CBS calls “NCIS” Idol proof and hopes spinoff is, too
CBS execs, during the Television Critics Association press sessions Monday, said they hope sturdy “NCIS” and its spinoff will continue to live life against “American Idol” unscathed. From the NY Daily News:
‘NCIS’ is ‘Idol’-proof,” CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler. “‘Idol’ comes and goes, and ‘NCIS’ pretty much holds its place.”
After six seasons, “NCIS” now draws 16 to 18 million viewers a week compared to 26 million for “Idol.” A spinoff starring Chris O’Donnell and L.L. Cool will likely pull in big numbers, too.
“NCIS” is a decent CBS show that attracts the type of audience that hates reality TV, likes a good yarn and relatable characters, plus a bit of crime mystery thrown in. It’s an ancient formula, done CBS style.
Interestingly enough, the other show that is actually hurting “Idol” a bit is NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” which gained viewers last season and showed that there are reality TV fans who would rather watch big folks lose weight than people sing.
-”Good Morning America” Friday morning will feature David Cook, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.
-USA Today has the top 100 radio spins for “Idol” alums. Daughtry is at top with “No Surprise” followed by Jordin Sparks’ “Battlefield” and Kellie Pickler’s “Best Days of Your Life.” Kelly Clarkson’s “Already Gone” has 320 spuns, good for 42nd most among “Idols.” With all the brouhaha over that song and “Halo,” I’m interested to see if top 40 stations pick it up.
-Kellie Pickler’s new single will be “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You,” which appeared on both her first and second album. “I was gonna put it on every album until it was finally released as a single,” Pickler told USA Today. “I guess they figure this might finally shut me up.”
-Jennifer Hudson did a film that was so bad it went straight to DVD, save for a few theaters in New York. Read this scathing review in the NY Daily News. She plays Forrest Whitaker’s daughter.
-Media silence on negotiations between Paula Abdul and “Idol,” which likely means a deal will be coming very very soon. Sadly, we’ll be stuck with four judges again, I fathom.
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41 comments Add your comment
Deirdre
August 4th, 2009
10:42 am
IMO…if Idol keeps the 4 judges and forgets to let the singers sing…there’s a good chance that NCIS will do well. I’ve said it before, if we didn’t have live blogging here on Idol nights(more fun than watching the show) I’d be taping Idol and fast-forwarding past most of what the judges say.
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
11:13 am
As it is, D, I dvr BOTH NCIS and AI and choose which to watch. If they are going to keep the 4 judges, IMHO, after it gets past Hollyweird week, then they need to do a 3 judge panel for hte show and rotate which judge gets a night off. because it’s S*T*U*P*I*D to eliminate contestant time for BS”judge” time when they aren’t even MAKING THE DECISION> they are not judging, they are COMMENTING…they are not judges they are COMMENTATORS. ‘Tators for short. And need to be MASHED ‘Tators’ IMHO.
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
11:27 am
I think there’s enough viewership for both programs.
I like Linny’s idea of rotating among the four judges.
Either that, or cut out the stupid filler stuff (like the grand judge’s intros and Ryan’s stair descent. That would cut out a lot of wasted time.
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
11:40 am
Just eliminating Randy’s “booooooo” of Simon would help!!! But for pete’s sake, and every OTHER Performer, get back to focusing on the contestants. Don’t need no more Mashed ‘Tators!
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
11:49 am
If we want to listen to talking heads on AI… let’s bring in David Byrne and his group!
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
11:51 am
You know, we could replace Kara AND Paula by bringing in Ozzy Osbourne.
He could match Kara for songwriting expertise and match Paula for being rambling & incoherent!
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
12:10 pm
Oooh Boy… Rickster’s on a roll!!!
I sort of resent the implication that people who watch NCIS wouldn’t watch AI and vice versa — NCIS is probably THE best overall show on television right now, I don’t miss it for anything, even watch re-runs unless i’ve seen them 2-3 times already … i love the characters, the stories, the continuing threads… BUT…I’m a die-hard AI fan also. Thank goodness for recording devices!!!
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
12:24 pm
I’m just waiting for the people to start, once again, predicting the death of Idol. It’s a slow stead fall. FOX knows that, CBS knows that, we know that. NCIS will do well because for some reason people like the show and because people are slowly but surely tiring of Idol.
Of course the one thing that will alter the above is four judges. It might be the Idol killer for me. I’ll catch the auditions, I’ll watch Hollywood, but I can’t do another top whatever to top 2 with the four judge format.
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
12:43 pm
I’m not implying anything at all, Linny. I’m almost 49 and watch Idol. I’m not really interested in NCIS (not really a Mark Harmon fan) or any of the CSI shows either.
