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Today in TV History
Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing “died” on Dallas in 1985, only to return exactly one year later after Pam’s (Victoria Principal) very long “dream.” In 2000, Fox drama Beverly Hills, 90210 concluded after 294 episodes.

In Today’s Issue

UPFRONT WEEK
-The CW in Fall 2012
-CBS in Midseason
-TNT and TBS Announce New Strategy
-Already Announced Line-Ups from ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox

NETWORK
-Wednesday 5/16/12 Metered Markets

CABLE
-Adult Swim in 2012-13

SCHEDULE BOX
-On the Air Tonight
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Note: It is upfront presentation week, with the five broadcast networks, plus Turner and USA, unveiling their prime-time programming plans for 2012-13. On this final day is The CW and USA.
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UPFRONT WEEK

The CW in Fall 2012
Three New Series; Changes on All Five Nights

With ratings on the downside, The CW is hoping to stop the bleeding with an aggressive schedule that features changes on all five nights. We will see three new dramas (Emily Owens, M.D., Arrow and Beauty and the Beast), and only one returning series, The Vampire Diaries, in its current time period.

Highly touted The Carrie Diaries, the prequel to Sex and the City, will debut in January in the Monday 9 p.m. hour after relocated Gossip Girl concludes its series run. Gossip Girl leads out of 90210, which shifts to 8 p.m. Returning Hart of Dixie, the only freshman CW series to snag a renewal, will move to Tuesdays at 8 p.m. into new medical drama Emily Owens, M.D. with former Off the Map star Mamie Gummer in the title role.

Wednesdays will feature new drama Arrow, based on Green Arrow of D.C. Comics, into relocated Supernatural, which heads into season eight. Aforementioned The Vampire Diaries leads into the remake of Beauty and the Beast on Thursday. And Friday will consist of tired (and relocated) America’s Next Top Model, which is not expected to rebound on this low HUT-level evening, followed by season three of Nikita, which shifts back one hour. While you have to admire any network that makes changes to 90 percent of its schedule, the obstacle is the returning product. Most of it is limited at best.

Joining The Carrie Diaries in midseason is new drama Cult, which focuses on an investigative journalist in search of his missing brother. Not returning on The CW are dramas Ringer and The Secret Circle.

Here is The CW’s fall 2012 line-up (with new shows in caps) followed by the new series descriptions.

Monday
8:00 p.m. 90210 (new night)
9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (new time): THE CARRIE DIARIES in midseason

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Hart of Dixie (new day and time)
9:00 p.m. EMILY OWENS, M.D.

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. ARROW
9:00 p.m. Supernatural (new night)

Thursday
8:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries
9:00 p.m. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Friday
8:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (new day)
9:00 p.m. Nikita (new time)

New Program Descriptions

Arrow
Based on Green Arrow of D.C. Comics, a wealthy playboy and billionaire industrialist turned politician named Oliver Green (Stephen Arnell) fights crime as his alter-ego Green Arrow using arrows, martial arts and technology. Other cast members include Katie Cassidy, Paul Blackthorne, Colin Salmon, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Colin Donnell, Jamey Sheridan and Susanna Thompson.

Beauty and the Beast
The relationship between a mythic, noble-man beast (Jay Ryan) who lives in a secret society of social outcasts in a subterranean sanctuary and a savvy female district attorney (Kristen Kreuk) is the focus of this new TV version of the classic tale.

The Carrie Diaries (midseason)
Based on the best-selling book by Candace Bushnell, the teen years of Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City in the 1980s is the focus of this prequel. Sophia Robb stars. Cast members include AnnaSophia Robb, Katie Findlay, Ellen Wong, Brendan Dooling, Freema Agyeman, Austin Butler, Matt Letscher, Chloe Bridges and Stefania Owen.

Cult (midseason)
After a string of disappearances and a likely murder, an inquisitive, young female production assistant on a popular television show called Cult joins a journalist blogger in investigating the fans of the series who might be re-creating crimes seen on the program, in real life. Jessica Lucas and Matt Davis star.

Emily Owens, M.D.
A new doctor (Mamie Gummer) comes to the sad and comical conclusion the life at the hospital where she works is really no different than high school. The ensemble cast includes Justin Hartley, Michael Rady, Jack Coleman, Kelly J. McCreary, Aja Naomi King and Necar Zadegan.

