Friday, April 29, 2011

Thursday 04/28/11 Final Cable Ratings

Manhunters (A&E, 10pm)
- 1.243 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Manhunters (A&E, 10:30pm)
- 1.294 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Real Housewives of NYC (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.866 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

NFL Draft (ESPN, 8pm, 229 minutes)
- 6.003 million viewers
- 3.8/6 HH
- 2.9/9 A18-49

Swamp People (HIST, 9pm)
- 3.864 million viewers
- 2.3/3 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10pm)
- 2.008 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 1.560 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

America's Best Dance Crew (MTV, 10pm)
- 2.015 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 1.7/5 W18-34
- 2.0/8 T12-17

NFL Draft (NFLN, 7:58pm, 220 minutes)
- 1.044 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Secret Diary of a Call Girl (SHO, 10:30pm, 23 minutes)
- 0.075 million viewers
- 0.1/0 HH
- 0.0/0 A18-49
*apparently this is new...?*

TNA: Impact (SPIKE, 9pm, 122 minutes)
- 1.510 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 8:09pm, 150 minutes)
- 3.871 million viewers
- 2.4/4 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 10:39pm, 160 minutes)
- 3.400 million viewers
- 2.2/5 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Thursday 04/28/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

20/20
- 7.009 million viewers
- 4.6/8 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Grey's Anatomy (61 minutes)
- 10.665 million viewers
- 7.0/11 HH
- 3.7/9 A18-49

Private Practice (59 minutes)
- 6.681 million viewers
- 4.5/7 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

The Big Bang Theory
- 10.713 million viewers
- 6.4/11 HH
- 3.3/10 A18-49

Rules of Engagement
- 7.859 million viewers
- 4.8/7 HH
- 2.3/7 A18-49

CSI
- 10.842 million viewers
- 6.8/10 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

The Mentalist
- 13.530 million viewers
- 8.5/14 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

Community
- 3.345 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

The Office (R, 8:30pm, 30 minutes, 97% coverage NBC normally 98%)
- 3.080 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

The Office (9pm, 53 minutes)
- 8.416 million viewers
- 4.8/7 HH
- 4.2/11 A18-49

Parks and Recreation (9:53pm, 37 minutes)
- 4.710 million viewers
- 2.8/4 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

30 Rock (10:30pm)
- 3.950 million viewers
- 2.4/4 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

American Idol
- 19.597 million viewers
- 11.5/19 HH
- 5.7/17 A18-49

Bones
- 9.700 million viewers
- 5.8/9 HH
- 2.8/7 A18-49

The Vampire Diaries (96% coverage CW normally 95%)
- 2.679 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49
- 1.3/5 A18-34
- 1.9/6 W18-34

Nikita (96% coverage)
- 1.723 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34
- 0.7/2 W18-34

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Wednesday 04/27/11 Final Cable Ratings

Top Chef Masters (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.248 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

South Park (CMDY, 10pm)
- 3.108 million viewers
- 2.1/3 HH
- 1.8/4 A18-49
- 3.5/10 M18-34

Workaholics (CMDY)
- 1.448 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 1.8/5 M18-34

Mythbusters (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.635 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Justified (FX, 61 minutes)
- 2.918 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Real World Las Vegas (MTV, 10pm)
- 2.530 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49
- 3.0/8 W18-34
- 1.7/7 T12-17

The Ultimate Fighter (SPIKE)
- 1.480 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Ghost Hunters (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.136 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Fact or Faked (SYFY)
- 1.134 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10pm)
- 1.811 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10:30pm)
- 1.844 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Extreme Couponing (TLC, 9:30pm)
- 1.736 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 7:08pm, 153 minutes)
- 3.623 million viewers
- 2.4/4 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 9:41pm, 171 minutes)
- 4.266 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.8/5 A18-49

Operation Repo (TRU, 9pm)
- 1.731 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Operation Repo (TRU, 9:30pm)
- 1.634 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Wednesday 04/27/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

The Middle (R, 97% coverage ABC normally 98%)
- 5.013 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Better With You (97% coverage)
- 4.645 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

Modern Family (R, 9pm, 31 minutes)
- 5.944 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

Cougar Town (29 minutes)
- 5.623 million viewers
- 3.5/5 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Happy Endings
- 5.169 million viewers
- 3.3/5 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Modern Family (R, 10:30pm, 30 minutes)
- 4.293 million viewers
- 2.8/5 HH
- 1.6/4 A18-49

Survivor
- 11.324 million viewers
- 6.4/10 HH
- 3.2/9 A18-49

Criminal Minds (R)
- 9.110 million viewers
- 5.7/9 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (R)
- 7.451 million viewers
- 4.8/8 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Inside the Royal Wedding
- 5.168 million viewers
- 3.5/6 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49

The Voice (R, 120 minutes)
- 6.146 million viewers
- 3.9/6 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

American Idol (90 minutes)
- 22.318 million viewers
- 12.6/20 HH
- 7.1/20 A18-49

Breaking In (96% coverage FOX normally 98%)
- 7.010 million viewers
- 4.1/6 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

America's Next Top Model (R, 8pm)
- 1.153 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 0.5/2 A18-34
- 0.7/2 W18-34

America's Next Top Model (9pm, 96% coverage CW normally 95%)
- 2.387 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49
- 1.2/3 A18-34
- 1.8/5 W18-34

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tuesday 04/26/11 Final Cable Ratings

Toya: A Family Affair (BET, 10pm)
- 1.118 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

The Deadliest Catch (DISC, 9pm, 61 minutes)
- 3.577 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Hogs Gone Wild (DISC, 59 minutes)
- 1.459 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Top Shot (HIST, 10pm)
- 2.189 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

16 and Pregnant (MTV, 10pm)
- 2.354 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49
- 3.1/8 W18-34
- 1.5/6 T12-17

Auction Hunters (SPIKE, 10pm)
- 1.571 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Destination Truth (SYFY, 9pm)
- 0.581 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen (SYFY)
- 0.331 million viewers
- 0.3/0 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 8:09pm, 157 minutes)
- 4.061 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 10:46pm, 157 minutes)
- 5.837 million viewers
- 3.6/8 HH
- 2.8/9 A18-49

Hardcore Pawn (TRU, 9pm)
- 1.760 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Tuesday 04/26/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Dancing with the Stars (8pm)
- 13.079 million viewers
- 8.4/13 HH
- 2.5/7 A18-49

Dancing with the Stars (9pm, 61 minutes)
- 18.281 million viewers
- 11.8/17 HH
- 3.6/9 A18-49

Body of Proof (59 minutes)
- 11.860 million viewers
- 7.9/13 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

NCIS (R, 98% coverage CBS normally 99%)
- 11.209 million viewers
- 7.2/11 HH
- 2.0/6 A18-49

NCIS: Los Angeles (R)
- 10.294 million viewers
- 6.5/10 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

The Mentalist (R, 98% coverage)
- 7.943 million viewers
- 5.1/8 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

The Biggest Loser (60 minutes)
- 7.448 million viewers
- 4.5/7 HH
- 2.6/8 A18-49

The Voice (120 minutes)
- 11.775 million viewers
- 6.8/10 HH
- 5.1/13 A18-49

Glee (90 minutes)
- 8.616 million viewers
- 5.1/8 HH
- 3.4/9 A18-49
- 3.6/11 A18-34
- 4.7/14 W18-34

Raising Hope
- 4.534 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.8/4 A18-49

One Tree Hill (93% coverage CW normally 95%)
- 1.437 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 0.9/3 A18-34
- 1.3/4 W18-34

Hellcats (93% coverage)
- 0.979 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.5/1 A18-34
- 0.7/2 W18-34
*not the time to hit such series lows... regardless of preemptions...*

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Monday 04/25/11 Final Cable Ratings

Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABCF, 8pm)
- 2.205 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49
- 1.9/6 W18-34
- 2.4/9 T12-17

Make It Or Break It (ABCF)
- 1.639 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49
- 1.0/3 W18-34
- 2.2/7 T12-17

Bethenny Ever After (BRAVO)
- 1.627 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

American Chopper: Senior vs Junior (DISC, 9pm)
- 2.511 million viewers
- 1.6/2 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49

Pawn Stars (HIST, 10pm)
- 6.362 million viewers
- 3.9/6 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

Pawn Stars (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 6.631 million viewers
- 4.1/7 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

Hard Times of RJ Berger (MTV)
- 0.896 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.5/1 W18-34
- 1.2/4 T12-17

Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (MTV, 10:30pm)
- 1.303 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 0.9/3 W18-34
- 1.2/5 T12-17

Bad Girls Club (OXYG, 9pm)
- 1.361 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
- 1.3/3 W18-34

Love Games (OXYG)
- 0.890 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 1.0/3 W18-34

Nurse Jackie (SHO, 10pm, 26 minutes)
- 0.650 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

United States of Tara (SHO, 10:30pm, 26 minutes)
- 0.334 million viewers
- 0.2/0 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

Stargate Universe (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.092 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Sanctuary (SYFY)
- 0.868 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 8:09pm, 147 minutes)
- 3.354 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 10:44pm, 169 minutes)
- 3.539 million viewers
- 2.3/5 HH
- 1.6/6 A18-49

All Worked Up (TRU, 9pm)
- 1.642 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

All Worked Up (TRU, 9:30pm)
- 1.509 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Southern Fried Stings (TRU, 10pm)
- 1.378 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Adventure Time (TOON)
- 1.409 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.9/4 T12-17
- 2.1/7 K2-11

Mad (TOON)
- 1.631 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 1.2/5 T12-17
- 2.3/8 K2-11

Regular Show (TOON)
- 1.742 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 1.5/5 T12-17
- 2.3/8 K2-11

Problem Solverz (TOON)
- 1.148 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49
- 0.7/2 T12-17
- 1.6/5 K2-11

WWE Tough Enough (USA)
- 2.452 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

WWE Raw (USA, 9pm)
- 5.178 million viewers
- 3.0/4 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

WWE Raw (USA, 10pm, 69 minutes)
- 5.220 million viewers
- 3.0/5 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Love and Hip Hop (VH1, 8pm)
- 1.180 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Beverly Hills Fabulous (VH1, 8:30pm)
- 1.026 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Sunday 04/24/11 Final Cable Ratings

Breakout Kings (A&E)
- 1.991 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

The Killing (AMC, 62 minutes)
- 2.254 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

River Monsters (APL, 10pm)
- 1.713 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Real Housewives of Orange County (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.686 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Human Planet (DISC, 8pm)
- 1.400 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Human Planet (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.466 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Megaquake (DISC)
- 2.202 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Khloe & Lamar (E!, 10pm)
- 1.588 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49
- 2.1/6 W18-34

Dance Scene (E!, 10:30pm)
- 0.752 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.9/3 W18-34

