CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

12/20/04

Good morning. It’s Monday, December 20, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

The finale of The Apprentice was the top hire on Thursday night for NBC among A18-49 according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research, posting a 7.8/21 overall.  CBS was #2 with a lineup of repeats earning a 5.1/14, followed by Fox 2.2/6, UPN 2.0/5, ABC 1.8/5, WB .9/2.  CBS pulled a 3.9/11 at 8p with a repeat of CSI, and a 6.5/17 at 9pm with another repeat of CSI.  At 10p a repeat of Without a Trace delivered a solid 5.0/13.  The OC on Fox at 8p earned a 2.7/8, tied with A Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC.  North Shore on Fox at 9p delivered a 1.6/4, and Primetime Live at 10p on ABC came home with a 1.7/5.

Fox has made an adjustment to its Point Pleasant premiere schedule.  The show will debut in two parts, part one to follow the premiere of American Idol on January 19 at 9p; part two on the 20th at 9p.  The show will then air every Thursday in its regular time period at 9p.

ABC will launch its midseason drama series Blind Justice on March 8 at 10p, slotting in the NYPD Blue time period.  NYPD Blue will have its series finale on March 1, which is the last Tuesday in the February sweep period.

ABC Family will kick off a new reality series, 4 eps, called Brat Camp, on January 10 at 10p.  The show follows a group of teens who as a result trouble at home, school and/or with the law, are sent by their parents to a wilderness camp where rules are the cornerstone, and respect is earned.

Season Finale:
Fox:  The Swan at 8p

Casting / Development / Production

• Ben Browder will join the cast of Stargate SG-1 on the Sci Fi Channel during the 9th season.  Negotiations with Richard Dean Anderson continue.

Deborah Norville has decided to end her show Deborah Norville Tonight (9pm) on MSNBC in January, tho she will stay on with the daily syndicated strip series, Inside Edition.  The decision was made by Norville in response to constraints on her time to sufficiently do both shows as well as spend time with her family.   Rumors are circulating that CNN’s Tucker Carlson.  Carlson has been on CNN’s Crossfile since June 2001 when he replaced Mary Matlin. His contract with Crossfire expired in early December.

Returning to VH1 in the new year is Surreal Life (Mindless Ent/51 Pictures) on Jan 9 at 9p with another list of “celebrities”:  Chyna Doll; Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Gos); Christopher Knight (The Brady Bunch); Verne Troyer (Austin Powers); model Marcus Schenkenberg; rap star Da Brat; and Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model).   VH1’s original series Strange Love (Mindless Ent/51 Pictures) makes its debut immediately following at 10p. Strange Love features the love affair between Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav which was born during their participation in last season’s edition of Surreal Life.  And finishing up the evening is the premiere of Celebrity Fit Club (Granada Ent) which follows the progress of 8 celebs looking to shed a few poounds. Participating in this series are: Daniel Baldwin, Kim Coles, Joe Gannascoli (The Sopranos), Biz Markie, Ralphie May, Judge Mablean Ephriam (Divorce Court), Mia Tyler and Wendy the Snapple Lady.

Carsey Werner has signed 70% of the country to renewals for  the second cycle of That 70’s Show that will take it through 2013.  Current deals end in 2008.  Still in the works is a potential 8th season of the show on Fox; negotiations continue.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 17-19, 2004
Lemony Snicket (Paramount)              $30.2 million – opening weekend
Ocean’s Twelve (Warner Bros.)           $18.3 million – 2 wk total $68.7m
Spanglish (Sony)                        $9.0 million – opening weekend
The Polar Express (WB)          $8.6 million – 6 wk total $123.6m
The Blade Trinity (New Line)            $6.6 million – 2 wk total $35.4m
National Treasure (Buena Vista)         $6.1 million – 5 wk total $132.8m
Christmas w/the Kranks (Sony/Revolution) $5.7 million – 4 wk total $62.3m
Flight of the Phoenix (Fox)             $5.2 million – opening weekend
Closer (Sony)                           $3.5 million – 3 wk total $18.9m
The Incredibles (Buena Vista)           $3.3 million – 6 wk total $237.1m
Source: Box Office Mojo

American Greetings Corporation has purchased an equity stake in The Hatchery, LLC, thereby making American Greetings a co-owner of the kid/family focused entertainment development/production/marketing company. Under the new partnership will continue to operate as The Hatchery, LLC, as well as continue to be led by founding/managing partners Margaret Loesch and Bruce Stein, who under the agreement will now serve as Co-CEOs.  The Hatchery’s previous projects include the theatrical release, Benji: Off the Leash, game show-Balderdash, and action program Young Blades.  American Greetings’ properties include Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Twisted Whiskers and the upcoming Maryoku Yummy franchises.

