Enlightened Essays

More Enlightened appreciation, from a roundtable at The Awl and from the LA Review of Books. And Mike White addresses why men are reluctant to watch women on TV. And Kate Aurthur talks to White. I also highly recommend the WTF podcast interview with White.

Sinclair Buying

Sinclair Broadcast Group is picking up more stations. Michael Malone also has coverage.

90210 Done

90210 will end in May.

Political Procedurals

Alyssa Rosenberg notes the rise of politics represented in procedural form in shows like House of Cards and Parks & Rec.

Slovis & Breaking Bad

Creative COW Magazine presents an essay written by Breaking Bad cinematographer Michael Slovis about his work for the show.

Reality TV Bullying

Jen Christensen investigates why reality TV bullies are popular.

Pilots & Directors

Jaime Weinman checks out which directors are working on pilots this development season.

Community Assesed

Joel Keller points to sitcom aging as Community's problem, rather than the absence of a particular creative figure. Todd VanDerWerff also considers what's up with Community in his review of tonight's episode.

Dish Gets Small Victory

ESPN has been ordered to pay Dish Network for a breach-of-contract claim involving ESPN Deportes carriage fees, but Dish sought much more than it received. More from Bloomnerg.

Duck Dynasty Ratings

Duck Dynasty just keeps rolling on and rolling over the networks in 18-49.

Content is King

Lindsay Rubino covers a cable exec panel where consensus was that quality content is helping cable beat the networks.

David Brent Returns

Ricky Gervais is resurrecting David Brent for a Comic Relief charity telethon next month.

Univision Brags

Univision is touting its fourth-place finish in February sweeps.

Wednesday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
-Total Viewers: Fox: 13.15 million, CBS: 9.76, ABC: 6.87, NBC: 5.16, CW: 2.75
 -Adults 18-49: Fox: 3.8 rating/11 share, CBS: 2.4/ 6, ABC: 2.2/ 6, NBC: 1.6/ 4, CW: 0.9/ 3
 -----
- Winners: American Idol (Fox), Arrow (CW), Modern Family (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS)
- Honorable Mention: Survivor: Caramoan (CBS), Chicago Fire (NBC)
- Losers: Whitney (NBC), Guys With Kids (NBC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted

Switched at Birth in ASL

Jace Lacob discusses an upcoming episode of Switched at Birth that will show the characters communicating almost entirely via American Sign Language.

WWE & Beck

Andrew Zolides delves how the WWE is taking advantage of right-wing furor over one of its characters via Glenn Beck.

iPlayer on Smartphones

BBC iPlayer figures are rising particularly thanks to viewing on smartphones, and tablet viewing is also rising quickly.

Murphy at PaleyFest

Lesley Goldberg covers the honoring of Ryan Murphy at PaleyFest.

Hiding the TV

Interesting question in the NYT Home & Garden section: should home sellers hide their big TVs during showings?

Archer Renewed

Archer will return for a fifth season.

Hopper Tweet

Dish Network paid Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco to tweet about the Hopper DVR, and Dish says CBS demanded the tweet's removal, while CBS says that's not true. Wayne Friedman adds thoughts. In a related story, Knowledge@Wharton discusses the hazards of celebrity Twitter endorsements.

Cult Moves

The CW is banishing Cult to Friday.

Good TVeets

Working on some Community fan fiction. Here goes: "Dan Harmon comes back."
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) February 28, 2013

Wanna know what you’re playing for? A copy of the DSM V and a carton of anti-psychotic medications! #survivor
— Max Dawson (@fymaxwell) February 28, 2013

Facebook post options should be: Like, Comment, I Swear I Would Watch 'Enlightened' If I Had HBO
— Ari Scott (@ariscott) February 27, 2013

Content Ratings PR

Joe Flint says Hollywood is trying to broaden awareness of content ratings in the wake of parental concerns about violent media.

Walking Dead Info

Alan Sepinwall reports on the new Walking Dead showrunner and start of season 4 production.

Making New Girl

Alan Sepinwall takes us behind-the-scenes of how a New Girl episode gets written.

Wilfred's Logic

Seth Abramson deconstructs Wilfred.

Amazon Gets Justified

Amazon has picked up exclusive streaming rights to Justified.

Tuesday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: CBS: 15.92 million, ABC: 5.80, Fox: 3.56, NBC: 3.44, CW: 1.15
- Adults 18-49: CBS: 2.7 rating/8 share, ABC and Fox: 1.7/ 5 each, NBC: 1.1/ 3, CW: 0.5/ 1
 -----
- Winners: NCIS (CBS), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
- Honorable Mention: Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC)
- Disappointing: Golden Boy (CBS)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers.

Analysis from Hitfix and Spotted.

US & UK TV Ads

British media exec Jim Marshall watched some US TV during a trip to the States and comments on  comparisons between US and UK advertising.

No House of Cards

Michael Byrne discusses not being able to watch House of Cards due to insufficient internet service availability.

Nickelodeon Upfront

Jeanine Poggi covers Nickelodeon's upfront presentation, which finds the channel focusing on the next generation of kids.

Set-Top Box Energy

Rep. Ed Markey praises pay TV companies for making more energy efficient set-top boxes.

Teen TV Sex

Alyssa Rosenberg praises Bunheads and Parenthood for smart depictions of teen sex.

Variety Revamp

Variety is getting new editors and a new look, and it's also dropping the paywall and Daily Variety. Sharon Waxman has analysis, as does Matthew Ingram.

