Programming

With guest host Ken Jennings filling in for the late Alex Trebek, it advanced 2% to a 6.1 in the week ending Feb.7, one of a very few syndicated shows to post a week-to-week increase.

The new tag team of Young Rock and Kenan greatly improved NBC’s Tuesday leadoff slot, paving the way for This Is Us to also rise.

Queen Latifah’s The Equalizer debuted to 20.404 million total viewers following Super Bowl LV. On Sunday, in its regular time-slot premiere, the CBS drama drew 7.976 million viewers, which means the show retained 39% of its Episode 1 audience for Episode 2.

CBS is nearing a straight-to-series order for a Hawaii-set incarnation of its juggernaut NCIS franchise, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. CBS declined comment as deals are still being firmed up. Chris Silber, the showrunner on NCIS: New Orleans who cut his teeth on the flagship series starring Mark Harmon, would serve in the same capacity on NCIS: Hawaii.

The Academy of Country Music and Dick Clark Productions announced on Tuesday that the show will return on April 18 and will air on CBS from the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe.

ABC’s The Bachelor this week drew 5.2 million total viewers and a 1.4 rating, holding steady in the demo to again dominate Monday in that measure — all amid the racism controversy that has led franchise frontman Chris Harrison to “step aside” for a stretch.

With CBS Media Ventures’ Judge Judy going out of first-run production after this season and NBCUniversal Television Distribution’s Maury ending production after next season, syndication’s court and conflict genres are undergoing seismic shifts. But those vast libraries are finding new homes — and new revenue — on streaming platforms.

Peter King explains in his latest Football Morning in America column that the NFL is “within a month” of finalizing 10-year TV deals. Those packages “could result in an aggregate increase of 70% to 100% in rights fees from the last contract.”

Many fans said they are trying to reconcile accusations of misogyny against Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with their love of a show that celebrated female empowerment.

Digital TV Research says quickening Hotstar uptake in India convinced it to boost its earlier Disney Plus forecast by nearly 100,000 subscribers.

The special, titled Oprah With Meghan and Harry, will feature Winfrey talking with the couple about everything from their marriage to their decision to step away from Britain’s royal family. It’s set to air March 7.

Fox sats it will be holding its upfront presentation on May 17 and that, in addition to its entertainment and sports programming, this year’s event will showcase Tubi, the ad supported streaming service it bought last year.

Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial last week featured explicit language rarely heard on American airwaves, particularly during a dramatic 13-minute video presented by House managers that showed scenes from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the enraged, violent mob that caused it. Why was hearing that language on network television unusual? And what might it mean for the future when it comes to broadcast standards?

Chris Harrison is “stepping aside” as host of ABC’s The Bachelor after excusing a contestant’s racism. “Just as I taught my children to stand up, and to own their actions, I will do the same,” Harrison says in a statement posted on Instagram.

The juggernaut that is ABC’s Shark Tank continues to dominate the Friday night ratings. This week was no exception, as the business entrepreneur competition pulled in an 0.7 to win the night. That strong showing by Shark Tank was a perfect lead-in for ABC’s 20/20, which featured a TV producer who was duped by her fiancee’s phony claims.

The final five-time champion of Jeopardy while Alex Trebek was still host died unexpectedly last week, according to a statement from his mother. Brayden Smith, of Las Vegas, was 24 years old when he died on Feb. 5. The family did not release the cause of death.

Bridgerton jumped back in front of Cobra Kai to retake the top spot in Nielsen’s U.S. streaming rankings for the week of Jan. 11-17, with sci-fi movie Outside the Wire helping Netflix sweep the top 10. The Shonda Rhimes-produced period romance drew just shy of 1.4 billion total minutes of viewing, outpacing Cobra Kai, which had 1 billion.

CSI, one of the most successful TV franchises ever, is inching closer to a formal return at CBS. Stars William Petersen and Jorja Fox are closing in on deals to return for the limited series revival from the franchise’s original creative team, Anthony Zuiker and Jerry Bruckheimer. Additionally, the rumored series has also enlisted Matt Lauria, Paula Newsome and Mel Rodriguez to the cast that is expected to bring back legacy characters and new faces for the short-order entry.

CBS’s Clarice debuted to 4 million total viewers and a 0.5 demo rating — right on par with what Evil averaged (3.6M/0.5) in the Thursday time slot last season. Opening the Eye’s night, Young Sheldon (7.3M/0.8) and B Positive (5.1M/0.6) returned steady, with the former leading Thursday in both measures.