MLB Game (ESPN, 7:59pm, 188 minutes)
- 2.199 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Game of Thrones (HBO, 9:03pm, 54 minutes)
- 2.202 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 1.0/2 A18-49

Treme (HBO, 10:02pm, 57 minutes)
- 0.605 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Ax Men (HIST, 9pm)
- 3.535 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

The Borgias (SHO, 10pm, 54 minutes)
- 0.778 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 7:09pm, 158 minutes)
- 4.506 million viewers
- 2.7/5 HH
- 1.8/6 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 9:47pm, 169 minutes)
- 6.281 million viewers
- 3.9/7 HH
- 2.8/8 A18-49

Mob Wives (VH1, 8pm)
- 1.406 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Audrina (VH1)
- 0.600 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Saddle Ranch (VH1)
- 0.466 million viewers
- 0.3/0 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Monday 04/25/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Dancing with the Stars (91 minutes)
- 22.380 million viewers
- 13.7/21 HH
- 4.7/13 A18-49

Better With You
- 11.225 million viewers
- 7.1/11 HH
- 2.6/6 A18-49

Castle (R, 59 minutes)
- 7.435 million viewers
- 4.9/8 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

How I Met Your Mother (R)
- 5.224 million viewers
- 3.5/6 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49

Mad Love
- 5.533 million viewers
- 3.5/5 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

The Big Bang Theory (R, 31 minutes)
- 7.680 million viewers
- 4.8/7 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

Mike & Molly (R)
- 7.860 million viewers
- 4.9/7 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Hawaii Five-0 (R, 59 minutes)
- 7.194 million viewers
- 4.5/7 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Chuck (R, 97% coverage NBC normally 98%)
- 2.773 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

The Event
- 4.620 million viewers
- 2.9/4 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Law & Order: Los Angeles
- 5.786 million viewers
- 3.9/6 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

House (R, 61 minutes)
- 4.887 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

The Chicago Code (R, 59 minutes)
- 4.074 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.0/2 A18-49

90210 (96% coverage CW normally 95%... will be tracking this week in case this is a "new normal")
- 1.736 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49
- 1.1/4 A18-34
- 1.3/4 W18-34

Gossip Girl
- 1.549 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 1.1/3 A18-34
- 1.7/5 W18-34

Sunday 04/24/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

America's Funniest Home Videos (R)
- 6.720 million viewers
- 3.6/7 HH
- 1.7/6 A18-49

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
- 7.811 million viewers
- 4.4/8 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

Desperate Housewives (61 minutes)
- 10.150 million viewers
- 6.2/10 HH
- 3.1/8 A18-49

Brothers & Sisters (59 minutes)
- 6.551 million viewers
- 4.3/7 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

60 Minutes
- 10.578 million viewers
- 6.6/13 HH
- 1.6/6 A18-49

The Amazing Race
- 9.374 million viewers
- 5.3/9 HH
- 2.6/8 A18-49

Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie: Beyond the Blackboard (120 minutes)
- 8.579 million viewers
- 5.3/9 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Dateline
- 4.294 million viewers
- 2.7/5 HH
- 0.8/3 A18-49

America's Next Great Restaurant
- 3.727 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Celebrity Apprentice (120 minutes)
- 8.257 million viewers
- 4.8/8 HH
- 3.0/8 A18-49

The Simpsons (R, 7pm, 31 minutes)
- 2.085 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/3 A18-49

The Simpsons (R, 7:31pm, 30 minutes)
- 2.535 million viewers
- 1.4/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

The Simpsons Movie (8:01pm, 119 minutes)
- 3.626 million viewers
- 1.9/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Monday, April 25, 2011

Friday 04/22/11 Final Cable Ratings

Dual Survival (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.256 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

The Soup (E!)
- 0.827 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Fashion Police Weekly (E!)
- 0.777 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (ESPN, 6:58pm, 161 minutes)
- 3.411 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 1.4/5 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (ESPN, 9:39pm, 152 minutes)
- 4.578 million viewers
- 2.8/5 HH
- 2.0/6 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (ESPN2, 7:58pm, 168 minutes)
- 1.342 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49

Boxing (ESPN2, 10:46pm, 124 minutes)
- 0.706 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

American Restoration (HIST, 10pm)
- 2.924 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

American Restoration (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 3.015 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Victorious (NICK)
- 4.006 million viewers
- 2.5/5 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
- 3.4/16 T12-17
- 5.3/20 K2-11

Big Time Rush (NICK)
- 3.509 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
- 2.8/12 T12-17
- 4.6/17 K2-11

WWE Smackdown (SYFY, 120 minutes)
- 2.825 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 0.8/3 A18-49

Sanctuary (SYFY)
- 1.424 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm, 60 minutes)
- 1.087 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Generator Rex (TOON)
- 1.520 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 1.2/6 T12-17
- 1.5/6 K2-11

Friday 04/22/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Shark Tank
- 4.828 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.4/5 A18-49

Primetime: What Would You Do?
- 4.004 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

20/20
- 4.462 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

CSI: NY (R, 8pm, 98% coverage CBS normally 99%)
- 5.999 million viewers
- 3.9/7 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country (120 minutes, 98% coverage)
- 8.368 million viewers
- 5.1/9 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

Friday Night Lights (97% coverage NBC normally 98%)
- 3.379 million viewers
- 2.1/4 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

Dateline (120 minutes, 97% coverage)
- 5.827 million viewers
- 3.9/7 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Kitchen Nightmares (R, 97% coverage FOX normally 98%)
- 2.551 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Fringe (97% coverage)
- 3.325 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Smallville (94% coverage CW normally 95%)
- 2.352 million viewers
- 1.4/3 HH
- 1.0/4 A18-49
- 0.7/3 A18-34
- 0.5/2 W18-34

Supernatural (94% coverage)
- 1.904 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49
- 0.7/3 A18-34
- 0.6/2 W18-34

Game of Thrones Week 2 Review - The Kingsroad

I'm starting to remember why I stopped doing weekly reviews of things airing on television. Not because I didn't enjoy this episode of Game of Thrones (in fact, I was very happy that the pace was WAY up versus the necessarily slow and set-up-y pilot), but because, well, you have two options in reviews. You can do a recap (which is what most weekly "reviews" are) or you can do something a little more literary, discuss theme, character, etc. A lot of television wears theme on its sleeve (or announces it via voiceover).

If week one of Game of Thrones was about loyalty, then this week was about duty. It wasn't a question of "will you go" (Ned, becoming the Hand of the King, Dany becoming Drogo's wife) but a question of "how far will you go?" It's a question that, in a way, began with Jaime throwing Bran from the tower window at the end of the pilot. "The things I do for love."

While my favorite scene in the episode was the illuminating, riddled with undercurrents breakfast between the Lannisters (okay, it was really Tyrion slapping the crap out of Joffrey), I felt this episode really served to highlight the Stark women, who were all underserved in the loaded pilot. We saw new colors to Catelyn, Sansa, and Arya.

Catelyn, the mourning mother, hasn't left her sick son's side in a month (time is just flying in every episode of this show). But when she fends off an assassin's attempt on comatose Bran's life (with a serious assist from Summer, Bran's direwolf... so cute), she is activated and must leave Winterfell to warn her husband. The treachery hinted at in her sister's letter is certainly afoot. And she reminds eldest son Robb of his duty: there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I forgot to note this last week... but how gorgeous is the weirwood tree in the godswood at Winterfell?

Sansa wishes to live in a Disney movie. Unfortunately, she lives in Westeros. Arya seems much more aware of this. So, when Sansa goes on a stroll with "her Prince" Joffrey (he of getting the shit slapped out of him) and he challenges the butcher's boy practicing swordplay with Arya to a duel... Joffrey using a sword and Mycah using a wooden stick. Arya intercedes and Joffrey threatens to kill her, but Arya is saved by Nymeria, her direwolf. Arya throws Joffrey's sword into the river, then, knowing Nymeria will be killed because she injured the King's son, chases her pet direwolf off (and doesn't it seem as if these direwolves have a duty to protect their Starks). Arya is brought before the King and it's a case of he said she said. Sansa is called as witness, but claims ignorance, to Arya's protests. Duty. Did Sansa pass the test? Or fail it? This is a world where family and clan is everything and she's just betrayed her sister... to become Queen. I think we will judge Sansa for her actions, but they're completely understandable.

King Robert has no idea who to believe, his son or the daughter of his new Hand. It's massively complicated given the political ties Robert is trying to forge by marrying Joffrey and Sansa... and he balks. Ned is grateful, but Cersei seems to be aware of the politics at play and demands her husband do something about their son's injury. It's subtle leverage and it works as the King declares that the remaining direwolf, Sansa's Lady, will die. Lady, who we have seen all of once in the scene where she is well-behaved and walking through the party before Sansa goes on the fateful walk with Joffrey. Sansa may have lied, may have had her reasons... and they have already come back to haunt her.

Here is where Arya shows her true colors and just how awesome she is (besides, y'know, whacking Joffrey with a stick - I guess hitting Joffrey was a motif in this episode): she comes to Lady's, and thereby Sansa's, defense. Lady didn't do anything. She doesn't deserve death.

But the King has spoken. And Ned insists on being the one to do it. It's his duty, and echoes what he told Bran in the first episode: "The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword." Robert, clearly, does not subscribe to this, but Ned feels it is his duty and we see the great pain he takes in killing Lady, realizing just what a Devil's bargain he has made in agreeing to become Robert's Hand.

Elsewhere, Jon Snow and Tyrion discuss the duty of the Night's Watch... what are they protecting Westeros from beyond the Wall? Tyrion, an intelligent dwarf, does not believe what we saw in the opening minutes of the pilot... that there are true horrors beyond the Wall. It's the stuff of legends and myth for Tyrion.

Elsewhere, still, Dany learns a valuable lesson in how to do her duty better as Khal Drogo's wife from a handmaiden named Doreah who was sold to a brothel at age 9. But it's okay, because she spent three years learning how to please men before actually having to do it at age 12. Here's hoping Dany will be able to walk without help soon now that she's looking on Drogo's eyes.

