THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 3, Episode 33 aired November 13, 2000

CONTENTS
1. Intro
2. Letters from the viewing audience
3. What I watched on TV this week
     -by guest writer William Noetling
4. Don't miss
5. TV Trivia
6. Media Junkie
     -by guest writer Jason Friedman
7. Favorite quotes of the week
8. A totally unrelated link

1. Intro

I'm going to keep it short and sweet because we have two (yes, TWO) guest writers this week.

We have two surprise pregnancies by single women on primetime right now, and they're both surprise pregnancies in real life as well (although only one of them by a single woman). Ming Na, on "ER," is pregnant on the show as well as real life. Although married, she told TV Guide that the pregnancy wasn't planned. (She reminded everyone that condoms don't always work.) The other surprise is Camryn Manheim on "The Practice." Everyone, both on the show and in real life, was expecting Lindsey's pregnancy since she just married Bobby Donnell, but Camryn Manheim, single both in real life and on the show, is also pregnant. It should be interesting for the characters working in a law firm with two pregnant women.

"Law & Order" just keeps spinning off. NBC has signed up for a third show from Dick Wolf, this one called "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," which in addition to seeing the case from the police and prosecutors advantage point, will reveal the criminal's point of view. It already has a 13 episode commitment, and like the last L&O spin-off, will have a shared broadcast window on the USA cable network. Look for it to premiere next fall.

That's it for now. Enjoy our two guest writers, and let me know what you think of them, because they're both interested in contributing on a regular basis. Oh, and due to Thanksgiving, there will be no newsletter next week. Have a good holiday!

top
2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Erin:
I like that commercial from Serta, as well. I think, though, that at the end they say, "It's so comfortable, we don't need 'ewes' anymore."
From Omar83:
I have three new shows that I really enjoy this season: "Boston Public," "Bette" and "The Geena Davis Show." "Boston Public" is definitely my favorite of the three. It's really exciting and enjoyable to watch, and the cast is incredible. I'm a huge Bette Midler fan, so her show is pretty funny for me, and I just think "The Geena Davis Show" is cute.
From Rachel:
I have to disagree with Jason's opinion on "Boston Public." I have to admit that the first couple of episodes were a little hard to follow, but they were all leading up to this week. The scenes of the school board meeting were magnificient. It might seem like chaos, but it's pretty close to reality. My dad is a principal and although the problems in his school aren't as severe, they do come at that crazy pace and are every bit as unpredictable. Give "Boston Public" another chance.
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.

top
3. What I watched on TV this week
   Or
   Things that I pay more attention to than my Girlfriend
    by William Noetling

So I saw TK's advertisement for guest writers and columnists, and I thought that since I have SO much free time at work that I would write in and offer my services, so to speak. My idea for a column is that I would run down the stuff on TV that I watched this week and give you my take. I know it isn't all that original or exciting, but hey, it's been a rough week with the election and all.

So first, a little background: I'm almost 30 (I know that's old by netizen standards), and I've been watching TV all my life. My parents, like TK's, tried to regulate the number of hours a week that I could watch, but that being the 70's, there really wasn't much to watch anyway. In the 80's it got better, because both of my parents worked, and I got to watch as much TV as I wanted when they weren't around. Then in 1981 we got cable. Oooooh, aaaaah.... I can still remember what was on TBS at 1:05 PM every day (The Addams Family, twice!). I watched every bad TV show I can think of, including V and Manimal. I remember getting all excited that, not one, but TWO action shows about helicopters were coming on the schedule. I remember that Friday night was the BEST night on TV, if nothing else, Dukes of Hazzard was on!

Of course, times change, as do tastes. By the early 90's I was in my early 20's and watching stuff like Twin Peaks and Melrose Place, that is, when I wasn't watching football and hockey. Melrose Place turned into Party of Five, and 90210, both of which I couldn't miss. Oh, there's plenty others out there that I absolutely can't miss, but right now, it's down to just a few: ER, Friends, Dark Angel, That 70's Show, Malcolm in the Middle and the Simpsons. I watch other shows, but only when Wrestling or Hockey isn't on. I have a tendency to watch most stuff when it's on, only taping occasionally, and I hate re-runs. I don't know why I put that last sentence there, but what can you do?

Enough background, what did I watch this week, you might ask?

The Simpsons season premiere with The Who. It was a funny enough episode, but it could have been so much better. This series is still going so strong, even a mediocre episode is better than most of the other dreck out there. I missed the Halloween special, for which I am STILL kicking myself.....

I guess we're getting two Malcolm in the Middle episodes for awhile, or at least until Fox decides what to do with Normal, Ohio. Sunday's season premiere, wrapping up the dangling storylines from last season was good, even though Malcolm whined throughout the entire episode, and there wasn't enough Francis. I thought that the budding romance between Malcolm and Jessica was great, and I know how he feels. When he found out that she lived in Canada, my heart broke with his. There was this girl I met at my cousin's wedding, Phoebe, back when I was about 14, and she was SOOOOO cute. We danced, and had a great time, the problem was I lived in San Diego, and she lived in Santa Barbara. We talked on the phone a couple more times, but that was it. Of course I told everyone in school she was my girlfriend though, funny, they never believed me.