Roni Selig has been named SVP/Current Programming and East Coast Development for Buena Vista Productions. The announcement was made by Gwynne Thomas, EVP/Programming for BVP, to whom Roni will report.   In her new role, she will focus on the east coast development of new programming and the ongoing production of some of BVP’s current shows including The Tony Danza Show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Live with Regis and Kelly.

Fox Movie Channel has hired Adam Lewinson as VP/Programming. Fox Movie Channel GM Chuck Saftler made the announcement. Adam will oversee the day-to-day operations of the network, including programming, marketing, and scheduling.

The Scripps Networks emerging media division has added two new staff positions and upped two others within the department, both designed to enable the company to keep pace with its rapidly expanding broadband and video-on-demand business opportunities.  The new posts have been filled by Mark Quinn as VP/Distribution and New Business Development who will manage all new and existing distribution agreements for VOD, broadband and other advanced media developments; and Scott Brun as Director/Programming Library.  Upped were Sue Clark to VP/Emerging Media charged with building the production and distribution systems behind the company’s new broadband video portals; and Carrie Conyngham to Manager/Programming who will continue to organize and coordinate the company’s selection of VOD programming content as well as schedule VOD and broadband offerings and work to develop new and original content for both platforms.

FOX30 WAWS has appointed Collin Gaston as its new Local Sales Manager, effective December 27.  Collin has been with Clear Channel since 1998, and most currently as NSM for both WAWS and WTEV.  In this appointment, Collin fills the LSM position made vacant by Marc Hefner’s transition to GSM last September.

Thursday, December 16, 2004. FINAL Ratings for all Networks – program averages.  Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat

CBS     11.1/18 CSI [r] 9.0/15, CSI [r] 13.0/20, Without a Trace [r] 11.1/18

NBC     10.8/17 The Apprentice [finale] 10.8/17

ABC     3.8/6   A Charlie Brown Christmas 5.1/8, life as we know it 2.3/4, Primetime Live 4.0/7

UPN     3.5/6   WWE Smackdown 3.5/6

FOX     3.3/5   The O.C. 4.0/6, North Shore 2.5/4

WB      1.6/3   WB Movie:  Crossroads 1.6/3

A18-49  NBC 7.8/21, CBS 5.1/14, Fox 2.2/6, UPN 2.0/5, ABC 1.8/5, WB .9/2

Friday, December 17, 2004. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat

CBS     5.6/10  Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer 5.4/10, JAG 6.2/11, 48 Hour Mysteries 5.1/9

NBC     5.3/10  Movie:  Secret Santa 5.0/9, Law & Order: CI [r] 6.1/11

ABC     5.1/9   8 Simple Rules 5.1/10, Complete Savages 4.6/8, Hope & Faith 5.0/9, Less than Perfect 4.4/8, 20/20 5.8/11

FOX     2.4/4   The Simpsons 3.0/6, Popeye’s Voyage 2.5/5, Jingle Ball Rock ’04 2.8/5

UPN     1.3/2   Star Trek [r] 1.1/2, America’s Next Top Model [r] 1.4/3

WB      1.7/3   What I Like About You [r] 1.4/3, Grounded for Life [r]  1.5/3, Reba [r] 2.1/4, Blue Collar TV [r] 1.9/3

A18-49  CBS 2.3/8, ABC 2.2/8, NBC 2.1/7, Fox 1.5/5, WB 1.1/4, UPN 0.7/3

Saturday, December 18, 2004. Fast Affiliate Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat

CBS     4.8/9   Story of Santa Clause 3.2/5, Cold Case [r] 5.0/9, 48 Hours Investigates 6.0/11

ABC     4.4/8   Wonderful World of Disney:  Remember the Titans 4.4/8

FOX     4.4/8   NFL Game runover until 830p 6.0/12; Cops [r] 3.8/7, AMW  4.0/7

NBC     4.3/8   Movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 4.1/8, L&O: CI [r]  4.7/9

A18-49  Fox and NBC 2.5/8, ABC 2.4/8, CBS 1.9/6

A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION

Source: NTI Explorer, 12/14/04.  Time Period=% Rtg Gain, Tu 9:30-10p, 11/16-12/7/04. Lead-In=% Share Gain/Ret.

