• We predicted that Will & Grace would have a better chance of survival than Benben

• On the other hand, we noted that L.A. Docs and Conrad Bloom (with its many insider jokes) only had a fair chance of survival

• Based on an earlier pilot of King of Queens (with a different actor in one of the key roles), we did not feel that this show would survive

• King of Queens, benefiting from the addition of Jerry Stiller (formerly of Seinfeld), has proven to be a key component of CBS’ Monday night schedule

• Will & Grace was the most successful new introduction of the night.  In fact, Will & Grace beat King of Queens in all of the key adult demos (except for adults 50+ where King of Queens was king)

• As noted above, Benben, L.A. Docs, and Conrad Bloom did not last the season

• All of the networks are maintaining the same basic strategies in 1999/2000

• ABC has reduced football back to its pre-1998/1999 length of 2 hours

• FOX has replaced Melrose Place with a less “soapy” drama

• NBC continues to air Thursday night “reject” sitcoms, however, they have replaced the 9-10pm sitcom block with a drama

• We predicted a slim chance of survival for both Costello and Brimstone

• Conversely, we noted that The Hughley’s had a good time slot as well as predicted that Sports Night would benefit from an excellent time slot, production team, and a likeable cast

• As far as Encore! Encore! was concerned, we pointed out that the program’s future was uncertain given the reported retooling of a rather questionable pilot

• As predicted, Costello and Brimstone did not make it through the season

• ABC found success both in The Hughley’s and Sports Night

• The retooled Encore! Encore! proved as problematic as the initial pilot and the show was quickly cancelled

• ABC and NBC are maintaining their 8-10pm sitcom strategies -- On ABC, Spin City is replacing the departed Home Improvement and Dharma & Greg is now leading off the second hour while at NBC, Just Shoot Me has moved in to replace Mad About You and Will & Grace has graduated to the 9pm lead-off slot

• CBS has given up on airing movies on Tuesday night and is instead trying a newsmagazine/ drama combo for 9-11pm

• FOX continues to air sitcoms 8-9pm and dramas from 9-10pm.  They have shored up their 9-10pm presence with proven winner Party of Five instead of an untried new program

• UPN has eliminated their 9-10pm sitcom block in favor of a light action-adventure series while WB continues to lead off the night with Buffy (now followed by spin-off series Angel)
  

Go to The New Tuesday Night Programs

• We predicted that The Secret Lives of Men would only have a fair chance of survival

• As far as To Have and To Hold was concerned, we predicted that it would have a slim chance of survival.  Additionally, we noted that it would be unlikely that Maggie Winters would make it through the season
   

   

   

• The Secret Lives of Men remained a secret; not making it through the season

• As predicted, both Maggie Winters and To Have and to Hold were cancelled

• ABC, FOX, UPN, and WB have maintained their same basic strategies. However, ABC has moved Two Guys and a Girl (now without a “Pizza Place”) into the lead-off slot while FOX has replaced Party of Five with Get Real, another drama and WB has replaced Charmed with Roswell, another high concept, teen friendly series

• CBS has eliminated their 9-11pm newsmagazine/drama combo in favor of a movie while moving the established Cosby to 8pm to replace the previously established Nanny

• NBC has replaced their 9-10pm sitcom block (due to the departure of Newsradio and 3rd Rock on Tuesday) with a drama

  Go to The New Wednesday Night Programs