Fall is a time of rebirth, a time to look ahead, a time to wonder at new ideas, and a time to expand your horizons. In short, it's Miller Time. OR, it's time for the TV Season to kick off it's year. This can be one of the best times of the year. Back in 1994, the new season ushered in Friends, ER, Chicago Hope, and some other now-classic shows. It can also be the worst of times. Like last year when Trinity, Costello, Wind on Water, and The Secret Diary of Desmond Pffiefer were foisted upon the viewing public. We'll take a look at the new shows next week. For now, we'll ease back into this column by looking at how your returning favorites have changed over the long summer break. (For the purposes of this and next week's articles, newsmagazines don't count. After all, it's not like they're real TV shows anyway.)
The most noticeable change in the schedule is on Tuesday night, where all but 2 shows return in their same time slot from last season. (That includes our favorite, Spin City, which bounces to 7 CST in it's 4 time slot in as many years.) There have been some other cosmetic changes as well but none more so than the recent departure of scheduling chief Jamie Tarses. Too bad, because her upcoming slate, while not perfect, has a chance to make some inroads into NBC's numbers...
The Wonderful World of Disney - 6 CST
What's Gone: The magic, ever since Walt died.What's New: This year's crop of movies looks remarkably like last year's
bunch. 1 or 2 animation giants. A couple of bad sequels to animation giants.
And a bunch of really bad made-for-TV movies that carry the warm, glazed-over feel
that comes with Disney nowadays.Prognosis: Parents, eager to be rid of their younger tykes, will sit them
down and let Uncle Walt be their babysitter, just like always.The Practice - 9 CST
What's Gone: 20/20 as a lead in. What's New: Snoops, one of 2 new David E. Kelly shows
this season, will air right before it. Whether this tempers the somber air or makes
it darker remains to be seen.Prognosis: With the addition of 2 shows plus a recommitment to Chicago
Hope, Mr. Kelly just might be wearing himself a little thin, like a majority of
his female stars. The cliff-hanger last May was brilliant. How they come back
down to reality will be fun to watch.Monday Night Football - 8 CST
What's Gone: For the first time this decade, the announcing booth is down
to 2 men with the departure of Dan Dierdorf. In addition, the show moves back 1 hour
since the West Coast viewers found they couldn't get home in time to tune in.What's New: An increased role for Boomer Esiason, who must take
Dierdorf's place and come into his own. In addition, 20/20 will be
the lead in instead of that silly show at the ESPN bar.Prognosis: A healthy slate of games, as always. Will continue to be
a Top 10 show.Spin City - 7 CST
What's Gone: Jennifer Esposito, off to fame and fortune in the movies.What's New: Melrose vet Heather Locklear steps in to amp
up the babe quotient. Also, the campaign angle that was silently dropped last year
will rise up once again as the show will look to lampoon the upcoming NY Senate race.
And a new time slot for the 4th year in a row.Prognosis: 7 is definitely too early for this show, but Locklear's been
on at 7 for the past 5 years and she can still wear a mini-skirt with the best of them.
Look for them to follow up on last year's success with even more improvements.it's like, you know ... - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: Some of the hype and luster about this show being "The
Next Seinfeld". The show will have to improve if it wants to
take that next step.What's New: A whole year full of whiny Angelinos and Jennifer Grey.
