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NBC should be locked up for handling of 'Law & Order' sendoff
I thought "Parenthood" was more family friendly than "Glee." "The Middle," I believe, often trumped "Modern Family" for laughs. And I didn't always despise "American Idol" nor always adore "Cougar Town." I also don't much mind if others disagree with those opinions. The fact that the TV season produced so many new hits and so much front-page news (think "Jay Leno" and "Lost") brought millions back into the network fold - if only to sample the new goods. It might well have been a perfect game, in fact, but the network umpires missed a few calls ...
n After 20 years of servicing NBC, you'd think the network would have given "Law & Order" a proper sendoff. Not opting for a 21st year, obstensibly only to break "Gunsmoke's" reign as king of TV drama, was a good business decision. But holding off that decision until it was too late for "L&O" to produce a fitting series finale was a slap not only to the series, but to viewers still tuning in to the network when most had abandoned it.
• We picked "Cougar Town" as the top hit of the fall season, and though it survived the year, it did so without this pair of eyes looking on. Insanely repetitious from week to week, it never lived up to its promise. Equally surprising, for the opposite reason, was "Parenthood," which, after a far-fetched premise in the premiere episode, turned out to be a realistic look at the parenting process from varied viewpoints. I sensed some soapsuds entering the mix at season's end, but if they dissipate, "Parenthood" could be a keeper. Note to NBC: Consider this for Sundays at 8 p.m., please ...
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• Make no mistake. "Flash Forward" received a deserved pink slip. This season's most applauded new series began to implode after the fourth episode. I'm still not sure if it was bad writing or wretched acting that did it in, but it became impossible to invest in any of the characters, particularly the dour leads.
• Not so with "Lost," which cemented its position as the best television drama ever with its riviting finale, which all but ignored its myriad mythology and mystery to devote its 150-minute farewell to character closure. Confusing? Of course, but it's a testament to the power of the show that three weeks later, the finale still a topic of discussion and still producing "oh, wow!" moments as individuals "see the light" much in the way the characters did at show's end.
• Could have done without the multitude of commercials, though.
• The season finale of "Desperate Housewives," on the other hand, seemed to be an attempt to give all of the lead actresses equal time, even if there wasn't a storyline to merit it. ABC reportedly wants to end the show a season earlier than originally announced. I'd stick with that thought.
• "American Idol" didn't hit any more sour notes than in past years; its declining ratings are more probably attributed to an audience finally realizing that it is being duped by judges and producers alike. It became obvious from the first of the live performances that viewers were being manipulated to vote for eventual winner Lee DeWyze, an average singer who makes up for his vocal deficiences with an earnest smile and shy demeanor. A camera-friendly guy, DeWyze also might have been the most intelligent contestant - he led judges to believe they were truly crafting a superstar. Feed their egos and they'll heap on the praise, even when it's undeserved.
• I wouldn't put much stock in the rumors that Harry Connick, Jr., Jamie Foxx or Bret Michaels will be replacing Simon Cowell. Connick, the only guest judge in ages to offer honest critiques, is a legitimate contender, but most other names being tossed into the ring are simply to stir controversy and subsequently renew interest in the aging show.
• Justified criticism aside, "American Idol" is still television's top-drawing dog and No. 1 among those ages 18-49. It's not going away anytime soon.
• Here's how the 2009-2010 season changed what America watches. Two years ago, all of the top scripted shows were dramas. This year, "Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men" entered the fray, with another sitcom, "Modern Family" showing all the signs of developing into a blockbuster. "Glee" clearly brought the under-30 crowd back to the networks as well. In fact, the season's final week produced these top five shows in the 18-49 age group: "American Idol" (Wednesday and Tuesday), "Big Bang Theory," "Two and a Half Men" and "Glee." The highest-rated drama? "NCIS," at No. 10.
• Other than CBS's many cancellations, the biggest surprise of the 2010-2011 season announcements was the same network's movement of "Big Bang Theory" to anchor Thursday night. That's a direct shot at NBC's decades-old tradition of Thursday night comedies, and it should be a direct hit as well. Know anyone who talks about "Community," "Parks & Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock" in the same breath as "Cosby," "Cheers," "Friends" or "Seinfeld?" While "Big Bang Theory" isn't quite on par with those mega-hits, it's approaching those shows in quality if not ratings. CBS may not need another stroke of scheduling genius, but I think it just made one.
Terry Hazlett covers TV and radio for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at snowballrizzo@aol.com
NBC Thursday : 6/7/2010
Know anyone who talks about "Community," "Parks & Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock" in the same breath as "Cosby," "Cheers," "Friends" or "Seinfeld?" Yes. Lots of us do. In terms of quality, the 4 shows in the current line-up stand up to any network sitcoms since Seinfeld. Ratings-wise they might not be smash hits, but the quality of the writing and performances is stellar. They're also uniformly clever shows that understand and trust their audience. The best scripted programmes on network TV. I promise you. Give them all a chance.
L&O cancellation : 6/7/2010
It must have been buried very deep because at least 4 of those shows are my favorite and I didn't have a clue that they were going off the air.
Kinda in the dark? : 6/8/2010
Hmmmm, I guess I'm kinda in the dark. I never dreamed anybody would care this much about stupid TV shows. Does it matter that much that what show comes and goes? I'm thinking not. TV - the idiot box to provide passive entertainment with no redeeming value. Forget about these crazy shows, turn off the TV, pick up some books and newspapers and challenge yourself. Is all the fascinating with this stuff the reason our citizens are so poorly informed about the happenings of the world, the politics of local, state and federal government? Perhaps spending so much time with these shows is the reason that so few can even name their local representative, those who manage major legislative bodies, and those who sit as judges on the Supreme Court.
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