Good TVeets

So many friends are suddenly telling me about #Enlightened I can't tell if it's a TV show or a pyramid scheme
— Matthew Hunziker (@DogCitizen) February 26, 2013

When "New Girl" recruits for the S.3 writers' room, the ONLY question should be "Do you have any ideas for Winston?"
— Daniel Fienberg (@HitFixDaniel) February 27, 2013

Raylan shot someone last week, so this episode will just be him filling out paperwork for 47 mins while Art yells at him. #JustifiedFX
— edsbs (@edsbs) February 27, 2013

Warning: Justified spoilers at the end.

Idol Tweeting

American Idol will now incorporate live Twitter polls.

Ownership Delay

There's another delay in the FCC's consideration of media ownership rules, as the possible impact on minority ownership is now being studied.

NBC Thursday

Meg James looks at what's gone wrong with NBC's Thursday nights, which used to be its golden night.

CBS Wins Sweeps

CBS won sweeps in total viewers once again, but more notable is it also won in 18-49 for the first time in a very long time.

Honey Boo Boo Abroad

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is popular internationally.

VFX Anger

Visual effects artists protested at the Oscars, and Drew McWeeny lays out the issues.

Monday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: ABC: 9.64 million, Fox: 8.56, CBS: 8.21, NBC: 4.88, CW: 839,000
- Adults 18-49: ABC; 2.7 rating/7 share, Fox: 2.5/ 7, CBS: 2.5/ 6, NBC: 1.8/ 5, CW: 0.4/ 1
 -----
- Winners: The Bachelor (ABC), How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Bones (Fox), 2 Broke Girls (CBS), Mike Molly (CBS), The Following (Fox), Castle (ABC)
- Losers: The Carrie Diaries (CW), 90210 (CW), Deception (NBC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted

Bunheads Plea

In his review of the season finale of Bunheads, which hasn't been renewed yet, James Poniewozik explains why TV needs a show like this on the air.

A CW Hit

Spotted tries to determine what ratings mark might define a hit for The CW.

Movie Problems

The Economist says the movie business is struggling, while the TV business is holding steady for conglomerates.

Set-Top Box Data

David Goetzl highlights the pros and cons of set-top box operators sharing viewing data.

Sports Media Diversity

Richard Lapchick says the sports media get low scores for diversity hiring, with ESPN as the only semi-bright spot.

6 Million Dollar Man & Bionic Woman

Noel Murray continues his Very Special Episode series with a Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman crossover. Jaime Weinman chimes in about "lunchbox television."

Digital Newfronts

Brian Steinberg explains why the "digital newfronts" for digital ad inventory don't yet measure up to the TV upfronts.

On 30 Rock

Eleanor Patterson reflects on 30 Rock's feminist status and its self-reflective format.

DirecTV Blackouts

With the Sinclair battle still brewing, DirecTV has lost three Alaskan ABC affiliates due to a retrans dispute.

Cable v. Netflix

Benjamin Lennett discusses how cable companies are allegedly trying to thwart Netflix with broadband-usage caps.

Netflix & Originals

Andrew Wallenstein reports on Reed Hastings' insistence that originals are not the main focus at Netflix right now. Hasting also said the upcoming Arrested Development episodes are a one-off deal, though he's hopeful for more. And Netflix won't talk House of Cards numbers. Hastings thinks TV Everywhere could pose a challenge to Netflix.

Reality Accidents

A cameraman and pilot were killed in Kenya on a reality TV shoot for Discovery, and the NTSB has released a preliminary report on the earlier helicopter crash that killed three people working on another Discovery shoot. Related, a recent episode of KCRW's The Business podcast focused on reality TV dangers.

Advertising Spirits

Bailey's Irish Cream was the latest to cross the long-standing barrier against liquor ads on network TV with a commercial late in the Oscars broadcast.

ABC Everywhere

Harry A. Jessell says ABC is pitching a TV Everywhere plan to affiliates.

Game of Thrones Game

Facebook is hosting a Game of Thrones game.

Oscar News

Oscar ratings were up over last year, especially in 18-49. Graeme McMillan explains how Twitter coordinated celebrity tweeting tied to the Oscars, and Simon Dumenco highlights the five most-tweeted moments during the broadcast.

Good TVeets

I will give the Oscars this: it's Monday morning, my Twitter feed is all about sexism and boobs, yet none of it has to do with Lena Dunham.
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) February 25, 2013

How people did or did not respond to the onion now joins my R.Kelly litmus test for people I wouldn't trust around my purse or my rights
— tressie mc (@tressiemcphd) February 25, 2013

Remember when the Netflix guy was like "Quickster" and then they had to put him down?
— Nack (@juniorshabidoo) February 26, 2013

Pilot Activity

Michael Schneider reports that the networks are going all out this pilot season, given all the flops this year.

Sunday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers:
ABC: 32.43 million, CBS: 5.69, Fox: 2.87, NBC: 2.80
- Adults 18-49:
ABC: 10.1 rating/25 share, Fox: 1.3/ 3, CBS: 1.1/ 3, NBC: 0.8/ 2

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Early numbers show Oscar ratings were up. Richard Rushfield offers reasons why.

Aereo Expansion

Aereo is expanding to three new states and launching a new ad campaign targeting cord cutters.

Nickelodeon's App

Natan Edelsburg talks to a Nickelodeon digital exec about the channel's new iPad app.

What Women Watch

Sam Thielman highlights shows with significant female viewership (link fixed) that some may find surprising, like The Walking Dead.

Netflix Data

David Carr discusses how Netflix's data collection played a role in forming House of Cards. Jessica Leber also discusses this, as does Peter Kafka.

