THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 3, Episode 6 aired February 7, 2000

CONTENTS
1. Intro
2. Letters from the viewing audience
3. Kim's Commercial Comments
4. Don't miss
5. TV Trivia - now with prize!
6. Favorite Quotes of the Week
7. A totally unrelated link

1. Intro

It's mid-season! That means it's time for all those mid-season replacements. We've already seen (and loved) Fox's new "Malcolm in the Middle," but what's in store from everyone else? What shows do the networks think will make a big mid-season splash? Read on.

CBS is launching a new comedy series called "Grapevine." It stars Kristy Swanson, who was Buffy the Vampire Slayer before she landed on the small screen. I got a little inside scoop on this show from a friend whose cousin is involved in the show. The story goes that a couple episodes were made a few years ago and then shelved. Now CBS, in conjunction with Paramount, is doing the show all over again with a brand new cast, but the same concept. It is set (and shot) in Miami, and chronicles the love lives of three central characters and their friends. Like many other shows this season ("Get Real," "Malcolm in the Middle," "Once and Again"), it breaks the fourth wall with on-screen narration from the characters. The first episode may remind some viewers of "Clueless," personally one of my favorite movies. The show comes from David Frankel (creator, director, writer, and producer), probably best known for his work on that crazy HBO mini-series, "From the Earth to the Moon."

Fox is giving it a go with another half-hour comedy about a dysfunctional family. In fact, from the sound of it, this family would make Malcolm (in the Middle) feel really normal. The show is called "Titus," and it stars comedian Christopher Titus. The show is based on Titus's real life growing up, and includes such chuckles as child abuse and a mother in a mental hospital. I know, I know, it doesn't sound very funny, but Fox is banking on the fact that Titus laughing at himself will make it okay for the audience to laugh along with him. I think Fox doesn't have room to gamble right now, but this is obviously not my decision to make.

NBC has some new comedies coming out as well. Just recently, NBC announced that its new G-rated sitcom, "Daddio," will launch on March 23rd in the coveted Thursday, 8:30pm ET time slot directly after top-rated "Friends." The show is about a househusband who looks after the kids while his wife works. I am one of the many people are a bit miffed by this decision from NBC. The show seems an unusual match for "Friends" because it doesn't have the same young and cool appeal as the six twenty-something New Yorkers.

NBC is also going to test the waters with a couple of animated comedies. The first is "God, the Devil and Bob." I gotta say, I don't completely understand this one. Apparently, God (voiced by James Garner) makes a deal with the devil (voiced by Alan Cumming) that he can prove mankind is worth saving. So God picks one average guy with which to prove himself: a Detroit auto worker (voiced by French Stewart of "Third Rock from the Sun"). This is all I know. I don't understand how this can be a whole series.

Another current NBC sitcom star is also breaking into animation. David Spade ("Just Shoot Me") will be the starring voice in a new animated show called "Sammy." It's about a young man named James Blake who becomes rich and famous, and then suddenly has to deal with his absentee father popping back into his life. Spade voices both James and his father, Sammy. Recycling from another defunct NBC sitcom, "Newsradio," Andy Dick voices Mark Jacobs, James's agent. The show is full of Hollywood satire, which I look forward too, but which might also spell its demise. Remember "Action" on Fox?

By the time you have read this, NBC will have launched their new spooky series, "The Others." It's about a bunch of people with a sixth sense (not exactly like the movie, but not completely different). Reports are that the pilot is slow, but scary, and the characters are not that interesting. Of course, it's got a cute cast, and it might be able to scare up a bit of a cult following. I'm just a little concerned because NBC has decided to throw this baby into the Saturday night mix with "The Pretender" and "Profiler" - what they used to call their Saturday night "Thrillogy." Last season they tried this with that terrible Bo Derek show, "Wind on Water," and it flailed quickly. Then this season there was "Freaks and Geeks," which hopefully was moved to Mondays just in time to save it. I wonder if "The Others" will break the mold or fall subject to the same Saturday curse.

