9. Dexter. This is totally cheating since Dexter is a Showtime contribution and they clearly play by different rules (I don't think a network could get away with a show about a good guy running around and killing people to feed his homicidal urges). That said, it is new and it is a show and Showtime doesn't have a "it's not television" ad campaign, so we're counting it. The fact that it falls this far down the list is proof it really isn't that good.
For pay cable, I was highly disappointed. Michael C. Hall is pretty terrific, but it seems like they picked up the rest of the cast by handing out casting invites on Melrose Street. Just a lot of really, really bad acting in the pilot.
10. Six Degrees. J.J. Abrams' latest opus on the connectivity of life is more like a tribute to mediocrity. The aforementioned Monyahan is mailing it in, Jay Rodriguez is wearing a "When do I get to do another teenie bopper movie?" expression, and Erika Christensen continues to prove what a fluke her performance was in Traffic. If it wasn't for the guy who plays Hugh Grant's limo driver in Two Weeks Notice (playing, shockingly, a limo driver in this show), the cast would be pretty much uninspiring across the board.
All of that said, we find ourselves tuning in every week to see all the crazy ways people's lives overlap and connect. (Of course, we are the only ones, as this looks like a ratings disaster.) If you like that "Oh wow, they bumped into each two years before at a bar!" aspect of Lost, this might be the show for you. Without the polar bears, hatches, and Others, of course.
Just Missed: Brothers and Sisters, Men in Trees, and everyone's favorite soon-to-be-cancelled guilty pleasure Justice.
On The Way: 30 Rock, Twenty Good Years, and Knights of Prosperity.
Little Chance of Ever Making This List: Vanished, Standoff, Happy Hour, 'Till Death, and Help Me Help You.
Article comments
1 - Maura
Not sure what you mean about Skeet Ulrich's vacant stares. I think he is great and he's the main reason I tune in - don't you think his expressions are part of his character?
2 - Eric Berlin
I love the power rankings Adam -- really fantastic idea!
I've stuck with Jericho thus far, but I'm nearly done with it. Beyond learning about how the hell the US got nuked out its gourd, it's not really interesting at all. But the guy who played Hearst on Deadwood is on it, which helps.
3 - margaritanava
I was very upset to find out that they canned the show. They never even gave it a chance I saw all the episodes, and I believe that there are far more worse shows than Smith. Very upset to hear they will not be back on the air. I may not supoort CBS.
Thanks
4 - salsa queen
I really enjoyed Smith and looked forward to watching it. This had a very good storyline. It's too bad cause I rarely watch shows on CBS. They made a big mistake to get rid of it. This is the second time this has happened to me in two years. The series "Over There" on FX was a very good show and I was hooked. I looked forward to the 2nd season and then it was pulled. I can't help, but believe that the ratings were the only reasons these two were pulled.
5 - Joan Hunt
Congratulations! This article has been selected for placement on Advance.net
6 - Mike
I love Gerald McRaney, so I watched Jericho the first week and have kept up with it since. It's a great show. I just hope it lasts. It stinks every year when the shows I get into get cancelled. But Jericho has done really well so far, gaining viewers in its second week, which is rare. So CBS should keep it for a while.
7 - smithfan
If you are upset that CBS cancelled Smith, consider filing a complaint.
With enough viewer complaints, CBS may reconsider its cancelling of the marvelous fast-paced Smith with its excellent cast including Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, Simon Baker and Amy Smart and the show's superb writing.
Blame it on CBS's bad marketing, its only giving the show three episodes of airtime, and CBS's lack of promoting online viewing of earlier episodes of Smith for those who needed to catch up.
CBS could have given a better re-cap at the beginning of episodes for new viewers just tuning in. It could have re-run the episodes during off-hours, much like Bravo does, to allow viewers to catch up.
To complain, call CBS viewer relations at any time day or night to leave a message, or, to reach a live person, call during the hours of 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST - telephone CBS viewer relations at 212-975-3247.
You may also go to CBS's feedback form online to submit your complaint. Smith is still listed in the shows on that feedback form.
You may also sign this online petition to CBS to bring back Smith.
8 - Susan
I don't know how CBS is keeping Jericho around. Nor can I figure out what kind of viewer actually follows this show as the research the writers do is next to zero and the story line is so inplausible after the actual explosion itself. Last time I was in Kansas I don't remember seeing any mountains. HMMM. I certainly don't see much radioactive clean up going on, even though a huge deal was made of the rain, but I guess the bar-B-Que took precedences. Please CBS do us a favor and drop this show.
9 - Susan
I don't understand how this show is still in the lineup. The writers/producers show they do little research as they keep passing off implausible situations/facts to the audience. Mountains in Kansas? No attempt at radioactive clean up, but yet a bar-b-que? The characters themselves very shallow and trite. Please do us a favor and drop this show!
10 - Adam Hoff
It is interesting that the comments have focused mainly on bringing Smith back and getting rid of Jericho. I find both of those shows to be mediocre, which would tend to produce lukewarm responses. Curious.
I'm not usually one to root for shows to be cancelled, but if a crappy show in some way (either by directly beating out a better show in the rankings, or by simply occupying a "viewing slot" for someone in another show's target audience) damages the chances of a better show staying on the air, I can understand the sentiment. In the case of Jericho, it is one of the many new shows employing the "one season, one story" concept made so popular by shows like Lost and 24. I believe that the average TV consumer (even someone who watches a lot of shows) only has the capacity to invest in a few of these shows at any given time. So if Jericho gets the ratings, it could mean that people who might otherwise be watching a show like The Nine now are not.
Anyway, good comments all around. I've had the TiVo fired up all week so that I can update the power rankings next week. Here's a sneak preview: it is going to be a bad week for sitcoms.
11 - kim
SMITH WAS A GREAT SHOW DONT YOU GET IRED OF SEEING THE SAME OLD THINGS IT WAS FRESH AND SOMETHING NEW GO TO WWW.SMITH-ON-CBS.COM SGN THE PETITION GET THE SHOW BACK ON AIR
12 - carol
If anything CSI: Miami is in need of the ax. I recently was stuck in the hospital and the only thing to watch was reruns of CSI:Miami. I had forgotten how good the show was to begin with. But now it's all about color and bad acting with terrible story lines. Come on CBS. Stop dragging it out and cancel the show. PLEASE!