Lights Out @ "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"

The most anticipated new show of the 2006-2007 season, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" from the brilliant mind of Aaron Sorkin, that quickly turned into the biggest flop of the season (at least from a Nielsen perspective) quietly ended its run on NBC last night with a happy-ending.

The drama gave pleasant conclusions to its open plotlines with Danny celebrating his fatherhood as Jordan came up with adoption papers for him to sign. Matt and Harriet also got a schmaltzy resolution - she decided to spend the rest of her life with him, they confessed their undying love to each other and made out like crazy.

As for the ratings, although the 4,25 million people who tuned in was a far cry from the 13+ million who sampled the pilot back in September 2006 when the behind-the-scenes drama debuted with promise, the series finale did ironically manage to win the timeslot in the 18-49 category.

I bet Steven Weber's hilarious character would be happy to hear that.

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TV Ratings: "Dance" Off To a Great Start

The sweeps are over and a long hot rerun-filled summer has begun. "So You Think You Can Dance" kicked things off on FOX last night scoring a decent 9,21 million viewers. It's lead-out "On the Lot" however wasn't that lucky.

As an aspiring film director I find the new Steven Spielberg-produced reality series incredibly boring. And it appears, so do the viewers. 5,18 million tuned in to see the show, losing almost half of that "Dance" audience.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" was back on NBC to burn off the final episodes. As expected the return was a disaster, with a series low of 3,91 million viewers tuning in.

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Amanda Peet at "The Ex" Premiere

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" star Amanda Peet and her "The Ex" co-stars Zach Braff ("Scrubs") and Jason Bateman ("Arrested Development") all attended the premiere of their comedy at Director's Guild of America in Hollywood last night.

The actress recently spoke to TV Guide voicing her opinion about the failure of the high-profile NBC drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" on which she starred as a fictional TV network president.

The actress said: "It was definitely very ambitious, but a part of me wonders if, had it been an unknown writer-creator instead of Aaron Sorkin, we would have had more time to find our tone and focus."


"Because we were under a microscope from the moment we arrived, it was very difficult for the creators to feel free to follow the strengths of the show and see that through," Peet added to the online magazine.

In "The Ex", a slacker (Braff) is forced to work for his father-in-law after his pregnant wife (Peet) steps away from her high-paying job. Check out the trailer for the comedy which opens nationwide May 11.

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"Studio 60" to Return May 24

NBC has "announced" its most hyped show of the 2006-2007 season "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" which disappeared midway through February sweeps will return to the schedule on Thursday, May 24 at 10/9c, a week after the "ER" finale and a day after the conclusion of May sweeps.

The fact that the network has not rushed to announce the return of the show in an official press release (and they did so only by putting the return date on its homepage) and the fact that it will return only after the end of the important "sweeps" period do not bode well with the show's future.

It means a) NBC knows the show would spoil its sweeps performance, b) it will not take into account the ratings for the final 6 episodes because it announces the new fall schedule 10 days before the show even returns. For these reasons, the show's chances for renewal are considered slim.

Last year at this time, "Studio 60" was the most talked about pilot of the new TV season because of an all-star cast and Aaron Sorkin at its helm. After a solid 13+ million premiere in September, the show went on to lose about half that audience with the last episode on February 19 pulling in 6,4 million viewers.

The network replaced the show with mob drama "The Black Donnellys" on February 26 and then reality series "The Real Wedding Crashers" on April 19 but both shows ended up wasting its plum "Heroes" lead-in audience.

The Monday at 10 p.m. timeslot was however lucky for NBC's other on-the-bubble drama "Friday Night Lights" when it pulled in a series-high of 8,29 million viewers in its one-time-only airplay on October 30.

Previous time-slot occupant "Medium" was also more successful in the timeslot. The drama tied with "Law & Order" for 35th place in the overall year-end rankings averaging 11,2 million viewers in the 2005-2006 season.

NBC moved "Medium" to Wednesdays at 10 this season only to see its ratings plummet as well.

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Save One Show Campaign Begins

Kristin Veitch of E! Online has begun her annual SOS - Save One Show campaign with a dedicated voting booth on the E! website designed for site visitors to vote for their favorite show among this year's endangered species.

According to Kristin, the shows least likely to return are The Class (CBS), Close To Home (CBS), The Nine (ABC), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC) and Veronica Mars (The CW).

The shows whose fate is uncertain are Crossing Jordan (NBC), Gilmore Girls (The CW), Jericho (CBS), Medium (NBC), One Tree Hill (The CW), Six Degrees (ABC), Supernatural (The CW), What About Brian (ABC) and... gasp... How I Met Your Mother (CBS).

