Programming Insider

Did You Know?:
CBS “Early Show” hosts Harry Smith and Dave Price ran the first leg of the race in the sixth edition of “The Amazing Race” (USA-Iceland) in 2004 with the actual teams. This was for a special segment on their morning show.

Household Rating/Share
NBC: 2.9/ 5, ABC and CBS: 2.8/ 5 each, Fox: 1.9/ 5, CW: 0.6/ 1

-Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
CBS: + 8, Fox: + 6, NBC: + 4, ABC: -12, CW: -25

Ratings Breakdown:
In was neck and neck between NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” (3.5 rating/6 share) and ABC’s “Bachelor in Paradise” (3.4/ 6) in the Monday 8-10 p.m.block, with “American Ninja Warrior” up by six percent over the comparable year-ago evening. “Bachelor in Paradise,” in contrast, slid by 11 percent, and both held a huge advantage over competing “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox (1.9/ 3).

Also original last night, and both in the 10 p.m. hour, was NBC drama “Midnight, Texas” and ABC game show “To Tell the Truth,” each at a modest 1.8/ 3 in the household overnights (versus a 2.2/ 4 for an encore telecast of CBS’ competing “Scorpion”). As previously reported, “To Tell the Truth” has been pushed back to midseason in 2017-18 and will be replaced in the Sunday8 p.m. hour with veteran “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” ABC has not confirmed what will now lead off Sunday at 7 p.m., but my guess is repeats of “AFV.”

For the half-hour household overnight breakdown for Monday, September 4, click here

Fast Affiliate Ratings
-Friday 9/01/17: Click here
-Saturday 9/02/17: Click here

Live Plus Same Day Data
-Monday 8/28/17: Click here
-Tuesday 8/29/17: Click here
-Wednesday 8/30/17: Click here
-Thursday 8/31/17: Click here
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Syfy Renews “Killjoys” for Two Final Seasons
Syfy has announced the pickup of seasons four and five – the final two seasons — of the sci-fi adventure series “Killjoys.” The order is for 10 new episodes each season – 20 in total – and the news comes on the heels of the season three finale.

From Temple Street, a division of Boat Rocker Studios, and Universal Cable Productions (UCP), “Killjoys” follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters – rebel leader Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), tech-savvy John Jaqobis (Aaron Ashmore), and tactical D’avin Jaqobis (Luke MacFarlane) – on the brink of a multiplanetary war. Creator Michelle Lovretta serves as executive producer along with Karen Troubetzkoy and Temple Street’sS David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg.  Season four is set to air in 2018.

“Killjoys” is part of SYFY’s original line-up of dramas including “The Magicians,” “The Expanse,” “The Channel Zero Anthology” and “12 Monkeys.” Upcoming series include “Happy,” starring Christopher Meloni, and the Superman original story “Krypton.”

Syfy Cancels “Mark Matter” After Three Seasons
On the heels of the “Killjoys” renewal comes word that Syfy has opted against a fourth season of scripted drama “Dark Matter.” The show, which was based on Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie’s graphic novel of the same name, centered on a group of people who woke up in an abandoned spaceship with no memories of who they were or what they were doing on a spaceship. It starred Marc Bendavid, Melissa O’Neil, and Anthony Lemke. The now series finale aired on August 25.

Five Networks Join Forces for Hurricane Harvey Relief Telethon 
Houston native rapper Bun B has teamed up with SB Projects founder Scooter Braun to present “Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief” telethon to aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey. The one-hour special will be based in Los Angeles with stages in New York, Nashville and a special performance by Country Music icon and Texas native George Strait from his San Antonio benefit concert. “Hand in Hand” will air live on ABC, CBS, CMT, Fox and NBC on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on the East Coast and will replay in the p.m. PDT on the West Coast. The show will also be available internationally via live stream on Facebook and Twitter starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT during the first broadcast.

Celebrity participants will include George Clooney, Jamie Foxx, Tori Kelly, Karlie Kloss, Beyoncé, Matt Lauer, Rob Lowe, Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Kelly Rowland, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Blake Shelton, Michael Strahan, George Strait, Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon.

Proceeds from the telethon will benefit United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, Direct Relief, Feeding Texas and The Mayor’s Fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief (administered by the Greater Houston Community Fund) through the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund managed by Comic Relief Inc.

Bianna Golodryga Joins CBS News
Bianna Golodryga has joined CBS News as a correspondent based in New York, where she will report for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms effective immediately. Golodryga began reporting for CBS News this morning from her hometown of Houston where she is covering the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. In addition to her CBS News role, Golodryga will serve as a CNN contributor.

Golodryga’s career has spanned CNBC, ABC News, and, most recently, Yahoo News where she served as the News and Finance anchor at Yahoo responsible for leading coverage of major financial and news stories. From 2007-2014, Golodryga was at ABC News as the weekend co-anchor for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and as the network’s business correspondent.

Clayton Morris to Exit Fox News 
“Clayton Morris,” one of the co-hosts of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” has announced his departure from the network. Guest co-hosts will fill in on the weekends until a permanent replacement is named.

Morris joined Fox News in 2008 from Fox station WTFX in Philadelphia where he was co-host of “Good Day.” Prior to that, he worked in Orlando on the launch of the nationally syndicated morning show “The Daily Buzz.”

Lisa Rinna to Return to “Days of Our Lives”
Lisa Rinna will reprise her role as Billie Reed on veteran NBC daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” in early 2018. Rinna originated the role in 1992 and briefly returned in 2002 after three initial years. Most recently, she returned, also briefly, for a second in 2012.

Since Rinna’s most recent departure from “Days of Our Lives” in 2013, she’s been a series regular on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” She was also a cast-member on the original “Melrose Place” on Fox.

TV Network Execs Accentuate Only the Positive During Critics’ Tour:Click here

TV Tuesday Podcast
The Programming Insider’s Douglas Pucci reviews Fox’s upcoming “The Orville” and “The Gifted. To listen, click here

Animated “Star Wars Rebels” returns for its fourth — and final — season beginning Monday, Oct. 16 (at 12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET), on Disney XD and the Disney XD App. The one-hour episode marks the beginning of the most important mission yet for the Ghost crew as the series draws closer to its grand finale. The logline: In this final season, the Ghost crew joins the growing Rebel Alliance, struggling to unite against the Galactic Empire. However, when a new Imperial threat arises on Lothal, Ezra leads the crew back to his home world to defeat the oppressive forces of the Empire under the command of cunning Grand Admiral Thrawn. Old friends are reunited and new alliances are forged as the series builds to its epic conclusion.