Last but not least, ABC has decided to launch a new show on March 24th at 8:30pm ET, but hasn't yet decided on a name for the show. It's a joint effort from ABC and MTV, and is about the making of a pre-fab culturally diverse boy-band. Can you say the Monkees meet the Backstreet Boys?

So this is what you have to look forward to in the upcoming months. Enjoy February sweeps, and let me know what you think of all these new shows when you see them.

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2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Vanessa:

So awhile back, the new show on Fox, "Get Real," was mentioned. I thought I'd check it out after the rave reviews in the newsletter, and found it to live up to my expectations. I think this is one of the best shows on television today, however there hasn't been much hype and I think the show really needs some. I'd hate to see this show cancelled, because it's just such good quality viewing. Just thought I'd share my concerns! And if you haven't seen it check it out on Wednesday nights at 9pm ET on Fox.

From Tony:

WOW, what a Superbowl!! And followed by a strong episode of The Sopranos. I think my eyeballs are still plastered to the TV. As for the commercials, we all know that the Superbowl is the elite in advertising. My favorite was the cat herders on horseback by EDS. Please be advised, this is a totally biased decision, my largest client is EDS based in Michigan. Actually the most captivating commercial was the 7 Up machine getting plastered by a tractor trailer on the freeway. It's always great when you can laugh at destructive scenes.

From Shane:

Okay - more news on commercial voice-overs. Sharon Lawrence is the voice of the green M&M!!! Good lord, I am getting so good at these commericals! In fact I'll make it easy for the rest of you to figure out these voice overs - they use the same actors that are in the show you are probably watching right then. Car commericals during Frazier: the voice of Roz. Car commericals during ER: the voice of Noah Wyle. Car commericals ANY TIME Sunday night: Dylan McDermott! They know you like these actors, you are watching their shows!! Hmmm, conspiracy?

Thinking more about last week's intro, I agree that Buffy continues to be entertaining stuff. Can I tell you how freaky the no talking one was? Granted there were momments of "silent movie" acting and "OH NO" faces, but the fact that screaming for help was not an option... someone's knocking at your door and you can't ask who it is... Creepy! As for Angel, I just can't stay with it when there are the options of Will & Grace and Sports Night on the other channels.

From Azaletch:

I just wanted to comment on the crappy quality of Super Bowl commercials this year. I don't know if it was because of all the .coms or what but they were SO BAD! I can't believe that these .com companies paid 2 million dollars for a non-thought out, poorly acted, crappy piece of you-know-what. I know that .com is the way of the future, but does that mean that they can't hire competent people to put together, direct, and star in their commericals?

The only reason I even watched the Super Bowl (St. Louis and the Titans? Who could I possibly root for?) was because of the commercials and they SUCKED! Very very disappointed to say the least. Could you tell?

I also watched the recent rerun of "Ally McBeal," the episode where Ally goes after Elaine's boyfriend played by John Ritter. It just reminded me why I hate this character. If they removed her from the show and just called it "Lawyers from Boston" I wouldn't miss her a bit. Her storyline has gotten so old and stale and all she ever does is act like a spoiled baby, steal her friends' boyfriends or other womens' boyfriends, and get on my nerves. If only she could gain five pounds maybe she wouldn't look like such a lollipop head. Get the girl a cheeseburger. I think they should do a few episodes minus Ally and see how the public reacts. Nell and Ling, on the other hand, I love. That's what it should be called: Nell and Ling :-)

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

It seems like way more than a week has passed since Super Bowl XXXIV and I first laid eyes on all those fantastic commercials! As promised, I'm going to give you my two cents on which spots made me laugh the loudest and which ones I think were the biggest waste of $2 million bucks!

Commercial time during the Super Bowl is consistently more expensive than the average commercial spot. I remember being blown away the first time spots sold for a half a million dollars... a million dollar minute! Imagine! But this year, advertisers paid a record average of $2.2 million for a 30-SECOND SPOT!

One might also be interested to know that while only 3 "dot.com" companies advertised during last year's Super Bowl XXXIII, no less than seventeen web-based companies were among this year's crew. It is from these "dot.com" ads that I found my two favorites ofthe night.