Complaint Backlog

Harry Cole says the FCC finally seems to realize it needs to tackle its backlog of complaints.

NBC's Plunge

Bill Carter delves into NBC's fall from first to worst.

New In Media Res

Theme: Taste and Awards Culture

• Monday, February 25, 2013 - Sarah Martindale (Horizon Digital Economy Research, University of Nottingham) presents: "Art and Life combining is called Magic": Mythologizing the Film Industry In and Through Shakespeare in Love
•  Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - Sam Ward (University of Nottingham) presents: ‘Amongst Friends Here Tonight’: National Awards for International Television
•  Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - Ryan Castillo (Clemson University) presents: Authenticity, The Academy, and the Commodification of Activism: How Oscar Acceptance Becomes Political Platform 
• Thursday, February 28, 2013- Eva Hageman (New York University) presents: A Taste for Reality 
• Friday, March 1, 2013 - Lauren Cramer (Georgia State University) presents: In Good Taste? The BET Awards and the Burden of Representation

Enlightened is the Best

Todd VanDerWerff explains why everyone should be watching Enlightened.

Oscar Reviews

Some reviews of the Oscar broadcast from James Poniewozik, Alan Sepinwall, Tim Goodman, Jaime Weinman, Robert Bianco, Hank Stuever, Caryn James, Brian Lowry, Linda Holmes, Ken Levine, Spencer Kornhaber, Alyssa Rosenberg, Willa Paskin, Andrew O'Hehir, Amy Davidson, Margaret Lyons, Erin Copple Smith. If you missed the broadcast, you can stream it on Hulu for the next few days. (Though after reading these reviews, you might want to skip it.) This may set a precedent.

Good TVeets

It's not Seth MacFarlane's fault, guys. It's just that men aren't funny.
— Allie M. (@alliemyerz) February 25, 2013

The Oscars is my favorite show about what's inherently wrong with all of us
— Josh Hara (@yoyoha) February 25, 2013

So... people made fun Kristen Stewart because she's blasé and Anne Hathaway because she's earnest. TWITTER MAKE UP YOUR MIND #Oscars2013
— Nathan Bransford (@NathanBransford) February 25, 2013

So Lena Dunham and Quvenzhane Wallis walk into a bar...
— Jeremy Mongeau (@JeremyMonjo) February 25, 2013

NBC Web Fail

Rick Ellis points to a lousy Guys With Kids tie-in website as representative of NBC's culpability in its ratings problems.

Big East-ESPN Deal

ESPN beat out NBC to retain Big East basketball rights. Anthony Crupi says this is a good deal for ESPN.

Nielsen Isn't the Future

John C. Abell says even with Nielsen's recent announced expansion, its ratings methods are mired in the past.

Saturday Ratings

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers.

Good TVeets

Wonder if real politicians look at House of Cards and roll their eyes like I would at a show about watching TV and thinking of tweets.
— Sean Thomason (@TheThomason) February 23, 2013

If #Enlightened were on broadcast TV, Laura Dern would play the mother, but who would play Amy & who would play the guy trying to kill her?
— Robert D Sullivan (@RobertDSullivan) February 24, 2013

Life is what happens while Netflix is buffering.
— Joseph Scrimshaw (@JosephScrimshaw) February 24, 2013

Hopper Advertising

Dish Network found a way to advertise the Hopper DVR on Fox despite all the networks' refusing to run ads for it: sponsoring a NASCAR driver.

Friday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
-Total Viewers: CBS: 9.26 million, ABC: 5.92, NBC: 5.65, Fox: 2.81, CW: 949,000
 -Adults 18-49: ABC: 1.5 rating/5 share, CBS: 1.4/ 4, NBC: 1.3/ 4, Fox: 0.9/ 3, CW: 0.3/ 1
 -----
 -Winners: Shark Tank (ABC), Blue Bloods (CBS)
 -Losers: Malibu Country (ABC), Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), Touch (Fox), Rock Center With Rock Center (NBC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Apple Shut Out

Robert Hof reports that Apple can't get into the TV market right now because a cable oligopoly backed by the government prevents it.

Positive TV Pays Off

A new study says watching positive TV shows can improve a child's behavior.

BBC Dysfunction

New internal documents don't portray the BBC in a flattering light.

Fox v. Dish

Fox is going after Dish Network in court again over the Hopper DVR and its new "on the go" features. Tim Carmody has more.

Good TVeets

The five people and one cat in my living room last night made up roughly 80% of NBC's total viewers.
— good charlotte (@pilotbacon) February 22, 2013

"Knock knock!" "Who's there?" "Time Warner Cable box!" "Time Warner Cable box who?" "[turns self off, reboots for 15 minutes] Knock knock!"
— Tim Carvell (@timcarvell) February 22, 2013

American Horror Story is like watching Ryan Murphy play The Sims. He creates a family, builds a house, then removes doors so they starve.
— Jamie Wotton (@Jaymii) February 23, 2013

More Family Programming

Wayne Friedman says marketers yearn for more family programming on the networks.

Mike White Interview

Alison Willmore talks to Mike White about Enlightened.

Live Matters

Marisa Guthrie and Lacey Rose discuss how important live programming has become to networks in the DVR age.

