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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Later “Lights” lags behind CBS rerun
In its one-time airing at 9 p.m. Monday, NBC’s woefully under-performing “Friday Night Lights” improved over its regular 7 p.m. Tuesday ratings last week — but lost a whopping 41 percent of its “Heroes” lead-in audience.
NBC, as previously reported, has ordered nine scripts in addition to the dozen episodes originally ordered for the Austin-filmed series. But last night’s trial balloon didn’t float as high as network honchos had hoped, possibly dimming the hope that those nine scripts will turn into actual episode orders.
“Lights” finished the night a distant second to a repeat of CBS’s “CSI: Miami.” Last week’s episode of “Studio 60,” another woefully under-performing NBC series, scored better in the 9 p.m. Monday slot it temporarily vacated for “Lights.” (Monday’s “Lights” repeats tonight at 7 p.m.)
So far, this season has been noteworthy for the lackluster performance of most new series. Only a few fall series have been picked up for the full season: ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and “Brothers & Sisters,” CBS’s “Jericho” and “Shark” and NBC’s “Heroes.”
A few more have gotten the half-nod of script orders (with no guarantee that they will be produced). Besides “Lights,” script orders have gone to “Studio 60” and ABC’s “The Nine,” “Help Me Help You” and “Men in Trees.”
Fox News is screaming that “Studio 60” is already dead, but NBC, which ought to know, insists that’s a premature pronouncement.
Of all the ratings-challenged series on the air right now, “Studio 60” may have the best chance of survival. Why? Because the Aaron Sorkin series scores especially high among upscale viewers who earn more than $75,000 a year. Advertisers love those folks and are willing to accept fewer of them in exchange for top dollar spots.
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