GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Unan1mous -- 8 episodes (should have been much shorter with the premise...like 8 episodes shorter)
Bernie Mac Show -- 5 Seasons/104 Episodes -- The show started off somewhat original and funny, but by the middle of the second season it had run out of steam and was coasting on Mac's personality and standup. It ended at the right time and with little fanfare. Season 1 is on DVD.
Free Ride -- 6 Episodes. Tried watching, but didn't really care much.
So You Think You Can Dance -- 2 Seasons -- While it's possible this will come back for a third season (season two starts at the end of the month), let's hope it doesn't.
Stacked -- 2 Seasons/17 Epsidoes/3 Unaired -- While it's always nice to see Christopher Lloyd get work, he was so much better than this show deserved. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.
Arrested Development -- 3 seasons/53 episodes/DVDs available of all seasons -- While the show never got the ratings it deserved, it did get the respect. It's a great show that should have done better. While I will miss it, the show did go out with the same style it came in with.
Head Cases -- 6 episodes/4 unaired -- It was obvious this show was trying to right itself (with the quick addition of Richard Kind to the cast), but it was too late. This legal drama (or was it a comedy) barely got out of the starting gate.
Killer Instinct -- 13 episodes/4 unaired -- Didn't bother with it, so I got nothing to say.
Kitchen Confidential -- 13 episodes/9 unaired -- I really enjoyed this show and wish it had been given more of a chance. Oh well.
Malcolm In The Middle -- 7 seasons/151 episodes/DVD of Season 1 -- This show has been consistently funny since it premiered. That is a rarity. There are shows that also just ended after longer runs that didn't have the consistency of quality that this show carried. Malcolm didn't get the respect it deserved in the end. There was no retrospective special, no expanded episode, no big send-off. It slid quietly into the night doing what it does best, making you laugh. Of all the shows that had to go now, this one went out a bit early in my book, but it went out on top. Now hopefully, Fox Home Video will get off their asses and release the series on DVD beyond season one.
Reunion -- 13 episodes -- The show had an interesting concept that, while a bit cliched at times, did keep me interested. It's too bad we'll never know who the killer was (although we did find out who the victim was before the show came to an abrupt close).
That 70s Show -- 8 seasons/201 episodes -- This is the perfect example of a show that should have ended at least a year before it did (like Will & Grace). The last season was goofy and didn't really live up to the rest of the series. Once Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher left, it should have been put out of our misery. The final episode felt rushed and dumb...as if even the show's creators had grown tired of things and didn't know how to end it. Oh well. Seasons 1 thru 4 are on DVD.
MONDAYS
8pm Prison Break -- Returning for a second season, we get to watch the biggest manhunt in history. My wife thinks it's a bit unbelievable if they're not caught in the season premiere as the cops were about 40 steps behind them. Great show that keeps you on the edge of your seat and tosses lots of believability out the window. You've also got to wonder how the subplot of Lincoln being framed will carry out with the actors (Patricia Wettig and John Billingsly) tied up in other shows next fall. The DVD of Season 1 will be out by summer's end.
9pm Vanished -- A Seantor's wife goes missing and the FBI not only has to track her down, but figure out who she really is (or may be). We'll see. Not sure about this one. It'll get the one episode tryout.
TUESDAYS
8pm Standoff (moves to Mondays at 8 in January 2007) Ron Livingston and Gina Torres are part of a Crisis Negotiations Unit. Sounds like The Nine but with more standalone episodes. It will get the one episode tryout.
9pm House M.D. -- Returns for a 3rd Season of crotchety medical fun. Season 1 is on DVD. I assume Season 2 will be out before the start of Season 3, but since its a Universal Home Video release who knows (remember, they're the people who have brought us odd releases of Law & Order on DVD...and don't get me started on how House M.D. Season 1 is widescreen, but not anamorphic...that's just assinine in this day and age...kinda like George Lucas deciding to release the original versions of the Star Wars Trilogy and not making them anamorphic or in surround sound...wait...he's doing just that?? More ranting on that some other time).
