Question: I have found a silver lining in all of this strike business. Getting desperate for some quality entertainment during this "dry spell", I started TiVo'ing old episodes of one of my favorite shows, Homicide: Life on the Streets. For me, this was one of the first breakout-quality series in this genre. I have been thoroughly enjoying reliving some fabulous episodes, particularly the Luther Mahoney storyline. It is especially satisfying since I get a new episode of the syndicated series every day. This brings me to my question: Why have Andre Braugher and Kyle Secor not been able to find new roles that show off their talent the way Pembleton and Bayliss did? Watching these old episodes has reminded me how much I enjoy these two actors. I even gave Women's Murder Club a few extra viewings after Secor showed up in the pilot, but I didn't see him again after that. I guess if the strike landscape doesn't improve soon, I'll be looking to revive some other long-gone favorites and ...
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Question: In your column this week you said, "And speaking of self-fulfilling prophecies, I'll state my contention again that if you choose not to get behind shows out of a fear they'll get canceled, you may only be contributing to the problem." In recent history, I have tried out The Nine, Invasion, Day Break, Vanished, Studio 60 and now Traveler. With the exception of Vanished (which was wretched), I enjoyed all of them on many levels, with Invasion being my favorite and Day Break being my least. (Vanished doesn't count.) Before those there was Firefly, Freaks and Geeks, Sports Night, My So-Called Life.... I could go on. I'm just curious how many times I'll have to get torn away from a show without any fulfillment before I can stop trying to feel like it's my fault? I think back on a show like Homicide, which was amazing and so critically acclaimed despite the fact that it was never a ratings gem, and I wonder if today's market would have even given it a chance; I think we know the ...
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Bedford DiariesAhh, bittersweet premiere. Given that Milo Ventimiglia already made a beeline for NBC's upcoming Heroes, I couldn't help but feel that WB was just going through the motions here — but hey, I understand. They spent good money on this show and they're gonna air it, by golly. More power to them. OK, before we bite into the meat of this sandwich, I admit it: I had high expectations for this show. Can you blame me? It was created by Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana, and if those names sound familiar, it's because they also created a little show called Homicide: Life on the Street, all seven seasons of which grace my DVD shelf. And I wish I could say that Bedford was everything I thought it'd be, but my mom taught me lying was bad. There was nothing wrong with the premise — college kids learn about
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Question: I have a suggestion to save Commander in Chief: Kill the president's husband (or at least divorce them). The plotline that has erased my interest for Chief is the idea of watching Mackenzie's husband as a "supporting" chief of staff. The entire concept is boring and offensive to the original concept: a woman capable of being the president of the United States. I am sorry, but I signed up for a show that leaves the man in the house while his wife is running the country, not this annoying double team formed by a married couple. So by killing the husband, you'll add a huge dramatic twist, plus the chance to get back on track. What do you think about my suggestion? Is there another way to creatively save Commander in Chief? Hopefully ABC will give the show a chance. However, I think if ABC wants to save a show, they should go with Invasion, since that one is completely flawless. Thanks for taking the time to read my question.
Answer: Is anyone listening? Fan as I have been of Kyle
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