ABC Upfront: Fall 2009

[Pavan]

Pretty good feedback from viewers on Twitter: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%...allyChallenged

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by benjamoon

I agree that it is MUCH better than "Hank" but I still found it to be a bit mundane. There weren't any characters or plots that really grabbed my attention and only once or twice did I chuckle. However, I don't think the show is without potential and I will probably give it a few more chances to win me over

I'd say that's a pretty fair review. It's in no way outstanding, or even fresh, but it was funny, and it did grab my attention. It's nice to see traditional sitcoms like this. As traditional as Hank was, it was just downright bad - at least this is good, and still has plenty of room to grow. Hopefully we'll see high ratings tomorrow morning.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

..."swinging hammock" strategy they used to kick off "SAMANTHA WHO?" several years back; this time, they're using "DANCING WITH THE STARS" and "CASTLE" to give "ROMANTICALLY CHALLENGED" a chance to "catch on" with viewers- that is, using those shows as "two trees" to allow "RC" to swing between them (like a comfortable hammock)...even making sure it began at 9:32pm(et), so that viewers wouldn't switch to, say, CBS' "BIG BANG THEORY". And the network used episode #4 as the "premiere" because they weren't sure #1 [the pilot] would be as well received with viewers. The only complaint I have about the show is, doesn't anyone know HOW to properly apply a "laugh track" to a situation comedy these days, so that it sounds as "natural" as they did in the '50s, '60s and '70s?

[Pavan]

TV Knowledge Fan, they aired the first episode not the fourth episode. They changed it on Friday. And thank god they did. It sets-up the show better than the fourth.

[Superbowl]

Monday's Finals :

The Big Bang Theory (REPEAT) 11.66 milion viewers, 4.1/11 (18-49 demo rating)

Romantically Challenged (Premiere) 10.66 milion viewers, 2.9/8 (18-49 demo rating)

Well, after weeks and months of bickering here the viewers have spoken and millions and millions agreed with me and watched The Big Bang Theory repeat.

My purpose to this heated discussion was always to try and get a message to McPherson through Pavan to find another time slot for Alyssa's show. This show has no chance against The Big Bang Theory. If The Big Bang Theory ever airs a new episode opposite Romantically Challenged it will obliterate it.

If Romantically Challenged goes under 10 million next week (and it probably will) it will be done. ABC will pull it off before the May sweeps. I really wish they would give it a chance in another time slot.

ABC has to respect the monster hit that The Big Bang Theory has become. They can no longer schedule a sitcom at 9:30 on Mondays. These are no longer the days of Old Christine or Rules of Engagement at 9:30. The Big Bang Theory will kill any ABC sitcom regardless of whether it is new or a repeat.

[tvcrazed]

Also CASTLE was its lowest number in months - a 2.6

I love ABC, they have best development and marketing out of any broadcast net, but i contiunue to be unimpressed by scheduling.

I said it all year. DWTS should be 2 hours, Results show should be Tues at 10p. V should be Wed at 10p. I am hardly a genius and wrong many times, but I firmly believe if they had scheduled this way all these shows would be higher rated. Well theres proof on CASTLE, just look at last week v this week.
DWTS is their highest rated show, why cut a half hour off?

There are certain things beyond ABC's control, this kind of scheduling is not.

[JulieSomoski]

ABC needs to transplant this show to Wednesdays fast. Whether it be burnoff or whatever, ABC might as well move it to Wednesdys at 8pm. I doubt it'll do any worse than MF repeats. Whether it does or not, it's bringing down Mondays. It's hurting Castle and costing ABC 10+ million it could get with a 4th half hour of DWTS.

It's a good show. What a shame more people didn't tune in. Although, 2 weeks of promotion didn't exactly help it. The wait until April to premiere it was another mistake. If ABC wanted this show to succeed, they certainly didn't show it.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

ABC needs to transplant this show to Wednesdays fast. Whether it be burnoff or whatever, ABC might as well move it to Wednesdys at 8pm. I doubt it'll do any worse than MF repeats. Whether it does or not, it's bringing down Mondays. It's hurting Castle and costing ABC 10+ million it could get with a 4th half hour of DWTS.