The show also moved from Wednesday to Tuesday.Prognosis: This is definitely a better fit than it's Wednesday
counterparts from last year. But between 2 of ABC's main franchises, this show
better prove itself quick.Dharma & Greg - 8 CST
What's Gone: The Wednesday slot.What's New: The show now airs later, so look for some more risqué
angles. In addition, a early season arc has Greg losing his job. Look for
hilarious hyjinks to ensue.Prognosis: With the move to 8, ABC has silently declared that the network
will be riding Dharma as one if it's premier shows.SportsNight - 8:30 CST
What's Gone: Aaron Sorkin, sort of. The show's writer will have to divide
his time between this show and his new creation, The West Wing.What's New: Not much. Sorkin has all but promised that last year's
Casey-Dana saga won't be resolved any time soon.Prognosis: Still somewhat bleak. ABC didn't show any favoritism by pulling
some of last year's repeats and probably won't be hesitant to pull the plug for good if
ratings don't start to climb soon.NYPD Blue - 9 CST
What's Gone: Jimmy Smits and Sharon Lawrence for starters. Plus,
Steven Bocho, creator and producer, will be concentrating more on his CBS midseason
project City of Angels.What's New: How many times can you arrest a murderer or drug dealer?
Ricky (oops) Rick Schroeder brought some new energy last year. But this year,
it appears that little innovation is on the horizon.Prognosis: Coming off one of it's best years, Blue will
continue to be a solid hit. But the wrinkles of age are definitely starting to show.
But you'll have to wait until late October, when Time and Again
clears out, before catching new Blue.Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place - 7 CST
What's Gone: Sadly, the Pizza Place. (ABC has officially changed
the title to Two Guys and a Girl, but it will always be TGaGaaPP
in my heart.)What's New: The producers say they're aiming for a more adult tone this
year. But Two Guys has never been one to break comedic ground.
Except, of course, for that kitchy title. (I miss it already.)Prognosis: Now that Caroline in the City is history,
this show stands as the model of banality. Not wretched like Suddenly Susan,
but certainly devoid of originality and large quantities of humor. If the show
performs weakly against a buffed-up NBC, look for the Guys to lose more
than their Pizza Place.Norm - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: Norm's brillo-hair. He's gotten a Clooney-like short
do.What's New: Cosmetic changes to the name, formally The Norm Show.
Nikki Cox, who cameoed in the pilot, returns as a recurring character.Prognosis: Will be protected by Drew Carey, but it's a little
risqué for something in the family hour. It'll make it through the year.The Drew Carey Show - 8 CST
What's Gone: Some of the bite and originality may be gone now that the
show has hit syndication.What's New: Still, there are some innovative bits on the way. A
highlight will be a live improv episode during November sweeps. Also, John Carroll
Lynch, previously a recurring character, joins the cast full time as (gulp) Mimi's
cross-dressing husband.Prognosis: Going strong at the 5 year mark.Whose Line is It Anyway? - 7 CST
What's Gone: The cushy time slot after Drew. Now Whose
Line mans ABC's beachhead invasion of NBC's Must-See Thursday juggernaut.What's New: With the new time slot, look for the show to get looser in an
attempt to win over viewers.Prognosis: It'll say on the air because it doesn't cost a dime to
produce. But if it doesn't cut it on Thursday, look for a new time slot and for ABC
to rush Who Wants to Be a Millionaire back into production.The Hughleys - 7 CST
What's Gone: Home Improvement as a lead in. And as
part of the TGIF lineup, expect the show to lose a little bit of it's edge.What's New: ABC has shown some faith in the show, albeit not the time
slot they would have liked.Prognosis: If the show can refocus and be more family friendly, it'll fit
right in with the rest of the TGIF lineup and be assured of at least 3 more years.Boy Meets World - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: Any sense of creativity.What's New: A lease on life.Prognosis: It's the show that wouldn't die. I can't wait for the
teenyboppers who made this popular grow up and watch real TV.Sabrina, the Teenage Witch - 8 CST
What's Gone: More of Melissa Joan Hart's youth.What's New: More of what you'd expect from the TGIF flagship. And
an early guest appearance by the 7th Sign of the Apocalypse, Brittany Spears.Prognosis: As long as kids believe that Hart is still a teen, this show
will become the new Saved By the Bell.No returning shows
Last year's most watched network offers up more for the geriatric crowd and those who don't like their shows to take chances. Not too many changes for the returning shows for the most part, but Chicago Hope's makeover had more change than some networks had as a whole.
