Prime Time Update

Here is an update on how our programming department feels about it's selected programming, how those programs are doing in the US ratings, and any moves that are likely to occur in the Abaza TV prime time line-up.

Counting the days backward in sequence.

Sunday nights;
Pan Am has been a major disapointment to Abaza TV viewers after the first two episodes. It will likely continue on the Abaza schedule for the short term, however, if it continues to fail to capture our audience look for it to be gone before Christmas. Currently it's ratings are somewhat mediocre for ABC and will likely get a full year's exposure before any decision is made.

CSI: Miami continues to be just fluff, with more and more episodes being ripped out of the absurd headlines of the day. It will likely be continued on Abaza TV but may not always retain its current position every week.
It is not "must-see TV".

Homeland is just starting out, while Hell on Wheels, Mad Men, The Firm and Walking Dead have not yet premiered. All of those shows threaten to turn Sunday nights into a log jam.

Saturday nights;
Will continue with the plan to air sports, mostly Hockey Night in Canada and CFL Football, especially Winnipeg Jets games.
Rules of Engagement has yet to premiere and has now been pushed back an extra week.

Friday nights;
Friday nights will also continue to be scheduled NHL hockey or CFL football.

Chuck has not yet premiered, but once it does it will certainly find its way onto the prime time schedule.

Thursday nights;
Charlie's Angels has seen little acclaim from either Abaza TV fans or ABC fans in the US. At this point it is certain to be canceled. Abaza TV will likely continue to run with it for a few more episodes but it looks like ABC may run out of patience with the freshman show before we do.

The Office continues to perform and is solid in the schedule. However, its pairing with How To Be A Gentleman is already in jeopardy after only 1 episode, as it did not fair well with either Abaza TV or CBS. In fact Abaza may only give it 1 or 2 more episodes tops before booting it to the curb regardless of what CBS does. It's likely replacement will be the not yet premiered "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" which was originally going to be shifted to Wednesday due to no openings on the Abaza TV schedule. That looks like it may no longer be a problem.

Big Bang Theory, while a funny show, has never received a regular time slot in Abaza TV for some reason, and again this year best intentions to air the show went to the wayside.

Wednesday Nights;
Wednesday night is the most jam packed of all the nights. However it looks to get lighter as freshman show Suburgatory failed to impress Abaza TV (understatement). It will likely get a second episode aired and if not improved will be cut. Repeats of Hardcastle & McCormick are preferable to that dribble.

Criminal Minds is off to a good start and looks steady in the 8:00pm time slot.

CSI with new head Ted Danson was a pleasant surprise in its first episode and may stay as a regular time slot show.

However, Harry's Law has really picked up its game this year. Still funny, but now the storylines have more depth with multi-episode cases (at least the first 3 episodes). Yet its ratings have been absolutely punished on NBC because of the overall network malaise as well as stiff competition. It's looking like Harry's Law will either be cancelled before the end of the year, or at best shuffled off to Friday or Saturday night after Christmas. That would at least keep the show alive and take if off the jam packed Wednesday night lineup.

Finally, Law & Order: SVU with two new detectives got off to a hugely disappointing start. It is being dropped from the regular Abaza TV lineup but may see sporadic spot duty.

Tuesday nights;
Ringer has been the best of the freshman shows this year in the eyes of Abaza TV's programming staff. Sarah Michelle Geller has been outstanding. It's ratings along with the star power of Geller pretty much guarantee this show is making it to the end of the year.

Unforgettable is a toss-up right now whether it will make it to the end of the year or not. Abaza TV is firmly behind the show, and would like to say that Poppy Montgomery is looking hot, hot, hot as a fiery redhead and those toned arms. The only downside in the show right now is the possibility that the formula will get stale real quick.

Monday nights;
The Playboy Club got off to an awful start in the ratings, amidst some negative PTC campaigning, and NBC already pulled the plug making it the first casualty of the year. Which is too bad, since Abaza TV was really digging it, after a lacklustre pilot the next two episodes have been very intriguing. Too bad we likely won't see any more. Cable pick up anyone? As some industry pundits commented, Pan Am and Playboy Club were trying to capture some of the magic of Mad Men, but that show while critically acclaimed has not been stellar in the ratings. So they managed to capitalize on Mad Men's lack of ratings but gained none of the prestige.

Terra Nova does not look interesting in the least and Abaza TV has no interest in pursuing it at this time.

Can't wait for Alcatraz to start after the new year.