Rantings of a TV Junkie

In no organized fashion other than the order things pop into my head... my impressions of TV as we wrap up 2006....

1. THE O.C. is back! This show is en fuego! Killing off Marissa Cooper has given the show new life - and it's a happy life. Gone are the endlessly morose, angst-driven storylines about how unhappy Marissa was. It's all been replaced by the perky, funny, pop-cult aware, snarkiness that fans fell for in Season 1. It's not too late to rediscover the fun!

2. LOST is taking its fans on a remarkable journey. I'm not trying to figure it all out. I'm not in the camp that's insisting on answers. Place me solidly in the 'I can't wait to see what happens next" camp. This may be the best series on TV right now.

3. HOUSE endures. How in the world the writers manage to make the same story work week after week is a mystery to me, but they do. Love it!

4. HEROES, the origin! Without a doubt, my favorite new show of the year. I hope the writers are able to take their time and advance the story at their own pace. No need to rush through the prime rib to get to the dessert.

5. There's too much NFL on TV. Yep, I said it. The addition of Thursday and Saturday games is too much. It's diluting the special-ness of Sunday afternoon.

6. IDOL and 24 are a comin'! I just have to figure out how to clear my Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to make room for them....

7. STANDOFF deserves to come back. A great little show starring one of my favorite actors. I just hope FOX gives it another shot.

8. DRIVE takes off in March. A new series from Tim Minear (FIREFLY), starring Nathon Fallion (also FIREFLY) about an illegal race across the country in which the participants don't know their opponents. Hope it's as fun as Minear's other work!

Questions for '07...

Will the FCC allow more concentration of TV ownership? If so, it's over folks. Allowing fewer and fewer companies to own more and more of the TV we see is far from a good thing.

How high is up for IDOL? With the competitive landscape changed (i.e. LOST moves out of the way) will IDOL reach even higher number in '07?

Where is the next great 3 camera sitcom? It's out there. The suits will find it, it's just a matter of time. Blind pigs come to mind.

Will My Network abandon the telenovela? I think so. The truth is, 20th TV was already shopping those 65 episodes mini-series in syndication before parent company FOX TV (the stations not the network) found themselves losing their UPN affiliation. It was the only thing they had on the shelf to distribute to their stations as an ad hoc net. Look for Ultimate Fighting to follow. Maybe even some sort of poker. But no matter what, it's going to make the syndicated product of the early '80s look good.

I'm sure there's more, but that's al my poor little brain can spit out this afternoon...

Happy New Year to all!

The King Lives!

In a move that is assured to score some of the best ratings in the show's eleven (yes, ELEVEN!) seasons, FOX has announced that KING OF THE HILL will be returning to the Sunday night schedule in the coveted post-SIMPSONS time slot starting in January.

I don't know why this excites me so, other than this has always been a quality show - and I've missed far too many episodes. With its new 830/730c slot, I'll be there week in and week out as Hank, Bobby and Peggy ride off into the sunset in their final season.

You should as well!

ABC clears path for IDOL

For three years in a row now, the TV pundits in pundit-land have doubted that AMERICAN IDOL will be able to return at levels equal to the previous season. Each year they have been proven wrong. Heck, even I had doubts last year.

But that was last year. All those TV pundits who are doubting the power of this year's edition of AMERICAN IDOL might want to pause and give that concept another think.

ABC has just cleared a path for Simon, Paula and Randy by moving LOST to 10/9c.

Although LOST put up decent numbers against IDOL last year, the powers that be at Disney would rather sacrifice new comedies KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY and IN CASE OF EMERGENCY to the IDOL juggernaut.

My prediction, IDOL surpasses last year's ungodly numbers with another season of 'how high is up?'

Meanwhile, KNIGHTS and EMERGENCY will be gone before February is finished. And the pitiful numbers they score while they are on the schedule might just cost ABC the 18-49 crown....

FOX wins for the 3rd year in a row.

Richards Payoff Dicey

Reports say that Michael Riochards is close to scheduling a meeting with the African-American men that were the target of his recent on stage breakdown/tirade.

Reports also say a cash settlement is likely.

I think this may be a dangerous precedent for performers.

If Richards has to pay these two guys because he offended them... when does Andrew Dice Clay cut a check for me?