Apparently there is a CBS executive who really hates "Mother", does not understand its buzz and critical acclaim and wants it off the schedule by the end of this season.

The said executive is also the person responsible for not giving "Mother" post-Super Bowl slot this year, as suggested by many TV critics who were mostly appalled by the network's decision to waste the precious slot on the hideous "Criminal Minds".

Kristin believes only "30 Rock", "Friday Night Lights" and "Scrubs" (all on NBC) are safe to return for the 2007-2008 season, due to the network's strong support despite lackluster ratings performance.

Last year's SOS winner was "One Tree Hill" which as you can see is once again "on the bubble". This year's winner will be announced on April 13.

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"Studio 60" May Get Axed

NBC will cancel its troubled Monday night drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" if the new midseason series "The Black Donnellys", which takes over its timeslot on NBC tonight, even matches the lackluster ratings of the Aaron Sorkin-penned series, reports Kristin Veitch of E! Online today.

According to Veitch, inside sources at NBC claim "Studio 60" - the most anticipated new show of the season that went out with a whimper last week hitting series low in the ratings - would have been canned months ago had it not been for a special clause in Aaron Sorkin's contract.

Apparently, the network was so confident in the program, which some TV critics believed it would be one of the greatest new shows of the season, that Sorkin got a clause in the contract ensuring his services for an entire season, making it equally expensive to cancel the drama as to make it.

The network would cancel "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" even if "The Black Donnellys" only matched its poor ratings because the behind-the-scenes TV industry drama with an all-star cast is much more expensive to produce.

Read more about STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP

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Will NBC's "Studio 60", "Crossing Jordan" And Donald Trump's "Apprentice" Get Canceled?

Things are not looking very bright for the trio of NBC's prime-time shows and recent developments seem to indicate they may not necessarily be back next season.

We all know Donald Trump would get down to catfighting with Martha Stewart, bitchslapping with Rosie O'Donnell or even shaving his hair off Britney-style in a wrestling bet all to keep the Apprentice buzz going.

But the recent Nielsen performance of the reality series which has been hitting a new series low week after week has forced the network to push the series out of the way of ABC's blockbuster "Desperate Housewives" and into the new 10pm timeslot.

The move gives the network an all-reality line-up on Sunday nights as it is also shifting the Wednesday night edition of "Deal Or No Deal" to Sundays at 9pm while moving the drama "Crossing Jordan" to Wednesdays at 9pm.

"The Apprentice" which averaged over 20 million viewers in its first red-hot season has lost its way with the most recent episode attracting a very disappointing 6 million viewers.

If the reality contest does not improve the ratings performance of its sixth cycle in the new timeslot pronto, not only will Donald Trump be forced to stop bragging about "The Apprentice" being the #1 show on TV (good Lord!), but he may himself be hearing those infamous words he has been saying for three years to others with gusto.

As for "Crossing Jordan", does the drama that has performed badly in the 18-49 demo despite being a minor hit in overall viewers have any chance against FOX's "American Idol" and CBS' "Criminal Minds"? The answer is clear.

Finally, it saddens me to say the return of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" for a second season seems highly unlikely at this point. NBC has stuck with the drama throughout February sweeps giving it the final chance to strike a chord with viewers.

Aaron Sorkin-penned series however seems to have gone downhill since its exceptional yet also low-rated Christmas episode.

The focus has shifted from TV business to romantic relationships of the characters. That may not necessarily have been the best choice as many of them lack chemistry and give viewers plenty of reasons to fall sleep or switch the channel.

This is also reflected in the ratings - the drama premiered to over 13 million total viewers in September and kept bleeding week after week, before it leveled off in November to just under 8 million.

Since then, however, "Studio 60" lost another million or so viewers and the viewer erosion in the second half hour is significant. That means many of the viewers who do give "Studio 60" a shot at 10pm end up not seeing the episode all the way through.

Also, the lack of promotion of the drama on NBC, practical unavailability of spoilers and very little if no buzz around the series also indicate the viewer interest has been minimal.

This is why the drama is off the schedule and will be replaced next Monday by the new midseason series "The Balck Donnellys". If and when "Studio 60" returns will depend on how well the new show does in the timeslot.

Unfortunately, it seems the loyal "Studio 60" fans will be happy if they even get to see the remaining 6 episodes of the drama burned off on NBC later this spring.

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NBC Sends "Studio 60" On Hiatus A Week Early

NBC's new midseason drama "The Black Donnellys" about four young, working-class Irish-American brothers and their involvement in organized crime in New York City will premiere a week early sending "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" on hiatus after next week's episode.