New In Media Res

Theme: Awaiting Arrested Development's Return

• Monday, February 18, 2013 - Yashoda Sampath (The Oncoming Hope) presents: The Show That Ate Its Own Tail: Arrested Development 
•  Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - Chris Tokuhama (University of Southern California) presents: The Most Important Thing Is Family
•  Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - Elizabeth Lundberg (University of Iowa) presents: "What Color Was He, Exactly?": Tobias and the Glass Closet 
•  Thursday, February 21, 2013 - Amit Patel (The University of Kansas) presents: “Every single one of ‘em was from an Arrested Fan”: Jason Bateman’s “Good Guy” Star Image 
•  Friday, February 22, 2013 - Ross Slutsky (Voice of America) presents: Arrested Development: Fan Culture in the Era of Internet TV and Social Media

Leslie & Liz

Alyssa Rosenberg compares Liz Lemon's nuptials with Leslie Knope's.

Smart TV Growth

Smart TV sales are growing, if slowly.

Nielsen Covering More

Alex Ben Block reports that Nielsen will expand its definition of TV viewing and "introduce a comprehensive plan to capture all video viewing including broadband and Xbox and iPads." Brian Stelter also reports. Anthony Crupi says we won't see immediate changes from this.

Carnivale Plans

Todd VanDerWerff talks with Carnivale creator Daniel Knauf about what his plans for the show were, had it not been cancelled.

Sitcom Plotting

British writer James Cary continues a series on sitcom writing with a post on plotting.

1950s Network Radio Repeat

Cynthia B. Meyers notes that what TV networks are going through right now is reminiscent of network radio in the 1950s.

Thursday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
-Total Viewers: CBS: 13.52 million, Fox: 13.50, ABC: 7.16, NBC: 3.17, CW: 2.22
 -Adults 18-49: Fox: 3.9 rating/10 share, CBS: 3.3/ 9, ABC: 2.2/ 6, NBC: 1.2/ 3, CW: 0.9/ 2
 -----
 -Winners: The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Two and a Half Men (CBS), American Idol (Fox), The Vampire Diaries (CW), Person of Interest (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Scandal (ABC)
 -Honorable Mention: Elementary (CBS)
 -Losers: Zero Hour (ABC), Community (NBC), Parks and Recreation (NBC), 1600 Penn (NBC), Beauty and the Beast (CW)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Snark & Sweetness

Grant McCracken sees a move away from snark and toward sweetness on TV. (But somehow doesn't mention Parks and Recreation.)

Weather Reports

Mark Jancovich thinks TV weather reports from around the globe should be considered important enough to archive just like scripted shows.

Sports Fee

Cablevision will add a "sports surcharge" to subscribers' bills to cover the rising costs of sports programming.

American TV in Britain

Wesley Mead outlines what American reality TV shows and sitcoms have (and haven't) played in the UK and how they've done ratings-wise.

Defiance's Audience

Myles McNutt explores what audience Syfy might be targeting with its the upcoming transmedia/gaming show Defiance.

Office Ad Rejected

Scranton's ABC affiliate won't show a Dunder Mifflin ad during the Oscars because it's tied to an NBC show (one set in Scranton, of course).

Pay TV Drops in Europe

Western European pay TV outlets are seeing subscriber declines.

Enlightened Analysis

Brandon Nowalk provides close visual analysis of the most recent Enlightened episode.

Network Ratings Dip

Toni Fitzgerald analyzes how ratings are down for every network this season.

NBC Fifth

NBC will finish fifth, behind Univision, in 18-49 ratings this sweeps month. More on NBC's ratings freefall from Chris Harnick and Scott Collins.

O'Brien Out

Jeff Zucker has decided Soledad O'Brien is out and Erin Burnett is in at CNN mornings. O'Brien will still produce work for CNN, though. O'Brien speaks about the change.

Good TVeets

Chance I quote Leslie Knope's vows at my own wedding: 72 percent. #ParksAndRec
— Alyssa Rosenberg (@AlyssaRosenberg) February 22, 2013

I am getting sadder and sadder. That's what #Community always did to me, right? I can't remember anymore...
— DennisPerkins (@DennisPerkins5) February 22, 2013

As far as I can tell the only job available to recent college grads is writing recaps of TV shows.
— Steve Hely (@helytimes) February 22, 2013

Consolidation Damage

Former FCC chairman Michael Copps says media consolidation is bad for democracy.

Comcast & Gun Ads

Comcast's ad sales arm won't accept gun ads anymore.

Cartoon Network's Bully Efforts

Cartoon Network is boosting its anti-bullying campaign.

Oscar Demos

Brad Adgate wonders if Seth McFarlane will be able to draw younger viewers to the Oscar broadcast.

Americans Renewed

The Americans will be back for a second season on FX.

Wednesday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: Fox: 14.24 million, CBS: 10.24, ABC: 6.81, NBC: 5.08, CW: 2.67
- Adults 18-49: Fox: 4.1 rating/11 share, CBS: 2.5/7, ABC: 2.1/ 6, NBC: 1.5/ 4, CW: 0.9/ 3
 ----------
- Winners: American Idol (Fox), Modern Family (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI (CBS) 
- Honorable Mention: Survivor: Caramoan (CBS), The Middle (ABC), Chicago Fire (NBC)
- Losers: Whitney (NBC), Guys With Kids (NBC), Suburgatory (ABC), 20/20: Mad About Oscar With Katie Couric (ABC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Breaking Bad Bill

A bill named after Albuquerque's best TV show rolled through the New Mexico house; the bill is aimed at increasing tax incentives for local production.

Cord Cutting Limits

One consulting firm predicts that second screen apps will help keep cord cutting to a minimum over the next few years; Wayne Friedman also reports. And Todd Spangler says a many people say they want to cord cut, but far fewer follow through.

Next FCC Chief

Julius Genachowski might soon be leaving the FCC; Sam Gustin considers possible successors.

