The Tasty Evil TV News 02.16.06
Posted by Avery Chan on 02.16.2006
Grey's, Idol and House stomp all over the Olympics. NBC sacrifice Joey to the Idol God and Luda cries uncle to Ice-T. Also I will tell you why you should watch women's Olympic hockey.
Even though I'm Canadian, I've never been that big of a hockey fan but during the Olympics, it's a different story. Nothing instills national pride like a sports team that is one of the most dominant in the world. You'd think I'm talking about the Men's hockey team but surprisingly, I'm actually referring to the Women's team and the controversy surrounding their absolute dominance over the rest of the world. Their inevitable showdown with the U.S. team has been sweetened by the U.S. defence(wo)men Angela Ruggerio who's accused the Canucks of running the score. This is the kind of feud the WWE wished they could build for Wrestlemania this year. Sure the men's division will be entertaining as usual, but the women's is the one I'm waiting for. Of course, I'm Canadian and as we all know, no one else cares about this except us. Let's get to what you came for.
NEWS
Grey's Anatomy tops Housewives and Olympics
Part two of Grey's Code Black storyline manage to fend of the Olympics AND amass a larger audience than its lead-in, Desperate Housewives. There's no guarantee that this will be a recurring thing but it's a good bet that ratings for the second year hit will maintain the ratings bump it got thanks to the Superbowl. They gained a lot of first time viewers last week and manage to get them to come back thanks to a shrewd deployment of a startling cliff hanger. No doubt many will make it must-see TV but just as many will be like me and watch it only when their girlfriends make them.
*UPDATE* As I'm writing this, I've just found out that this Tuesday's episode of American Idol has also beaten the Olympics (by nearly 10 million viewers!), while its follow up, House attracted only 800 000 less than the games. Cheer up NBC, at least you beat 2hrs of Arrested Development. (Credit: Variety)
House sets a ratings record
Last Tuesday's episode of House set a number of records, earning its highest ratings ever (it dropped 9% this week though) and also keeping the biggest chunk of its American Idol lead in. Great news for the Fox's second year medical hit but bad news for NBC's hospital comedy Scrubs which shares the same timeslot. It's a shame fans of both shows are made to choose when both are equally deserving of huge audiences. I'd argue that NBC should move Scrubs to the 8-9 Thursdays slot as it would match well with Earl, The Office and ER but Survivor would crush it.
Speaking of Thursdays
Thursday nights continues to be a very competitive night. CBS dominates in total ratings with the holy trinity of Survivor, CSI, and Without a Trace. ABC's Dancing with the Stars remains competitive however, beating Survivor slightly in overall ratings but loses in the more important category of the 18-49 demographic. Meanwhile, the numbers for Smallville and Everybody Hates Chris satisfy the WB and UPN, and My Name is Earl, and The Office do well enough as counter programming to CSI. The only true loser is FOX who are just letting That 70's Show die peacefully while The O.C. has just been dying, despite the addition of fresh jailbait.
Lost also sets ratings record
For lowest ratings for a new episode. In all likelyhood, this is just an anomaly since it was up against the Grammy's that night. American Idol also suffered a dip in ratings, falling below 30 million eyeballs for the first time this season (to about 28 million) so its all about context. While the ratings for Lost will no doubt rebound, a lot of followers, judging from the message boards, are losing patience with the show. Since returning from a Christmas break, the show has been on a crazy slow-burn with a frustrating indecisive pacing. Many are comparing this to J.J. Abram's Alias, which was brilliant out of the gate, but could not sustain the weight of its mythology for the long haul. It's possible Lost is headed that way but for now though, I'm confident they're pulling a 40 Days, 40 Nights and waiting till the final month before blowing a massive wad (of kick ass episodes).
Back to American Idol/House related news
An NBC press release has revealed that Joey will be executed via American Idol. Original episodes of the show will air opposite the Olympic killer beginning Tuesday March 7th at 8-8:30, followed by an encore episodes, until March 28th, when Scrubs returns to hold the fort. Somehow this all feels wrong. Matt LeBlanc deserves to keep SOME dignity.
