...a lot of the e-mail I'm getting is still strong regarding end-of-season issues, so I thought I'd keep it rolling with this post. A couple of weeks ago I wrote columns about the "upfronts" and the new fall schedules of NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and the CW.
Then, on Monday, I passed out my season-ending grades to the broadcast networks. Nobody got an "A."
My questions for you are these: Which shows were you surprised to see returning and why? And - resisting the temptation to give everyone an "F" - what would your grades have been? Now, seeing how many people abused the rules in my last post [Tim Goodman. The Bastard Machine : TV Show Face-Off! The season is over! All hail the victor(s)! What were the top three shows on broadcast television?], I'm sure people will feel the need to stray toward cable. Save your breath. We'll get to that later.By the way, there was no TV Talk Machine podcast last week because, well, I was on assignment in the back yard. But there will be one posted tomorrow. It's probably our worst ever podcast (I blame Question Boy)...
hickcity: TVTM - well...when the bar is set so high... oh see that's nice. (re tv talk machine worst one yet.) I've never yet listened to any bit of one, check it out. also look at columns linked above!
• NBC: B+ || Pros: My TiVo is full of stuff with their logo - 'The Office', 'MNisE', 'Scrubs', '30 Rock', 'Late Night', & 'SNL' (um, old habits...). I rolled with 'Studio 60' AND 'Black Donnelly's" despite the yawns. With a new leader at the helm - coin toss. || Cons: Pet Peeve - I dislike, um no HATE the vacuous voice that promises "Stay tuned for more of...here on NBC" during the final commercial break of an episode - AND DELIVERS NOTHING but credits 90% of the time. yeah, I think they think the credits are 'more of', to them. What are they thinking? We want you to hate us?
• CBS: C- || Pros: 'March Madness', 'Late Show'. I did watch 'Shark' (you know, later on TiVo), but I'm not exactly proud of that. || Cons: This must be the network the guy who I must buy insurance from watches. Plod-along-with-us programs formulaic criminal(?)no- procedural dramas: CSI,WithoutATrace, what else? oh-Law&Order, right? with cookie cutter plot twists. I must test higher than their target audience.
• ABC: C || Pros: Clearly TV programming MUST be harder than it looks for Disney to not have established more reliable franchise shows. Despite turning away from their manistays (except 'Lost"), I DID watch the remaining on-line episodes of "Day Break', and would have watched more of 'The Nine' and "K of P". They could "make it happen" and be the Top Dog - if they wanted to. || Cons: No strong evidence that they want to.
• FOX: D || Pros: A hollow Network. However, never count them completely out. Best when their back is against the wall. || Cons: 'American Idol' - the thin excuse for their back NOT being against the wall.
• PBS: B- || Pros: 'The NewsHour', 'Frontline', 'P.O.V.', 'American Masters', 'Independent Lens', 'American Experience' || Cons: As the years pile on, the tone is still 197? something. Broadcast scheduling is sadder than an out-of-season-face-caved-in toothless pumpkin.
• CW: __ Hard to grade a network I haven't watched a full episode of ANYTHING on.Oh, and as 'Public Trusts' that foster public awareness - that F will drag ALL their scores down a notch. hmm not understanding - "that F"? ~ they all get an F on the criterion of fostering public awareness, I guess.
(boy does Hickcity write well, by my lights. sharp.)
____
I say
ABC tends toward glib fluff with voiceovers. and too many commercials! I do like Boston Legal though. maybe less this year.
NBC seems far & away the best. I think there comments to this effect in Goodman's prvs post asking about favorite network shows. where it was common for the lists to be NBC heavy: The Office, plus 30 Rock & Earl. Friday Night Lights. what else? oh: Heroes. & Studio 60. of these I only like Office & FNL but at the beginning of the season I was int in their lineup way more than any of the others. and Kidnapped, remember.
-And I'm not the first to note this, but how is it that a group of articulate folks who are into their TV are including NBC shows time and again and again on their lists, yet NBC trails in the ratings? Posted By: lieber.
CBS I like that it seems serious, sort of? but don't watch anything on it.
The CW seems young. and Fox seems like the Simpsons channel. but it does have House.
__
...of cable stations, I think FX is my favorite. NipTuck, TheRiches (which is not as good as seems it cld be, but still great acting & pretty to look at), what else? I bet "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is good. and I am not int but TheShield & RescueMe sound well done.
in prvs summers I liked TNT for The Closer & Saved.
and I like TBS reliable for the light comedy reruns of Seinfeld & Friends. and "My Boys" was pleasant & not really at all dumb.
oh but actually after FX the next most enjoyed for me, let me admit, is Lifetime. I like Lifetime movies as background while I am on the computer. good for just a bit of following the plotline, and guessing at where I have seen the actors.
