TV Tidbits: Notes of Interest

While speculation looms on the future of Oprah, spin-off Dr. Phil has been cleared by CBS Television Distribution through the 2013-14 season in approximately 70 percent of the country despite significant audience erosion this season. Season to-date, Dr. Phil is down by 15 percent in household rating (3.3 to 2.8) as 25 percent among key women 25-54 (2.0 to 1.5).

-Speaking of First-Run Renewals:
The Tribune station group has picked-up NBC Universal's trio of syndicated talkers -- Maury, The Jerry Springer Show and The Steve Wilkos Show -- through the 2011-12 season.

-Hallmark Channel Holiday Countdown:
Feel-good Hallmark Channel will offer more than 450 hours of upcoming holiday-themed programming in its Hallmark Channel Holiday Countdown. In addition to holiday-driven episodes of Cheers, The Golden Girls, MASH, Little House on the Prairie and Touched by an Angel, original movie titles will include The National Tree (Saturday, Nov. 28), Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle (Dec. 5), Christmas in Canaan (Dec. 12) and The Three Gifts (Dec. 19). Each movie is scheduled in the Saturday 8-10 p.m. block. Rounding off the season will be Hallmark Channel's coverage of The 121st Rose Parade.

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-Freshman Series Scorecard:

Here is an updated status of the primetime freshman class of 2009-10 by network, in order of airing.

ABC

-V (Tuesday 8:00 p.m. ET): 14.3 million viewers and a 5.2 rating/14 share among adults 18-49 is the best in the demo for any 8 p.m. drama (on any network) since ABC's Lost on Sept. 22, 2004.

-The Forgotten (Tuesday 10 p.m. ET): lackluster to-date; on the fence for additional episodes.

-Hank (Wednesday 8:00 p.m. ET): the cancellation clock is ticking.

-The Middle (Wednesday 8:30 p.m. ET): full season renewal despite ongoing lackluster performance.

-Modern Family (Wednesday 9:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal, bona fide young adult hit.

-Cougar Family (Wednesday 9:30 p.m. ET): full season renewal, but weakening retention out of Modern Family

-Eastwick (Wednesday 10:00 p.m. ET): the cancellation clock is ticking.

-FlashForward (Thursday 8:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal; new show-runner announced.

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CBS

-Accidentally on Purpose (Monday 8:30 p.m. ET): five additional episodes ordered, bringing total to 18.

-NCIS: Los Angeles (Tuesday 9:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal, biggest new hit of the season.

-The Good Wife (Tuesday 10:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal; good retention out of NCIS: Los Angeles, but older skewing.

-Three Rivers (Sunday 9:00 p.m.): the cancellation clocking is ticking.

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NBC

-Trauma (Monday 9:00 p.m. ET): second cancellation of the season.

-The Jay Leno Show (Monday to Friday 10:00 p.m. ET): third place finish on most nights; the biggest new failure of the season.

-Mercy (Wednesday 8:00 p.m.): full season renewal.

-Community (Thursday 8:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal despite lackluster performance.

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Fox

-Glee (Wednesday 9:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal, season one DVD coming out on Dec. 29.

-Brothers (Friday 8:00 p.m. ET): moving to Sunday at 7 p.m. effective on Nov. 8.

-The Cleveland Show (Sunday 8:30 p.m. ET): renewed for two full seasons, builds regularly from The Simpsons lead-in.

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The CW

-Melrose Place (Tuesday 9:00 p.m. ET): five additional episodes ordered; Heather Locklear returns on Nov. 17.

-The Beautiful Life (Wednesday 9:00 p.m. ET): first cancellation of the season.

-The Vampire Diaries (Thursday 8:00 p.m. ET): full season renewal; solid performer among young females.

-- Marc Berman