or


[10/14/03 - 12:00 AM]
NBC to Bump Several Series for November Sweeps
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC is expected to bench each of its six freshman series for at least one week during November sweeps. That's the latest from the Peacock camp as the major networks work to finalize their schedules for the key period, which begins Thursday, October 30 and ends Wednesday, November 26. Here's a breakdown of all the impending moves by NBC and some other major networks:

-- NBC will bump "Coupling" for the first night of sweeps (October 30), instead going with 40-minute "super-size" episodes of "Friends," "Scrubs" and "Will & Grace."

-- On Halloween (October 31), the Peacock will bench the newly relocated "Miss Match" in favor of a two-hour edition of "Dateline NBC." Repeats of "Law & Order: S.V.U." are expected to continue in the 10:00/9:00c hour through the end of November.

-- Beginning Saturday, November 1, NBC will resume running three installments of "Law & Order" on the night with the original at 8:00/7:00c, "Criminal Intent" at 9:00/8:00c and "Special Victims Unit" at 10:00/9:00c.

-- Newcomers "Whoopi" and "Happy Family" will get the hook for at least two weeks during the period. On November 4, viewers can look for a special episode of "Fear Factor" to displace both comedies while one of the network's planned concert specials (Justin Timberlake or Shania Twain) will bump the duo on November 25.

-- The Peacock's telefilm "Saving Jessica Lynch" is tentatively set to air Sunday, November 9, likely pre-empting both "American Dreams" and "The Lyon's Den." A new episode of "Criminal Intent" would then either lead-in or lead-out from the movie.

-- On the final Monday of sweeps (November 24), NBC is expected to air a 90-minute installment of "Fear Factor" up against FOX's two-hour finale of "Joe Millionaire." Such a move would likely bump either "Third Watch" or "Las Vegas" for the night.

-- ABC has a host of specials and movies already set for the period: "Phenomenon II" (Saturday, November 1 at 8:00/7:00c), "Britney Spears: In the Zone" (Monday, November 17 at 8:00/7:00c), "Eloise at Christmastime" (Saturday, November 22 at 8:00/7:00c) and the opening to the four-hour mini-series "Ryan and Trista's Wedding" (Wednesday, November 26 at 9:00/8:00c).

-- ABC will drop its usual Sunday lineup ("America's Funniest Home Videos," "10-8," "Alias," "The Practice") on November 16 in favor of the 31st Annual American Music Awards hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

-- The WB is set to drop its Friday comedy lineup ("Reba," "Like Family," Grounded for Life," "All About the Andersons") on October 24 for a two-hour block of Halloween-themed specials. Up first at 8:00/7:00c is "A Scooby-Doo Halloween" followed by "Bugs Bunny's Howl-O-Ween Special" at 8:30/7:30c. "The WB's Most Outrageous Halloween Outtakes" rounds out the night at 9:00/8:00c.

Please note that all the above plans are subject to change. Official sweeps schedules are expected to be released in the coming weeks.





  [october 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 10-8 (ABC)
· ALIAS (ABC)
· ALL ABOUT THE ANDERSONS (WB)
· AMERICAN DREAMS (NBC)
· AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS (ABC)
· BACHELORETTE, THE (ABC)
· COUPLING (NBC)
· DATELINE NBC (NBC)
· ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME (ABC)
· FEAR FACTOR (MTV)
· FRIENDS (NBC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· HAPPY FAMILY (NBC)
· JOE MILLIONAIRE (FOX)
· LAS VEGAS (NBC)
· LAW & ORDER (NBC)
· LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (USA)
· LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC)
· LIKE FAMILY (WB)
· LYON'S DEN, THE (NBC)
· MISS MATCH (NBC)
· PHENOMENON 2 (ABC)
· PRACTICE, THE (ABC)
· REBA (CW)
· SAVING JESSICA LYNCH (NBC)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· THIRD WATCH (NBC)
· WHOOPI (NBC)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[10/23/26 - 03:54 PM]
ESPN's NBA Opening Wednesday Delivered Its Second-Largest Audience Ever
The Minnesota Timberwolves' victory over the Miami Heat averaged 2.52 million viewers, up 16% from last year's comparable game.

