...Departures

A lot of people are planning or are rumored to be leaving their television jobs. So far only one is leaving for sure and that is Glenn Beck. Though he is still winning his time slot with 1.9 million viewers at the 5PM slot., but he lost 30% of his viewers from this time last year and he lost 300 sponsors. He also has had some remarks that many found offensive, mainly calling the President a "racist". Though he will still give commentary for Fox News he will be leaving by the end of 2011.

"The Today Show" may be losing not 1 but 2 of its morning anchors. Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer have been in the news lately because there have been talks about them both leaving the show. Meredith's contract ends at the end of the year and it is said that she is ready to leave the show after only 5 years. Though reps for NBC an the show have said that this is not true, it seems more like fact than fiction. Matt Lauer's contract runs out next year and he is said to be looking for a way out as well. I wonder if this has anything to do with Comcast taking over NBC?What makes this even more interesting is the other former Today Show's co-host who could be on her way out as well.

Katie Couric left "The Today Show" 5 years ago to anchor the CBS Evening news. They hoped she would bring in ratings and lift them to a higher position. Well that did not work and with her contract expiring later this year it is said that she is on her way out. I could easily see this happening. What makes this THAT much more interesting is the rumor that Katie and Matt are going to be teaming up for a show that they will both co-host. On the other hand people have said that she will have her own talk show. This is okay, but there are just SO many out there now that this would be a failure.

Either way this is going to be very very interesting. These people have become television figures that many of Americans have depended on for news and other info for many years. I am giving these departures a Digit Up because I am curious to see who or what will replace them.

...Reruns

Can someone tell me why there were reruns on this week? I turn to ABC yesterday looking for some new episodes of "The Middle" and "Modern Family" but I find reruns. Today I turn to NBC looking for new episodes of "Community" and "Parks and Recreation" but I found reruns. Why? Is America Idol that big of a ratings draw that it causes other networks to show reruns? CBS had new shows Thursday. I would like to think that everyone is saving their good stuff for sweeps later this Spring. I know that we set our clocks forward one hour this Sunday, does that have anything to do with it? Doubt it. Now I am left with reality shows, which are new, and college basketball, which is not so bad. I still would have loved to have watched some good scripted comedy but I guess I can always go on Hulu and watch...reruns. Digit Down.

...Charlie Sheen

WINNING! Is one of my favorite things to say, but is Charlie Sheen losing? Only Dr. Drew wants to know this. Why? Well today Charlie Sheen was officially fired from his job on "Two and A Half Men". Warner Bros. Television released this statement, "After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen's services on 'Two and a Half Men,' effective immediately. Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of 'Two and a Half Men' for the remainder of the season. Charlie was either upset or peeved by the news, this was his response, "I got a text or something. Here's another thing -- these guys are such yellow cockroaches that they didn't even have the decency to call me. I put 5 bill[ion] in their cheap suit pockets and another half a bil' in what's-his-cheese's pockets and this is the... respect I get? It's just deplorable and they should be ashamed of themselves!" He blamed the firing on his bosses not understanding the actor rather than on his recent media blitz saying, "Whatever. I guess if you can't process a guy, or realize his value, you must terminate him. That's real high-brow thinking, really evolved thinking. I don't know. It is what it is. I'm more worried about my children [Bob and Max] right now than any of this nonsense, you know." What is next for Charlie? Maybe a major lawsuit, "They exercised such a cheap move and [this is] so silly and so transparent and... it's so juvenile. It is the work of infants. It is the work of silly infants and it's just -- if this is what it had to come to, to get me out of those silly shirts, then so be it. So maybe I'll wear one, just on the final day when I go and remove all of their bazillions." I understand why he was fired, but I think there was a better way to handle this. I would have let him finish the season, he would have "moved away" or "died" at the end of the season, just to have everything come together a little better when they introduce a new character to replace him. I just hope that they do not get a new character to replace him who will be playing him. How later and dumb would that be? I did not like it when they did it on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", and even though I do not watch this shows, never....not even once, I will not like it here either. Everyone is trying to make money off of Charlie. Every entertainment news outlet is all over this. His life: his past, his present, his future. Shirts, mugs, etc. are using his phrases to sell as much merchandise as possible. I believe Charlie wanted to leave, he was over this show and he was just in it for the money now. I see this show just ending. Lots of money will be lost and Charlie will probably receive some of the money that he is seeking, though that contract could have a lot of loopholes or some iron clad clauses. What makes things worse is when Charlie was in trouble in Colorado for allegedly hitting his wife, holding a knife to her neck and threatening to kill her, the studio and the producers stood by him. Now he goes on a few rants and insults them and they fire him. That says a lot about them and who they really care about...themselves. I am giving Charlie Sheen a Digit Up because no matter what he did, and he did A LOT, he was always himself, good or bad.

...Charlie Sheen

I have no words that can express how awesomely funny Charlie Sheen was Monday. He was all over the tube talking here and there about his life and his recent problems. I learned that he has "Adonis DNA and Tiger Blood" and that he wants $3 million per episode and an apology from CBS or else he is walking from the show. Look at these clips. Maybe he is bi polar, maybe he was being "funny".


