The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (“CALM”) Act, which, we were promised, would end excessively loud ads on TV, became law on December 15, 2010. It required the FCC to enforce a technical standard that would prevent screamingly-loud ads – by mid-December of 2011. So, last December, the FCC announced with fanfare its plans to implement the CALM Act -- one of the commissioners at that time promised TV ads would “never be the same” again, putting the Sham Wow!’s and Oxycleans of the TV universe on notice. And, as you note, it's been going really well ever since.. Oh wait....
You and I are on the same page on this one. No matter how infotain-y they take "GMA" it's still produced under the ABC News umbrella...
I did, and thank you for noticing!
Okay, so I have watched two episodes of "Vegas" and I am still waiting for Dennis Quaid to smile. He looks constipated and, since much of his appeal is in his cheeky smile, the show is very hard to watch. How is the show doing in the ratings? Should I hope he gets some Metamucil or give up on it?
Did you see him on "The Talk" when the cast visited to pitch the show? He' looked pretty miserable there too though, in his defense, Julie Chen and some of the other "Talk"-ers were dressed up in full 60's Vegas showgirl regalia, which is enough to sadden even the bravest former movie star now compelled to do broadcast series TV. But, you had a question, and you'd like it answered, right? "Vegas" is doing well -- opened with 15 million viewers (and the highest timeslot rating among 18-49 year olds) last week and scored 12 million viewers (and another demo win) this week though, let's face it, it has little competition in its timeslot ("Parenthood" and "Private Practice" -- both struggling shows). My guess is we're stuck with Dour Dennis for a while.
After I suffered through the second atrocious ep of that mess called "Revolution," I said never again, but even though I'm no longer watching it, I'm just curious. What are the ratings & are they falling every week as people realize how absurd the entire premise is? Will it even make it to the Nov. sweeps? The same goes for "Last Resort," except that it boasts a spectacularly great actor as the lead who can transcend almost any bad writing. But I think here, he's met his match, so same question, will it make it to Nov?
Lots to go over here:
"Revolution" is doing very well for NBC and the network a couple days ago gave it a full-season pickup. It benefits from following "The Voice" on Mondays. The week before the season started, "Revolution clocked a whopping 12 million viewers before the other broadcast nets launched their fall lineups; this week it's down to 8.3 million, against stiffer competition but still handily winning its timeslot among 18-49 year old viewers who -- all together now! -- are the currency of broadcast TV ad sales. And my guess is the power will return on this show -- for those of you not watching it's about a world in which all the power goes off at once all around the world ---including all those energizer bunny batteries apparently, and the engines in your car, etc. and Kudzu has taken over all the skyscrapers, etc... Anyway, the power will go back on long enough for those citizens you see in the show to get their teeth whitening touched up -- golly they have bright teeth -- and their hair blow-dried so it will look nice for the next several months -- and then it will go off again, because otherwise there is no show. Now, in re ABC's "Last Resort" it opened with more than 9 million tuned in last week and finished third in the age bracket, behind CBS comedies and Fox's "X Factor" and this week fell to around 8 million. That's not too bad considering how competitive the Thursday 8 p.m. timeslot is -- how competitive is the timeslot? Anyway, yes, they'll make it to November..
This question put my Flack-dar on high alert, but anyway....
What a coincidence your asking!... because Greg Kinnear has just signed to star in an American version of this Australian dramedy. For those of you not familiar with "Rake" -- think "House," only in the coutroom instead of a hospital, self-destructive/brilliant attorney, blah, blah, blah. Which is SUCH a happy coincidence, because "House" exec producer Paul Attanasio has been signed to exec produce! And, in case anyone's wondering, Audience Network is the exclusive entertainment channel for DirecTV customers.
Is there something in the rule book that says recovering alcoholics are not allowed to smile?...Me, I'd put him in a flick, and make it a comedy. That smile is a terrible thing to waste...
I know...
Let's all clap our little hands and say "I believe they will kill off the annoying teen chick on Revolution, I believe they will kill off the annoying teen chick on Revolution" and see if that works.
