BuzzSugar

What's Up with All the Low TV Ratings?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 06:00:22 PDT

It's been a tough spring for television, with shows hitting their season-low ratings left and right. The latest casualty is "Heroes," which plunged to third place in its time slot this week with its worst ratings ever. "24" wasn't far off its own season low. And I've already told you about the ratings woes of NBC, whose Thursday lineup recently hit an all-time low. It's May Sweeps, also known as television's biggest month; this isn't supposed to be happening!

I still have a lot to learn about TV ratings, but I have a few guesses about why so many shows appear to be tanking right now. Here are my best bets:

It's hard to come back from a hiatus. Many of the shows that have recorded recent lows also took an extended break at some point during the season. "Heroes" hit a low with its first episode back from hiatus two weeks ago. "Ugly Betty" also hit a series low after its break this spring. The bad news is that repeats are unavoidable, as long as TV networks continue following the traditional path of producing 22 or 23 episodes to air over the course of a nine-month TV season. Maybe airing a whole season uninterrupted, like ABC will be doing with the next three seasons of "Lost," will change things. (It didn't help "24," but hey, that show has its own problems.)

Two more reasons, so

People watch TV differently these days. The companies that track TV ratings are just starting to understand the impact of DVRs and online TV on the way people watch. Many ratings reports account for people who watch a show they've recorded on the same day it airs - but not, say, if they record "Desperate Housewives" on Sunday and watch it on Tuesday. When Nielsen released a report on time-shifted shows, "Lost," "Friday Night Lights" and "The Office" were among those that gained the most - and all three have struggled in the ratings. The problem? Advertisers don't care about time-shifters, who often fast-forward through ads. And even if they were included, it still wouldn't account for people who watch episodes online or buy shows from iTunes.
Networks have lost our trust. This year has been a particularly vicious one for TV viewers, as many shows have been yanked with little warning and no closure. After "Six Degrees," "Day Break," "Kidnapped," "Vanished," "Studio 60" and so many others, why should we bother giving "The Black Donnellys" or "Drive" a shot? There are a few positive examples of shows that got full seasons ("Friday Night Lights") and even got renewed ("30 Rock") despite low ratings, but they're the exception.

Then again, it could also be that lame Daylight Savings Time excuse "American Idol" used earlier this spring, but ... well, I doubt it. Tell me: What do you think is behind the ratings woes?

NBC's Thursday Ratings Hit All-Time Low

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:00:57 PDT

I've always thought of NBC's Thursday night lineup as the most dominant group of shows on TV, from the Must See TV days with "Seinfeld" and "Friends" to the current Comedy Night Done Right block with "The Office" and "Scrubs." But something's gone horribly wrong: Last week's shows drew NBC's lowest Thursday ratings since at least 1987, according to Mediaweek.

I'm baffled, considering that last week was the first time all four comedies plus "ER" were all new since Feb. 21. Plus, ABC's Thursday series - "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy" - aired clip shows instead of new episodes.

"30 Rock" and "The Office" are two of the most acclaimed comedies on TV, and "Scrubs" and "My Name is Earl" have huge fan followings. Even "ER" - which I believe should have ended a while ago - was getting good ratings earlier this season, but last week it got trounced by "Shark."

Are people TiVoing the shows and waiting till the weekend to watch? Has there been some kind of massive revolt against NBC's comedies that I've missed? Or are the shows just simply not connecting with very many people? Whether you tune out NBC's lineup or watch it faithfully, tell me why below.

Source

JT Helps Slimey Awards Clean Up in the Ratings

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:04:43 PDT

Can you believe Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards have been around for 20 years? What's more, this year's ceremony, held Saturday night in Los Angeles, earned the highest ratings in KCA history, Reuters reports.

According to the Nielsen numbers, the program averaged more than 6.1 million viewers, a 3 percent increase over last year. But the increase in voting was even crazier: A total of 40.8 million votes were cast this year - via the Internet, mobile phones, and other methods - which is a whopping 54 percent more than in 2006.

I'm sure Nick owes a lot of this unprecedented enthusiasm to Justin Timberlake, who was an incredibly charismatic host, willing both to show off his talent and poke fun at himself. (He was forced to give up his Best Burp title.)

In case you didn't get enough of him at the Kids Choice Awards, you can still catch JT on tour: He just added 15 more dates to his FutureSex/LoveShow. To see the new tour dates,

read more
August 6: Memphis, TN - FedExForum August 7: Atlanta, GA - Gwinnett Center August 10: Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden August 13: East Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena August 15: New York, NY - Madison Square Garden August 18: Montreal - Bell Centre August 20: Toronto - Air Canada Centre August 25: Winnipeg - MTS Centre September 1: Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay September 5: Vancouver - GM Place September 7: Portland, OR - Rose Garden September 8: Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome September 10: Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena September 12: San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion September 16: Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center Source

"American Idol": No Match for Daylight

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:50:12 PDT

I mentioned earlier today that about 30 million people watched the "American Idol" performances this week. That's a lot of people, but it's significantly smaller than the number that watched the top 12 singers perform last year.

To what do we owe the 15 percent drop? According to a story in Variety today, it's the sun's fault. The story blames "Idol"'s decline on the earlier start to Daylight Savings Time this year.