Schur on Finales

Alan Sepinwall talks with Parks & Rec showrunner Michael Schur about writing season finales.

2012 Political Ads

One study finds that TV viewers were subjected to over 3 million political ads last year.

Showrunner Spec Scripts

A new blog showcases early spec scripts written by now-established showrunners.

Good TVeets

Nielsen has also stopped using carbon paper!!RT @thr: Nielsen Agrees to Expand Definition of TV Viewing shar.es/YNGox
— Bernard Gershon (@bgershon) February 21, 2013

No I haven't watched House of Cards yet, but please, keep asking.
— Rob Sheridan (@robertdsheridan) February 21, 2013

My favorite works of recent science fiction are the Taco Bell commercials depicting their food as a recipe created by a human chef.
— Dan Clyne (@danCLYNE) February 21, 2013

Oscar Ads

Stuart Elliot says the Oscars now rival the Super Bowl as a premier showcase for ads.

New Flow Issue

Check out a new Flow featuring Jennifer deWinter and Carly Kocurek with #1reasonwhy Women in the Gaming Industry Matters, Ralph Beliveau with Prisoners of Permission: Advancing the Cause of Fair Use, J.D. Conner with Parkives: Tomorrow’s Residual Media…Today, and Heidi Rae Cooley with Habit-Change in the Mobile Present II: Ghosts of the Horseshoe and Remembering History Otherwise.

Channel Loyalty

Wayne Friedman raises questions about the value of channel loyalty today.

Social Scandal

Bill Keveney discusses how Scandal has built momentum from social media conversations about the show.

WWE & Tea Party

Some think WWE is mocking the Tea Party via certain characters.

Netflix Impact on Emmys

Michael Schneider considers how Netflix could impact the Emmys.

Wired for CBS

Drawing on ideas about how our hard-wiring might lead us toward particular political ideologies, Robert David Sullivan wonders if this relates similarly to CBS procedurals and violent TV.

ESPN Headed Toward $7

David Goetzl says we should see ESPN at the $7 carriage fee mark by 2017.

Perry to OWN

Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse is shifting from TBS to OWN, which leaves TBS Perry-less for the first time in awhile.

Hulk on Girls

This Film Crit Hulk post on Girls is garnering major praise.

Judging Friday Numbers

Spotted tries to determine what ratings might make a Friday show qualify as a hit.

Tuesday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
-Total Viewers: CBS: 15.65 million, ABC: 6.56, NBC: 3.68, Fox: 3.48, CW: 1.16
 -Adults 18-49: CBS: 2.6 rating/7 share, ABC: 1.8/ 5, Fox: 1.7/ 4, NBC: 1.1/ 3, CW: 0.4/ 1
 ----------
 -Winners: NCIS (CBS), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), The Bachelor (ABC)
 -Losers: Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (NBC), Raising Hope (Fox), Hart of Dixie (CW), Go On (NBC), The New Normal (NBC), The Mindy Project (Fox), Cult (CW), Smash (NBC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix. Another tough network night.

Nickelodeon App

Amy Chozik checks out Nickelodeon's new app and how it tries to engage kids who may not be that interested in watching TV with it.

Dish-ESPN Deals

Eriq Gardner tells us what we can learn about TV dealmaking from a Dish Network-ESPN legal dispute.

Fox Changes

Michael O'Connell describes some changes at Fox, including a YouTube channel partnership.

Social House of Cards

Natan Edelsburg analyzes social metrics around House of Cards. David Carr also considers some data. Christopher Mims says the release strategy was a mistake because it hasn't generated the sustained social conversation it could have.

Costume Awards

Costume Designers Guild Awards were handed out last night; winners included Downton Abbey, American Horror Story and Smash (for the scarves, right?).

Body of Proof

June Thomas looks at how Body of Proof was drastically altered to save it from cancellation.

Firewood TV

Sarah Lyall details why Norwegians have gotten very worked up over a show about firewood. (I don't need to start a label for "firewood" here, do I?)

Robin Roberts Back

Brian Stelter discusses Robin Roberts' return to Good Morning America.

Good TVeets

It'd be great if they taped a season of The Bachelor, but the only part they showed was Chris Harrison telling them none of it would air
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) February 20, 2013

I blame everyone who livetweets The Bachelor for Happy Endings not being on tonight
— Bobby Big Wheel (@BobbyBigWheel) February 20, 2013

SMASH is a show about a group of people taking increasingly implausible steps 2 hide the fact that they cast the wrong actor 2 play Marilyn.
— Muffin MacGuffin (@MuffMacGuff) February 20, 2013

Beyonce Ratings

Beyonce's documentary on HBO did well in viewership.

Wacky Failures

Daniel Fienberg notes that a group of rather wacky midseason shows have all failed in the ratings, including The CW's meta show Cult.

Whither Paley Fest

Jon Weisman laments what Paley Fest has become, with a focus on current shows rather than TV history and legacies.

Entourage Movie

Melissa Click wonders if the Entourage movie will harm more than help the show's legacy and HBO.

Catfish's Catfishing

Alicia Lutes highlights some deception behind the MTV reality show Catfish.

28-Day Boost

Todd Spangler reports on Retrak findings that some shows get a considerable boost in viewer ratings when 28 days of data are counted, and these numbers differ with some recently released Nielsen figures. TVNewsCheck also reports.

Shows Struggling

Joe Flint highlights ratings struggles for veteran shows this season. Many new shows are also struggling, putting big pressure on pilot season.

Djesus Uncrossed Controversy

Some religious groups are expressing objections to SNL's Djesus Uncrossed bit.

