Just over a year ago, the only question most people had for ABC was something to the effect of, “What the hell are you thinking?”
But these days everyone wants to know what’s in the hatch on “Lost,” what’s Alfre Woodard hiding in her closet on “Desperate Housewives,” and why did John O’Hurley get robbed on “Dancing With the Stars”?
| Last week, 21-year-old Edmonds resident Brianna Varela stayed under the radar and helped her team win the immunity challenge and escape elimination on “Survivor: Guatemala.” Tonight’s episode brings a muddy tug-of-war and, surely, many other surprises. Check it out at 8 tonight on KIRO-TV, Channel 7, and look for Victor Balta’s recap, “The Scoop on ‘Survivor,’” where we’re following Brianna’s adventure each week on Page A2 in Friday’s Herald. |
It’s just like those wise philosophers of our time, Notorious BIG and Diddy (hold the “P.”), said long ago: “Mo’ money, mo’ problems.”
For ABC, it’s mo’ success, mo’ questions.
Some questions are a little easier.
Is “Grey’s Anatomy,” which kicks off its second season at 10 p.m. Sunday on KOMO-TV, Channel 4, really as good as we thought it was?
Yes.
When is “Boston Legal” coming back?
At 10 p.m. Tuesday.
OK. Will “Boston Legal” work on Tuesday nights?
Yes.
And by now you know what’s in the hatch, even if you have no idea what it means.
Tonight, O’Hurley’s whining finally gets put to rest. It seems J. Peterman of “Seinfeld” had his Burmese boxers in a bunch over the results of the summer dance contest, when he lost to Kelly Monaco, based on the judge’s scores and the audience vote.
So we had to sit through a bloated 90-minute version of the show Tuesday night as O’Hurley and Monaco, with their partners, cha-chaed, waltzed and rumbaed in an effort to capture that last bit of fleeting success that “Dancing” captured in the early summer.
But guess what? Nobody cares anymore.
There are real shows on TV now and “Dancing,” which was the most-watched show almost every week of its summer run, finished 10th on Tuesday night among adult viewers ages 18 to 49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The network is still committed to airing a results show tonight, so you can tune in to find out who is the real not-real winner of this silly dance contest at 8 tonight on KOMO-TV, Channel 4.
The thirst for real suspense gets quenched Sunday night, when we revisit Wisteria Lane and check in on “Housewives,” which has its second season premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday on KOMO-TV, Channel 4.
Sure, there’s the anticipation of how Bree will handle Rex’s death and whether she had anything to do with it, and Gabrielle’s pregnancy and infidelity, and what happens when Mike walks in to find Zach holding Susan hostage at gunpoint?
But just as intriguing is the more simple question of whether the show can maintain its place in the TV world.
Many were critical even toward the end of its debut season, saying the show had lost its edge and was trying too hard to regain it. Since the end of last year, it has seemed as though the idea of the show, with marketing lines such as, “It’s so juicy,” has overtaken the actual substance.
But this weekend we finally go back to our favorite suburb to see if this juice has any pulp, or if it’s just some thin, oversweetened concoction developed for mass consumption.
Victor Balta’s column runs Mondays and Thursdays on the A&E page. Reach him at 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
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