NBC Fall Report Card 2008

Rank: #3 -- 2.9 rating / 7.6 million viewers / median age: 46

How does that compare to last year? Down 15%, which is dire for NBC since it seems to happen every year. 

Killer show: Practically the oldest entertainment program on its schedule -- “Saturday Night Live.” With a historic election fascinating viewers, the sketch series is blowing up its late-night ratings. The Thursday night primetime edition is doing great, too -- its premiere ranked as NBC's highest-rated show for the week.

Soft spot: Mondays used to be the network's strongest night, led by “Heroes.” Now NBC is in third place that night and trying to figure out how to keep its top-rated show from sinking.

Stealth strength: “Biggest Loser” is a reliable hole-plugging workhorse. Also, the final season of “ER” has been winning its time period thanks to weak-performing freshman competitors.

Freshmen update: "Knight Rider" picked up (through no fault of its own). "Enemy" and "Kath & Kim" faded in Week Two. "Crusoe" too soon to say.

Analysis: With “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Knight Rider” and “Crusoe,” NBC rolled out a very specific brand of escapist action-dramas this fall. Some critics have complained they’re, well, kinda cheesy -- tough-to-buy plots, sexy girls, lots of green screen and product placement cars (though no Cameros in “Crusoe,” thankfully). Cheesy isn't remotely antithetical to hit TV, but the shows are aiming for young and cool. NBC needs to go camping for a week, clear its head, figure out what’s next. The idea of drilling down on action-adventure and escapist entertainment could work, but the execution has to step up.

Lingering questions: Will the new titles survive the long cold winter, and can “Heroes” return to its former blockbuster glory? And if not, will somebody new be presenting NBC's shows to advertisers next May?

If this network were an animal, what would it be? Hmm, flashy high-concept shows with pretty girls and fancy cars? The peacock still fits.

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