Duped, I tell you, I was duped. Not that this is exactly one of the season’s most urgently pressing issues, but I get enough mail about it to know that fans would be pleased to learn Men in Trees would be returning a little earlier than scheduled on April 12. That was the news from ABC on Monday. (And as I write this, ABCs Medianet grid still shows Trees airing on April 12.) But the situation has changed, not for the better. Got into work this morning (a bit bleary from last night’s sensational Sopranos screening/party) to learn—thanks to a heads-up from our ad production side—that ABC has something else in mind for the post-Grey’s Anatomy slot for several weeks in April. Falling somewhere between the absolute dregs that is October Road and the quirky bliss that is Men in Trees falls ABC’s latest feeble stab at yuppie-romance sitcomedy (a genre badly botched in ABC’s serialized wedding comedy Big Day earlier this year). Airing back-to-back episodes...
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Question: What happened to the remaining (unaired) episodes of Book of Daniel? Are they available on DVD along with the first few episodes that were aired? Or is the entire story available in "book form"? It's unfortunate that this program came to a screeching halt. Is it true that the advertisers withdrew sponsorships on their own accord, or was it just made to look like they did? I'm interested. Thanks in advance for your response.
Answer: For a while, NBC had made the unseen episodes available for viewing on its website, I believe. I also know there will be a public screening of two of the episodes at the annual Outfest in Los Angeles in July. And I've heard that there is talk (nothing confirmed yet) of a DVD release of the full series, which would certainly be the best option. As for the advertisers: this was always a tough sell, and the controversy that surrounded the show even before its premiere scared many sponsors away. That plus NBC's ultimate lack of faith in the series
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This could be the year the Emmys finally get it right. For the first time ever, a blue-ribbon panel will play a key role in determining who gets nominated in the major categories. The goal? To even the playing field between stalwarts like The West Wing and Will & Grace and smaller shows like Battlestar Galactica and Gilmore Girls. While we at TV Guide applaud such an approach, we can't leave anything to chance. That's why for the fifth year running, we present you with who we think should be recognized when nominations are announced on July 6. So when your ballots begin to arrive in the mail next week, keep this issue handy and feel free to copy off of us. We won't tell.Best Comedy Arrested DevelopmentEntourageEverybody Hates Chris My Name Is EarlScrubs Although late, lamented Development still couldn't get arrested in the Nielsens, prime-time comedy remained a laughing matter, with Entourage gaining confidence and Scrubs defying the odds in its sixth season by hitting a new cre...
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Question: Thanks for your support of Invasion this season. I was a little sad but not surprised to see that it had been canceled. I consider it a fascinating experiment that yielded some wonderful results, like Shaun Cassidy's other series, American Gothic, although it certainly wasn't for all tastes. Best of all, it brought the talents of William Fichtner, who was able to simultaneously convey both menacing and sympathetic qualities, to my attention. I will miss Sheriff Underlay most of all. I don't consider it a "waste of time" to have taken a chance on a series that had a high chance of failure. It was worth it to see something interesting and a little different. So tell us what you think now that the decision's in. What do you think about Invasion and about investing time and love in low-chance shows?
Answer: I couldn't agree more with the praise for William Fichtner, one of the more original villains-turned-heros I've ever witnessed. I liked Invasion when it was too slow for many,
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Question: Matt, I'm a huge fan! My question is about ABC's comedies (According to Jim, Rodney, Hope & Faith, Crumbs, Sons & Daughters, George Lopez, Freddie and Less than Perfect). Which ones do you think will survive another season? I think it's time for According to Jim and Hope & Faith to go. But I love Rodney and Less than Perfect. Creatively, I feel they have a lot to offer. Do you think there is at all a chance for a TGIF comeback? What are your thoughts on this?
Answer: Of all the shows you mentioned, I would only even consider watching Sons & Daughters regularly. But I know I'm in the minority on that one, given the puny ratings it drew this spring, which makes me doubt it will return, barring a miracle. (There are some intriguing comedy concepts kicking around ABC for next season, and maybe ABC would keep Sons & Daughters alive as a companion piece. But that's probably a pipe dream.) Given that Rodney was put on hiatus before it could play out its second season, and that Less
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