Blogging about or Visiting Your Favorite Shows Webpage May Just Save It From Cancellation This Coming Season!

The way we communicate, heck the way we do everything has so evolved in the last few years it's amazing. It's no wonder that the internet is changing TV. The industry may finally be catching up.

We first noticed the internet playing a part when the writers went on strike in the 2008-2009 season. One of their bones of contention was getting more rights to the online portion of proceeds from their show. And, they have every right to that. Internet is changing the way we watch TV and networks capitalize.

Many shows are available for download on the net. P2P platforms even have "leaked" pilots that you can download and view before their air date (I've signed up to a few so that I can keep my eyes open for leaked pilots and blog about them). In its opening season, for example, 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' was leaked via P2P platform. Some say it is purposefully leaked by the networks to start the "buzz". However, online popularity does not always translate into a hit on TV. Shows that got a lot of attention via the net have still ended up canceled from major networks.

That may be about to change. As reported by THR.com, the website creation service Webpaint has launched a measurement system that tracks fan interest in popular TV shows via the web.

Why is this so important? Well, it makes sense from a marketing perspective. The ability of a TV show to stay on air always had a large part to do with how many people were watching. The higher the rating, the more valuable the ad space to advertisers. Low ratings doesn't generate enough ad revenue to keep the show alive. But what if that show had a strong fan base that spent time on the networks website and the TV shows actual page on their net? Or their fan pages on social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace or Twitter? That right there is a huge magnet of clicks to a networks sites, thereby increasing the advertising value and revenue to the networks through ad space, DVD sales, etc.

I say finally. I'm tired of good shows with a solid fan base like 'Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles' being cancelled. According to information from the first week of Fandex rankings , 'Terminator' is the six most popular show among Internet users ('True Blood' from HBO topped the list). Perhaps if this tool was actually in place last season we may have seen shows like 'Terminator' saved from cancellation.

So, if you like a show this season please be sure to buzz about it somewhere on the Internet or visit the shows web page. If it's not getting the ratings on air, it's fan base on the Internet may just be able to keep some good shows on TV and out of the TV Wasteland!

To View the top Fandex Shows on the net you can go to www.fandex.com

My 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' Blog

Well, I finally got around to watching 'I'm a Celebrity Get Met Out of Here' today, the first episode at least. Reason it took awhile is because I only had it set to record in the bedroom and I don't spend much time watching TV in there. Note to self; set the DVR in the living room to record it.

I was pleasantly surprised actually. I thought it would be just horrible and was only going to watch it out of curiosity. I figured it would be a bunch of whinny celebrities complaining about "roughing" it. With the exception of the Pratts, the rest of the gang is , at least so far, sucking it up and hanging in there.

But then, perhaps I feel that way only because you wouldn't catch me dead in any sort of jungle and most definately wouldn't catch me laying around with those bugs ala the very first immunity challenge. Never mind eating the gross items they had them eat.

Most, no all , of the celebrities are "B" celebrities, mind you. I never heard of the Wrestler chick nor the two comedians , the basketball player and then the politicians wife. Of course,I have heard of Sanjaya from Idol and the Pratts (even though I don't watch the hills) and then of course Dickinson. Once I would love to see an "A" Lister doing that show, but I doubt that would ever happen.

The only two who delivered exactly what I expected from the entire bunch were Heidi and Spencer Pratt. Although I must say that Heidi surprised me a bit as she ate the gross stuff. Good for her. But, what the hell is she thinking being with that idiot Spencer? I didn't know what they were like before I tuned into this show as I didn't watch the Hills. I knew only the few tidbits you pick up in the tabloids about them. Spencer is a complete (expletive here!). I don't care if he is putting on an act to be the "bad boy" he's just ridiculous. He's really nauseating. He is just a spoiled, arrogant brat. Funny thing is, is that he "prays". How hypocritical can you get? On the one hand you are "religious" and "spiritual" with your praying to Jesus, but then you turn around and be a complete..well mean spirited jerk off! (Roll eyes here) Sheesh. Honestly, I could do without him on that show. So far Heidi is not all that bad, accept she's his little puppy dog (or so it seems). I would not tune in to watch him on anything. I would tune in even if he wasn't on the show. I don't know why the hell America makes people like him into celebrities.

There was one question in the back of my mind the entire time. I was wondering if they really were "outdoors" in the "jungle", or were they in an elaborate studio set made to look like the jungle? Some parts of it just looked like it was a "fake" setting. But who cares, it's still interesting to watch.