MTV & BET Fakery

MTV and BET pretended their Twitter feeds got hacked today, but not everyone thinks it was a wise stunt.

Downton Ratings

Downton Abbey's final episode last night drew the series' best ratings yet.

On Enlightened

A thoughtful essay on Enlightened from Jaime Weinman.

Monday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
-Total Viewers: ABC: 9.38 million, CBS: 9.23, Fox: 8.31, NBC: 4.77, CW: 863,000
 -Adults 18-49: ABC and CBS: 2.8 rating/7 share, Fox: 2.5/ 6, NBC: 1.8/ 5, CW: 0.3/ 1
 ----------
 -Winners: The Bachelor (ABC), How I Met Your Mother (CBS), 2 Broke Girls (CBS), Mike & Molly (CBS), The Following (Fox)
 -Honorable Mention: Rules of Engagement (CBS), Castle (ABC)
 -Losers: The Carrie Diaries (CW), 90210 (CW), Deception (NBC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

The Bachelor continues to do well.

TV Signal Disruption

Some British homes may find their TV signals disrupted due to 4G network expansion.

DirecTV v. Sinclair

DirecTV is in a retrans dispute with Sinclair, and 87 stations could go dark on the service soon as a result. DirecTV is angry.

Fellowes Interview

Dave Itzkoff talks with Julian Fellowes about Downton Abbey. (so, yeah, that spoiler again). Part two of the interview, in which Fellowes discusses the British Christmas special tradition.

The Job Pulled

CBS has dumped The Job after two airings.

Esquire: TV for Manly Men

Neil Genzlinger has more on the new Esquire channel targeted toward "the modern men."

Hulu Plus Ads

Swanni answers the question of why you still have to watch ads if you're paying a subscription fee for Hulu Plus.

Good TVeets

For me #DowntonAbbey is about hard working people servicing the whims of a gaggle of clowns. When 1 of the clowns passes shrug and move on.
— masked scheduler (@maskedscheduler) February 19, 2013

"@maskedscheduler: For me #DowntonAbbey is about hard working people servicing whims of a gaggle of clowns.">Sounds like a major studio.
— Brian Lowry (@blowryontv) February 19, 2013

What I've learned from the many drug commercials during ABC World News Tonight: people who watch ABC World News Tonight are DYING.
— Amelie Gillette (@amelieg) February 19, 2013

Storage Wars Suit

Eriq Gardner says a lawsuit being brought against Storage Wars for fakery will involve the "quiz show law" and could have significant implications for reality TV.

Cosby's Sweaters

One of the most iconic costumes in TV history, the Cliff Huxtable sweater, has been explained as a production necessity borne of Bill Cosby's propensity for improvisation.

PBS on Newtown

Mike Hale describes PBS's "After Newtown," a week of programming about gun violence and mass shootings: "It’s painfully obvious, but let’s not miss the chance to say it: a lot of television organizations could do something like this, but PBS is just about the only one that would."

Amazon VIdeo Change

Amazon is saying goodbye to two digital video execs.

BBC Strike

BBC union journalists are on a 24-hour strike to protest job cuts. Meanwhile, a survey finds that Britons trust journalists less than Americans do.

Downton on Delay

Denise Martin reports word from PBS that Downton Abbey will likely continue airing much later in the US than the UK.

Sunday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
-Total Viewers:
CBS: 9.17 million, ABC: 5.86, NBC: 4.41, Fox: 3.75
 -Adults 18-49:
Fox: 1.7 rating/4 share, ABC and CBS: 1.6/ 4 each, NBC: 1.2/ 3
 ----------
 -Winners:
The Amazing Race (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
Family Guy (Fox)
 -Losers:
The Cleveland Show (Fox), Revenge (ABC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix: a tough night for the broadcast networks.

Intel TV

Tim Carmody thinks what Intel has in the works might be actually measure up to internet TV's promises.

Walking Dead Ratings

Spotted details why The Walking Dead's big ratings are even more impressive than you initially think.

Not On Apps

Rob Pegoraro explains why some TV shows are available streaming online but not via apps.

Good Wife Interview

Kate Aurthur interviews the Good Wife showrunners about this season.

Violent TV

A new study finds that limiting children's exposure to violent content can reduce their aggression, and Todd VanDerWerff argues that adult shows like The Following that overindulge on violence without substance diminish its impact. One study finds YouTube a much less violent place than TV.

Killing Off Characters

Bill Carter discusses the risk inherent to killing off TV characters. (This opens with the big Downton Abbey spoiler.)

WGA Awards

Writers Guild awards were handed out last night; Breaking Bad, Louie, Girls, Mad Men, and Modern Family were among the TV winners.

Good TVeets

Tonight's "Downton Abbey" seems to be about how the world is changing in and around Downton Abbey. #spoiler
— Daniel Fienberg (@HitFixDaniel) February 18, 2013

My @twcable_nyc DVR ate the "Downton Abbey" season finale -- did Laura Linney manage to finally escape that red room she was trapped in?
— Tim Carvell (@timcarvell) February 18, 2013

my top ten series for 2013 so far: Enlightened is 1 through 6; also 10. just missing the list is enlightened at #11 and #12.
— Jeremy Mongeau (@JeremyMonjo) February 18, 2013

Warning: If you somehow, some way already avoided the big Downton Abbey spoiler and want to keep avoiding it, don't read all the way through the end.

Another Rehab Death

Kate Aurthur writes of the death of a another Celebrity Rehab alum, Mindy McCready. Andy Dehnart says we shouldn't blame the show or Dr. Drew.

