Posts tagged TLC
First Look: TLC’s Geek Love
Nov 19th
Okay – I have to hand it to the guys at TLC – they’re definitely on a roll at the moment!
While other networks continue to wallow in ‘over-produced’ reality and fakery, the TLC team are digging up some truly fascinating subcultures. Obviously there’s Toddlers and Tiaras and Extreme Couponing – and coming in December, here’s Geek Love – the show that shines a spotlight on the world of nerd loving!
At the moment Geek Love is just a 2 part teaser – but I have a feeling that just like Extreme Couponing this one’s going to capture the public imagination. I think it’s a fascinating world and let’s face it, geeks are hot at the moment (check out the ratings for The Big Bang Theory and to a lesser extent New Girl)
That said – I wish this teaser was a little more polished. The trailer seems to consist of a speed dating event and a range of sound bytes – feeling more like a network pitch tape than an actual show. I’m surprised TLC allowed such a raw cut to be shown.
I’d also argue that the guy at the 1.35 mark is actually fairly handsome and with a bit of styling and a few trips More >
Summer 2011: 10 Lessons The TV Industry Learned!
Sep 11th
Summer is over for yet another year – and the Fall TV Season is about to kick off!
But before we say goodbye to the warm weather months for good, here’s one last look back at summer 2011 and the lessons the TV industry learned…
1) Old Favorites Ruled: America’s Got Talent. Hell’s Kitchen. The Bachelorette. Big Brother. This summer audiences couldn’t care less about new offerings like Love In The Wild and In The Flow. They wanted their old favorites and barely sampled any of the broadcast network’s new offerings. The problem? If networks can’t come up with any new hits soon they’re gonna have some major problems down the line when the veteran shows start to fade…
Ratings Roundup: 30th July 2011
Jul 30th
Winners and Losers From The Last 7 Days
WINNERS
ABC FAMILY: While the broadcast networks seem to have thrown in the towel this summer (is the CW still breathing?), there’s lots of ratings action going on in the cable world. Case in point, ABC Family, who’ve steadily built themselves a fervent teen fanbase.
Switched At Birth, following a big cliffhanger last week, saw its ratings soar by 30% to an impressive 3.14 million viewers and a 1.3 18-49 share. Also holding on well – The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, with 2.89 million and a 1.2 share. And though it’s slipped a little recently, Pretty Little Liars is still doing well with 2.35 million and a 0.9 youth demo.
But it’s not ALL good news for ABC Family… check out our Losers column for more! (more…)
Ratings Roundup: 11th June 2011
Jun 11th
Winners and Losers From The Last 7 Days
WINNERS
SWAMP PEOPLE: Lots of cable ratings this week as let’s face it there’s not a huge amount going on on the network front at the moment (barring America’s Got Talent, The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance). And where better to start than History, a network that continues to produce stunning figures for its shows week after week.
Check out Swamp People, which on Thursday pulled in 4.46 million viewers and a 1.7 18-49 share, both a series high and the highest rated cable show of the night.
And let’s not forget that History also topped the cable ratings on Monday night with a Pawnstars double bill (the latter installment pulled in a stunning 7.25 million and a 2.6 18-49 share). No wonder the network is one of the leading cable channel brands out there…
GAME OF THRONES: We’ve just a couple of episodes to go now until the end of Season 1 and while Game of Thrones isn’t a True Blood size hit for network HBO, it’s definitely racked up some nice numbers along the way.
Sunday night’s episode featured yet more brutal bloodshed and also hit a season high with 2.71 million viewers and a More >
Ratings Roundup: 23rd April 2011
Apr 23rd
Winners and Losers From The Last 7 Days
WINNERS
MOB WIVES: First up this week, some good news for Vh1!
We’ve talked about the network a lot over the last few months – and most of the time it hasn’t been pretty with Vh1’s ratings in free fall for much of last year. But last week there were definite signs of recovery and this week Vh1 can even boast a bona fide hit show.
