THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 2, Episode 32 aired October 12, 1999

For subscription requests, simply email me personally at tk@tktv.net.

CONTENTS
1. Intro
2. Letters from the viewing audience
3. Kim's Commercial Comments
4. Don't miss
5. TV Trivia
6. Favorite quotes of the week
7. A totally unrelated link

1. Intro

So many new shows, so little time. I hope everyone had a nice Columbus Day. The only way I could really tell that it was Columbus Day was because I didn't get any snail mail. Does anyone recognize that holiday except for federal workers?

I spent the last week sampling a few new shows. Being a big "Buffy" fan, of course I had to tune into "Angel" on the WB last Tuesday. It's a little darker than "Buffy," and a little less high school, as was stressed in the first episode, but also has a little less character. Everything about it that tries to make it not a carbon copy of "Buffy" makes it that much more like everything else on TV.

The whole show starts out with Angel aimlessly trying to do good around L.A., and some strange half-human half-friendly-demon with an Irish accent and a penchant for beer coming along and telling him that some all-mighty They have said that Angel needs more direction. So Doyle (the half demon guy) has a vision, writes down a name and a location, and Angel has his good deed for the day.

It was sort of endearing to see the normally reticent Angel try to meet a strange girl in a coffee shop, but other than that, the whole show sort of reminds me of a cross between the failed "Vengeance Unlimited" of last season, and maybe "Stairway to Heaven."

What I don't understand is the addition of Cordelia. Charisma Carpenter plays Cordelia exactly the same as she was in Sunnydale: shallow, cutting, defensive, and with just the right amount of vulnerability at just the right time. She adds some light to the otherwise dark show since Angel has never been known for his sense of humor. But it seems like the creators of "Buffy" couldn't figure out who else they could spin off with Angel, so they simply took the other peripheral character. Cordelia and Angel never had anything to do with each other in Sunnydale, so I don't know why it made sense to send them to L.A. together.

I must say, though, that the first episode did try to explain this. They showed Cordelia blow Angel off at their first meeting, and then showed how lonely she was, so that when Angel finally came to her rescue it made sense that she would turn to him since he was the only person she knew and somehow trusted in L.A. Still, I wonder how their relationship is going to last through the rest of the show.

So far, and I've only seen one episode, "Angel" is enjoyable, but it's no "Buffy." Somehow Joss Whedon has been watered down to the point where he's good, but no longer great. But I'll reserve my final judgment until later in the season. It's not really fair to say too much after just one episode. Give it a try and let me know what you think. The second episode airs tonight at 9pm ET on the WB.

The other new show I saw was "The West Wing" on NBC. I already think Aaron Sorkin, creator and writer of both "Sports Night" and "The West Wing," is one of the most talented men in television, so I had high expectations for this new Whitehouse drama stacked with such huge names as Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe. Oooh, boy, was I not disappointed.

Just as Sorkin packs an hour's worth of drama and comedy into a half hour of "Sports Night," so does he pack a movie's worth of drama and comedy into an hour of "The West Wing." Issues covered in the first two episodes of the show range from Cuban refugees off the coast of Florida to the Deputy Communications Director of the Whitehouse accidentally sleeping with a call girl ("I don't understand, did you trip over something?") to the misspelling of Khaddafi's name in the New York Times crossword to extreme religious right groups terrorizing young girls who express their opinion on a woman's right to choose. And still, the whole thing is woven together with Sorkin's expert dialog, Thomas Schlamme's Emmy-winning direction, and incredible acting by not only those mentioned above, but stage legend Allison Janney and TV vet Moira Kelly.

I cannot recommend this show highly enough. Now you may say to yourself that I seem to be blindly following wherever Sorkin leads, in which case I say to you, view for yourself. Tell me it's not the best hour of TV of your week. Just remember to tape it even if you're watching it live, 'cause you're gonna want to rewind and watch scenes again to pick up what you missed the first time 'round. Wednesdays at 9pm ET on NBC.

Last but not least, I have to scold David E. Kelley for recycling his bit about bald men lying. Last season on "Ally McBeal," a man was fired from his job as a salesman because his ridiculous comb-over made it impossible for people to take him seriously, and since his hair was a lie, it made him seem like a liar. In the last episode of "Snoops," Manny told a lawyer that always loses in court that he should lose the hair piece, because no one can believe a lawyer whose hair is a lie. David: it was weird the first time, but don't try it a second time and expect us not to notice!

