With NATPE-Miami less than a month away, we at VideoAge thought we’d check in on the U.S. TV landscape — taking a sneak peek at some of the midseason shows coming to U.S. airwaves over the next few months and checking in on the hottest syndicated shows of the moment (in other words, those most likely to be renewed for next season).
First, the midseason series. Here’s a complete list of new series coming to network TV between January and May:
Dramas:
Deception (NBC) – This series revolves around an FBI agent who hides her true occupation to go undercover amongst the family of her deceased former best friend (NBC Universal Television Distribution).
The Carrie Diaries (CW) – The prequel to Sex and the City sees Carrie Bradshaw in high school (Warner Bros. International Television Distribution).
The Following (FOX) – An ex-FBI agent gets back into the game when his biggest catch — a serial killer with a cult following — resurfaces (Warner Bros. International Television International).
The Americans (FX) – A seemingly perfect husband and wife are secretly working for the KGB in 1980s America (Twentieth Century Fox International Distribution).
Do No Harm (NBC) – A modern take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, about a brilliant neurosurgeon with a dangerous alter ego (NBC Universal Television Distribution).
Zero Hour (ABC) – The publisher of National Skeptic magazine sets out on a mission to crack conspiracies and get his abducted wife back (Disney Media Distribution).
Cult (CW) A young journalist investigates his brother’s disappearance and his involvement with a cult-like group that follows a TV show about a cult. Meta. (Warner Bros. International Television Distribution).
Golden Boy (CBS) – A beat cop makes a meteoric rise to police commissioner (Warner Bros. International Television Distribution).
Red Widow (ABC) – The widow of an assassinated criminal gets roped into a seedy underworld (Disney Media Distribution).
Save Me (NBC) – A woman whose life is falling apart sets out on a new life path and claims that God is talking to her, after a near-death experience (Sony Pictures Television International).
Comedies:
1600 Penn (NBC) This sitcom revolves around America’s (fictional) First Family (Twentieth Century Fox Distribution).
How to Live With Your Parents (For The Rest of Your Life) (ABC) – A recently divorced single mom moves back in with her eccentric parents (Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution).
Family Tools (ABC) – A bumbling son must take over his dad’s handyman business (Disney Media Distribution).
The Goodwin Games (FOX) – Three estranged siblings reunite after the death of their father. And there’s a big reward at stake if they can adhere to his wishes (Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution).
Reality/Competition:
The Taste (ABC) Think American Idol for the culinary set (Red Arrow International).
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Now that we’ve got network series down, on to syndication’s big winners during the November sweeps. For the first time during its 11-year run, CBS Television Distribution’s Dr. Phil was the top-rated talk show during sweeps with a 3.2 rating. The show averaged 4.3 million viewers, during the sweep, which ran from October 25-November 21.
Second-place went to Live with Kelly & Michael, which averaged a 2.7 for sweeps (down 18 percent from 2011), with 3.5 million viewers on average. Third-place Ellen was up 4 percent to a 2.6 with a 3.5 million viewer average. Fourth-place was tied between Maury and Dr. Oz, which both had 2.4 averages and 3.2 million viewers.
Freshman show Katie placed sixth overall with a 1.9 rating and 2.5 million viewers (beating out all other newcomers). Next among new talk shows was Steve Harvey (1.3 average; 1.8 million viewers).
In the syndication magazine category Entertainment Tonight was the top-rated syndicated series for the 89th sweeps period in a row (its domination began in 1990!). The show averaged a 3.9 rating with 5.5 million viewers.
Leading first-run syndicated shows was legal juggernaut Judge Judy (7.2 average, 10 million viewers), which topped its closest court show rival by almost 5 full rating points.
