Media in Canada has asked some of the industry’s top broadcast specialists to give their take on the new programs being offered this fall. We will be revealing their picks and pans in the weeks running up to the launches.
This week, we hear from Carol Cummings, a senior television buyer, who handles accounts like Telus, Athlete’s World, and Movie Network for the Montreal-based Media Experts:
Q: What new fall shows do you think are going to be winners?
A: ‘CSI: NY for sure. I also kind of like Desperate Housewives. LAX is good but I think it’s got pretty strong competition with CSI: Miami against it.
‘In Quebec, there’s one SRC has called Temp dur ((Hard Time). It’s about guys doing prison time. It’s not as gritty as Oz but more about the time they’re doing inside and their extended families and how they’re taking it. Then there’s a reality show coming on TVA called Pour le Meilleur et Pour le Pire! (For Better or For Worse!). They have Transformation Extreme, an extreme makeover show also in French that should do well. TVA has also picked up a show from Series+ (French-language specialty channel) called Hommes en quarantaine (fortysomething men). It did well on the specialty channel but now they’ve scooped it up on conventional so I think it should do all right. ‘
Q: What about the ones that might not make it?
A: ‘Dr. Vegas – the one with Rob Lowe. They did the same thing to him this year that they did last year – they put him on Friday night, and they just die. Last year I think they had him up against Nip/Tuck.
‘Joey is in a lousy time period – it’s too early – and I didn’t think the pilot was great. There are a few losers that I don’t think will last very long, like The Centre of the Universe.’
The buzz:
CSI: NY (CTV): On the U.S. schedule, CSI: NY goes head-to-head with perennial favourite Law and Order. CSI: NY is not expected to win the time period (10 p.m.) but it will erode some of the Law & Order audience and capture adults 18 to 49.
Desperate Housewives (CTV): This prime-time soap opera shares the 7 p.m. time-slot with Alias.
LAX (Global): Star Heather Locklear has been a big draw and the lucky charm for numerous other TV series but this show is fighting CSI: Miami north and south of the border.
Dr. Vegas (CTV): While likely to fare well in Canada, in the U.S. CBS has the popular Rob Lowe up against Medical Investigation (which has been picked up by CTV) on NBC Fridays at 10 p.m. Some U.S. pundits have put their money on Medical Investigation, which doesn’t have the same star power but takes place in a traditional hospital setting rather than a casino.
Joey (Global): U.S. industry watchers believe Joey can be a survivor but could be at risk if his character isn’t allowed to develop beyond the one-dimensional, macho but thick-as-a-brick persona he was saddled with for 10 years on Friends.
Center of the Universe (CH): John Goodman of Roseanne fame returns to star but U.S. reviews have been less than favourable about this extended family sitcom. King of Queens is its lead-in but it has stiff competition in Canada in the Wednesday 9:30 p.m. time period with The West Wing/American Idol on CTV; The Bachelor on Citytv; and One Tree Hill/Gilmore Girls sharing the spot on Global.