I'm honestly not sure what's more disturbing... Ned's killing of Lady (which was off screen!) or the imagery of Drogo and Dany. Either Jason Momoa is a very, very large man or if Emilia Clarke is very, very small or some combination of the two or there is film magic going on because it really, really does take on the look of a man having sex with a child. Which, y'know, that's the story so okay. But, whew, it's another thing to look at it.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Thursday 04/21/11 Final Cable Ratings

Real Housewives of NYC (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.927 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Hogs Gone Wild (DISC, 10pm)
- 1.035 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Archer (FX, 10pm, 32 minutes)
- 1.006 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Swamp People (HIST, 9pm)
- 3.747 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10pm)
- 1.786 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 1.473 million viewers
- 0,9/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

America's Best Dance Crew (MTV, 10pm)
- 2.074 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49
- 1.6/5 W18-34
- 1.8/7 T12-17

TNA: Impact (SPIKE, 9pm, 122 minutes)
- 1.730 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Police Women of Broward County (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.051 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 8:09pm, 155 minutes)
- 3.875 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 10:44pm, 160 minutes)
- 3.268 million viewers
- 2.3/5 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Thursday 04/21/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Wipeout (R)
- 4.684 million viewers
- 2.7/5 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Grey's Anatomy (R, 61 minutes)
- 3.883 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49

Private Practice (R, 59 minutes)
- 2.645 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

The Big Bang Theory (R)
- 7.149 million viewers
- 4.6/8 HH
- 1.8/6 A18-49

Rules of Engagement (R)
- 5.459 million viewers
- 3.5/6 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

CSI (R)
- 8.473 million viewers
- 5.3/9 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

The Mentalist (R)
- 11.075 million viewers
- 6.9/12 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49

Community (97% coverage NBC normally 98%)
- 3.166 million viewers
- 2.1/4 HH
- 1.4/5 A18-49

The Paul Reiser Show (97% coverage)
- 2.377 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

The Office (31 minutes, 97% coverage)
- 6.849 million viewers
- 4.0/6 HH
- 3.3/10 A18-49

Parks and Recreation (29 minutes, 97% coverage)
- 4.882 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

30 Rock (60 minutes)
- 4.595 million viewers
- 2.7/5 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

American Idol (61 minutes)
- 20.319 million viewers
- 11.5/20 HH
- 5.8/19 A18-49

Bones (59 minutes)
- 10.960 million viewers
- 6.4/10 HH
- 3.2/9 A18-49

The Vampire Diaries
- 2.700 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49
- 1.2/4 A18-34
- 1.5/5 W18-34

Nikita
- 2.013 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34
- 0.8/2 W18-34

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wednesday 04/20/11 Final Cable Ratings

Storage Wars (A&E, 10:30pm)
- 3.549 million viewers
- 2.1/4 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

Top Chef Masters (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.247 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Workaholics (CMDY)
- 1.101 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 1.8/6 M18-34

Mythbusters (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.735 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Justified (FX, 61 minutes)
- 2.503 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Real World Las Vegas (MTV, 10pm)
- 2.015 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49

The Ultimate Fighter (SPIKE)
- 1.296 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Coal (SPIKE)
- 0.680 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Ghost Hunters (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.509 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Fact or Faked (SYFY)
- 1.575 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10pm)
- 2.023 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10:30pm)
- 2.162 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Extreme Couponing (TLC, 9:30pm)
- 2.265 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Hoarding: Buried Alive (TLC, 10pm)
- 1.415 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 8:09pm, 156 minutes)
- 3.292 million viewers
- 2.1/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 10:45pm, 164 minutes)
- 5.352 million viewers
- 3.4/7 HH
- 2.5/9 A18-49

Wednesday 04/20/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

The Middle
- 6.824 million viewers
- 4.3/7 HH
- 1.9/6 A18-49

Better With You
- 5.245 million viewers
- 3.3/5 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

Modern Family (31 minutes)
- 9.947 million viewers
- 5.9/9 HH
- 3.8/10 A18-49

Cougar Town (29 minutes)
- 6.177 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Happy Endings (10pm)
- 4.591 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.8/5 A18-49

Happy Endings (10:30pm)
- 3.875 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.6/4 A18-49

Survivor
- 11.024 million viewers
- 6.3/10 HH
- 3.1/9 A18-49

Criminal Minds (R)
- 8.711 million viewers
- 5.5/8 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (R)
- 7.195 million viewers
- 4.7/8 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Minute to Win It (8pm)
- 3.121 million viewers
- 1.9/3 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Minute to Win It (R, 9pm)
- 2.991 million viewers
- 1.9/3 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Law & Order: SVU (R)
- 4.958 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

American Idol (90 minutes)
- 22.543 million viewers
- 12.7/20 HH
- 7.1/20 A18-49

Breaking In
- 7.464 million viewers
- 4.4/7 HH
- 2.5/6 A18-49

America's Next Top Model (R, 8pm)
- 1.174 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34
- 0.8/3 W18-34

America's Next Top Model (9pm)
- 1.577 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 0.8/2 A18-34
- 1.1/3 W18-34

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tuesday 04/19/11 Final Cable Ratings

Toya: A Family Affair (BET, 10pm)
- 1.358 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Pregnant in Heels (BRAVO, 10:01pm, 60 minutes)
- 0.673 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Deadliest Catch (DISC, 9pm)
- 3.880 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Only in America (HIST, 9pm)
- 1.838 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Top Shot (HIST)
- 1.727 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Auction Hunters (SPIKE, 10pm)
- 1.578 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Destination Truth (SYFY, 9pm)
- 0.971 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen (SYFY)
- 0.562 million viewers
- 0.3/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 7:09pm, 158 minutes)
- 4.730 million viewers
- 3.0/5 HH
- 2.0/7 A18-49

NBA Playoffs (TNT, 9:47pm, 158 minutes)
- 3.846 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 1.8/5 A18-49

RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
- 0.316 million viewers
- 0.2/0 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

Tuesday 04/19/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
- 4.718 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Dancing with the Stars (61 minutes)
- 16.310 million viewers
- 10.4/16 HH
- 3.0/8 A18-49

Body of Proof (59 minutes)
- 11.370 million viewers
- 7.4/12 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

NCIS (R)
- 13.435 million viewers
- 8.5/13 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

NCIS: Los Angeles (R, 9pm, 98% coverage CBS normally 98%)
- 11.228 million viewers
- 7.0/11 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

NCIS: Los Angeles (R, 10pm)
- 9.108 million viewers
- 5.8/9 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49

The Biggest Loser (120 minutes)
- 6.620 million viewers
- 4.3/7 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Parenthood
- 6.319 million viewers
- 4.1/7 HH
- 2.5/7 A18-49

Glee (61 minutes)
- 9.799 million viewers
- 5.8/9 HH
- 3.8/11 A18-49
- 4.0/13 A18-34
- 5.4/17 W18-34

Raising Hope
- 5.306 million viewers
- 3.0/4 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Traffic Light (29 minutes)
- 3.085 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

One Tree Hill
- 1.405 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 0.8/3 A18-34
- 1.3/5 W18-34

Hellcats
- 1.190 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34
- 0.8/2 W18-34

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Monday 04/18/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Dancing with the Stars (91 minutes)
- 20.099 million viewers
- 12.7/20 HH
- 4.0/11 A18-49

Cougar Town (29 minutes)
- 7.876 million viewers
- 5.1/8 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

20/20
- 7.470 million viewers
- 5.2/8 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

How I Met Your Mother
- 6.485 million viewers
- 4.1/7 HH
- 2.5/8 A18-49

Mad Love
- 5.617 million viewers
- 3.5/5 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

Two and a Half Men (R, 31 minutes)
- 7.436 million viewers
- 4.7/7 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Mike & Molly
- 9.983 million viewers
- 6.3/10 HH
- 2.6/6 A18-49

Hawaii Five-0 (59 minutes)
- 11.438 million viewers
- 7.1/11 HH
- 2.8/7 A18-49

Chuck
- 4.219 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

The Event
- 3.850 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Law & Order: Los Angeles
- 5.122 million viewers
- 3.5/6 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

House (61 minutes)
- 8.804 million viewers
- 5.2/8 HH
- 3.2/9 A18-49

The Chicago Code (59 minutes)
- 6.384 million viewers
- 3.9/6 HH
- 1.8/5 A18-49

90210
- 1.724 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 1.0/3 A18-34
- 1.5/5 W18-34

Gossip Girl
- 1.430 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 1.0/3 A18-34
- 1.6/4 W18-34

Sunday 04/17/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

America's Funniest Home Videos
- 6.402 million viewers
- 3.8/7 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

Extreme Makeover Home Edition
- 7.635 million viewers
- 4.6/7 HH
- 2.0/6 A18-49

Desperate Housewives (61 minutes)
- 9.105 million viewers
- 5.9/9 HH
- 2.7/7 A18-49

Brothers & Sisters (59 minutes)
- 6.317 million viewers
- 4.2/7 HH
- 1.7/7 A18-49

60 Minutes
- 10.895 million viewers
- 6.9/13 HH
- 1.4/5 A18-49

The Amazing Race
- 8.779 million viewers
- 5.1/8 HH
- 2.4/7 A18-49

Undercover Boss
- 8.951 million viewers
- 5.2/8 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

CSI: Miami
- 9.965 million viewers
- 6.1/10 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

Dateline
- 4.599 million viewers
- 3.0/5 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

America's Next Great Restaurant
- 3.827 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49

Celebrity Apprentice (120 minutes)
- 7.656 million viewers
- 4.7/7 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

The Cleveland Show (R, 7pm, 29 minutes)
- 2.367 million viewers
- 1.4/3 HH
- 1.0/4 A18-49

American Dad (R, 7:29pm)
- 2.696 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.1/4 A18-49

The Simpsons (R, 7:59pm, 31 minutes)
- 4.183 million viewers
- 2.4/4 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49

American Dad (8:30pm)
- 4.739 million viewers
- 2.7/4 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

Family Guy (31 minutes)
- 5.982 million viewers
- 3.6/5 HH
- 3.0/8 A18-49

The Cleveland Show (9:31pm, 29 minutes)
- 4.609 million viewers
- 2.8/4 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Monday, April 18, 2011

Friday 04/15/11 Final Cable Ratings

Lemonade Mouth (DISN, 8pm, 115 minutes)
- 5.693 million viewers
- 3.0/5 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49
- 4.8/20 T12-17
- 6.9/24 K2-11

The Soup (E!)
- 1.011 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Fashion Police Weekly (E!)
- 0.687 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:01pm, 57 minutes)
- 1.160 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

American Restoration (HIST, 10pm)
- 3.319 million viewers
- 1.9/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

American Restoration (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 3.356 million viewers
- 2.0/4 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Camelot (STARZ, 10pm, 54 minutes)
- 0.988 million viewers
- N/A HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

WWE Smackdown (SYFY, 120 minutes)
- 2.982 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

Sanctuary (SYFY)
- 1.217 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.265 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49

Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9:20pm)
- 1.219 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Generator Rex (TOON)
- 1.219 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 1.2/5 T12-17
- 1.3/5 K2-11

Friday 04/15/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Shark Tank (97% coverage ABC normally 98%)
- 5.282 million viewers
- 3.2/6 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Primetime: What Would You Do?
- 4.235 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

20/20
- 5.063 million viewers
- 3.4/6 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Chaos
- 5.683 million viewers
- 3.4/6 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

CSI: NY (R)
- 7.356 million viewers
- 4.6/8 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Blue Bloods (R)
- 7.942 million viewers
- 5.0/9 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Friday Night Lights
- 3.574 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

Dateline (120 minutes)
- 5.849 million viewers
- 4.0/7 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Kitchen Nightmares
- 3.910million viewers
- 2.4/4 HH
- 1.6/6 A18-49

Fringe
- 3.645 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Smallville
- 2.374 million viewers
- 1.4/3 HH
- 1.0/4 A18-49
- 1.0/4 A18-34
- 0.8/3 W18-34

Supernatural
- 2.257 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49
- 0.9/3 A18-34
- 0.9/3 W18-34

Adaptation Win: HBO's Game of Thrones

Disclaimer: I first read Game of Thrones, the first book from George R. R. Martin's as-yet-unfinished epic fantasy cycle approximately 14 years ago. Not immediately when it was released, but shortly thereafter. So, seeing this on-screen pretty much reawakened my inner 13-year old. It's been a while since I've reread, but I'm trying — ever so hard — to consider HBO's Game of Thrones as its own entity.

