When it comes to supporting characters, a little bit really does go a long way. A quick scene here, a subtle look there... Suddenly, we can't get enough of them.Be careful what you wish for. When these quirky cast members become featured players, that's when it's time to worry.It all goes back to Happy Days (what doesn't?). Arthur Fonzarelli was a minor character when the show began. The creators realized what they had in The Fonz and he natureally became more prominent in the series which initially was, uh, cool.The next thing you knew, full story arcs revolved around The Fonz and a guy we couldn't get enough of became the guy you couldn't get rid of.That was then. Let's talk about now.30 Rock — Alec Baldwin deserved the supporting actor award for his performance, but every story line now seems to focus on Jack Donaghy. He's much more effective randomly popping in and out during an episode. The same goes for the geeky page Kenneth, and Tina Fey's cleavage.Heroes — Hiro i...
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Lest one of my readers think I am being less than productive with my day off:Effective March 4, NBC is moving the Wednesday edition of Deal or No Deal to Sundays at 9 pm/ET, pushing The Apprentice back an hour to 10 pm and giving the Peacock a night of all-unscripted content, Variety reports. The schedule shuffle finds Crossing Jordan airing Wednesdays at 9 — opposite American Idol and castaways-killer Criminal Minds — starting March 7, cementing the drama as a "longshot," insiders tell the trade, to return next season.
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Question: I was wondering if NBC was going to bring back Identity. I was a huge fan of the show. I know it was only supposed to run a week, but Deal or No Deal was also only supposed to run a week. Do you think we will see it again?
Answer: Haven't heard anything. Maybe NBC will address the matter when it holds its TCA press sessions next Wednesday, Jan. 17. Identity didn't explode out of the gate the way Deal or No Deal did during its tryout run the year before, but given NBC's stated intention of filling the early hours of prime time with inexpensive reality and game franchises, the network might need it. Personally, I find all of this a very depressing development. I'm hardly a fan of Deal, but compared to the truly insipid Identity (I could barely last through a single episode of it, it was so mindless), Deal is a masterpiece ...
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Thanksgiving is upon us, which means it's time to update my nightly viewing schedule. I record plenty of stuff, but these are the shows that I try to watch live.MONDAYS:8 pm/ET Deal or No Deal (NBC)As a student of Jeopardy! and The Price is Right, every logical fiber of my being tells me I should be repulsed by this brainless show. Yet I cannot stop watching, and actually look forward to it. Well done, Howie and crew.9 pm/ET Heroes (NBC)The only thing I'm tired of hearing is "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World." Can't wait to see how Peter gets a scar on his face.10 pm/ET CSI: Miami (CBS)I'll take Caruso's emoting over Sorkin's pontificating. TUESDAYS:8 pm/ET Friday Night Lights (NBC)Dancing with the Stars is gone and Idol is coming. In the meantime, I'll watch some fake football.9 pm/ET House (FOX)Great acting, good stories, and plenty of crotchetiness. Easily the best show of the night.10 pm/ET Nip/Tuck (FX)Yeah, it jumped the shark with the Carver, but it's still interesting to...
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Wow, a lot of people were watching television this Monday night:— Deal or No Deal, with an audience of 17.97 million total viewers, enjoyed not just a season high but also its second-biggest audience ever, behind the June 5 first-season finale.— Prison Break (9.15 mil) had its best outing since Sept. 18.— Up 800,000 heads from last week, The Class (8.5 mil) earned its best grades since Oct. 16.— Heroes set a new series high, with 15.01 million viewers, coming within a mil of comedy warhorse Two and a Half Men.— A repeat of House drew 9.25 mil. That's 3.4 mil more than the number of people who checked out the last fresh outing of Justice.— CSI: Miami's based-on-a-LaRue-story episode (18.43 mil) was its season's best.— Studio 60 (7.79 million) had its best showing since Oct. 9.Playing the role of Debbie Downer in this ratings recap is What About Brian, which celebrated its full-season pickup by drawing its smallest audience of the season — 5.59...
