Am I the only one who found ...

• Mar 20, 2006 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Question: Am I the only one who found The Unit's "Stepford Wives" unsettling? They were browbeating the newcomer, telling her they had chosen the place for her to live. I forced myself to watch the entire episode to give it a chance, but I won't be giving it a second chance. The newcomer husband didn't even question the on-base housing after returning from his mission, even though he and his wife had agreed upon off-base housing.
Answer: I think we're meant to be unsettled by the rigid code of conduct among the wives (reflecting the do-or-die discipline their husbands must honor in their secret-ops missions). Joining this unit means giving up one's independence, and part of the drama of the show is watching this outsider adjust. You may have tuned out, but hardly anyone else did. The show's an instant hit.

On another CBS Tuesday-night-scheduling front, Stephen asks: "It seems like CBS is throwing anything it can at Tuesday to see if it will stick, mainly at 10 pm/ET. What gives? First it was Judging Amy, then Close to Home (and Threshold), now it's The Amazing Race. Is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit really that unbeatable? Do you think Amazing Race will be back at 9 pm/ET soon, with The Unit moved to 10? Why move Race to 10 in the first place, as it was doing reasonably well at 9? You'd think that a successful network like CBS could find something that works on Tuesdays."

CBS has found something that works on Tuesdays. NCIS and The Unit are solid hits, mainstream counterprogramming that can even withstand the onslaught of expanded episodes of American Idol. It's true that CBS has struggled in the 10 pm/ET time period this season after dumping Judging Amy probably at least a season too early. (CBS was hoping to find something that skewed younger against Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which truly is apparently unbeatable.) The Amazing Race is clearly airing too late at night, so I'm thinking it's only a matter of time before CBS switches up Race and The Unit to at least see how the military drama fares in the later hour. But since Unit is even gaining on NCIS' ratings, I also understand why CBS would be reluctant to separate them right now. It's a problem for Race but not a dire one just yet.