Friday is the new Saturday

It's probably only a matter of seasons before the broadcast networks give up on programming Friday evenings with original scripted content and go to repeats, newsmagazines and crummy reality shows (oh wait - ABC and Fox already do that). MediaWeek's ratings guy Marc Berman declared the night a disaster. Only CBS's "Ghost Whisperer" and "Numb3rs" managed an audience that couldn't be described as embarrassing, but its new series "The Ex List" will soon enough be known as "The Ex Show" based on its premiere.

(You didn't need a psychic to have foreseen this show wouldn't do all that well.)

"The Ex List" managed 6.85 million viewers, losing a quarter of its lead-in audience; "Moonlight," last year's timeslot occupant (which CBS cancelled), had 8 million viewers. NBC attempted Friday-night lonely-hearts programming a few years back with "Miss Match" and ABC tried with "Men in Trees;" apparently, more women go out on dates than they estimated.

"Life" died in its timeslot debut, with 5.44 million viewers. "Las Vegas" did better on Fridays, with 7.5 million viewers last year. That's what network executives get for trying to strategize and tinker with their schedules: Fewer viewers than ever. (Of course, if they stand pat, no good comes of that, either; just ask ABC about Wednesday nights.)