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CBS in Midseason
CBS is never one to load the deck with an abundance of new product in midseason, and 2013 is no exception. The network will introduce a new reality/competition from Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) and Michael Davies (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) called The Job, hosted by Lisa Ling, which will feature five contestants who compete for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to land their dream job at one of America’s most prestigious companies. Undercover Boss will return, and the network is in conversations to keep the sitcom that just won’t die, Rules of Engagement, alive.

TNT and TBS Announce New Strategy
TNT and TBS, which unveiled its programming initiatives in a packed presentation at the Hammerstein Ballroom in midtown Manhattan yesterday, will undertake what it refers to as a major transformation over the next two years, evolving from linear television networks into branded video destinations. For more, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/ckm24vr.

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ABC in Fall 2012: Five New Series; Changes on Five Nights
CBS, of course, has a lock in total viewership, while dominance among key adults 18-49 could remain in Fox’s corner (if potentially Jennifer Lopez-less American Idol holds up, of course). But ABC’s schedule looks smart and effective, wisely utilizing the best of its current fare while cautiously re-introducing the audience to the concept of the Friday night sitcom. And that could give it an advantage over NBC in the demo next season. While there are a number of potential weak spots (returning comedies Happy Endings and The B____ in Apartment 23 in the Tuesday 9 p.m. hour, inane looking comedy The Neighbors out of Modern Family, and new drama Last Resort in the Thursday 8 p.m. hour, etc.), the good outweighs the bad.

For more, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/7mvb8cr

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CBS in Fall 2012: Four New Series; Changes on Five Nights
Strength and consistency are the immediate observations of note on CBS’ new fall line-up, with successful entries positioned on six of the seven nights of the week (excluding wasteland Saturday, of course). And new Monday comedy Partners a potential breakout, with new drama Vegas getting early buzz. But returning The Good Wife was not exactly a big draw on Sunday, the remaining two occupants in the CSI franchise are down, and positioning aging Two and a Half Men out of red-hot The Big Bang Theory on Thursday is a missed opportunity.

For more, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/c5fst6n

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NBC in Fall 2012: Six News Series; Changes on Five Nights
With at least another seven new scripted series in midseason, there is no shortage of fresh product at NBC. You must be aggressive to build for the future. But 10 comedies on the fall line-up (the most since 2000) is too many; Rock Center With Brian Williams does not belong in the Thursday 10 p.m. hour; and the overall programming philosophy seems to be to throw something new against the wall to see it if sticks. Thankfully, NBC still has Sunday Night Football to pick up the pieces. Hopefully The Voce will hold up too.

For more, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/74pom6e

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Fox in Fall 2012: Three New Series; Changes on Five Nights
Quiet…that is the immediate word that comes to mind with only three new scripted series populating Fox’s fall schedule (and just two more, at present, in midseason). While the arrival of Britney Spears and Demi Lovato could help tainted The X Factor, which was a victim of its own hype, American Idol is bleeding; Raising Hope is not strong enough to anchor a two-hour live action Tuesday sitcom block; tired Glee could be ready to graduate; Touch on Friday is a question mark; and the established Sunday animation block could use a shot of adrenaline…or two.

For more, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/8xnzj6c

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT TV MEDIA INSIGHTS

Contact Joel Spicola at joel@tvmediainsights.com or 720/323-4055 for more information.
_______________________________________________________________________

NETWORK

Metered Market Wednesday Ratings

Wednesday 5/16/12

Household
Rating/Share
Fox 11.8/19
CBS 6.6/11
ABC 5.1/ 8
NBC 3.2/ 5
CW 0.9/ 1

-Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening – Wednesday 5/18/11
ABC: +24, CBS: + 8, NBC: – 3, Fox: -22, CW: -36

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-Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Modern Family (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS)

-Losers (excluding repeats):
America’s Next Top Model (CW), Don’t Trust the B____ in Apartment 23 (ABC), Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

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-Rating Results:
Fox, as expected, reigned supreme on this third Wednesday in May care of American Idol, which scored an 11.8 rating/19 share in the overnights from 8-10 p.m. While that was more than enough to dominate in each of the four half-hours, year-to-year it was off by 22 percent (versus a 15.1/23 on 5/18/11). And now rumor has it Jennifer Lopez may not be returning next season. Who do you think should fill J.Lo’s seat? http://tinyurl.com/7jyno8k

Here is the half-hour breakdown:

