CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

11/23/04

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, November 23, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

As anticipated, ABC soundly won Sunday night despite NFL Runover on both Fox and CBS, posting an overall 6.8/16 A18-49 in fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research.  At 7pm Fox dominated with the football runover combined with Malcolm in the Middle, averaging a 5.0/14 for the hour; ABC was #2 with AFV and a 3.2/9.  At 8pm Extreme Makeover Home Edition jumped up to an 18 share, doubling its leadin, and doubling its competition on   both Fox and CBS (9 share each).  At 9p Desperate Housewives upped the ante even further, earning an 11.0/24 demo rating. #2 for the 9p hour was NBC’s Law & Order: CI with a 4.6/10.  At 10p Boston Legal dipped back to a 5.3/13, in a tie with NBC’s Crossing Jordan, with CBS’ final hour of its two hour Hallmark Movie posting a 2.2/5.

Tonight’s Premieres:
Univision:  Lo veremos todo con Niurka y Bobby at 9pm

Rather than airing repeats, the WB has scheduled the return of High School Reunion as of December 7 at 9pm, filling in for One Tree Hill for a 7 week stretch.    Additionally, Jack and Bobby will take an six week break and filling the Wednesday 9p hour as of December 15 with be another reality series – Big Man on Campus, also a Mike Fleiss production.

Casting / Development / Production

• An as yet untitled comedy project at Fox has signed Bret Harrison (Grounded for Life) to star alongside Becki Newton. The story line begins as a group of friends are graduating from college; Harrison’s character will be the first to get a ‘real’ job. The project will be directed by Betty Thomas.
• NBC appears ready to give the order for a comedy pilot called Kings of New York from the makers of Will & Grace, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, per Variety. The project is about a group of four lifelong friends living in NYC. 
• HBO has ordered up 13 eps of a comedy project called Comeback from Lisa Kudrow (who also stars) and Michael Patrick King.  King and Kudrow wrote the pilot, King will also direct. The show is about a hasbeen actress mounting a career comeback.  Starring along with Kudrow are Laura Silverman, Damian Young, Robert Michael Morris, Malin Akerman, Lance Barber and Robert Bagnell. 

Five CBS O&O stations in major markets (not a group deal, so not all O&Os are involved) will be the new home to King World’s Dr. Phil come Fall 2006.  In LA, the show will move from KNBC to KCBS; in Chicago from WMAQ to WBBM, Pittsburgh from WTAE to KDKA, Detroit from WDIV to WWJ, and Baltimore the show makes the switch to the CBS owned station from WBAL to WJZ. Dr. Phil already airs on the CBS station in New York and Philadelphia. According to various reports, the license fee for the new term on the CBS stations will be in the lockjaw neighborhood of $200k/week.  Other markets changes are also anticipated including Miami where the show will move off the CBS O&O WFOR to the ABC station, WPLG.  Each deal for Dr. Phil with King World includes a clause prohibiting stations from scheduling the show in direct competition with Oprah.

ABC has declined the pass to continue with college football’s College Bowl Series which includes the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl after its current deal ends in 2006.  Fox has picked up the series for a three year deal, 2007-2010 for a reported license fee of $320 million that will include two the BCS National Championship Game.  Fox has a separate deal to continue carry the Cotton Bowl.  Back on ABC, the Rose Bowl will continue on that network under a separate agreement.  Also, this bowl series year, ABC will air the Rose Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl and the FedEx Orange Bowl in HDTV. All of those bowl games will air between January 1st and 4th, 2005.

here! TV and DIRECTV, Inc. inked an agreement to bring the gay/lesbian-oriented service to all DIRECTV customers on a subscription basis.  The service will be available daily for 12 hours on Channel 190 as of December 1.

A sign of the times – A new recording label distributing music exclusively via digitally online, virtually no production costs, no high end deals with unknown artists, and essentially no risk to the record label.  Indeed, that is the plan for the Universal Music Group, according to a report in The New York Times.  Universal Music Enterprises Digital has signed 8 up-and-coming independent artists to provide their tracks on various digital services including iTunes, Napster, MSN Music and Rhapsody.  The contracts provide for the artists to maintain ownership of the master recording, and do not include monetary advances nor do they include the cost of producing an album.  Universal will license the music from the artist, promote the availability of the tracks, and when purchased on any of the internet music sites, the artist receives 25% in royalties.  The deal also allows Universal to pick up the distribution of an artists album for retail sales.

