March Madness is wreaking havoc on CBS shows, in general, reality genre or not. I suppose the whole thing could be construed to be one huge reality show, brackets and all. But I won’t be covering it. Nothing against basketball, but I never understand why the college games are virtually ignored by major networks all during the season and then they air ‘em like nothing else exists come March on CBS.

Basketball didn’t keep American Idol away for its “country week” this past week. Nor did it trip up Dancing With the Stars. But it did cost us a week of Survivor (no show this past Thursday). This week’s Survivor will air on Wednesday night against American Idol. It’s going to be the clips show, so it surely will get ratings-stomped by AI. Oh, just a warning — the President is in the mix on Tuesday night further discombobulating the TV schedules.

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Dear CBS Sports Bigwigs,

First of all, my congratulations to you on the deal of the century. Your exclusive rights to men’s basketball for eleven years cost you six billion dollars, which, while rich, is a mere drop in the bucket compared with the ad revenues that you’re reaping as we speak. Which is possibly why the NCAA has the choice of opting out of the contract after this year. I hope you’re wearing out that kneeler, rubbing the paint off your rosaries, and lighting those saint candles. Apply where appropriate.

Anyway, now that you’ve collected your money and thanked your gods, let me ask you a question: where’s the show? What the hell happened to the basketball? Read the rest of this entry »