Idol Down, But Fox Still Wins

Much was made in the industry trades this spring that AMERICAN IDOL's ratings were down this season. While the finale's numbers were on par with last year, the ratings for the run up to the final showdown were, indeed down.

But somehow all the gleeful naysayers managed to miss something rather important in TV land.

FOX as a whole was UP for the season - and not just because it aired the Super Bowl. Scripted fare like BONES and HOUSE mixed with smartly programmed stuff like MOMENT OF TRUTH and ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER more than made up for IDOL's slippage.

For the first time EVER, FOX finished a season #1 in total viewers. Now, there were plenty of factors in the victory, not the least being the writers' strike. But - FOX had to deal with it just like every other network. And they did a better job by going to their bench and developing imaginative game shows.

While CBS relied heavily on reruns of their scripted dramas, FOX threw in new shows like NEW AMSTERDAM and THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES.

And they won - without airing a single episode of 24.

Congrats to everyone at FOX. It took 20 years, but the revolution has finally arrived.

The tough news for the other nets for 2008-2009? Jack Bauer returns in November with a 2 hour TV movie, followed by 24 all-new hours starting January.

And word is, he's pissed.

Random Thoughts 080707

Good lord, it's almost been a month since my last post!

It's been a bit busy, you see.

Gretel's home from college, there's the new job, a new car and a new play. Not enough spare time to mow the yard, let alone post to a blog no one reads.

Know this: I'm lovin' another season of HELL'S KITCHEN. Gretel & I are eating up SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - the level of the competition is miles above the previous seasons, And there's too much good stuff on cable to keep up.

The TiVo's filling up with MAD MEN, CLOSER, DAMAGES and SAVING GRACE - and reruns of SUPERNATURAL, which got lost last fall when it was head to head with THE O.C., but is worthy of consideration for a Season Pass this fall.

Speaking of this fall, BONES is on the move to Tuesdays, where it will now team up with HOUSE for a fun night of FOX style yumminess. NEW AMSTERDAM has been pushed back to January - all on the strength of this summer's DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS which will be getting a fall timeslot on Thursday nights (allowing me to watch SUPERNATURAL - see how it all comes together?)

CBS' ANGEL knockoff IMMORTAL is now on its third show runner, after major recasting by the second showrunner. Not a good sign. No Season Pass for you!

If you think politics is crazy where you live, you can't imagine the insanity of living in or near Iowa as the straw poll awaits. Political commercials out the ying yang. which makes advertising rates for non-profits who really need air time rather pricey.

Haven't made it to see that French rat movie, or the Simpsons flick, or pretty much anything since PIRATES came out. Seems that's about when the new job, the returning daughter and the new play all collided.

Check out the moderately redesigned SCCT website - (meaning slightly larger fonts, since I finally had to get reading glasses).

Later.