Ludacris hooks up with SVU
The rapper/actor will play nephew of Ice-T's Det. Fin Tuttuola in a storyline about a murder investigation involving Fin's son. After strong performances in Crash and Hustle and Flow, Luda carries talent and credibility with him and should fit well with the show, which has an excellent track record with high-profile guest stars. I'm looking forward to this one.
Skating with Celebrities Controversy
According to Inside Edition, original Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kristy Swanson and skater Lloyd Eisler have been salchow-ing off-ice as well as on it. Eisler has left (or was booted out) by his pregnant wife. Keep in mind, this is Inside Edition so take that as you will.
Kristy, the Ice Skater Layer
*** *** *** *** ***
Tasty/Evil Caplets
Smallville "Tomb" (Feb 9)
3-Sentence Recap:
During a thunderstorm, Chloe apparently goes crazy and slits her wrists. She has been possessed by the spirit of a girl who was murdered in the Talon 10 years ago. The killer resurfaces, kidnaps Lois and Chloe/dead girl, gets killed by dead girls spirit and Chloe reunites with her estranged, actually-crazy mother.
Tasty:
This episode has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The only thing that was even mildly interesting was watching Lionel Luthor leer at Martha Kent like a sexual predator. It's as if the Luthor's have a genetic disposition to try and steal the Kent's women.
Evil:
This was just a completely inconsequential episode. Sure, it gave Chloe some character development. Her mother is crazy. So what? No storylines were advanced, Clark was barely an afterthought and Lois was reduced to a damsel in distress. Waste of time.
3-Sentence Recap:
These are the last four episodes of the season (and most likely the series) and being a lazy guy, I will refer to The Vicious News Wrap, for a much better recap.
Tasty:
Hey, someone finally found the reason Judge Reinhold has a career!
"Maybe I should get the family discount. Oh God. *sob*" Gob, after finding out the girl he's pimping might be his sister.
"That was strangely awkward" Michael, after jokingly asking Nellie, who is played by Jason Bateman's real life sister, Justine, to marry him.
"Why go for the best when you can settle for the rest" Gob, hitting on Lindsey, after he finds out she's adopted. Gotta love that incest! It's the new bestiality.
The triumphant return of Anyong!
Ending the show while it was still in its prime.
Evil:
That this show even has to end. Thanks for the laughs AD.
24 "2p.m-3.pm" (Feb 9)
3-Sentence Recap:
Jack goes undercover pretending to be the Euro-sleaze who got iced last week in hopes that the terrorists will lead him to the canisters. Instead he is taken to a mall where the terrorists plan to test out one of the canisters on the public. Jack defies a Presidential order to sacrifice the mall, throwing away their best chance to retrieve all the canisters and stop the terrorist plot.
Tasty:
Jack Bauer is all about the children. Sure, a girlfriend's ex-husband is expendable but random children in the mall? Bauer don't play that.
Evil:
Can't think of anything this week. The show was firing on all cylinders this week.
Lost "One of Them" (Feb 9)
3-Sentence Recap:
The French woman comes looking for Sayid and leads him to a man she has captured. Sayid takes him back to bunker and tortures him to see if he's one of the Others, much to Jack's dislike. The countdown also seems to run out before Locke can enter the numbers but it is unclear what has happened.
Tasty:
Good to see another Sayid episode, returning him to the status as one of the "elders" of the tribe, along with Jack, Locke and Kate.
"My name is Sayid [I didn't catch his last name]. And I'm a torturer". *shivers*
Evil:
The whole thing with the countdown and the button was totally confusing. Did the timer run out? There were a bunch of symbols that appeared on the clock but Locke punched a button and it reset. Glad to see some sort of payoff on this plot but we deserve a better answer, and not more questions. Hope to see this cleared up next week.
