Hey folks,
Here’s the rundown of the Frog Network.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Tarzan – 8 Episodes
Just because it worked for Superman, doesn’t mean it’s gonna work for everyone (case in point, the aborted new version of “The Flash” that didn’t get past the launching gate). I’m not sure that Jungle Boy and modern day America mix. The show did have a decent supporting cast however in Mitch Pileggi and Lucy Lawless.
Angel – 5 Seasons/110 Episodes
This show will go down in TV history as one of the best examples of how to go out while still on top. The series finale will be the subject of discussion for eons whether there is ever another piece to this story or not. Whatever reasons The WB had for canceling this show are, quite honestly, just plain stupid. The fifth season not only re-charged the show creatively, the ratings were up. This past season is also easily its best (in spite of the last minute introduction of The Circle of the Black Thorn and their subsequent dispatch in the final episode). Joss Whedon was able to create a spin off that not only stood out on its own, but did so in such an amazing manner that in the end it surpassed the quality of the show it came from. This show was always about fighting the good fight no matter the odds and it went out doing just that.
X-Men: Evolution – 4 Seasons/52 Episodes
This cartoon is actually a well thought out version of the X-Men mythos. It’s entertaining and well written. It got an unjustified axe.
The Help – 7 Episodes
I honestly don’t know why I liked this show. It made me laugh and yet it was probably the dumbest thing to hit TV in quite some time. Oh well.
Run of the House – 17 Episodes
Maybe someday Joey Lawrence will get a show he can star in that doesn’t flop. He’s actually got some talent.
All About the Andersons – 16 Episodes
See my entry for “Run of the House” and replace Joey Lawrence with Anthony Anderson.
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment – 3 Seasons/62 Episodes
This “hip” and “young” version of “Candid Camera” wasn’t much of a bold experiment. Luckily, the experiment finally failed.
Like Family – 22 Episodes/1 Unaired
What was this show about? I missed the meeting.
The Surreal Life – 2 Seasons/14 Episodes
This weird show is actually moving networks. Next time it’ll be on VH1 where it belongs (isn’t that where all the old 80’s stuff pops up and this show is made up of plenty of old 80’s stuff).
Static Shock – 4 Seasons/52 Episodes
Hey…just by looking at the number of episodes you can tell this is a cartoon made by Warner Brothers. “X-Men: Evolution”, “Superman: The Animated Series”, “Batman Beyond” and “Samurai Jack” all hit the same number and stopped. Is there something about good cartoons and rerun potential that I haven’t figured out? I’d think more episodes would be better…like live shows. Make 100 episodes get into syndication. Oh well. This one was mostly notable for the episodes with guest stars like Batman, Superman and the Justice League.
RETURNING SHOWS
Charmed – Wow. This show is coming back for a 7th Season. How did this show, which isn’t bad mind you, survive this long but the WB went and cancelled “Angel”?? Grrrrr. Arrgh.
7th Heaven – This show’s been on for 9 seasons? Where does time go??
Everwood – Returning for its third season in the fall, this show remains a well written examination of family life. Treat Williams is a rock of an actor and deserves more recognition than what he gets.
Smallville – The fourth season sees the removal of Sam Jones III from the cast (no more Pete Ross…like he was doing much beyond keeping Clark’s secret and getting beat up on occasion by people wanting the secret). The show remains an incredible re-imagining of the boy who would become Superman. Even the occasional additions of things that we know from Clark’s future in Metropolis (Perry White for example) make sense and work well. Easily one of the best shows on TV, but it took a while to find its stride (the first season was mostly freak of the week stories, but they worked) and this season easily goes down as the best so far. The season ending cliffhanger put no doubt in anyone’s head that Lionel Luthor is the most evil and despicable character currently walking the airwaves.
Grounded for Life – This cast off from FOX found a great new home on The WB and in spite of some changes (regular character Grandpa Walt became a recurring character with no real reason) it remains a funny and well done show. It enters its fifth season with two episodes still to air from its third season (the last FOX run).
What I Like About You -- Oh. So this is where Amanda Bynes comes from. All these blonde teenage harlot…er, I mean starlets are starting to look alike. She should stay on this show (now entering its third season) so I can remember the difference between her and Lindsey Lohan.