WEDNESDAYS
8pm Bones (moves to Fridays at 8 in January 2007) -- This like Criminal Minds is not a great show, but it is a fun one. It's the chemistry between David Boreanaz and Emily Deschannel is what keeps it in motion.
9pm Justice (moves to Wednesdays at 8 in January 2007) -- Its a Jerry Bruckheimer produced law show starring Victor Garber. At least Garber got more work after the implosion of Alias. I like Garber, but do I like him enough to watch during the busiest hour in Prime Time...for at least one episode.
THURSDAYS
8pm 'Til Death -- Brad Garrett & Joely Fisher play an old married couple with newleywed next door neighbors. Could be funny given the cast (which also includes Eddie Kaye Thomas)
8:30 Happy Hour -- A generic sounding sitcom about aimless 20-somethings. Not even worth describing. I guess we'll be Tivoing the above show to watch after My Name Is Earl.
9pm The O.C. -- Don't watch the show, so I gots nothing beyond it returns for a 4th Season. Seasons 1 & 2 are on DVD.
FRIDAYS
8pm Nanny 911 -- returns for a 3rd season. There is no G-d!
9pm Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy -- see above comments.
SATURDAYS
8pm Cops -- returns for a 17th Season.
9pm America's Most Wanted -- returns for an 18th Season.
SUNDAYS
7pm Football Overruns
8pm The Simpsons -- returns for an 18th Season. The first 8 seasons are on DVD. There's a movie coming out in July 2007. While the quality (and the amount of merchandising) has dropped a bit in recent years, it's still good for a laugh or four.
8:30 American Dad -- returns for a 2nd Season. It took a while for this show to grow on me and while it's not as funny as Family Guy it's still funnier than most live sitcoms on TV today. The first half of Season One is already available on DVD.
9pm Family Guy -- returns for a 6th season. Yay! Everything up to the first three episodes of Season 5 are on DVD (Don't ask...it would take a lot of explaining about production runs versus seasonal airings...and I got better things to write about).
9:30 The War At Home -- why this show is returning for a 2nd season is beyond me. Its little more than a Married With Children clone...and a bad one at that.
MIDSEASON
24 (Mondays at 9 in January 2007) -- The first 4 seasons are on DVD and I'm pretty sure Season 5 will show up before Season 6 starts (it's Fox Home Video...very reliable). Season 6 features Jack finally going to the bathroom since he apparently hasn't done that in five years.
American Idol (Tuesdays at 8 for Performance Show, Wednesdays at 9 for Results Show in January 2007) -- My wife'll be happy. To me its background noise (though I did kind of like Mandisa and Taylor this past season).
The Loop (Wednesdays at 9:30 in January 2007) -- This funny funny show deserved a second season. Just wish we'd see it before January. Maybe we will as one of those new sitcoms sounds like its just generic enough to have no viwers.
The Wedding Album (Fridays at 9 in January 2007) -- Bruno Campos stars as a photographer who takes wedding photos. Yawn.
King of the Hill (Sundays at 7:30 in January 2007) -- Returns for Season 11. The first 6 are on DVD. Not sure where to go with this one. Its still a good show, but it does feel a bit tired (and I had heard it would be ending after Season 10). Hopefully, this season will get a bit better.
The Winner -- Rob Cordry stars as a 32 year old man who still lives with his parents and is just starting to find himself and blossom. Julie Haggerty and Lenny Clarke are his parents.
Duets -- Established singers get paired with celebrities who aren't known for singing in this Simon Cowell produced show. It's a bit like Dancing With The Stars only more painful (for our ears).
On The Lot -- Think of this as a cross between Project Greenlight and The Apprentice only instead of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Donald Trump, we have Steven Spielberg. Sixteen contestants are divided into teams and each week have to make a film in an assigned genre. The show will air two nights a week. The first night is "Premiere Night" when the shorts (films) of aspiring filmmakers are show and the second is "Box Office Night" where we get to vote on the results. The "director" of the losing team is executed on live TV (okay...he's just fired...but we're gonna get to that point eventually the way we're going).
Well...that covers the Network Upfronts. I'll be back with a recap of what I plan on watching next season...and a look at shows that aren't on the "major" networks...
Be seeing you.
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