During the normal television season, Wednesday nights have quickly become my favorite night of the week. Not only is it the mark of the middle of the week being over with, but it’s the night “Lost” airs, one of the best programs on television. Each week I wait with anticipation for that hour of television. Until it airs I’m contemplating the previous week’s episode, wondering what we were told that we didn’t understand. After it airs I’m contemplating the next week’s episode. What’s going to happen next? “Lost” is one of those shows that just manages to stay with you through the week.
However, even “Lost” has its downside. When the show goes on hiatus for six weeks, airing repeats and recaps, most of the viewers get frustrated. We want continuity. We want a continuation of the story. We don’t want repeats that don’t air sequentially, hopping around the seasons apparently at random. Thankfully, the fine folks at ABC have recognized our frustration, and the next season of “Lost” will air in two parts: six weeks starting in September, and then no new episodes until January, allowing the show to go non-stop once 2007 comes until the end of the season. But what will be done with Wednesday nights during that period in between? One can only hope it won’t be a continuation of what is currently happening on Wednesday nights during the summer hiatus.
Right now, Wednesday nights have become reality television’s primary night. It’s not even the good kind of reality television either, where people compete against each other for survival. It’s talent show night, where William Hungs and Clay Aikens battle it out for record contracts or reassurances that they’ve got talent. Folks, there’s a reason “The Gong Show” died out in the ‘80s, and these shows certainly show it.
First of all, half the reason people watch shows like “America’s Got Talent” or “American Idol” is to see the people who don’t have talent but want to go on national television anyway. What kind of a message does that send? Now are we supposed to tell our children they suck at something so they don’t go on to try and make it big on television and end up making fools of themselves? And why must we be subjected to weeks of bad performances. Weed those out in the first week and move on to the show being about talent.
Secondly, this isn’t reality television; it’s a talent show. There’s no reality here. There’s no strategy on “Rock Star: Supernova.” Nobody’s planning on taking out the competition by outlasting them in some contest or taking a lead pipe to their knee. It’s just a talent show, with most of them offering the same final reward: becoming a musical star (or, in the case of “Last Comic Standing” becoming a comedian). Most local talent shows last a few hours and are done. Why? Because they just aren’t that interesting. That’s why you have local celebrities hosting them, to hopefully make them more interesting.
And let’s talk about those hosts. Why do we need Dave Navarro? The band the winner of “Rock Star: Supernova” joins has nothing to do with Navarro, so why does he get any input on this? “America’s Got Talent” gets (to quote Scrooged) America’s favorite old fart playing host, but did Regis Philbin really need yet another gig? Jay Mohr already renounced the policies of “Last Comic Standing,” and yet he’s back hosting again. He can only hide the fact that a lot of the contestants aren’t that funny for so long, you know?
But no, this is what we get on Wednesday nights for the summer: guest hosted performances and padded out result shows we wouldn’t sit in a theater at home and watch. Yet people continue to tune in week after week, making “Rock Star: Supernova” (CBS), “Last Comic Standing” and “America’s Got Talent” (NBC), “So You Think You Can Dance” (FOX), and the thankfully over “The One: Making A Music Star” (ABC) the celebration that the week is halfway over. Three networks airing essentially the same show, week after week after week, until good television comes back.
Makes you wish we “Lost” fans had kept our mouths shut and just enjoyed the reruns, doesn’t it?
”Big Brother: All Stars” (CBS) 8:00pm
(New!) – I’ll just go ahead and get the required “Big Brother” mention out of the way. It’s on two or three times a week. If you like it, you already know when its on. If you don’t, it’s unlikely joining this late in a season full of cast members people saw before is really going to be for you. Of course, you could always go back and read Kelly’s “Drama Queen” episode recaps if you really want to know what’s going on. Me? I’ll be watching World Series of Poker repeats from earlier in the week over on ESPN.
