Thanks for that. Looks like the Christmas schedules are beginning to come together with this article saying that Michael Buble's Christmas special is airing on Sunday 18th December. So with Fast Freddie on Boxing Day, it looks like ITV will have The Cube at 7, Buble at 8 and Downton/Poirot at 9 on that night.


It probably would, you're right, and I certainly wouldn't rule out that night. With Boxing Day now seemingly out of the question Christmas Day itself would seem to be the only alternative, so I guess it depends how competitive and confident they feel about it. I suspect Poirot will end up on whichever of those 2 nights Downton doesn't air on.

We'll know for by next Tuesday, and should have a good idea by next Monday. So, until then...fantasy schedules anyone? I might do one later.

Adrian Chiles started in June 2010 with the World Cup.

I agree and would tie in with BBC1's decision to move Sports Personality of the Year to a weeknight. It was clearly moved for a reason!

Downton will be severely dented if shown on Xmas Day because BBC1 will just schedule EastEnders against it.

That sounds similar to The Big Quiz - Corrie vs Emmerdale on Friday 16th December.

I think It's been said in this forum that it had to be as late as the 22nd because of the sports personalities' commitments, but obviously couldn't be any later due to Xmas.

Still not convinced of the worth of putting Downton on Christmas Day. If it were guaranteed 10m and giving ITV1 hope of a rare victory on the big day then maybe it would be an option but I cant see a decent chunk of normal viewers deciding to watch the Beeb's offerings instead. Add in the fact ITV will lose millions in ad revenue then I dont see the point.

Also, I wouldnt believe any "confirmed" schedules yet as everything will probably get jigged about several times before the cut-off point.

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't view any of ITV's World Cup coverage, I saw enough England misery on the BBC.

Commitments can not possibly be a reason it is later! It has been the Sunday before the Sunday before Christmas for decades. Commitments were never a problem then. Anyway, how would the sports personalities know they were nominated at time of confirmation of 22 December?

That was cited by the press as a reason. Darren Clarke & Rory McIlroy have golfing commitments until 19 December and are 2 of the front runners.

The BBC will want the winners to be able to put in an appearance won't they ?

I will be gobsmacked if a major TV show that has been a solid Sunday Night show for decades is suddenly shunted to a Thursday night slot because of two golfing celebrities. If the commitments of individuals were more important than a TV show there would never be anything on TV. They didn't know they were frontrunners back in September when the show was moved to December 22nd. No one knew then.

Are you for real? Anybody who knows anything about sport would know that by Sept they were dead certs to win SPOTY this year with the US Open, British Open & US masters results. Short of a RWC win by Wales or England, there were no other possible winners given the sporting schedule til December.

Of course they did.

McIlroy won the US Open in June and blew a huge lead in the US Masters in April.

Clarke won The Open in July.

The above achievements are why they are leading contenders.

EDIT: George beat me to it!

Two years ago the BBC and Sports Personality got caught out when ITV moved the X Factor final final to Sunday night and a direct clash. SPOTY slumped to 4.7m in the overnights.

So last year BBC1 moved SPOTY to the Sunday before Christmas knowing that TXF would be over by then. Result! SPOTY scored a very respectablr 6.8m.

And having successful rescheduled last year moving the programme to a Thursday opposite the ITV soaps is a bit of a risky plan** and so, it follows, they must be doing it solely for the benefit of the golfers and their diaries. Otherwise why bother?



**(particularly when you see how crap the CIN Rocks Manchester did in that slot this week. Uh-oh!)

Still not sure why they can't do the 18th. Their last tournament finishes on Sunday, Dec 11th.

Thailand Golf Championship finishes on 18 December.

Forgot about the Asian Tour!!

Go away for a break and look at all the stuff you miss!

Holly Willoughby for The Voice is an unexpected but interesting choice. I think its a pretty good one though. I do however wonder whether they'll let her fly solo so to speak or whether she'll be part of a presenting team.

Meanwhile ITV seem to have finally thrown in the towel on Daybreak. Presumably with Bleakley and Chiles leaving the brand will be dropped as well by the end of the year. It'll be interesting to see what they replace it with and who fronts it. This however might explain why ITV were apparently considering another series of That Sunday Night Show. They need to get their money's worth out of Chiles somehow I suppose.