[10/23/26 - 03:25 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 3 Since 1999, Best Ever on Cable
1.71 million viewers on average tuned into Wednesday night's Game 3 coverage across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network and CNBC) and streaming on Peacock.

[10/23/26 - 10:37 AM]
FOX Sports Unveils Elite 2026-27 Regular Season College Basketball Schedule
FOX's Saturday primetime slate features No. 17 Kansas at No. 4 UConn, No. 6 Michigan State at No. 22 UCLA, Villanova at Creighton, Nebraska at Michigan State and Providence at UConn.

[10/23/26 - 09:30 AM]
Season 3 of History's "Mysteries Unearthed" Returns Nov. 12 at 8/7c
Whether it's buried underground, hidden in ice, or concealed deep underwater, the world is full of mysteries just waiting to be unearthed.

[10/23/26 - 09:00 AM]
Comedy Central Announces "Chloe Radcliffe: Eyes Down Here"
The brand new hour-long standup special premieres Tuesday, October 27 on the Comedy Central Stand-Up YouTube Channel.

[10/23/26 - 08:40 AM]
UP Faith & Family to Exclusively Premiere Season 20 of the Hit Family Series "Heartland" in the U.S. Beginning November 19
As part of the premiere celebration, UP Faith & Family subscribers will have the chance to participate in an exclusive live virtual viewing event on premiere night.

[10/23/26 - 08:30 AM]
Record College Football Viewership Propels ESPN to Second Best Start Since 2011 with "College GameDay" on Track for Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks are averaging 2.2 million viewers across 120 games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU - the second-best start for ESPN since 2011.

[10/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
Bravo Unveils New Series, Returning Favorites and First Scripted Microdrama Ahead of Bravo Fan Fest Charleston
The network expands the "Next Gen" franchise with new series "Next Gen Atlanta" and renews "Next Gen NYC," "In The City," and "Southern Hospitality."

[10/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Fallout Shelter: The Experiment" - Date Announce - Prime Video
The all-new competition series arrives January 13, only on Prime Video.

[10/23/26 - 08:00 AM]
TLC's "7 Little Johnstons" Returns for a New Season Tuesday, November 17 at 9PM ET/PT
This season is packed with life-changing milestones, big celebrations, and plenty of Johnston family fun.

[10/23/26 - 08:00 AM]
AMC Global Media's November Streaming Highlights Include a New Season of "The Assassin" and New Episodes of "Yaga" and "Kill Jackie" on AMC+
Other offerings include the return of "The Madame Blanc Mysteries" and A Remarkable Place to Die" on Acorn TV; plus the debut of "Snooki: The Paranormal Rookie on All Reality" on All Reality.

[10/23/26 - 07:00 AM]
AMC Global Media Launches New Unscripted Clip Series, "Cue the Laughs," Premiering Saturday, November 7 on IFC, AMC+ and All Reality
Hosted by comedian and actor Adam Ray, the comical clip show for grown-ups proves that the most outrageous moments in life are the ones nobody scripted, and nobody saw coming.

[10/23/26 - 06:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "The Gentlemen" Is Back in Production for Season 3 and Confirms New Cast to Join, Including Robert Carlyle, Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom
Other additions include Dexter Fletcher, Bruna Marquezine, Ed Speleers, Saffron Burrows, and Bugzy Malone.

[10/23/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Secrets" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Former sex worker Parni built a peaceful life for her daughter, but her abusive ex resurfaces, threatening to destroy everything she fought to protect.

[10/23/26 - 01:05 AM]
Netflix Adapts the Classic by Clarin: Production Begins on "La Regenta"
This new contemporary version is brought to life by a creative team that reinterprets the classic from a fresh female perspective, with Mar Coll directing, María Zamora producing, and Ester Expósito leading the cast as Regenta.