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2001, TV Show

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A weekly newsmagazine addressing political, social and cultural issues. In its original format, hosts Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer bantered before a studio audience, but it flopped and producers quickly adopted a straight-news approach. ABC merged it with '20/20' in 1999, but revived it in 2001, and later offered editions devoted to medical mysteries and 'outsiders' (2006), crime and 'family secrets' (2007), and how people react in unusual situations ('Primetime: What Would You Do?' 2008).

Tonight's TV Hot List: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 | Today's News: Our Take | 7/1/2009

America's Got Talent
9 pm/ET NBC
The good, the bad and the ugly. That's essentially what is going down in these early star-search audition shows. But the good acts will slowly separate from the others, leaving them behind to advance to the "Vegas Verdicts" and a chance to score the ultimate $1 million prize. Tonight the colorful hopefuls showcase their talents in the fourth audition installment.

Read on for previews of American Masters, Primetime: Crime, RENO 911! and New Adventures of Old Christine. read more 4 Comments
Tonight's TV Hot List: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 | Today's News: Our Take | 6/24/2009

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
8 pm/ET NBC
From Speidi's early departure (and return, and departure) to Janice Dickinson's "granola-gate," there's been no shortage of drama in the jungle since the show started just three weeks ago. In tonight's finale, the entire cast reunites in Costa Rica to learn who will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle — and more importantly, which deserving charity will get the much needed moola.

Read on for previews of The Music Instinct: Science and Song, Primetime: Questions for the President — Prescription for America, The Real World and The Philanthropist and Tragic Side of Comedy. read more 6 Comments
It seems that ABC's plan to ... | Matt Roush | 8/27/2007
Question: It seems that ABC's plan to burn off the unaired episodes of Knights of Prosperity and The Nine in August flatlined after just one Wednesday night. By the second week, they'd replaced the shows with According to Jim and Primetime repeats. Now, I'm a realist about the business side's effect on the artistic side, and I understand that a loyal, vocal online fan base represents but the tiniest fraction of the viewing audience, but in the case of Knights, there were only two episodes left — just 60 minutes of fairly worthless mid-August real estate spread over two Wednesdays. So was it really that significant a financial benefit to the network to run According to Jim repeats instead of previously unaired Knights episodes that had already been bought and paid for, and now won't see the light of day, even online? This decision takes the cake, especially in a weak ratings month like August. Answer: It does make you wonder whether a network is aware of the long-term impact of jerking ... read more
To Catch a Time Slot Dateline producer David Corvo on the return of the newsmagazine | Stephen Battaglio | 12/7/2006
When the 2006-07 TV season started, there were only three hours of newsmagazines in prime time, the fewest since 1987. Well, the high casualty rate of scripted entertainment shows has changed that. Dateline NBC will be back up to three hours a week in January. ABC's Primetime is plugging the ratings crater left by The Nine on Wednesdays, until Lost returns. Look for a few episodes of 48 Hours to show up on Tuesdays at 10, now that 3 LBS has flatlined on CBS. Add 'em up, and in some weeks in January you'll have eight hours of newsmags to choose from. But producers say the shows can't give viewers the same old, same old anymore. A catchy hook is a must. Primetime has just kicked off a series of hidden-camera reports showing how people react in uncomfortable situations or when faced with ethical dilemmas. It's a read more
Since Six Degrees is tanking, ... | Matt Roush | 10/27/2006
Question: Since Six Degrees is tanking, why not have ABC put back Primetime at 10 pm/ET with Diane Sawyer and Chris Cuomo? This might be more successful and get more viewers to watch Good Morning America. Either that or that new drama with General Hospital's Tyler Christopher. I think they should replace Six Degrees quick! Answer: Even I'm amazed at how patient ABC has been with this one. But don't look for ABC to restore a newsmagazine to the post-Grey's Anatomy slot anytime soon. The Grey's lead-in is too valuable. ABC's mission is to create a new hit show out of Grey's. It's obvious that Six Degrees, so ponderous and contrived, isn't that show. Here's another, and more frequently offered solution to the Six Degrees problem, from Chris L.: "With the broadcast networks looking for the next Desperate Housewives/Lost-style immediate ratings smash, ABC should be lauded for exercising patience by giving their new shows time to find an audience while the other networks have already swung ... read more

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Premiered: January 25, 2001, on ABC

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Premise: A weekly newsmagazine addressing political, social and cultural issues. In its original format, hosts Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer bantered before a studio audience, but it flopped and producers quickly adopted a straight-news approach. ABC merged it with '20/20' in 1999, but revived it in 2001, and later offered editions devoted to medical mysteries and 'outsiders' (2006), crime and 'family secrets' (2007), and how people react in unusual situations ('Primetime: What Would You Do?' 2008).

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