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CNN Live Today
Interview with Marc Berman
Aired May 15, 2002 - 14:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: As you can image, a whole lot of work goes into programming networks. A whole lot of work going into what you will watch and stay home and view on television, and even though the season is not even quite over, programmers already pinning their hopes on what you may or may not watch in the fall.
Marc Berman joins us now from New York with a preview. He writes "Programming Insider" for MediaWeek.com.
Marc, how are you? Good afternoon.
MARC BERMAN, MEDIAWEEK.COM: I'm doing well. Thank you.
HEMMER: We have four networks to cover, and not a whole lot of time to do it, so I want to get to it right away.
First up, for CBS, what's in. We'll put it up for our viewers. We can watch it, you tell us what's important to see -- Marc.
BERMAN: Well, on CBS next season you're going to see seven new series. You will see two comedies, five dramas. There will be changes on every night of the week except Tuesday.
And the show to look for, the big show, is "CSI Miami," which is the "CSI" spin-off.
HEMMER: That's the first on the list there.
What's out now? "Family Law," "Education of Max Bickford." What happened?
BERMAN: Yes. Well, "Family Law" was on for three moderately rated seasons. It was time to go. "Max Bickford" never made the grade, in terms of the ratings. And the surprise renewal was "Touched by an Angel." I personally thought that wouldn't be coming back.
HEMMER: To FOX now. You say in predictions now, because these have not been announced by FOX just yet, right?
BERMAN: Yes.
HEMMER: You believe "24" and "Dark Angel" is definitely in?
BERMAN: From what I understand, they will both be back, yes. HEMMER: OK. So then what's out? "X-Files" and "Ally McBeal." A changing of the guard there -- Marc.
BERMAN: Absolutely. Well, with "X-Files" and "Ally McBeal" they had two solid hours were lost, which is probably why you're seeing "Dark Angel" back.
And "24" got a lot of buzz, might as well bring it back.
HEMMER: Keifer Sutherland there.
To ABC then. What's in? "Eight Simple Rules," "Life With Bonnie," "Dinotopia," "Bachelor 2" and "Push Nevada." Of these, what should we look for?
BERMAN: The one show I particularly like is the Bonnie Hunt vehicle, which is on Tuesday at 9:00. The network will have to be patient, because it's facing "Frazier." The ratings won't be there initially. But if they're patient, if they promote it, there might be an audience.
"Dinotopia" is another one that just did very well in its four- hour mini-series. There's a possibility viewers might watch it.
HEMMER: That it did. "Life With Bonnie" is not on our list there, but we may...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: What's out at ABC? "Millionaire," "Spin City," "Dharma & Greg," "Politically Incorrect," that word breaking yesterday.
I guess the most changes really are hitting ABC. Would you not agree with that?
BERMAN: Oh, absolutely. ABC has revamped pretty much 2/3 of their lineup. They needed to. They need to start from scratch. They don't have a lot of viewers watching.
HEMMER: All right. To NBC now. "In-laws," "Hidden Hills," "Good Morning, Miami," "Our Generation," "Boomtown" -- what do you like here, Marc?
BERMAN: I liked "Boomtown." I thought that was decent. I liked -- their comedies looked decent. I liked "Hidden Hills." They're being very modest, NBC. They only have five new shows, it's only 3- 1/2 hours. They're making the least changes.
Four nights out of the week are not being touched at all.
HEMMER: Got it -- on the fence, "Weakest Link" and "Watching Ellie." I thought "Weakest Link" was out. Am I wrong?
BERMAN: "Weakest Link" will come back apparently in a series of specials, maybe, for the sweeps, and "Watching Ellie" is also scheduled to come back in mid-season. HEMMER: Got it. Now, back to the screen here. What's out. Look at this least and explain it to us.
"Leap of Faith," "Three Sisters," "Emeril," "Inside Schwartz" and "Imagine That."
BERMAN: Well, NBC's problem historically, or in the last five years, is trying to find a hit comedy Thursday at 8:30. Now that "Friends" is leaving, this is their last shot. If "Scrubs" doesn't work for them Thursday at 8:30, they are in trouble.
HEMMER: Until they get another idea, one would think.
BERMAN: Exactly. They need an anchor show on Thursday. Once "Friends" goes, what are they going to do? If it's not "Scrubs" there's going to be a problem. And the new shows...
HEMMER: I want to go to another network quickly, WB. There was quite a buzz because they hit a certain demographic, but the show "Everwood" (ph) is getting a lot of attention. Have you seen it? Can you talk about it?
BERMAN: Yes. I have seen it. It's an excellent drama. It's with Treat Williams. It's very well done, very well acted. Everything about it is A. The only question mark is, it's running Monday at 9:00 out of "7th Heaven." Over the last three years, no show that's aired at 9:00 can hold the "7th Heaven" lead in.
But this is the one show of anything they've aired -- this is the one show that likes likely to do it.
HEMMER: OK. The buzz might be worth it then.
Thank you, Marc, appreciate it.
BERMAN: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Marc Berman in New York.
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