The preliminary Nielsens from last night are in, and Barack Obama’s infomercial was the first, second and third most watched program last night at 8 p.m. E.T., finishing in that order on NBC, CBS and Fox respectively. Pushing Daisies trailed in fourth place, but it was up 16% from last week, so there’s a little something for everyone. …
The Morning After: American Pie
Thanks to the magic of Tivo, I was able to watch both The Barack Obama Variety Show and its network competition, Pushing Daisies, which is unfortunately facing tightening in its own numbers this fall. I’d missed a couple episodes lately—I am part of the problem, not the solution—but from where I’m sitting the show still hasn’t missed …
Getting to Know You (and Him): The O-mercial
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtREqAmLsoA]
Why do political parties put their conventions on TV? You get a big block of network prime time and get to put on a show. You can air slick produced pieces about your biography. You can get your colleagues and former rivals to come on stage and tell the world how wonderful you are. …
TV Tonight: Who Wants Their O TV?
Tonight at 8 p.m. E.T., Barack Obama’s half-hour infomercial will air on CBS, NBC and Fox. If you miss it on TV, you will dream it tonight at approximately 2 a.m. Your nightmare about being back in high school and having to take an exam for a calculus class you haven’t attended all year will be pre-empted.
The New York Times saw a …
Corporate Press Release Theater: L&O:CI, TBD
This just in from USA Network. Law & Order: Criminal Intent, in which Vincent D’Onofrio solves crimes by overacting, has had its season premiere pushed back from November 7 to an unspecified time early next year:
USA Network will be moving the eighth season premiere of hit series LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT to 2009 when it will air in
…
The Swing (Set) Vote
Tuned In Jr. Jr. is in his first year of school and has had his first encounter with direct democracy. His pre-K class has held a vote on its class nickname: “The Star Wars” won in a landslide over “The Kitty Cats.” There is apparently some question of whether the name should be amended to some other variation on “Star,” because …
Christian Science (Only on Your) Monitor
I don’t cover a lot of newspaper news on Tuned In, but this seemed worth noting. The Christian Science Monitor is ceasing to be a daily newspaper, at least if you take the “paper” part literally. Starting in April, the only place to find a daily version of the paper will be on the Web.
Why does this matter to you or me? You’re reading …
Shield Watch: For the Kids
Brief spoilers for The Shield coming up after the jump.
On the Road Again, Again
Again. Back tomorrow.
Yes We Can (Disclose Our Votes)
Having made a personal hobbyhorse of the idea that journalists should disclose who they’re voting for (see my argument here), I thought I should point you to Slate, which continues its tradition from 2000 and 2004 of inviting its staffers to announce who they’re voting for. It’s 55 to 1 to 1 in favor of Obama. That’s right: at Slate, Bob …
Wire Actors Fail to Return Favor for McCain
Following on this morning’s politics of The Wire post: maybe someone forgot to tell them he was a fan?
Biz News: Economy Not Lousy Enough to Save Ex List
* One bright side of the stock and credit markets going all to hell: the networks are reportedly being more patient with struggling shows because of the rough economy.
* The exception being The Ex List.
* And speaking of the economy and struggling shows: Barack Obama declines to make ABC part of his multimillion-dollar plan to buy …
Candidates Jointly Pledge to Keep the Devil Way Down in the Hole
So fine, smartass: If we’re not supposed to declare the election over already, what are campaign journalists to spend their time doing over the next week? Well there’s always the “Candidates’ favorite [pop-culture item here]” story! Men’s Vogue has taken a crack at it, this time about TV. If you follow both TV and politics the way I do, …