New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Making Fall '05 better by David Bianculli

Wednesday, May 4th, 2005

In the next two weeks, the broadcast networks have to make their final decisions on which new shows to add to their schedule - and which old ones to renew or reject.
Of the familiar shows, some are popular series guaranteed to return or already picked up (ABC's "Desperate Housewives"), some are instant losers guaranteed to remain in oblivion (NBC's "LAX") - and some are on the fence, not knowing at this point whether they'll be given a new lease on life.

Now seems the perfect time to champion some borderline shows, and to condemn others.

I've compiled a very subjective, passionate list of five shows I'd like to see again next season - and five shows I wouldn't.

In both cases, certain network renewals have beaten me to the punch. I'd plead aggressively in favor of renewing "Scrubs," a comedy that makes me laugh out loud every time I see it, but there's no need; producer Bill Lawrence's contract with NBC already covers next season.

Similarly, I'd spend time arguing against another year for "Will & Grace," but NBC just renewed it yesterday.

In alphabetical order, here are my picks for shows deserving of reprieves - and execution.

Save these shows

"Arrested Development," Fox. Its Emmy alone should buy it another year; its performances should buy it three.

"Bernie Mac," Fox. It's a singular comedy voice, a howlingly funny show and criminally overlooked and underused by Fox this season.

"Eyes," ABC. Timothy Daly has found the best role of his career, and every episode to date, while being breezily entertaining, has delivered at least one dramatic jolt.

"Jack & Bobby," WB. On a network lacking in maturity and uniqueness, this drama boasts both - as well as a fabulous portrayal by Christine Lahti.

"Joan of Arcadia," CBS. I'm not sure where this good vs. evil cliff-hanger thing is headed - but this touching and often inspirational show has earned the right to get there.


Dump these shows

"Blind Justice," ABC. David Letterman's spoof of the series said it all. Ron Eldard's acting isn't the problem; the problem is the concept.

"8 Simple Rules," ABC. There's no longer any reason for this show to exist. The characters have moved on after John Ritter's death; so should ABC.

"Life on a Stick," Fox. So amazingly unfunny, it should be called a sitdram.

"The Office," NBC. I'd tell NBC it can do better than this, but I'm not so sure it can. Even so, it's time to downsize.

"The Will," CBS. I know it's never, ever coming back - but with this funereally distasteful show, it seems only appropriate to dance on its grave.

I agree with all of that except 8 Simple Rules should stay. Rodney and LTP are likely gone though and I don't think ABC will cancel more than 2 sitcoms...

Yeah it bugs me that people say the show can't exist without John Ritter, I mean he will always be amazing, but even I believe he would have wanted the show to go on without him

My 5 that should be saved....
Arrested Development
The Bernie Mac Show
Less The Perfect
Eyes
and 8 Simple Rules

My 5 that should be cancelled....
American Idol
Life On A Stick
The Simple Life
Blind Justice
and Listen Up

No amount of cancelling or renewing shows is going to make fall 2005 any better. Better writing will, though.

Although, keeping Arrested Development on the air certainly will not hurt.

Some shows that should be cancel but are comming back
Malcolm In The Middle:Why must we go through one more year of this farce?!?
That's 70 Show:Should be in the 80's by now!!!
:mad: When will they ever learn?!?

JOAN
OF
ARCADIA

Yay!! Listen to this ABC...Save EYES!!! Give it time to find an audience.

I however don't agree that 8SR should be canned. It's better than a lot of shows that are on.

Save 8 Simple Rules And Bernie Mac

SAVE BERNIE MAC INDEED!!!

Save Bernie Mac and Eyes.

Cancel the rest of the shows on the chopping block.

Save AD, Eyes, and LTP. Oh, and Bernie Mac. And Jack and Bobby. Hell, all of 'em but Blind Justice.

Am I the only one who enjoys Blind Justice?

Am I the only one who enjoys Blind Justice?
No I like it too.

I think David Bianculli is the best TV critic I have ever read, and I love his work.
As much as I hate to admit it, I do agree with him on "The Office." I really do like the show, but NBC could do better, so I think the show will quietly go away.

Am I the only one who enjoys Blind Justice?


Hmmm, I dunno, maybe.

Some shows that should be cancel but are comming back
That's 70 Show:Should be in the 80's by now!!!
:mad: When will they ever learn?!?

why didn't they suck it up and let the show progress into the 80's like Happy Days eventually moved into the 60's and Wonder Years into the 70's? Kelso and gang should be in the era of Flashdance and The Moonwalk (imagine Fez getting a geri-curl!) had they let the show progress each season, instead of finding a way to keep the show in 1979 even tho it's been on 7 years.

