Taking a Shot On an Unknown Kid

Over the past five years or so it seems that if a new show doesn't gain a good following in the first year, sometimes in the first month, it is yanked off the air. This is more common for dramas than for sitcoms (it's the only reason I can give for Yes, Dear to still be on) but anyone is susceptible.

Certain networks, we won't mention any names (*cough*Fox*cough*), give their shows less of a chance than most. It is not unusual for them to cancel a show within one or two episodes. Anyone remember American Embassy? Probably not as Fox gave it a grand total of two episodes to prove itself before it yanked it from the air. Two episodes, may I add, that were far better than a lot of things that are kept. This fall Head Cases aired once before Fox yanked the plug. I didn't see it, and quite frankly the reviews I read weren't favourable, but I don't see what the point is of giving a show a timeslot, adding it to your schedule, if you're not going to give it a chance to prove itself. Perhaps the pilot wasn't strong, but are there any shows that begin perfectly?

Even when you've made it through the first season, that isn't a guarantee that you're safe. Arrested Development operated under the constant threat of a swinging axe. It has won two Emmys as Best Comedic Program and was cancelled last month. However, as much as I enjoy Arrested Development, I understand why it was removed. It hasn't received good ratings and in television, it's all about the money. The question remains, however, if Arrested Development could have done better had it been marketed properly and been able to stay in its original timeslot.

Which leads to another issue... Who is coming up with these program schedules? Never have I seen such nonsensical groupings of shows. Back in the day, NBC had the right idea. Put all of your power house shows on one night, particularly as they were all popular with the same demographic. It wouldn't really matter what happened on the other six nights of the week because on that one night, you had 5 of the top 10 rated shows. And it also packaged shows together in smart ways. Monday nights were for the teens. Blossom followed by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and then a nice melodramatic movie of the week starring Mark Paul Gosselaar or Kellie Martin. Wednesday nights were for the adults. Dateline, Law and Order and usually some other high-tension drama. Lately it feels like they just throw things together randomly and when they have an open hour they create another Law and Order spinoff.

Fox is actually getting better at this. Their Animation Domination on Sundays is not a bad idea. And they're grouping together sitcoms that actually compliment one another now. With the exception of The War at Home. I'm not sure how that's supposed to fit in with all their other animation shows on Sunday. Fox still doesn't know what to do with Friday night though. The X-Files fared well there, but that was in the days when Fox was lucky to get any viewership at all. It didn't start thriving until they moved it to Sundays. Dark Angel sank. Firefly tanked. Reunion has just been cancelled. Because the key demographic for all three shows were people between 18-25. And how many of those are home on a Friday night? Very few. Poor planning to put high-concept, youth-oriented shows on that night. Better to do like CBS and schedule mysteries starring Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke.

I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better. Maybe they'll just air pilots and see what catches on before ordering 22 episodes. Maybe high-concept dramas will be relegated to the Sci-Fi network, HBO or Showtime. Maybe they'll start releasing TV shows straight to DVD. Or maybe TV will become a thing of the past and a new entertainment wave will hit us. But until that happens, I hope that the next show I fall in love with gets a fair shake before they yank it from the air.

Art of the TV Comeback

I have problems letting go when a TV show I've truly loved has made a turn for the worse. I may admit that a show isn't as strong as it was in it's golden age, I may not see every episode, but I still feel compelled to watch. After a few seasons, characters become a part of our lives and it isn't easy to just completely cut them out.

Occasionally, if you stick with a show long enough, it makes a resurgance - the writing will be crisp, the acting will be sharp and it will feel like the show you fell in love with. It may only be for an episode or two, or it may last for seasons. You can hope for the latter; it will more likely be the former.

For the past year The West Wing has shown shades of its old brilliance. Granted, it will never be as good as when Aaron Sorkin was at the helm. Storyline issues aside, John Wells and his crew simply don't have the same command of the English language that Sorkin did. However, by bringing in Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits as the next presidential candidates and, more importantly, recognizing that President Bartlet and crew would not be able to stay indefinitely, Wells has breathed new life into what had become a stale show.

He's done it by presenting some real challenges. It's difficult to determine who would make a better president because both candidates have real strengths and weaknesses. They could have made the Republican a bible-thumping, rednecked oil baron from Texas but instead they chose a different route. While it may not be entirely realistic, they have a family-man Democratic nominee whom Republicans would vote for and a liberal-minded Republican nominee that Democrats would vote for. Both men have strong principles but aren't above taking cheap shots if it will win them the election. And let's not forget they're Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits. They both have successful television careers under their belts and have proven they can carry a show.

I'm not saying that there haven't been some hackneyed storylines. While in theory Toby leaking classified information to the media works, it didn't follow that he would let C.J. take the blame as long as he did. Toby may be many things but he is not a coward. Similarily, having Leo trying to coerce the President into staying his education plan was sloppy. Josh may have done it, but not Leo. Just because he's running for vice-president doesn't mean he would try to use his friendship with Jed for political advantage. However, these things are small in comparison with the larger picture.

So, years after I'd first written off The West Wing I've been drawn back in. I actually wait with bated breath each week to find out what happens next. While it may not be the same show it was in the beginning, it is a show worth watching again. Looks like I won't have to let go just yet.