Advice For May 19-25, The Finish Line

May 15, 2008 11:39 AM

Here is the news from TWOP Tech on the schedule for the end of the TV Bigshot Season:

The official rules state that the game is over at the end of June 1. So this means that the final viewing points will be awarded on Wednesday, May 28 or Thursday, May 29 (depending on whether there's a delay due to Memorial Day, which will be confirmed in advance). The final magazine points will be awarded Saturday, May 31. After June 1, some due diligience will be conducted and then the winner of the grand prize will be officially confirmed.

That means that this is the last week of setting up your Sunday lineups for viewing points, so make it count!

Thursday, May 22 is the last night of the May "sweeps" period and is the unofficial end of the broadcast season (although the season technically runs an entire year from Sept-Sept). From that night on be prepared for "Summer" programming.

Here are the finales I am tracking, although I readily admit that I could have missed some.

Boston Legal (ABC), May 21
Dancing With The Stars (ABC), May 20
Grey's Anatomy (ABC), May 22
Big Bang Theory (CBS), May 19
Criminal Minds (CBS), May 21
CSI:Miami (CBS), May 19
CSI:NY (CBS), May 21
How I Met Your Mother (CBS), May 19
NCIS (CBS), May 20
Rules of Engagement (CBS), May 19
Shark (CBS), May 20
Two And A Half Men (CBS), May 19
Gossip Girl (CW), May 19
One Tree Hill (CW), May 19
Reaper (CW), May 19
American Idol (Fox), May 21
Bones (Fox), May 19
House (Fox), May 19
Law & Order (NBC), May 21

Finales of reality shows like American Idol are often significant upside opportunities, for scripted shows they are often less so.

Watching the Overnight Results for Thursday and Friday (out after I write this) might find you some more opportunities, particularly on Thursday.

Monday 5/19: [Likely timeslot bonus points winners, Dancing With The Stars, House & CSI:Miami]
Upside:

• Bachelorette follows Dancing With The Stars in its premiere, a good deal at $60m.
  
• House could be on the comeback trail it did a preliminary HH 9.0 this week, a good value at $83m.

Downside:

• American Gladiators was crushed this week and still hasn't repriced, a bad deal at $44m.

Tuesday 5/20: [Likely timeslot bonus points winners, American Idol, Dancing With The Stars x2]
Upside:

• The American Idol finale (officially Tues & Wednesday) has upside at $133m.
• Likewise, Hell's Kitchen is likely to get a bump from Idol.
• Dancing With the Stars finale has upside at $107m.
  

Downside:

• NCIS, Shark and Reaper likely get pushed lower by the reality finales.
  

Wednesday 5/21: [Likely timeslot bonus points winners, American Idol x2, CSI:NY]
Upside:

• American Idol see above.
  
• CSI:NY did a preliminary HH 8.2 this week, a good value at $76m.

Downside:

• Criminal Minds vs. Idol finale, bad deal.
• Law & Order is dwindling away this spring, let it go at $60m.
  

Thursday 5/22: [Likely timeslot bonus points winners, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy x2]
Upside:

• Ugly Betty & Grey's Anatomy seem set to dominate the night.
  

Downside:

• Deal or No Deal, So You Think You Can Dance, Last Comic Standing seem like losers tonight.
  

Friday 5/23: [Likely timeslot bonus points winners, Grey's repeat and Numb3rs ]
Friday Night Smackdown is the only new show you can buy, a stable bet with little upside.

Saturday 5/24:
America's Most Wanted is the only new show you can buy, but vs. the NBA Playoffs could be a loser.

Sunday 5/25: [Likely timeslot bonus points ?]
Not a single new episode, it must be Summer!

After your lineup is set on Monday AM, all you need do is coast to the finish line!

Cheers,
Bill Gorman
TVbytheNumbers.com

Agree or disagree? Discuss our Bigshot Blog strategies this week with us here.