Touched By an Angel - 7 CST
What's Gone: Roma Downey may become distracted now that she's an
international recording star.What's New: The show promises to have a Y2K episode. How fresh and
original! However, the truly new aspect is that Della Reese isn't threatening to
leave the show for the first time in years.Prognosis: Clearly the programming of choice for those who find distaste
in FOX's lineup. The King of Queens - 7 CST
What's Gone: A lack of expectations. Last year, nobody expected
this show to achieve the success it did. Now that it's in an anchor slot, shows will
be gunning for it.What's New: This meat-and-potatoes guy's show doesn't go up against MNF
or Melrose, which could help in the ratings.Prognosis: Make or break time. If King can prove
it doesn't have to ride Raymond's coattails, you're looking at a 5 year
series at least.Everybody Loves Raymond - 8 CST
What's Gone: Underdog status. Last year, the show came into it's
own. This year, it'll be expected to repeat it's performance.What's New: Expect more of the same from the Barones.Prognosis: Last year was their breakout year. People may start to
complain "It wasn't good as it was last year", but it'll still be one of the
best out there.Becker - 8:30 CST
What's Gone: The show remains unchanged from last year.What's New: The show remains unchanged from last year.Prognosis: The show remains unchanged from last year.JAG - 7 CST
What's Gone: Still chugging after all these years and all these networks.What's New: David James Elliot has begun to receive some notice in his
beefcake role. JAG should be taking advantage of that more often
this year.Prognosis: God knows why this show is popular. But it does seem to
work as counterprogramming against Spin City, Just Shoot Me
and Buffy.Cosby - 7 CST
What's Gone: Cosby's dignity.What's New: Cosby won't be protected by last year's
Monday powerhouse lineup. It's expected to lead CBS to a Wednesday victory.Prognosis: The rest of CBS's Wednesday looks dreadful going in.
This just may be Cosby's last year.Diagnosis Murder - 7 CST
What's Gone: All the criminals they put away last year.What's New: All the criminals they put away this year.Prognosis: The Matlock of the 90s, Diagnosis may have to grow up to match
it's new partner, the revamped Chicago Hope.Chicago Hope - 8 CST
What's Gone: Pay attention now 'cause the list is long: Christine
Lahti, Peter Berg, Eric Stoltz, Vondie Curtis Hall, Stacy Edwards, half the nursing staff
and most of the production crew.What's New: David E. Kelly, flush with success from Ally McBeal and The
Practice, comes back home to put right what once went wrong. Mandy Pantinkin will
also return and Carla Gugino, from Spin City's early years, joins up as a cast member.Prognosis: Too soon to tell. So much upheaval and a move back to
Thursday night may feed viewer alienation. Or it could be just the kick in the butt
the show needs and get back on track. Either way, it's appointment television once
again.Kids Say the Darndest Things - 7 CST
What's Gone: Candid Camera as it's lead out.What's New: Fresh faced youngsters.Prognosis: In the new age of cost cutting and fragmented audience share,
this show is one of the safest bets around.Nash Bridges - 9 CST
What's Gone: Phillip Michael HallWhat's New: Stone Cold Steve Austin will take some time out of his busy
ass-whoopin schedule to guest star in a handful of episodes.Prognosis: Doesn't quite fit in between the kiddie shows in the previous
hour and the sci-fi thriller Now and Again that follows. Still, Nash
will live to fight another day.Early Edition - 7 CST
What's Gone: Not too much.What's New: Not too much.Prognosis: Still sticks out like a sore thumb on CBS's action Saturday
lineup. But with Promised Land gone, this show looks to pick up a
couple of viewers.Marshall Law - 8 CST
What's Gone: The producers have said they didn't care for Arsenio's
character last year.What's New: So they're reinventing him. Plus, some refugee writers
from Diagnosis Murder find a new home here.Prognosis: Saturday's a bad night for TV, but Marshall Law seems to have
found it's niche.Walker, Texas Ranger - 9 CST
What's Gone: Someone will have to help me here.What's New: 2 More Rangers to help with the butt-kicking action:
Nia Peeples and Judson Mills.Prognosis: Until Chuck Norris keels over, his show will have a home on
CBS.