Reba – Coming back for a fourth season, this show is cute and entertaining…but I still don’t watch it regularly enough to comment on it in any way other than a snarky way. Since I respect Reba as an artist, I’ll refrain.
Steve Harvey’s Big Time – This variety/freak show will expand from 30 minutes to an hour for its second season.
Gilmore Girls – Four seasons have gone by already?? Wow. I still don’t watch. Maybe I’ll try catching up via DVD? Probably not.
One Tree Hill – I’m not sure what this show is really about. I tended to confuse it with “The OC” but I know that’s on FOX and has Peter Gallagher in it. So I don’t know what this show is. Obviously I don’t watch it.
High School Reunion – Another reality show. I think the title says it all.
NEXT SEASON’S LINE UP
When two shows are listed for one time slot it means the second show is currently scheduled to take over at mid-season or after a complete uninterrupted run of the first show
Mondays
8pm 7th Heaven
9pm Everwood
Tuesdays
8pm Gilmore Girls
9pm One Tree Hill
Wednesdays
8pm Smallville
9pm Blue Collar TV
9:30 Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show
Thursdays
8pm The Mountain
9pm Studio 7
Fridays
8pm What I Like About You
8:30 Commando Nanny
9pm Reba
9:30 Grounded For Life
Saturdays
No Programming
Sundays
5pm One Tree Hill
6pm The Mountain
7pm Steve Harvey’s Big Time
8pm Charmed
9pm Jack and Bobby
NEW SHOWS
Blue Collar TV – If you saw the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” on TV, then picture that as a “sitcom”. Each episode’s “theme” is set up by Jeff Foxworthy and then it’s acted out by the rest of the cast. I guess Blue Collar is more PC than Red Neck?? As an aside, I’ve been told by a few people that Rodney Carrington of ABC’s new show “Rodney” comes from this school of comedy.
Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show – Drew and the casts of his last two shows (“The Drew Carey Show” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway”) return to reenact sketches suggested by the audience. It all gets “animated” via use of the title’s Green Screen. Meh.
The Mountain – The creators of “The O.C” bring us the story of the Carver family and their ski resort. When the patriarch dies, his heir is the son no one expected to take over the business. Look for lots of soap suds.
Studio 7 -- If anyone didn’t think that “reality” shows were already game shows, think again. Here we get seven contestants on a quiz show that are forced to live with each other. Viewers get to play along at home. Ugh. When will this trend end?
Commando Nanny – the reigning King of “reality” shows Mark Burnett brings us a sitcom based on either his real life or two Hulk Hogan movies. Or maybe it’s a combination. Gerald McRainey stars as the dad who is reluctant to hire the British commando as a nanny for his son, but he gets overruled by his wife.
Jack and Bobby – Christine Lahti stars as Grace McAllister, single mom of two teenage boys…one of whom is destined to become the President of the United States. From the creators of “Everwood”, this show will use flash forward techniques to show us snap shots and interviews from the future President’s term in office.
MID-SEASON REPLACEMENTS
Shacking Up – Fran Drescher returns to TV in this sitcom about a 25 year old med school drop out who returns home to live with his mom (Drescher), his sister and his mom’s 25 year old boyfriend. We won’t mention the extra character…the border that’s also living in the closet…literally.
Rocky Point – yet another coming of age drama about a female college drop out who gives up Princeton for Hawaii and surfing…until her father shows up looking for her. Billy Campbell is the father.
Global Frequency – Producer Mark Burnett enters the hour long drama game with this series based on a comic book about a covert intelligence agency.
Big Man on Campus – A “reality” series in which a group of sorority sisters pick the title man from a group of fraternity brothers. The twist is that the winning guy then whittles the girls down until he finds his “queen”. Ugh. Meh.
Wannabes – Yet another “reality” series (making me pine for the good old days of “Friends” clones now). This one follows the lives of a bunch of starlets as they wait tables and show how bad they are and don’t deserve to have big Hollywood careers. Pretty much like everyone already there.
Well…that’s all for The WB. Next up is the amazing and innovative FOX lineup.
Until then…
Be seeing you.
Spleenless Joel
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