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ABC is making big news this week because of The Bachelor brouhaha.
I've never been a fan of the show (couldn't even make it through the first season) so although I find it fascinating that a man can go from most desirable dad in America to deceptive, despicable cad overnight, I can't muster up that much interest in the story. As a side note I think someone could write a doctoral dissertation about how this show is still on the air even though it's only resulted in one marriage. What does it say about our collective psyche -- that we can't give up hope that you can find love on TV? Would American Idol still be popular if it had stopped creating stars after Kelly Clarkson?
I'm upset with ABC because they unceremoniously cancelled Life on Mars this week. You know when you were in middle school and suddenly you found out a friend was mad at you and you didn't know why? You couldn't think of what you had done to upset them? That's how I feel about my relationship with ABC. I have to think they must be mad at me, but I can't figure out why. This season alone they've canceled Life on Mars, Eli Stone, and Dirty Sexy Money while not showing a whole lotta of love towards Samantha Who? It's hard not to take that a little personally. ABC says they made the decision early so that producers could wrap up the show and not leave us hanging. That's nice but it's also a small consolation as another beloved show with a lot of potential goes to that great DVR in the sky. (By the way on that "to do" TiVo list, you'll find Arrested Development, followed by Veronica Mars, Boomtown and Once & Again. TiVo in the afterlife is awesome!)
ABC seems great at putting good shows on the air but lousy at keeping them there. We should all feel so lucky that Lost was an immediate hit or we would still be wondering, "What's up with Kate being a fugitive? Do you think that Sawyer is his real name?"
Are you upset that Life on Mars was cancelled? Talk about it below.
Best New Characters of the Season
On Monday I talked about how Renee Walker on 24 was one of my favorite new characters of the season. Let's take a look at some of my favorite new characters this season.
Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes) on 90210: It is not an understatement to say she's single handedly saved this show. One the episodes where Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty aren't around, Adrianna is the reason I tune in. Now if she could something about the CW's questionable scheduling of the show (really not a new episode until March 31?), I would greatly appreciate it.
Kara DioGuardi on American Idol: Okay she's a real person and I know I'm in the minority but I really like what DioGuardi has brought to the show this season. Has Paula Abdul ever been as on as she was last night? Like I've said, everyone has raised their game now that DioGuardi effortlessly offers constructive and salient criticism. I like that she's jumped right in and not held back. I mean even Randy is coming up with more to say than "good looking out dawg." Personally I don't mind more comments from the judges. What I do mind is the incessant, foolish, and insulting homophobic banter that Simon and Ryan continue to engage in. I don't know who they are doing it for because I can't imagine anyone finds it entertaining. DioGuardi doesn't seem to suffer fools so here's hoping she'll be able to curtail that nonsense too.
J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter) on Friday Night Lights: Doesn't this kid just break your heart? I couldn't even stay mad at him for replacing Matt as quarterback. Sumpter's performance is so raw -- you can feel the pressure he's under from his father, from his team and from his peers. With Jason Street leaving this Friday and Smash already gone, J.D. is a great character that I'll want to follow into season four and beyond.
Question of the Day
Speaking of new favorite characters, what did you think of President Taylor (love Cherry Jones this season, just love her) coming out of the safe room to protect her daughter on 24? I get the sense that this is a hot topic because so many people have emailed me about it.
It made total sense to me that a mother would do anything to keep her child safe -- that being a parent trumps all other obligations and responsibilities. Could they have pulled off the same scenario with a male president? I would like to think so. I certainly don't think it made the President seem weak. Do you? Talk about it below.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
Ben Weber is David Johnson, Anne's potential boyfriend conducting the most inappropriate job interview ever, on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I'll always remember Weber for playing Skipper on Sex & the City. He was also the guidance counselor Chris on Everwood.
Amy Madigan is Sam's mother on ER. She was Meredith's therapist on Grey's Anatomy and Iris on the HBO series Carnivale.
Dennis was the first to be very excited about the semi Arrested Development reunion that happened on ER. Tony Hale, Buster on Arrested Development and Emmett this season on Chuck, was back as Norman, the man who saved his neighbors caught in a fire. Judy Greer was the woman Archie told to cut the tags off the mattress. Greer was Kitty on Arrested Development, Brandy on Love Monkey and Becky last season on Miss Guided.