”Family Guy” (CBS) 9:00pm
“Brian Goes Back To College” (repeat) – I can’t help but crack up at “Family Guy”s perpetual references to pop icons throughout my lifetime. Tonight’s episode features Peter and his friends dressing up as “The A-Team” and then deciding to become a real life “A-Team” to make the world a better place.
”Entourage” (HBO) 10:00 pm
Vegas Baby, Vegas!- (New!) – Doesn’t take a genius to look at the episode title and realize where the boys are going this week. Vince puts in a promotional appearance in Sin City which is a bit timely for us poker lovers, since the main event in the WSOP is going on even as we watch this episode.
”How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 8:30pm
The Sweet Taste of Liberty – (repeat) – Yes, I know we keep mentioning this show week after week. Shouldn’t it be a testimony to its greatness that we’re suggesting repeats of this over new episodes of other stuff? This week shows Ted and Barney going to the aiport to pick up women and ending up on a trip to Philadelphia. Legendary! Sadly, it’s the only decent sitcom CBS is running tonight, instead giving double airtime to “Two and a Half Men.”
”World Series of Poker” (ESPN) 8:00 pm
2006 Tunica Circuit Event - (New!) As I mentioned above, the WSoP main event is going on right now in Vegas, so I’m hyped on poker right now. ESPN is currently airing tournaments from earlier in the season, culminating (eventually) in the main event that’s going on right now. ESPN’s coverage is always great, although word coming from the main event is that they’re a bit assholish in their treatment of other press. However, until weblogs can start broadcasting the events with this professionalism, I’ll have to keep watching.
”Eureka” (Sci-Fi) 9:00 pm
Alienated - (New!) I’ve recommended this show before just on the buzz surrounding it. This weekend I caught up on the series and I’m hooked. This is another brilliantly assembled puzzle of a series with some great characters. I can see the potential for the show to become formulaic, but for right now it seems to really have a direction and I’m always a sucker for shows with dynamic storylines. This week sees the potential for aliens appearing in the scientific town. That should make things even more interesting.
Didn’t you read what I wrote above? There’s nothing worth watching right now on Wednesday nights unless you’re into talent shows. If that’s the case you certainly have your pick. “Rock Star: Supernova” is on CBS at 8pm opposite NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” followed by “America’s Got Talent.” At 9pm FOX joins the fray with “So You Think You Can Dance.” My personal suggestion: play catch up and check the DVR for any television you didn’t get to watch previously or that favorite episode of “How I Met Your Mother.” Barring that, check out a DVD or go for a nice long walk and spend some time with your family.
”My Name is Earl” (NBC) 8:00pm
The Professor- (repeat) – Earl returns a laptop computer he stole and meets Christine Taylor as a beautiful professor. I don’t remember any of my professors in college looking like Taylor. I must have attended the wrong classes. Meanwhile, Randy gets a taste for fraternity life.
”The Office” (NBC) 8:30pm
Dwight’s Speech- (repeat) Have we finally found something the great Dwight Schrute can’t do? Turns out he’s afraid of public speaking and, after he wins a salesman award, he turns to Michael for advice. Of course that doesn’t imply Michael is any better on the subject.
”Who Wants to Be a Superhero?” (Sci-Fi) 9:00pm
(New!) Sci-Fi continues to put out interesting shows, although this one doesn’t quite have the quality of “Eureka” or “Battlestar Galactica.” You can’t help but laugh as these “heroes” continue to try and live up to Stan Lee’s expectations, while beginning to get a bit catty with each other. This week should prove interesting as last week’s reject returns as a Super-Villain.
The Kumars at No. 42 (BBC America) 9:00pm
(New!) I haven’t caught this show yet, but it comes highly recommended to me. This episode features Zoe Wanamaker and the ultimate guest: Hasslehoff as the fictitious Kumars live their lives and interview celebrities in between.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (HBO) 8:00pm
Is Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka creepy or just misunderstood. While this update of the story is strange enough to carry the name Tim Burton, it is visually impressive and does beat the original in some ways… just not in the tone of the film.
__________________________________________
