THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 3, Episode 15 aired April 17, 2000

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

There are some shows that come along in their first season, and make a big splash not only in the ratings but also in the entertainment news arena. "Malcolm in the Middle" is saving Fox from drowning this season. "Once and Again" has proved that forty-somethings do have a place in television. "Judging Amy" is ridiculously similar to "Providence."

And there are some shows that come along and flounder miserably. "Wonderland" was just cancelled after two showings. "God, the Devil and Bob" wasn't even aired on many NBC affiliates, and only made it four episodes before getting the axe. Chris Carter's "Harsh Realm" showed all of three episodes in its pathetic Friday night time slot before going the way of the Dodo along with its companion, "Ryan Caulfield: Year One."

And then there are the shows that just do well. Quietly. And they get renewed year after year, but somehow no one ever talks about them. NBC's Saturday night staples, "The Pretender" and "Profiler," have seen a lot of shows come and go on their night, but somehow they're just there to stay. "7th Heaven" is the most watched show on the WB, but somehow it's "Buffy" and "Felicity" that get all the press. "Becker" is one of the most popular sitcoms CBS has, and yet no one seems to know exactly what Ted Danson is doing these days.

This season I have seen the birth of just such a show. It will never be the powerhouse that is "ER," yet the show will be renewed year after year. The show is "Third Watch."

"Third Watch" was created by Edward Allen Bernero and John Wells. It was given the distinct honor of debuting in the coveted Thursday night time slot currently occupied by "ER." It then floundered around on Sunday nights for awhile until it found a permanent home on NBC Mondays (unfortunately no longer shared with the recently deceased "Freaks and Geeks"). It tends to fall somewhere between the 40th and 50th most watched show of the week, a respectable but certainly not amazing performance.

Starring are Skipp Sudduth, as veteran beat cop Sully, and Coby Bell as his rookie partner (who also happens to be Sully's dead former partner's son). Another volatile pair is Faith Yokas (played by Molly Price), a woman trying to balance being a third-shift cop with an alcoholic husband and two kids, and her prejudiced young partner, the easily unlikable Bosco (Jason Wiles of "90210" fame). Of the paramedics and firemen, we have struggling single mother, Kim (Kim Raver), and her irresponsible hot-headed ex-husband, fireman Jimmy (the dimpled Eddie Cibrian from "Sunset Beach"). Kim's partner, Bobby (Bobby Cannavale) is her rock, but he's dealing with his own problems in the form of his recently-released-from-jail brother. The most senior paramedic, Doc (Michael Beach from "ER"), is of course paired with the youngest and most inexperienced, Carlos Nieto (Carlos Ruivivar), and while dealing with training his partner, he also has to cope with the recent death of his wife and his stubborn dying father.

The show's greatest strength is in its huge ensemble cast, and the fact that it covers stories not just of police, but also of paramedics and firemen (yeah yeah, firepeople, but since it's just one guy, it really doesn't matter). In an hour-long episode, you almost feel like you're watching three different intertwining episodes, similar in some ways to a soap opera, but better executed.

In the tradition of "ER," "Third Watch" creates a watchable drama from the work-related lives of these characters, as well as their home lives and love lives. Much like "ER" as well, there aren't always happy endings. Two of the most powerful episodes have involved two people trapped together, one a recently married couple, the other brothers-in-law, in which it was only possible to save one of the two victims.

The problem here is that if you already watch "ER," you're just sort of getting an extension of that show. When the paramedics show up at the hospital, you're with the camera that follows the paramedics back out into the street instead of with the camera that stays at the hospital and sees what happens in the ER. In fact, it might have been smart to make this an "ER," spin-off, and literally have crossovers between the paramedics and the hospital, except for the fact that the show is set in New York instead of Chicago. I guess I feel that I'm not seeing anything new and original here, being a big fan of "ER" already. Then again, you can't really fault a show that is a mirror image of the most popular show on television, never mind the fact that the two shows do share an executive producer in the form of John Wells.

What really smacks it home is that the two shows are currently running parallel story lines. On "ER," Dr. Greene's father, dying of cancer and emphysema, wants to go to a hospice, rather than suffer the indignity of having his own son care for him. Dr. Greene feels that that would be sending his father to live among strangers, and can't bear to do that, so he lies to his father that the hospice he investigated is currently waiting-list only, and keeps his father at his own apartment against his wishes. On "Third Watch," Doc's father, played by the perfectly cast Ossie Davis, is dying. He refuses to take his heart medication, and when he suffers a cardiac embolism, he refuses to go to the hospital. After he falls unconscious, Doc takes him to the hospital against his wishes, and insists that the doctors take extraordinary measures to save his father's life even when his father himself says that it's his time to die.

