The fun (and confusion) never stops as the networks continue scrambling their schedules, with a new wave of mid-season changes kicking in the instant the Olympics and February sweeps conclude.
As a helpful guide to get you through the exhausting month of March, here's a night-by-night rundown of what to expect (until the next changes are announced):
March 1: After a 90-minute American Idol, Fox airs a preview of quasi-improvised slacker sitcom Free Ride (it will regularly air on Sundays starting March 12, replacing American Dad for a while). Invasion is preempted for the annual Oscar-themed Barbara Walters Special, which for the first time is not airing on Oscar night.
March 2:
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Christopher Knight
Up until 2003, Christopher Knight had most fondly been remembered as Mike and Carol's middle child, Peter, on the hip-to-be-square Brady Bunch. Then came the premiere of VH1's The Surreal Life, and gone was the Brady boy who readily demanded "pork chops and applesauce"... the famously voice-cracking lad who came to learn how important it is to "never play ball in the house." Knight suddenly emerged as the hottest of all the Surrealers (not an easy task when you bunk with supermodel Marcus Schenkenberg!), as well as the sanest (a far easier task). He also happened to fall in love with wild-child cast mate Adrianne Curry, America's Next Top Model's Season 1
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SupernaturalSo, I'm technically what doctors call a scaredy cat, but this week's killer truck? Not that scary. Sam and Dean took on a souped-up murdering machine that was responsible for killing Dean's African-American ex-girlfriend's father. Well, not just the truck, but also the spirit of its racist owner, forcing the boys to dig deep into the town's troubled history. We're used to all the inexplicable stuff that goes down on this show, right? In fact, that's what Supernatural's all about. But the most unrealistic thing happened: We were supposed to buy that a girl actually willingly broke up with Dean. Come on! In what universe? But Cassie got smart real fast, 'cause she got him into bed but quick.
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It looks like Fox's That '70s Show is going out with a bang. Per the New York Daily News, Brady Bunch brothers Christopher Knight and Barry Williams have filmed an episode in which they portray gay lovers — and they may even share an on-screen kiss. Hey, as long as they keep cousin Oliver out of it.
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That '70s Show
The '70s are over and Malcolm is no longer in the middle, but nearing the end. That's the word from Fox, which announced on Tuesday that it's bidding adieu to two long-running comedies. That '70s Show will air its series finale (and 200th episode) on May 18, while Malcolm in the Middle (rejoining the Sunday lineup starting Jan. 29) will serve up its swan song-150th eppy on May 14. Also from Fox: Prison Break (yeah, I almost forgot about it, too) will return March 13 with a much-needed recap show, then deliver nine consecutive new episodes starting March 20; The Bernie Mac Show starts offering double-episodes on Jan. 20; Bones moves to Wednesdays-at-8 as of March 8; and the ne
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Question: My friends and I recently had an argument over which Daniel twin was on That '80s Show. I think it was Cynthia, but my buddy thinks it was Brittany, whom he saw in Joe Dirt. Who is correct? Also, was one of them in that commercial where the guy drives through the car wash with all the shaving stuff inside?Answer: Score one for your bud. That's Sweet Valley High, Swan's Crossing and Dawson's Creek alum Brittany Daniel, who was one of the stars of the Fox series, from
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Question: Your Dec. 2 Dispatch on the winter-spring TV season was very informative. However, then I read in Entertainment News that the American Idol results show will be moving to Thursdays for a while. How will that work? What will happen to The O.C.?
Answer: The problem with ever trying to do a comprehensive analysis of network schedules is that they never stay that way for long. Fox has shaken up Thursdays again since I filed that column, putting Reunion out of its misery earlier than expected and, starting next week, moving back-to-back episodes of That '70s Show to the old O.C. time period of 8 pm/ET. The O.C. now moves to 9 pm/ET with this dreary lead-in, except for a few weeks in February when Idol's semifinal-round results show airs at 8 pm/ET. Even so, with CSI and the Winter Olympics as competition, The O.C. isn't likely to gain much ratings momentum on that night. But if its core audience stays loyal, that will probably be enough ...
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Knowing when to leave, and then executing that exit strategy with dignity and creative energy intact, is possibly the toughest task in all of TV. (Everybody Loves Raymond pulled it off better than most.) In the year ahead, quite a few longtime faves are heading toward the finish line, even if some — like the fading West Wing — have yet to make it official. Here's my take on how these swan songs are playing out. While watching them, I also started wondering which ones are most likely to live on in spin-offs and which are best suited for nostalgic reunions somewhere down the road.
The West Wing Sundays, 8 pm/ET, NBCSeason: 7Showing its age? By definition, a lame duck is no spring chicken. Moving this once-majestic show to Sund
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Question: Please, tell me that the rumors I am hearing are true. Are Topher Grace (Eric Forman) and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso) coming back to That '70s Show? The show really sucks big time without them.
Answer: Last I checked, the producers were talking to the actors' peeps about a possible return for what I can only presume, and hope, would be the series finale. But no actual word yet. I do, however, agree about the overall suckage. '70s is so '90s. Let it go ...
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I only caught the last few minutes of That '70s Show and saw that Eric broke up with Donna. Given that Topher Grace left the show last season, was anyone surprised by this news? The only real question is who will she hook up with now? There aren't that many eligible bachelors in this Wisconsin town.... If I ever write a book, I can be sure that my skin will be thicker than that of Gavin from Stacked. He penned a few pages and was offended to find out that Skyler thought it was dull, among other things. I've been getting prepped for that kind of criticism for a year now with the feedback I get fr
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