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March 23, 2001

Get Real

"Survivor" reared its ugly head and unseated NBC's Thursday Night dominance in the February sweeps, insuring even more reality programming in the future. CBS is already recruiting contestants for "Survivor 3" on its website. The location of Survivor 3 has not yet been announced.

Also, CBS managed to eek out an extra week of "Survivor: The Australian Outback" by adding a recap episode which aired last Wednesday. By adding a show, CBS has been able to stretch the series run to May 2, giving it an extra week in the May sweeps. Also, CBS now has an extra ep to sell to advertisers. And thanks to "Survivor"'s performance so far, the net can command top dollar for ad rates.

"Survivor" isn't the only reality success story of February. ABC is pleased with the performance of "The Mole." While not getting the big survivor ratings, "The Mole" drew respectable numbers, and, more importantly, brought in some of the younger viewers the network was hoping for. ABC has picked up another season of the show, and they are also recruiting contestants at their website. And, yes, Anderson Cooper will return as host.

"Tempatation Island" was also a ratings boon for FOX, leading the network to its best February Sweeps ever. FOX has picked up another season of the show, expected to air this fall.

CBS hasn't given up on "Big Brother," either. The network is reportedly in talks with producer Arnold Shapiro (Rescue 911) to rework the show, which was critically panned during its run last summer. No deal announced as yet, but the show could return as soon as this summer.

New on the menu? How about Donald Trump hosting a show in which he challenges someone to spend a million dollars in 30 minutes? Variety is reporting that Trump is currently shopping the idea around.

You Are The Weakest Link, Good-Bye

NBC, whose programming execs know a thing or two about weak links, will be premiering "The Weakest Link" this April. The game show is yet another British import, with a team of contestants answering a series of questions. The team votes off a player after each round--- think "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" meets "Survivor." The loser then gets humiliated by the host, Anne Robinson (who also hosts the original British version.) It is Robinson's voice you hear in the NBC promos, chiming her popular catch-phrase, "You are the weakest link, good-bye."

The Art of Television

Bravo is planning a new showcase called "The Art of Television," which will feature "groundbreaking, critically acclaimed series that challenge the medium and appeal to an upscale, influential audience." The showcase will feature reruns of shows like the former HBO series "The Larry Sanders Show," starting in 2002, and NBC's "The West WIng," beginning in 2003.

Quantum Trek

There are reports that Scott Bakula ("Quantum Leap") is in talks with Paramount to star in the new Star Trek series set to debut in the fall. Bakula would reportedly play the part of Captain Jackson Archer. The series is a prequel of sorts, taking place 100 years *before* the time period of the original "Star Trek" series.