Sunday, November 27, 2005

Network Holiday Programming: The WB; Week 10 Ratings

The WB will kick off their holiday programming with a special movie, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Note, this has nothing to do with the series that aired on The WB some years back, at least I don't think.
A World Premiere Movie Based on the Popular American Girls Doll Series -- This heartwarming family drama centers around the life of spunky, strong-willed Felicity Merriman (Shailene Woodley), a ten-year-old girl growing up in colonial Williamsburg. Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and Smallville's John Schneider also star. Airs Tuesday, November 29 at 8 p.m. and encores Sunday, December 4 at 8 p.m.

Grandma Got Run-Over By a Reindeer:
An Animated Christmas Special Based On The Hit Holiday Song -- Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, this goofy and heartwarming adventure features young Jake Spankenheimer on the quest of a lifetime to track his missing grandma down on Christmas Eve and prove that Santa Claus is indeed real. Michele Lee (Knots Landing) provides the voice of Jake's greedy Cousin Mel and recording artist Elmo Shropshire provides the narration. Airs Sunday, December 11 at 7:30 pm. ET/PT.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas:
The Animated Holiday Classic Returns to The WB -- The Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the holiday-loving Whos of Whoville. But while he's stealing their presents and roast beast, he learns a most unexpected lesson about the holiday. Airs Wednesday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A Scooby Doo Christmas:
When the Scooby Gang stumbles upon the quaint town of Winter Hollow, they quickly discover that strangers are not welcome and Christmas is not discussed due to a ghostly headless snowman that appears every Yuletide to destroy people's houses, along with their holiday joy. To Shaggy and Scooby's dismay, Fred, Daphne and Velma decide to spend a chilling Christmas Eve at the local inn to solve the mystery of the snowman and bring the spirit of Christmas back to Winter Hollow. Airs Friday, December 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Samantha: An American Girld Holiday:
A Holiday Special Based on the Most Popular American Girl Doll --"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" stars Mia Farrow, Anna Sophia Robb, Kelsey Lewis, Jordan Bridges and Rebecca Mader. The movie focuses on 9-year-old Samantha Parkington™, an orphan who lives with her wealthy grandmother in Mount Bedford, New York in 1904. Samantha is one of the three original American Girl® characters, as well as the most popular doll in the collection. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT

The Wizard of Oz:
The Beloved Family Classic Based On The Novel By L. Frank Baum -- When a tornado sweeps Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) away from her Kansas home and off to the magical land of Oz, located "somewhere over the rainbow," she is befriended by a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley) and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who help her avoid the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) as they travel down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard (Frank Morgan), whom they believe can help Dorothy return home. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and King Vidor and written by L. Frank Baum, Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf with original music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The WB has not released yet if their series programming will have holiday episodes. So you'll have to check back with us if shows like Twins and Reba will have a holiday episode. And as of now, UPN has no holiday programming and they also have not released if their series will have holiday episodes. So stay tuned!

Now to the ratings game. I do not have the final numbers for Wednesday and on (thanks to the holiday weekend), so I can't show you how the networks did the first four days, but I can still break down the sitcoms that aired this week.

Monday Sitcoms
  • The King of Queens (CBS) - 10.98 million tuned in and a 3.7 A18-49 rating.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Solid, but slightly down from lead-in. 10.29 million and 3.6 A18-49 rating.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Up from last week's 15.17 million to 15.74 million. And a sitcom leading 5.2 A18-49 rating for the week.
  • Out of Practice (CBS) - Has been much better lately, 13.26 tuned in. Pretty good retention from lead-in. And a 4.3 A18-49 rating. I hope the hiatus in January and February won't hurt this sitcom.
  • One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - Consistent again, between 3.3-3.9 million.

Tuesday Sitcoms
  • My Name is Earl (NBC) - Up from previous week to 12.22 million.
  • The Office (NBC) - 8.09 million tuned in, over 4 million drop from lead-in. Concerning for NBC.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Still Standing (CBS) -With ABC and FOX airing a special and a movie, this was the only sitcom in the half hour. It should have done better, but it didn't.
  • Yes, Dear (CBS) - Same as above.
Thursday Sitcoms
  • Joey (NBC) - Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving Day, but Joey had its lowest ratings ever probably. Why did NBC air an original on Thanksgiving? Do they think this show is like Friends? People want to watch Charlie Brown on Thanksgiving, not Joey-- and they did, as ABC beat NBC in this half hour.
  • Will & Grace (NBC) - Not what it once used to be. I know it was Thanksgiving Day, but still, the rating was below a 4.
  • Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - I don't have final numbers, but UPN was dead last in the 8 p.m hour.
  • Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - 9 p.m. hour average was only a 1.2. Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving and sweeps, but UPN should have aired a special instead.

Friday Sitcoms
  • What I Like About You (The WB) - A repeat, but dead last in its slot.
  • Reba (The WB) - A repeat at 8:30 improved on its lead-in.
  • Hope & Faith (ABC) - ABC should have aired a repeat or a special since no one wants to watch sitcoms on the holiday weekend, as NBC found out last night.
  • Hot Properties (ABC) - See above.
  • Twins (The WB) - A repeat that was dead last in its slot.
Summing it up. My Name is Earl, Out of Practice, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and The King of Queens were the only impressive sitcoms this week--maybe because they aired pre-Thanksgiving. Everything else was pre-empted or in reruns or did terrible on holiday airings (Joey, Will & Grace, Hope & Faith, Hot Properties).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, October 19

The Simpsons - "Treehouse of Horror XXXVI" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The town is menaced by a mysterious murdering monster from out of the sewers; Krusty has a demonic special guest on his live Halloween special; Springfield's post-apocalyptic future.

Universal Basic Guys - "Golden Beans" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Mark and David start a coffee shop in the garage; Tammy and Hank struggle to keep Mernft Man from bothering customers.

Krapopolis - "Basket Baby" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A baby arrives in a basket; Deliria encroaches on Apollo's turf; Tyrannis throws a potluck.

Bob's Burgers - "The Twinnening" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Teddy takes a handyman job next door to the restaurant and finds himself trapped inside a store full of spooky antiques.

DMV - "Pilot" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
East Hollywood Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving examiner Colette pines for her coworker Noa while enduring teasing from colleagues Gregg, Vic and Ceci. Also, new manager Barb rallies the crew to save their branch from government shutdown.

Electric Bloom - "How We Handled an Unexpected Visitor" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Tulip's sister comes home from college and is jealous of Tulip's bond with Jade; Posey deals with a little incident of her own.

Electric Bloom - "How We Defeated a Jingle Bell Bully" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
To help Tulip rediscover her love of Christmas, Electric Bloom is forced to team up with their sworn enemies, The Two Shellys, to try and win the Holiday Sing-Off.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 13)

Sunday, October 19

  • Phoebe Robinson (Everything's Trash) - Andy Cohen interviews Phoebe on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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