November Sweeps brings a bounty of TV highlights
The November Sweeps are upon us, one of those quarterly periods where networks traditionally boost their schedules to boost their ratings. Sweeps may mean more to their local affiliates than they do to the broadcast networks these days, but they still draw viewers and attention — so much so, that even cable gets in on the stunt-program act here and there. USA TODAY provides some highlights.
Thursday, Oct. 30
The Big Bang Theory
CBS, 8 ET/PT
CBS' fall football experiment is over, clearing the Thursday decks for the return of one of TV's best sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory to its regular slot. This very funny show kicks off a CBS lineup that is a mix of new (The McCarthys), almost new (Mom) and, most likely, unimproved (Two and a Half Men).
Sunday, Nov. 2
The Good Wife
CBS, 9:30 ET/9 PT
The Good Wife has been on a seemingly unstoppable roll ever since last season's death-of-Will stunner — so much so, that you might think that the show couldn't possibly get any better. Well, think again. Sunday, four-time Emmy winner David Hyde Pierce joins the show in a recurring role, his first live-action TV stint since Frasier left the air 10 years ago. And that sounds not just better, but best.
Monday Nov. 3
Gotham
Fox, 8 ET/PT
Gotham may not be all a Bat-fan might hope, but one thing is clear: It has found a great character and potential breakout star in Robin Lord Taylor's Penguin. Here he takes center stage in an episode entitled "Penguin's Umbrella" — which I hope we can take literally, because the Penguin's umbrellas were always one of the best parts of the old, much more fun Batman series.
Wednesday Nov. 5
CMA Awards
ABC, 8 ET/PT
What would a sweeps be without an awards show, or two or three? First up this November is the CMA Awards, hosted again by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and featuring performances by Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry and Keith Urban, among others.
Thursday, Nov. 6
White Collar/Covert Affairs
USA, 9 ET/PT
USA's two best series return for another run, and Collar's final season. They may not win any awards, but they're both likely to make more people in the cable universe happy than the return of HBO's The Newsroom Nov. 9.
Sunday, Nov. 9
The Simpsons
Fox, 8 ET/PT
Here's something Futurama fans should enjoy: A special crossover visit to TheSimpsons by the folks from Matt Groening's less successful, but in some quarters almost equally beloved, cartoon. The entire Planet Express crew drops down from the 31st Century with one simple goal in mind: Stop the Simpsons from destroying the future. Good luck with that.
Tuesday Nov. 11
Supernatural
CW, 9 ET/PT
This CW fantasy hits a milestone only very long-running series ever get to reach: its 200th episode. To celebrate, the series offers one of those meta-episodes of which it is fond, as Sam and Dean stumble upon a fan-fiction-inspired high school musical based on their lives. Word is that familiar faces will abound.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Gracepoint
Fox, 9 ET/PT
If you've been waiting for a point where this faithful if oddly lifeless adaptation of Broadchurch significantly diverges from the superior British original, here it is. Whether that proves to be an improvement remains to be seen, though the smart money's on "no."
Sunday, Nov.16
Once Upon a Time
ABC, 9 ET/PT
Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell steps into the show's Frozen storyline as the Snow Queen, which is good news, but not the news that seems to have fans excited. That would be ABC's decision to expand the episode to two hours.
Monday, Nov. 17
State of Affairs
NBC, 10 ET/PT
Katherine Heigl makes her TV return as the CIA agent who controls the President's briefing book — and with it, American foreign policy. That may sound dumb, but — well, no, never mind. It's just dumb.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
The Middle
ABC, 8 ET/PT
Gathering for Thanksgiving is a Heck family tradition, and for the last five seasons, showing them gather has been a tradition of The Middle. We've now reached "Thanksgiving VI," and given the Hecks luck, odds are it's going to go as far awry as I through V did.
Sunday, Nov. 23
The American Music Awards
ABC, 8 ET/PT
No, you're not confused. The is yet another music awards show on ABC on a November Sunday. This one is designed to tell us which acts we Americans like best. In case you couldn't tell just by looking at what songs we're downloading and which concert tickets we're buying.