I'll be attempting to review each new episode (it's been a while since I've hunkered down to actually review any television that's airing) and will be doing so, as best as I can, without spoilers about where the plots are going. I'm genuinely interested in what any of you who haven't read the books think because, well, if the show is to be a success and continue on through the entire series of novels, people who haven't read the books will need to find the show enjoyable / accessible / understandable.

For those who have read the books... know that it's a necessity of book adaptations that things are cut / streamlined / changed in order to make a story producible (even with a mammoth budget like GoT). You have to find a way to express all that beautiful narrative in images, actions and spoken words. Unless you have pervasive voice-over, you have to find a way to express, externally, the rich inner world of a character. Thankfully, there is no pervasive voice-over here. Things will be lost in translation. They always are. But... sometimes things can actually get enriched.

My goodness, that was quite the preamble given that I have no idea how long this actual review will be. Let's get to it, shall we?

Sprawling. Contemplative. Just scratching the surface / just the beginning. Those are pretty much the ways I'd describe "Winter is Coming," the recast, rewritten premiere of Game of Thrones (I reviewed the original pilot script what feels like years ago). To say nothing of the astounding beauty with which the show was filmed (the color palettes of each location are distinct and delectable... you know where you are even without the architecture and terrain and costuming). So, clearly, I hated it ;P

Let's start with sprawling.

The opening credits (SO COOL) show an aerial view of the map of Westeros (as touching on Pentos, one of the Free Cities on a separate, eastern continent) and, in this pilot, zoom in to show King's Landing (where King Robert Baratheon rules on the Iron Throne), Winterfell in the North (where Eddard / Ned Stark and his House live), and The Wall (a massive, continent-spanning wall separating Westeros from... beyond the Wall, the land of Wildling and the Others — yes, it was difficult for me to hear "The Others" every time they were mentioned on Lost — or as the show calls them, the White Walkers). I think it's a brilliant shorthand that will help each episode seem more focused on both location and clan.

One of the tenets of the books is that every chapter is told from a main character's point of view, with prologues coming from someone less central, often giving us a view of a section of the world even our considerable cast of characters isn't aware of. That convention would be impossible to carry out on screen. So, instead, it seems every week, the map in the opening credits will tell us where our stories take place, and with who. Here, we start just beyond the Wall with three Rangers. We briefly see Queen Cersei in King's Landing before a quick time jump (for us, the viewer) takes us a month ahead when the King arrives at Winterfell (it takes a month by horse!) where much of the action of the pilot takes place. Separately, we go to Pentos for the wedding of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, all part of Dany's brother (Viserys)'s plan to amass an army and reconquer Westeros. They're the escaped children of a dead king.

More than just places and symbols and names... there are already about 20 named, important characters we've met. 20! And believe you me, there are more to come. I can only imagine when the story begins to include the other major cities and Houses. I quite enjoyed the scene where we finally learn any of the characters' names we hadn't yet heard in conversation by way of the Stark children pointing people out as the King's traveling party arrives at Winterfell.

I was delighted to see Peter Dinklage relishing the role of Tyrion Lannister, aka "The Imp," the dwarf brother of the Queen. He's a favorite in the books and though he was in, perhaps, 3 or 4 scenes here, his wit was on display. One moment he's making a penis joke talking about his spear and hunting, all in jest, and the next Ned and Robert are talking earnestly about, well, their skill with spears. Tyrion is just a lot of fun, but he clearly has a lot of pathos, evident in the moment he crossed with Jon Snow, Ned's bastard son. Two other deliciously devious characters (Varys, Petyr Baelish) from the books haven't been introduced yet (or it was "blink and you'll miss it"). I'm quite looking forward to them.

Among the things I felt were enriched coming to the screen from the book was the stark contrast between Daenerys Targaryen and Sansa Stark. One moment Dany is telling her brother that she doesn't want to marry Drogo, the next all Sansa apparently wants out of life is to marry Joffrey, the King's heir, and become Queen one day. They could not be more different, and when two scenes are put right next to each other like that, it helps highlight that fact. Very smart writing.

We had precious few moments with another book favorite, Arya Stark.

Let's move onto contemplative. You wouldn't know if from the opening 7-ish minutes (the quite tense prologue set north of the Wall... featuring the only supernatural elements in the entire show, if you can believe it), but not much technically happened in this premiere. This is an epic series, and the stage is just being set. Just beginning to be set the stage, really. Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, died and so the King came to ask Ned to take his place. That's pretty much it, until the cliffhangers (ooof, that term is possibly in poor taste).

Everything else is "color" and that "color" is what made the episode feel full. The emotion. Ned, trying to teach his second legitimate son, 10-year old Bran, about meting out justice and meanwhile dealing with the King's offer to leave his home and land. Jon Snow, Ned's bastard son, is dealing with coming of age and coming to terms with being illegitimate. Robb, Ned's legitimate heir, was a bit in the background in the episode as Ned and Jon's stories, I felt, really took precedence for the Starks. In addition to that, Bran is quite a climber, Sansa has her innocent, childish dreams of being royalty, and younger sister Arya is something of a tomboy. As for the King and his party, Cersei (a worrier) and Jamie (handsome, an able knight) are incredibly attractive twins, Robert the King is fat and has quite a long history with Ned (the war that got him the throne in the first place and displaced the two extant Targaryens, as well as reference to Ned's dead sister whom the King, apparently, wanted to marry). Robert needs someone he can trust.

Loyalty is a huge theme in this episode. Looking through that lens, you can see that Jon's actions with the direwolves (taking one of the team, as it were, by suggesting the the five direwolfs the party finds after Ned beheads the Night's Watch deserter go to the five Stark children — not including himself, but then finding reward in the form of a separate, sixth pure white direwolf) is a loyalty test. And he passes, of course.

On the other hand, you have Dany and her brother Viserys, who tells his sister that if letting the 40,000 Dothraki men and all their horses fuck her was what it took to get his father's throne back, he'd do it... yeesh. And, of course, there's the utmost example of loyalty broken and, in its own twist way, loyalty upheld with Queen Cersei. Bran, climbing one of Winterfell's towers at the end, spies Cersei and her twin brother, Jamie Lannister in flagrante. Twins! Incest! Twincest! Cersei, of course, is not being loyal to Robert and he has no idea. But Jamie's line as he SHOVES BRAN OUT THE HIGH TOWER WINDOW is "The things I do for love." Clearly if you're going to be breaking so many societal taboos, you're loyal to the end.

Jamie and Cersei are, apparently, not to be trifled with. If they'll go so far as to push a 10-year old boy who caught them in the act to whatever fate holds for him (okay, I admit it, I know, but go with me here), then who's to say perhaps the letter Catelyn Stark received from her sister and wife of the late Hand of the King — that he was murdered — has merit. Cersei and Jamie whisper in the halls of King's Landing while Jon Arryn's funereal proceedings are going on that he knew their secret (which I have described above, but at the time we were unaware), but he couldn't have told anyone... because they're still alive. Did they murder Jon Arryn? Regardless, if Lysa is to be believed, the Starks are leaving Winterfell for King's Landing and walking into dangerous territory.

That's right. This epic fantasy series gets its start in something quite familiar to television viewers: a murder mystery. Who'd have thunk it.

And it's so much more. As I said... we're just scratching the surface here. These aren't novels that wrap up in neat bows at the end, the story keeps twisting and growing. Have some patience with the series as each episode and, hopefully, season does the same. There are some great rewards coming your way.

Winter is coming. I can't wait for next week. Or for July 12th when book five FINALLY comes out.

Oh. Catelyn is Ned's wife. I now realize I've gone this whole time without mentioning her... the Stark women really did get the short shrift in this very full pilot, but, hey, as I said something's got to give and there's plenty of time to examine them further. Though not central here, Catelyn is presented as a doting wife and counterpoint to Cersei. Sansa, as above, is a wide-eyed beautiful girl who wants nothing more than to be Queen and is a counterpoint to (the very separate) Daenerys. Arya is a tomboy and, seemingly, counterpoint to all women in the show and of the time period. She shoots arrows, she wishes to dress as a soldier, she starts food fights, etc.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Thursday 04/14/11 Final Cable Ratings

After the First 48 (A&E)
- 1.426 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Manhunters (A&E, 10pm)
- 1.247 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Manhunters (A&E, 10:30pm)
- 1.275 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Real Housewives of NYC (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.856 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

Archer (FX, 10pm, 31 minutes)
- 1.213 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Swamp People (HIST, 9pm)
- 3.776 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10pm)
- 2.010 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 1.693 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

America's Best Dance Crew (MTV, 10pm, 61 minutes)
- 2.425 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49
- 2.1/6 W18-34
- 2.3/9 T12-17

TNA: Impact (SPIKE, 9pm, 121 minutes)
- 1.540 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Police Women of Broward County (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.279 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Unleashed: K9 Broward County (TLC, 10pm)
- 0.836 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Unleashed: K9 Broward County (TLC, 10:30pm)
- 0.873 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Pilot Script Review - Hail Mary

HAIL MARY
Network: CBS
Written By: Jeff Wadlow
Draft Date: January 7, 2011
Pages: 59

It's the madcap amateur private investigation adventures of crazy white woman and drug-dealing black guy!

No, seriously, that's what it is. Plus a little Southern charm to go with it.