Not really the case, though yes, technically it is only the second week of the official TV season, NBC launched its fall lineup much earlier because a) it had the Olympics in which it promoted some of the shows so it made sense to launch them before people forgot about the promos and b) NBC has been doing so badly in the ratings it makes sense to launch shows early to get them out of the cruch of Premiere Week....
How is "The Neighbors" doing? I think it is funny in a weird sort of way, but my husband just goes What the!!
It is the No. 1 new comedy of the season... tell your husband he needs to watch.
Yes... good guess!
Pookie -- I've had too many activities that take away from my TV viewing time. Can "Elementary" wait until Summer Re-run Theater?
No. Because I'm watching it and want to be able to discuss it with you.... you've got time to catch up now before it get to be too late...
I think the network news divisions should stay out of that business during an election cycle.. I know --I'm old fashioned.
Lisa, I watched the first episode of "The Neighbors" because of you and found it oddly really funny. I laughed out loud more times than I'd care to admit. But, the second episode wasn't nearly as good. Do you have any sense of whether they used all their humor in the pilot and it's essentially over?
This is the problem with broadcast TV... So much more time and money is spent on the pilot episode than can be spent on all subsequent episodes that there is often a noticeable drop off in quality, etc from first to second episode.. Give it a few more weeks... because it made you laugh out loud more times than you'd care to admit, and it's the least you can do to thank it...
You mean the "When 'The Voice' returns season"?
Fox needs to kick "Glee" to the curb so it can move "X Factor" from 8 -- where it's getting killed by CBS comedies -- to 9, where it will get less-killed by CBS's "Person of Interest." Sadly, that is not going to happen.
It's not "airing" -- it's streaming... The "debate" will be livestreamed Saturday night, starting at 8 p.m. EDT... For more information, check the web site therumble2012.com
Aha! So you do think they're creating the drama....this is a school that is growing daily....I'm so looking forward to recapping "Idol" now....
Yeah, kind of like Mandy Patinkin, in re starring on CBS's "Criminal Minds" -- which Patinkin recently referred to as "soul destroying"
No, you're not an idiot... you've come to the right place. We take in all "Neighbors" lovers here... I thought, similarly, that "3rd Rock from the Sun" would get old really fast. But it did not... fingers crossed
I'm a "Suburgatory" fan but also like "Neighbors"...there's room for plenty of comedy on the schedule -- it's a good season for comedy. Except for "Guys with Kids" -- there's just no excuse for that one..
My guess is Time Warner is looking for a way to get those of you who already have "Wizard of Oz" on DVD or Blu- Ray, to toss that and purchase it again... Kind of like those "Singing in the Rain" bajillionth anniversary super-boxed sets with hundreds of bells and whistles.... I'm all for it, if it helps finance TCM...
I do remember. I'm a big believer in the power of positive thinking....
you betcha!
Drat! I know you didn't mean to, but you've gone and ruined "666" for me... I'd forgotten it's the same blonde. I'm here to tell you there has never been a more annoying actress get up on stage at a TV Press Tour in all my years of covering TV... She stands in a class all her own...
Sadly, it's for realsies... Falls under ABC News, in much the same way "Today" is a production of NBC News...
None... just focus on the wonderful opening theme music...
My husband and I don't agree on much when it comes to TV. We both like "30 Rock," "Community," and "Modern Family"; after that, someone is breaking out a laptop or book to get through the other person's choice. But we both, for whatever reason, really like "The Neighbors." We feel like we should hate it, but darn if those aliens aren't so well-cast and hilarious! I don't know where they found that alien kid, but he totally looks like he'd be an alien. The humans, meh, but the aliens - just crack us up! I'm going to be really sad when this show is canceled b/c I suspect we are in the small minority who even gave this show a chance.
Again, No. 1 new comedy of the season.... turn that frown upside down.... blah, blah, blah....
I stopped watching sitcoms in the 90s. Every once in a while I will watch an episode of "The Office" or "The Middle," but nothing pulls me in. But there are so many new sitcoms over the last few years, so I tried watching "The New Girl" the other night and I just found the acting and storyline very weak. Is this supposed to be a good show? Maybe it's me.