Note to self – when I grow up, I wanna be one of Oprah’s favorite things.

Sunday, November 21, 2004. Fast Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.  Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat

ABC     9.8/15  AFV 5.6/9, EM: Home Edition 10.1/15, Desperate Housewives 15.0/22, Boston Legal 8.5/13

CBS     8.9/14  60 Minutes 9.1/15, Cold Case 10.2/15, Hallmark Movie: Back When We Were Grownups 8.3/12

NBC     7.3/11  Dateline 5.9/9, American Dreams 5.4/8, Law & Order: CI 8.8/13, Crossing Jordan 9.2/15

FOX     5.0/8   NFL Runover/Malcolm 8.0/13; Simpsons 5.8/9, Arrested Development 3.8/6, My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss 2.2/3

WB      1.6/2   Steve Harvey 1.6/3, Charmed 2.3/3, The Mountain 1.0/1

A18-49  ABC 6.8/16, NBC 3.7/9, Fox 3.5/8, CBS 2.8/7, WB 1.1/3

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1903:  Colorado Governor James Peabody intervenes in a strike in the Cripple Creek gold mines.  By sending in the state militia, Peabody signaled his desire to break the Western Federation of Miners, led by William “Big Bill” Haywood.  Peabody’s action reversed the early successes of the strike, which called for, among other things, an eight-hour work day.  Soldiers protected strikebreakers and arrested union supporters, and when a union supporter bombed a railroad station, killing several strikebreakers, public sentiment turned against the union.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:   If you are a part of the elite detective force known as the M Squad with Lee Marvin as one of your head guys, what city are you in? CHICAGO.  Kudos to:  Alex Mullen-MTV/NY; Kevin Brush-ABC, One Life to Live/NY; Jack Krayson-APF/NY; Robert Argento-Magnet Comm/NY; Daniel Thomson-Media First Int’l/Minneapolis; Kenny Mueller-NCC/Dallas; Lorrie Shilling-Centennial; Dan Whitford-RPA/Chicago; Dan Matson-Second Verdict Prods/Studio City; Tom Moore-Kalt Prods/LA; Daniela Onel-ALSA Design/LA; Veronica Zelle-Rightous & Blonde Prods/LA.

Today’s Trivia Question:  The most current rendition of this advertising icon was created in the mid 1970’s with the pitch line “Oh yeah!.” The icon, however, was originally created in 1953 as a smiley face in a heart with a 5-cent sign.  What product is this icon for?  (click
to respond to the trivia question and please be sure to include with your answer your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four correct responses from each time zone will be listed in tomorrow’s kudo list.)

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Click through to the scene of the caper to view existing photos and captions.
Then, click on the contest link to write and submit your own caption for the photo marked “Your Caption Here”.

Later — Cyn
11.23.04  4:46am

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JOB OPENING:  SHOW RUNNER/SERIES PRODUCER, DC-Based; Format series for Top US Cable Bcaster. Min 2 successful format series or 2 years on formats; Must work as local in DC area.  E-mail resumes to
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JOB OPENING:  MGR/AD SALES RESEARCH, Fox Cable Networks, NYC. 5+ yrs exp; Xcellent comm. skills, highly versed w/Nielsen software. DealMaker exp. A+. Resp. for devlping sales materials/presentations.Apply: www.foxcareers.com (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  DIR, ONLINE MRKTG, MTV.com/NYC. 7yrs TV/Ad exp. Devlp/Implmnt mrktg plans for online prgmng & digital prodcts, mltple platforms, Strng Bkgrnd in mrktg/new media. Strng Leader, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (12/1)

JOB OPENING:  MANAGER, TALENT, MTV/NYC. 3-5yrs strong Booking exp & contacts esp. celebrities, sports stars, politicians, music. Exp. w/TV production A+, multi-tasking a heavy workload, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (12/1)