American Idol (Fox)
8:00 p.m.: 10.6/18 (#1)
8:30 p.m.: 11.8/19 (#1)
9:00 p.m.: 12.3/19 (#1)
9:30 p.m.: 12.3/19 (#1)

On CBS, encore telecasts of Mike & Molly (#4: 2.9/ 5 at 8 p.m.) and Rules of Engagement (#4: 2.7/ 4 at 8:30 p.m.), which could still be returning next season, led into the two-hour season finale of Criminal Minds at a solid 8.6/14 from 9-11 p.m. Comparably, that was right on par from one year earlier. Here is the half-hour breakdown:

Criminal Minds (CBS)
9:00 p.m.: 7.8/12 (#2)
9:30 p.m.: 8.4/13 (#2)
10:00 p.m.: 9.1/15 (#1)
10:30 p.m.: 9.0/15 (#1)

Modern Family was the standout on ABC, of course, with a third-place 7.0/11 at 9 p.m. And that, comparably, will finish second among adults 18-49 in the time period behind Idol. Next was disappointing Don’t Trust the B____ in Apartment 23 (#3: 3.9/ 6 at 9:30 p.m.), which will not have an easy time being paired with Happy Endings in the Tuesday 9 p.m. hour next fall, followed by Revenge (#2: 5.1/ 9 at 10 p.m.), which shifts to Sundays at 9 p.m. in season two. Consider that both a bold and very wise move.

Earlier in the evening on ABC was The Middle at a second-place 4.8/ 8 at 8 p.m. (down six percent from one year earlier), followed by the season one finale of Suburgatory at a 4.3/ 7 (#2) at 8:30 p.m. While not a stellar initial season by any means, the solid retention for Suburgatory out of The Middle made its renewal an easy decision.

Elsewhere, NBC filled the evening with two more episodes of Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (#3: avg. 3.6/ 6 from 8-9 p.m.), which will return in midseason, a repeat of Law & Order: SVU (#4: 1.9/ 3 at 9 p.m.), and an original installment of tired SVU (#3: 4.1/ 6 at 10 p.m.), which year-to-year slipped by a hefty 33 percent (versus a 6.1/10 on 5/18/11). The CW aired a double (repeat and original dose) of should-have-been axed America’s Next Top Model. The encore averaged a 0.7/ 1 at 8 p.m. (#5), followed by the original at a 1.1/ 2 at 9 p.m. Next season, tired Top Model moves to Fridays at 8 p.m. into returning Nikita.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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CABLE

Adult Swim in 2012-13
Young adult favorite Adult Swim has unveiled an aggressive slate of original programming. New series include Newsreaders, a satire of the network television newsmagazine genre; late night talker The Eric Andre Show (which premieres this Sunday at 12:30 a.m. ET); animated Black Dynamite, which is based on the 2009 feature film; Hot Package, which is a satire on the syndicated newsmagazines; an untitled workplace comedy about an associate demon as he competes on the corporate ladder of the underworld; and the return of anime favorite Toonami. There is also a Robot Chicken DC Comics special, a Venture Brothers Halloween special, and a Morel Orel special.

Pilots at Cartoon Network include Colonel Wallace (working title), Coffin Dodgers; Freestyle Love Supreme; Green Bench: The American Day Dream, NTSF: SD; SVU: Home Security System; King Star King, Rick & Morty; Ridiculous and Absurd Infomercials (That Sell You Nothing); Rolling With Dad; and an untitled animated Harold & Kumar project. Returning series are Aqua Something You Know Whatever; The Boondocks; Childrens Hospital; China, IL; The Heart, She Holler; Lotter Squad; NTSF: SD: SVU; Robot Chicken,; Squidbillies and Superjail!

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SCHEDULE BOX

Thursday, May 17

ABC
8:00 p.m. Missing (series finale)
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Scandal

CBS
8:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory (R)
8:30 p.m. Rules of Engagement
9:00 p.m. Person of Interest (season finale)
10:00 p.m. The Mentalist (season finale)

NBC
8:00 p.m. Community
8:30 p.m. 30 Rock (season finale)
9:00 p.m. Community
9:30 p.m. Community (season finale)
10:00 p.m. Awake

Fox
8:00 p.m. American Idol
9:00 p.m. Touch

CW
8:00 p.m. Perez Hilton – All Access: Katy Perry
9:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (R)
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Note: The Trivia Challenge will be on hiatus until tomorrow to accommodate Upfront Week. But there will still be a new question each day in the TVMI Media Jobs Classified email.

