T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag

– NATPE Time: It’s that time of year again – the annual programming conference is taking place next month in Las Vegas, though scaled down in size from recent years because of the economy. Here’s a list of projected programs (courtesy of TV Week) due out in syndication for 2009 and beyond. Among the list of shows offered for next […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: NBC encourging you to become a pirate

A deal was struck this week that may encourage people to join the Pirates. No, not the Pittsburgh Pirates, though they need all the help they can get. I’m talking about the world of download piracy. NBC last week renewed Friday Night Lights for a third season. The critically-acclaimed drama has struggled in the ratings for the past two seasons […]

Chicago is "Family Guy’s" kind of town

It looks like Family Guy has succeeded where The Simpsons succeeded. According to numbers supplied by Twentieth Television (from a banner ad that appeared on TV Week’s website), Family Guy’s airing at 10 p.m. on WGN-TV finished number one in the time period between Sept. 17 and Sept. 21 among men 18-34 (2.2) and women 18-34 (2.6). It beat not […]

"Family Guy" new off-net champ

Victory is mine! Family Guy has surged ahead of Everybody Loves Raymond to become the top-rated off-network sitcom in syndication for the week ending Sept. 23. Twentieth’s Family Guy surged 20 percent in the ratings to nab a 4.2, while CBS’ Raymond fell 3 percent to a 3.7. Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men finished with a 3.3, ahead […]

"Family Guy", "Men" show growth in Week 2 (corrected)

In what may be encouraging signs for Warner Bros. Two and a Half Men and Twentieth Television’s Family Guy, ratings for both off-network programs in syndication are up from the previous week in metered markets, ever so slightly. Both look like they’re keepers. Law & Order: Criminal Intent scored a 1.0/3 as a strip in off-network syndication in its first […]

WPWR’s fall schedule

We’re gonna turn it on… we’re gonna turn on the power… at Fox-owned WPWR this fall. But the power’s been off for a few years now at the station. Like other big-market MNT affiliates (WWOR and KCOP in N.Y. and L.A., respectively), WPWR has performed poorly, often placing last in total-day ratings among Chicago’s English and Spanish commercial TV stations. […]

Pittsburgh local fall lineups

Rob Owen of the Post-Gazette has Pittsburgh’s fall syndicated lineups. Notables: -Sinclair’s WPMY has Family Guy interspersed with The Simpsons, creating a two-sitcom block. Family Guy is slated to air at 6:30 and 7:30 each weeknight, leading out of Bart & Co. Law & Order: Criminal Intent airs at 11 p.m. on WPMY. – Sinclair’s other station, Fox affiliate WPGH, […]