Michael Weston was Carston the man with many identities on CSI. Weston played private investigator Lucas earlier this season on House and he was also Private Brian Dancer on Scrubs.
Arajay Smith is Dubaku's son on 24. I remember his as Cadet Finley on Malcolm in the Middle. Angela remembers him as the title character of the Nickelodeon series The Journey of Allen Strange.
Angela also caught Rory Cochrane as the man working for Jonas Hodges on 24. He was Tim Speedle on CSI: Miami.
Barry recognized Jay Karnes was Brennen the bad guy last week on Burn Notice. He's Dutch on The Shield and you'll see him next Monday as the patient of the week on House. Dina Myer was the ex-girlfriend Sam. Diane and I will always remember her as Lucinda Nicholson on 90210. She was Barbara Gordon on Birds of Prey and Kathie reminded me that she was on Nip/Tuck this season as the patient who sliced off her breast.
Kathie also recognized Michelle Greene as the Governor of California on Brothers & Sisters. Greene was Abby on L.A. Law .
That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week and to talk about the best episode of Friday Night Lights this season. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Talk to you on Friday.
I can't believe another great show is gone!
Life on Mars will be missed!
I have been waiting for new episodes of Samatha Who for three months now. Stupid Bachelor!!
You know I am MORE than ****ed at ABC for cancelling LOM...my husband and I both enjoy this show! Great characters, great premise, entertaining, the whole package.
Damn you ABC, you STINK!
Pushing Daisies too! What's next, Ugly Betty?????
ABC also bailed on "Pushing Daisies" and seems bent on not showing the remaining episodes. I don't know what's worse -- Not showing quality shows, or showing them and then yanking them.
ABC has a long and sordid history of canceling great and potentially great shows. Both My So-Called Life and Once & Again were given the premature axe from that network. They shouldn't develop such great shows if they're just going to pull them! Some of these shows could survive on a lesser network.
I totally agree with Amy about Kara on Idol being awesome. I was totally prepared to dislike her coming in, but she's definitely infused the judges with some new life. I'm a fan.
Never got into Life On Mars. I bailed after three eps. LOVED the cast, but I couldn't dig deep enough to endure another time-travel or retro-type show. Can't anyone create a show that doesn't use the time travel device or heavy amounts of flashbacks? Can't we have a good present-day drama that's not a procedural or quirky sci-fi?
I was initially mildly entertained with Life on Mars when it first aired. Once they figured out what to do with all of the supporting characters, I quickly became enthralled with the show. I think it has some of the best quality supporting actors and I am really disappointed that it has been cancelled. Shame on you ABC. Not every show is a bullet out of the barrel and your lack of patience with LOM and other shows like Eli Stone is shortsited. Care needs to be taken before a quality netword finds itself in the shoes NBC is wearing.
One of my favourite new characters this season is President Taylor and I agree 100% that Cherry Jones is fantastic in the role. Her subtle blend of toughness and humanity has made that character realistic which in the hands of a less talented actor could have been a caricature.
As a broadcast network, ABC seems to encourage and come up with some very original, high concept, entertaining TV shows (Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, Life On Mars, Miss Guided, Samantha Who, etc.). I'm even encouraged by some of the upcoming series that are premiering soon (Castle, Better Off Ted and The Unusuals).
The problem lies in how they are executing and delivering these shows to all the potential viewers out there. Why aren't they attracting a larger audience? Is it their scheduling? A lack of cohesion with other existing shows? Problems with advertising and promotion?
Honestly, I don't know the answer.
One simple solution comes to mind: acquire another second-tier cable outlet OR do a complete makeover and re-launch of ABC Family so that when a series like Pushing Daisies or Eli Stone can't seem to find a large enough audience to warrant the timeslot, they have another option... move the show over to their cable channel.
I'm torn on Life on Mars...I would have liked it to have more than one season but there was something about knowing we wouldn't find out how Sam ended up in 1973 until the last episode that turned me off. Maybe a 3 season run would have been perfect?