Of course there were the requisite number of beer commercials. The only one that really bears mentioning here is the dog actor. This commercial takes place on the set of a western movie. The frustrated director complains, "I need the dog to cry!" He coaches the dog, urging him to remember the worst day of his life. The dog flashes back, remembering his worst day. We see him in his front yard, somewhere in Suburbia. He spots a Budweiser truck passing by. The dog begins to run after the truck. He races and races until he reaches the fence at the edge of his yard. He tries to jump over the fence in order to reach the truck. Unfortunately, the dog smashes into the fence, missing the truck. Suddenly, the commercial cuts back to the movie set and the dog cries and howls like a real professional. I like this one because it was so original and clever... not your average beer commercial.

The consensus among my friends and family is that the e*trade "two men and a monkey" spot was the best. This one is pretty simple to explain. Two men. A monkey. Strange music. Clapping. Then it asked the question, "Well, we just wasted $2 million. What are you doing with your money?" This spot is funny for the same reason that Ally McBeal is funny... the same reason that the Scream movies are funny... it's poking fun at itself! I love it! I always think it's fabulous when companies aren't afraid to stick their necks out a little.

I really did not enjoy the WebMD spot featuring Muhammad Ali. It was a little too depressing for me. I still don't think it fit the mood of the show.

Also worth mentioning here is the Mountain Dew "Bad Cheetah" spot. A group of bikers are riding their bikes outside and chasing a cheetah. One of them catches up with the cheetah, sticks his hand down its mouth and pulls out a can of Mountain Dew. "Bad Cheetah," he scolds. His friends look on in disbelief.

I also enjoyed the "Cat Herders" spot from EDS. The bad news is, without looking at my notes, I couldn't remember what EDS was. The good news is, I could remember EDS and I did remember this spot. I heard it mentioned more than once on Monday. It was just too funny! All these rugged looking cowboys chasing hundreds, maybe thousands, of cats across the wide open plains. And everybody knows you can't herd cats, right? These guys were showing their scars to each other, telling "war stories."

Over all, my favorite commercial was by Monster.com. Filmed in black and white, this spot features a woman walking down a busy street. As she passes one person after another, each recites a portion of Robert Frost's "The Road Less Traveled." The point was simply to choose your career wisely... starting at Monster.com... but the point of this spot was not what made it fabulous. It was strange, and deep, and simple all at the same time... right down to the group of little girls who begin to float away at the end. It really makes a person think of this familiar poem in a new way. All of these things helped earn this in a new way. All of these things helped earn this commercial my "best of" award.

Most of these spots are online at adcritic.com, so if you actually watched the Super Bowl for the football and not the commercials, you can watch them there.

Until next week...

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

And so, February sweeps continues... 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 television and movie actress is Gordon of Dilbert's daughter?

First prize goes to Lela K., who correctly answered Helen Hunt.

Honorable mentions go to KMax11 and Meg T.

Okay folks, here it comes, the first TKTV Trivia quiz with a real prize. It's sponsored by a cool site, myTVshop, which sells all kinds of TV merchandise for your favorite shows. You can find them at http://www.mytvshop.com.

I will collect all correct answers that I receive by next Friday, and then pick one randomly who will win the prize. The prize will be a hat or a T-shirt from myTVshop, generally with some fun TV show logo on it. The prize will vary from week to week. Of course, the first prize winner will have to submit their full name and mailing address to receive their prize. (This will, of course, ONLY be used to send a prize.)

Okay? Ready, set, go!

This week's question is from Monique. Monique, I'm sorry, but you can't answer this week. But hey, it's a great question. For which radio station did Brad Rowe work before joining the cast of the short-lived ABC series "Wasteland?" There's some tricky wording here, so be careful.

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"
"Good news, Red, I just took Cosmo's 'Ten Ways to Please Your Man in Bed Test,' and I got 9 out of 10. But I didn't get number 3 because I'm a nurse and number 3 is icky." -Kitty

From "Frasier"
"I had a wonderful time last night." -Lorna
"Me too. It was like being back in high school. But with sex." -Frasier

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7. A totally unrelated link

What Breed of Dog Are You?

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If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.