— The UK Sun has an article up with quotes from UK fans who were upset that WWE did not acknowledge the death of Eddie “Umaga” Fatu on WWE TV. Check out the article at http://www.thesun.co.uk/
— The USA Network sent out the following press release today, hyping their biggest ratings year ever…USA Delivers Best Year in Cable Ever- Again BURN NOTICE #1 Series in P18-49 & P25-54; ROYAL PAINS and WHITE COLLAR Top New Original Series Widest Margin Of Victory Ever Over Second Ranked Cable Network NEW YORK, NEW YORK – December 10, 2009 – USA continued its dominance over the cable landscape in 2009, delivering more primetime P25-54, total viewers, and households than any cable network (basic or pay) in history, while delivering more P18-49, P18-34 and the largest household coverage rating ever in basic cable. For a fourth straight year, USA was the #1 network in cable prime, delivering more P25-54 (1.50 million, +36% over #2 TNT) and P18-49 (1.38 million, +29% over #2 ESPN) than any other network. USA was also the top network for 2009 in cable prime among total viewers (3.29 million, +29% over #2 Disney Channel,) households (2.44 million, +31% over #2 Disney Channel) and P18-34 (613,000, +3% over #2 TBS); the network also delivered the highest household coverage rating (2.47, +0.56 over #2 Disney Channel). Among basic cable networks, USA enjoyed the widest margins of victory ever over the second ranked network among P25-54, P18-49, and households and the best since 1994 in total viewers. USA also won the total day crown in 2009, delivering more P25-54 (706,000, +9% over #2 TNT) and P18-49 (656,000, +9% over #2 TNT) than any other cable network. No cable network has ever averaged as many P25-54 over the course of a year’s total day as USA has in 2009. This was USA’s first total day victory in P25-54 since 1995 and its first P18-49 victory since 1999. USA performed like a broadcast network this year, beating the CW by double digits in P25-54 (+61%), P18-49 (+33%), total viewers (+85%), and household delivery (+79%) in prime (Mon-Sun 8P-11P). This marks USA’s second year beating a broadcaster among P25-54 and P18-49, a feat no other cable network has accomplished. USA is the home to seven successful original scripted series: BURN NOTICE, ROYAL PAINS, WHITE COLLAR, PSYCH, IN PLAIN SIGHT, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and the record-setting final season of MONK. Most of the Top 50 P25-54 and P18-49 entertainment telecasts of 2009 were the above USA originals (28 of the top 50 P25-54 and 26 of the top P18-49), as well as the most watched weekly series on cable, WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW. No other network placed more than 8 telecasts in the year’s top 50 for either demo. * USA’s BURN NOTICE and ROYAL PAINS were the top two original series in basic cable prime this year and the only ones to draw over 3.5 million in P25-54 or 3 million in P18-49. These two series claimed nine of the top ten P25-54 scripted telecasts in basic cable prime for 2009, shutting out prior powerhouse TNT’s “The Closer.” * BURN NOTICE’s 2009 performance made it the most watched scripted series ever in basic cable among P18-49 (3.27 million). BURN NOTICE also claimed the year’s top spot among P25-54 (3.61 million). * Proving again that USA is the home to new hits, the network’s ROYAL PAINS was the #1 new original series of the year, ranking second to BURN NOTICE, for P25-54 (3.56 million), P18-49 (3.15 million). ROYAL PAINS also came in second among total viewers (7.47 million), and households (5.29 million). * ROYAL PAINS was the top-ranked new series in cable history, delivering more P25-54, P18-49, P18-34, and total viewers than the freshman year of any other scripted series in history. * WHITE COLLAR debuted in style, coming in second only to sister series ROYAL PAINS among the year’s newest cable originals in delivering P25-54, P18-49, total viewers, and households. * After eight successful seasons on the air, the series finale of the USA Original MONK set records as the most-watched basic cable original drama series telecast of all time. Hitting series highs for its final episode, a rare feat in the TV landscape shared by only an elite group of iconic series, the finale brought in 9.4 million total viewers, beating the prior series high by +37% * WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW drew more P25-54 (2.63 million), total viewers (5.48 million), and households (3.70 million) than in any year since 2002. WWE RAW dominates cable in its Monday 9P-11P timeslot, drawing more P18-49, P25-54, P18-34, total viewers, and households than any other entertainment network. WWE RAW grew in every category in 2009, capturing +9% more P25-54, +4% more P18-49, +9% total viewers, and +12% households than in 2008. * The three most watched acquired series in cable prime in 2009 were USA’s NCIS, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, and HOUSE. These three titles drew more P25-54 (NCIS 1.43 million / SVU 1.20 million / House 1.18 million), total viewers (NCIS 3.50 million / SVU 2.73 million / House 2.48 million), and households (NCIS 2.69 million / SVU 2.19 million / House 1.90 million) than any other acquired property on cable. These were the only acquired series to draw over 2.5 million total viewers, or 2 million households.
— Here are tonight’s confirmed WWE SmackDown! matches:
* CM Punk and Luke Gallows vs. Matt Hardy and R-Truth
* Chris Jericho vs. Eric Escobar
* Kane vs. Mike Knox
* Mickie James and Maria vs. Michelle McCool and Layla El
* STREET FIGHT: Batista vs. Rey Mysterio
6 CONFIRMED RAW Stars Who Still Currently Smoke Marijuana – NAMES REVEALED!!