THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 3, Episode 20 aired May 22, 2000

CONTENTS
1. Intro
2. Letters from the viewing audience
3. Saving The Pretender
     -by guest writer Deb Stewart
4. Don't miss
5. TV Trivia
6. Favorite quotes of the week
7. A totally unrelated link

1. Intro

One of the reasons that I love TV is because it's a type of universal experience. Now granted, there is no absolutely universal experience, but wow, "Sesame Street" comes really close. I found myself last Saturday singing the MaNaMaNa, Do Do, D'do do song with a guy I had met two hours earlier. It was a beautiful thing. But the Daytime Emmys should figure out that something is wrong when in 1995 they create a new category of Best Pre-School television show, and "Sesame Street" wins every single year. No other show has ever won the award since it was created. What was the point?

No one was surprised that "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" won best game show, but I have to say I'm glad Regis didn't get Best Host.

What I love about lifetime achievement awards is how much I learn about the person who gets the award. Much like Warren Beatty's award at the Oscars this year, I realized watching the Daytime Emmys that I really didn't know anything about Barbara Walters. She's interviewed every single president of the United States since Richard Nixon! How cool is that?

Okay, okay, so no one wants to talk about the Daytime Emmys when all of the networks just announced their new schedules last week. The WB really surprised me. They pretty much renewed all of their dramas, including "Popular," "Roswell," "Jack & Jill," "Felicity," "Dawson's Creek," "Charmed," "Buffy," "Angel," and "7th Heaven." Not only did the WB also pick up "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" from ABC and "The PJs" from Fox, but UPN took "The Hughleys" from ABC.

It looks like they're going to squeeze one last-minute season out of "The X-Files" on Fox, although David Duchovny will only be appearing in half the season. Luckily, they're definitely spinning off the Lone Gunmen as a mid-season show.

UPN didn't surprise anyone by sticking to their plan of attracting young men by adding more martial arts shows (one by "The Matrix" producer Joel Silver). CBS has stars Bette Midler and Christine Baranski bolstering up their comedy line up, while ABC has Geena Davis, Gabriel Byrne, and Andre Braugher in a highly anticipated medical drama.

There are some new shows that I'm looking forward to, and a lot of old shows that I'll miss, but basically I think next fall will be a lot of fun. Hopefully some cable channels will pick up certain shows that lost their place on network television, and perhaps some shows that aren't currently on schedules we'll see as mid-season replacements. Drop me a line and let me know what you're excited about and what you'll miss. In this newsletter, you can read what some fans are doing about their favorite show being cancelled by NBC.

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2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Mark:
Just to correct David's previous letter: "Who's the Boss" did NOT end with the selling of the house. It actually ended with Tony returning to his old role as house keeper, and the final scene imitating the first... when Tony first ran into Angela in her bathrobe.
From Kim:
What is up with NBC cancelling The Pretender??? How am I supposed to survive never knowing the resolution of the big cliffhanger? This really aggravates me!!!
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. Saving "The Pretender" by Deb Stewart

Like the legendary John Paul Jones, we "have not yet begun to fight." Who are we? We are the thousands of fans of "The Pretender," located throughout the world, who are working to save our favorite show. Our fight may not be unique, but we have something going for us that most similar campaigns do not -- staying power.

We have been advocating the show in one way or another since it began. First there were the letters following season one complaining about the shift to 8:00pm that was planned for season two. We were rewarded with a move back to 9:00pm during the second season. Later we mobilized and sent letters asking for a third season, and thousands more asking for a fourth season. We celebrated when each renewal was announced. We started writing again when rumors surfaced that the fourth season could be the last, bombarding NBC with more letters, postcards, e-mails, phone calls and enough PEZ candy to feed an army.

Now NBC has cancelled the series. Have we given up? No. Rather than quietly fading away, we have regrouped. More and more people are joining in, writing and calling in support of the show. We continue to fight, and there are more of us doing so than ever.

To whom are we writing? There are several networks being contacted. Chief among these is TNT. TNT has already picked up first-cycle cable rights to the show and is considering purchasing first-run rights as well. They are considering this move in part because of our efforts. They have e-mailed us to let us know this -- they are pleased to hear from us, since it gives them an indication of the size and loyalty of the audience for "The Pretender."

Others are beginning to notice what we're doing as well. E! Online recently published the URL for the Operation - Save the Pretender web site in their article about NBC's fall schedule (http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,6467,00.html). TV Guide's "Televisionary" (http://www.tvguide.com/tv/televisionary/) mentioned the campaign to TNT when responding to a question about "The Pretender." The Futon Critic has written extensively about the series and the fan efforts to save the show (http://www.thefutoncritic.com).

The campaigns for other shows have received national media attention. Our efforts are just now getting some mention, in spite of our longevity and growing momentum. For more information on the campaign, check out the Operation - Save the Pretender web site at http://op-stp.homepage.com. We ask that you give consideration to what we are doing. We would like others to know what is happening so they may take part if they wish. We are here, we are vocal, we won't be ignored -- we won't just give up and go home easily. Please help us.

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

Finishing up the season finale frenzy...
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 two brothers currently star on two different Fox sitcoms?

First prize goes to Josie H. Congratulations!

Honorable mentions (sorry, without prizes, but keep trying) go to David T. and Alex H.

The correct answer was Christopher Kennedy Masterson, who plays Francis on "Malcolm in the Middle," and Danny Masterson who play Hyde on "That '70s Show."

This week's question is yet another relative-related question (I'm on a roll). What new NBC daytime starlet's mother is an Emmy-winning ABC daytime actress?

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 Ally McBeal
Fish: "I have scruples. I got some for Christmas."

From NYPD Blue
Russell: "Don't do anything for me, Denby. Don't even move if a car comes."

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7. A totally unrelated link

AstroJive.com - The voice of NO Generation

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I don't drive fast, I fly low.