Al Jazeera's Independence

Spiegel reports on the departure of some top journalists from Al Jazeera, reportedly because the news outlet is losing its independence and following a political agenda.

Saturday Ratings

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers.

Media Industry News

I've passed the What Are You Missing? baton on to another crew, which has started with an excellent collection of media industry news links from the past two weeks.

Children's Programming Festivals

Dade Hayes profiles the Prix Jeunesse Suitcase, a set of global festivals showcasing children's TV programming, or a "children's television equivalent to the Peabody Awards."

Rising & Falling Sports

Mixed martial arts is rising in popularity on US TV, while Formula One is falling globally.

TV vs. Film

Brandon Nowalk takes issue with the assumption that TV is better than film these days.

Save The Hour

Fans of The Hour have started a campaign to get the BBC to uncancel it.

Good TVeets

Maya Rudolph's fetus refuses to be in s3 of Up All Night.
— Andrew Rabin (@arrabin56) February 16, 2013

UP ALL NIGHT reboot pitch: Animated versions of the cast's phone conversations with their agents since the retool was announced.
— Devan Joneson (@djoneson) February 17, 2013

Blackfolk gotta give up hope on #SNL & #Girls... Lorne Michaels aint cared for 35 years and Lena Dunham won't care for the next 35.
— Black Canseco (@BlackCanseco) February 17, 2013

Expiring on Instant

A website called instantwatcher has a handy guide to titles facing expiration from Netflix Instant soon. My So-Called Life expires March 1!

Ratings Analysis

Robert Seidman uses The Americans to break down how ratings are assessed for a cable channel like FX.

Up All Night Done?

We may never get to see a retooled Up All Night.

Friday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: CBS: 7.50 million, NBC: 6.08, ABC: 6.07, Fox: 2.86, CW: 611,000
- Adults 18-49: ABC: 1.5 rating/5 share, NBC: 1.2/ 4, CBS: 1.1/ 4, Fox: 0.9/ 3, CW: 0.2/ 1
 ----------
- Winners: Shark Tank (ABC), Blue Bloods (CBS)
- Honorable Mention: Dateline (NBC)
- Losers: The Job (CBS), Malibu Country (ABC), Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), Movie: Paper Heart (CW), Touch (Fox), Rock Center With Brian Williams (NBC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

New TiVo Apps

TiVo has added apps for Showtime and TMZ, among others.

HBO Digital Restructuring

HBO is overhauling its digital team.

Hollywood Profs

THR profiles Hollywood execs who teach courses at USC and UCLA.

Good TVeets

#ZeroHour ratings mean Nazi babies + clocks + shouting old Germans NOT a draw? Great, now I have to throw out *another* spec script.
— Mo Ryan (@moryan) February 15, 2013

I wonder what lemurs think of Lena Dunham. Has anyone asked them? Surely they must have an opinion.
— A.S. Paul (@aspaul) February 16, 2013

Number of times I have fast-forwarded through the “Parks & Rec” theme song: 0
— Danger Guerrero (@DangerGuerrero) February 16, 2013

The Office Assessed

Myles McNutt offers his take on The Office bringing the documentary crew into the story, relative to other mockumentary formats. Willa Paskin likes the new Jim/Pam plot.

Mike White Interview

Mo Ryan talks to Mike White about Enlightened and where it fits at HBO.

Rhimes & Scandal

Willa Paskin interviews showrunner Shonda Rhimes. Elsewhere, Brandon Maxwell explores racial representation issues in Rhimes' Scandal and offers a follow-up. Alan Sepinwall also interviewed Rhimes. And elsewhere Rhimes addressed why she includes gay and lesbian characters in her shows.

Tucker Leaving EW

TV critic Ken Tucker is following Lisa Schwarzbaum out the door at Entertainment Weekly. This appears to be part of major changes at Time Warner, which could see EW spun off.

Cruise Coverage

CNN is going wall-to-wall with disabled cruise ship coverage; Brian Stelter considers why. James Poniewozik also assesses CNN's cruise ship obsession. Update: The ratings indicate at least a short-term payoff.

New In Media Res

Theme: Taylor Swift

• Monday, February 11, 2013 - Tim Anderson (Old Dominion University) presents: Taylor Swift for Sale
•  Tuesday, February 12, 2013 - Myles McNutt (University of Wisconsin - Madison) presents: She Knew They Were Trouble: Assertive Authorship in the Max Martin Era 
•  Wednesday, February 13, 2013 - Anne Helen Petersen (Whitman College) presents: Taylor Swift as Romantic Punchline 
•  Thursday, February 14, 2013 - Anthony C. Bleach (Kutztown University) presents: Taylor Swift Haters Hate in Many Flavors 
•  Friday, February 15, 2013 - Cameron White (University of Central Arkansas) presents: Creative Nonfiction: Taylor Swift & ABC Nashville’s Juliette Barnes

2013 Lessons

Ed Martin offers some key takeaways about broadcast network TV based on the first weeks of 2013 from daytime to prime time.

Community's New Start

Rowan Kaiser explores what's going on early in Community's Harmon-less season.

Walking Dead on AMC

AMC might air The Walking Dead repeats on IFC to boost that channel's prospects.

Regulating Violence

Scott Collins explores how network standards and practices departments address violence in variable ways.