Set in Atlanta, Mary Beth Baker, a polite but tough Southern belle in the vein of Leigh Ann Tuohy from The Blind Side (prone to cover up swear words with phrases like "son of a biscuit") is a guidance counselor out to help her students, preferring creative tough love over punishment and constantly butting heads with the principal at the high school, a rabid Georgia Tech football fan, and a grieving mother whose son, Josh, was murdered a year ago in what seemed to be an altercation involving drugs. The crime was never solved and Mary Beth spent her savings on a PI who, well, never solved the case. Her dead son's best friend, KZ, is a small time thug and fast-talking con-artist. The two are brought together by a case eerily similar to Josh's death. By solving it they hope to find the truth about what happened to Josh. Along the way, Mary Beth manages to butt heads with what seems to be the entire Atlanta PD.

That they succeed shouldn't surprise you. What did surprise me was that Josh's death isn't a long arc. The ramifications of a reveal involving corruption within the police department seem to be the long-odds Mary Beth and KZ will find themselves up against in series.

There's a lot of what feels, to me, like way-too-on-the-nose dialogue. No one will accuse this script of subtlety. There's also an out of place (for me, dawg) character in Billy Shifflet, a 10-year old neighbor of Mary Beth's who stops by three times during the script to impart extremely eloquent and beyond-his-years wisdom to anyone and everyone. Mary Beth's technological incompetence (itself rather unbelievable for a woman of modest means in her late-30s... it's not like she's 70 and can't use a computer or, like, the answering machine... we're definitely in caricature-land here) necessitates the character Ingrid, a mid-20s punk-rock tech-geek administrative assistant at the high school who helps Mary Beth out in her investigation.

I... think it's okay? I think it's surprising as a CBS show, because there's so much off-beat, caricature-y humor or at least many attempts at it. And that humor will make or break the show. I think it would be really refreshing to have something with a peculiar sense of humor to upend the musty old crime shows on CBS. I'll have to see if it plays or falls flat on its face.

Pilot Script Review - Poe

POE
Network: ABC
Written By: Christopher Hollier
Draft Date: January 19, 2011
Pages: 64

My goodness, there really were a number of "crime procedural with a supernatural twist" pilots picked up by the networks this year!

If you read my twitter, I may have prematurely indicated that I disliked this script. It took a while to slog through, but by the end, I was interested enough and it started to pick up the pace. Getting there was a challenge (and this is an industry that tends to stop readying at page 10), so we'll see if that can be trimmed or fixed on screen.

We all know of Edgar Allen Poe as the master of mystery and the macabre, as well as possibly the inventor of detective-fiction. Well... what if he consulted with the Boston Police on mysterious cases potentially involving the supernatural? Set in 1840, the script plays fast and loose with some of the details of Poe's later life (for instance, he doesn't seem to have married his 13-year old cousin in 1835... rather, he is still pining after first love and best friend Sarah Royster), but contains the requisite references to several famous stories and characters. As presented in the script, he is somewhat reminiscent of Robert Downey Jr's take on Sherlock Holmes. Probably fun on screen but a pain to be around and always causing headaches for others. The consternation he causes several police officers throughout is at times too much, but I imagine it at times and in small doses will be amusing.

Poe's partner in... consultant detectiving... is Celeste Chevalier. The Scully to his Mulder, and I mean this is almost every sense. The show, genuinely, wants to be a period piece supernatural (rather than aliens) version of the X-Files. Poe believes in the supernatural, Celeste in scientific explanations. Poe is wildly imaginative. Celeste is grounded in reality. They banter. They have UST and will probably pine after each other for years.

Celeste has her own tragic recent past. Her paramour, Marcus, died. She apparently met both Poe and Marcus at the same time, initially was attracted to Poe, but wound up with Marcus (Poe was occupied with Sarah).

There were times in the script I rolled my eyes. Mostly at some anachronisms and ways of talking that are very modern and not very 1840, but I made my peace with that. Also during the numerous references to some action being the 1840 version of modern crime investigations (white rope, not yellow tape... a squad with revolvers and lanterns instead of a SWAT team... a moving chalkboard instead of windows on a computer screen, etc). None of these things will be pointed out on screen (no one is going to speak the line "in 2011 I'll bet they use plastic yellow tape instead of white rope), so I think it will only be my own personal issue with the read.

There's an audience for this show. You have the elements of supernatural / genre stuff, straight-forward crime solving (versus Grimm, where the police side of the equation I felt was poorly executed), and the banter/UST in the primary relationship. Plus, there ought to be a lot of style to the visuals. It's highly familiar, but also slightly different, and that seems to be a good formula on network TV. Maybe not a show I'd tune into every week, but there seems to be some "mythology" and a series-(or at least season)-long mystery arcs planned for Marcus's death as well as Poe's mother's death when he was a child that could keep me interested for a while beyond what's sure to be a crime of the week format.

Thursday 04/14/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Wipeout
- 6.186 million viewers
- 3.4/6 HH
- 1.9/6 A18-49

Grey's Anatomy (R, 61 minutes)
- 4.253 million viewers
- 2.8/4 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Private Practice (R, 59 minutes)
- 2.783 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

The Big Bang Theory (R, 98% coverage CBS normally 99%)
- 7.512 million viewers
- 4.9/8 HH
- 1.8/6 A18-49

Rules of Engagement (R, 98% coverage)
- 5.666 million viewers
- 3.6/6 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

CSI (R, 98% coverage)
- 8.101 million viewers
- 5.2/8 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

The Mentalist (R, 98% coverage)
- 10.828 million viewers
- 7.0/12 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Community
- 3.485 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 1.4/5 A18-49

The Paul Reiser Show
- 3.372 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

The Office (31 minutes)
- 7.871 million viewers
- 4.6/7 HH
- 4.0/11 A18-49

Parks and Recreation (29 minutes)
- 5.161 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 2.5/7 A18-49

30 Rock (31 minutes)
- 4.445 million viewers
- 2.7/4 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

Outsourced (29 minutes)
- 3.496 million viewers
- 2.2/4 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49

American Idol (61 minutes)
- 21.918 million viewers
- 12.5/21 HH
- 6.4/20 A18-49

Bones (59 minutes)
- 11.448 million viewers
- 6.8/11 HH
- 3.5/10 A18-49

The Vampire Diaries
- 2.805 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49
- 1.2/5 A18-34
- 1.6/6 W18-34

Nikita
- 2.208 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 0.7/2 A18-34
- 0.8/2 W18-34

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Happy Endings Quarter Hour Breakdown

A not so sunny outlook for Happy Endings based on these...

9:31-9:45
- 7.739 million viewers
- 4.9/7 HH
- 2.8/7 A18-49

9:45-10:00
- 6.891 million viewers
- 4.4/7 HH
- 2.7/7 A18-49

10:00-10:15
- 6.120 million viewers
- 3.9/6 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

10:15-10:30
- 5.280 million viewers
- 3.4/6 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49

Wednesday 04/13/11 Final Cable Ratings

Storage Wars (A&E, 10:30pm)
- 2.883 million viewers
- 1.9/3 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Top Chef Masters (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.055 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Workaholics (CMDY)
- 1.053 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
- 1.5/5 M18-34

Mythbusters (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.833 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

NBA Game (ESPN, 8:06pm, 154 minutes)
- 1.330 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

NBA Game (ESPN, 10:40pm, 160 minutes)
- 1.192 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49

Justified (FX, 61 minutes)
- 2.498 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Real World Las Vegas (MTV, 10pm, 61 minutes)
- 2.165 million viewers
- 1.5/3 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49
- 2.5/7 W18-34
- 1.1/4 T12-17

Tori & Dean (OXYG, 10pm)
- 0.307 million viewers
- 0.2/0 HH
- 0.1/0 A18-49
- 0.2/0 W18-34

The Ultimate Fighter (SPIKE)
- 1.317 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Coal (SPIKE, 10pm, 61 minutes)
- 0.932 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Ghost Hunters (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.486 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Fact or Faked (SYFY)
- 1.389 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
-0.6/2 A18-49

Are We There Yet (TBS, 9pm)
- 1.581 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Are We There Yet (TBS, 9:30pm)
- 1.739 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10pm)
- 1.895 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10:30pm)
- 1.983 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Extreme Couponing (TLC, 9:30pm)
- 1.999 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Hoarding: Buried Alive (TLC, 10pm)
- 1.490 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Operation Repo (TRU, 9pm)
- 1.576 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Operation Repo (TRU, 9:30pm)
- 1.532 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Wednesday 04/13/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

The Middle (97% coverage ABC normally 98%)
- 6.138 million viewers
- 3.9/7 HH
- 1.8/6 A18-49

Better With You
- 4.845 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

Modern Family (9pm, 31 minutes)
- 9.608 million viewers
- 5.8/9 HH
- 3.9/10 A18-49

Happy Endings (9:31pm, 29 minutes)
- 7.301 million viewers
- 4.7/7 HH
- 2.8/7 A18-49

Happy Endings (10pm)
- 5.700 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Modern Family (R, 10:30pm)
- 4.558 million viewers
- 3.0/5 HH
- 1.8/5 A18-49

Survivor
- 11.086 million viewers
- 6.6/11 HH
- 3.1/9 A18-49

Criminal Minds
- 13.585 million viewers
- 8.6/13 HH
- 3.5/9 A18-49

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
- 9.956 million viewers
- 6.5/11 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

Minute to Win It (8pm)
- 3.272 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

Minute to Win It (R, 9pm)
- 3.075 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Law & Order: SVU (R)
- 4.909 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

American Idol (91 minutes)
- 23.031 million viewers
- 12.7/20 HH
- 7.3/21 A18-49

Breaking In (29 minutes)
- 7.790 million viewers
- 4.5/7 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

America's Next Top Model (92% coverage CW normally 95%)
- 2.076 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49
- 1.0/4 A18-34
- 1.6/5 W18-34

Shedding for the Wedding (93% coverage)
- 1.124 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 0.5/2 A18-34
- 0.8/2 W18-34

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tuesday 04/12/11 Final Cable Ratings

Toya: A Family Affair (BET, 10pm)
- 1.522 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Pregnant in Heels (BRAVO)
- 0.489 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Deadliest Catch (DISC, 9pm, 120 minutes)
- 4.373 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

Year of the Quarterback (ESPN, 8pm)
- 1.014 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49

Only in America (HIST, 9pm)
- 2.159 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Top Shot (HIST)
- 1.943 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Teen Mom: Unseen Moments (MTV, 10pm)
- 1.743 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49
- 2.2/6 W18-34
- 0.7/2 T12-17

Auction Hunters (SPIKE, 10pm, 31 minutes)
- 1.422 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Destination Truth (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.018 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen (SYFY)
- 0.470 million viewers
- 0.3/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

What Not to Wear (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.048 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

NBA Game (TNT, 8:16pm, 152 minutes)
- 2.771 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