JOB OPENING:   Morning NYC based National cable TV show looking for female tech savvy, cutting edge REPORTER with live on camera experience for weekly segment. Must be on top of hot industry trends. E-mail

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JOB OPENING:  BE THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR! Both professionals and amateurs can apply.The winner receives a six-episode show on Food Network that will premiere in September 2005. Go to www.foodnetwork.com for more info  (11/25)

JOB OPENING:  VP BRAND MKTG/SCI FI, NY. 10+ yrs Ent. &/or TV exp, BA Mktg. Innovative strategist to dev break-through promotions/stunts & partnerships building buzz. Apply: www.universalstudios.com/jobs, keyword search #387096.EOE  (11/25)

JOB OPENING:  VP PUBLICITY/SCI FI, NY. 10+ yrs Ent. &/or TV exp, consumer press & publicity. Strong industry contacts. Solid relationships. Flair for building buzz. Apply: www.universalstudios.com/jobs keyword search #387308. EOE  (11/25)

JOB OPENING:  TRAFFIC ASSISTANT/The Oxygen Network-NY. 2 positions/commercial copy assistants. Gabriel/Traffic exp pref, detail orientation and org. skills a must. Great benefits / vacation policies. E-mail:
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JOB OPENING:  SALES ASSISTANT/World Wrestling Entertainment/NYC Assist w/advertising & other sales needs, e.g. coord. proposals, contracts, mailings, prospecting, client entertainment. 1+ yr Media/Ad Sales exp. www.wwe-careers.com (11/24)

JOB OPENING:  CASTING, REALITY SHOW, NY-BASED. 2 Yrs Exp Casting On Reality/Talk Show. Self Starter w/ Great Phone Skills, Exp Cold Calling & Ability To Spot Good Characters. Able To Meet Deadlines.  E-Mail:
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JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXEC/Warner Bros. TV Dist. Inc./NY. Pgming sales or media research exp pref; extensive travel req; degree req. Exc comm & presentation skills. Email:
– “UCTC/25569BR” in subject line  (11/24)

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SITUATION WANTED:  LA based TALK/REALITY PRODUCER with 5+ years exp. seeking a creative position in reality/talk/variety programming. Excellent real people and celeb skills, A+++ references, willing to travel; email talkproducer
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SITUATION WANTED: SEEKING CHICAGO AD. SALES ASST. POSITION Enthusiastic, quick learner, focused, recent college grad with network internship experience seeks sales asst. position in CHICAGO Contact: Ashley Glassman,
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SITUATION WANTED:  “OUT OF HOME” MEDIA SALES PRO: Need a successful rep in the NYC area?  OOH/TV sales pro available to increase your sales. Home based, 20 yrs sales exp. in B’cast TV and OOH . Contact Steve at

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SITUATION WANTED:  ASSOCIATE PRODUCER with 5yrs experience working in film, television, and commercials I am very versatile and diligent.  NYC based, willing to travel.  Email
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SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA RELATIONS PRO with 15 year creative track record with branding media and legal organizations possessing extensive media contacts seeking challenging corporate position. Haznar
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SITUATION WANTED:  EP/PRODUCER/DEV EXEC. Award Winning-Live Action Series/TV Movies, ww exp, bcst/cable Nets, seeks permanent/freelance assignments-gets it done well & on budget. Motivator. -References.
(12/1)

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A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS AD SALES

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  NOVEMBER 23, 2004:

ABC             My Wife and Kids, George Lopez, According to Jim, Rodney, NYPD Blue
CBS             NCIS, The Amazing Race, Judging Amy
FOX             The Rebel Billionaire, House
NBC             The Biggest Loser, Scrubs, Law & Order: SVU
PAX             World Cup Comedy, Cold Turkey, Cold Turkey
UPN             All of Us, Eve, Veronica Mars
WB              Movie Special: Samantha – An American Girl Holiday (OTO)
TELE            Prisionera, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV            Rubi, Amor Real, Lo veremos todo con Niurka y Bobby [p]