B E T H A N Y F A R K A S

BETHANYFARKAS

TVProgramAnalysis

Program Description“It would have been easy to turn this show into a hair-pulling, claws-out bitch fest -- heck, with that title, it's almost false advertising not to. But while there's plenty of meanness, soap opera antics and titillation (plus lingering camera shots of Marti's smokin' bod) going on, "Hellcats" stacks up well against expectations..” –Hollywood Reporter

“ ‘Hellcats’ looks to be another hit for The CW. The entire cast is gorgeous, and Aly Michalka is stunning with her pouty lips, super-flat stomach, and sun-bleached golden hair. The fact that she’s a fish out of water in the cheerleading crowd – a smart, sexy, athletic fish — is compelling. And she’s really fun to watch with her crazy dance sequences during the cheerleading scenes. The drama not only follows the romance, angst and college life of the teens, but also the teachers and parents…Also, the locale of Memphis offers a great musical, rock-and-roll-blues vibe.”-Filmgecko.net

Introduction: Trailer

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTNWps95BY

Synopsis

• Hellcats stars Aly Michalka of the pop/rock duo, Aly & AJ, and High School Musical alumna Ashley Tisdale. The series chronicles the relationships and daily struggles surrounding a competitive college cheerleading team at fictional Lancer University in Tennessee. Also stars Gail O’Grady, Robbie Jones, and Heather Hemmens.

Cast List• Marti Perkins-Aly Michalka– Pre-law student in need of a scholarship;

joins Hellcats• Savannah Monroe-Ashley Tisdale– Typically peppy and team captain; Marti’s

roommate• Lewis Flynn-Robbie Jones– Hellcats cheerleader; dating Marti

• Dan Patch-Matt Barr– Notorious player who briefly dates

Savannah• Alice Verdura-Heather Hemmens– Hellcat who has a wrist injury and gets

sidelined• Vanessa Lodge-Sharon Leal– Former Hellcat and current team coach

Contd.• Wanda Perkins-Gail O’Grady– Marti’s mother

• Jake Harrow-Ryan Kennedy– Football star; currently dating Alice

• Red Raymond-Jeff Hephner– Had an affair with Vanessa

• Morgan Pepper-Craig Anderson– Marti’s partner for Julian’s court case

challenge• Derrick Altman- D.B. Woodside– Engaged to Vanessa

* Directors: Allan Arkush, John Behring, John Dahl, Ron Underwood

From left to right: Vanessa, Dan, Alice, Marti, Savannah, Lewis, Julian

Production & Distribution• Bonanza Productions Inc. (The Vampire

Diaries, Human Target, etc.) in association with Tom Welling Productions, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios (CSI, Criminal Minds, etc.)

• Executive producers :– Kevin Murphy ("Desperate Housewives”)– Tom Welling ("Smallville")– Allan Arkush ("Heroes”)

• Distributors: CW Television Network (Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, Smallville, etc.)

Tom Welling’s Inspiration

“…Mr. Welling could not resist a book that landed on his desk several months back from his agent. It was “Cheer!,” an exploration of college cheerleading by the journalist Kate Torgovnick. Mr. Welling found himself captivated by the athleticism and competitive subculture. “There are people who stay in school just to cheer,” he said, “and I didn’t know that existed.” ‘ –NY Times

Network Information

• CW @ 9 p.m. on Wednesdays (hour-long episodes)

• Rated TV-PG • Genre: Teen, comedy, drama• Target audience: women ages 18-34• Premiere date: Sept. 8, 2010• Lead-in: America’s Next Top Model @ 8

p.m.• Also available to watch on

http://cwtv.com/shows/hellcats

Competition

• Law & Order: SVU (NBC)– NYPD’s Special Victims Unit

• Criminal Minds (CBS)– Experts try to determine future moves of

criminals• Modern Family (ABC)– The trials and relationships of 3 families

These were the main shows I felt would be competition. The CW may be counterprogramming considering that 2 of the shows are in the crime/drama genre.

Advertisers– Telecommunicati

ons• T-Mobile

– Entertainment• Step Up 3D• CW network

promos– Food• Gerber’s

– Retail• K-Mart• Express• H&M• Bongo

– Health/beauty• Neutrogena• Guess-

Seductive perfume• Body Heat (for

men)• L’Oreal Paris

– Consumer electronics• Kinect-Xbox

360– Automotive• Kia

– St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

Promotions

• CW website home page• CW Network advertisements– “We own the night” web promo

commercial featuring mash-up of various CW shows including Gossip Girl, 90210 and Hellcats

Program Attribute Chart• Episode 3-Beale St. After Dark (original air date:

Sept. 22, 2010)– Conflict: costs of heading to national/regional

cheerleading competitions, Vanessa’s affair with a married faculty member, Alice’s hurt wrist, professor doesn’t want Marti on law assignment team, Jake gives pills to Alice, Jake and Lewis get arrested after a fight

– Characters: Marti, Alice, Savannah, Vanessa, Lewis, Jake

– Relationships: Law professor-students, Jake-Alice, Marti-Morgan, Alice-Lewis, Derrick-Vanessa, Savannah-Dan, Lewis-Marti, Lewis-Dan

– Humor: awkward first date, cheer team tags along on date

– Human interest: college life, collegiate-level cheerleading team, dating/relationships

Contd.