This year looks to be a good one for the 4th network. The Sunday Night Lineup looks unbeatable and there are some promising rookies. They certainly couldn't do worse that Rupert Murdoch's LA Dodgers did this year...
King of the Hill - 6:30 CST (or whenever football finishes)
What's Gone: Last year's move to Tuesday turned out to be bone-headed.
Now it's back next to The Simpsons, and with football as a lead
in.What's New: Kathy Najimy is credited for voice work this year, so we can
assume she survived her fall. But producers say that there will be the type of
repercussions you would expect after having fallen 20,000 feet to the ground.Prognosis: Nestled in a time slot to die for, King of the Hill
will rise once again.The Simpsons - 7 CST
What's Gone: Matt Groening will spend less time in Springfield as Futurama
continues to take off.What's New: This year's season opener, with Mel Gibson, promises to be a
show-stopper.Prognosis: Heading into Season 11, one has to wonder when the clock will
strike midnight on this brilliant series. Bet FOX doesn't want to let it go just
yet. Next year's schedule has some major holes to fill. (See below)Futurama - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: No one quite understood why this Sci-Fi Simpsons
was banished to Tuesdays and left for dead. But the problem has been solved.What's New: A monkey roommate. The origins of soft drinks.
And a healthy dose of Robot lovin'.Prognosis: Futurama set records in this same slot last
year. Expect bigger and better.The X-Files - 8 CST
What's Gone: After this year, Mulder. The suit against FOX didn't
win him any friends.What's New: As the series winds down, creator Chris Carter promises he
will start to pull back the curtain and let us see the Wizard.Prognosis: If this is the final year for The X-Files
(and it looks that way more and more), expect it to go out with a bang!Ally McBeal - 8 CST
What's Gone: Writer David E. Kelly, who will spend less time on this show
now that he's got more to do.What's New: The 30 minute version, Ally, airs the
following night. Prognosis: A trial balloon to be sure. FOX will be looking to
see which version the audiences like better. Either way, it may end up people
overdosing on Ally and tuning out.That 70's Show - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: Their old time slot, which was given to the toons.What's New: More sex is promised, especially between leads Eric and
Donna.Prognosis: Stuck in a bad time slot, it's make or break time for this
fledgling show.Party of Five - 8 CST
What's Gone: Jennifer Love Hewitt, who will at least get a few episodes
to say her good-byes. She also takes some producers with her to her new show.What's New: Charlie gets married and Homicide vet Kyle Secor gets to do
the wild thing with Wild Things' Neve Campbell.Prognosis: Too soon to tell whether viewers will jump ship with Hewitt or
stay at the Party.Beverly Hills 90210 - 7 CST
What's Gone: Puberty.What's New: Pregnancies, issues of growing old, and lots of brooding by
Luke Perry.Prognosis: No one wants to say it, but this is most likely the last
season for this group.Family Guy - 8:30 CST
What's Gone: The cushy Sunday time slot after The Simpsons.What's New: Good old evil Stewie is once again hell-bent on destruction.Prognosis: Could get killed on Thursdays. If so, it could move to
Mondays with a late-to-return PJs.No returning shows
Cops / America's Most Wanted - 7 CST
What's Gone: n/aWhat's New: n/aPrognosis: Cheap to produce and owns Saturday nights.
The once proud and brash Peacock Network is now just brash. An over-reliance on Dateline and years of bad comedy have other networks taking aim and looking for blood. Unless NBC's Thursdays make a comeback and they can solve their Sunday problems, NBC could be headed for 4th place in a hurry...