ABC has given 8 Simple Rules 2 seasons to find it's identity without John Ritter, and ratings have only gotten lower and lower. I think some people cling to the memory of Ritter so hard that they're afraid that letting the show end would be spitting on his grave. It's not the case. ABC's invested so much into the show, they brought in James Garner and David Spade and still people weren't coming back for the show after Ritter passed.

The show could've had a great run if John had lived, but the truth is, he didn't, and the rest of the show wasn't strong enough to hold it's own without him. 8 Simple Rules without John was like watching The Royal Family when they carried on after Redd Foxx's death.

ABC has given 8 Simple Rules 2 seasons to find it's identity without John Ritter, and ratings have only gotten lower and lower. I think some people cling to the memory of Ritter so hard that they're afraid that letting the show end would be spitting on his grave. It's not the case. ABC's invested so much into the show, they brought in James Garner and David Spade and still people weren't coming back for the show after Ritter passed.

The show could've had a great run if John had lived, but the truth is, he didn't, and the rest of the show wasn't strong enough to hold it's own without him. 8 Simple Rules without John was like watching The Royal Family when they carried on after Redd Foxx's death.

As much as I hate to say it I agree with you... I just got back into watching the show every week back in January too.

IMO It was a big mistake for ABC to move 8SR and LTP to Friday's :( That definitely didn't help the ratings any.

why didn't they suck it up and let the show progress into the 80's like Happy Days eventually moved into the 60's and Wonder Years into the 70's? Kelso and gang should be in the era of Flashdance and The Moonwalk (imagine Fez getting a geri-curl!) had they let the show progress each season, instead of finding a way to keep the show in 1979 even tho it's been on 7 years.

Wouldn't it be That 80's Show if they moved it into the 80's? ;)

Wouldn't it be That 80's Show if they moved it into the 80's? ;)

lol, true. The producers jumped the gun too fast when they created a "That 80's Show", instead of just progressing the year every season. I remember watching the first season where the show moved from 76 to 77.... it would've been fun had they kept aging the characters and moving them up more and more into the 80's.

8 Simple Rules should definitely be renewed. It has just as good as ratings as George Lopez, Hope and Faith and My Wife and Kids. And besides it needs that fourth year for syndication. Even if you think it is not as good without John Ritter you at least have to admit you would like to see the 31 John Ritter episodes in syndication. So at the least, just to keep John's last work alive it needs the fourth year.

ABC has given 8 Simple Rules 2 seasons to find it's identity without John Ritter, and ratings have only gotten lower and lower. I think some people cling to the memory of Ritter so hard that they're afraid that letting the show end would be spitting on his grave. It's not the case. ABC's invested so much into the show, they brought in James Garner and David Spade and still people weren't coming back for the show after Ritter passed.

The show could've had a great run if John had lived, but the truth is, he didn't, and the rest of the show wasn't strong enough to hold it's own without him. 8 Simple Rules without John was like watching The Royal Family when they carried on after Redd Foxx's death.


I don't know how in the world you can say that. 8 Simple Rules has lasted 2 full seasons (45 episodes)without John Ritter. The Royal family lasted about 2 months if I remember correctly.

The problem with 8SR is that people gave up on it after John Ritter's death, and just stopped watching it, because they assumed it was no good anymore. However, those of us who stayed with the show realize that, although it is very different without John Ritter , it is still a good show. I just wish more people would have given it a chance.

Hmmm, I dunno, maybe.

Nighthawk enjoys it too, so there are at least two of us who like the show.

Am I the only one who enjoys Blind Justice?

i like it too - i don't know what unrealistic expectations people have for the show, but it is just a good cop show with a different viewpoint.

that, and i've been a fan of Ron Eldard ever since Bakersfield P.D. :)

The Will was the lowest rated show for a Primetime show since 1993 it was cancelled after its first episode.

The Will was the lowest rated show for a Primetime show since 1993 it was cancelled after its first episode.

The premise was STUPID!!!! I would have expected it from a network like FOX but CBS??? People fighting over a dead person's possessions. Sick AND twisted!

8SR is about the only decent comedy on, Tuesdays with ABC are dull. My Wife and Kids is outta here, According to Jim seems to have identical storylines everyweek - Jim trying to hide something stupid he's done from his wife. The ratings show that.

Sitcoms for other networks aren't much better; Will and Grace, Malcolm in the Middle, That 70's Show - used to be funny, they are not any more. Malcolm in the Middle and That 70's Show should be cancelled, they have both gone on too long. Will and Grace isn't too bad, but they could do better - and have done.