It's you... There are some great comedies out there.. 2 Broke Girls, Guys with Kids -- JUST KIDDING! But, seriously, there are some good comedies: "Modern Family," sounds like something you have not yet sampled, based on what you said. It's a good place to start. I won't load you down with others.. We'll take baby steps, kay?
What do you think will be the first few shows to be cancelled? There are some shows I don't want to bother starting if they are only going to get cancelled. I assume I'm ok to start "Elementary" since it's doing decent numbers for CBS?
I think betting money is on Mob Doctor, right guys?
After three episodes "Animal Practice" could not be any worse. It isn't even worth fast-forwarding through the mindless drivel just to see Crystal. When does NBC do the humane thing and put this dog down?
I know what you mean, and the good news, if you're right, is that Crystal will probably get cast in something else because she's such a little star... I think they should make her a correspondent on The Daily Show...
I'm really looking forward to the Academy Awards hosted by MacFarlane! When I went to see him interviewed one year at the Paley TV Festival and he was wearing his customary public-speaking Scotch-on-rocks, I was told he is not comfortable with live public speaking and so always has a drink on hand. You remember the old flick "My Favorite Year" in which Peter O'Toole played a faded movie star similarly afflicted, who signs up to guest star on Sid Ceasar's show (given diff name for the flick) not realizing it's live TV? I'm counting on the upcoming Oscarcast going something like the final scene in that flick.
If there is, you can be sure Ryan Seacrest, newest member of the "Today" show family, will get to the bottom of the report very soon...
That would be lovely, but I wouldn't count on it. Head of NBC Entertainment, Bob Greenblatt has said NBC needs to broaden out its primetime audience, and "Community" is one of the problems -- too nichy a show. It's been moved to Fridays -- Land of Low Expectations -- so it can produce more episodes for syndication. If NBC pulls the plug on "GwK" it would make more sense for the network to try another NEW, broader comedy in the slot...
I haven't yet watched this season and am sorry to read this review. HBO this week announced it has picked up the show for another season, which suggests their numbers are showing enough people feel otherwise...
the prevailing wisdom is that you're on target...
Lisa, I've given this show two heartfelt tries, but I really dislike it. Is it doing that well that it's already been picked up, or is it because NBC has something to prove. "Partners" is so much better.
"The New Normal" is getting beat in its timeslot by Fox's "The Mindy Project" among young viewers which, ironically, is produced by NBC Universal.. "TNN's" numbers aren't overwhelming.... and "Partners" isn't such a ratings barn burner either, over on CBS. Moving "Men" to Thursday may have helped CBS on Thursdays, but it's cost them ratings on Mondays for sure...
After debate/playoffs, etc....November 8 is the return date, says Fox... and I'm with you in re shaving Finn's head. Heck, shave all their heads -- in a dance number.
You do know that Sherlock Holmes, as written by Doyle, dabbled in controlled substances, right? But yes, I'm all for giving Watson more to do... hopefully that will happen in upcoming episodes...
another side heard from... Now I'm going to have to catch up asap..
That show was re-thought, re-cast and died a quick death.. I can't even remember what it was called, but I think it was supposed to be a kind of "Love American Style" rom-com anthology re-boot....or, I dreamed that...
"We've lost a pod" needs to become a Thing....
Ah! I did not realize they'd played the chick with hot bod in her knickers card... Well played, Fox! Well then, I'm changing my vote...
wow,that is so high school...
but I want to see him with a shaved head....
exactly....
it's an interesting update... but I can see how some Sherlock fans might take issue with the license...anyway, Jonny Lee Miller's performance is fun to watch... I'm hoping they do an episode in which nothing happens and he just talks Holmes for 40 minutes...
I LOVE this game...how clever of you and your husband. seriously.
I think we just fixed the script by adding "because I'm the Mob Doctor" to the end of all her lines...I'm out of time. Thank you for joining me. Hope to hear from you next Friday!
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