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Question: I have to say that I'm shocked and saddened by the news that NBC is giving up on the 8 o'clock hour. I don't think the time has to do as much with the network's ratings as its offerings do. Deal or No Deal and My Name Is Earl manage to find audiences at 8. So do Jericho, Dancing with the Stars and many others on competing networks. Personally, I wish there would be more scripted shows at 8 o'clock. I always find myself sitting in front of the TV at that time with absolutely nothing to watch. I get up at 5:30 in the morning, and watching a dense drama that demands my attention is a daunting task at 10, so when shows like the wordy Studio 60 come on, I fall asleep during the commercial breaks. I have recently been taping 10 o'clock shows and watching them at 8. I really wish Studio 60 would be moved to 8 on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Having watched the show at that time over the last few weeks, I even think it comes off as a little more lighthearted and a little less full of ...
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Finally, NBC is giving us what we've been asking for: a two-hour block of cutting-edge network comedy on Thursday. Just like in the old days, except in this new lineup, which kicks in November 30, there are no howling dogs like The Single Guy, Union Square, Veronica's Closet, etc.Here's the new lineup: My Name Is Earl, The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock. Could it get any better than that?Well, I suppose it would be better if the competition were a little less brutal for Scrubs than Grey's Anatomy on ABC and CSI on CBS. This is, however, classic and aggressive counterprogramming. There's little chance Scrubs will do better than a distant third—for one thing, Grey's many weeks is as sexy and funny a hospital farce as the wacky, giddy Scrubs. But this lineup sends a strong signal that NBC is serious about Thursdays, a night the network used to own on the strength of its signature comedies. Or should I say NBC is being seriously funny, to borrow CBS's catch-phrase for its own comedy bl...
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Question: I have a question (or suggestion rather) regarding Deal or No Deal. Why don't they have 26 male models also? How come it seems that women are always the models on game shows (Bob Barker's Beauties, Vanna White, etc.)? I adore all of the 26 beautiful models on Deal or No Deal and enjoy seeing what they wear every episode, but wouldn't it be a great surprise if one night 26 gorgeous men walked down the steps with the cases? Just a thought.
Answer: Let's make a deal, Jenny. I like your style. I imagine a stunt like that could bring a whole new demographic to the show. Dream on, my dear. But seriously, to address your actual question, it seems to me that the glamorous, ornamental girls on game shows (from Carol Merrill of Let's Make a Deal on down) exists to give husbands something to look at and women something to comment on (Look at Vanna's hair! Her gown! What was she thinking?) while these silly games play on. There does seem to be a gender hierarchy at play: Hosts are almos ...
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NBC jumped the shark in 2004.The Apprentice was the hottest show on television. We're talking absolute must see TV that was oozing buzz. NBC tried to capitalize on the show's success and put all their eggs in the Donald's reality basket.I said it then, and I'm saying it now — moving The Apprentice to anchor Thursday nights sent the network right over the fin. ABC learned its lesson with Millionaire. CBS always had CSI and Everybody Loves Raymond to go with Survivor and The Amazing Race.Thursday nights belonged to NBC. It lost Friends and Frasier (which had jumped the shark years ago) and had nothing in the pipeline. First to fourth wasn't an "if", it was a "when".I understand how tempting it is to lead off each night with a game show or reality show (i.e. inexpensive show). It's also another big mistake. Deal or No Deal is getting pummeled into the ground as I type as the contestants get more and more "wacky".So you're Jeff Zucker... what do you do? Glad you asked.1. Pluck C...
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John Billingsley, Tim Daly and Kim Raver, The Nine
Tonight at 10 pm/ET, ABC dials up The Nine, a serialized thriller that quickly stages, and then picks up during the aftermath of, a bank hostage situation that has a profound effect on the strangers involved. Among the many familiar faces filling out the cast are Tim Daly (Wings), Scott Wolf (Everwood), Kim Raver (24) and Chi McBride (Boston Public). TVGuide.com grabbed nine minutes with Hank Steinberg, who cocreated The Nine with his sister K.J., to get an exclusive preview o
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