Either way he is clean and sober, according tot he test. Doing drugs for a long time does cause long term brain damage and maybe that is what we are seeing right now. I am going to give Charlie a Digit Up though because I have a feeling he is messing with all of us.

...Two And A Half Men

CBS has decided to cancel Two and a Half Men for the rest of the season after Charlie Sheen made some rather interesting comments earlier Thursday morning on a The Alex Jones Show. This is what he said: "I was told if I went on the attack, they would cancel the show and all that and so I'm just sort of seeing if they're telling the truth or not. Are they happy with the $5 billion they already made off me or do they think they can turn it into $10 [billion] in a couple more seasons?" Charlie continued. "I'm just saying, you know [the show] is a runaway freakin' juggernaut. Do what you've gotta do -- I'll go make movies with superstars and not work with idiots" In response later that evening CBS ans Warner Brothers said, "Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of 'Two and a Half Men' for the remainder of the season." This is major. The crew of the show was already pissed with Charlie for them not getting paid for the 2 weeks they were suspended for him to go through "rehab". He said he would pay a portion of the crew's wages while they were off. I wonder if he will keep that promise now! Is this a surprise? We all know who Carlie Sheen is and they should too. I bet CBS is regretting the almost $2 million per episode contract they gave him because now he can pretty much do whatever he wants and still get paid. The ball is in his court though and it is up tot him if he wants the show to go on. If the show is cancelled he has enough money to life happily ever after and like he said he can go off and do movies, although it may be harder with his recent string of activity. Still I am not a fan of the show but it is hugely popular and I am sure fans will be upset that it is cancelled. Hard ball or not no one wins in the end. Digit Down.

...Univision

Univision, the Spanish language network, is set to top the American networks in viewership within this decade, according to census. With about 50 million more Hispanics in America than there were a decade ago and with Univision showing a 14% jump in viewers this year, compared to 3% by the big 4 (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) it is only a matter of time. Recently Univision passed The CW to become 5th. Some think that even without the future growth of Hispanics in America Univision would still become number 1. In areas, such as the 18-49 year old range, Univison could possibly lead on some nights, it is very close on Friday nights as it is. This means good things for them when it comes to future sponsors. In the past major sponsors have not been willing to place ads on the network, 2/3 to be exact, but now that could, will change. This will definitely do damage to the big 4 who have seen profits fall due to the recession and sponsors deciding to find more creative ways to reach people, especially since most people can fast forward through commercials now. Univision is set to become a major player in the television world. I have no clue what this means for the rest of us. They are a Spanish language channel so it is not like many English only speaking Americans will be tuning i to watch, but it could change things up on the other networks, maybe they will have better shows, less police dramas...maybe. I am giving Univision a Digit Up

...The Talk

I had heard about this show for months. The controversy of the show featuring a lesbian mother, but that died down a day after I heard about it. The Talk premiered Monday and I watched it, I watched all week long after I found out what time it came on. No one really seemed to care. Barbra Walters mentioned it, sort of, on "The View" Monday when she said the reason their show is so good and why others try to copy... Oh Snap! Well After watching this week I can see why no one really cared, the show is boring. It has its funny moments but it is boring. The show is for mothers, and mothers can be boring, especially mothers of young children. Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete, and Marissa Jaret Winokur are the stars of the show and they seem to get along, for now. During their interviews of guest like Jennifer Lopez and Christie Brinkley they played softball, not the actual game, but with the questions. I understand that they are a new show and I guess they are not trying to ruffle feathers, but c'mon ladies, do something! Julie's husband is the main boss at CBS so it is not like the show has anything to worry about. I doubt I will continue to watch next week. I need more substance, more meat. Honestly I do not see this show lasting that long... Digit Down.

...Television Viewers

In the golden days of television, better known as the 90's, advertising execs used to focus all of their money on the 18-49 year old. Well with baby boomers living well into their later years and teens, 20 and 30 somethings watching television online, ad execs are now looking at the above 50 crowd. Why? Well for example CBS has a median viewer age of 51! This masters greatly to advertisers who are becoming less willing to spend money for prime prime time spots. It is well documented that the 18-49 age range tend to spend more than older people. Also the 18-49ers are more willing to watch a commercial over an impatient older adult. You can mostly blame this on the younger Americans though. While in the 80's and 90's more younger people were watching television, they have seemed to disappear. Young hip shows are being cancelled, and usually those are the new shows added to schedules. Older more successful shows are seeming to stick around longer. When Conan O'Brien took over "The Tonight Show" the ratings dipped, and he was fired and replaced with Jay Leno, who attracts more older viewers, those who tend to stay up and watch shows that late. Although Conan got a lot of support form younger Americans, most of those supporting did not bother to watch. The economy also has a little to do with this. It is cheaper to keep things the way they are rather than create something new, shame. I am giving this news a Digit Down. Although this news is not shocking, it could be a continuing trend. With television constantly being made obsolete and Hollywood turning out the same crap year after year, who knows how long it will take before young Americans and the 18-49ers become important again...if ever.