But I think the primary demographic for AI (pre-teens thru teens) likely wouldn’t be as interested in NCIS. That leaves a substantial demographic for other shows.
JT: I’ll likely watch the show after Hollywood week, I’ll just have the mute button handy when anyone but Simon speaks.
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
1:28 pm
I understand what you are saying, Rick, however, i truly believe you vastly underestimate the “rest” of the population that watch AI — Across the country, there is a HUGE, say 30+ (all the way up) contingent that watch AI and are avid fans. When David Cook came to Athens earlier this year, for example, there were women (mostly) who came from all over the country to catch him live. Women from as young as teenagers, yes, but more importantly, and the vast majority, were at LEAST 35 years old. And this for a “rocker” dude!
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
1:32 pm
David Cook was in Athens?? Dang. If I had known, I would have brought my wife!
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
1:33 pm
Based on Linny’s description of the audience at David Cook’s show… I guess the AI folks need to be mindful of the “cougar contingent.”
Deirdre
August 4th, 2009
1:41 pm
Actually…the PRIMARY demographic for Idol is the 30-45 group. This is why the mosh pit was created…to try to get teens and 20’s back into the show again. It’s considered a family show so parents watch it with kids that are still young enough to watch a show with their parents. After the 30-45 age group, the next most prominent age group for Idol is 45-60. So yes, NCIS might be a temptation for some in Idol’s most watchers groups.
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
1:47 pm
To sum it all up, only women watch AI and only women watch NCIS and there is a battle brewing – coming January 2010! Throw in the last season of Lost and the chances are good that many women around the country will suffer spontaneous human combustion. Any women that survive the January 2010 cataclysm will probably not make it through the February Figure Skating Festival, known by men as the Winter Olympics.
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
1:50 pm
I was listening to some Bob Dylan and thought, “What if Bob Dylan was able to audition?
Randy: “For me, dawg, I don’t know. It was kinda pitchy.”
Kara: “You need to focus on your artistry. You need to take a song and make it your own.”
Paula: “ummm… ummm… I like your hair. Shut up SImon.”
Simon: “How does it feel? Like my ears are bleeding.”
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
1:58 pm
LOL!!! Funny thing is, Rick, I was doing exactly that little spiel the other night, sunday i think — I just HAPPENED to see that Leonard Cohen was doing a special on PBS — And I started laughing and did the whole thing you just did, almost the same way…then we started thinking of people who are incredible artists, writers, popular, long-lasting, and probably considered “SUCCESSFUL” in the industry — Bob Dylan being the first one named — who would NEVER get past the judges on AI!!!
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
2:28 pm
Sounds like a new idea for Wednesday. Instead of joke of the day, come up with a “AI auditions you’d love to see.”
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
2:31 pm
Ozzy Osbourne AI audition reviews
Randy: “I don’t know, dawg. What’s with the bat?”
Kara: “You are a rock GOD!!”
Paula: “ummm… ummm…it’s a little dark for me. You should try and be more upbeat. Shut up Simon.”
Simon: “I didn’t understand a single word.”
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
2:44 pm
It’s not Wednesday yet.
Heather MacDonald
August 4th, 2009
2:51 pm
I’m waiting for Wednesday. Can’t wait to post my audition tomorrow!
Deirdre
August 4th, 2009
3:03 pm
OK..the auditions are funny!
And yes, JT…I am not likely to survive the Idol/Lost/Olympics explosion. the only thing that might save me is that i don’t watch NCIS.
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
3:08 pm
i’ll be lost, for sure, b/c i DO watch NCIS and AI and Lost…however, i MAY just do the Lost Online thing so i can eliminate commercials. And ON Demand is incredibly helpful, a la Eureka and Warehouse 13!!! OK, so i am going to turn into a freaking VEGETABLE, but so long as I have someone to feed me, i’ll be ok, honest!!!
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
3:09 pm
Deirdre, I won’t survive the Idol/Lost/Olympics thing either. If something happens to me it’s due to my wife. The Lost thing might be too much for her, and now that she found NCIS, I’m in trouble. Fortunately the World Cup will wait until June when everything is all wrapped up. Next year is going to be big!
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
3:13 pm
Linny, aside from a few minor exceptions you watch pretty much the same thing as my wife. I read they re-upped Eureka (thanks Rodney) but didn’t he say that it would be coming back in the winter? Just adding more fuel to Linny’s spontaneous combustion.
Deirdre
August 4th, 2009
3:27 pm
World Cup is an entity unto itself, thank goodness. Soccer has always been a perfect game and once again they prove it by running their major event AFTER the regular TV season is over!
Mercedes S.
August 4th, 2009
3:36 pm
Never heard of NCIS. Any good?
