Everything I wanted to learn, I learned in kindergarten. Or make that, I learned from ABC.
Why ABC? Sure, CBS is the number one network both in total viewers and in the prized demo,but ABC may just end up as the biggest winner this season as I predict them finishing number two at the end of the season. And my beloved NBC? Well they may need to contact Brandon Tartikoff's spirit to pull them out of this doldrum.

I want to say I saw this coming, but because I was too lazy to write about it, I'm not going to say it. But with Desperate Housewives' success it was pretty clear that Alias will not regain its timeslot as originally planned. It never really broke-out in this timeslot, so I was surprised to find out at the 2004 Upfronts that Alias will be back on the same night. Well, finally ABC figured out that this show will be better served on Wednesdays at 9, right after the other J.J.Abram's hit show Lost. Will this mean Alias will beat the surprisingly resurgent West Wing come January? No! But it will have a larger viewership than what it has had on Sunday nights. Alias may even retain more of the Lost viewers than the now fading Bachelor/Bachelorette reality dating show. Kudos to ABC for this move.

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But, what was ABC thinking in ordering the back-nine episodes of Rodney and Complete Savages? I have never been a fan of these shows but I commend ABC for giving stability to its Tuesday and Friday nights comedy line-up. Well at least for the remaining of the season. I still think Savages will not make it to next year's Fall schedule along with 8 Simple Rules. But I think it's wise to keep this line-up intact and just concentrate the reshuffling efforts on Monday and Wednesday nights.

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NBC, make your move...FAST! NBC has lost its hold on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The only night they're winning is the lowly-watched Friday nights. But this is not even a convincing win since JAG is putting up a good fight against Third Watch and a CSI repeat at 10 is slightly beating a fresh episode of Med Investigation. I feel like NBC is throwing in the towel this season. They better make a move...FAST!

Okay, so I guess it's safe to say that NBC is faltering this season. There is no smash hit out of its crop of rookie shows and ratings has drastically dropped even at its prized demographics of 18-49. So let's recap what is going on.


Joey and Medical Investigation has been given a full back-nine order to complete a season-full episodes.
Hawaii has been put on hiatus and is deemed not likely to air again.
LAX has left its original Monday timeslot and has moved to Wednesday.
ER and Apprentice 2 is the station's top-rated shows although it's not winning its timeslot and has lost about 2 million viewers from last season.
The unchanged Sunday slate which was very strong last season is now placing third every week.
And no one in the industry can still figure out what's going on in their Tuesday line-up. As of this moment, Father of the Pride is not on the schedule for November sweep period.

What should NBC do?

Moving LAX from Monday was the right move, but why Wednesday? Why put it up against Lost on ABC? A more ideal place would be Friday at 8. A Friday line-up of LAX, Third Watch and MI seems to make more sense. Yes, I know NBC is already winning Friday nights but Dateline will be better served on Wednesdays at 8 and is a better lead-in for The West Wing. Dateline is also a good alternative to Lost and can challenge 60 Minutes II. LAX on the other hand will face a lesser competitor with Joan of Arcadia and ABC's comedy line-up.

What happened to NBC's Sunday? Well, they just sat on what they have and didn't see the mega-hit Desperate Housewives coming their way. Everyone is surprised at what kind of a behemoth-monster-hit this show has become. But NBC cannot really alter much of its Sunday line-up. Except maybe move American Dreams to another night. It just doesn't seem to be a good fit being sandwich next to Dateline and L&O: Criminal Intent. I don't know what NBC has in its midseason vault but something can fill this slot better. I know ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's stronghold in this timeslot is temporary so NBC can act now to put a contender in this slot.

So where should American Dreams go? I love this show and I don't want to see it cancelled. But let's look at its target audience - Baby Boomers who want to reminisce the life and issues in the 60s and young adolescent who can relate to Meg and Roxanne. It wants to be a family so let's present it as an alternative to Monday Night Football. Yes, put it on Mondays at 8. I'm sure this is a better family program than Still Standing and Listen Up. And its demo is very similar to Las Vegas who has been competitive at 9pm. If American Dreams can get to around 7 million viewers like Las Vegas then this move can be a great move. Remember the success of Fresh Prince and Blossom on Monday nights in the early 90s as an alternative to MNF?

If American Dreams move to Monday at 8, then it will displace Fear Factor. That is fine! Fear Factor is a strong player that can withstand a timeslot change. Its young viewers can and will follow it at Tuesdays at 8. Against NCIS and ABC's comedy show, Fear Factor can lead off the night with its prized-demo and lead in to Scrubs and another sitcom. Yes, go ahead and cancel Father of Pride. Please develop strong sitcoms that you can eventually move towards another Must-See line up of sitcoms on Thursday nights.

Thursday should just be left alone for now. I actually toyed with the idea of moving The Apprentice 2 to Tuesday at 9, but it's a little too late in the game to make this change now. Plus CBS just announced that The Amazing Race will occupy this Tuesday slot so NBC should just keep Apprentice2 on Thursdays.

And for NBC's 10 pm shows, no changes are really necessary.

Here's my recommended new NBC lineup:

Sunday: 7-Dateline, 8-new show, 9-L&O:Criminal Intent, 10-Crossing Jordan
Monday: 8-American Dreams, 9-Las Vegas, 10-Reality Show
Tuesday: 8-Fear Factor, 9-Scrubs, 9:30-new sitcom, 10-L&O:SVU
Wednesday: 8-Dateline, 9-The West Wing, 10-Law & Order
Thursday: 8-Joey, 8:30-Will & Grace, 9- The Apprentice 2, 10-ER
Friday: 8-LAX, 9-Third Watch, 10-Medical Investigation

So whaddaya think?

i've been watching NBC for a long time.... and i think i can bring back NBC at the top of the television game if only they'd listen to me....not just for the 18-49 demo...but number one across the board...if i am an NBC Program Director...these are the things that I would do...are you listening nbc?