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Posted on 02/22/2007 5:11:30 AM PST by IrishMike
Satire scores for Fox News net 'News Hour' pilot bows with 1.5 mil viewers
It got mixed reviews, but Fox News Channel's take on news satire scored with the only voters that matter. Heavily promoted on FNC and on conservative talkradio, the first pilot episode of "The ½ Hour News Hour" premiered with nearly 1.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's a big number for an unknown show in a Sunday timeslot.
First episode opened with some conservative star power, with Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter hamming it up as fictional -- or perhaps fantasy -- president and vice president in the Oval Office.
The show gained about 300,000 from its lead-in, "Hannity's America," and increased FNC's fourth-quarter average for Sunday at 10 p.m. by 69%. In the adults 25-54 demo, the show took 499,000 viewers, up 94% from its timeslot average.
FNC topper Roger Ailes is weighing whether to commit long-term to the series, created and produced by "24" creator Joel Surnow and co-exec producer Manny Coto.
Pilot for the conservative take on news satire took aim at Hillary Clinton, the ACLU, politically correct children's lit and Hollywood political activists. The Washington Post's Tom Shales summed up in his review: "In a nutshell: It isn't terrible."
But in terms of ratings, its opening number puts it in a league with Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," which averages 1.6 million, and "The Colbert Report," which averages 1.2 million.
In a sign of the high number of viewers who tuned in specifically for the premiere, the aud dropoff for the following show, "The Line-Up," was nearly 50%.
A repeat of the first episode is skedded for Sunday. The second episode airs March 4.
(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...
see post 11.
Rush said what you said regarding the quality and budgets of pilots vs regularly scheduled productions.
The ratings for this are outstanding. 1.5 million people on a Sunday night shows this show has serious legs, and there is a definite market for a conservative leaning satire show. Once again Fox News proved it can succeed in any arena of the news they get into.
Norm McDonald possibly.
Just ask CNBC... ;)
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I've read this criticism many times. Give 'em a break. They're not actors. Does anyone remember Nixon on Laugh-In? Or Algore on anything? Yeesh. Talk about wooden. Even so, it was a funny spot and I laughed out loud a number of times.
All in all, the show was great! I hope it lives forever and spawns many offshoots. God knows, the Libs provide plenty of material.
But...but..but; the MSM and lots of smart people said it would suck and it would tank and...and...it would make puppies die!
Great idea -- but, it looks like Dennis has another gig.
Westwood One Signs Dennis Miller for Daily Radio Show
"Dennis Miller will host a three-hour daily talk show on Westwood One radio stations.
"The show, debuting the week of March 12, will be broadcast from Los Angeles from 7 to 10 a.m. PT, writes Mediaweek. Though Westwood has not announced clearances yet, Miller could clear 7 of the top 10 markets at launch, according to the article.
"As part of the deal, Westwood will relaunch Miller's website."
Thanks for the ping!
Try reading the article.
Yes, I re-read it some time ago... but thanks for the suggestion.
"I'd have watched, if I'd remembered!"
_____________________________________
And, I'd have watched, if I'd known! Sounds great, I'll catch it next time.
bttt
bump
The one with Capt. Christopher Pike or the one with Capt. James "R" Kirk? Yikes indeed.
I watched it last night (3/11) and it was hilarious. I wish I could find the transcript.
My husband loves the show and I like it, too. Some of the jokes last night were a little weak but with tweaking, this should be a hit. I hope they make more.
I especially liked the ones concerning the ACLU. Any idea where to find the printed scripts?
ping
I got to see it last night for the first time. I thought it was awful. As difficult as it was, I made it through the entire show. Limbaugh and Coulter wasn't even that good IMO. That laugh track was sickening.
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