Julie Chen Skips “The Talk” Season Opener; Solid Start for “Mayans M.C.” on FX

Did You Know?:
Dick Van Dyke joined the cast of “The Carol Burnett Show” in the 11^th – and final – season in 1976-77 after Harvey Korman exited for a sitcom deal with ABC. But the chemistry was lacking and he left in the middle of that season…Linwood Boomer, who played Mary’s husband Adam Kendall on “Little House on the Prairie,” went on to create Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” which aired from 2000 to 2006.

Monday 9/10/18

Household Rating/Share
NBC: 3.1/ 5, ABC: 2.9/ 5, CBS: 2.6/ 4, Fox: 2.1/ 4, CW: 0.7/ 1

-Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
Fox: +11, NBC and CW: no change, ABC: – 3, CBS: -13

-Ratings Breakdown:
There were two competing season finales last night: “American Ninja Warrior” on NBC (3.6 rating/6 share) and “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox (2.1/ 4) from 8-10 p.m. ET. Both were close to year-ago levels and the likelihood of both returning next summer is positive.

On ABC, “Bachelor in Paradise,” which concludes for the season tonight, scored a 3.4/ 6 in the household overnights from 8-10 p.m., which trailed “American Ninja Warrior” by six percent.

For the remainder of the analysis plus the household overnights by network by half-hour for Monday, Sept. 10, click here

Live+Same Day Data
Monday 9/10/18: Click here

Solid Start for “Mayans M.C.” on FX
The debut of debut episode of “Mayans M.C.” opened to the best ratings of any new cable series this year in every major demographic. On a Live+3 basis, the premiere telecast (Tuesday, Sept. 4, 10 p.m.-11:37 p.m.) delivered 2.8 million adults 25-54, 2.5 million adults 18-49, and 1 million adults 18-34, making it the most-watched cable series premiere of 2018 in those key demos. The telecast was also was cable’s highest-rated drama series premiere in Adults 18-49 since January 2016.

Factoring all telecasts of the first episode, the “Mayans M.C.” premiere generated 6.8 million total viewers for its premiere telecast, three encores and digital streaming through Sunday, September 9. This figure does not yet include VOD viewing and will also continue to increase with additional delayed-viewing.

The Mayans M.C. premiere also represents FX’s most-watched series premiere since the February 2016 premiere of “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” in both adults 18-49 and total viewers.

Another Strong Opener: “Twisted Sisters” on ID
The series premiere of  Investigation Discovery (ID)’s new series “Twisted Sisters,” hosted by Khloé Kardashian, averaged just under 1.5 million viewers on Labor Day, and reached a combined 3.5 million unique total viewers when including the encore airing in late night. Comparably, this makes “Twister Sisters” the top-rated telecast on ID in 3Q18 to-date in women 25-54 delivery and rating.

Produced by 44 Blue Productions, a Red Arrow Studios Company, and Khlomoney Entertainment, and executive produced by Khloé Kardashian, and Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, new episodes of the six-part series air in the Monday 10 p.m. ET hour.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

NBC Orders Sitcom Pilot “Brotherly Love” From LeBron James
NBC has given a script commitment to a comedy called “Brotherly Love.” Loosely based on the upbringing and sibling relationships of Sixers star Ben Simmons, who was raised by an Australian mother and an American father, NBA superstar LeBron James’ production company SpringHill Entertainment will produce. The proposed single-camera comedy will explore various aspects of the brotherly bond in a multi-ethnic Philadelphia family.

Also on board for “Brotherly Love” are former “Fresh Off the Boat” producer Kourtney Kang and her brother, Patrick Kang, who joins Michael Levin as a writer for the series. Simmons and his brother, Sean Tribe, will serve as consulting producers.

Julie Chen Skips “The Talk” Season Opener
Julie Chen did not appear on yesterday’s ninth season premiere of “The Talk” on CBS, which was the day after her husband, Leslie Moonves, exited as CEO-chairman of CBS Corporation. “I am taking a few days off from ‘The Talk’ to be with my family. I will be back soon and will see you Thursday night on Big Brother,” Chen said in a statement.

Host Sharon Osbourne kicked off the show saying, “It’s a very bittersweet day for a season 9. We’re about to talk about something that affects everyone’s lives at CBS. I’ve never been nervous in my life, and I am very nervous right now. As you all know, Julie’s husband is in the news, and she’s taking off time to be with her family.”

Added Osbourne, “I want to say that whatever times I’ve had of hardship over the past eight years, Julie has always been there for me. She’s been a friend. She’s been someone who I admire and respect greatly. It’s very embarrassing and upsetting to have to talk about her husband, but we do. We feel it’s right. I personally know Les Moonves in a superficial way. It was, ‘Hello, how are you?’ Nothing more. I know nothing about the man, other than that he’s Julie’s husband, and he was the head of the biggest network in the world, and the most powerful man in TV.”

After steering CBS Corp. for 25 years, Moonves stepped down as chairman-CEO after six additional women surfaced claiming sexual misconduct. CBS Chief Operating Officer Joe Ianniello has been named interim CEO of the company.

Moonves issued a statement on Sunday night, citing “untrue allegations” about his behavior. In the statement, Moonves said he was “deeply saddened to be leaving the company.”

Rumors, meanwhile, continue to circulate about the pending demise of summer reality staple “Big Brother” if Chen decides to also depart. From a traditional ratings standpoint, that is highly unlikely.

Handicapping the New Broadcast Network Series – ABC and NBC – Click here

Play the Primetime Emmy Awards Pick’Em Game 2018 – Click here

PI Podcast with Douglas Pucci
The PI’s Douglas Pucci talks football with Scott Nolte on Northwest Iowa’s Y100.1 FM (KUYY). To listen, click here

“Alaska The Last Frontier” will open a new season on Discovery Channel on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 9 p.m. ET. The logline: After months of darkness, spring and its brighter days are a welcome change on the homestead. The Kilcher family celebrates the warmer weather by exploring new, remote Alaskan terrains to source different game and learn new homesteading skills. After a long winter, the Kilchers need to restock their meat supply, so Jane and Atz Lee venture to Adak Island in search of caribou while Otto and Eivin head to Red Mountain for fresh game.