Rickster
August 4th, 2009
3:38 pm
Just priming the pump, JT. Getting people to think ahead of time.
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
3:52 pm
ooooh Mercedes, it’s funny, dramatic, entertaining, and even a bit educational, not to mention there’s plenty of eye candy for everyone…
well, ***I*** like it, anyway, and Hubby thinks it’s the best show on, so…
Eureka is already running its current season, is it renewed for another season? yum! now THAT’s a fun show — but as i said, it’s on ON Demand SyFy (yuk hate the new appelation) on Charter, so i can watch it and Warehouse 13, which is hilarious, anytime i want
Highlander
August 4th, 2009
4:22 pm
Does anyone else not see this story as MAJOR spin by a CBS exec?? “Oh, well, you know, American Idol only beats our show by 8 to 10 MILLION VIEWERS every year. So we’ve got a very solid show there.”
IMO, NCIS is pretty much re-worked CSI scripts.
And D, soccer will not be a major sport in America until the international bodies decide that no sporting event should be permitted to end in a tie!
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
4:39 pm
Linny, I have to disagree with the educational bit regarding NCIS. I already had to play Mythbusters with something they said regarding the reason for burying people 6 feet.
Highlander, you must join us on the dark side (regarding soccer) otherwise your view of NCIS is spot on.
Mercedes S.
August 4th, 2009
4:45 pm
Since everybody reading and contributing to this blog loves musical competition and youthful enthusiasm, I’d like to recommend a movie I saw at a preview. It’s called “Bandslam”, and except for Lisa Kudrow in an age-appropriate, non-botoxed mom-role, it has – if you’re over 35 – no known “stars”, just likeable, normal-looking kids playing three-dimensional characters. Add to this a story-line that makes sense and music that makes you think back (ahem, way back) to the rock beat exuberance of “Footloose”…
linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
August 4th, 2009
4:53 pm
Sorry JT, i love my NCIS (along with CSI, L&O, and a gazillion other shows, lol) so i won’t rise to the bait. I WAS however being a tad tongue-in-cheek with the “educational” — and it worked, at least one of you rose to the bait! AHA! Seriously, i just LIKE the cast!!! at my house we all enjoy Pauly Perrette a LOT, and Ziva has my guys panting… me, i’ve ALWAYS been a David McCallum fan, and i love his role on this show — what was REALLY fun was the episode where someone asked Ducky (McCallum) what he looked like when he was younger — Gibbs (Harmon) says with totally straight face “Ilya Kuriakin” …
anywho, we can’t ALL like only the same shows!!!
JTesla
August 4th, 2009
5:01 pm
I was baited by Linny! Oh man.
“we can’t ALL like only the same shows” hippy!
Deirdre
August 4th, 2009
5:06 pm
Highlander…you, of all people, should be appreciative of soccer. And you call yourself and Anglophile!!!!!
Highlander
August 4th, 2009
5:59 pm
Don’t get me wrong, guys. I do like soccer. I especially the ‘no timeouts just just for commercials’ when games are on TV!
I just don’t care for the way a hard-played sporting game can end in a tie. Same thing goes for college football and the NFL (although it very rarely happens in the NFL). The whole concept is a bit too pc for me.
And that’s ESPECIALLY true in kid’s sports. Kids should learn that you don’t always win, sometimes you lose, but how you handle it IS what’s important!
Now see that, …you’ve started me on a rant!
linny@home
August 4th, 2009
6:11 pm
JT! who’d'a thunk anyone would call me a hippy *smirk* … oh. wait. i AM!!!!
Highlander, i have to agree about a gazillion percent on the pc thing in american sports. AAAARGH!
Deirdre
August 4th, 2009
6:25 pm
Ties aren’t pc!!!! Ties are 2 teams working their butts off and coming out even…that happens in the real world, too, ya know! Sometimes there’s no winner and no loser. sometimes both sides are right and both sides are wrong. Sometimes there are no easy answers.
Seems to me, if done right, kids can learn even more from a tie than they can from losing.
nes
August 5th, 2009
12:34 am
Paula’s gone–or playing a desperate game by announcing she’s leaving.
JTesla
August 5th, 2009
1:36 am
Wait for it, wait for it… Rodney bring on that blog entry! The haters, the lovers, those that loathed the four judge system, it will be an interesting day to say the least.
Atlanta native
August 5th, 2009
10:29 am
I love NCIS, it’s one of the best shows on TV. Lost interest in AI a few seasons ago. Didn’t watch once last season so don’t really care who’s on there now.
Gandalf - First!
August 5th, 2009
2:35 pm
i hate paula and her drug abuse. it makes any decent christian puke. she is a cosmetic surgery hoo-eer!
but i this ryan is the best. he is so nice.
KRIS ALLEN RULES!