NBA Game (TNT, 10:48pm, 154 minutes)
- 2.623 million viewers
- 1.7/4 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Hardcore Pawn (TRU, 9pm)
- 1.607 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1 rerun of LOGO original)
- 0.358 million viewers
- 0.2/0 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

Tuesday 04/12/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
- 5.361 million viewers
- 3.4/5 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Dancing with the Stars (61 minutes)
- 15.964 million viewers
- 10.2/15 HH
- 3.1/8 A18-49

Body of Proof (59 minutes)
- 11.061 million viewers
- 7.4/12 HH
- 2.5/7 A18-49

NCIS
- 19.870 million viewers
- 12.2/19 HH
- 3.9/12 A18-49

NCIS: Los Angeles
- 15.456 million viewers
- 9.5/14 HH
- 3.3/9 A18-49

The Good Wife
- 11.051 million viewers
- 7.4/12 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

The Biggest Loser (120 minutes)
- 7.400 million viewers
- 4.5/7 HH
- 2.7/8 A18-49

Parenthood
- 5.215 million viewers
- 3.3/5 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49

Glee (R, 61 minutes)
- 4.198 million viewers
- 2.7/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49
- 1.2/4 A18-34
- 1.6/5 W18-34

Raising Hope (R)
- 3.107 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Traffic Light (29 minutes)
- 2.243 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

One Tree Hill (R)
- 0.662 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 0.3/1 A18-34
- 0.4/1 W18-34

Hellcats (R)
- 0.647 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.2/1 A18-34
- 0.3/1 W18-34

Monday 04/11/11 Final Cable Ratings

Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABCF, 8pm)
- 2.291 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 1.5/5 W18-34
- 2.6/10 T12-17

Make It or Break It (ABCF)
- 1.640 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49
- 1.0/3 W18-34
- 2.1/7 T12-17

Relapse (A&E)
- 1.168 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Bethenny Ever After (BRAVO)
- 1.567 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

American Pickers (HIST)
- 5.173 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Pawn Stars (HIST, 10pm)
- 6.130 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

Pawn Stars (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 6.447 million viewers
- 3.9/7 HH
- 2.6/7 A18-49

Hard Times of RJ Berger (MTV, 10pm)
- 1.064 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.4/1 W18-34
- 1.4/5 T12-17

Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (MTV, 10:30pm)
- 1.240 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
- 0.6/2 W18-34
- 1.3/5 T12-17

Bad Girls Club (OXYG, 9pm)
- 1.360 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 1.6/4 W18-34

All About Aubrey (OXYG, 10pm, 61 minutes)
- 0.571 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.5/1 W18-34

Nurse Jackie (SHO, 10pm, 28 minutes)
- 0.574 million viewers
- 0.3/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

United States of Tara (SHO, 10:30pm, 27 minutes)
- 0.409 million viewers
- 0.3/0 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Being Human (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.666 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Stargate Universe (SYFY)
- 1.020 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Cake Boss (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.420 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Kate Plus 8 (TLC)
- 1.214 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Adventure Time (TOON)
- 1.693 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 1.4/5 T12-17
- 2.3/8 K2-11

Mad (TOON)
- 1.462 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.8/3 T12-17
- 2.2/7 K2-11

Regular Show (TOON)
- 1.689 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 1.1/4 T12-17
- 2.4/8 K2-11

Problem Solverz (TOON)
- 1.262 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49
- 0.7/2 T12-17
- 1.9/6 K2-11

WWE Raw (USA, 9pm)
- 5.335 million viewers
- 2.9/4 HH
- 1.9/5A18-49

WWE Raw (USA, 10pm, 67 minutes)
- 5.562 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Love and Hip Hop (VH1, 8pm)
- 0.896 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Beverly Hills Fabulous (VH1, 8:30pm)
- 0.911 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Monday 04/11/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Dancing with the Stars (121 minutes)
- 20.930 million viewers
- 13.1/20 HH
- 4.5/12 A18-49

Castle (59 minutes)
- 12.329 million viewers
- 7.9/13 HH
- 3.0/8 A18-49

How I Met Your Mother
- 6.873 million viewers
- 4.3/7 HH
- 2.7/8 A18-49

Mad Love
- 5.476 million viewers
- 3.4/5 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Mike & Molly (31 minutes)
- 7.905 million viewers
- 4.9/7 HH
- 2.5/6 A18-49

Two and a Half Men (R)
- 7.487 million viewers
- 4.7/7 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Hawaii Five-0 (59 minutes)
- 9.541 million viewers
- 5.9/9 HH
- 2.5/7 A18-49

Chuck
- 4.028 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Law & Order: Los Angeles (120 minutes)
- 6.104 million viewers
- 4.0/6 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

House (61 minutes)
- 8.927 million viewers
- 5.3/8 HH
- 3.2/9 A18-49

Chicago Code (59 minutes)
- 5.941 million viewers
- 3.7/5 HH
- 1.8/4 A18-49

90210 (R)
- 0.717 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 0.3/1 A18-34
- 0.4/1 W18-34

Gossip Girl (R)
- 0.568 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 0.3/1 A18-34
- 0.4/1 W18-34

Sunday 04/10/11 Final Cable Ratings

Breakout Kings (A&E)
- 1.785 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

The Killing (AMC, 10pm, 62 minutes)
- 2.556 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

River Monsters (APL, 10pm)
- 1.644 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

The Family Crews (BET, 8pm)
- 1.250 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

The Family Crews (BET, 8:30pm)
- 1.139 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

The Housewives of Orange County (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.530 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

The Comedy Awards (CMDY, 9pm, 120 minutes)
- 1.371 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.7/1 A18-49
- 1.1/3 M18-34

Human Planet (DISC, 8pm)
- 1.385 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Human Planet (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.690 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Good Luck Charlie (DISN, 8pm)
- 3.461 million viewers
- 2.1/4 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 2.3/10 T12-17
- 4.4/16 K2-11

Shake It Up (DISN, 8:30pm, 25 minutes)
- 3.665 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 2.8/11 T12-17
- 4.6/17 K2-11

Khloe and Lamar (E!)
- 2.538 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49
- 2.9/8 W18-34

Dance Scene (E!, 10:30pm, 34 minutes)
- 1.265 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 1.6/5 W18-34

MLB Game (ESPN, 7:59pm, 191 minutes)
- 4.697 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

Mildred Pierce (HBO, 9pm, 149 minutes)
- 0.964 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Ax Men (HIST, 9pm)
- 2.819 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Army Wives (LIF, 9pm)
- 3.444 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49
- 2.1/5 W25-54

Coming Home (LIF)
- 1.517 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49
- 0.8/2 W25-54

The Borgias (SHO, 10pm, 53 minutes)
- 0.683 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.1/0 A18-49

Sister Wives (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.417 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Sunday 04/10/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

America's Funniest Home Videos (R, 96% coverage ABC normally 98%)
- 6.523 million viewers
- 3.6/6 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

Secret Millionaire
- 9.329 million viewers
- 5.8/9 HH
- 2.4/7 A18-49

Brothers & Sisters (120 minutes)
- 6.476 million viewers
- 4.5/7 HH
- 1.8/5 A18-49

Masters Golf Tournament (3pm, 252 minutes)
- 15.257 million viewers
- 9.5/20 HH
- 3.9/16 A18-49

60 Minutes (7:12pm)
- 13.113 million viewers
- 8.1/14 HH
- 2.2/7 A18-49

The Amazing Race (8:12pm)
- 10.477 million viewers
- 6.0/9 HH
- 2.9/8 A18-49

Undercover Boss (9:12pm)
- 11.242 million viewers
- 6.5/10 HH
- 3.1/8 A18-49

CSI: Miami (10:12pm)
- 9.979 million viewers
- 6.0/10 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Dateline
- 4.334 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

America's Next Great Restaurant
- 3.514 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Celebrity Apprentice (120 minutes)
- 8.233 million viewers
- 5.0/8 HH
- 3.0/8 A18-49

The Cleveland Show (R, 7pm)
- 2.059 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

American Dad (29 minutes)
- 3.350 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

The Simpsons (7:59pm, 32 minutes)
- 5.059 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 2.3/7 A18-49

Bob's Burgers (29 minutes)
- 4.000 million viewers
- 2.3/4 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Family Guy (31 minutes)
- 6.589 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 3.3/9 A18-49

The Cleveland Show (9:31pm, 29 minutes)
- 4.925 million viewers
- 2.8/4 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

Friday 04/08/11 Final Cable Ratings

Wizards of Waverly Place (DISN, 8pm)
- 2.972 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49
- 2.2/10 T12-17
- 3.7/15 K2-11

The Soup (E!)
- 0.921 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Fashion Police Weekly (E!)
- 0.668 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:01pm, 57 minutes)
- 0.946 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Camelot (STARZ, 10pm, 54 minutes)
- 0.854 million viewers
- N/A HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

WWE Smackdown (SYFY, 120 minutes)
- 3.267 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Merlin (SYFY)
- 1.868 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.268 million viewers
- 0.9/2 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9:30pm)
- 1.511 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49

DC Cupcakes (TLC, 10pm)
- 1.081 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

DC Cupcakes (TLC, 10:30pm)
- 1.068 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Generator Rex (TOON)
- 1.155 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.9/4 T12-17
- 1.3/5 K2-11

Monday, April 11, 2011

Friday 04/08/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Shark Tank (97% coverage ABC normally 98%)
- 4.669 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Primetime: What Would You Do? (62 minutes)
- 4.568 million viewers
- 2.8/5 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

20/20 (58 minutes)
- 5.143 million viewers
- 3.3/6 HH
- 1.5/4 A18-49

Chaos
- 5.728 million viewers
- 3.6/6 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49

CSI: NY
- 9.746 million viewers
- 6.0/10 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49

Blue Bloods
- 10.713 million viewers
- 6.8/12 HH
- 1.6/5 A18-49

Who Do You Think You Are? (97% coverage NBC normally 98%)
- 5.733 million viewers
- 3.7/7 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Dateline (R, 120 minutes)
- 5.534 million viewers
- 3.8/7 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Kitchen Nightmares (R, 59 minutes)
- 2.892 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49

Fringe (R, 8:59pm, 61 minutes)
- 1.752 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Smallville (R, 62 minutes, 92% coverage CW normally 95%)
- 1.550 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49
- 0.5/2 A18-34
- 0.5/2 W18-34

Supernatural (R, 58 minutes, 92% coverage)
- 1.057 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.4/2 A18-34
- 0.5/2 W18-34

Friday, April 8, 2011

Thursday 04/07/11 Final Cable Ratings

The First 48 (A&E, 9pm)
- 1.810 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Manhunters (A&E, 10pm)
- 1.471 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Manhunters (A&E, 10:30pm)
- 1.413 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/2 A18-49