I liked the stuff with Dewey tripping through the country also too.

The bonus Malcolm on Wednesday was AWESOME. Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston absolutely shine in this episode as Malcolm's parents. If you didn't watch it, you missed out on some of their best moments so far in this show. Plus we got a whole episode of Francis interacting with the rest of the kids. You can really see the family unity there. The bit where Francis shows the other three the plans for the ultimate weapon, and Reese started to cry, classic.

Let's see, what else was on this week...

I caught the X-Files season premiere, with new cast member Robert Patrick's debut. Sturdy episode that, like most X-Files season premieres, doesn't wrap anything up, but continues the main story. I like the interaction between Scully and the new guy, and the fact that this storyline doesn't appear to be ending ANYTIME soon. Good stuff, and they have proved that they don't really need Duchovny, which means this show could last two or three more years.

Tuesday was nothing but election coverage. I flipped around between CNN, MSNBC and ABC mostly. ABC had the best network coverage, and CNN had the best cable coverage; even though EVERYONE blew it at 11:30 PST by calling it for Bush. I can't say anything else about the election, because I'm still too upset.

In between all that election garbage, I caught Normal, Ohio. I hadn't planned on watching this show, but I knew that I'd see a couple episodes. I have always liked John Goodman, and while I am happy that he has a star vehicle to show off his talents, I just don't buy him as gay. It's a funny show, and I laughed a lot, BUT, I think that, like me, the rest of the country won't accept Goodman. I am still predicting that this won't last more than one season.

I used to have a roommate who was born and raised in Cleveland, and thus, loved all things relating to Cleveland, especially Drew Carey. Now, because I grew to despise this roommate, I grew to despise all things relating to Cleveland, even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I haven't seen this guy in over two years now, and at least I can watch Drew Carey without getting a cramp. And this is a good thing, because Drew is consistently one of the funniest sit-coms out there. Oh sure, he falls into the typical sit-com pitfalls, but, it's still usually funny. This week was no exception, but it was live. I guess Drew does this once a season, a live broadcast. I don't know what they're trying to prove, that technology is better now than it was when Milton Berle was on, but anyway, I digress. The show was funny enough, but I don't get the who "Who's Line is it Anyway?" thing. If I wanted to watch that show, I'd turn on Comedy Central and watch the good British version. I've been to the Improv here in LA, and seen Drew live, and I found out that they PRACTICE most of the so-called improv stuff they do on WLIIA. I wasn't impressed. I laughed, but it was a stunt, and with most stunts, it came off as being a stunt.

I never really cared for Spin City with Michael J. Fox, but I've seen two episodes with Charlie Sheen, and it's funny. OK, it's not great comedy, but it's better than bashing my brains out with a hammer.

Finally, we get to what NBC euphemistically calls "Must See TV", which lately, I've called "Must Flee TV". It was bad enough that they put Frasier on Thursday last season, and in the past have forced us to sit though Jesse and Suddenly Susan, all to get from Friends to ER, but what is this crap this season?

Friends is still funny, after all these years. Sure, it's tired and wearing thin, as are the characters, but it still delivers about a half-dozen laughs per 30 minutes. Plus it's almost over, so there.

I really want to meet the person behind Cursed though. I want to shake his hand, and ask how he got the Devil to give him Thursday at 8:30. I wonder if he actually had to sell his soul, or just lease it out. And if so, what's his APR? MY GOD, that is a HORRIBLE show. It only has two things going for it, Chris Elliot, and Amy Pietz's breasts. Oh that's three things, sorry. At least last night had J. Peterman from Seinfeld on. Steven Weber, who has been great on TV in the past, is just so bad here. Frankly, I think the whiny bitch deserves everything he gets. I'm sure I'll have more venom for it next week, but I want to move on to Will & Grace.

My girlfriend LOVES Will & Grace. It could be because she's a huge, admitted, Fag Hag, but I think it's more that she really wants Will. Whatever. I still think they should drop Will & Grace down an elevator shaft, ala LA Law, and re-name the show Karen & Jack. I just don't buy Eric McCormack as gay, although he makes a great Frank n' Furter (cf. the VH-1 Rocky Horror 25th Anniversary Karoke Special). He was so great in Free Enterprise, that I feel he's wasting himself here. Debra Messing, on the other hand, is nice eye-candy, but she can't act. She couldn't act on Ned and Stacey with Thomas Hayden Church, and she can't act here. I liked the guest casting last night, Jeremy Piven (damn ABC, Cupid should still be on!), Maria Pitillo (damn Godzilla, you have big feet, why couldn't you have stepped on her?), and Patrick Dempsey (damn all you 80's casting directors) were cute. Not enough Karen and too much Jack. Hey at least Cher is on next week.