Today in TV History
There were four series-finales: The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok in 1958, In the Heat of the Night in 1995, Baywatch Nights in 1997 and Everybody Loves Raymond in 2005. Raymond concluded after nine seasons and 209 episodes.

In Today’s Issue

UPFRONT WEEK
-ABC in Fall 2012
-CBS in Fall 2012

NETWORK
-Metered Market Tuesday Ratings
-Weekly Ratings Update: May 7-13

CABLE
-Me-TV Announces Another Affiliation Agreement
-Cable Rankings – Week of May 7

SYNDICATION
-Syndication Rankings – Week of April 30

SCHEDULE BOX
-On the Air Tonight
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Note: It is upfront presentation week, with the five broadcast networks unveiling their prime-time programming plans for 2012-13. Today is CBS at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Also presenting is Turner Entertainment, the home of TNT and TBS.
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ABC in Fall 2012
Five New Series; Changes on Four Nights of the Week

ABC has architected a fall 2012 schedule that looks both aggressive and stable, with five new series and changes on four evenings of the week from the get-go (and a fifth night, Friday, come November). There are two new comedies fall (The Neighbors and Malibu Country) and a trio of new dramas: Nashville, Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue. For the first time in eight years, ABC will air comedies in fourth quarter on Friday.

Monday is unchanged with two-hours of Dancing With the Stars (an all-star edition) leading into Castle. If it “ain’t broke,” no need to fix it! Tuesdays will open with an 8 p.m. installment of the live Dancing With the Stars Results Show, followed by relocated comedies Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B____ in Apartment 23 in the 9 p.m. hour, and Private Practice at 10 p.m. Effective in January (and assuming Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B____ in Apartment 23 resonate from 9-10 p.m.), the comedy block expands to two-hours with new half-hours How To Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) and The Family Tools occupying the 8 p.m. hour in between editions of Dancing With the Stars.

Wednesday, of course, will feature two-hours of comedies populated with returning The Middle, Suburgatory and Modern Family, with new sitcom The Neighbors at 9:30 p.m. But Revenge shifts to Sundays at 9 p.m. (in place of departed Desperate Housewives). Capping off Wednesday is Nashville, a drama with former Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton as an aging country singer.

The perennially troubled Thursday 8 p.m. time period will open with new Andre Braugher drama Last Resort, followed by the return pairing of veteran Grey’s Anatomy and sophomore Scandal from 9-11 p.m.
While Shark Tank and Primetime: What Would You Do? have been upgraded to a fall start in the Friday 8-10 p.m. block (leading into 20/20), Fridays in November will featuring returning Last Man Standing at 8 p.m. into new sitcom Malibu Country, headlined by Reba McEntire (who had great success on this evening with her former self-titled WB sitcom). The two comedies will lead into relocated Shark Tank and 20/20 from 9-11 p.m.

Saturdays, of course, will be the home to College Football. And, in an attempt to rejuvenate waning Sunday, the revamped line-up will feature America’s Funniest Home Videos and Once Upon a Time from 7-9 p.m., aforementioned Revenge at 9 p.m., and new drama 666 Park Avenue at 10 p.m., which is a sci-fi themed hour from Fringe producer David Wilcox.

Also on tap in midseason are new dramas Mistresses, Red Widow and Zero Hour; and returning The Bachelor, Wife Swap and Body of Proof (which is expected to return to the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour after Private Practice officially concludes).

Not returning are dramas GCB, Missing, Pan Am and The River.

Anything, of course, is always possible. But, at first glance, ABC’s schedule looks smart and effective, wisely utilizing the best of its current fare while cautiously re-introducing the audience to the concept of the Friday night sitcom. Unlike NBC, which is too haphazard, and Fox, which is just plain boring, ABC looks like it is ready to make some inroads.

Here is ABC’s fall 2011 line-up (with new shows in caps) followed by the new series descriptions.

Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars
10:00 p.m. Castle

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars Results Show (new time)
9:00 p.m. Happy Endings (new day and time)
9:30 p.m. Don’t Trust the B____ in Apartment 23 (new day)
10:00 p.m. Private Practice

Tuesday (in January)
8:00 p.m. HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS (FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
8:30 p.m. THE FAMILY TOOLS

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. Suburgatory
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. THE NEIGHBORS
10:00 p.m. NASHVILLE

Thursday
8:00 p.m. LAST RESORT
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Scandal

Friday
8:00 p.m. Shark Tank
9:00 p.m. Primetime: What Would You Do?
10:00 p.m. 20/20

Friday (in November)
8:00 p.m. Last Man Standing (new day)
8:30 p.m. MALIBU COUNTY
9:00 p.m. Shark Tank (new time)
10:00 p.m. 20/20

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Saturday Night Football

Sunday
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. Once Upon a Time
9:00 p.m. Revenge (new day and time)
10:00 p.m. 666 PARK AVENUE

For a listing of the new program descriptions, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/7chog46

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CBS in Fall 2012
Four New Series; Changes on Five Nights

Rumors circulated for months that CBS would be expanding to two hours of comedies on Thursday. The network, however, has decided not to mess with success and will leave returning drama Person of Interest intact in the Thursday 9 p.m. hour. But there are changes aplenty within the comedy rotation, with 2 Broke Girls shifting into the Monday 9 p.m. half-hour out of new Max Mutchnick and David Kohan comedy Partners; and veteran Two and a Half Men heading to Thursday at 8:30 p.m. out of The Big Bang Theory.

CBS will introduce four new series this fall (dramas Vegas, Elementary and Made in Jersey; and aforementioned sitcom Partners), with changes impacting five nights of the week (excluding Wednesday and wasted Saturday). Vegas, which is described as a cowboy drama set in the 1960s, replaces canceled Unforgetabble in the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour out of NCIS: Los Angeles. Elementary, a modern day reimagining of Sherlock Holmes, moves into the Thursday 10 p.m. hour (out of Person of Interest). Current occupant The Mentalist shifts to Sundays at 10 p.m. out of The Good Wife (and in place of canceled CSI: Miami). Friday at 9 p.m. (which was the rumored new home of The Mentalist) will be housed with Made in Jersey, the story of a working class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her colleagues at a top New York law firm. Made in Jersey leads out of surprise returnee CSI: New York, which shifts to 8 p.m.

Not returning on the Eye net next season are sitcom Rules of Engagement, and dramas CSI: Miami, A Gifted Man, Unforgettable and recently launched NYC 22.

Details on CBS in midseason will be available later today.

Here is CBS’s fall 2011 line-up (with new shows bolded in caps) followed by the new series descriptions.

Monday
8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
8:30 p.m. PARTNERS
9:00 p.m. 2 Broke Girls (new time)
9:30 p.m. Mike & Molly
10:00 p.m. Hawaii Five-O

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. NCIS
9:00 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles
10:00 p.m. VEGAS

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. Survivor
9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds
10:00 p.m. CSI

Thursday
8:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
8:30 p.m. Two and a Half Men (new day and time)
9:00 p.m. Person of Interest
10:00 p.m. ELEMENTARY

Friday
8:00 p.m. CSI: New York (new time)
9:00 p.m. MADE IN JERSEY
10:00 p.m. Blue Bloods

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday (drama repeats)
9:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday (drama repeats)
10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery

Sunday
7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes
8:00 p.m. The Amazing Race
9:00 p.m. The Good Wife
10:00 p.m. The Mentalist (new day and time)

For a listing of the new program descriptions, click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/c5fst6n

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT TV MEDIA INSIGHTS

Contact Joel Spicola at joel@tvmediainsights.com or 720/323-4055 for more information.
_______________________________________________________________________

NETWORK

Metered Market Tuesday Ratings
Solid Season Ending Victory for CBS

Tuesday 5/15/12

Household
Rating/Share
CBS 10.2/16
ABC 6.0/10
NBC 5.6/ 9
Fox 4.6/ 7
CW 0.8/ 1

-Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening – Tuesday 5/17/11
NBC: +10, CBS: no change, Fox: – 4, CW: -27, ABC: -39

———-

-Winners:
NCIS (CBS), America’s Got Talent (NBC), Dancing With the Stars (ABC), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)

-Losers (excluding repeats):
Cougar Town (ABC), 90210 (CW), The L.A. Complex (CW), Fashion Star (NBC)

———-

-Rating Results:
A night of season-finales put dominant CBS well above the competition, with a hefty 70 percent overnight advantage over second-place ABC. Third was NBC, followed by two-hours of Glee on Fox and distant The CW.