The last episode of "Studio 60" that aired on Monday night scored only 6,56 million viewers, becoming one of the lowest rated episodes of the drama so far this season, losing over a million viewers from its already lackluster season average of just under 8 million.

NBC has vowed to air the final 6 episodes of the series later this season, but the exact return date has not been confirmed and will depend on how successful "The Balck Donnellys" will be.

Given the change, the midseason drama will follow all-new episodes of NBC's most popular new series "Heroes" for two weeks in a row, on February 26 and March 5, which should give "The Black Donnellys" a decent sampling.

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NBC's "Heroes", "Studio 60" & "30 Rock" Head For Spring Hiatus, "Black Donnellys", Andy Richter Sitcom Premiere

NBC has announced midseason schedule changes effective early March, sending its ratings-challenged Monday night drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" on a spring hiatus. Return date has not been confirmed. Also, "Heroes" is set to conclude its current "Are you on the list?" chapter on March 5.

"Studio 60" will be replaced by "The Black Donnellys", a new series created by the "Crash" duo of Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, for an as-yet-undetermined number of weeks.

"The Black Donnellys" follows four Irish-American brothers (Jonathan Tucker, Thomas Guiry, Billy Lush and Michael Stahl-David) who get caught up in organized crime in New York. Olivia Wilde ("The O.C.") and Kirk Acevedo ("Law & Order: Trial by Jury") also star.

It is expected that "The Black Donnellys" pilot benefits from a strong lead-in, as it will premiere on Monday, March 5 at 10pm, the same night NBC's bona-fide hit drama "Heroes" concludes its second chapter with a midseason finale at 9pm.

"Heroes" will then take a short break before it returns at some point in April with the third and the final chapter of its inaugural season. That means "The Black Donnellys" will then have to rely on its own creative juices.

NBC has already come up with a new tagline for the 3rd chapter of "Heroes" which will be used in promotional material in the same way as "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World" and "Are You On The List?" have been used so far.

As for "Studio 60" the network has yet to confirm a return date for the last 4 episodes of the underperforming series which recently hit season-low (6,95 million total viewers) and whose chances for a second season renewal do not look very good at this point.

NBC has also announced its lowest rated Thursday night comedy "30 Rock" starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin will take a break effective March 15 when it will be replaced by the new Andy Richter sitcom.

"Heroes" Renewed For A Second Season
Milo Ventimiglia's New Photoshoot
Hayden Panettiere's Vanity Fair Photos

...and more about HEROES

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Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip #113/114: "The Harriet Dinner" Pictures & Spoilers

A very special 2-part episode of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" begins tonight and "Heroes" star Masi Oka makes a guest appearance on a show that has in recent weeks focused less on the television business and more on its characters and their relationships.

It all begins when members of the cast and staff attend a dinner honoring Harriet (Sarah Paulson), whose relationship with Matt (Matthew Perry) begins to unravel.



While others are enjoying themselves at the event, Danny (Bradley Whitford) and Jordan (Amanda Peet) are locked on the roof of the theater.



In the coming weeks, expect to learn more about how Matt and Sarah met in the first place. There has been little new information about "Studio 60" in recent weeks, so let us hope that is not an indication of NBC's reluctance to renew the show for a second season.

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"Hiro" To Host "Studio 60"

NBC's genre drama "Heroes" concluded its fall run with a shocking climax: Milo Ventimiglia's Peter IS the bomb set to destroy the world. TV Guide has meanwhile announced Masi Oka who plays the lovable Hiro will guest star on "Studio 60".

Many of the questions posed by last night's exciting cliffhanger will be addressed in the first all-new episode when the drama returns from a short hiatus on January 22 in the episode "Godsend".

In the meantime, it was revealed that Masi Oka will expand his presence on NBC Mondays when he guest stars as himself on an upcoming episode of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" hosting the show within the show for one night only.

Oka joins Lauren Graham of "Gilmore Girls", Howie Mandel of "Deal Or No Deal", Felicity Huffman of "Desperate Housewives" and singer Sting as a special guest star making an appearance as himself.

The actor shoots his scenes for the episode today, so expect the appearance in late January or at the beginning of February sweeps.

More news:

From Zero To "Hiro"

"Prison Break" Star Was DUI
"How I Met Your Mother" Confrontation

Read more about HEROES
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NBC Spins Numbers & Salvages "Studio 60"

NBC has issued a press release announcing the pick-up of their struggling Monday night drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" for the remainder of the season adding 9 episodes to the original order of 13. The network however indulged in some serious spinning (read: manipulating) the ratings figures in order to give proper reasoning for their decision.