I look forward to watching Tuesday and Thursday's episode. Yeah Wednesday is missing because for some odd reason my DVR didn't record it! I hate when that happens. It doesn't too often, but it stinks when it does.

Okay, so now you know how I liked the show. But, did the viewing audience tune in? Well, according to Marc Berman at PIFeedback.com an average of 6.35M tuned in to the premiere of the show and it's viewership grew to the lead in Medium (which, btw, average 7.38M viewers. Go Medium! It was an excellent season ending and glad it's coming back on CBS this fall!). The viewership for Tuesday night was an average of 5.5M viewers and Wednesday dipped further to 4.79M into third. So, while it started strong it is fading. I wonder how it will fair in tonight's ratings?

As as a little side note, Mental dipped by 720K viewers in it's second week and lost 24% of it's viewers in the 18-49 demographic. Ouch!! I knew that show was not going to last.

Conclusion; Celebrity is definitely fluff, but not as fluffy as I had expected.

DVR ALERT: New show 'Listener' Premieres tonight on NBC at 9pm!!

It's Looking Ugly for Ugly Betty, Southland and Medium - Friday Night Death Slot

Friday night in the television industry is notoriously known as the Friday Night Death Slot. No joke, if you google it, it has an entry in Wikipedia.

ABC, in releasing their new schedule, has moved Ugly Betty from it's 8pm time slot on Thursday to Friday at 9pm. The show, a ratings grabber in it's first few seasons, has been declining in its ratings and so ABC has decided to put it on its death march! It will be replaced by the new show Flash Forward followed by , of course, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

Ugly Betty isn't the only show being moved to Friday. NBC has not renewed Medium. Fortunately for us Medium fans, it was picked up by CBS and will air after Ghost Whisperer on Friday nights at 9pm. This could actually be good for Medium because it will follow a similar themed Ghost Whisperer (I happen to be a fan of both of them) . CBS Friday night line up has actually been an exception to the Friday night death slot rule in having been mildly successful with Ghost Whisperer and Numbers (if these shows received the ratings they have received on any other night against other more popular shows, they probably wouldn't have lasted). The Ex List, a newcomer last season that filled the 9pm time slot, didn't survive and was canceled. I'm really hoping Medium holds it's own. I would hate to see it canceled. It is so very good.

Probably the most disappointing move to Friday for me is the new show Southland. It originally took over the ER slot on Thursdays. Apparently it started out strong in the ratings, but then fell off and so was moved to the 9pm hour between Law & Order (also moved to Fridays) and the Jay Leno Show. I think a new show starting the fall season on Friday is, well not so great for it's future. It's a shame. It really is a good show with lots of grit. Keeps me waiting for something to happen and on my toes. Kind of reminds me how ER used to make me feel when it was really good (it's been boring the last 2 or 3 seasons but I've stuck with it out of loyalty).

So.. my Friday night DVR will be recording:
8pm - Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
9pm - Medium (CBS) , Ugly Betty (ABC) & Southland (NBC)
10pm - Jay Leno (NBC)
Missing from Friday nights is Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles which has been canceled (bummer.. I loved that show too). Another example of a victim of Friday night time slots. I personally can't believe that Dollhouse was renewed. I thought the show was terrible. I don't think it will last very long and may be finished by the 2009-10 fall season end.

As further evidence that Friday night can signal the death of a TV show, the following shows were successful until they were moved to Friday night:

• Diff'rent Strokes
• 8 Simple Rules
• Life with Bonnie
• Step by Step (actually moved to CBS and put on Fridays and was it's last season)
• Family Matters (suffered same fate as Step by Step)
• Jag

Other Friday night failures included:

• Robbery Homicide Division
• Close to Home
• Moonlight (great show that no one was watching)
• Dr. Vegas
• Swingtown
• The Ex List

Evidence of how Friday night time slots for new shows affect a shows ability to capture an audience; at the start of Everybody Loves Raymond in 1996-97 season it aired on Fridays to low ratings. CBS kept the show, moved it to Mondays and, well, we all know how well that show has done (9 seasons). CSI also started on a Friday, performed poorly and was moved to Thursday and has been one of the most successful CBS shows catapulting CBS into the #1 watched network (knocking NBC from that slot).

All in all , if you are an Ugly Betty Fan, Medium Fan and you enjoyed Southland, it could very well be that they may not be around for much longer. Let's hope that that is not the case, but if TV history is any indication well it doesn't look good. I'll be watching the Nielsen numbers to see how they are holding up and whether they will be able to stick it out to stick around and of course I'll be blogging about it.