NCIS closed its ninth season as the top-rated show of the evening, as usual, with an 11.9 rating/19 share in the overnights at 8 p.m. Year-to-year, that was up by three percent. Next was the two-hour NCIS: Los Angeles season-ender at a 9.4/15 from 9-11 p.m., which finished first in three of its four half-hours as follows:

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
9:00 p.m.: 9.5/15 (#1)
9:30 p.m.: 9.4/14 (#2)
10:00 p.m.: 9.5/16 (#1)
10:30 p.m.: 9.2/16 (#1)

Two episodes of Cougar Town on ABC did not resonate in the 8 p.m. hour, with an average fourth-place 2.7/ 4. But with a strong cult following, TBS was very wise to pick-up the Bill Lawrence sitcom for 15 new episodes in 2013.

Next on the alphabet net was the departure of Maria Menounos on Dancing With the Stars at a dominant 9.9/15 from 9-10 p.m., followed by Private Practice, which concludes next season, at a second-place 5.6/10 at 10 p.m.

On NBC, two-hours of America’s Got Talent led the network to its best performance in the Tuesday 8-10 p.m. block all season with a 6.7/11 from 8-10 p.m. Comparably, AGT built from a two-hour edition of The Biggest Loser on the year-ago evening (4.6/ 7 on 5/17/11) by a considerable 46 percent. Here is the half-hour breakdown:

America’s Got Talent (NBC)
8:00 p.m.: 6.4/11 (#2)
8:30 p.m.: 7.2/11 (#2)
9:00 p.m.: 6.8/10 (#3)
9:30 p.m.: 6.6/10 (#3)

Next on NBC was the season-finale of Fashion Star at an uneventful third-place 3.2/ 6 at 10 p.m. (which was 48 percent below The Voice on the year-ago evening). Fashion Star will return in January 2013 in the Sunday 8 p.m. hour (out of Dateline and into a one-hour edition of The Celebrity Apprentice).

Elsewhere, two aforementioned hours of Glee on Fox finished fourth overall with a 4.6/ 7 in the overnights from 8-10 p.m. Comparably, that was down by 31 percent from a one-hour edition on 5/17/11 (6.7/10 at 8 p.m.). On The CW, the season-finale of 90210 was barely visible at a 1.0/ 2 at 8 p.m. But considerably worse was Canadian drama The L.A. Complex at a 0.5/ 1 at 9 p.m.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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OTHER NETWORK ITEMS

Weekly Ratings Update: May 7-13
It was more of the same in this second week in May; with consistent CBS the dominant player and deteriorating Fox still No. 1 among adults 18-34. Given the year-to-year losses, Fox should not be playing it so safe next fall. ABC, which was also on the downside, has a more aggressive line-up, while fourth-place NBC is hoping its low-rated comedies (plus four new single-camera entries) will suddenly spark interest next season. Don’t count on it. The CW, meanwhile, dropped by as much as 44 percent this week.

In series-finale news, Desperate Housewives on ABC will not make the record books by any means. But 11.12 million viewers (#14 overall) and a 3.2 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 (#11) in the Sunday 9-11 p.m. block is a very respectable exit. Also concluding this week were two freshman dramas: Unforgettable on CBS (Viewers: #15, 10.84 million; A18-49: #35t, 2.0/ 5), which would have had a better shot at renewal on ABC or NBC; and The Finder on Fox (Viewers: #65, 4.20 million; A18-49: #69t, 1.1/ 4), which did not benefit after being moved to Friday.

Two returning reality/competitions — The Voice on NBC and Survivor: One World on CBS — concluded for the season this week, and their performances appear in the below Top 30.

Here are the overall results by network for the week of May 7 (with change versus the comparable year-ago period in parentheses), followed by the freshman midseason series report card and the Top 30 rated programs of the week in total viewers and adults 18-49.

