Local stations hope to increase viewership

Two courtroom shows, a couple of game shows and a talk show starring the beefy guy who spent 13 years breaking up fights for Jerry Springer have debuted in recent days. But the biggest shake-up in local TV belongs to KTUD-TV, Channel 25.

The station, which bills itself as "Vegas TV," has dropped its rotating prime-time lineup that featured everything from "I Love Lucy" to "Starsky & Hutch," depending on the night. In its place, the station will air "Family Guy" at 8 p.m., "King of the Hill" at 8:30 p.m. and an hour of "Married ... With Children" at 9 p.m. each weekday.

"It was spotty. It wasn't real consistent," Julie Neil, the station's vice president and general manager, said of the hit-or-miss ratings the lineup attracted. "There just wasn't enough interest in the market."

Here's a look at the other recent lineup changes at local stations. Unless otherwise noted, these shows are already airing.

KTUD-TV, CHANNEL 25

The station has kept the two most popular shows from its abandoned prime-time lineup. "America's Funniest Home Videos" can be seen at 6 p.m. weekdays, and back-to-back episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" air at 9 p.m. Sundays.

The animated "Family Guy" also can be seen at 7 p.m. weekdays, and back-to-back at 8 p.m. Saturdays.

The Canadian teen hit "Degrassi: The Next Generation" airs at 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

And, beginning this week, Saturdays will see the addition of "24" (currently airing on KVVU-TV, Channel 5) at 9 p.m. and the cable sci-fi hit "The Dead Zone" at 10 p.m.

KVVU-TV, CHANNEL 5

"TMZ," the gossip Web site that's a must-read in offices across the country, is now a TV show. The series, which promises plenty of scandal from Las Vegas, airs at 7:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. weekdays, with a weekend edition at 6 p.m. Sundays.

Also new are Comedy Central favorites "Reno 911" at 1 a.m. weekdays and back-to-back episodes of "Chappelle's Show" at 12:30 a.m. Sundays.

"The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet," a "Regis and Kelly"-style talk show, airs at 10 a.m. weekdays, followed by "Better," a lifestyle show based on Better Homes and Gardens magazine, at 11 a.m.

Back-to-back episodes of "Jury Duty," which has real small claims cases deliberated by everyone from Todd Bridges and "Karate Kid" baddie Martin Kove to locals George Wallace and Jimmie Walker, air at 2 p.m. weekdays.

And "ReGenesis," a Canadian drama about biotechnology and the threats it presents, can be seen at 6 p.m. Saturdays and 12 a.m. Mondays.

KVCW-TV, CHANNEL 33, KVMY-TV, CHANNEL 21

The sister stations are sharing a lot of new programming this fall. "The Steve Wilkos Show," starring Jerry Springer's former head of security, airs at 9 a.m. weekdays on Channel 21 and noon weekdays on Channel 33. The former ABC comedy "George Lopez" airs at 5:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. weekdays on Channel 21 and back-to-back at 4 p.m. Sundays on Channel 33. And the former UPN comedy "Half & Half" can be seen at 12:30 a.m. weekdays on Channel 21 and 3 p.m. Sundays on Channel 33.

Separately, Channel 33 has the new game shows "Temptation" and "Crosswords" at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. weekdays, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" at 11 p.m. weekdays and "Cold Case" at 12 a.m. Mondays.

Channel 21 offers "Two and a Half Men" at 11 p.m. weekdays and back-to-back at 7 p.m. Saturdays. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has gone even more mainstream with "UFC Wired" at 10 p.m. Saturdays and 4 a.m. Mondays. Back-to-back episodes of "Judge David Young" can be seen at 4 p.m. weekdays. And "Reel Talk," a movie review show featuring Jeffrey Lyons and Alison Bailes, can be seen at 2:30 a.m. Mondays.

KLAS-TV, CHANNEL 8

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" has joined the lineup at 12:30 a.m. and midnight Sundays. The car series "Steel Dreams" can be seen at 2:30 a.m. Sundays. And the self-explanatory "American Athlete" and "Travel and Style" air at 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Mondays.

KVBC-TV, CHANNEL 3

The only real change in the station's lineup is the addition of a fourth hour of the "Today" show. The displaced "Montel" moves to the 2 p.m. slot vacated by "Passions," which now airs only on DirecTV.

KTNV-TV, CHANNEL 13

The station hasn't added any new programming.