Ratings and Scheduling

[pacejunkie]

I thought we needed to bring this thread back from TwoP. For now, we can discuss when the show might return and post any info we find. I don't know if this is accurate or not, but I found this in an article previewing this season's shows:

Reaper
(CW) "Reaper" just started to figure itself out as its first season came to an end, moving away from the tiresome Monster of the Week and introducing some story arcs about rebel demons and the possibility that Sam is the devil's son. It'll be back on Thursdays in '09, rotating around with "Smallville" and "Supernatural" so the CW doesn't have to show reruns.

If this is true, there will only be room for more eps if the show is brought back early, sharing the slot with Smallville or SPN. Whatever it is, I hope its consistent so fans know when its on. Sounds like a lousy way to build an audience unless the shows are on back to back, not like two weeks of Smallville, three week of Reaper, three weeks of SPN, two weeks of Reaper. That would be awful.

[Blue Sunflower]

Possible scheduling news (Warning, link has Smallville spoilers):

Word has come out that production on Smallville will be stopping when episode 10 is done. That will be the end of the first half of the season, with the back half to pick up with episode 11 and run all spring. Reaper will be moving into the Smallville time slot during the winter to be paired with Supernatural to try to pair them together in case Smallville is indeed done with season 8.

Also, I'm just putting this article from MediaLife here. I'd take it seriously, but the guy lost me when he said Lost had no buzz for its S1 premiere. Between this guy and Marc Berman, I'd really like to know what crack MediaLife smokes, because sometimes I'd like to be in their world.

[pacejunkie]

So if Smallville does indeed get a full season, it looks like Reaper will run mid season only, then there may not be time for more than 13 episodes. The good news is it looks like this is Smallville's last season, and I would sacrifice a few eps now if it means Reaper is guaranteed to take Smallville's spot and get a season three. I'd like a full season two but I'd like a season three even more, because that would most definitely be a full one with Smallville out of the way.

Yeah, Lost had buzz for its premiere all the way to Middle Earth and back. Doesn't anyone remember that little trilogy?

[Blue Sunflower]

Another article reiterating Smallville's break. The way it's looking, Reaper is gonna do the March sweeps (sweeps are March next year) and Smallville will do the May sweeps. I'm almost agreeing that we may not get more than 13 episodes this season, which will suck - unless of course, we get a third season pickup. And with 13 episodes, running towards end of March, then we should be starting sometime in January.

Last Thursday in March = 26th. So 13 weeks back from that is actually January 1st. Hmm. Maybe I should change my date in the Premiere Betting Pool...

[novium]

Darn. I'm sure that because we want a show to be cancelled early on, all the new shows will have staying power. January seems a long way away.

[pacejunkie]

I agree Blue, I'm seeing a January-March run this season and a full third season in Smallville's slot. As long as it holds steady in ratings, doing as well or better than last year, it should be okay since the CW needs a fantasy show to pair with SPN.

[Blue Sunflower]

Even repeated for the umpteenth time, Reaper still dominates in time-shifted viewing. It's #16 with 7.2%.

[pending]

Cool beans. Hopefully that reflects audience building, and not just people who forgot to turn off their TiVo season passes.

[Blue Sunflower]

From the Reapercast thread:

Sept 21, 2008 1:03:12 GMT -5 randomnation said:

Also keep in mind, that so far, CW ratings are up! Gossip Girl just got series highs, OTH got its highest numbers in 2 years, same with Supernatural. Smallville is still holding steady as the number one show, so...Reaper could end up benefitting as well...

Not necessarily. It doesn't look like those numbers are quite as good as they appear on the surface, especially when you keep in mind that it looks like for once, the audience is actually tuning into the fall premieres in general:

Smallville (4.3 million) was the CW's biggest show, but its eighth-season premiere was down nearly 20 percent from last fall's opener.
Another CW show, Supernatural (4 million), got off to a great start, up about 1 million viewers from last fall's premiere.

[stinger97]

Last night's ratings:

The CW capped off Tuesday with 90210 (Viewers: #5, 2.96 million; A18-49: #4, 1.8/ 5) and Privileged (Viewers: #5, 1.86 million; A18-49: #5, 0.9/ 2), which lost steam from one year earlier. On the year-ago evening, Reaper debuted in the 9 p.m. hour with 3.28 million viewers and a 1.5/ 4 among adults 18-49.

Privileged is sucking beyond belief. Awesome!

[pacejunkie]

Oh yay! We could maybe eke a full season out if we took Privileged's spot come October. I assume that option is still in play with Smallville sharing a fall back position.

[Blue Sunflower]

Aw, I found the schedule for Reaper. They are scheduled to finish all filming before Dec. 18th. (Although these pdf files from the Teamsters and Director's Guild of Canada both say it's Dec. 22nd.)

That's gonna suck for them if the show airs after they're done, and they have to wait around again to see if they're gonna have another season. Only this time it will be a wait of months, instead of one week like last time.

[pacejunkie]

There's no avoiding that. They won't find out if they're picked up until late in the spring when the CW makes its new season schedule.

[Blue Sunflower]

From Kristin:

Jennilynn: When is Reaper coming back? My husband calls it "Buffy for dudes," and we can't wait to find out if Sam is the Devil's son.

I just double-checked to make sure I hadn't missed anything, and nope, there is still no premiere date for Reaper season two. If I had to guess, I'd say Reaper would most likely return to the CW in late February or early March 2009.