Yep, on Sunday night, new reality show Mob Wives scored 1.41 million viewers and a 0.8 18-49 share, pretty good ratings for a cable show and especially for Vh1 these days. Personally I’m a little tired of all the Real Housewives knock offs doing the rounds these days but people are watching them so I understand the network logic. Is this the beginning of a turnaround for Vh1 I wonder?
SWAMP PEOPLE: Who would have thought that a network branded History would end up becoming one of the hottest cable channels out there? But week after week the network keeps delivering mouth-watering ratings that are the envy of all its competitors.
You already know about American Pickers and Pawn Stars which often deliver in the 5-6 million viewer range, higher than many network shows More >
Toddlers & Tiaras With Tom Hanks
Feb 28th
Finally some laughs on Oscar night!
Following last night’s dreary Academy Awards ceremony Jimmy Kimmel presented his usual post show chat fest with some pretty A list names on board.
One moment that’s sure to make the folks at TLC happy – Tom Hanks taking on long running docu-soap Toddlers & Tiaras as he coaches his ‘daughter’ for pageant success.
Sure child beauty pageants are an easy target – and the clip’s a tad long and doesn’t all work – but I certainly chuckled a few times – and check out the guest appearance at the end!
Enjoy…! (more…)
Is This Where TLC Is Headed?
Jan 31st
Oh gosh, this made me laugh!
Check out this brief, but very funny, parody promo of some of the highlights of TLC‘s upcoming schedule… great stuff!
Can’t you just see some of these shows alongside the likes of Toddlers and Tiaras, Extreme Couponing and My Strange Addiction!
Full disclosure – we’re actually working with TLC at the moment on a fabulous and very fun secret project – but I will say the network is probably in the best shape it’s been in for years.
I remember when I first came to the US in 2005 and TLC was full of earnest, ‘homework’ TV… but not anymore. Whether you love or loathe the likes of Sarah Palin’s Alaska, Kate Plus Eight or Sister Wives – you can’t deny they’re all noisy shows that have really put the network on the map…
So will we be seeing ‘Dwarf Hoarders‘ anytime soon….! Hilarious…
TODDLERS AND TIARAS: MAKENZIE IS BACK!
Dec 30th
Most networks are asleep at the wheel at the moment – but TLC does seem to be the rare exception this holiday season.
There was the final episode of Sarah Palin’s Alaska (CAN there even be a second season?), my current favorite competition show, The Next Great Baker – and last night saw the return of Toddlers and Tiaras, the bizarre beauty pageant show that features more fake hairpieces and nails than a season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
I don’t watch Toddlers on a regular basis, but I’ve certainly dipped in here and there. It’s one of those shows, like Bridezillas, that you can’t help but watch when channel surfing!
Last night’s premiere saw the return of Makenzie, the 4 year old diva with the seriously bad attitude (um, are any of these brats well behaved?) Check her out in action in the teaser below…
So did you watch Toddlers and Tiaras last night? Are you a fan of the show? And what do you think of the whole child pageant world?
RICHARD RECOMMENDS: THE NEXT GREAT BAKER
Dec 18th
It’s Richard Recommends time again – and we’re back in the world of competition reality!
Yes, for my latest hot show we’re heading over to TLC for their Cake Boss spin off, The Next Great Baker. We’re only two weeks into the series but already I’m experiencing a bit of a sugar rush – Baker is creative, compelling and loaded with calories. Okay enough with the cake puns I promise!
Now I like the original Cake Boss – and feel a connection to the show since it films just down the road from me in Hoboken – but I’ll admit I don’t watch the show on a week-to-week basis. That’s largely due to the fact that the series is ‘self contained’ and I’m much more of a fan of arced series where storylines are ongoing and there’s a definite reason to tune in the next week. It’s why I favor the likes of Desperate Housewives and Glee over shows like CSI. I guess it comes from growing up in the UK where we’re brought up on soap operas and serialized shows literally from birth!
