Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings

Here are the weekly TV ratings, by number of viewers.

Wait a second...is that actually an NBC non-game show in the Nielsen top 20? That must be a typo, let me check...

Nope, it's true! That's a rare sighting, like the Aurora Borealis or a picture of Rosie O'Donnell where she isn't doing that "lip pucker" thing to make her face look thinner. It's so rare I just have to put a pic of Law and Order: SVU to the right. But the ratings were still dominated by Dancing with the Stars and CBS shows.

1. Dancing with the Stars - Mon (ABC)

Continue reading Nielsen ratings for the week ending November 18

 

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A new software-defined radio technology may enable cellular carriers to upgrade their cell towers more quickly and cheaply -- leading to faster data speeds and more ubiquitous coverage.

There are those who'd argue the Fox News Channel is already in the comically fake news business-- we can't keep a straight face watching that loofah-fantasizing sex harasser Bill O'Reilly call for yet another boycott-- but now the fair-and-balanced news network will try a real fake news comedy show-- to correct the unfair balance in the world created by the liberal Daily Show. The network is planning to air two episodes of a right-wing comedy news show on Saturday nights in late January, with the possibility of a regular weekly spot. Possibly to help viewers identify the show as entertainment and not another biased Fox News show, it will be taped before a studio audience in Los Angeles, with two "anchors": actors Kurt Long (Cuts, Games Across America) and Susan Yeagley (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Reno 911!). Except for the politics and two hosts, the show should look pretty familiar, with street interviews and correspondent reports.

AT&T wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega mentioning in an interview on Friday that they'd talked to Google about joining the OHA and are "analyzing the situation" might seem like grist for the rumor mill (and headlines), but it probably isn't news.

Of course AT&T and Google have "talked" about OHA—note the past tense, and that de la Vega hasn't met with Google himself. Also, neither AT&T nor Verizon will publicly shut out joining—via the WSJ there were similar rumors about Verizon "weighing" the option. But there's too much against it happening.

Wilson broke down why Sprint and T-Mobile joined and the two largest carriers didn't. There's also the wildly conflicting interests, which seem to have gotten still more intense this past week. Sure, AT&T could still buddy up. And so could Microsoft. [Mercury News via Broadband Reports]

This could be the best thing to do with extra manakins.

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii

The "sexless, insecure virgin nerds" over at Gaming Out Loud posted some tips on waiting in a launch line and staying warm. Given their tag line, they should know all about being alone and trying to stay warm. Poor guys. We like their ideas, with some addendums.

• Tip #1: Dress the part -- They recommend if you're camping overnight for a game console, you're clearly a nerd and you must dress for the occasion. If your threads don't feature a 1UP mushroom or the Contra code, then you should go home. We recommend dressing for your climate.
• Tip #2: Make friends with those at the front -- They recommend getting to know the guy at the front because they have all the information. We say the guy at the front is probably so delirious from waiting you can trust no words leaving those lips, especially if he follows Tip #5.
• Tip #3: Bring a handheld system -- They say bring a handheld system, we say bring a handheld system.
• Tip #4: Don't be yourself; make yourself seem intriguing! -- They say, "Let's face it; you're standing in front of an EB games at 2AM on a Saturday night waiting for the Wii. You suck at life. However, those in line don't know that yet. They think you're just like them; dedicated fans that just by freak accident happened to have the weekend free for the 245th week in a row." We got nothing to say here.
• Tip #5: Turn Away as Many People as You Can -- AMEN!
• Tip #6: It's Okay to Get Violent like it's GTA3 -- They say nerd fight. We say that we already fear what will happen when 80 percent of the lines are told they aren't getting a launch unit.
• Tip #7: Be Gracious in Victory OR Defeat -- They say, "The most important thing to always remember is that no matter what, you MUST get a console on day one or else your validity as a true gamer will be questioned. If you don't get a launch PS3, all respect is lost for you." We say, have you looked at the launch lineup for the PS3? Sometimes it's best to run away and spend your cash another day.

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