No Returning Shows
Suddenly Susan - 7 CST
What's Gone: Judd Nelson and David Strickland.What's New: Eric Idle steps in as Brooke's boss when she moves to a more
upscale magazine.Prognosis: Last chance for Susan. NBC has some
cheap-to-produce shows in the pipeline and won't be hesitant to pull the plug if things
don't improve rapidly.Veronica's Closet - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: The best time slot on television. And Ron Silver.What's New: An eminent cancellation.Prognosis: No longer protected in it's cushy Thursday slot, Veronica
better shape up, or else...Just Shoot Me - 7 CST
What's Gone: Competing with Spin City at 8What's New: Competing with Spin City at 7Prognosis: A mixed bag. Just Shoot Me is
definitely in the upper echelon of NBC comedies. But the creator is leaving for Stark
Raving Mad and the move could signal some unsatisfaction on NBC's part.3rd Rock from the Sun - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: All sense of taste and subtlety.What's New: John Lithgow, newly crowned Best Actor, will look to "embarrass
himself" even further.Prognosis: NBC says it has high hopes for mid-season replacement Sugar
Hill. Here is where it should go.Will and Grace - 8 CST
What's Gone: The groundbreaking aspect of Will's character. He's
gay, so what?What's New: Producers threaten to give Will a boyfriend and get Grace to
move out.Prognosis: With a steady first season and strong signals from NBC, it
looks like another comedy dynasty is beginning.Law and Order - 9 CST
What's Gone: Benjamin BrattWhat's New: With Law & Order: SVU on Mondays, look
for plenty of crossovers.Prognosis: Another year, another great L&O season.Friends - 7 CST
What's Gone: The backlash that hovered over the show for 3 seasons.
The show is back at the top of it's game.What's New: The Rachel & Ross wedding will die a slow, painful death.
But the Monica and Chandler moving in together has some potential.Prognosis: This show, not Frasier, should be at 8.Jesse - 7:30 CST
What's Gone: The bar, it's patrons, and her family.What's New: A hospital setting and a new boy-toy to compete with Diego.
Prognosis: The Kauffman-Crane abomination continues to live inexplicably.Frasier - 8 CST
What's Gone: Some of the Seinfeld-sized expectations
that sent the show into an early season funk last year.What's New: For the first time in 5 years, the show does not go in as
defending Best Comedy champ.Prognosis: Another great year. And a bevy of Emmys come next
September.ER - 9 CST
What's Gone: Tons of viewers. This summer for the first time ever,
the show failed to win it's time slot. There will be plenty of pressure to win back
those viewers and up the quality again.What's New: Gimmie a cast makeover, stat! Were it not for Chicago
Hope, we'd be pointing out ER's severe changes. In is Alan
Alda, Mauria Tierney, Rebecca DeMornay and Ming Wa Nen.Prognosis: John Wells will have his hands busy with West Wing
and ER look-alike Third Watch. If the show
continues to spiral downward, it could leave sooner than expected.Providence - 7 CST
What's Gone: Lower expectations and a bit of the originality. (Bet
you thought you'd never see that word in a sentence describing Providence.)
No less than 4 new shows are trying to steal Providence's thunder.What's New: Uh, ... is the mom still dead?Prognosis: Hard to say. This show has all the makings of a
sophomore slump. But NBC has a financial stake in the show and may keep it on the
air for purely financial reasons.The Pretender - 8 CST
What's Gone: NBC starts off the year with Freaks and Geeks
in the 7 hour, which means those back-to-back Pretender marathons will
have to wait until at least November.What's New: More action as Jared eludes the alluring Miss Parker.Prognosis: Once again, an NBC ownership stake will make sure this show
makes it through at least this season, it's fourth, in order to sell the syndication
rights.Profiler - 9 CST
What's Gone: Millennium, FOX's version of a
serial-killer psychologist.What's New: Ally Walker, the Profiler, has tired of
tracking down bad guys. So early in the season, she'll be replaced by Jamie Luner,
another Melrose refugee.Prognosis: Since it's Saturday night, who cares?