You and the rest of the planet, Jennilynn. And ha! "Buffy for dudes"

[pacejunkie]

February or March??? What is she smoking? What about the rumours that Reaper was a hiatus fill-in for Smallville? Man, I hope that's wrong, though the silver lining would be better months for a potentially bigger audience than Dec/Jan.

[Blue Sunflower]

Too bad Reaper can't move to Sunday nights.

[Blue Sunflower]

More info:

As we reported earlier this fall, Smallville will be airing all new episodes through episode 8 x 10 [episode title removed] with no repeats, then Smallville will go on hiatus for about 13 weeks while Reaper is paired with Supernatural in its timeslot. No word on what the Supernatural episode order will be and how many repeats may get shown. Smallville will then return in the later part of the winter to run its final episodes - 12 are ordered- without any breaks. This will be similar to the spring season we saw last year after the writer’s strike.

Dammit. It is looking more and more likely that we *will* be getting the sucky months. I'm feeling more and more that I best savor all 13 episodes, since it's looking more and more likely those will be the last ones we ever get.

[pacejunkie]

I'm not surprised, this has been the chief rumour since it was announced that Reaper would be a mid season replacement. 13 episodes is all we'll get this season, but I'm more optimistic than Blue about the show's future. Of course that all depends on whether this is Smallville's last season or not and that depends who you ask. Reaper is almost assured a third season if Smallville ends, otherwise it will once again depend on the CW's schedule. I'm hoping they take back Sunday programming. That may help free up some space.

[pending]

Ugh, boo on Sundays. It's a graveyard that only a show like Seventh Heaven can last in, because it is already dead inside. I'd be perfectly happy (in fact, I think I called for it before) if Reaper got some "easy view" time on Sunday for its reruns, around 5pm, well ahead of the animated comedies on Fox, and the crime dramas on the other channels.

[cko]

Oct 30, 2008 19:53:16 GMT -5 pending said:

...only a show like Seventh Heaven can last in, because it is already dead inside. I'd be perfectly happy (in fact, I think I called for it before) if Reaper got some "easy view" time on Sunday for its reruns, around 5pm...

Oh, you and your 7th Heaven. Ha! Meanwhile I like the Sunday re-run idea for Reaper. I loved that with Everwood.

[pacejunkie]

This from the new Ray Wise interview linked in the Ray thread:

Yeah, we’re back and doing 13 more episodes. I believe we’re on Episode 9 right now, and I think we’re going to be back on the air in…they said either January or perhaps March. And, then, if those 13 episodes go well, then there’s a good chance that we’ll be doing more.

Let's hope for more, but a March return won't give them much time unless they decide to continue with new episodes through June (which isn't a bad idea).

[Blue Sunflower]

Nov 3, 2008 19:44:51 GMT -5 pacejunkie said:

This from the new Ray Wise interview linked in the Ray thread:

Yeah, we’re back and doing 13 more episodes. I believe we’re on Episode 9 right now, and I think we’re going to be back on the air in…they said either January or perhaps March. And, then, if those 13 episodes go well, then there’s a good chance that we’ll be doing more.

Let's hope for more, but a March return won't give them much time unless they decide to continue with new episodes through June (which isn't a bad idea).

Matt Roush is backing that time frame up.

Question: Just wondering if you know when (if?) the CW will be bringing Reaper back. It's one of the only shows remaining on the CW that is worth watching (Supernatural being the other). I know that it was mentioned during the CW's upfronts as being a midseason replacement, but is there a more specific timeline in sight? — Patrick

Matt Roush: Nothing has been announced yet - the CW is busy with sweeps month right now - but my sense is that Reaper is likely to return sooner than later at midseason, almost certainly within the first quarter (January-March) of 09. Stay tuned. I'm kind of looking forward to it coming back as well.

[novium]

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

The worst thing about that interview is that it's just so......frustrating. I want to see these actors doing their thing! and that photo....it just captures the whole vibe of the show so well (at least for me). The CW is just evil. EVIL.

[cko]

I know. March seems like such a long time to wait, and it's hard to believe that a long hiatus is better for a show's future ratings.

And....does this mean we can start a new premiere date betting pool? I need a second chance.

[pacejunkie]

Well at least a later start date would be better for a viewing audience than December would have been. I hope they agree to continue the show beyond the standard viewing season so it can get more eps in, I suppose that depends on ratings though.

[pacejunkie]

I've been checking PiFeedback forums for any CW scheduling news. Nothing yet, but there's some interesting discussion here about where Reaper might fit in on the CW's schedule. I still think Sunday night might be a good night for it, certainly better than Friday.

[Blue Sunflower]

Reaper will be getting a soft launch in Australia. Basically, they'll be premiering it in their summer months, during the holidays. Which is funny, because it may end up meaning *Australia* airs S2 before the US does.

[pacejunkie]

Ooh, maybe we'll get the eps in advance online then.

[stinger97]

Am I the only one who doesn't see a mention of Reaper in that article? I might just be missing it, but I've read it twice and still don't see it.

[pacejunkie]

Nov 9, 2008 16:10:49 GMT -5 stinger97 said:

Am I the only one who doesn't see a mention of Reaper in that article? I might just be missing it, but I've read it twice and still don't see it.

It's on page two:

"It may be off-ratings, but it's the lead-up to Christmas, it's the beginning of a new year. That matters to advertisers, and it matters to us." Like Nine and Ten, Seven has had success in the past giving series an off-Broadway start: Bones and Criminal Minds started over summer, and were ratings hits this year. So they'll be trying the same tactics this holiday season, giving US series such as The Reaper a soft launch.