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7/18: Engvall opens big
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The Bill Engvall Show” on Atlanta’s TBS opened big last night, at least big by basic cable standards, bringing in 3.9 million viewers. That’s not quite as big as “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” a few weeks ago, which started at 5.5 million but has since fallen sharply, averaging 2.3 million last Wednesday.
TBS, after failing with insufferably bad reality fare (“The Real Gilligan’s Island,” “Outback Jack”), has begun doing its own scripted sitcom fare. Last year’s so-so “My Boys” did just okay, opening at about 1.8 million. The other semi-scripted show “10 Items or Less” didn’t do particularly well but got a second season of 8 episodes. That’s expected to come back early next year.
Engvall actually did better than I had expected. I think if he settles around 3 million viewers a week, TBS will guarantee him more episodes beyond the eight that have been taped. If he drops to 2 million viewers next week, TBS would have reason to be worried but if he loses 20 percent or less, the network will likely give him a quick green light.
In other ratings news, NBC’s “The Singing Bee” dropped about 20 percent its second week, finishing last night at about 11 million viewers. That’s not atypical for a new show but among 18 to 49 year olds, it fell nearly 30 percent. NBC can’t be too thrilled with that.
And only 5 million people bothered to check out the one-hour special Monday following Victoria (yawn) Beckham around.
And “Heroes” fans, Masi Oka, who plays Hiro, told critics at the Television Critics Association press tour I’m not at that he will remain in feudal Japan for at least eight episodes and meet his childhood samurai hero as well as a princess. More here. Mark your calendar: “Heroes” returns Sept. 24.
Comments
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By Who cares
July 19, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
Zzzzzzzz…
By Bud
July 19, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
The sitcom is dead. It keeps coming back to life like a zombie, only to be wiped out once again. No standup comedian has ever created a sitcom that was funnier than his standup routine. Ever. Bill Engvall is funny enough, but he’s probably the most conventional of the Blue Collar troupe. If this sitcom lasts more than 2 seasons I’ll be amazed.