8 Simple Rules offers a genuine family comedy, something I would be ok letting my grandmother watch. Its not racy, it doesn't try to be funny, It isn't picking one demographic and making fun of them - its just funny.

Eyes is gone. ABC has pulled the one Sweeps showing next Wednesday for a Supernanny special!!! May 18th is 2 Alias episodes and May 25th is the Alias finale.

JOAN
OF
ARCADIA

yeah..what he said. Best show currently on television and I'm really interested to see where the 3rd season will take them. Beyond that, I don't really care what stays and goes, though I agree Malcolm in the Middle and That '70s Show should have ended this year.

Eyes is gone. ABC has pulled the one Sweeps showing next Wednesday for a Supernanny special!!! May 18th is 2 Alias episodes and May 25th is the Alias finale.

:cuss: :livid: Up yours, ABC.

i dont watch too many of the shows on the list but i agree that the office should go if nbc finds something better to put in the timeslot the show gave me headaches both times i watched it

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Fans air a series of opinions

Monday, May 9th, 2005

My recent column listing five shows I urged the networks to save, and five more to cast aside, elicited lots of mail from Daily News readers.
Some agreed, some vehemently disagreed, and some wondered why their own favorites weren't mentioned.

"Joan of Arcadia," the sophomore CBS drama starring Amber Tamblyn, got the most letters of support and it was one of my five to save, along with "Arrested Development" and "Bernie Mac" on Fox, "Eyes" on ABC and "Jack & Bobby" on the WB.

"For the first time in a long time," writes Lilliane Manzi of Jackson Heights, "I actually enjoy watching television. 'Joan of Arcadia' is a wonderful show."

Patricia Catchouny of Syracuse identifies "Joan," along with "Scrubs" and "Desperate Housewives," as the only shows she follows.

"Having first met Amber Tamblyn when she was a teen on 'General Hospital,' I love watching a young, intelligent, outspoken talent shine," she writes. "And seeing her father's [Russ Tamblyn, of 'West Side Story' and 'Twin Peaks'] guest shot as one of the many God manifestations on the show was a hoot!"

"It's so much better written than any of the series that have tried such a [spiritual] theme in the past," writes Tom Brinkmoeller of Apopka, Fla., about "Joan," "and the acting often comes close to the writing levels."

Leigh N. Tenhet of Austin, Tex., was passionate about UPN's "Veronica Mars," and wondered why I didn't champion its renewal just as forcefully.

"Have you checked the show out?" she asked, adding, "I'm sure the network would love to send you a complete set of the season's shows."

No need. I've seen every one, and love "Veronica Mars" and its star, Kristen Bell. The only reason I didn't support it is that there's no need: It's already been renewed.

Similarly, I didn't bother pushing for NBC's "American Dreams," because it's been canceled already. That didn't stop other readers from writing in, though.

Donna Gestri of Sayville, L.I., wrote of "American Dreams," "My husband and I, along with many others whom we know, absolutely look forward to each week's installment. ... The characters are well developed, well acted, learn from mistakes, and move forward with integrity and compassion."

Another already canceled show whose passing was being mourned was NBC's "Third Watch," which broadcast its final episode last Friday.

George Petrzelka of Howard Beach writes, "It was original, suspenseful and well played by all of the cast."

"I think [UPN's] "Kevin Hill" is one of the best new shows this season," writes Donna Consola of Babylon, L.I., "and I would like to see it stay on the air. ... I wanted to know if you thought it is a show worth mentioning."

It's certainly more in the save than dump category - which is more than I said for NBC's "The Office" and ABC's "8 Simple Rules," which generated some heated replies.

"It is critics like you that have buried this show," Scott Guttenberg of East Meadow, L.I., wrote about "8 Simple Rules," "and are now trying to bury John Ritter's last work with him."

Not really. Ritter's last work was buried when he was. What's continued in his former prime-time place has been an increasingly silly and unamusing sitcom, and a sad postscript to Ritter's legacy.

Finally, "The Office" - NBC's version, which I don't like, as opposed to the BBC original, which I adore - had its share of defenders.

Raymond Leech of Frederick, Md., writes of NBC's "Office," "Was it too unique and original for you? ... I am just glad you were not in charge at NBC when 'Seinfeld' was struggling in its first season."

That first "Seinfeld" was a special called "The Seinfeld Chronicles," by the way, and I raved about it.

Patricia Catchouny of Syracuse identifies "Joan," along with "Scrubs" and "Desperate Housewives," as the only shows she follows.


Ooo Ooo, I live there.