November 11, 2004
WHAT HAPPENED TO SUNDAY NIGHTS?
Iíll tell you what happenedÖ Television Got Better, is what happened, and itís a double-edged sword that Iím none too happy about.
For years now Iíve been able to depend on Sunday evening as being hands-down the worst night of television, which made it easy to turn the TV off early and get a good nightís sleep in preparation of the work week ahead. That all changed a few weeks ago when ABC unveiled its fall Sunday night line-up.
It all starts at 8:00 p.m. with ëExtreme Makeover: Home Editioní, which delivers a compelling episode week after week. Unlike the home and room makeover shows on Discovery or TLC, ABCís show is devoid of any how-to substance whatsoever, and instead pulls at our heartstrings by offering up a truely desperate household in need of physical, environmental, and lifestyle transformation. By the end of most episodes, Iím crying right alongside the homeowners who are seeing their renovated homes for the first time.
Speaking of ëdesperateí, the suburban black comedy, ëDesperate Housewivesí, is up next at 9:00 p.m. Everyoneís calling this show the new ëSex and the Cityí, which doesnít even begin to do it justice. ëDesperate Housewivesí is so clever, so witty, so savvy, and so popular that ABC has already doubled the price it charges advertisers for a 30-second spot (from $315,000 to $630,000). Think about it... whatís not to like about a show that has one of its main characters taking her twin boysí Ritalin; anotheróa divorced childrenís book illustratoróburning down her rivalís house; another sleeping with her gardener (oh, sheís married and the gardener's a senior in high school); and a Martha-Stewart-like control freak who has a bigger stick up her you-know-what than you shake a fist at. By the end of most 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. shows Iím ready to hit the hay, but ëDesperate Housewivesí leaves me hanging so hard that itís impossible to go to sleep. So, what do I do?Ö
I watch ëBoston Legalí, of course, which airs in the 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. slot. 'Boston Legal' picks up where ëThe Practiceí left off, only with humor and irreverence. Staring James Spader and William Shatner, 'Boston Legal' has already been nominated for two People's Choice Awards for Favorite New Drama and Actor, and shines an entirely new light on Shatnerís comedic/dramatic range.
Shame on ABC for slotting Must See TV on Sunday nights... itís really ruining my Monday mornings! (And donít even get me started about how Fox is messing things up even more by airing ëArrested Developmentí in one-half of the ëExtreme Makeover: Home Editioní slot. What, I have to choose? No Fair!)
Posted by Mikal at November 11, 2004 5:48 AM
| TrackBack
I used to watch "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" more often when it first came on, but those designers annoy me; they seem kinda phony. And what's up with Ty? I liked him better on "Trading Spaces". I'm sure he has the better paying gig now, but he's gotten a bit annoying, too. I'm really into "Desperate Housewives". It's a fun show and there's always a twist. My sister is even hooked. Whenever I see her she asks if I saw the show, and we discuss it like we did when we watched soap operas during our teenage years.