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1989:  The United States launches an invasion of Panama to remove its leader Manuel Noriega, a steadfast ally of US anticommunist efforts in Central America and indicted drug trafficker and money launderer.  The fighting was brief, although it cost the lives of 23 U.S. soldiers, three U.S. civilians, 150 Panamanian soldiers, and an estimated 500 Panamanian civilians.  Noriega fled to the residence of the papal representative in Panama and surrendered to DEA agents in early January.  He was the first foreign head of state to be tried and convicted in a U.S. court and is currently serving a 40-year sentence in federal prison.

Answer Friday’s Not Necessarily TV Trivia Question:  In the history of the Oscars, only three films have swept all five categories in Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Writing. They are It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), and do you know the third?  SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991).  Kudos to:  Josh Eisinger-A&E/NY; Bret Rice-Comcast Spotlight/Pittsburgh; Louis Barbash-Connecting the Dots/Washington DC; Linda McLoof-ABC/NY; Lauren Grady-The Richards Group/Dallas; Rusty Rickets-WXIN/Indianapolis; Don Tapani-KDFW, KDFI/Dallas; Sara Sacks-Empower MediaMarketing/Oro Valley AZ; John Amato-Fox11 News/LA; Evan Weinstein-The Amazing Race/LA; David Primuth-GSN/LA; Chris Blackledge-NATPE/LA; Brook Peters-YTV/Toronto.

A MESSAGE FROM AMC

Today’s Trivia Question:  What holiday are you celebrating if your decorates include an aluminum pole and a tradition known as The Airing of Grievances?  (click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone with your answer.  Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Later — Cyn
12.20.04  4:06am

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CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS

JOB OPENING:  National Geographic Television & Film seeks a SR. WRITER for EXPLORER. Reqs: 4-6 yrs award-winning, TV writing exp, incl superior post-production skills.  To apply, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/jobs. E/O/E.  (1/5/05)

JOB OPENING:  KUVN 23/ KSTR 49 RESEARCH ANALYST. Compile & analyze Nielsen ratings data & syndicated market research info. Min 2 yrs research/ marketing/sales exp.  Bilingual (Engl/ Span) is pref.  KUVNHRDept
.  EOE. (12/22)

JOB OPENING:  SR. RESEARCH ASSOC./PBS-DC area. Oversee nat’l Nielsen orders and database. Attn to detail. Grad degree/Research methods, stats pref. D-base mgt. 1-3 yr exper. Excel, Access, SPSS. Info/apply at www.pbs.org/jobs. EOE  (12/21)

More new Job Opening ads here on Monday, January 3rd …

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —

SITUATION WANTED: MBA Candidate with specialization in Media Management is seeking full-time job opportunity. 7+ years experience in TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING – looking to transition into TVBroadcast in NYC. E-Mail:
  (12/23)

SITUATION WANTED:  Experienced SCREENWRITER/ PROMO WRITER seeking script rewriting assignment. Experience at Universal/NBC and reality TV. I can make any script a red hot rocket destined for box office glory. Email:
  (12/23)

SITUATION WANTED: BIZ DEV, STRATEGY, PLANNING & OPS EXEC, MBA + 20yrs exp, Cable/Program Distribution (VOD), Interactive Media & Consumer Electronics, seeks consulting/interim/FT assignment. NYC based. Travel OK
  (12/23)

SITUATION WANTED:  Female mktg. guru and sales person seeks freelance gig for NATPE. Will work from LA and help in LV. References and proven track record. Email me at

or cel (954) 270-1725  (12/23)

SITUATION WANTED:  15 yr+ LA Coordinating Producer relocated to DC Metro area. Available for work ASAP in DC Metro, LA or elsewhere – casting,talent relations, publicity, clearances and S&P. Email
   (12/23)

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  DECEMBER 20, 2004:

ABC             TV Guide-Greatest Moments 2004, Monday Night Football
CBS             Still Standing, Listen Up, Raymond, 2-1/2 Men, CSI Miami
FOX             The Swan [finale]
NBC             Fear Factor, Las Vegas, Las Vegas
PAX             Movie: He Sees You When You’re Sleeping, Faith Under Fire
UPN             One on One, Half and Half, Girlfriends, Second Time Around
WB              7th Heaven [r], Everwood [r]
TELE            La Mujer en el Espejo, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV            Rubi, Amor Real, Cristina