The fact of the matter is that the Aaron Sorkin drama set in the world of television premiered to over 13 million viewers back in September and then, over the course of five weeks, it managed to lose almost half of that audience shrinking each week by more than one million.

In the press release, the network claims the drama averages 9,8 million viewers season thus far and cites strong critical praise. What they did not say is that the most recent two episodes averaged a little over 7,7 million viewers who for now seem to be sticking to the show. Given the fact that the show squanders almost 60% of their (albeit non-compatible) lead-in "Heroes" audience, it remains in the loser circle.

The drama is however too expensive and too important to the network to give up on at this early stage. For this reason, NBC will try to nurture "Studio 60" as long as possible hoping it might slowly grow into a minor hit.

And the fact that it is popular among the more affluent $60,000+ audience will also not hurt. Do expect more stunt casting, though. NBC's suitcase man, Howie Mandel is the first in line to give the show a little sweeps boost.

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Studio 60 May Get Renewed After All

Despite posting typically lackluster ratings on Monday night (7,78 million viewers) 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip' was given yet another bode of confidence this week with an order for three additional scripts.


Insiders now claim an earlier FOX News report that NBC may cancel the show is entirely inaccurate and the network is very close to picking up the show for a full season pointing to its high quality and the fact that the drama managed to stop bleeding and now stabilized at almost 8 million viewers. The network may show similar support for its other ratings underdog, also critically-acclaimed 'Friday Night Lights'.

In other Monday night ratings news, the Country Music Awards show now on ABC posted its lowest numbers ever scoring less than 16 million viewers. "Deal or no Deal" and "Heroes" continue to deliver for NBC despite stronger competition this Monday (ABC normally scores lower numbers). And FOX's "Justice" and the entire comedy line-up on The CW have not left the Loser's Club. The most watched telecast of the evening was CSI: Miami with over 16 million viewers tuning in.

'Friday Night Lights' Replaces 'Studio 60'

"Monday Night Football" may be gone from network television (the franchise was moved to ABC's sister cable channel ESPN this season), but football is nevertheless back on Monday nights. At least tonight, that is.

As reported earlier, NBC will try out its struggling freshman drama about people in a small Texas town and their high school football team in a new timeslot benching Aaron Sorkin's flop "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" for a week.

If the experiment succeeds, the drama will stay on Monday nights. The network may then also try to find a new home for "Studio 60", but that course of action now seems highly unlikely. The drama's all-star cast makes it one of the most expensive shows on television and less than 8 million viewers who tune into it regularly at this point (down almost 50% since the premiere) can not support the high production cost. Also, rumours have spread over the past couple of days that it is only a question of time before NBC cans the show for good.

So, what makes NBC think 'Friday Night Lights' might succeed on Monday nights at 10pm? First of all it is a darn good show, one that has not slipped in quality following its excellent pilot episode (as it seems to be the case with writing on 'Studio 60').

Secondly, the show currently starts off Tuesday nights which is a hard task for a new series, especially when facing blockbuster reality competition "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC or being matched with incompatible "Law & Order".

Finally, the show is already the #3 new show among teens, a group that already adores its tonight's lead-in, the hit sci-fi drama "Heroes" (9/8c). That means "Friday Night Lights" may do a much better job of retaining those 15 million viewers who tune into "Heroes".

On tonight's episode, coach clashes with Voodoo as the team prepares for the big game against Arnett Meade. NBC will repeat the episode in "Friday Night Lights" regular timeslot, tomorrow night at 8/7c.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" To Be Cancelled

FOX News reported today that NBC's Monday night drama may get cancelled.

Although one should always take FOX News with a grain of salt, the fact of the matter is that the show which posted 7,7 million viewers last week premiered to over 13 million back in September and went on to lose almost half that audience. The competing "CSI: Miami" on CBS averages 17,5 million.

That is very bad for almost any show on a big network like NBC. And if it is one of the most highly anticipated and the most expensive shows of the new TV season with an all-star cast - it is tragic.

According to the FOX report the cast members have already confided in their friends that the end is near. Although Rupert Murdoch's news channel is very critical of liberal series creator Aaron Sorkin, the report did praise Matthew Perry for immense growth as an actor since his Chandler Bing days on "Friends".

"STUDIO 60" GETS A NEW SCRIPT ORDER

NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" as well as three series on ABC ('Men in Trees', "Help Me Help You' and 'The Nine') have all been given additional script orders. NBC has ordered 3 new scripts, while all ABC series got four.