So what they're saying is, all those people out frolicking in the early evening light on Tuesday couldn't bear to bring themselves inside and sit down in front of the stuffy ol' boob tube for the biggest television event of the week. It's not that this is a pretty uninspiring top 12 that some have called the worst set of finalists ever. It's the weather! *forehead slap* Silly me! I'm glad I've got that straightened out.

Photo courtesy of Fox

Monday Night TV Ratings Shocker!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:46:58 PST

So in the battle between superheroes and super agents, who won the most viewers last night? Did Jack Bauer's tense hour make people tune in to "24", or did special powers vault "Heroes" into first place? The answer just may surprise you, so

read more Surprise! The show that actually got the most viewers was "Two and a Half Men." Yes, really. The Charlie Sheen comedy claimed 16.1 million TV sets, while "Heroes" and "24" were battling to a draw, earning 14.8 million and 14.4 million viewers, respectively. Crazy! Granted, a lot of people care more about the 18-34 demographic, and if you only look at that number, "Heroes" won the night. But still, I had no idea Charlie Sheen still had that many fans. Did you?

"The Apprentice" Premiere Tanks

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:38:37 PST

Donald Trump made headlines recently by fighting with Rosie O'Donnell and shaming Miss USA, but all that publicity still couldn't get anyone excited about the premiere of "The Apprentice: Los Angeles."

Sunday night's episode was the series' worst premiere ever. It got whupped in the ratings by "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC and "Without a Trace" on CBS. Perhaps worst of all, it lost 20 percent of the audience that tuned in earlier for "Grease: You're the One That I Want".

Apparently not even adding Ivanka - and throwing in that twist where the losing team sleeps in tents - could get people buzzing about the new season. What happened? Did Trump's bizarre bickering with Rosie turn people off? Or are we just finally sick of looking at his hair?

From the Fit Community: Leave Your Phone at Home When You Work Out

Fit Community — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:25:08 PST

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wants you to know: you're hurting your workout when you bring your cell phone into the equation. She shared her three reasons you should stay cell phone-free at the gym in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

1. It’s hurting your workout (and could cause you to get hurt)

If you can text or talk on the phone during any part of your workout, you aren’t working hard enough. Exercise requires a mind/body connection (yes, even the time you spend on the treadmill) and your cell phone seriously disrupts the communication signals between your mind and your body.

Even if you think you are the most talented texter, or multitasker to ever walk the earth, don’t kid yourself - many studies have shown cell phone distraction as even worse than being drunk – so if you wouldn’t run that mile, take that spin class or do Pilates totally wasted, then your phone shouldn’t be out during your workout. Not paying attention during exercise is dangerous and can cause you to hurt yourself - in a big way. Not to mention, it slows you down! Even if you stop to text in between exercises, you are slowing down your flow - and your heart rate. Not a good way to get results.

Read more reasons for keeping your cell phone at home after the break.

Heat Up Your Home Workout With These Burlesque Dance Moves

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:34:44 PST

Dancing is a workout! And in honor of Valentine's Day we've created our own burlesque dance workout inspired by Christina Aguilera's sexy moves in Burlesque. Get hot and sweaty with these steamy dance grooves created by a dancer, choreographer, and fitness instructor who moonlights on the burlesque stage. Her moves will tone your physique and get your heart rate thumping. The dance class begins when you start the video.

6 Strategies to Save More This Year

Kiplinger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:27:21 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Saving doesn't come easily for us young adults. Entry-level salaries don't give you a lot to work with. And, well, we also tend to spend what we make - and then some - on the latest gadgets and flashiest fashions.

But don’t worry. We’re not doomed to frivolity and the wreckage it can make of our finances. Here's how you can start saving smart throughout 2012:

Periodically calculate how much you spend. What better time to review your budget than at the start of a New Year? “It’s really hard to [track your spending] each month, so aim for just once or twice a year,” says Jill Boynton, a certified financial planner in Newington, New Hampshire.

Just be sure when you do it that you track everything. Boynton recommends filling out a spreadsheet with a month’s worth of spending. Or you can try an online budgeting tool such as Mint.com (See our slide show: Which Budgeting Site is Best for You?). But note: Mint works best for those who deal mostly in plastic as opposed to cash. When you make an ATM withdrawal, the site labels the transaction as “Cash & ATM.” Unless you diligently manage your cash transactions (you can manually edit Mint’s labels), you can easily lose track of where the money goes.

The drudgery of tracking spending can pay off when you find surprising expenses you could easily cut. At the end of 2011, I crunched my own numbers and found that I shelled out about $200 a month at Starbucks and other restaurants. I’m sure I could cut that by at least half. That’s like finding a $100 bill every month in my back pocket.

Read on for more strategies.

Cardio Workout: Elliptical Incline Booty Workout

Susi May — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:33:50 PST

I like to power up my cardio and make it work double time, like this elliptical workout. By playing with the incline on the machine, you can really target your glutes and hamstrings. That's right! You get your heart rate up while toning your backside. Talk about a win-win. Increase your booty work and focus on keeping your heels down while doing this workout.

Ready to go? Take a look at the workout.