Total Viewers:
CBS: 10.04 million (- 4), ABC: 7.92 (-11), Fox: 7.34 (-12), NBC: 5.62 (+10), CW: 1.24 (-35)

Adults 18-49:
CBS: 2.3 rating/7 share (- 4), Fox: 2.3/ 7 (-18), ABC: 2.1/ 6 (-12), NBC: 1.7/ 5 (no change), CW: 0.5/ 2 (-44)

Adults 25-54:
CBS: 3.1/ 8 (- 6), Fox: 2.8/ 8 (-12), ABC: 2.7/ 7 (-10), NBC: 2.1/ 6 (+ 5), CW: 0.5/ 1 (-44)

Adults 18-34:
Fox: 1.7/ 6 (-26), ABC: 1.5/ 5 (-17), NBC: 1.3/ 5 (no change), CBS: 1.2/ 4 (-20), CW: 0.6/ 2 (-33)

———–

For the Freshman Series Report Card and the Top 30 rated programs of the week (total viewers and adults 18-49), click on the following: http://tinyurl.com/85uclzo

Source: Nielsen Media Research data
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CABLE

Me-TV Announces Another Affiliation Agreement
Me-TV, one of the homes of classic television, has announced an affiliation agreement with Fisher Communications-owned KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon. The station will launch Me-TV on June 24 and will be available on channel 2.2 and Comcast channel 302, Charter channel 292 and Wave Broadband channel 60. Me-TV, at present, is cleared in 79 percent of the country, with a roster of 122 affiliates.

Cable Rankings – Week of May 7
What follows are the top 10 rated cable networks for the week of May 7 broken out by total viewers, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34:

Total Viewers:
TNT: 2.97 million, USA: 2.48, Disney Channel: 2.20, History: 1.76, Fox News: 1.74, TBS: 1.63, Adult Swim: 1.38, FX: 1.24, A&E: 1.22, Food Network: 1.22

Adults 18-49:
TNT: 1.59 million, USA: 912,000, TBS: 886,000, History: 720,000, Adult Swim: 640,000, FX: 635,000, A&E: 592,000, ESPN: 535,000, Discovery: 521,000, NBCS: 516,000

Adults 25-54:
TNT: 1.42 million, USA: 952,000, TBS: 871,000, History: 801,000, A&E: 620,000, FX: 600,000, Discovery: 549,000, Food Network: 533,000, Bravo: 507,000, Syfy: 497,000

Adults 18-34:
TNT: 933,000, TBS: 463,000, Adult Swim: 446,000, USA: 445,000, FX: 330,000, History: 318,000, Comedy Central: 305,000, ESPN: 301,000, NBCS: 281,000, MTV: 271,000

Source: Nielsen Media Research data
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SYNDICATION

Syndication Rankings – Week of April 30
Here is the top 30 rated shows (first-run and off-network) based on AA (average audience) households for the week of April 30.

Judge Judy (CBS Television Distribution) and The Big Bang Theory (Warner Bros.): 6.8 rating each; Wheel of Fortune (CBS): 6.4; Two and a Half Men (Warner Bros.) and Jeopardy (CBS): 5.5 each; The Big Bang Theory – Weekend B (Warner Bros.): 4.9; The Big Bang Theory – Weekend A (Warner Bros.): 4.4; Family Guy – weekend (Twentieth): 4.2, Family Guy – strip (Twentieth): 4.0; Entertainment Tonight (CBS): 3.6; Inside Edition (CBS), Criminal Minds (CBS) and Wheel of Fortune – Weekend (CBS): 3.0 each; Dr. Phil (CBS), Family Feud (Debmar Mercury), How I Met Your Mother – weekend (Twentieth) and Law & Order (NBC Universal): 2.9 each; Dr. Oz (Sony Pictures Television), How I Met Your Mother – strip (Twentieth) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU): 2.7 each; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC), Judge Joe Brown (CBS) and Two and a Half Men – Weekend B (Warner Bros.): 2.5 each; King of the Hill (Twentieth), Maury (NBCU) and Seinfeld (SPT): 2.4 each; Live With Kelly (Disney-ABC), Ellen DeGeneres (Warner Bros.), Century Premiere (Twentieth) and Seinfeld – Weekend (SPT): 2.3 each

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

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SCHEDULE BOX

Wednesday, May 16

ABC
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. Suburgatory
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. The B_____ in Apartment 23
10:00 p.m. Revenge

CBS
8:00 p.m. Mike & Molly (R)
8:30 p.m. Rules of Engagement (R)
9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds (season finale, two hours)

NBC
8:00 p.m. Betty White’s Off Their Rockers
8:30 p.m. Betty White’s Off Their Rockers
9:00 p.m. Rock Center With Brian Williams
10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU

Fox
8:00 p.m. American Idol (two hours)

CW
8:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model: British Invasion (R)
9:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model: British Invasion
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Note: The Trivia Challenge will be on hiatus until Friday to accommodate Upfront Week. But there will still be a new question each day in the TVMI Media Jobs Classified email.