It's a good show. What a shame more people didn't tune in. Although, 2 weeks of promotion didn't exactly help it. The wait until April to premiere it was another mistake. If ABC wanted this show to succeed, they certainly didn't show it.

ABC has to realize that Mondays at 9:30 is no longer and option for them for sitcoms as long as The Big Bang Theory is in that time slot. Could you imagine how low Romantically Challenged ratings would have been if The Big Bang Theory was a new episode ? The Big Bang Theory is a monster hit sitcom, and ABC must realize this. I read that the 4.1 demo rating The Big Bang Theory put up last night was the highest for a scripted show repeat in over 2 years.

If Romantically Challenged goes under 10 million next week, and sinks in the demo, ABC will pull it after next week.

[yankeesrj12]

I watched Romantically Challenged and discovered it was better than Hank, but still not good. In fact, I thought that Alyssa was the worst part of the show. I don't get why everyone is so in love with her, every time she came on screen I felt like changing the channel!
I will be returning to CBS for encores of The Big Bang Theory next week (or whenever it repeats).

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Superbowl

Monday's Finals :

The Big Bang Theory (REPEAT) 11.66 milion viewers, 4.1/11 (18-49 demo rating)

Romantically Challenged (Premiere) 10.66 milion viewers, 2.9/8 (18-49 demo rating)

Well, after weeks and months of bickering here the viewers have spoken and millions and millions agreed with me and watched The Big Bang Theory repeat.

My purpose to this heated discussion was always to try and get a message to McPherson through Pavan to find another time slot for Alyssa's show. This show has no chance against The Big Bang Theory. If The Big Bang Theory ever airs a new episode opposite Romantically Challenged it will obliterate it.

If Romantically Challenged goes under 10 million next week (and it probably will) it will be done. ABC will pull it off before the May sweeps. I really wish they would give it a chance in another time slot.

ABC has to respect the monster hit that The Big Bang Theory has become. They can no longer schedule a sitcom at 9:30 on Mondays. These are no longer the days of Old Christine or Rules of Engagement at 9:30. The Big Bang Theory will kill any ABC sitcom regardless of whether it is new or a repeat.

For a person who wants to watch Romantically Challenged, you sure don't sound like it. I think if it can maintain these ratings vs BBT repeats, it will be fine and ABC will bring it back next fall on Wednesdays. I could certainly see them adding comedies to the 10pm hour on Wednesdays next fall. Would be good with Cougar Town in that hour.

Don't think anyone thought RC was going to beat BBT. I think this was about the best it could get against the #1 sitcom in 18-49. But the next 2 weeks I think with BBT in repeats and DWTS as the lead-in still, RC will be somewhat similar in ratings as this week. If that happens, you'll see a second season. And I'm sure ABC will not air it on Mondays next fall.

As for next season at 9:30, you never know, CBS might move BBT to 9pm or even another night (Thursdays?). I don't think any network has to respect any show. They are not there to lose. Or Grey's Anatomy would have never moved to Thursdays at 9pm in 2006 and beat CSI. I think in this case ABC is trying to build on a comedy to see if it has legs for Wednesdays. That might be the ultimate plan, so in the end after these 4 airings, it will not be on against BBT.

tvcrazed: Agree with you on all points, but still not on DWTS Results Tues at 10 bandwagon. That would cause more DVR for the show I think. Family audience would suffer. It's not the same when it is a one night thing like a finale from 9-11pm. Because it is that, just one night and plus it has the 9pm hour leading in.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by Pavan

For a person who wants to watch Romantically Challenged, you sure don't sound like it. I think if it can maintain these ratings vs BBT repeats, it will be fine and ABC will bring it back next fall on Wednesdays. I could certainly see them adding comedies to the 10pm hour on Wednesdays next fall. Would be good with Cougar Town in that hour.

