TV
Surprises among fall TV’s winners and losers
01:00 AM EST on Monday, November 9, 2009
We’re eight weeks into the television season and almost two weeks into November sweeps. So it’s as good a time as any to see how things are shaking out.
Here’s a rundown of significant broadcast TV developments, including the fall’s winners and losers:
BIGGEST FLOP: NBC’s bold experiment to bring “The Jay Leno Show” to prime time has a been a disaster on three fronts: 1. Leno is getting pummeled in the ratings; 2. Conan O’Brien is sputtering in Leno’s old time slot; and 3. The NBC brand has been greatly tarnished. Meanwhile, Leno’s former nemesis, David Letterman, is enjoying robust ratings, despite (or because of) his messy blackmail scandal.
WE DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING: Defying TV convention, Mark Harmon’s military crime procedural, “NCIS,” has become prime time’s number one show in its seventh season. Ratings are up 22 percent over last fall, according to Nielsen. The power of “NCIS” has also fueled two new CBS shows that air behind it — the spin-off “NCIS: Los Angeles” and Julianna Margulies’ legal drama, “The Good Wife.”
BEST COMEBACK: After languishing for two dreary seasons in “Dirt,” Courteney Cox shines as a hilarious and endearing man-starved mom in ABC’s “Cougar Town.”
THE LAUGHS ARE BACK: Prime time’s comedy drought appears to be over. The sitcom is enjoying a creative comeback. In addition to “Cougar Town,” NBC’s “Community” is striking comedic gold, if not golden ratings. But the standout so far is ABC’s “Modern Family.” With its “mockumentary” approach and sharply drawn characters, it has brought plenty of fresh energy to the domestic comedy.
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES: Honors for the most entertaining hour of the season go to Fox’s melodic high school musical, “Glee.” What other show gives you peppy production numbers, dancing football players and multiple love triangles? No wonder we’re singing its praises. (Just dump the fake-pregnancy story line, please.)
BIGGEST BREAKOUT STAR: All the sugary sweetness in “Glee” needs to be undercut with a healthy dose of snark. Enter Jane Lynch, who plays diabolical cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester to malicious perfection.
BIGGEST PAYOFF: For five seasons, we’ve watched the romance bloom between Jim and Pam on “The Office.” Their big Niagara Falls wedding could have been a huge letdown. Instead, it was an incredibly funny, touching and memorable piece of television.
MOST REJUVENATED SHOW: After a shaky start, The CW’s “90210” glammed up its young stars and gave its storylines more edge. Now, behold one of prime time’s most delicious guilty pleasures.
DO NOT RESUSCITATE: The search for the next “ER” continues. NBC has already pulled the plug on “Trauma,” about San Francisco-based paramedics. Meanwhile, another medical series, “Three Rivers” (CBS), appears to be flat-lining. NBC has given a full-season order to “Mercy,” but the nursing drama is by no means a Nielsen powerhouse.
THE UGLY TRUTH: “The Beautiful Life,” Ashton Kutcher’s drama about the modeling world, earned the shameful distinction of being the first show to go. The CW axed it after only two episodes.
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