L&O not the current Ausiello Blind Item!

[filmnoir5]

"OK, everybody, close your eyes and read on, 'cause it's blind-item time again! Today's guessing game involves a drama that is often called a hit even though it, in fact, misses that mark by a mile. You see, while this show draws a sizable audience, it attracts fewer viewers in the hot 18- to 49-year-old demographic than the network would get by running Matlock in its place. As a result, there's almost no way it's coming back for another season. Its only (slim) chance? The fact that, as craptacular as the program is doing, it at least is performing better in its time slot than pretty much everything else the network has tried there. So... what do you think? Send me your guesses! "

"Question: I love your work, but sometimes your blind items are too easy. Almost everyone who studies ratings knows that you are talking about Law & Order Original Flavor.— Jessy Scholl
Ausiello: Funny story to share with you: you're wrong. "

Several posters on various sites thought it was the mothership, or Close To Home.

[DNA]

I read this a few days ago but I resisted posting it because I don't really like to give any kind of credence to anything Ausiello reports.

I have to admit the when I read the line: "Its only (slim) chance? The fact that, as craptacular as the program is doing, it at least is performing better in its time slot than pretty much everything else the network has tried there." I thought it could be LOCI he is referring to, I cant think of any critic who would revel more in demise of Criminal Intent than Ausiello.

[NikkiGreen]

Since he mentioned "Matlock", the first thing that came to my mind was "Boston Legal".

"BL" has done better in the Tuesday timeslot than anything that has been there post "NYPD Blue".

[NikkiGreen]

Well, it's not Vegas

[DonnaJo]

I think the line," it's often called a hit."..means it's not CI.
Does anyone in TV Land call CI a hit anymore?

[filmnoir5]

I think it could be a CBS show since CBS has so many shows on the air that rerun well (CSIs, Criminal Minds, Numbers, Cold Case, Without A Trace) and pull better numbers than most shows on NBC, FOX (save for House or Idol), or even ABC (save for Greys Anatomy) I think it could be either Close To Home or The Unit since CBS is in the best shape to cancel shows that draw between 10 and 11 million. Smith was doing better or as well in total viewers than most NBC shows when it was canceled after just 3 episodes.

[filmnoir5]

nikkigreen said:

Well, it's not Vegas

Now I know NUTS is nuts if this gets renewed before CI. On the other hand, Las Vegas only airs 17 episodes this season and the article mentioned the 100 episode deal for syndication. So I would not be surprised to see Las Vegas get another short order with just enough episodes to be able to launch 100 in syndication.

This is awful early for NBC to start renewing shows. Even in 2004, I remember when Vincent D'Onofrio was on the View in late March of that year that NBC had just renewed the L&Os for 2 years each. Then in 2006, most shows were renewed in late April including all 3 L&Os. In 2005, I remember they announced the cancellation of Third Watch after 6 seasons and by doing this, Third Watch was able to have a final episode that aired in April. West Wing and Will & Grace were canceled early in 2006 so they could have a final episode to wrap up storylines. So I have this question to ask : Does the impending writers strike have anything to do with the renewals of these shows? Is NBC renewing these shows earlier than usual so they can start working on new episodes for next season and even have some in the can in case there is a writers strike? Does the threat of a writers strike give some of the older shows more of an edge than usual because it is easier for work to continue on older shows than it would be for the network to rush to make decisions on which new shows to take a chance on and jump start into early production?

[DNA]

Ask Ausiello

Ask Ausiello Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Question: My guess for the blind item about the hit show getting the ax is The Unit, Close to Home or Jericho.— T.K.

Ausiello: I can confirm that it is indeed one of those three shows. I can also confirm that I'll be narrowing that list down even further (a lot further — hint, hint) in the first episode of my vodcast, debuting tomorrow on a TVGuide.com video player near you. Sorry, but a guy's gotta cross-promote where he can.

[ragincajun]

Never watched close to home, Lost interest in Jericho after about 6 episodes, from reading others post The Unit is doing well, but haven't watched it either, so I can't guess.