I don't know what the head of ABC's programming was thinking when he (she?) allowed Alias to be put on Thursday nights at 8pm.
I do, however, know what I'm thinking. I'm thinking this person is soon to be out of a job.
On Thursday nights, 8pm, Pacific, my choices went from tough to excruciating.
ABC: Alias
CBS: Survivor
NBC: Joey, followed by Will & Grace
That's only looking at the Big Three, network-wise. What about other shows in that same time period?
FOX: The O.C.
WB: Smallville
Either the programmers haven't bothered to take a look at ratings for this time slot lately, or they have a death wish. There's a third option - they all think we have more than one VCR and/or TiVO. All of us.
Whatever happened to providing the audience with convenient scheduling of their shows? I LOVED Alias on Sunday nights. But ABC wanted that slot for something else. So, I had to deal with it moving to Mondays (after football season). Fine, fine. I dealt with the move. And then Alias was sent to Wednesdays. That actually worked out fairly well. There wasn't much on at the time. I could always watch King of Queens later, right? (I do so enjoy a bit of Kevin James in the evening.) But...Thursday. It makes about as much sense as Sydney coming back 2 years later and discovering that Vaughn is married to some blonde bimbo who's really a nasty spy. Yes, I stuck around through that debacle, too.
I often wonder if this is a test by network execs to see if we're paying attention. You know, to see if there's really anyone out here and not just a bunch of machines recording our favorite shows. Listen up, you network nitwits! I am a real person and I've had enough of your games!
Article comments
1 - Bob A. Booey
Thursdays are the big ad revenue night and there's blood in the water since NBC got eaten and everyone wants a piece.
That night's easy for me.
Tape "Smallville," watch "Everybody Hates Chris," done.
I've lost interest in those other shows at 8 pm ET on Thursdays.
That is all.
2 - Sterfish
This night is vicious for my household. I work on Thursday nights now and my mom and I have been recording shows for my sister who is in college. We have five working VCRs in our house and they were strained tonight as we recorded Will & Grace (only because it was live), The OC, Smallville, and UPN's lineup. We're fortunate that we don't watch Alias or Survivor.
3 - Bob A. Booey
"Will & Grace" was (as expected) pretty bad, notable only for a few things from the live premiere:
A) Debra Messing kept breaking and cracking up,
B) The show LOOKED like a soap opera visually, with the vaseline or cheesecloth on the lens, and
C) It featured one of the most akward, ugliest product placement plugs I've EVER seen on scripted network TV, when Rosario announces she's taking a break to (pause, wait for it) eat (pause) a Subway chicken parm sandwich. Disgusting whoring of a network premiere show for a new product ad -- I really wonder how much Subway must have paid to get that in there. The audience was just silent and it was really, really uncomfortable.
That is all.
4 - Gina
I agree about Invasion. I've watched and discussed the show on my own review blog, and it just doesn't hold my interest. Which is sad because I had such high hopes for the show.
I just started watching Alias last season because it followed Lost, and I probably would have continued if not for the time slot.
Thursdays night is such a hard night. ER did well tonight show wise, but the 8pm hour is so crowded. I watch The OC on that time slot, and I am a loyal viewer. Hopefully they move Alias to a better slot soon.
5 - Silas Kain
For the most part I have stopped watching new television shows until they've aired at least 6 or 7 episodes. Once you're far enough into the season, there's reasonable chance that the show will be around for a little while. Davis E. Kelley's The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire was a show I really got invested in. Then CBS pulled the plug after 5 episodes.
The mainstream networks are offering the worst in television programming for the last 5 seasons. The 10 best shows on tv, in my opinion, are Rescue Me (FX), Nip/Tuck (FX), House (FOX), Over There (FX), Rome (HBO), Weeds (SHO), Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), Prison Break (FOX), Lost (ABC), and Commander in Chief (ABC).
Thank God for TiVO because I don't rely on network scheduling any longer. I watch 'em when I want to, not when they want me to.
6 - Joanie
I'm TiVO-less. Ugh. I'm willing to take donations, though!
But seriously, I'm tired of trying to juggle shows. I think if a network establishes their night, they should stick with it. As consumers, we should complain. If a dinner were not to our liking in a restaurant, we'd send it back, wouldn't we? We should be telling those in charge of programming our steaks are undercooked.
7 - Cerulean
I don't even like any of those shows, Joan.
If you think that's flaky, cable is so unstable that I never count on the same show being on the same time two weeks in a row. Even if a show is currently not cancelled and supposed to be showing new shows, it might skip a week or two. How lame is that? I have a Scientific Atlanta "Tivo" like (but not actually Tivo) DVR from Time Warner cable. It screws up all the time. I miss things constantly. It makes me mad. They need more memory too, because there are so many lame offerings that I record the least lame and sort through them. I guess I could turn in my Scientific Atlanta DVR in hopes of getting a less defective one but that would be the third time.
8 - Joanie
You're still a step ahead of me, Cerulean. No TiVO, no DVR, just a sad and lonely little VCR sitting atop a DVD player.
This is one of those occasions when I wish I had a sugar daddy.
9 - the mudgician
VCR's are cheap now. Tape your favorite show if you can't be home to watch it.
Invasion is already a hit.
It's the 6th top TV show according to Neilson,
and the 7th most recorded program.
Cancellation is unlikely.
10 - Joanie
I'm already taping, Mud. And, really, Invasion is just another alien show that has an audience only because of the Lost lead-in. It's pretty much the weakest of the new ET bunch.
11 - Cerulean
Dish TV will give you a free DVR (Tivo) I think. I can record two shows at once on mine. It's worth it to have a DVR and premium cable and Tivo. I'd do it if I were you. It doesn't cost that much now.
12 - Joanie
The thing is, I get my cable free. Including HBO. It's part of the Homeowners' Association package where I live. When my landlord told me cable was free, I just about fainted. I LURVE cable - especially now that I'm off work.
13 - Cerulean
If you're off work, you should try subscribing in a lot of premium cable channels, it's great. You can get a lot of brain damage watching network TV, especially all the commercials and infomercials. If you have Tivo, you can watch everything from recordings and fast forward through the commercials. It's worth it. If you have Time Warner Cable they have a Tivo that you can rent or get with their service if you want. You're just adding services.
14 - Jule
I am so happy I have a computer. Download, get a few minutes free, watch your 3k shows. ;)
15 - Silas Kain
I love cable and its premium channels as well. We have a far greater selection of programming than what was available in the 60's. The broadcast networks have really let us down when it comes to creativity and encouraging more artists to explore their crafts. HBO is amazing and has produced many movies, specials and series that are equal to or far better than the stuff that's made for theaters. One of the problems, though, with America is that we have this penchant to marginalize television work and celebrate that which is shown on the big screen. It's not like that in Britain where work in any medium is recognized on its merits not the box office.
16 - Joanie
Since my cable is free, I'm only offered HBO. I can't afford to add other premium channels and am quite happy with what I have, thank you very much. Of course, if you insist that I must diversify, my paypal information will be made available to my loyal public.
17 - tania
Joanie, i am a new landlord and my cable company is screwing me around. first they said i could offer my tenant cable by running a cable to my tenants apartment for a one-time $12.95 fee. then when i called time warner to get it done, they said no they dont do that! so now what do i do? i have already told my tenant she will be getting free cable! any ideas, anyone??
18 - Joanie
Tania, you'll have to tell your tenant you can't give her free cable.