, Jay Leno starting out all right and tailing off badly as the season goes along, and Dollhouse really stinking it up.

By: vsaint

vsaint — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:26:42 +0000

Can Smallivlle actually do just as well on Friday’s?
they won’t do as well in the 18-34, but 18-49, should stay pretty much the same and total viewers don’t think will take much of hit.

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:53:25 +0000

@Theoacme, I wasn’t actually suggesting that they would improve. I was questioning HotPocket’s prediction because the only way it would work is if they get better numbers this season on Friday than they got last season on Wednesday and Thursday (something that is highly unlikely).

By: chuckie

chuckie — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:42:04 +0000

SAVE CHUCK!

CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!

It’s all about CHUCK!

Signed,

Annoying Chuck Fan

By: Rick Holy

Rick Holy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:41:13 +0000

I think I’d rather watch a series about the toys on the “Island of Misfit Toys” from your thread lead-in photo!

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:24:01 +0000

Holly: Southland improve? I don’t think so…

…drop below Dollhouse? I don’t think that will happen, either…

…would repeats of Adam-12 do better? They might…

…as for L&O, they probably will not improve – but, if Dick Wolf gets a great few stories to start the season, and keeps the momentum going, I could see a situation happening similar to what happened to ER last season – it could have a finale with a 3.5 to 4.0 demo. Not near their peak demos in their salad days, but NBC would take it.

Chris – my wife really loves Betty; me, I can tolerate it, and do like it somewhat, but can miss it with no worries. This indicates a definite possibility of renewal once more – if I had really liked it as well as my wife, it would definitely be canceled (ask my wife about Missing, Wild Card, and the Division (all canceled by Dawn Ostroff at Lifetime), only if you want to see her cry, then give you a reverse mohawk).

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:18:35 +0000

Only one I’ll be watching is Dollhouse. Hopefully it doesn’t get its ass kicked in the ratings.

By: j

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:11:40 +0000

I think a 2 is a good rating for Fridays. And only CBS shows will get that…2 of 3.

I’m watching every episode of Dollhouse. ‘Tis the only show this fall I will do that for along with sort of Gossip Girl.

By: daniel L

daniel L — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:53:27 +0000

GHOST ADVENTURES!!!

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:47:56 +0000

@HotPocket, You expect L&O and Southland to improve on last year despite being moved to a night with much lower viewership?

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:31:53 +0000

Did u even have to make this article? its obvious what will be axed.