And you thought this network was in trouble before. First, it had the lowest broadcast numbers Ever. Then, the parent company goes out and buys CBS. If UPN doesn't show some vast improvement this year, it could get swallowed up by the Tiffany Network and we'll be back down to 4 1/2 networks. (Sorry WB, any network that still employs a Wayans is too desperate for shows.)
No Programming
Moesha - 7 CST
What's Gone: Kim Parker, who left for The Parkers.What's New: Even more sassiness from your favorite R&B/TV star.Prognosis: If the UPN-CBS merger goes down, this one will be a keeper
simply for the ethnic diversity.Malcom and Eddie - 8:30 CST
What's Gone: Not much.What's New: Nada.Prognosis: Could be a victim of the CBS merger.Dilbert - 7 CST
What's Gone: Luster. The other cartoons that premiered last year
(other than Family Guy) were infinitely more funny. This one needs
to prove it belongs.What's New: Jerry Seinfeld's glorious return to TV will be as a
supercomputer with an attitude. And a thing about cleanliness.Prognosis: Doesn't look good, especially with the follow-up of Shasta
McNasty.7 Days - 7 CST
What's Gone: A bad timeslot. Here, it's paired with logical
counterpart ST: Voyager.What's New: Expectations. UPN desperately needs this show to
maintain it's base.Prognosis: It's still a silly premise that's been done better elsewhere,
but it's got a better chance to succeed than it did last year.Star Trek Voyager - 8 CST
What's Gone: Deep Space 9. Now Voyager is
the only series to carry on the Trek universe.What's New: In a stunt that will no doubt be loved by all, WWF wrestlers
are scheduled to make an appearance sometime during sweeps.Prognosis: Attempts to improve are futile.No Returning Shows
No Returning Shows
No Returning Shows
The network that has brought of tons of teen angst will, this year, be bringing us ... more teen angst! Pretty young things will only take a network so far (Ask Beverly Hills 90210). But since the WB refuses to grow up with it's demographic, one wonders whether they'll still be relevant (such as they are) 5 years from now.
Felicity - 7 CST
What's Gone: That glorious mane of hair sported by our heroine? On
the barbershop floor, destined for eBay.What's New: We finally learn whether she went with Ben or Noel, and if it
really matters.Prognosis: Will mopey teens tune into this or The Simpsons?7th Heaven - 7 CST
What's Gone: The dirty little secret that it's actually the WB's most
watched show.What's New: You tell me.Prognosis: May have to change to fit within the WB's sharpening focus for
mopey teen girls.Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 7 CST
What's Gone: Angel and Cordelia have fled to a spin-off later in the
evening.What's New: A college setting replacing high school.Prognosis: Will Josh Whedon spread himself too this between this and Angel?
Will the switch to college take away from the show? Will more fallout from
Columbine creatively shackle the show again? Tough questions all.Dawson's Creek - 7 CST
What's Gone: Creator Kevin Williamson, off to helm ABC's Wasteland.What's New: Now that Pacey's been outed and gay is vogue, expect some
scandalous stuff.Prognosis: Dawson's gang is bordering on 90210 syndrome
(actors who are way too old to play horny teens). Could be time to grow up and move
on.Charmed - 8 CST
What's Gone: Dawson as a lead in.What's New: A tough schedule, facing Action, Wasteland,
and an all-powerful Frasier.Prognosis: The fight for viewers could get ugly.The Steve Harvey Show - 8 CST
What's Gone: Uh....What's New: With the NAACP crying wolf about minority representation,
this show will get a little more attention.Prognosis: Couldn't get worse, hard to get better.The Jamie Foxx Show - 8:30 CST
What's Gone: A lack of self-respect.What's New: zipPrognosis: A recipient of UPN's diminished expectations.No Returning Programs
Tune in next week for a look at the new Fall shows and see if there's anything worth watching.