http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/11/DDN7196LI5.DTL

ABC, Fox winning the buzz game; CBS never plays
Tim Goodman

Wednesday, August 12, 2009




After the five broadcast networks trotted out their wares at the Television Critics Association summer press tour recently, a few issues for the fall season began to crystallize: ABC and Fox have the most buzz. CBS has never needed buzz. NBC is a buzzkill. And the CW looks pretty.



Here's a rundown of what we learned on the press tour from each.

ABC: The drama "FlashForward" is one of the most buzz-heavy shows of the fall, but all that might be for naught if viewers' recent dislike of serialized dramas continues. The series involves a worldwide incident where everyone on the planet blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds. When they wake up, individuals begin to have flash-forward "memories" of events six months in the future. The series is cinematic and compelling, but complicated: It will require viewer dedication and network loyalty.

Another ABC drama, "V," an updated take on the sci-fi miniseries from the '80s, is also being talked about with interest. But two comedies - "Cougar Town" and "Modern Family" - are generating even more buzz and may finally be the offerings that change ABC's fortunes in the comedy realm (though it already has "Better Off Ted," last season's best comedy). The problem here is that ABC seems to develop excellent comedies that its audience doesn't like, so we'll have to see if the creativity curse (see: "Pushing Daisies") strikes again.

Overall: Excellent development, high expectations.

Fox: The network is in an interesting position, having launched "Glee" at the end of last season for a one-episode sneak peek. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive (Fox said it may do that again in the future) and "Glee," a comedy-musical, became an iTunes sensation. Can the show "relaunch," in effect, to new viewers? And can the same series be a "buzz show" two seasons running? On the drama side, "Human Target" - an action-adventure series - looks like a ton of fun, and the "Family Guy" spin-off, "The Cleveland Show," will probably be a slam dunk.

Overall: Fox is now programming from strength, since dramas "Fringe" and "Lie to Me" did so well last season, but it desperately needs a live-action comedy hit, and "Brothers," featuring ex-NFL star Michael Strahan, is not it.


CBS: Perpetually undervalued but always powerful, CBS doesn't really traffic in buzz. CBS knows its audience better than any other network. Procedurals rule the day, risk-taking is not advised. The legal drama "The Good Wife," with Julianna Margulies, will probably be an instant hit. There's also a good chance that "NCIS: Los Angeles" will spin off to success as well. Medical drama "Three Rivers" is less of a sure thing, and the comedy "Accidentally on Purpose" didn't raise many pulses.

Overall: CBS is the most watched network. Lack of buzz never hurt those ratings. Not the most exciting development season, but on target and thus very dangerous to competitors.

NBC: The Peacock is in fourth place in what is ostensibly a four-network race. It just dumped its entertainment president. It cut all of its 10 p.m. scripted series so that "The Jay Leno Show" could switch to prime time in a bold experiment. It is the whipping boy of the creative community (and a favorite, albeit deserved, target of critics). And its dramas are already generating snide comments from critics. Yet, despite all of that negativity, NBC has a buzz show! Go figure. "Community," a sitcom starring Joel McHale ("The Soup") and Chevy Chase (plus a wonderful supporting cast), about a group of community college students forming a strange bond, is one of the most talked-about comedies coming this season.

Overall: If "Leno" works, NBC may get the last laugh. If it doesn't, "Community" will have to suffice.

The CW: The country's fifth network (which programs only two hours each night and nothing new on the weekends) is essentially a niche cable channel and acts like one by fiercely going after its target audience: young women. The CW believes that people are talking about its series (the words "text," "talk" and "tweet" were used in the background at the convention) like "Gossip Girl" and "90210," but it also believes the Nielsen ratings don't adequately reflect that power. If you like young, good-looking, rich people, this is your network. It is remaking "Melrose Place" (as it did "Beverly Hills 90210" before abbreviating the title), plus dramas about young, beautiful vampires and young, beautiful models. It has no comedies. Unless there's buzz on Twitter, it could be that critics just don't get this network.

Overall: CW execs don't care what we like or don't like. They have a strategy that doesn't involve us, in theory. And so far, well, they've done pretty well with that model, so why change?

That's what I like about CBS...too much buzz annoys me to no end.

(though it already has "Better Off Ted," last season's best comedy)

Please someone tell me I'm not the only one who thought this was the worst and least funny piece of crap I'd seen lately...??? I've laughed harder at watching paint dry.

Overall: CW execs don't care what we like or don't like. They have a strategy that doesn't involve us, in theory. And so far, well, they've done pretty well with that model, so why change?

Pretty much, and I don't blame them.

Buzz means absolutely nothing. The ratings are the only thing that counts. Critics and lots of other people online are obsessed with buzz. It means nothing for the ratings. Lots of buzz shows get low ratings, and many low buzz shows do well.

Nielsen isn't accurate at all. With the way TV is changing, we need a better (*accurate*) ratings system. Besides a few shows on CBS like Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, I find it hard to believe millions watch stuff like Cold Case, NCIS. I honestly have yet to meet a person face to face that watch those.

I don't find it hard to believe that millions of millions watch NCIS. I know many people who watch it regularly (on CBS and USA). It's just not "talked about" as much as some shows.
I don't either; it's a good show. Just because you don't like it Pav or none of your friends do doesn't mean no one watches it.

I am not knocking NCIS or anything, but Nielsen sampling is heavily favoring one age group right (age 55+). That is where the bulk of the NCIS audience is coming from (close to 75% of Tuesday's repeat was age 55+). I just don't trust Nielsen. They need to be more accurate than this sampling stuff. I have seen ample amount of evidence of how inaccurate they are (which I can't get into) over the years from their reports they give me. And it's a shame because there are creatively good shows that suffer because of them.

I always suspected that the ratings were flawed but it doesn't really matter because that's what the networks go by.

While the ratings service is not spot-on, I know a lot of people watching NCIS and a lot of them are young. Like someone said, it's just not a "talked about" show.

They pay for them because they are the only service in town. Until something comes along, if ever, they will be left in the dust. I'm forced to cover them as well here on this site...nothing I can do.

While the ratings service is not spot-on, I know a lot of people watching NCIS and a lot of them are young. Like someone said, it's just not a "talked about" show.
I do agree with that. I was over on EW yesterday and a lot of people were talking about it and they all seemed pretty young. NCIS is a great show and I for one am glad it gets good ratings. It's the only show that has held its own against AI during the years.

I do agree with that. I was over on EW yesterday and a lot of people were talking about it and they all seemed pretty young. NCIS is a great show and I for one am glad it gets good ratings. It's the only show that has held its own against AI during the years.
It's got strong characters. I think that's why people tune in.

Actually, I think that could be said for a lot of crime shows, on any network. I think that's one reason CSI is suffering...from what I've heard (I grew bored with CSI myself), the new characters just aren't interesting.

I am not knocking NCIS or anything, but Nielsen sampling is heavily favoring one age group right (age 55+). That is where the bulk of the NCIS audience is coming from (close to 75% of Tuesday's repeat was age 55+). I just don't trust Nielsen. They need to be more accurate than this sampling stuff. I have seen ample amount of evidence of how inaccurate they are (which I can't get into) over the years from their reports they give me. And it's a shame because there are creatively good shows that suffer because of them.
Is there really any good way to tell what people are watching?

NCIS
I know at least one person who watches the show - and it's one of the only shows they still catch weekly without the aid of a DVR or the internet.

That person is me.

American Idol and NCIS are my mom's two favorite shows. She doesn't like that they're on at the same time. :lol: