In a true case of "there's no such thing as bad publicity," the new so-called reality show "Kids Nation" (CBS, 8 p.m.) debuts tonight.
It's hard not to have heard about this one. Forty kids are dropped off in a 19th century town and most perform all of the daily chores necessary to survive. Groups have already been protesting the show for things like child cruelty, and some of the parents have sued even before the first episode airs.
Honestly, I don't know what people were expecting. Shows like this only survive through controversy, and those parents who are suing had cartoon-like dollar signs in their eyes wen they let their kids audition in the first place, so they aren't going to get a lot of sympathy from me.
Anyway, I can't tell you if "Kids Nation" is any good, because I didn't get an advanced tape. But this is the same network that keeps bringing us "Big Brother," so do with it what you will.
PUT YOUR HOME ON HGTV: HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk” is coming to Macon to film enthusiastic homeowners who have made surprising discoveries while they were moving in and fixing up their homes. The show is looking for historic homes with fascinating stories and artifacts found inside and around the home. The homes need to be privately owned with owners living on the property.
If your house has a story to tell, or you know about one that does,contact Mindy Christiansen at (303) 712-3148 or e-mail MChristiansen@highnoonentertainment.com to be considered for the program. Include a brief description of the history of your home, artifacts found, and send a photo of yourself and your house.
WEDNESDAY'S BEST BETS: One of the most eagerly anticipated new sitcoms for the fall is "Back To You," (Fox, 8 p.m.), starring perennial Emmy winners Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, and featuring the likes of Fred Willard. With a top cast and a crew that has shows like "Frasier" and "Cheers" on their resumes, this should be a winner for Fox. But I'm worried because I haven't laughed once during a single promo, and the idea of TV news programs as comedy has already been mined pretty heavily, from "Mary Tyler Moore" to "Murphy Brown." It's followed by the season premiere of "Til Death."
"Gossip Girl" (CW, 9 p.m.), reviewed yesterday, debuts tonight.
Also debuting is "Kitchen Nightmares" (Fox, 9 p.m.), in which chef Gordon Ramsay tries to turn around failing restaurants.
Finally, "Last Comic Standing" (NBC, 9 p.m.) airs its two-hour finale.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Lord Of The Flies, Revisited
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3 comments:
Because it's Kelsey Grammar, I will watch the premier and hope to like it enough to try another episode or two. But I agree, the promos have been dull and have felt overdone. The news place sitcom has been done way too often.
I am surprised to read that it was the first idea Grammer heard and he thought, "great!".
Frankly, I would have been far more excited if theyr reuinted the entire cast of "Frasier" (Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin & Jane Leeves) and just given us more seasons of "Frasier" instead. I STILL miss that show - and many out there miss "raymond" which is why this show is ultimately due to fail.
To the basic American audience, it will look like the joke Ray Romano made Sunday at the Emmys - you have 'Dr. Frasier Crane' sleeping with 'Debra Barone'. Meaning these two actors, now to their detriment, are too closely identified with iconic sitcom characters from very recent years.
It kind of seems doomed to fail, though the pedigree of sitcom actors and writers behind the show is certainly an All Star lineup of proven hitmakers.
By the way, the news is now 48 hours old, but officially, the ratings news came out on Mondays and has helped make my decision easier: the season 3 premier of "Prison Break" on Fox was a giant ratings DUD.
Not only down 2 million viewers from last year (an all time low for the once popular show), but to make matters worse, the luke warm received buddy cop pilot of "K-Ville" actually IMPROVED by 2 million viewers over PB. This is REALLY bad news for "Break".
It's generally rare for a lead in show to be otdone so signifigantly by a show after it (usually, you need a strong lead in to help the next show), but a show the critics really didn't like and it's BRAND NEW. So basically, "Prison Break" lost to a bunch of re-runs since NBC, CBS and ABC don't roll their new schedules out until next Monday.
I had been unsure what to do...stick with "Break" and have 3 shows at 8 PM (since I intend on watching NBC's new "Chuck" and still will watch "How I met Your Mother" on CBS) but since I have 2 DVR's, I figure I could keep everything.
Considering that my wife was really unimpressed and bored by the PB premier, and everyone I know gave it a thumbs down, now the ratings stink, is leading me to say bye bye to "Prison Break" and last night, got removed from my season pass.
Oh well, with the inexplicably popular "Dancing with the Stars" premiering next week, it's a given that wins the 8 PM hour - I just hope and pray that "Chuck" and "Mother" get enough of the pie to stick around and that "Break" is the one most affected.
I won't comment on "Kid Nation" - you couldn't PAY ME to watch drivel like this.
Thanks for the update on the ratings, Zod, hadn't seen them yet. That could be really good news especially for NBC, which has a strong 8 p.m. show in Chuck, the established Heroes, and the solid Journeyman in a genre-filled lineup. PB is bordering on the ridiculous, and I can't see spending the time with K-Ville, though I may give it one more chance.
As for Back To You, I think the two lead actors are talented enough to craft new characters, but we'll see.
Yeah, I actually felt guilty rooting against "Prison Break" considering I watched its first 2 seasons and LOVED season 1.
But when I saw that "Break" had bombed, i was actually pleased since my hope is that some of those 2 million are planning on watching "Chuck" next week instead (similar male demo audience) and didn't even bother with the "Break" premier since season 2 was so porous.
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