I am truly nervous about Las ...
Question: I am truly nervous about
Las Vegas' next season, since the ratings had been truly awful this last year.
Josh Duhamel's show used to create some impact on Monday night, but the move to Fridays made it impossible for the show to keep up the good work. Friday night is not made for young, fresh shows. This fall, NBC is developing some interesting options (
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,
Heroes, etc.), so I am scared that these potential hits could help the network dismiss
Las Vegas easily. What do you think? I appreciate all the help you could give me, since Las Vegas is my favorite show and the only reason I stay home on Friday nights.
Answer: Well, if it kept you at home on Fridays, then it did its job. Honestly, I wouldn't fret too much about this one. While it's true the show was more visible and successful on Mondays, NBC is actually kind of paying the show a compliment by treating it as a utility player. Moving it to Fridays, where it will be paired, at least initially, with the durable (if fading)
Law & Order, is a sign that NBC realizes that mind-and-eye candy like this is perfect Friday programming. It doesn't have to pull huge numbers or even win the time period to be considered successful; it just needs to draw a decent number in the proper demographic, which
Vegas tends to do. Should NBC's fall programs falter (and
Heroes in the old
Las Vegas slot has its work cut out), I would imagine that shows like
Las Vegas and
Crossing Jordan will have the option to move around and fill holes. They're not in any imminent danger that I can see.