Real Housewives of NYC (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.965 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Archer (FX, 10pm, 31 minutes)
- 1.005 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Swamp People (HIST)
- 3.532 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10pm)
- 2.331 million viewers
- 1.5/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Mounted in Alaska (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 1.999 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

America's Best Dance Crew (MTV, 10pm, 62 minutes)
- 2.394 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49
- 2.2/7 W18-34
- 2.1/8 T12-17

TNA: Impact (SPIKE, 9pm, 121 minutes)
- 1.528 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (R, SYFY, 9pm, 60 minutes)
- 0.685 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (R, SYFY, 10pm, 61 minutes)
- 0.629 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

NBA Game (TNT, 8:16pm, 146 minutes)
- 3.258 million viewers
- 2.1/3 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

NBA Game (TNT, 10:42pm, 146 minutes)
- 1.535 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Thursday 04/07/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

Wipeout (R)
- 5.013 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Grey's Anatomy (R, 61 minutes)
- 4.093 million viewers
- 2.8/4 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

Private Practice (R, 59 minutes)
- 2.444 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

The Big Bang Theory
- 11.399 million viewers
- 6.9/12 HH
- 3.7/12 A18-49

Rules of Engagement
- 8.693 million viewers
- 5.3/9 HH
- 2.6/8 A18-49

CSI
- 13.059 million viewers
- 8.2/13 HH
- 2.9/8 A18-49

The Mentalist
- 15.173 million viewers
- 9.5/16 HH
- 3.0/8 A18-49

Community (R, 97% coverage NBC normally 98%)
- 2.244 million viewers
- 1.5/2 HH
- 0.8/3 A18-49

Perfect Couples
- 2.230 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

The Office (R, 31 minutes)
- 3.594 million viewers
- 2.2/3 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49

Parks and Recreation (R, 29 minutes)
- 2.878 million viewers
- 1.9/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

30 Rock (R, 31 minutes)
- 2.669 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Outsourced (29 minutes)
- 2.972 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49

American Idol (62 minutes)
- 21.538 million viewers
- 12.3/20 HH
- 6.4/20 A18-49

Bones (9:02pm, 59 minutes)
- 10.576 million viewers
- 6.4/10 HH
- 3.2/9 A18-49

The Vampire Diaries
- 2.730 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.2/4 A18-49
- 1.2/4 A18-34
- 1.9/6 W18-34

Nikita
- 1.821 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 0.6/2 A18-34
- 0.8/2 W18-34

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Pilot Script Review - Locke & Key

LOCKE & KEY
Network: FOX
Written By: Josh Friedman
Draft Date: October 18, 2010
Pages: 67

Disclaimer: I have not read the comic books upon which this pilot is based. I have no idea how closely they track together, how faithful the series will be to the comics, where the plots are going should the series be very faithful, etc. There are a few references to the comics for specific visuals, so I assume there's at least some adherence to the source material.

Even though it took me a while to get through this script (67 pages is quite long as hour-long TV scripts go... and you typically need to cut that down to below 55 pages for the shooting version to get a 42-43 minute long pilot), it wasn't a bad long read. I think I was savoring it. Here's a project with a very visual, mythology-laden story about people. About a family. About pain and grief and the different ways we handle it. And it's told in a way that keeps you wanting more as it peels the layers back, eventually exposing the inner demons of its key characters while simultaneously and continuously expanding the world.

It's also a series that, really, rests on finding the right child actor to play the youngest character, Bode Locke, though not quite to the extent that Thomas Wheeler's Captain Cooke's Extraordinary Atlas relied on Jodelle Ferland (and, while I wasn't in love with the script, I thought the pilot as filmed was an improvement, but financial considerations kept it from being picked up). Whereas CCEA was a teenage fantasy world, Locke & Key is pretty much gothic horror (but fear not, there are no vampires). So this is a pilot that I'll need to see filmed before I fully give my blessing.

We start before (literally, there's a subtitle). Before what?

Rendell and Nina Locke are a loving married couple painting the walls of their summer house in the California farmland. Their three children, Ty (16, male), Kinsey (15, female), and Bode (6, male) are playing in the lake, Bode and Kinsey are having a breath-holding contest and Bode wins (though his ability to hold his breath for a long time doesn't come back into play in this pilot, there is a visit to a cave where people have drowned when the tide rolls in, so if this all checks out with the comics, I suspect there may be some important sequence involving Bode, holding his breath, and said cave).

Then everything changes. Before tragedy. Sam Lesser, one of Rendell's students (he is a guidance counselor) and supposedly a friend of Ty's shows up. He says he's there to help. And he has a gun.

After.

Rendell is dead and the teenagers, once carefree, are locked in their grief and guilt as Nina drives them to Rendell's family estate, Keyhouse, in Lovecraft, MA. Here's hoping there's someone in the town named HP. Bode is still somewhat cheery, perhaps masking his inner pain with incessant joke-telling. Nina has changed, too, having lost her husband. They meet Rendell's younger brother, Duncan, at the house and the question "why is it called Keyhouse" becomes readily apparent. There is a clear key motif to the place and, while exploring, Bode finds a peculiar key with a skull carved in it. He tried various locked doors (the mansion is full of them), eventually finding the "right" one.

He walks through and his body drops dead. His spirit rises. He's a ghost.

Don't worry, he's not dead-dead. In fact, he gets to have quite a bit of ghostly fun (including but not limited to popping into the bathroom while Ty is taking a hot shower and causing the water to become freezing cold).

Keyhouse is a place of mystery and Bode has only cracked the surface.

Meanwhile, Ty and Kinsey are headed to their new school for the first time. People are going to be staring at them. Presumably because they're Lockes. The name seems to carry considerable weight and history around Lovecraft. Kinsey was apparently good at track and eventually decides to join the team. She can't hide forever (she hid with Bode as her father was being shot)... but she can run. Ty's issue, which we presume is grief, turns out to be guilt. After a squabble with his father, he flippantly asks Sam to kill Rendell. And he's been carrying that around with him ever since Sam went through with it.

But Sam, not the best-looking kid and clearly the victim of abuse, didn't do it for Ty.

He did it for some woman-creature (sorry, it's the best I can come up with) named Dodge. Dodge is mystically trapped in the wellhouse at Keystone and all she wants is to be set free. She can, apparently use mysterious powers over great distances to pass messages and even objects, but can't physically leave. To leave... she needs Bode's help.

There's a lot of fun and mystery here, and I haven't talked about, pretty much, the back half of the script where the action really amps up. I'm semi-concerned at how much is achieved in the pilot story, not knowing what's to come it feels like a lot, though I'm sure in the grand scheme of the comic book, it's all set-up.

There's a curious mystery set up in the final pages involving a keyhole in the trunk of a special tree. Within the tree there is a set of stairs that leads down to a room where there is a collection of jars or various shapes and sizes that seem to hold... tiny people, small monsters, a tiny Dodge (curious given we do see her in the wellhouse and events transpire from there), and... a tiny, younger Nina with a tiny, younger Rendell. What are these things in the jars? The story barely implies and answer and my best guess is memories... possibly and more specifically stolen memories (Dodge claims to have been best friends with Rendell when he grew up at Keyhouse, but can't remember much of it, and Nina has a familiarity with Keyhouse that strikes her as odd since she's never been there before).

Bottom line: I'm intrigued. I want to know more. I hope it all comes together on screen.

Wednesday 04/06/11 Final Cable Ratings

Dog the Bounty Hunter (A&E, 9pm, 60 minutes)
- 1.717 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Storage Wars (A&E, 10:30pm)
- 2.880 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Top Chef Reunion (BRAVO, 10pm)
- 1.678 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Workaholics (CMDY)
- 0.942 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 1.1/3 M18-34

Mythbusters (DISC, 9pm)
- 1.782 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

NBA Game (ESPN, 8:06pm, 149 minutes)
- 1.718 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

NBA Game (ESPN, 10:35pm, 146 minutes)
- 2.416 million viewers
- 1.5/3 HH
- 1.1/4 A18-49

Restaurant Impossible (FOOD)
- 1.059 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Justified (FX, 63 minutes)
- 2.787 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 0.9/2 A18-49

Real World Las Vegas (MTV, 10pm)
- 2.022 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 1.2/3 A18-49
- 2.2/6 W18-34
- 1.3/5 T12-17

Tori & Dean (OXYG, 10pm)
- 0.341 million viewers
- 0.3/0 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

The Ultimate Fighter (SPIKE, 9pm)
- 1.188 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Coal (SPIKE, 10pm, 57 minutes)
- 0.836 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Ghost Hunters (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.478 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Fact or Faked (SYFY)
- 1.316 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10pm)
- 1.739 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

House of Payne (TBS, 10:30pm)
- 1.767 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Extreme Couponing (TLC, 9:30pm)
- 2.602 million viewers
- 1.6/2 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Wednesday 04/06/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

The Middle (R, 8pm)
- 4.726 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

The Middle (R, 8:30pm, 96% coverage ABC normally 98%)
- 4.382 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Modern Family (R, 31 minutes)
- 5.431 million viewers
- 3.5/5 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

Mr. Sunshine (29 minutes)
- 4.664 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.6/4 A18-49

Off the Map
- 3.799 million viewers
- 2.7/4 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Survivor
- 10.937 million viewers
- 6.3/10 HH
- 3.2/10 A18-49

Criminal Minds
- 14.081 million viewers
- 8.5/13 HH
- 3.6/9 A18-49

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
- 9.123 million viewers
- 5.6/9 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49

Minute to Win It
- 3.268 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Law & Order: SVU (R, 9pm)
- 3.728 million viewers
- 2.5/4 HH
- 1.0/2 A18-49

Law & Order: SVU (10pm)
- 8.289 million viewers
- 5.5/9 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

American Idol (90 minutes)
- 23.133 million viewers
- 13.2/21 HH
- 7.3/21 A18-49

Breaking In
- 9.816 million viewers
- 5.7/9 HH
- 3.5/9 A18-49

America's Next Top Model
- 1.886 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.9/3 A18-49
- 0.9/3 A18-34
- 1.4/5 W18-34

Shedding for the Wedding
- 0.835 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 0.4/1 A18-34
- 0.5/2 W18-34

Tuesday 04/05/11 Final Cable Ratings

Watch What Happens Live (BRAVO)
- 0.723 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Pregnant in Heels (BRAVO)
- 0.530 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Women's NCAA Basketball Championship (ESPN, 8:30pm, 149 minutes)
- 3.831 million viewers
- 2.4/4 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

College Basketball Scoreboard (ESPN, 10:59pm, 16 minutes)
- 3.574 million viewers
- 2.1/4 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Lights Out (FX, 61 minutes)
- 0.636 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Only in America (HIST, 9pm)
- 2.161 million viewers
- 1.2/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Top Shot (HIST)
- 2.208 million viewers
- 1.4/2 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49

