 |
 |
[09/29/09 - 12:11 AM]
The 10 Things You Need to Know About the New Season: #2 - Friday Night Is "The Death Slot"
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC) |
|
|
Please note: As a courtesy, please do not reproduce these comments to newsgroups, forums or other online places. Links only please.
Welcome once again to "The 10 Things You Need to Know About the New Season," our annual feature about, well... the 10 things you need to know about the new season. The goal of this venture is to address not only common questions people have about television but to also demystify (or potentially reaffirm) stigmas out there about certain networks, time periods, genres and so forth. So with that in mind let us put on our journalistic caps and give you the cold hard truth about what's potentially ahead for some of your favorite new and returning shows...
2. Yup, it's true - Friday night is "the death slot."
No, it's not an urban legend - shows that air on Friday nights are less likely to be renewed than on any other night. Of the 100 shows that have launched on Friday night since the fall of 1999, only 15 - or just 15% - have made it to second seasons. Conversely, of the 69 shows that have bowed on Sunday nights during the same period - a whopping 28 (or 41%) made it to second seasons. Take a look at the numbers:
| day | abc | cbs | fox | nbc | upn | wb | cw | total |
| mondays | 6/22 (27%) | 11/19 (58%) | 8/28 (29%) | 14/32 (44%) | 6/8 (75%) | 1/4 (25%) | 0/2 (0%) | 46/115 (40%) |
| tuesdays | 10/36 (28%) | 6/16 (38%) | 9/19 (47%) | 10/38 (26%) | 3/22 (14%) | 5/8 (63%) | 3/4 (75%) | 46/143 (32%) |
| wednesdays | 16/49 (33%) | 7/19 (37%) | 10/34 (29%) | 4/23 (17%) | 2/11 (18%) | 3/11 (27%) | 1/6 (17%) | 43/153 (28%) |
| thursdays | 6/23 (26%) | 3/10 (30%) | 4/12 (33%) | 8/23 (35%) | 1/2 (50%) | 5/14 (36%) | | 27/84 (32%) |
| fridays | 2/21 (10%) | 6/20 (30%) | 1/23 (4%) | 1/15 (7%) | 0/5 (0%) | 5/16 (31%) | | 15/100 (15%) |
| saturdays | 1/2 (50%) | 3/8 (38%) | | 0/4 (0%) | | | | 4/14 (29%) |
| sundays | 8/13 (62%) | 1/6 (17%) | 5/15 (33%) | 8/14 (57%) | | 5/13 (38%) | 1/8 (13%) | 28/69 (41%) |
| various* | 1/7 (14%) | 4/6 (67%) | 3/10 (30%) | 1/5 (20%) | | 0/1 (0%) | | 9/29 (31%) |
| total | 50/173 (29%) | 41/104 (39%) | 40/141 (28%) | 46/154 (30%) | 12/48 (25%) | 24/67 (36%) | 5/20 (25%) | 218/707 (31%) |
With that in mind, the order from best to worst night to launch a show is Sunday (41%), Monday (40%), Thursday (32%), Tuesday (32%), Saturday (29%), Wednesday (28%) and Friday (15%).
Plus, as usual, said info reveals several interesting trends such as the fact "Dollhouse" is FOX's first Friday newcomer to be renewed for a second season in 10 years while CBS has the standard 30% success rate on the night. Conversely, Sundays have been a trouble spot for CBS (17%) while FOX averages nearly double that (33%) on the night. The night and network with the best track record: Sundays on ABC (62%) and Tuesdays on The WB (63%) and The CW (75%).
TOMORROW: Which time slot is the toughest to launch a new show?
* denotes the series in question either aired as a multi-night stunt or regulared aired in more than one time period
|
|
|
 [september 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[09/29/26 - 07:16 AM]
"Icebreaker" Sticks the Landing, Adding Six to Round Out Series Regulars
Gabriel Tierney, Auli'i Cravalho, Peter Berry, Chaneil Kular, Devin Craig, and Aidan Shaw join the previously announced leads Daisy Jelley and Connor Simos.
|
[09/29/26 - 07:05 AM]
Paramount+ Announces Upcoming Slate of British Series from A24
These series include the upcoming comedy, "It Gets Worse," the coming-of-age drama, "Major Players," and the TV adaption of the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling novel, "The Ministry of Time."
|
[09/29/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Rivals" Season Two Trailer Debut
Romance and rivalry takes centre stage as new trailer teases what lies ahead the rest of the season for the residents of Rutshire.
|
[09/29/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Unveils Trailer for Gripping New Drama "Nocturne"
"Nocturne" will make its global debut on Friday, October 30, 2026, with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through December 25, 2026, on Apple TV.
|
[09/29/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "The One About Matthew Perry" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This documentary series chronicles the Hollywood success, outspoken advocacy and tragic death of the beloved "Friends" star, as told by his inner circle.
|
[09/29/26 - 05:01 AM]
Apple TV Announces Second Season for French Drama "Careme" Starring Benjamin Voisin
"Carême" follows the thrilling story of the world's first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême (Benjamin Voisin), who rose from humble beginnings in Paris to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleon's Europe.
|
[09/29/26 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Ranma1/2" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
The slapstick, action-packed romcom returns with a third season!
|
[09/28/26 - 08:01 PM]
Scrubs On: "Miracles of the ER" Premieres November 12 on Netflix
From the award-winning creators of "Tears on Fire," the series reunites director Isaac Li, writer-director Huang Ching-tsu and producer Jade Lee for a pulse-pounding look at life on the front lines of emergency care.
|
[09/28/26 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "100 Days of Deception" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Hoping for freedom, Gyeongseong's top pickpocket infiltrates the Japanese colonial government to steal secrets - only to fall for her target's son.
|
[09/28/26 - 04:07 PM]
BBC and MGM+ Release First Glimpse of Matthew Macfadyen and Charlie Hunnam in "Legacy of Spies" as Filming Wraps on the Highly Anticipated Series
The eight-part drama marks spymaster George Smiley's long-anticipated return to television with two-time Emmy and BAFTA award-winning Matthew Macfadyen in the iconic role, alongside Emmy-nominated Charlie Hunnam as the embattled, world-weary agent-runner and field operative, Alec Leamas.
|
[09/28/26 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The Demon Slayer Corps enter the Infinity Castle.
|
[09/28/26 - 02:45 PM]
The "VMAs" Scores 8.4 Million Viewers, Up +51% from Last Year, and Hits 11-Year Viewership High
The telecast peaked with over 15 million viewers across CBS and MTV in the opening act, which featured Madonna's first "VMAs" performance in 23 years, including a show-opening medley with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.
|
[09/28/26 - 01:00 PM]
Video: Sylvester Stallone's "Tulsa King" Season 4 Trailer and Key Art Unveiled Ahead of October 16 Paramount+ Premiere
Dwight Manfredi's (Stallone) empire is under attack, but the King is determined not to let it fall.
|
[09/28/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Announces Premiere Date and Trailer for Canadian Original Hockey Docuseries "Hometown Giants," Featuring Michael Buble and Drew Scott
Blending the drama of elite-level competition with deeply personal coming-of-age stories, all six episodes are available on Friday, October 16, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
|
[09/28/26 - 10:03 AM]
Video: "Power: Origins" - Official Teaser 2 - Starz
From the cradle to the grave. Back to where Ghost and Tommy's story begins.
|
|
|
|