• Episode 8- Back of a Car (original air date: Nov. 3, 2010)– Conflict: Alice not pulling her share with spirit rally

set-up, Savannah and Dan’s relationship, Marti’s possible affection for Dan, Morgan-things stolen from room

– Characters: Alice, Marti, Savannah, Dan, Morgan, magazine editor

– Relationships: Lewis-Marti, Dan-Savannah, Alice-Jake, Dan-Marti, Marti’s mom-Dan, Marti-Savannah

– Humor: sexual innuendo– Human interest: mock trial court case, dance

routines, romantic relationships

Contd.• Episode 11- Think Twice Before You Go (original

air date: Dec. 1, 2010)• Conflict: Savannah-upset over break-up w/ Dan,

Dan & Marti’s relationship, Marti’s confession about hooking up with Dan, tension between Memphis Cyclones and Hellcats, BBQ emcee tries to take advantage of Savannah, Overton court case-stolen computer

• Characters: Marti, Alice, Jake, Dan, Savannah, Wanda, band at BBQ, BBQ emcee, Hellcats team, Cyclones team

• Relationships: Dan-Marti, Marti-Savannah, Marti-mom, Marti-Lewis, Jake-Alice, Morgan-Marti, Cyclones-Hellcats, Savannah-BBQ emcee

• Humor: Marti’s mom showing up at BBQ, Cyclones retorts from Hellcats

• Human Interest: country BBQ, relationships/dating

Program Attribute Summary• Conflict- From the episodes I watched, much of

the conflict seems to be typical of teen “dramedy” shows. Many problems stem from relationships, such as whether or not Dan’s a player and worthy of dating Savannah. A major source of conflict is the love triangle between Dan, Savannah, and Marti. A money shortage to attend regional and national competitions is another problem that frequently arises. Other typical college issues (late for class, balancing school work/social life, etc.) probably help this show to appeal to its target audience. One pattern I’ve noticed is that much of the show’s dilemmas revolve around Marti. Some of it’s personal (i.e. scholarship issues, solving the court case) while other problems are relationship issues.

Contd.• Characters-Seem believable. The team’s dance

routines and stunts make it seem credible. The characters also depict typical college students at the bar, studying, in class, etc. and dress as such (jeans, t-shirts, etc.) The Hellcats team is comprised of men and women, which I feel gives this show a bit of an edge.

• Relationships- Major focus of the show. Romantic relationships are generally a sub-plot or main plot of episodes. Various aspects of Savannah and Marti’s friendship also abound, especially since they are roommates and close friends.

Contd.• Humor-Humor doesn’t seem to be a major

part of this show. Most of it focuses around awkward dating moments or Marti’s mother embarrassing her.

• Human Interest-One of the main human interests could be the show’s interpretation of college-cheerleading life. People who aren’t involved in the sport can get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a part of the team. College life is another factor that will interest viewers, especially if they’re in college and can relate.

Program Ratings Comparison

• Debuted to 1.2 in 18-49 demographic (3.02 million viewers)

• “At 9 p.m. "Modern Family" logged a 4.7 rating in the 18-49 demo, followed by "Cougar Town" with a 3.2 in same demo at 9:30. CBS's "Criminal Minds" had a 3.5 average in the 18-49 demo, slightly better than the second hour of "Hell's Kitchen," which averaged a 3.45. NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" netted a 2.2 rating in the 18-49 demo and CW's "Hellcats" had a 0.9 average in the same demo for the hour.” –TV Week

Ratings• Dec. 1, 9 p.m. time slot ratings

(http://blog.zap2it.com)

NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (9.2 million, 6.1/9)CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (9.1 million, 5.8/9)FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (5.8 million, 3.5/5)ABC: "Modern Family" rerun (7 million, 4.3/7)The CW: "Hellcats" (2 million, 1.3/2)

18-49 leader: "Hell's Kitchen" (2.6)

New Night for the ‘Cats…• Hellcats will be moving to Tuesdays @ 9 p.m.

starting Jan. 25• One Tree Hill will be Tuesdays @ 8 p.m.

If Wednesday nights were still the designated time slot for Hellcats, it would be competing with American Idol on FOX. One obstacle could be the lead-in/anchor program, One Tree Hill. Perhaps the next season will receive higher ratings when it airs on a different day. (On Tues., Dec. 8 2010, there were 2.198 million viewers; 1.3/2 HH)

Program RecommendationsDespite Hellcats’ failure to score in the

ratings department, viewers and some critics seemed to enjoy this show and it seems to have a core audience. As head of programming, I think it should be picked up for a second season. Depending on which crime dramas, which seem to draw a lot of viewers, are in the same slot, this show may have a better chance.

I was not expecting to enjoy it but was pleasantly surprised. Needless to say, I am grateful for the 7 new episodes ordered for season 1, which premieres in January. Three cheers for Hellcats!

Sources• http://today24news.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Hellcats-c

ast.jpg (photo)

• http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/12/13/cw-midseason-schedule-announced-hellcats-moves-to-tuesdays/75266

• http://www.filmgecko.net/2010/09/08/family-tv-review-hellcats/• http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/12/13/cw-midseason-sc

hedule-announced-hellcats-moves-to-tuesdays/75266• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596356/• http://www.sidereel.com/Hellcats• http://www.cwtv.com/cw-video/hellcats• http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hellcats-tv-review-29

949• http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2010/11/worrisome-tren

d-or-will-most-j.php• http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/12/tv-ratings-cbs-

wins-quiet-wednesday-law-order-shows-rise.html• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/arts/television/22hellcats.h

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