I don’t know if I’m a curse for good television shows, or if I’m just not in step with mainstream America when it comes to watching popular TV. I don’t give a hoot about “American Idol,” “Dancing With the Stars” or “Survivor.” Go further back, and I’ll be honest with you: I never saw a single episode of “Melrose Place” or “Saved By The Bell.”
What shows I did watch religiously this season were “Jericho” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” Just a few days ago, I spoke to Waukesha native Brad Beyer, who plays Stanley on “Jericho,” and he was upbeat about the show getting picked up for a second season. Today I read that CBS is officially giving it the axe on Wednesday, and as for “Studio 60,” that one has been dead for some time. I hope I’m wrong about both, but I fear I’m not.
And not just because I like good TV, but because these shows require a serious time commitment to keep up. Like “Lost” (which I also watch religiously, but fortunately it seems safe – for now), these shows are serialized and it’s important to tune it to every episode.
Here’s a brief list of shows, network and cable, that I watched every episode, only to see them prematurely cancelled:
- Carnivale (HBO)
- Arrested Development (FOX)
- The Comeback (HBO)
- Sports Night (ABC)
- Stella (Comedy Central)
- Cheap Seats (ESPN Classic)
Fortunately, there are still a few good shows out there, that appear in no imminent danger of cancellation. These include:
- The Office (NBC)
- 30 Rock (NBC)
- Entourage (HBO)
- Big Love (HBO)
- The Simpsons (FOX)
- American Dad (FOX)
- Family Guy (FOX)
- 24 (FOX)
- ER (NBC)
- The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central)
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Still, I must mourn the (apparent) end of “Jericho” and “Studio 60.” OK, “Jericho” was a little hokey, but I was invested in the post-apocalyptic and semi realistic plotlines.
And as for “Studio 60,” the writing and acting was sheer brilliance. The best show on TV since “Sports Night.” (I didn’t watch “West Wing” because I held a grudge against Aaron Sorkin for devoting more time to that project).
Lets all have a moment of silence to mark the end of two good shows – and a giant waste of my time. Like “Carnivale,” we’ll never know how “Jericho” wrapped up (I’d love a one-pager from the writers letting me know how it panned out, but that ain’t gonna happen).
Worst of all, I feel like I wasted many a night sitting on the couch, staring at that beautiful 51 inch TV. On behalf of this couch potato, I say thanks for nothing, CBS and NBC.
You can now go back to your regularly scheduled episode of “American Idol.”
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