Broadcast networks in the US normally give additional script orders to show faith in quality or potential of a new show which is struggling in the ratings, sending positive signals to their limited fan base and potential new viewers.

With only two new shows officially cancelled (NBC's Kidnapped and CBS' Smith) and several shows on indefinite hiatus (FOX's "Happy Hour" and NBC's "20 Good Years") almost all new shows have either received a new script order or they have been picked up for a full 22-episode season.

"Studio 60" had a solid start back in September (over 13 million viewers), but has lost almost half that audience by now. "Help Me Help You" and "The Nine" scare away half of their lead-in audience ("Dancing with the Stars" and "Lost", respectively).

"Men In Trees" is doing quite poorly on a weak night (Friday, less than 7 million). Some analysts suggest that ABC move the Anne Heche Alaska-based romantic drama to Thursday night after "Grey's Anatomy" as they believe ABC's 10pm drama JJ Abrams' "Six Degrees" may not necessarily be the best fit.

In an apparent lack of confidence for the show, ABC not only failed to give "Six Degrees" a new script order, but also pre-empted the show this week with a "Grey's rerun".

Recently CBS also asked for four additional scripts for its sitcom "The Class".

Although a script order is hardly as good as a full-season pick-up, the networks get to see where the show is headed creatively which helps them make a decision whether they want to continue to support it or not. Also, if the ratings do spike up, the writers are ready to keep the new episodes rolling.

MONDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

NBC has announced today it will temporarily move its Tuesday night drama "Friday Night Lights" to Monday night on October 30 pre-empting an originally scheduled rerun of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip".

The network which obviously continues to believe in its critically-acclaimed character drama that happens to be set in the world of football had already ordered two additional scripts last week. Now, NBC president Kevin Reilly announced that the Peacock network ordered additional 9 scripts for the series following the drama's small improvement in the 18-49 demo this Tuesday (on a par with season premiere episode on October 4).

NBC has now shelved its plan to air a repeat of the troubled Aaron Sorkin drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" that has been dubbed by media experts as the greatest disappointment of the new TV season. The Matthew Perry show which premiered to over 13 million viewers in September, lost almost half that audience by its fifth installment this Monday when it got beaten by ABC's "What About Brian", a show that used to be considered an underdog.

Insiders say the show's television theme may be too boring for some viewers and the writing seems may have slipped in quality since the pilot. Also, the drama does not seem to be a proper lead-out for the cult genre show "Heroes" that airs at 9/8c.

"Friday Night Lights" may indeed be a better match for the "Heroes" audience. If the show exceeds "Studio 60" ratings (and that is no longer too hard of a task), the Aaron Sorkin drama may be gone from NBC Mondays for good.

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"STUDIO 60" STAR MARRIES

The star of NBC's hot new Monday night drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", Amanda Peet married her fiance, "Troy" screenwriter David Benioff in New York on Saturday.

The actress who plays a charming yet uncompromising TV network president on the Aaron Sorkin-penned series was in the news earlier last month when a publicist announced her pregnancy.

Peet, who starred in box office hits "Something's Gotta Give" and "The Whole Nine Yards", originally met the 36-year old Benioff on a blind date set up by friends. The couple married at the Quaker school.

"STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP" PREMIERES TONIGHT

Aaron Sorkin, Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford and Amanda Peet return to series television tonight in what is probably the most highly anticipated new drama this season.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" premieres tonight at 10/9c on NBC and takes us into the world of an SNL-type sketch show on a fictional (or not so fictional?) NBS television network, desperate to remain dominant in the ratings and not to offend sensitive audiences.

When the show's founder (Judd Hirsch) goes on a live on-air rant to protest the network's decision to cut the segment that the management deemed to offensive for religious audiences, the network president (Peet) steps in to bring back the brilliant writer/director team (Perry, Whitford) that her boss (Steven Weber) forced out.

"Studio 60" is much more than a television show about television. It is a well-written and beautifully-acted drama about relationships among multi-dimensional characters as they cope with pressures and joys of work that brings them together.

The pilot episode was written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Thomas Schlamme. Look for cameo appearance by Felicity Huffman as herself.

AMANDA PEET PREGNANT

NBC kicks off its most promising new drama of the West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" set in the world of television tomorrow night at 10/9c, but one of the show's stars has a more personal reason to celebrate.

Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards, Somehting's Gotta Give) who plays president of a fictional TV network NBS on the show is pregnant. Peet and her fiance David Benioff (the 'Troy' screenwriter) expect their first child in six months.

The couple plans to tie the knot at some point in the future.