That brings us to Just Shoot Me. I wish they would. I liked this show in the beginning, because it was different, and I've always had a thing for Laura San Giacomo, well a thing for her breasts anyway. (Hey two breasts references in one column, that's gonna be hard to keep up with). Lately it's turned into a parody of itself. The Maya/Elliott relationship is so hard to believe, that I don't believe it. He was a great lothario, I LOVED him as a womanizer, and I loved Maya as the love-starved single who's smarter than everyone else. She was a funnier version of Holly Hunter in Broadcast News. But this crap... ugh! At least George Segal gets the best lines. David Spade, though, is starting to annoy me.

Finally, ER was good this week. Wasn't as good as last week, but I actually believed their closing tag line, something about in a season that's been as good as it ever was, blah blah blah. They're right, it is as good as it's ever been, and that's saying something. I don't know what it's saying, but it's saying something.

Next week: Stunt guest-casting on Must Flee TV, and Dark Angel back from Election Pre-empting.

If you liked this, check out my web-site http://www.geocities.com/wmnoe for more irreverent commentary, about living in Los Angeles in the new century. Or whatever.

William Noetling
Somewhere in LA.

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

top
4. Don't miss

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

top
5. TV Trivia

Last week's question was: what "General Hospital" veteran is married to a "Star Trek" first officer?

First prize goes to Betsy06631. Congratulations!

Honorable mentions go to William N. and Suzanne B.

The correct answer was Genie Francis, Laura on "General Hospital" and wife to Jonathan Frakes ("Star Trek: Next Generation").

This week's question is: what current child-star on an ABC sitcom also starred in NBC's short-lived "Freak and Geeks" last season?

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

top
6. Media Junkie by Jason Friedman

I first have to mention the election coverage. Overall, I give the clear edge in quality and entertainment to CBS. Dan Rather was amusing and knowledgeable throughout the evening. Ed Bradley was solid as always. Brokaw and Russert were both pretty good. But I couldn't take it seriously once I saw Katie Couric there. They couldn't find anybody a little more qualified? The worst was clearly Fox News Channel; it looked like an amateur broadcast.

Flat out, "The X-Files" season premiere was terrific. By now, if you don't buy into the craziness, don't watch it because you won't like it. If you do buy into it, it was great. I was very impressed by Robert Patrick. He just seems to fit the role perfectly. It was great how he met Scully trying to weasel some information out of her. Can you believe they were considering Lou Diamond Phillips for that role? The end was brilliant; how can you not be psyched for this week? The obvious downside will be the lack of Mulder. Even when he is in it, he probably won't do too much. But, his disappearance will clearly frame the objective of the entire season.

Upon urging from many people, I gave "Gideon's Crossing" another shot. The pilot was slow and not very interesting. However, this week's episode was very good. I got a much better sense that it was an ensemble with quality actors. Andre Braugher was brilliant as always (he was even more amazing in "Homicide"). The show was created by Paul Attansio, who also created "Homicide."

Has "Will & Grace" already run out of ideas? Last week's episode was a blatant rip-off of a "Seinfeld" episode. Jack did a comedy/variety type show based on Will's flaws. Gee, that is kind of like the "Seinfeld" where Kathy Griffin does an entire act about Jerry. Last night, they had Will talking through a headset so Jack would look smarter for a guy. This similar thing has been done too many times to even list.

ABC made a very clever move; they renewed "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" through 2004. The clever part is they also bought the syndication rights. This will allow them to air each episode up to eight times. Now, whenever one of their shows tanks, they have a replacement ready. Also, on November 16th, Robin Williams will appear on this improv comedy show.

An excellent show that not enough people are watching is "Nash Bridges." Don Johnson is fun to watch as the head of some sort of detective unit. Cheech Marin is extremely likable as his second in command. Jodi Lyn O' Keefe has been a surprisingly solid addition as Nash's daughter. Every week, the show is funny and has some quality action scenes (not of the ridiculous "Walker, Texas Ranger" variety).

NBC is making a smart scheduling move in shifting "Ed" from Sunday at 8pm to Wednesday at 8pm. This gives NBC a fantastic Wednesday night with "Ed," "The West Wing" and "Law & Order." "Titans" is moving to Monday night. There are rumors that Mr. Spelling is considering bringing in a big attention getter to the cast (think Heather Locklear on "Melrose Place").

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

top
7. Favorite quotes of the week

From Ally McBeal
Ally: The truth is, the conversation struggled for awhile. We both liked movies, but different ones. We both liked sports, but different ones. We both were afraid of George Bush, but different ones.

From Third Watch
Sully: You ever see these people that pile on the condiments? Ketchup, relish, kraut, onions, chili.... I tell you, it breaks my heart, defiling a perfectly good wiener when it can be simply and elegantly complimented with the all-American zester: yellow mustard.

From Law & Order
Mr. White: If I had two-million dollars I'd be on Crete playing strip-backgammon with Helen of Troy.

From Madigan Men
Ben: See that? His dog brings him the mail. My dog is too lazy to shed.

top
8. A totally unrelated link

Bush or Gore: 'A New Era Dawns'

top
Pick a president, already.