Just kidding.

You know what though. Marc Berman is far from different from various other writers in the media buisness. Everything we read is heavily bias - newspapers/websites/radio/tv are bias from the getgo in which stories they even choose to report on and then how they choose to do it.

A great example is the column "Bizarre" in the Sun Newspaper which hates Britney Spears [and was nearly sued once by Spears] in which the images that many other publications had said that Spears looked great in after her pregnancy, gave a tiny picture of Spears and the writing "Britney and Kevin on rocks as these pictures of a stone faced Spears show".

At least Marc Berman gives all the facts for us to decipher in our own way. Unlike the above and countless other publications. I mean I think if i was writing his column; I'd assume that people reading MediaWeek are smart enough to distinguish the fact from opinon. Because lets face it MediaWeek isn't going to be sent to your house with your monthly Star subscription. I think the real problem is how easily the readers are lead - as is the frustration with most bias writers. I would prefer for writers who have opinons on anything to disclaim that for readers; I do it because you know what my opinon is something I'm entitled to even though it's certainly not always right. Anyone who reads anything I write should either know that fact is implicit [on forums] or have a disclaimer that says so [the deli] and sometimes i even double disclaim if an article is going to be particularly bias. Because misleading people who dont know they are being mislead is wrong.


But sure enough comments like "Led by a record 17.69 million viewers for NCIS (am I the only one noticing how this show is exploding?), " are pretty annoying because They are insulting to the readers intelligence. If Marc Berman truly assumes that the readbase is able to distinguish fact from opinion - then his writing should reflect that rather state an exceptional viewing figure for the time period and show; and then act as though no one else can see its a hit.

The only really frustrating thing about his writing for me is that aside from my lack of agreement on most of his opinons - he seems to like to present the basic facts - but manipulate the perception of archive data.
I mean last week he said "Alias" was a Loser in the ratings. But what he failed to mention is the week before it replicated the ratings and was somehow not a loser. It also was in line with expected ratings in that competitive timeslot. He does that kind of thing for shows often ive noticed [The West Wing, Charmed] where he decides that due the a weekly change of ratings that even though another show may be replicating or growing slightly; that it is suddenly not good enough or is actually so good that he gives it a winner rating.

Im not saying hes awful. Just that there seems to be a strong dislike for him on the tv forums and for what? Because he presents facts that no one else has easy access too with his own spin on it? I find his opinons more unintentionally humorous than annoying. I rape his reports of the facts and leave him blabbering on about whatever he wants too. Mission accomplished.

Heh... I was going to stop the Berman-Bashing, but one other thing... I hate how 90% of the letters he publishes from readers are those who agree with his opinion. Does he not get letters opposing his opinion?

He prints letters?

"Dear Marc,
I am a smoldering temptress named Roxanne and I saw your picture on your fantastically written and entirely engaging column. You make my heart skip a beat with your beauty. I also would like to say that I too have noticed that NCIS is a big hit...and would like for you to give ME a big hit..mmm. Get LOST in my bussom Marc and INVADE my EVERWOOD. Maybe you can show me your ANATOMY and i'll be your COMMANDER IN CHIEF. Later id like to be a bit of a NIGHT STALKER and i can maybe show you my SEX, LOVE AND SECRETS back at my HOT PROPERTY.

You'd like that, wouldn't you Bermy.

Love, your lucious fan
Roxxxxane."

Sender: Carmen Bram
Recipient: Marc Berman

^^ bet you can't crack THAT code

Marc Berman calls Everybody Loves Chris this singlehanded saviour of UPN. Sure its doing great; but its still down considerably from its premiere. And continues to lose viewers weekly. Yet he continues to shine the gloss on the show.

All but one of the shows in the 8-9pm timeslot thursday are considerably down, that show being Smallville.


"Consider the WB's new Thursday one of the smartest programming moves this season. " as Smallville rises to 6.2m viewers. Right. Even though it was basically WB chancing luck on a limb and striking it lucky. Smart? No.

Can i just ask how much sense this makes to you guys

18-49s for thursday 8pm
Survivor 6.1/18
Joey - 2.8/8
Smallville - 2.9/8
Alias - 2.2/6
EHC - 2.1/6

Marc Berman claims that 2.1/6 ties EHC with Alias' 2.2/6, even though its clearly #5.

Let me break this down, point-by-point:



Michael, EHC was THE most heavily hyped show of the new season. Of course it's going to fall from it's premiere, especially one as high as 7.8M (For UPN). And last week it got 6.3M viewers, up from 6M the week before. So it's not continuing to "lose viewer weekly." And it's UPN's biggest hit sitcom ever. Though his comment about it being the "singlehanded saviour of UPN" is pretty stupid.



Actually, last year the show got 5M viewers this same week on Wednesday, so it's really up from last year. Not at the ratings heights of saesons 1 and 2, but still up.



Simple. Alias got 2.1/6 rating in it's first half-hour, and 2.3/6 in its second, getting loose viewers from EHC and Joey.

And no, I didn't have a change of heart on Berman. I still think he needs to seperate his opinion from news, but you don't seem to have a problem with that, just that he feels everything is doing better then Alias in that timeslot except NBC, which is true. GET OVER IT.

And here was me pegging you as mature.

This weeks viewership for Everybody Hates Chris? 5.4m viewers. So if your other figures are correct then its fallen nearly 1m weekly.

Also: It seems you didn't read what I said about Smallville, so i'll let it slide and let you read it. Again.

To show you guys how unpredictable I am, I agree with most of what he said about Desperate Housewives. Sure, I think Gabrielle is the best part of the show, and that Bree has been a bit off with the troublesome mommy-in-law and her relationship with George. But everything else, he nailed on the head. Especially Alfre Woodard.

:readsitagain:

My mistake. I think what The WB was trying to do was the same thing ABC did with Alias, and that was that moving them to Thursdays would either A) make the network a player on Thursdays, or B) put the final nail in the coffin of an aging series. The WB got A, while ABC got B.

And EHC's final number seems to increase from its early number by 200,000 to 300,000 viewers weekly, so number in the end should be 5.6M or 5.7M. A discourging drop, but it's still worth noting for becoming the network's biggest sitcom hit ever in such a cutthroat timeslot.

I just think expecting Alias to perform at all in this time period when everything about season 5 is delicate and needs to be given a chance to move is not a great idea. Coming off of two years that Alias fans claim to be relatively weak compared to the first two; ABC could have helped Alias get its groove on a little better.

This has nothing to do with Berman, but I don't see the newest episode of Alias till Sunday, so... are there still only going to be eight episodes, then a hiatus?

Thats the way its looking Mr.X, although i think it might be nearer to 10 episodes
Garners off for pregnancy leave and some movie shooting in December and for some of January before she returns to filming. They may just do some episodes without her.

I hope there's a hiatus. There's a better chance it might return to its old home after Lost. Perhaps Invasion will be shipped off to Thursdays or maybe Monday in mid-season. I really doubt Night Stalker is going to survive much longer, and will ABC really want to give Alias the duty of leading into ANOTHER new show? I hope not. At least if it's going to end this season, let it die with some ratings dignity after Lost. Then maybe the ratings will do really well opposite a fading Law and Order and a so-so CSI: NY.