HBO (for what currently that I take interest in? Big Love. before, Six Feet Under) & Showtime (for Weeds, for sure) no doubt have the best well maybe FX original programming rivals them? and if not in quality then it does for entertainment value for me. I wouldn't trade it.
oakmot: NBC is the best of the networks. (I'd put FX over them of all the channels, however).
My favorite (network) shows: The Office, Friday Night Lights...
Other than that give me FX shows over any other network show.
NBC: A-, just for Heroes. I even watched it on a 17" hotel television in Chicago. I'm glad other people like their sitcoms, but I don't. The minus for canceling Kidnapped. ah right. Kidnapped I liked you. and Heroes I lost int in as soon as it got off the ground, but it does not seem bad just not my thing (rather visual & plot rather than character driven. fair to say?)
CBS: C, for unmemorable. Do I watch ANYTHING on this channel? Oh, NUMB3RS, only because I have a Season Pass and since I don't watch any reality shows that leaves the network television viewing rather thin. Yeah, almost forgot March Madness. We had it on 24/7 -- had to mute Billy Packer though. I wish more of the games were broadcast on ESPN. They have way better sports announcers.
ABC: B-, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and Desparate Housewives. Lose a grade for the handling of Day Break. Don't lie to us networks or we will get all HBO, Showtime, and HD Net on you!
Fox: D. Only for House sometimes. Never watched Idol Never watched 24 past the first season. Did they have any other programs?
CW: Is this a network?
Lieber: I'll take the lazy way out and give C's to the whole lot of them (though I can't grade CW because I never showed up for class). The thing is, I can't tell you how many times I've watched a pilot, especially one with a premise I found promising, and wondered what HBO or Showtime would do with it. I just don't expect much from the networks anymore.
sonofabastard: Lieber, if you subscribe to NETFLIX you really should give VERONICA MARS a shot. It was originally pitched to HBO, and the writing is as good as it gets for broadcast T.V.. The first season was fantastic, and watching it will make you feel at least ten years younger. It's a veritable Fountain of Youth. ok well maybe that settles it, I shld get the season 1 dvd. well maybe rent the first disc for try out, then maybe buy (bcs seems like I'd like to watch it all at once as a marathon) esp if can get on sale - Laurel’s tvpicks.net/2007/06/01 pointed toward Amazon's Spring TV DVD Sale and I was about to look...
more (re NBC, and bit re VM) from the prvs bastard machine blogpost TV Show Face-Off!:
- Good point Lieber. see above. The NBC comedies are the hands down winner here. BASTARD MACHINE readers are mostly snark hunters. I was pleased to see VERONICA MARS get some love.
Posted By: sonofabastard he's the name here that I know & like as a VM lover
-Veronica walks outside in the last scene and it starts dumping rain, and they play "It Never Rains In California." Everyone that I recommend that show to loves it. Dumbass network.
Posted By: eroseme
-1. LOST. 2. The Office 3. Friday Night Lights
Truth be told, Veronica Mars was a must-watch for me and would likely have slid in above FNL were it not for the fact I am terrified that FNL will be cancelled. If there is anyone from NBC reading, that is a show you should use as a drama centerpiece in your rebuilding campaign. It is stunningly good. Stunning.
If anyone is reading from The CW, #*@% you. I hope your farmer chokes, your mother and daughters are ugly and your pussycats all get diseases. (for those of you who are unaware, The CW will have a Farmer Wants a Wife show, a mom-daughter beauty pageant show and another Pussycat Dolls skank search show). sheesh. Posted By: gigi24.
-I'm another FNL/The Office/Heroes fellow. Who could have imagined that NBC would show so well in a poll like this?
-Wow, looking at everyone's posts makes me wonder how in the hell NBC wound up in 4th place?! My top three: 1. The Office 2. 30 Rock 3. FNL because those are the most well-written characters on network TV
-Yep, I pretty much only watch Thursday night NBC for Network TV.
1. The Office - best writing on network TV, great cast ..
2. 30 Rock - funnier than The Office, can't afford to lose Alec Baldwin though so I hope he works out his issues
3. My Name is Earl - funny, endearing, concept that can keep on chugging along.
-Unsolicited Advice: Kevin Reilly should bring a print-out of everyone's comments here to his next advertisers meeting. Seems like the educated viewer (sought-after demographic?) is an NBC fan, no matter what the Nielsens show.
-To whoever suggested a printout of these comments should be brought with Kevin Reilly to the next NBC meeting with their advertisers, brilliant idea. SAVE THE NETWORK PRESIDENT, SAVE THE WORLD'S GOOD TV. One TBM comment at a time.
-Much love to NBC in general, it's almost like they've tried everything else and resorted to (gasp!) actual good shows
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