“The Real” rolls out in syndication for 2014
Due to pickup, Kris Jenner and Bethenny Frankel might not have future at Fox O&Os
It’s time to get real. As in The Real.
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution announced a “firm go” for new first-run talk show strip The Real after securing a clearance on Fox-owned stations in 18 markets, including WFLD-TV here.
The announcement comes after a successful test run on seven Fox-owned stations this past summer (though not in Chicago), averaging a 1.1 Nielsen household rating and a 4 share, up 57 percent from year-ago time slots and up 22 percent from its lead-in, and score a 0.9 and 1.0 rating in women 18-49 and women 25-54, up triple digits from year-ago time slots.
The Real – a multi-ethnic take on The View and The Talk, features a panel consisting of Tamar Braxton (sister of singer Toni Braxton), Loni Love, Adrienne Bailon, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley (twin sister of Tia Mowry-Hardict.)
Telepictures is producing The Real in Los Angeles, with Sally Ann Salsano on board as executive producer. In addition, a second run of the series was sold to BET, which is expected to air the series outside of daytime.
The pickup is bad news for Kris Jenner’s chances for a daytime show, whose show was also tested on some Fox-owned stations this past summer. One tabloid Hollywood site said Fox O&O stations weren’t going to pick up her show, though Fox Televisions Stations CEO Jack Abernethy insisted in a recent interview with TVNewscheck that no decision was made.
This is the third show Fox has tested on its stations before launching into national syndication. The results have been mixed: while Wendy Williams’ ratings continue to grow, Bethenny Frankel’s freshman talk show (also from Warner Bros.) has been stalled at the starting gate, as her show is ranked fourteenth among all syndicated talk shows with a 0.9 rating. However, this puts her ahead of fellow freshman talkers The Test and Arsenio Hall.
The Real’s arrival is likely to cause some scheduling dilemmas at many Fox O&Os. Warner’s TMZ Live was picked up through 2017 on fifteen stations, rendering it safe. Likely to feel to heat is to improve ratings fast is Bethenny, whose talk show has been a complete disaster up to this point. Not helping matters is recent reports surfacing on Ellen DeGeneres wanting her name taken off the show (she is a co-producer), repeated rumors of backstage discord, and inability to book A-list guests.
The only way to save Bethenny at this point is to do what Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer did – go the tabloid trash route. Besides, Frankel is more suited to administering paternity tests and officiating battles between sisters who slept with the same man rather than give out lifestyle tips.
Judging by this heffer’s odious show and her private life, she’s halfway there.
Bottoms up.