Shows that already have so much in common, and even share producers, should be more careful than this. Although copying the most successful show currently on TV may seem like a good idea, if everyone is already watching an hour of "ER" every week, how many people are going to want to take the time to watch a second?

P.S. Fox's new sitcom "Titus" is really growing on me. I like how it's become more of a messed up family vs. normal family kind of format. And I'm not just saying this because I have a cool interview on TKTV with one of the writers from the show, Matt Rosenberg. Check it out using the link from the front page of the site.

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2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Rachael:
I would like to inform many of the members of this fantastic newsletter that the WB's show Felicity might be taken off of the air. If you never have seen this show, please know that it is not like a lot of the other trash on the network. It is so realistic with great acting and it deserves so much more recognition than it is getting. The WB has decided to take it off of the air if it does not do better at its new night on Wednesdays. Please watch it!!! If you are really interested in helping, please email me at Felicityfan61@aol.com for more info. Thanks so much!

Note from TK: you can also find more info on the show's status and how to help keep it on the air from TKTV's Felicity site.
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

Okay, guys, I admit it. As blasphemous as it may sound in a forum like this, I confess that I am ready for summer reruns. This happens to me every year! Once the time changes and I have hours of daylight left over at the end of the work day, I NEED to be outside soaking up that vitamin E. And you know what that means... dare I say it?... what's on television becomes much less important! But fear not, fellow viewers, because as long as there are new episodes, Kim will be there. It's like my mother always said about me, I'm afraid I'll miss something if I'm not right in the middle of things... Of course, she was talking about the real world and not the television/make-believe world. As long as I can still tell the difference, I guess I'm okay, right?

What spot has me laughing? Sprite: Snowboarders

A helicopter hovers above the cap of a snow-covered mountain. At first, I'm thinking it can't be a new Bond film, already... but that's the feeling I have. That delusion vanishes when a snowboarder comes flying out of the helicopter and begins his descent down the mountain. The snowboarder practically flies down the mountain. At times he is off the ground for an unbelievable amount of time.

About this time, I'm totally confused about what this is a commercial for. Actually, I'm totally lost. But the announcer saves me. The spot cuts to that same snowboarder at the bottom of the mountain. He's obviously finished his ride and is guzzling a Sprite. In the background, there's a vending machine (yes, on the mountainside).

The announcer comes up and asks, "What do the world's best snowboarders drink?"

The next thing we see is another snowboarder come crashing down the mountain. He flips and flops and slams right into the Sprite machine.

Announcer again, "The same thing the worst ones do."

That's followed by Sprites usual "Image is nothing. Thirst is everything."

I love this spot because it kept my attention throughout. In the beginning, because I didn't know what it was for. After that, because they told me what it was for. And then, rather than stopping at the typical sports/soft drink spot, they surprised me with a funny ending!

Well, that's it for me. Phoebe's picking me up in a few... we're going to meet the gang for coffee...

TKTV is always looking for new guest writers. Do you have an idea for an article? Write to TK 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 uncredited actor played Death on a recent episode of "Family Guy?"

First prize goes to David A. Congratulations!

Honorable mentions (sorry, without prizes, but keep trying) go to Tanya S. and Caralyn G.

The correct answer was, of course, Norm Macdonald.

This week's question is: what Fox animated show's entire second season was a one-episode Christmas special?

Don't forget, this trivia quiz is sponsored by myTVshop, where you can get all your favorite TV merchandise.
http://www.mytvshop.com

Send answers to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of tvtrivia. Winners will be chosen at random from all the correct answers.

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6. Favorite quotes of the week

From That '70s Show
Eric: "Despite your bimbo-like good looks, you're very smart."

From ER
David Greene: "I know it's a cliche to say you don't want to be a burden to your children, but at my age I don't mind being a cliche."

From Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Munch: "I like the information super highway. You can meet creepazoids from all over the world without leaving the comfort of your own home."

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7. A totally unrelated link

http://www.askjesus.org/

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There's no place like your homepage.