Don't think anyone thought RC was going to beat BBT. I think this was about the best it could get against the #1 sitcom in 18-49. But the next 2 weeks I think with BBT in repeats and DWTS as the lead-in still, RC will be somewhat similar in ratings as this week. If that happens, you'll see a second season. And I'm sure ABC will not air it on Mondays next fall.

As for next season at 9:30, you never know, CBS might move BBT to 9pm or even another night (Thursdays?). I don't think any network has to respect any show. They are not there to lose. Or Grey's Anatomy would have never moved to Thursdays at 9pm in 2006 and beat CSI. I think in this case ABC is trying to build on a comedy to see if it has legs for Wednesdays. That might be the ultimate plan, so in the end after these 4 airings, it will not be on against BBT.

tvcrazed: Agree with you on all points, but still not on DWTS Results Tues at 10 bandwagon. That would cause more DVR for the show I think. Family audience would suffer. It's not the same when it is a one night thing like a finale from 9-11pm. Because it is that, just one night and plus it has the 9pm hour leading in.

Are you sure you are not writing the PR for the ABC public relations dept ? It got trounced by a Big Bang Theory REPEAT. Not a new show. It was a REPEAT. It also dragged down Castle with it. Castle had its lowest 18-49 demo in a month. In fact, Castle lost to CSI: Miami for the first time since DWTS spring premiered. ABC will not allow RC to drag Castle down. You just cannot accept anybody pointing out anything negative about an ABC show even if it is the truth.

I agree that if it maintains its ratings it stays. It has just barely enough to survive. However, judging on past precedent almost all shows drop after their initial sampling premiere week. If it drops it will be pulled before the May sweeps. Judging from what I have heard around the reactions from viewers were very mixed. Some people liked it, and some did not. That leads us to believe not everyone who watched Monday will return. For Romantically Challenged sake I hope it gets some first time viewers on Monday to make up for the ones it is sure to lose from this weeks sampling.

[Pavan]

I can say the same for you. Are you a publicist for BBT? Did you expect RC to crush BBT or something? I think you just said that it would get big ratings so you can gloat for whatever reason (it's not like BBT needs gloating, its numbers speak for themselves). At least I watch both shows...you won't even make an effort to watch RC.

And I never wanted ABC to air RC on Mondays. I was always for it on Wednesdays (but it is hard to schedule it there with family comedies) and against it on Mondays. And I am hoping it can maintain these ratings so we have that shot next fall. And you should be hoping it does, too, instead of your continued knocking of the ratings. BBT will have its great numbers no matter what - repeat or new. Not sure why you need to gloat about it. It is a proven hit.

I know Castle is down. This is a test for it, too. It looks like it can work on its own. Those numbers are still higher than anything from its Sept-Feb numbers. I'll say it one last time, I would prefer two hour DWTS into Castle each week and RC on Wednesdays. And I hope we get that chance next fall.

[tvcrazed]

Originally Posted by Pavan

tvcrazed: Agree with you on all points, but still not on DWTS Results Tues at 10 bandwagon. That would cause more DVR for the show I think. Family audience would suffer. It's not the same when it is a one night thing like a finale from 9-11pm. Because it is that, just one night and plus it has the 9pm hour leading in.

really? you dont think it would produce the same 2.4 it got at 8p last night at 10p. I think it would do better than that when not facing IDOL.

[robyrob]

well I watched the premiere of RC right AFTER I watched the BBT repeat (which I had already seen at least twice before) and I definitely enjoyed BBT more than RC.

- the show seemed kind of clunky and the timing seemed off - especially Alyssa Milano. I just don't buy her as a "HIGH-POWERED ATTORNEY" that gets so flustered she can barely manage to dress herself or keep her story straight. I know I sure as heck wouldn't hire an attorney that acted like that. The sub-plot with the gay guy that didn't want to talk dirty or spank his date was hard to watch too.

the good parts were Kelly Stables, and the other male roommate.

the highlight was the line with the naughty date where she says "send in the roommate" when he offers to spank her for him.

[Pavan]

Yes, robyrob compare three seasons of a show to a pilot episode of a new show. Very fair. I love BBT, too, but that isn't fair to compare.