NBC has set earlier dates for the premieres of its Tuesday comedies “Whoopi” and “Happy Family” and its Monday drama “Las Vegas.” “Whoopi” and “Happy Family” will premiere Sept. 9 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. “Las Vegas” will premiere Sept. 22 at 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., following a special two-hour “Fear Factor” that features the show’s first $1 million prize. “Vegas” will settle into its regular 9 p.m.-to-10 p.m. time slot the following week, on Sept. 29. The stunt pushes the premiere of 10 p.m. Monday drama “Third Watch” to Sept. 29.
More `Queer Eye’ Records
“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” once again established viewing records for Bravo last Tuesday night in adults 25 to 54, adults 18 to 49, overall total viewers and household rating. Bravo earned the top 18 to 49 and 25 to 54 viewer totals among all basic-cable networks for both “Queer Eye’s” 10 p.m.-to-11 p.m. (ET) slot and the prime-time hours 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. “Queer Eye” also beat CBS’s rerun of “Judging Amy” among 18 to 49 viewers, making Bravo the No. 3 network, broadcast or cable, for that hour. According to Nielsen Media Research, “Queer Eye” averaged 2.2 million viewers 25 to 54, 2.2 million 18 to 49 viewers, 2.9 million total viewers and a 2.83 household rating.
Neufeld to Exec Produce CBS’s `Early Show’
Victor Neufeld, one of the longest-tenured newsmagazine producers on the network scene, is changing dayparts and networks to become executive producer of “The Early Show” on CBS. Mr. Neufeld spent 30 years at ABC News, where he was best known as executive producer of “20/20” during its peak years.
The WB 100+ Pick Up `Bernie Mac’
The WB 100+ Station Group, the cable-delivered local station group that is affiliated with The WB Television Network and reaches some 9 million homes via 109 stations in markets that would not otherwise get The WB, has picked up “The Bernie Mac Show” in syndication from Twentieth Television for fall 2005. The comedy will join a lineup that includes “King of Queens” and “Will & Grace.”
Fox Cancels `Keen Eddie’
Fox has canceled “Keen Eddie.” “Eddie,” Fox’s first attempt at launching an original scripted drama this summer, was pulled after seven episodes when it didn’t live up to ratings expectations. It averaged a 2.2 Nielsen Media Research rating and 6 share among adults 18 to 49 and 5.1 million total viewers. Six unaired episode of “Eddie” remain. Fox officials declined to comment.