Mondays Just Got A Little Trickier

As if Mondays weren’t manic enough, our new president has decided to make them even trickier…

President Obama will have a televised press conference Monday at 8 p.m.

AND, according to TVWeek.com, the President is also reportedly considering a prime-time appearance to tout his economic stimulus package Monday, February 16th.

So why is he messing with Monday nights? One word: Viewers. Monday night is one of the most watched nights of the week. He’s playing the numbers…

However, the numbers are not good for the networks. According to “TV Week,” if FOX’s pulling of “House” it will cost them $3 million in ad revenue. CBS will lose $2 million and ABC and NBC will lose around $1.5 million.

OUCH!

But that’s not all. On Tuesday, February 24th, President Obama will give his equivalent of the State of the Union speech (The address is not usually called that in the President’s first year.) for two hours in primetime.

And yes, you are correct, ladies and gentlemen, that would be “American Idol” night. But since the show will be right in the middle of the semifinals, I’ve got to believe FOX will not carry it and go on with its regular programming—unless it decides to do a shift to Wednesday-Thursday.

As for Monday’s schedule, ABC, FOX and NBC will preempt their regular programming from 8-9 p.m. to cover the press conference. CBS will cover the conference from 8-8:30 p.m. “The Big Bang Theory” will move to 9:30 p.m., preempting “Worst Week.”

Messing with my favorite TV night of the week aside, I have to question why Obama’s advisers would allow him to be on primetime TV for three straight weeks. Does anyone else think that’s a little too much? No matter how popular the guy might be right now?...