The question about Ugly Betty ...
Question: The question about
Ugly Betty being sentenced to death on Fridays made me think of the
Law & Order time switch. When it was on the same night but one hour earlier, its ratings dropped. Will moving it to the "death slot" kill it, or do you think senior citizen
L&O will be able to survive? If/when one of the lesser-quality new shows gets canceled, would NBC move
L&O back to the Wednesday time slot, like they did after pulling
Heist?
Answer: Law & Order will survive, if not thrive, on Fridays, but its numbers will drop there as it faces formidable competition in CBS'
Numb3rs. (Pun not intended.) For NBC, having a proven veteran like
Law & Order anchoring its Friday schedule (alongside other proven franchises like
Crossing Jordan and
Las Vegas) will keep the network in business on the night. But if
Kidnapped does turn out to be an instant dud like
Heist (it deserves a far better fate), NBC won't think twice before moving
Law & Order back to its old home against the equally tired
CSI: NY.
