TV Ratings: CBS reruns rule; ABC's 'True Beauty' not pretty Monday

This is going to be a very rough summer for ABC and that will continue into the fall. In the past few seasons ABC has tried to (and succeeded moderately) bridge that gap of mainstream and CW demo with shows like Lost and Greys Anatomy. Now with Lost gone (and the last episode leaving a sour taste in the mouth of any objective viewer) and Greys entering the zone of farce, ABC will have absolutely nothing from which to generate any excitement for the upcoming season (Vanessa Williams joining DH being the sole exception). Having been in third place this past season -- a season in which it was full of promise and should've been in second -- it shouldn't be surprised to fall to fourth next season, having no core show or core audience from which to build anything. And that is The Truth.

Don't know about all that, but I do suspect that simply turning ABC into a network version of Lifetime isn't going to cut it.

First of all,,I was not impressed by the lineup of "True Beauties",,they seemed so full of themselves,,I turned it off,,Hockey sounded better,,

Uh, Cricket, the contestants being "so full of themselves" is the point of the show. It's supposed to highlight the fact that a lot of outwardly attractive people are, in fact, not worth a warm bucket of whale spit. This is as much a stereotype as the reverse, of course, but since a lot of women seem to like shows such as this (and the ratings for women 18-34 are high for both this show and the dreck that precedes it), ABC will continue to pump them out.

if people liked others the way they like themselves this world would be a much better place. I know you are supposed to have confidence and be happy with yourself but some people just go overboard!

Here's how ABC can get more viewers next season: Have ESPN move some sports back to ABC! It's bad for affiliates' revenue and bad for the network in attracting male viewers.

Chris is so right in his viewpoints here. ABC Sports was a dominnat force in the world of sports programming UNTIL Sept.2006, when ESPN and ABC merged to for this awful ESPN on ABC moniker, giving ESPN rights to take a way most events from ABC and shuttering the sports division at that network. ABC Sports needs to be re-established and stray away from ESPN as I would like to see more sporitng events on ABC rather than on ESPN.

Hockey did well on NBC, but this stupid agreement with Versus to televise the next two games are horrible. They need to change that!

I can understand a Network if cable was a choice and they felt that they would get more money for shows on cable than on regular network; however, since everyone has cable now there is no need to move Sports away from regular network. Stop being cheapskates and get the Sports shows BACK, ABC!!

Generally, I am shocked at how third-rate a lot of network programming looks like.

A programming eon ago, network programming was a cut and a half above the rest in quality (writing, acting, production value, concept etc...)

Being a network program actually meant something.

Today, while it is true some cable outlets have taken to a race to the top in quality (like USA), the networks have taken to try and copy the worst of cable.

It started with the curious executive obsession with logo bugs and annoying graphics that made the networks look more and more like cable channels and now with reality programming and the rush to shoot everything on video to spite SAG, there is very little difference between most networks and bad cable programming.

And when you look and feel like a cable network, why would you not get the ratings of a cable network?

@The Truth: Very interesting post. :)

ABC's season was indeed "full of promise" (at least when you read the PR that came from it).

Unfortunately, when the shows they picked started not working, they did not face up to it and order more and different shows, they dug in their heels and declared the season a "huge success" and went after the press so they'd get positive coverage (like Variety's Rick Kissell ridiculously describing practically all their new shows are huge hits and doing better than CBS' actual new hits).

They are now stranded with a boat-load of second year shows that are not going to improve in the ratings and that ABC doesn't have enough PR power to keep hyping while launching new shows.

Now the question is will ABC copy NBC's path to eradication by hyping a couple of older low-performers like NBC did with The Office, and thus deprive new shows of support or will cut its losses.

Based on the signals coming out of ABC, the only way they'll cut their losses will be if the current regime is replaced by Disney.