Hey all. It’s been too long. I’ve been really busy this fall and writing elsewhere (hopefully you’re following me over at This Was Television and TV.com). But frequent contributor Wesley Ambrecht decided to exchange some emails about the state of the broadcast networks with sweeps upon us (well now over, but still). We have tackled Fox and … Continue reading Fall check-in: CBS
Tag: CSI:
Test Pilot: File #44, The Shield
Test Pilot #44: The Shield Debut date: March 12, 2002 Series legacy: One of the best cop dramas, and series, of all-time Hello, everyone. Welcome back to your favorite discussion of television pilots on the internet, Test Pilot. Today we conclude our survey of the contemporary police drama. Hopefully we have done a fine job … Continue reading Test Pilot: File #44, The Shield
Test Pilot: File #43, Boomtown
Test Pilot #43: Boomtown Debut date: September 29, 2002 Series legacy: A well-respected but barely-watched entry into the police procedural genre Good afternoon! Hey there, party people. Welcome back to the internet’s most popular discussion of television pilots, Test Pilot. We’re still chugging our way through an exploration of the contemporary police procedural. Before you … Continue reading Test Pilot: File #43, Boomtown
Test Pilot: File #42, CSI:
Test Pilot #42: CSI: Debut date: October 6, 2000 Series legacy: One of the most popular, but not necessarily well-regarded series of the last decade-plus Hey there, party people. Welcome back to the internet’s most popular discussion of television pilots, Test Pilot. We’re still early into our contemporary police drama theme. Before you groan or … Continue reading Test Pilot: File #42, CSI:
Test Pilot: File #41, Homicide: Life on the Street
Test Pilot #41: Homicide: Life on the Street Debut date: January 31, 1993 Series legacy: One of the most well-respected series of all-time, but still, somehow, undervalued Hey there, party people. Welcome back to the internet’s most popular discussion* of television pilots, Test Pilot. We’re still early into our contemporary police drama theme. Before you … Continue reading Test Pilot: File #41, Homicide: Life on the Street
TV Surveillance Podcast Episode 18, Parts 1 and 2 — Broadcast Network Analysis Extravaganza!
In this episode of the TV Surveillance Podcast, I'm joined by Wesley Ambrecht for an expansive, massive, two-part, four-hour podcast covering the successes, failures, schedules and developments of all five of the broadcast networks. Because this conversation went so long, we split it into two parts, both of which cross or come close to crossing … Continue reading TV Surveillance Podcast Episode 18, Parts 1 and 2 — Broadcast Network Analysis Extravaganza!
#TVFail Entry 14: CSI:, “19 Down”/”One to Go”
The accused: CSI:, “19 Down” and “One to Go” (Season 9, Episodes 9 and 10) The crime: Embodying the internal tension between character and procedural in contemporary network crime series Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very beginning (hello, FlashForward, Lone Star) to the much-discussed clumsy … Continue reading #TVFail Entry 14: CSI:, “19 Down”/”One to Go”
Test Pilot: Announcing the Test Pilot schedule through May 2012
Tuesday update: I've now filled each of these entries with a co-writer. Thanks to everyone who volunteered and shared this. Hiya folks! Just as I did with #TVFail on Friday, I've decided to take this short burst of free time I have currently to plan the schedule for the Test Pilot feature. Constructing the schedule … Continue reading Test Pilot: Announcing the Test Pilot schedule through May 2012
#TVFail: Announcing the #TVFail schedule through the end 2011
Hey everyone! You may have noticed -- thankfully a few of you did, based on your tweets to me -- that I skipped taking on new #TVFail posts a few times over the last month. I'm here to tell you that its absence is only temporary and entirely based on my hectic summer schedule. I … Continue reading #TVFail: Announcing the #TVFail schedule through the end 2011
Surveillance Spring Stumping: Why CBS should renew The Good Wife
It’s May, which means we’re very close to the network upfronts. Choices about which series live and which series die are probably being made right now by all the major networks. This of course means it’s time for fans and critics to start stumping for their favorite series stuck on the bubble between cancellation and … Continue reading Surveillance Spring Stumping: Why CBS should renew The Good Wife
Stuck in the middle — The failure of the complex, restrained television series
Let's play pretend for a moment (since I planned on writing this column had this thing we're pretending about actually happened), if you don't mind. Let us assume for the sake of argument that AMC's fantastic new drama series The Killing didn't open to nearly 3 million viewers, which is a sizable success for the … Continue reading Stuck in the middle — The failure of the complex, restrained television series
Test Pilot: File #9, Joey
Test Pilot #9: Joey Debut date: September 9, 2004 Series legacy: One of the biggest failures in recent broadcast television memory, a giant signal to the world that spin-offs don't always work. And Test Pilot is back! It's a new year, but the historical pilot analysis continues! In case you have forgotten or are new … Continue reading Test Pilot: File #9, Joey
Broadcast Power Rankings — Week 2
We're ready for week 2 of the broadcast power rankings! Time is a little short, so I think I'll be writing a little less this week. Here’s how I’m hoping this will work: In short, I’ll be ranking each network, from 1-5 every Monday based on a number of factors. More specifically, I’ll be not only considering … Continue reading Broadcast Power Rankings — Week 2
Test Pilot: File #3, Law & Order
Test Pilot #3: Law & Order Debut date: September 13, 1990 on NBC Series legacy: The prototype procedural for late 20th century and 21st century television, particularly the broadcast networks, a series that was once great for what it was, but something that wore out its welcome due to ubiquity all across cable thanks to … Continue reading Test Pilot: File #3, Law & Order
Welcome characters, knowing drama and more — Discussing branding approaches by cable and broadcast networks
A few weeks ago, a number of critics and TV-related folk were blowing up my Twitter feed with their discussion on the greatness of USA Network. In short, these folks were watching screeners of White Collar's second season and the first few episodes of the network's new series, Covert Affairs. They loved them. If I … Continue reading Welcome characters, knowing drama and more — Discussing branding approaches by cable and broadcast networks