Bleakley replacing Willoughby on Dancing on Ice makes sense. And at least they've had the sense not to just give her a primetime show alone.


They aren't considering a second season.

The decision has been made but it won't be announced. It is incredibly rare that any show is announced as cancelled they just disappear from the schedule and are never mentioned again. Worth mentioning that all the people reporting that Pan Am is 'still in consideration' were also reporting that NBC was still considering Prime Suspect which a patently untrue statement.


The weird midseason schedules continue!


Scandal's lack of scheduling isn't that notable. It has a short episode order (6-8) which means it was unlikely to appear until April/May and ABC aren't going to schedule it 5-6 months in advance. It'll land where its needed. The complete lack of Apt. 23 is surprising. That was supposed to be their New Girl and they were very high on it.


ABC have made the decision. Sony know what that decision is. A Fall drama that's actually in consideration for a second season gets a back 9 order.

In terms of why Sony don't want to make a 14th episode. It'll be down to money. Its unlikely that ABC's licensing deal covers the entire cost of production (particularly for a final tacked on episode to a low rated show) so the issue from Sony's perspective will be whether or not its financially viable to make it. If they believed they were in contention for a second season then they'd make the additional episode without hesitation.


Work It is awful. Reports are that Cougar Town is being lined up to replace it in March. I suspect we may very well see Cougar Town a little earlier than that.

Apt. 23 is a tricky one. Happy Endings was given a full back 9 and is picking up some nice momentum out of Modern Family so I can't see them wanting to move that. Plus the rest of the Wednesday block is doing well so there's not really space for it there. I wonder if it might get the old Samantha Who? time slot - Monday 9:30 from April. Samantha Who? started really well in that slot before they made the truly bizarre decision to move it opposite Two and a Half Men for a few weeks.

had not heard they were making it, but I was expecting it to be made at some stage.

US Ratings Friday November 18

CBS won the night in both the demo and total viewers with Spanish language network Univision beating everyone else into second spot in the demo.

NBC however will be happy. Grimm was steady vs. last week and tied CSI: NY for top demo honours in the 9PM hour. Fox's Fringe was also steady albeit at a series low 1.1 CBS' Blue Bloods takes the prize as the nights most watched show in both the demo and total viewers. It was up 0.3 vs. last week to boot once again demonstrating that it might just be the most inconsistent performer on television.

ABC
8PM: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 1.1 [4.67]
9PM: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 1.5 [5.80]
10PM: 20/20 [r] - 1.4 [4.99]

CBS
8PM: A Gifted Man - 1.3 [8.21]
9PM: CSI: New York - 1.6 [9.93]
10PM: Blue Bloods - 2.0 [12.23]

Fox
8PM: Kitchen Nightmares - 1.4 [3.45]
9PM: Fringe - 1.1 [2.87]

NBC
8PM: Chuck - 0.9 [3.20]
9PM: Grimm - 1.6 [5.41]
10PM: Dateline - 1.5 [5.66]

The CW
8PM: Nikita 0.6 [1.81]
9PM: Supernatural - 0.7 [1.52]

A quick remark on tonight's ratings - I think Strictly Come Dancing will win the night; it has a good slot, it's had the Wembley hype, the injury issue with one of the professionals and this has been doing the rounds.

Actually, going through all that I'll be surprised if Strictly doesn't beat the hype free (for this week at least) The X Factor this week.

There isn't any clash at all this week. According to my radio times Strictly begins at 6:55 and ends at 8:15. X Factor begins at 8:15.

It doesn't clash with TXF (at least not in the listings in my paper).

Shame that Pan Am didnt quite work. It looks amazing and has a good cast.

I have only seen Ep1 and 2 and it looks alright. With no Desperate Housewives next year, what are ABC going to do to fill that gap?

No, sorry, you and Sam are right. I thought ITV1 were starting The X Factor at 8 but they must've moved it to 8.15 in the final schedule. I'll correct my OP. It'll be closer then, but I still expect Strictly to come out on top.

I think they are both clashing for 15 minutes next week though is that correct?

When will the ratings be realesed for Friday. if there is any justice Children in Need will thrash I'm a Celebrity. IMO it was a great show last night.