When The Shark Bites
By NADIA MUSTAFA
Ratings for the broadcast networks have taken another tumble this fall — down an overall 3% from last season. And it's not just new shows that are having trouble; a surprising number of old favorites have slipped badly.
Frasier has dropped 21%; Will & Grace is down 16%; and even CBS's hot CSI fell 11%. Nor can it all be blamed on the unusually high ratings for the baseball play-offs. In times like these, TV fans are reminded of the famous Happy Days episode in which Fonzie jumped over a shark while water skiing in the Pacific Ocean. At that instant, even the biggest Happy Days fan knew the show would never be the same.
Now "jumping the shark" is the term used for that moment when a series hops the track and starts its inevitable downhill slide. A look at some of this year's waning hits, and why they're wobbling. (The more sharks, the bigger the creative slide.)
FRIENDS
Ratings: [down] 23%
The Joey-and-Rachel storyline didn't ignite, and after everything from Phoebe's triplets to a Barbados getaway, the show seems out of ideas. A nice time to exit.
[2 SHARKS]
NYPD BLUE
Ratings: [down] 23%
It jumped the shark in Season 6 (it's now on 10), when Sipowicz's wife was killed by a stray bullet. Now Andy's on his fourth partner — and getting remarried. The edge is gone.
[3 SHARKS]
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
Ratings: [down] 9%
Ray's spine has continued to shrink, Debra has got nastier, and Robert has found a wife. Despite a sameness to the episodes, the CBS hit comedy is holding up.
[1 SHARK]
ER
Ratings: [down] 16%
Ever heard of trauma fatigue? Everyone on the floor has been hit by a life-threatening condition or assaulted by a whacked patient. Oh, the plague again? Yawn ...
[4 SHARKS]
From the Oct. 27, 2003 issue of TIME magazine
AGING INDY
Harrison Ford undergoing successful surgery to repair torn tendons in his shoulder. He's expected to be fully healed in time to shoot the fourth Indiana Jones film next year.
Schindler's List?!?
I've heard an actual street for Universal's upcoming Schindler's List DVD!
Word from retailers who I feel are in the know is that Universal expects to release the DVD on March 9th of next year.
Oh yeah, baby!
Universal is also expected to release The Rundown in March as well.
Check back here for more later.
Madonna in a 'Remix' Mood
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Madonna will on Nov. 25 release "Remixed & Revisited."
The seven-song Maverick/Warner Bros. EP includes remixes of tracks from this year's "American Life" album as well as the previously unreleased song "Your Honesty."
"Your Honesty" was recorded during the 1994 "Bedtime Stories" recording sessions, and was co-written and co-produced with Dallas Austin. The EP also features the Jason Nevins radio mix of Madonna's forthcoming single, "Nothing Fails." The track is due to impact mainstream top 40 radio outlets on Oct. 28.
"Remixed & Revisited" also includes the "Like a Virgin / Hollywood" medley performed at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott.
Also due Nov. 25 is a CD Maxi single featuring remixes of three "American Life" songs: "Love Profusion," "Nobody Knows Me" and "Nothing Fails." Remixes of "Nobody Knows Me" (reworked by Peter Rauhofer, Mount Sims and Above & Beyond) have already been serviced to dance clubs.
Here is the tracklist for "Remixed & Revisited"
"Nothing Fails" (Jason Nevins Mix)
"Love Profusion" (Headcleanr Rock Mix)
"Nobody Knows Me" (Mount Sims Old School Mix)
"American Life" (Headcleanr Rock Mix)
"Like a Virgin / Hollywood" Medley (featuring Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears & Missy Elliott)
"Into The Hollywood Groove" featuring Missy Elliott (The Passengerz Mix)
"Your Honesty" (previously unreleased)