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2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Storm:
I've just gotta say that Snoops cracks me up. What a gas! It is providing the absurd tongue-in-cheek comic relief in my life that Melrose just can't provide anymore. I think it's totally hysterical how they try to make breaking into someone's house and tapping the phone line appear to be sexy. It's a riot. It also pulls a little of the Ally McBeal look-I-can-act-and-sing-too silliness. It's just splendid stupidity.
From Jennifer:
Do you know where Freaks and Geeks went??? I love this show. I mean the second episode absolutely had me in tears from laughing so hard... but it hasn't been on for the last two Saturdays and I'm starting to get worried that by some freak chance (no pun intended) the show has been cancelled. Do you have any info on this? Also, while we're on the topic... Get Real has also been missing for two weeks. Now I know you said two newsletters ago that it is suffering in the ratings, but I didn't think it would get cancelled so quickly. Just wondering if you have any info. or can point me in a direction where I might be able to find this out.

Note from TK: many shows have been pre-empted for Major League Baseball playoffs. As soon as the playoffs and World Series are over, you should see everything go back to normal. "Freaks and Geeks" and "Get Real" have not been cancelled.
Letters from the viewing audience are always welcome. Please email any opinions, questions, comments, or random thoughts to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of "letters." Letters may be edited for length or content.

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3. Kim's Commercial Comments

Well, since I feel a sudden need to state the obvious: I'm back. I missed you guys... hope you missed my column. Thanks to TK for being generous with the time off from the newsletter. I think it was mentioned in passing that I've been moving over the past couple of weeks. Let me just say, in case there's any confusion, that moving really is an unpleasant experience. On top of all the usual headaches, I have a whole new set of cable channels to memorize. Argghh!

I have to admit that while I've been watching lots of TV since the new season started, I've been paying much more attention to what's between the commercials than to the commercials themselves... that sounds a little backward, doesn't it? In spite of my limited viewing I have managed to catch a few spots that make me giggle. It's finding one that makes me really, really laugh that's tough.

But I think I've done it.

What spot has me laughing? Budweiser: The Ferrett Sings

Okay. If this doesn't make you laugh then Adam Sandler probably doesn't either. And, I admit, that is a very specific kind of humor. It takes a certain kind of mind to appreciate it. This clever little spot is a parody of the commercials for those music collections like "Elvis Gospel" or "Best of the 80's" or "Real Rock." We see the Ferrett moving to the music as he croons out a variety of cleverly-named tunes. There's even a duet with Louie the lizard (after which we see Louie being chastised by the other lizard). The whole time the titles of the songs are scrolling across the screen. You have to see it to. No, actually, you have to hear it to appreciate it. Check it out at adcritic.com if you haven't yet had the pleasure.

What spot has me cringing? Allegra: Killer Dandelion

This spot is ridiculous in the same way that, I don't know, say... short-sleeved sweaters are ridiculous. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to find the point. It's only character is an allergy-oppressed young woman who is trying desperately to practice on the tennis court. She runs back and forth on the court, sneezing and wheezing and whining. A giant dandelion (obviously the source of her allergies) beats down on her. And, in the end, knocks her to the ground... undoubtedly, dirtying her lovely little tennis outfit.

Yeah, yeah, yeah... we get it already. Take Allegra... keep the killer dandelions in their place.

TKTV is always looking for new guest writers. Do you have an idea for an article? Write to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of "guestwriter."

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4. Don't miss

For details and lots more fun TV to look forward to, see
http://www.tktv.net/index.html?/upcoming.html

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5. TV Trivia

Last week's question was: What short-lived new show last season starred one of the current stars of David E. Kelley's "Snoops."

First prize goes to, once again, Meg T., who correctly answered "Cupid" starring Paula Marshall.

Second prizes go to Coni, Caroline W., Monique, Allan J., Todd C., Andrew S., David T., Josie, TJ, and Lindsay - the next ten people to answer correctly.

This week's question is, what actor has appeared on both television shows from creator Aaron Sorkin?

Send answers to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of tvtrivia.

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6. Favorite Quotes of the Week

From "That '70's Show"
"Hey. I got Amy's phone number." -Hyde
"Good for you, Steven." -Red
"Well, I hope she's still pretty tomorrow." -Hyde

From "The West Wing"
"Miss O'Brien, I understand your feelings, but please believe me when I tell you that I'm a nice guy havin' a bad day. I just found out the Times is publishing a poll that says a considerable number of Americans feel that the Whitehouse has lost energy and focus - a perception that's not likely to be altered by the video footage of the president riding his bicycle into a tree. As we speak, the Coastguard are fishing Cubans out of the Atlantic Ocean while the Governor of Florida wants to blockade the port of Miami. A good friend of mine's about to get fired for going on television and making sense, and it turns out that I accidentally slept with a prostitute last night." -Sam Seaborn

From "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
"What kind of a party?" -detective
"Well, you know. One of those things where the literati and the glitterati size each other up over cosmopolitans and sashimi." -Hampton Trill

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7. A totally unrelated link

Tiazinha

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"Never go to a plastic surgeon whose favorite artist is Picasso." -Gene Perret