Too many new shows, too little time for TV
Every fall, most new TV shows fail. That’s sad, but it’s a fact of life.
However, there are always a few new shows that succeed. That’s a problem.
You see, most of us — well, OK, me — already pack as much TV-watching as we possibly can into the week.
If, for instance, I’m already committed to NBC’s “My Name Is Earl,” “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “ER” on Thursday nights, what happens if I have to squeeze in ABC newcomer “Big Shots”?
That’s just a hypothetical question, thank goodness: “Big Shots” is terrible.
Fortunately, the TV time crunch isn’t a seven- day-aweek problem — no network has sent a series on a Saturday suicide mission in nearly a decade.
Wednesdays are the easiest to figure out, depending on whether you’re a CBS fan (“Kid Nation,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI: New York”), or an ABC fan (“Pushing Daisies,” “Private Practice,” “Dirty Sexy Money”).
Thursday nights, on the other hand, have been a logjam since the Carter administration.
Sunday’s not too bad: You’re either watching “Sunday Night Football” or “Desperate Housewives” — you’re probably not committed to both.
But Mondays, oof. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” is up against likable NBC newcomer “Chuck” and CBS’ always underrated “How I Met Your Mother.”
My DVR can record only two shows at a time — I could watch the third over the air in high def, but when will I find time to catch up on the recorded ones?
Tuesday’s no better: The CW’s funny “Reaper” against Fox’s very funny “House” against CBS’ not-intentionallyfunny “The Unit.” If they sold extra eyeballs, I’d buy a pair just to make it through that hour.
Even Friday, where shows usually go to burn up or fade away, is pretty tough this season. “Las Vegas” is my guilty pleasure, especially with the addition this season of Tom Selleck, but my wife loves “Men in Trees.” Do we arm wrestle, retire to separate rooms, or what?
If the networks won’t clear things up for us, we’ve got to, at some point, cull the herd ourselves. I did get itchy for a few weeks when I ditched “Survivor” a couple of seasons back, but a little calamine lotion and it cleared right up.
For the past few seasons, “ER” fans have had to choose whether to hang onto their aging favorite, or put that mangy dog down and move on. Likewise, the shaky start “Heroes” got this season had me seriously considering cutting it loose and giving myself another 60 minutes to do the dishes (fortunately, this week’s episode was promising enough to keep the housework undone).
I’m betting some of these time crunches will fade away as the cancellations mount and the networks start juggling the schedule to make room for the survivors. But that’ll happen just in time for midseason, when more shows emerge and Fox drops “American Idol” and “24” onto the TV scene like avenging angels.
Oof indeed.
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