Thursday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: CBS: 13.79 million, Fox: 8.75, ABC: 7.56, NBC: 3.48, CW: 1.86
- Adults 18-49: CBS: 3.3 rating/10 share, Fox: 2.7/ 8, ABC: 2.3/ 7, NBC: 1.5/ 4, CW: 0.8/ 2
 ----------
- Winners: The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Two and a Half Men (CBS), American Idol (Fox), Person of Interest (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Scandal (ABC)
- Losers: Zero Hour (ABC), Community (NBC), Parks and Recreation (NBC), Glee (Fox), Beauty and the Beast (CW)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Community hit a series low.

Intel & Pay TV

Will Richmond's podcast covers Intel's pay TV plans.

Good TVeets

"We open on a montage of Americans on iPads, reading tweets & watching YouTube clips of a Russian meteor strike. Then BOOM! The world ends."
— Mark Lisanti (@marklisanti) February 15, 2013

Of course the bathrobes for the Carnival Triumph are complimentary.
— Carnival Cruise Line (@CarnivalCruise) February 15, 2013

"What about a show set *inside* Nicolas Cage's brain?" - Pitch meeting for ZERO HOUR.
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) February 15, 2013

Commercial Negotiations

The SAG-AFTRA commercial negotiations are reportedly starting out cordially.

Discovery Not Everywhere

Discovery's CEO is still holding back on TV Everywhere.

CBS Stations Up

CBS stations saw revenue rise in the fourth quarter of 2012, which bodes well for 2013.

Scandal > House of Cards

Ryan McGee says "Scandal beats House Of Cards at its own game."

NBCU Wants More Fees

NBCU's Steve Burke says the company's outlets will start demanding more in retrans and carriage fees.

NBC Last Again

Thanks to a dreadful midseason, NBC has fallen back into last place. David Bauder calls NBC's ratings "appallingly low." More from Marisa Guthrie.

Parenthood & Community Optimism

Rick Kissell says NBC's current situation indicates that Parenthood and Community are locks to return next season.

Sitcom Romance

Andy Greenwald notes that sitcoms have become a home for romantic plots.

Hannibal Is Coming

NBC will air Hannibal in the Thursday 10pm slot beginning April 4.

Survivor Low

Survivor hit a premiere low last night, and Andy Dehnart explores some possible reasons why.

Wednesday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: Fox: 13.37 million, CBS: 8.49, ABC: 6.84, NBC: 5.39, CW: 2.87
- Adults 18-49: Fox: 4.3 rating/12 share, ABC: 2.2/ 6, CBS: 2.1/ 6, NBC: 1.5/ 4, CW: 1.1/ 3
 ----------
- Winners: American Idol (Fox), Arrow (CW), Modern Family (ABC), CSI (CBS)
- Honorable Mention: Survivor: Caramoan (CBS)
- Losers: Whitney (NBC), Guys With Kids (NBC), Suburgatory (ABC)

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Probst Cancelled

Jeff Probst's talk show has been axed.

AutoHop Fees

David Goetzl says broadcasters want Dish Network to pay them and networks for what AutoHop takes away from them.

Netflix & Seriality

Cynthia Meyers proposes industrial reasons why Netflix has released House of Cards as separate episodes but all at once.

BBC Personnel Changes

Incoming BBC head Tony Hunt is making some personnel moves.

ABC Midseason Shuffle

ABC has announced midseason changes, which include Happy Endings being dumped to Fridays.

Good TVeets

Aaron Sorkin's first job was writing candy heart captions. He got fired for filling up both sides and ending with, "See next heart."
— Matt Zoller Seitz (@mattzollerseitz) February 14, 2013

Dear ABC, you're being a total NBC. #saveHappyEndings
— damianholbrook (@TVGMDamian) February 14, 2013

Ten favorite Survivors from past seasons! Malcolm! Well, Malcolm and a bunch of other clowns…
— Max Dawson (@fymaxwell) February 14, 2013

CBS & Amazon Deal Again

CBS and Amazon are expanding a content deal to put older CBS and Showtime shows on Amazon Prime.

Britton Profile

Susan Dominus profiles Nashville star Connie Britton. Alyssa Rosenberg addresses the connotation that Britton is "old."

Tuesday Ratings

Marc Berman's summary:
- Total Viewers: CBS: 6.91 million, NBC: 5.28, ABC: 4.42, Fox: 2.39, CW: 1.53
- Adults 18-49: NBC; 1.4 rating/4 share, ABC: 1.3/ 3, CBS: 1.2/ 3, Fox: 0.9/ 3, CW: 0.5/ 1

Network numbers from TV By the Numbers. Final ratings. Cable ratings.

Analysis from Spotted and Hitfix.

Esquire TV

"Intelligent and stylish" men are getting a new cable channel targeted toward them. More from Bill Carter. James Poniewozik has analysis. Alyssa Rosenberg questions the viability of this channel brand.

Dish-ESPN Trial

A Dish Network lawsuit against ESPN starts today over allegations that ESPN has favored other providers in carriage deals.

Fringe Transmedia

James Carter catalogs the transmedia extensions tied to Fringe.

Lionsgate Backing Sitcoms

With Anger Management going so well, Lionsgate is looking to expand its investment in sitcom production and its 10/90 model.

A&E on iPhone

A&E shows are now available on your iPhone via an app.

Divided News

Ken Tucker discusses how news was divided tonight between the State of the Union address and the Christopher Dorner manhunt. Brian Stelter also assesses the divided news attention. One blogger looks at the problems live TV had covering the Dorner situation.

Comcast Goes All In

Comcast is buying the remaining 49% stake of NBCU from GE. Brian Stelter reports. Steve Schaefer says the timing is sooner than expected. Sam Thielman looks at where Comcast's money for this came from.