Create your own prime-time schedule

[Scriptman]

Create your own prime-time television programming schedule.

Here is the "ain't ever gonna happen" scenario:

A horrific recession has forced all the networks (cable included) to consolidate into one new large network and they've promoted you, from whatever you were doing before, to the Head of Programming. Your main goal is to create a successful schedule of prime-time programming (between 8pm and 11pm) that will keep millions of eyeballs watching every week.

From the television shows currently on the air, create a week of programming, pairing shows together that would feed off each other, such as lead-ins. You may NOT add canceled shows to your slate of programming.

As Head of Programming you will also need to shed some dead weight. Therefore you will also need to deliver to the head of the network, a short list of current shows that deserve immediate cancellation or pushed to midseason.

My programming schedule:

Sunday

"24" (8:00pm - 9:00pm)
"Heroes" (9:00pm - 10:00pm)
'Fringe" (10:00pm - 11:00pm)

Monday

"Smallville" (8:00pm - 9:00pm)
"Sarah Connor Chronicles" (9:00pm - 10:00pm)
"The Unit" (10:00pm - 11:00pm)

Tuesday

"The Mentalist" (8:00pm - 9:00pm)
"Cold Case" (9:00pm - 10:00pm)
"Brothers & Sisters" (10:00pm - 11:00pm)

Wednesday

"House" (8:00pm - 9:00pm)
"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00pm - 10:00pm)
"Nip/Tuck" (10:00pm - 11:00pm)

Thursday

"The Amazing Race" (8:00pm - 9:00pm)
"Smallville" (9:00pm - 10:00pm)
"CSI" (10:00pm - 11:00pm)

Friday

"The Big Bang Theory" (8:00pm - 8:30pm)
"The New Adventures of Old Christine" (8:30pm - 9:00pm)
"Chuck" (9:00pm - 10:00)
"Reaper" (10:00 - 11:00)

Saturday

"Samantha Who?" (8:00pm - 8:30pm)
"30 Rock" (8:30pm - 9:00pm
"Gossip Girl" (9:00pm - 10:00pm)
"Dollhouse" (10:00pm - 11:00pm)


Canceled:

Desperate Housewives
90210
CSI: Miami
How I Met Your Mother
Gary Unmarried
Lost
One Tree Hill
Private Practice
American Idol
ER
Life on Mars
My Name is Earl
The Office
The Game
Law & Order
Entourage

Held for possible midseason:

Damages
CSI: New York
Survivor
America's Next Top Model
Without a Trace
Numbers
Ghost Whisperer
Medium
NCIS
Everybody Hates Chris
Law & Order SVU
Supernatural
Ugly Betty

[joeld42]

My goal is just to get people to watch???

MON:
CSI: Miami
Wife Swap
Supernanny

TUES:
Super Wife/Nanny Swap
CSI: Alaska
Law and Order: Child Molester Unit

WEDS:
Fat People win Free Sportscars
CSI: The Reality Show
Apprentice Chef: Trump vs. Ramsey

THURS:
CSI: Internal Affairs
Token Sci-fi Show
Rich Teens in Expensive Suburbs Drama

FRI:
CSI: Vancouver
Classy Political Drama with Old Actors (for your consideration).
Whatever Joss Whedon is doing

And on the weekend, I'd shoot myself in the head.

[Scriptman]

CSI: The Reality Show is something I'd definitely watch, especially on elimination night. At some point, someone has do die. Right?

[thewire]

Originally Posted by Scriptman

Canceled:
Lost

Unless your schedule is two years from now, you cannot cancel LOST. It's under contract for a sixth year.

Glad to see your schedule has THE UNIT and AMAZING RACE!

[Cycstorm]

You'd cancel one of the most popular and acclaimed shows in recent times one season before it wraps itself up?

They'd lynch you.

[Scriptman]

Originally Posted by Cycstorm

You'd cancel one of the most popular and acclaimed shows in recent times one season before it wraps itself up?

Trust me, I tried. But I just couldn't find a vacant slot for Lost on such an overcrowded schedule. Plus, ratings and viewership for this show aren't what they used to be. Seriously, is anyone still watching?

Strange... my excuses are beginning to sound a lot like the FOX network.

[thewire]

Mmmh... how do we know you're not actually the FOX network?

[Sinnycal]

I can't decide if you're trying to make your dream lineup or if this is supposed to be about maximizing ratings.

On one hand, you've kept a lot of crap and killed some great shows, so it seems like ratings must be the top priority, but then you canceled American Idol.

[Cycstorm]

I also don't get how Amazing Race, Smallville, and CSI fit together at all.

[Scriptman]

Originally Posted by Sinnycal

I can't decide if you're trying to make your dream lineup or if this is supposed to be about maximizing ratings.

A little of both. Something I'd like to see, mixed in with a few shows I felt would bring in decent ratings.

Originally Posted by Sinnycal

On one hand, you've kept a lot of crap and killed some great shows, so it seems like ratings must be the top priority, but then you canceled American Idol.

Yeah. I have very little time on the schedule to spare. Although a ratings powerhouse, American Idol eats up a lot of time. Roughly 2 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then on Thursday with the results show. This isn't counting the auditions way beforehand. With all this time being eaten up, I wouldn't have a chance to put anything else on until 10pm. So I made a huge sacrifice and canceled it.