Teen Mom: Check Up Special (MTV, 10pm, 120 minutes)
- 3.643 million viewers
- 2.5/5 HH
- 2.1/6 A18-49
- 5.1/16 W18-34
- 1.6/7 T12-17

Auction Hunters (SPIKE, 10pm, 31 minutes)
- 1.295 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Auction Hunters (SPIKE, 10:31pm, 30 minutes)
- 1.469 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49

Destination Truth (SYFY, 9pm)
- 0.899 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen
- 0.483 million viewers
- 0.3/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

What Not to Wear (TLC, 9pm)
- 0.995 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Hardcore Pawn (TRU, 9pm)
- 1.759 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

Big Brian Fortune Seller (TRU, 10pm)
- 1.016 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1 rerun of LOGO original, 9pm)
- 0.461 million viewers
- 0.3/0 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Tuesday 04/05/11 Final Broadcast Ratings

No Ordinary Family
- 5.740 million viewers
- 3.7/6 HH
- 1.5/5 A18-49

Dancing with the Stars (61 minutes)
- 16.085 million viewers
- 10.3/16 HH
- 3.2/8 A18-49

Body of Proof (59 minutes)
- 11.150 million viewers
- 7.3/12 HH
- 2.4/6 A18-49

NCIS
- 19.395 million viewers
- 11.9/19 HH
- 3.8/11 A18-49

NCIS: Los Angeles (R)
- 12.664 million viewers
- 7.9/12 HH
- 2.7/7 A18-49

The Good Wife
- 10.816 million viewers
- 7.1/11 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

The Biggest Loser (120 minutes)
- 7.573 million viewers
- 4.7/7 HH
- 2.8/8 A18-49

Parenthood
- 4.762 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Glee (R, 61 minutes)
- 3.883 million viewers
- 2.6/4 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

Raising Hope (R)
- 2.863 million viewers
- 1.8/3 HH
- 1.1/3 A18-49

Traffic Light (29 minutes)
- 1.903 million viewers
- 1.3/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49

One Tree Hill (R)
- 0.659 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.2/1 A18-34
- 0.3/1 W18-34

Hellcats (R)
- 0.684 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
- 0.3/1 A18-34
- 0.3/1 W18-34

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Monday 04/04/11 Final Cable Ratings

Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABCF, 8pm)
- 2.497 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.0/3 A18-49
- 2.3/7 W18-34
- 2.6/9 T12-17

Make It or Break It (ABCF)
- 1.690 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
- 1.5/4 W18-34
- 1.9/6 T12-17

Relapse (A&E)
- 1.256 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

Heavy (A&E)
- 1.173 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Bethenny Ever After (BRAVO)
- 1.350 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49

American Pickers (HIST)
- 5.181 million viewers
- 3.1/5 HH
- 1.7/4 A18-49

Pawn Stars (HIST, 10pm)
- 5.687 million viewers
- 3.4/5 HH
- 2.2/5 A18-49

Pawn Stars (HIST, 10:30pm)
- 5.946 million viewers
- 3.5/6 HH
- 2.2/6 A18-49

Hard Times of RJ Berger (MTV, 10pm)
- 1.222 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
- 0.8/2 W18-34
- 1.7/6 T12-17

Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (MTV, 10:30pm)
- 1.680 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
- 1.3/4 W18-34
- 1.8/7 T12-17

Nurse Jackie (SHO, 10pm, 28 minutes)
- 0.490 million viewers
- 0.3/0 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

United States of Tara (SHO, 10:30pm, 28 minutes)
- 0.288 million viewers
- 0.2/0 HH
- 0.1/0 A18-49

Being Human (SYFY, 9pm)
- 1.442 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/1 A18-49

Stargate Universe (SYFY)
- 0.823 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49

Cake Boss (TLC, 9pm)
- 1.263 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Kate Plus 8 (TLC, 10pm)
- 1.306 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49

Adventure Time (TOON)
- 1.640 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49
- 0.9/3 T12-17
- 2.7/9 K2-11

Mad (TOON)
- 1.398 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49
- 0.8/3 T12-17
- 2.3/8 K2-11

Regular Show (TOON)
- 1.422 million viewers
- 1.0/1 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49
- 0.9/3 T12-17
- 2.2/8 K2-11

Problem Solverz (TOON)
- 1.138 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.1/0 A18-49
- 0.8/3 T12-17
- 1.8/6 K2-11

WWE Hall of Fame (USA)
- 3.362 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49

WWE Raw (USA, 9pm)
- 5.418 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

WWE Raw (USA, 10pm, 76 minutes)
- 5.781 million viewers
- 3.4/5 HH
- 2.3/6 A18-49

Love and Hip Hop (VH1, 8pm)
- 0.735 million viewers
- 0.4/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Beverly Hills Fabulous (VH1, 8:30pm)
- 0.769 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Pilot Script Review - Smash

SMASH
Network: NBC
Written By: Theresa Rebeck
Draft Date: January 12, 2011
Pages: 63

Oh, honey. No. Just, no.

I try to find silver linings in these reviews. I really do. But I just thoroughly, completely, 100% dislike this. The plot follows a number of different people who will, eventually, be involved in some way in a new Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe.

Unfortunately, a number of these people are, um, awful. Like, I totally understand that it's the entertainment industry (the "legit" side, anyway) and you have big personalities and creative difference (believe me, I know all about creative differences). But give me something to love. Please. I'm begging you. Otherwise... why do I care if this group of people succeed at bringing this apparently genius idea to fruition?

This doesn't try to be a Glee-print in the Broadway world, which I'm thankful for... but in a way, I wish it had taken SOME of what made the Glee pilot work and put something similar into effect. We're not exactly rooting for a group of misfits, here. And the supposedly show stopping song and dance numbers, which are meant to wow us, fell completely flat for me. Poorly selected songs that say nothing about the characters singing them. And I *like* musicals (though I'd hardly call myself fully-versed on the world of the Great Whit Way).

The weird thing, here, is that I think the pieces are present. They're just put together in an extremely unappealing (if, again, real feeling) way that's all about their outside lives and often not even tangentially about THE SHOW.

First, there's beautiful blonde Karen, struggling to even land bit parts on stage and in soap operas. She waits tables and has a charming boyfriend who works at the mayor's office. Who doesn't love the story of a struggling ingenue finding a way to succeed? But while I do root for her... she doesn't really do much until the very end to try and take her destiny into her own hands. And even that is very much leaning on the extremely "dark" side of what the entertainment industry, and acting, can be about. This isn't her story whereas, I'd argue, Glee is very much Rachel's story despite our entrance to the world through Will.

Next we have Ivy, mid-30s, a chorus line girl who should've broken out as a star, but hasn't for some reason. And now... she may be too old to do so (at least as Marilyn). While her predicament is certainly realistic for the world, it's not exactly fun to watch.

I'm not entirely certain what the hell Stephen is doing in this script. It's evident at the end that he'll be playing Joe DiMaggio in the musical. His plot revolves around he and his wife bickering over their schedules and taking care of their son.

There's Eileen, a 62-year old producer in the midst of a nasty divorce with her producing partner who has to let go of projects thanks to her ending marriage, and latches on to this Marilyn idea to show that she's down but not out. She gets things going, perhaps too quickly, and may put the entire production in jeopardy because of that. Eileen, I like. I totally understand where she's coming from with the things she does. She feels like she has something to prove, and so is rushing things. Unlike our two above actress and the actor characters... Eileen at least has some role in moving the plot along due to her human flaws and foibles (this is a character piece, after all) and yet she remains likable.

On the flip side, we've got Derek, a homophobic director. Yes, there are several times this is pointed out and how weird it is for the world he works in. He's willful and opinionated, as directors are wont to be. He's got a bit of sleazy to him, too, and because he has the choice between the Marilyn musical and an indie film, it can feel like his way or the highway. Again... realistic, I think. Just not really that fun or entertaining and I'm certain I don't want to invite him into my home / on my television on a weekly basis.

We're getting to the heroes of the piece, fear not: Tom and Julia. They're a writing team coming off a successful (if ill-titled) show and taking a break for various reasons. Julia and her husband are trying to adopt a child and Julia's husband things that would be impossible if Julia is working, as she barely sees her family (they do have kids) when she is. Tom... I'm not sure what his deal is, though I don't think he's thrilled to be taking a break. He and Derek had words 11 years ago (I assume they were in the homophobic range, as Tom is gay), so he's unhappy about Derek directing, and they get into creative flights. Tom also is a manslut and sleeps with a few people through the pilot, one a dancer, the other I'll get to later. I want to enjoy Tom and Julia's interactions in a Will and Grace way, we're told they have the kind of familiarity that only comes with years of friendship, but their shorthand is just kind of... impenetrable. Plus Julia has all her drama with her husband that fleshes her life out... but doesn't even remotely seem related to what's supposed to be the big draw here: putting on a show about Marilyn Monroe.

Who's bright idea was this? It was Ellis's idea. He's Tom's personal assistant, new to New York, a good-natured midwesterner. He has a habit of adopting other people's stories as his own. While Tom was out of town (pre-pilot), he was house-sitting and saw a book about Marilyn and left it out. When he goes to clear it away, they see and start talking and Ellis suggests she'd make a great musical. They immediately poo-poo it, it's been done, it was a flop, etc. But then Julia goes home and can't get it out of her head and, well, how many stories happen when characters say "no"? So, later, Tom and Julia are recording a demo of a sample and Ellis, once again, gets the ball rolling by surreptitiously recording the performance on his phone and sending it to his mother (apparently), who then posts it to YouTube and it gets around. And suddenly, something that was just a lark and a half-baked idea becomes The Idea. There's no turning back. You buy Ellis doing this because he has his heart in the right place and he's so new at this. You do. And then, at the end, for no reason at all, after lots of Tom and Julia talk about Tom not being able to sleep with Ellis because Ellis is straight (and has a girlfriend or at least a casual sex friend)... Ellis sleeps with Tom. Why? He says "It might be useful." And suddenly... the character is ruined. I don't understand what he did or why and he hasn't shown himself to be calculating in the least. Just, sort of, dumb and lucky with things he does out of instinct being the right thing to do at the right time. I don't know. Maybe there's more here. He got the job because his mother slept with Tom's brother in college (only that's a lie, it's actually his casual sex friend's mother who did that). Is there some kind of game plan here? The script makes no indication, but in this single act totally assassinates Ellis's character. And, really, Tom's. Keep it in your pants, buddy.

That, by the way, happens to be on the last page of the script. It left among the sourest of tastes in my mouth. If I'd been enjoying the rest more, I might have said "okay, maybe they'll cut that unmotivated twist," but with the rest of the story underwhelming as it did... no. Just no.